Emperor Commences 10,000-15,000 Metre Drilling Program at the Duquesne West Gold Project

Executive Summary

• Emperor Metals announces the commencement of a 10,000‑15,000 m diamond drilling campaign at its flagship Duquesne West Gold Project for the 2025‑2026 winter season.
• The program will target expansion of the open‑pit footprint, increase thickness of high‑grade lenses, extend mineralized zones eastward, and convert inferred resources to indicated/measured categories.
• Initial results are expected mid‑late January 2026, with the first hole (DQ25‑01) already underway targeting a 550 m depth and multiple gold‑bearing intercepts.

Key Details

• Program Scope: 10,000–15,000 metres of diamond drilling slated to run through early spring 2026.
• Target Objectives:
• Expand open‑pit footprint eastward toward the Nip Zone (≈1 km).
• Increase thickness of existing high‑grade lenses by incorporating lower‑grade margins.
• Extend lateral strike and dip of mineralized zones.
• Discover new zones outside the current conceptual model.
• Validate historical high‑grade zones to upgrade inferred material to measured/indicated.
• AI‑Driven Targeting: Utilizes advanced AI/ML models (e.g., DQ24‑12: 21.7 m @ 35.2 g/t Au) to refine target selection and improve economic parameters.
• Financial Position: Approximately $11.1 million in working capital as of October 17 2025, providing sufficient funding for the drill program.
• First Hole Details:
• Hole DQ25‑01 commenced drilling; expected depth ≈550 m.
• Encountering hallmark replacement‑style mineralization with substantial thickness, reducing dilution risk.
• Assay Timeline: Initial assay results anticipated between mid‑late January 2026.
• Historical Context: 2024 drill program led to a new initial resource estimate that more than doubled the prior historical figure (see July 9 2025 press release).
• Option Agreement Background: Emperor holds 100 % interest in 38 claims covering ~1,389 ha under an option agreement with Duparquet Assets Ltd. (50 % owned by Globex Mining Enterprises Inc.).

Notable Quotes

“We are excited to resume drilling at Duquesne West. Building on the strong results from 2024, our team has clearly defined the key targets for this next phase.” – John Labrecque, VP Exploration, Emperor Metals

Technical content reviewed and approved by John Labrecque, P.Geol., Qualified Person (CIM).