Lode Gold Accelerates Development at Fremont Gold Project

Mariposa County, California — April 13, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Lode Gold Resources Inc. is accelerating its exploration and development strategy at the Fremont Gold Project, aiming to fast-track it toward a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) with 3,500 meters of drilling in 2026 and a subsequent Feasibility Study (FS) with 7,800 meters of drilling in 2028.

The company is advancing Fremont under a revised development approach focused on bulk underground mining, supported by a growing Mineral Resource Estimate and strong geological continuity along the Mother Lode structural corridor.

As part of the initial phase, Lode Gold will undertake a 3,500-meter drilling program to support the Mineral Resource Estimate update and advance technical studies for the PFS. The program includes 1,400 meters of metallurgical and geotechnical drilling in the Pine Tree - Josephine area, 600 meters of hydrological and infill drilling in the same area, and 1,500 meters of step-out exploration drilling in the Chicken Gulch area.

The drilling aims to improve geological confidence, support mine design parameters, and expand mineralization within the central structural corridor. Ninety percent of the 2025 MRE resource came from the Pine Tree – Josephine project, with mineralization showing continuity and homogeneity similar to other greenstone and ophiolite hosted gold deposits. Gold has only been extracted previously in 2 of the 7 deposits.

Jon Hill, Technical Committee Chair and Director of the Board, stated that the company has demonstrated mineralization characteristics suited for bulk underground mining and expedited development. He noted significant mineralization widths and grade continuity, contributing to a mineral resource inventory of some 3 million ounces defined to date over an 800-meter strike segment of the broader 4 km mineralized trend.

Chicken Gulch lies within the central Mother Lode structural corridor, where approximately 20% of the first 500 meters of strike length is currently included in the existing MRE. The planned drilling aims to test extensions of mineralization along this corridor and expand resource areas close to the central trend.

The company is targeting completion of the PFS by Q2 2027.

Bill Fisher, Technical Advisory Board, added that Fremont benefits from an extensive historical database, strong geological continuity, and an easy-to-upgrade resource base, allowing for accelerated technical work to reach the PFS milestone.

Following the PFS, the company plans an additional 7,800-meter underground drilling program as part of the Feasibility Study stage. This program will be conducted from two parallel exploration ramps, each approximately 2,200 meters in length, developed along the mineralized body. These ramps will provide direct underground access for drilling, improving the accuracy of geological, geotechnical, and metallurgical data collection. The exploration ramps are expected to be incorporated into the future mining operation, forming part of the initial underground development infrastructure.

The company is targeting completion of the Feasibility Study by 2029.

Wendy T. Chan, CEO and Director, Lode Gold, stated that the company is implementing a clear strategy to fast-track Fremont from resource definition through to feasibility and development. The planned drilling programs are designed to support the PFS and position the Project for a seamless transition into the Feasibility Study stage and future mine development.

Advancing Fremont through the PFS and into the Feasibility Study represents a key step in unlocking the full value of the Project. The last time Fremont reached a comparable level of technical advancement was in 1986. The current strategy, focused on bulk underground mining, reflects improved geological understanding and favorable market conditions.

Lode Gold has key assets in Canada and the United States. The Fremont Gold Mine Project is a brownfield project in Mariposa, California, with 43,000 meters drilled, 10,000 underground channel samples, 14 adits, and 2 shafts. Mining halted in 1942. It was mined at 10.7 g/t when gold was $35 per ounce. A PEA was completed in 2023. The MRE was updated in 2025, with 92% of the ounces left unmined. The project sits on > 3,000 acres of 100% owned private and patented land, designated as an OZ, Trump Administration Opportunity Zone.

The Dingman Property is an orogenic deposit in Ontario, Canada, with over 22,000 meters drilled, with a 2013 PEA.

Source: Lode Gold Resources Inc.