Hercules begins 2026 drilling at Hercules property

Executive Summary

• Hercules Metals has commenced its 2026 exploration drilling season at the Hercules property in western Idaho, initiating a 20,000- to 30,000-metre program.
• The program focuses on expanding the Leviathan copper discovery along strike into the Southern Flats zone and beyond, targeting larger magnetotelluric geophysical anomalies.
• An initial 12,500-metre phase is underway, with a second upgraded drill rig arriving next week to maximize production rates and test new high-priority targets.

Key Details

• Program Scope: 20,000 to 30,000 metres planned for the 2026 season, representing roughly double the metres drilled to date.
• Primary Targets: Expanding the Leviathan porphyry copper system along strike into the Southern Flats zone and beyond; testing new high-priority targets.
• Initial Phase: 12,500 metres currently underway; results will guide the allocation of remaining metres across additional targets.
• Drill Rig 1: Resuming hole HER-25-25, which was paused during the winter holidays.
• Drill Rig 2: Arriving next week following winter upgrades to increase daily production capacity; will resume hole HER-25-18.
• HER-25-18 Status: Paused at 841-metre depth while still exhibiting potassic alteration and copper mineralization, suggesting the Footwall zone may be wider than previously recognized.
• HER-25-21 Status: Precollared in 2025 using a reverse circulation rig; expected to be completed with core drilling following HER-25-18.
• Contractor: Dorado Drilling USA returning after a successful 2025 season; rigs upgraded for higher production rates.
• Future Expansion: Additional drill rigs will be added as the season ramps up; broader drill plan details will be released in a subsequent news release.

Notable Quotes

• Chris Paul, CEO & Director: "We're pleased to begin drilling in early March, supported by the relatively low elevation and minimal topographic relief at our target areas. We also welcome back Dorado Drilling, following their strong performance last season. By focusing on our best-performing contractor, who have since upgraded their rigs, we expect a potentially stronger season this year and look forward to delivering results to market quicker and testing new high-priority targets for the first time."