Abcourt intersects 170.9 g/t Au over 0.8 m at Sleeping Giant

ROUYN-NORANDA, Quebec, June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abcourt Mines Inc. (TSX-V: ABI) (OTCQB: ABMBF) continues its work toward commercial production. The current 40,632 meters of this drilling campaign contributes to strengthening its assets and confirming the potential of the Sleeping Giant mine, its main project. Highlights for Investors: Intensification of the drilling rate: 40,632 m completed in 370 holes since December 2023, including 15,371 m completed in 2026. Operational acceleration: Deployment of a third drill to reach a rate of 4,500 m per month. High-grade results: Notable intersections including 170.9 g/t Au over 0.8 m and 107.7 g/t Au over 0.5 m. Future progress: Definition work strengthens the mining plan and optimizes operations for 2027. Drilling Strategy: Convert to Produce Abcourt goes beyond drilling by preparing for its future operations. The distribution of the 40,000 m illustrates rigorous management focused on value creation: Drilling Type Footage Strategic Objective Development 27,418 m Convert inferred resources into indicated resources Definition 9,368 m Optimize stope design for efficient extraction Exploration 3,846 m Test depth potential and lateral extensions. Results confirming mining potential Recent drilling has revealed high-grade mineralized zones outside target areas: Significant intersections (not previously published): Zone 3A3B: 170.9 g/t Au over 0.8M (Hole 23-561) Zone A(HW): 138.5 g/t Au over 0.5M (Hole 14-127) Zone 15: 107.7 g/t Au over 0.5M (Hole 29-310) Zone 20: 73.3 g/t Au over 0.5M (Hole 23-583) Next steps: Toward a resource update Increasing the drilling pace (target of 4,500 m/month) combined with recent LiDAR and geophysical surveys will allow Abcourt to: Refine the mine plan for increased operational flexibility. Launch a new phase of deep exploration. Publish a global mineral resource update integrating these convincing results. Management statements : Pascal Hamelin, P.Eng., President and Chief Executive Officer of Abcourt Mines, states: "The success of this drilling campaign is a game-changer at every level. On the production side, discovering these very high-grade zones secures and significantly enriches our ore profile, which will directly optimize our profit margins. Furthermore, a rapidly expanding project and such spectacular results act as a powerful magnet for recruitment. In the current context, offering miners and industry professionals a stimulating environment, with long-term visibility and technical challenges of this magnitude, gives us a major competitive edge to attract and retain top talent." Mohamed Haithem Bennia, Geology Superintendent, P.Geo., adds: "In a vein-type mine, increasing drilling density and pace improves resource precision, facilitates development monitoring, and optimizes mine planning. These results strengthen operational flexibility and support stable, sustainable production. We are very encouraged by the outcomes of this campaign, which reinforce our confidence in the high potential and promising future of the mine." Figure 1: Evolution of the drilling rate and the number of since the start of the campaign Figure 2 : Main unpublished drilling results as well as areas and stopes drilled Zone Stope / Section Hole ID   From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Final Au (g/t) Vein DAC 5 29-DAC5 23-532   20 23 3 4.6 Target DAC5-V1   Including 22 23 1 8   and 28.5 29 0.5 58.1 Target DAC5-V8 23-540   22 25.1 3.1 22 Target DAC5-V1   Including 24.6 25.1 0.5 58.5 15 41-15-N397 41-436   72.5 73 0.5 36.9 Other vein 41-442   100.7 101.2 0.5 45.9 Other vein 15 29-15-N400 29-310   5 5.5 0.5 107.7 Other vein 29-320 and 63 64 1 10.9 Target vein 15     70.2 72 1.8 24.3 Other vein   Including 70.9 72 1.1 35.9 15 41-15-N419 41-422   112 113.6 1.6 34.1 Other vein   Including 112.5 113 0.5 69.8 41-435   29.2 30.5 1.3 28.3 Other vein   Including 29.8 30.5 0.7 47.6 20 LT-23-20-N420 23-583   48.6 49.1 0.5 73.3 Other vein 23-586   59 60.1 1.1 29.1 Target vein 20   Including 59.6 60.1 0.5 61.6 23-593   24 24.5 0.5 43.3 Other vein   and 63 63.5 0.5 8.9 Target vein 20 3A3B CP-29-3A3B 23-561   21.5 22.3 0.8 170.9 Other vein   and 25 26.2 1.2 50.8 Target vein 3A3B   Including 25.5 26.2 0.7 85.6 4_5 23-4_5-E327_E328 / 19-4_5-E325 23-505   48.7 51.7 3 14.7 Target vein 4_5   Including 50.9 51.7 0.8 46.6 23-520   6 6.5 0.5 66.8 Other vein   and 82 83 1 3.5 Target vein 4_5 A(HW) 14-A(HW)-N369 14-127   48.9 49.4 0.5 138.5 Other vein   and 59.9 60.4 0.5 17.5 Target vein A(HW) 14-129   60.4 60.9 0.5 26 Target vein A(HW) As shown in the table, several working areas were drilled for development and definition purposes. However, these drillings often intersect off-target mineralized intersections, which are not always integrated into the resources. In some cases, these new targets may prove more promising than the main targets. Their progressive modeling, as results are received, contributes to increasing resources, even when drilling was initially aimed at definition or development. Figure 3 : The longitudinal of production stopes The longitudinal shows the sites planned for 2027, already converted into indicated resources and, for the most part, sufficiently defined thanks to a drilling grid ensuring a good level of confidence. It also shows the sites already drilled or which will be drilled in the coming months. The same stope can be drilled in several stages — first for conversion, then for definition — until reaching the level of confidence required for its integration into the mining plan. The other sites resulting from the preliminary economic study will be subject to additional drilling to achieve the level of confidence necessary for their integration into the mining plan until 2034. Figure 4 : Photos of cores from the best drilling intersections   The photos of the cores highlight the strong presence of sulphides in the mineralized veins as well as their characteristic geometry. They also illustrate their width, generally between 20 and 50 cm, which corresponds to the vein style observed at Sleeping Giant. Quality Control Measures (QA/QC) Technical supervision: The drilling and core description work was carried out under the supervision of Mohamed Haithem Bennia, geo., superintendent of geology and qualified person within the meaning of Regulation 43-101. Sampling protocols • In accordance with the analytical quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program, blank samples, duplicates, and certified reference materials were inserted among the core samples prior to shipping. • The preparation of the half-cores was carried out at the Sleeping Giant mine's internal laboratory, in strict compliance with industry standards. Analysis Process and Timeline Optimization In order to accelerate the receipt of the results required for this press release, the samples were distributed as follows: Internal Laboratory (Sleeping Giant Mine): Analyses were performed by fire assay with an atomic absorption (AA) finish. Samples showing a grade higher than 10 g/t Au were systematically re-analyzed using a gravimetric finish. External Laboratory (MSALABS, Val-d'Or, Quebec): A portion of the samples was sent there as pulps to be analyzed using the Photon Assay™ method. MSALABS is a global network accredited to ISO-17025, specifically for this photonic analysis method. Scientific Rigour and Validation To validate the accuracy of the internal laboratory results, check assays were performed by Techni-Lab S.G.B. Abitibi inc. (a division of ActLabs) in Sainte-Germaine-Boulé, Quebec. This independent external laboratory is ISO 9001 registered and ISO/IEC 17025 certified by the SCC (lab707) and the MELCCFP (lab375). Verification Results: The external check assays demonstrate a high degree of correlation with the internal laboratory data, confirming the reliability and precision of the published results. Qualified Persons: Mohamed Haithem Bennia, P.Geo., Geology Superintendent at the Sleeping Giant mine, drafted, collected, verified, and approved the technical information contained in this press release. Pascal Hamelin, P.Eng., President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, verified and approved the technical information contained in this press release. Mr. Hamelin and Bennia are Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Abcourt Mines Inc. Abcourt Mines Inc. is a Canadian gold development company with properties strategically located in northwestern Quebec, Canada. Abcourt owns the Sleeping Giant mine and mill and the Flordin property, where it focuses its activities. For further information about Abcourt Mines Inc., please visit our website at www.abcourt.ca and the documents filed under our profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Pascal Hamelin Dany Cenac Robert President and CEO VP Communication and Corporate Development T : (819) 768-2857 T : (514) 722-2276, ext 456 email : [email protected] email : [email protected] FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain information contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "aims", "expects", "projects", "intends", "anticipates", "estimates", "could", "should", "likely", or variations of such words and phrases, or statements specifying that certain acts, events, or results "could", "should" occur, "will occur", or "will be achieved", or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on Abcourt's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Abcourt to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic factors and uncertainties, as well as other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, including the relevant assumptions and risk factors set forth in Abcourt's public documents available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Although Abcourt believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. Unless required by applicable securities laws, Abcourt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any of these forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a346d08-7a5a-4937-bd9c-48de3844e956 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bea30251-5120-459d-8387-13fc81a32bb6 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/743d2c16-59f8-4ee8-b923-324da4e9519a   Figure 1 Evolution of the drilling rate and the number of since the start of the campaign Figure 3 The longitudinal of production stopes Figure 4 Photos of cores from the best drilling intersections © 2026 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.