Visionary Copper completes Pt. Leamington drill program

Mr. Max Porterfield reports VISIONARY CONCLUDES EXPANDED PHASE 1 DRILLING CAMPAIGN AT ITS PT. LEAMINGTON DEPOSIT, CENTRAL NEWFOUNDLAND Visionary Copper and Gold Mines Inc. has successfully concluded its expanded phase 1 exploration drilling campaign at the 100-per-cent-owned Pt. Leamington gold/copper/zinc/silver volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit, located in central Newfoundland. The expanded program encompassed 10 drill holes for a total of 3,556 metres (m) of drilling, exceeding the originally announced seven-hole, 3,000-metre (m) phase 1 program. Of the 10 holes drilled during the campaign, two holes were previously reported, while eight holes are pending assay results. Max Porterfield, president and chief executive officer of Visionary Copper, stated: "What began as a 3,000-metre program to test key target areas nearby the existing Pt. Leamington mineral resource quickly evolved with the exciting discovery of the Kraken copper zone. The decision to expand the campaign reflects my commitment to aggressively advance the Pt. Leamington deposit. Assay results from the seven holes drilled to test Kraken are eagerly awaited and I believe the results will further demonstrate the copper endowment at Pt. Leamington." Seven of the eight holes pending assays were specifically drilled to test the newly discovered Kraken copper zone, a significant copper-rich zone identified early in the phase 1 program (see news release dated March 2, 2026). The remaining hole, pending assays, was drilled to test possible resource expansion of the previously defined deposit. The Kraken was first identified during the phase 1 drilling program when drill hole PL-112 intersected 75.8 m of 0.45 per cent copper (Cu) (248.2 m to 324 m) and an additional 23.5 m of 0.43 per cent Cu (342 m to 365.5 m) on the newly emerging, lower footwall horizon. The mineralization intersected at Kraken is located outside of the existing resource and pit shell. The significant thickness and grades intersected have the potential for near-surface resource growth that may be included in a larger open-pit resource shell. The Kraken discovery prompted the company to expand its drilling beyond the initially planned 3,000 metres, by dedicating seven holes to systematically identify the geometry, grade and continuity of this exciting new discovery. The company looks forward to reporting the Kraken drilling assay results, which are anticipated to be available prior to the end of April. The phase 1 campaign is the first systematic exploration drilling at the Pt. Leamington deposit in over two decades. The campaign was designed to test resource expansion opportunities along strike and within the known deposit footprint, as well as to better define the stratigraphic setting and mineralization controls. The discovery of the Kraken copper zone validates the company's geological interpretation and the significant exploration upside at Pt. Leamington. Qualified person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Aaryn Hutchins, PGeo, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. Ms. Hutchins is a consultant for the company and is independent of the company. Historical information was verified from geological reports filed with the government by previous operators. About Visionary Copper and Gold Mines Inc. Visionary Copper is advancing its portfolio of base- and precious-metal-rich deposits located in established Canadian mining jurisdictions. The focus of the portfolio is highlighted by the 100-per-cent-owned Pt. Leamington deposit in Newfoundland, located in one of the richest VMS and gold districts in Canada. The company prepared a pit-constrained indicated mineral resource of 5.0 million tonnes (t) grading 2.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold equivalent (AuEq) for 402,000 ounces (oz) AuEq (145,700 oz gold, 60.0 million pounds (lb) copper, 153.5 million lb zinc, 2.0 million oz silver and 1.5 million lb lead), a pit-constrained inferred mineral resource of 13.7 million t grading 2.24 g/t AuEq for 986,500 oz AuEq (354,800 oz gold, 110.2 million lb copper, 527.3 million lb zinc, 6.2 million oz silver and 7.0 million lb lead) and an out-of-pit inferred mineral resource of 1.7 million t grading 3.06 g/t AuEq for 168,500 oz AuEq (65,400 oz gold, 13.3 million lb copper, 102.9 million lb zinc, 1.4 million oz Ag and 2.6 million lb lead) (see news release dated Oct. 25, 2021). Additionally, the company is permitting the Rainbow deposit at its rich VMS Pine Bay project, located near existing infrastructure in the Flin Flon mining district. The company prepared an indicated mineral resource on the Rainbow deposit of 3.44 million t grading 3.59 per cent copper equivalent (CuEq) for 272.4 million lb CuEq (238.3 million lb Cu, 56.9 million lb Zn, 37,600 oz Au, 692,800 oz Ag and 2.3 million lb Pb), an inferred mineral resource on the Rainbow deposit of 1.28 million t grading 2.95 per cent CuEq containing 83.4 million lb CuEq (72.1 million lb Cu, 19.5 million lb Zn, 11,100 oz Au, 222,200 oz Ag and 800,000 lb Pb) and an inferred mineral resource at the Pine Bay deposit of 1.0 million t grading 2.62 per cent Cu containing 58.1 million lb Cu (see news release dated July 10, 2023). Additionally, the portfolio includes the Nash Creek project, located in the VMS-rich Bathurst mining district of New Brunswick. A 2018 PEA (preliminary economic assessment) generates a strong economic return with a pretax internal rate of return (IRR) of 34.1 per cent (25.2 per cent posttax) and a net present value (NPV) at 8 per cent of $230-million ($128-million posttax) at $1.25 zinc (see news release dated May 14, 2018). We seek Safe Harbor.