Omineca Mining and Metals Prepares for Paleochannel Advance at Wingdam Project; Lhtako Dene Nation Offers Support to BC Government

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan — July 15, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd. is advancing its Wingdam Underground Paleoplacer Gold Recovery Project with preparations for Crosscut 2 to progress across a paleochannel after recent freshet conditions. The company also announced it has received a formal letter of support from the Lhtako Dene Nation, which has been communicated to the British Columbia government.

DL Mining, the project’s mining partner, has finalized the preparation of Crosscut #2 for advancement through the paleochannel’s pay gravel zone. This zone has already yielded substantial quantities of placer gold. The company is currently awaiting approval from a BC ministry to continue the excavation across the channel using the established mining method, which involves grouted spiling and shotcrete arch ground support as designed by the Engineer-of-Record.

The Lhtako Dene Nation, also known as the Red Bluff Indian Band, has officially submitted a letter of support for the Wingdam Project to the British Columbia government. Upon successful demonstration of a safe paleochannel crossing, Omineca plans to submit its Five-Year Mine Plan for the full-scale development of the project along an initially identified 1.4 kilometers of paleochannel.

The Wingdam Underground Paleoplacer Gold Recovery Project is situated along the Barkerville Highway, approximately 30 kilometers west of Barkerville within the Cariboo Mining District. The underground project encompasses over 15 linear kilometers of placer claims along the Lightning Creek valley. This area is part of Omineca's larger land holdings, which exceed 600 square kilometers of both hard rock and placer claims.

The project’s objective is to recover high-grade placer gold from a paleochannel, an ancient riverbed, located about 50 meters below the current Lightning Creek. The project's economic potential was previously indicated in 2012 when a bulk sample from a single 2.4-meter by 2.4-meter by 24-meter crosscut yielded 173.4 ounces of placer gold.

During the 2026 operating season, steady progress has been made using a tunneling method involving grouted spiling and shotcrete arch ground stabilization, developed by MineTech International Limited, the project's Engineer of Record. D&L Mining has supplied all necessary documentation and support for continued operations at Wingdam and is awaiting approval from the BC Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals. The ministry's increased oversight is reportedly adding time to the development cycle.

Operationally, the mine plan is performing as designed, with both D&L Mining and Omineca expressing satisfaction with the engineered ground stability program. This approach provides the systematic support needed to safely advance workings through the challenging, water-bearing ground conditions encountered beneath the Lightning Creek valley. Work temporarily shifted to Crosscut #2 earlier this spring due to higher-than-expected spring freshet water inflow through drill holes near Crosscut #3A, precluding advancement at that time. Work is expected to resume in that area at a later date.

D&L Mining has modified its grout formulation from cementitious to an epoxy-based chemical grout to improve performance across various ground conditions. This chemical grout is unaffected by water infiltration and has a shorter setup time compared to cement grout, proving highly effective in the current environment. Both D&L and Omineca are pleased with the technical advancements made in executing the mine plan.

Once the ability to safely tunnel and recover placer gold across the paleochannel from multiple locations is demonstrated, Omineca intends to file its Five-Year Mine Plan with provincial authorities. This plan aims to develop operations at scale along the identified 1.4 kilometers of paleochannel.

Omineca has expressed its sincere appreciation to Chief Clifford Lebrun and the Lhtako Dene Nation for their formal letter of support for the Wingdam Project, reflecting a positive and long-standing relationship. The company is committed to responsible resource development and creating benefits for the Lhtako Dene Nation and the Cariboo region.

All scientific and technical information in this release was prepared or approved by Stephen Kocsis, PGeo, an independent qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. Omineca's flagship Wingdam project is located along the Barkerville Highway, east of Quesnel, encompassing significant placer claims and exploring for hard rock gold sources. The company also has the Fraser Canyon Project, focused on developing an underground paleochannel for placer gold recovery.

Source: Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd.