Kootenay Resources Announces Commencement of Maiden Drill Program at the Mystery Copper Property by Option Partner Rokmaster Resources

Rokmaster Resources Corp. commenced the first-ever diamond drilling program on the Mystery Property in British Columbia on or around October 1, 2026. The maiden program targets two porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold prospects: B2/B3 and the Northern Target. Planned hole depths are approximately 500 meters, designed to test resistivity and chargeability anomalies identified by induced polarization surveys.

This activity fulfills a key requirement under the June 2024 option agreement, mandating 10,000 meters of drilling to allow Rokmaster to acquire an initial 60% interest in the Mystery and Fox-Coconut properties. The agreement requires Rokmaster to issue 500,000 common shares to Kootenay Resources Inc. on each of the first four anniversary dates. Upon acquiring the remaining 40% interest, Kootenay Resources Inc. retains a 1.5% net smelter returns (NSR) royalty on the properties.

Kootenay Resources Inc. (KTRI) has reached an expected, incremental milestone under its existing option agreement, marking the commencement of drilling rather than a new development. This activity validates Rokmaster's commitment to the program but does not immediately alter the company's valuation or resource status.

No drill results or resource definitions are provided, and the impact on near-term cash flows or share price is neutral to slightly positive. The share issuance requirement introduces future dilution risk, though the shares are issued to the option partner, not directly to the public market. The news aligns with prior expectations and does not represent a material deviation from the company's exploration roadmap.

Kootenay Resources Inc. is a British Columbia-based exploration-stage mining company focused on discovering precious and base metal deposits. Its flagship asset is the Moyie Anticline Project, located in the Purcell Basin south of the historic Sullivan Mine. The project targets SEDEX deposits, vent complexes, and stratiform Cu-Pb-Zn mineralization.

The company also holds a portfolio on the Nechako Plateau, including the Mystery, Fox, Coconut, Copley, and Sleeper/Magnificent properties. These are early-stage, generative targets focused on porphyry Cu-Mo-Au and epithermal Au-Ag systems. Kootenay Resources Inc. is currently in the grass-roots exploration stage, with no production, reserves, or NI 43-101 compliant resource estimates existing.