Hercules Metals identifies porphyry center at Hook Target

Reconnaissance Drill Hole HER-26-03 Intersects Intense Phyllic Alteration, Consistent with the Margins of a New Porphyry System, at the Edge of a 1.8-Kilometer Chargeability Anomaly

Reconnaissance Hole Tests Edge of Anomaly: Drilling from the nearest existing road, approximately 400 meters west of the newly identified Hook chargeability anomaly, successfully intersected strong quartz-sericite-pyrite ("phyllic") alteration, consistent with the margins of a potential nearby porphyry copper system.

Advanced Drill Permitting Underway: The reconnaissance hole was drilled from the nearest location accessible under the Company's existing drill permit and was designed to test for distal porphyry-style alteration near to the target. Based on the strength of the alteration encountered, the Company has elected to proceed with permitting temporary access roads and drill pads to directly test the core of the chargeability anomaly.

Target Size: The Hook target comprises an approximately 1.8-kilometer-long IP chargeability anomaly, coincident with a previously identified conductivity anomaly from the Company's district-scale 2025 MT survey.

High-Strength Core: The highest-intensity portion of the Hook target extends for approximately 500 meters and ranges from approximately 20-40 mV/V, representing the strongest chargeability response associated with Triassic rocks identified on the Property since the 2023 IP survey that led to the discovery of the Leviathan porphyry copper system.

Near Surface: The high-strength core of the anomaly is modelled to begin within approximately 100 meters of surface, which is where the next phase of drill permitting will focus. In addition, Triassic-age host rocks are mapped at the surface across the Hook target area.

Favourable Host Rock: In addition to quartz-sericite-pyrite, distal skarn alteration was encountered within favourable calcareous host rocks in the hole. The presence of skarn alteration is encouraging, as these host rocks are generally conducive to strong mineralization near their porphyry source.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 14, 2026) - Hercules Metals Corp. (TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) ("Hercules" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that HER-26-03 has intersected intense quartz-sericite-pyrite (" phyllic ") and skarn alteration at the newly identified Hook target on its 100% owned Hercules Property in western Idaho (the " Property "). The alteration style identified at Hook is consistent with the edges of other porphyry copper systems on the Property and aligns with the results of recently completed geophysical surveys, including Hook's large, near-surface chargeability anomaly, occurring approximately 3 km east of the Company's Leviathan porphyry copper system.

The Hook target is centered on a large, near-surface chargeability anomaly, however the nearest available drill pad under the Company's existing permit was located on an established road approximately 400 meters west of the anomaly.

Rather than immediately permit new road access to the target, the Company elected to first use the existing permitted drill pad to establish geological support for the target. Core logging of HER-26-03 has now indicated support for advancing such additional permitting and road construction.