With blazing performance, more memory, enhanced connectivity, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, iPad Air is a fantastic value

Apple® today announced the new iPad Air® featuring M4 and more memory, giving users a big jump in performance at the same starting price. With a faster CPU and GPU, iPad Air boosts tasks like editing and gaming, and is a powerful device for AI with a faster Neural Engine, higher memory bandwidth, and 50 percent more unified system memory than the previous generation. With M4, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3, ¹ and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1. ² The new iPad Air also features the latest in Apple silicon connectivity chips, N1 and C1X, delivering fast wireless and cellular connections — and support for Wi-Fi 7 — that empower users to work and be creative anywhere. ³ Available in two sizes and four gorgeous finishes that users love, the 11-inch iPad Air is super portable, and the 13-inch model provides an even larger display for those who want more space to multitask. With game-changing iPadOS® 26 capabilities, advanced cameras, all-day battery life, a powerful app ecosystem, and support for accessories like Apple Pencil Pro® and Magic Keyboard®, iPad Air delivers a remarkable and versatile experience for anyone who wants to do more on iPad®, from students and creators, to business users and gamers. ⁴

With the same starting price of just $599 for the 11-inch model and $799 for the 13-inch model, the new iPad Air is an incredible value. And for education, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549, and the 13-inch model starts at $749. Customers can pre-order iPad Air starting Wednesday, March 4, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.

‘iPad Air gives users more ways than ever to be creative and productive, offering powerful performance and incredible versatility to help them turn their ideas into reality,’ said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. ‘With its blazing performance thanks to M4, incredible AI capabilities, and game-changing iPadOS 26 features, there’s never been a better time to choose or upgrade to iPad Air.’

Even More Performance with M4

M4 brings a significant boost in performance to the new iPad Air, empowering users to be productive and creative wherever they are — from aspiring creatives working with large files to travelers editing content on the go. Featuring an 8-core CPU and a 9-core GPU, iPad Air is up to 30 percent faster than iPad Air with M3 and up to 2.3x faster than iPad Air with M1. ⁵ Users will notice the blazing speed of M4 in everything they do — with Apple Creator Studio, compositing photos in Pixelmator Pro® or editing video in Final Cut Pro® is quicker than ever. With the 9-core GPU of M4, iPad Air supports second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing for incredible graphics performance. M4 delivers over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance compared to iPad Air with M1, offering more accurate lighting, reflections, and shadows for extremely realistic gaming experiences. ²

Next-Level Power for AI

M4 is also powerful for AI, with faster memory bandwidth and an incredibly fast Neural Engine — benefiting everyone from college students transcribing lecture notes, to creators storyboarding a new project, to business users polishing emails. With the new iPad Air, unified memory jumps 50 percent, to 12GB, and memory bandwidth increases to 120GB/s, helping users run AI models faster. The 16-core Neural Engine is 3x faster than that of M1 and is perfect for everyday tasks that use on-device AI, like searching for subjects and texts in photos, or leveraging powerful AI features in apps like Goodnotes and Onform: Video Analysis App. ² The Neural Engine also powers capabilities in Apple Creator Studio apps, like removing the background of video footage with Scene Removal Mask in Final Cut Pro.

N1 and C1X Come to iPad Air for Faster Connectivity

iPad Air features N1, an Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. ³ N1 brings better performance when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, and improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop®. Cellular models of iPad Air also feature C1X, a cellular modem designed by Apple that offers up to 50 percent faster cellular data performance — and for active cellular users, C1X offers up to 30 percent less modem energy usage than iPad Air with M3. ¹ Cellular models of iPad Air allow users to enjoy GPS capabilities, so they can navigate with even more confidence. Users can also enjoy 5G cellular support, helping them stay connected for work or leisure all around the world. ⁶ And with eSIM, users can quickly and securely add a new plan, connect and transfer existing cellular plans digitally, and stay in touch with family and friends regardless of Wi-Fi availability — ideal for business travelers, students on campus, and anyone working on the go.

iPadOS 26 Supercharges the iPad Experience

iPadOS 26 offers powerful features that help users handle creative and professional tasks with ease, pushing the capabilities of iPad even further.

• The beautiful new design is crafted with Liquid Glass, a translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings while reacting to users’ input, and dynamically transforming to bring greater focus to the content they care about most.
• An entirely new, powerful, and intuitive windowing system helps users control, organize, and switch between apps, all while maintaining the simplicity of iPad. And with a new menu bar, users can access the commands available in an app with a simple swipe down from the top of the display, or by moving their cursor to the top.
• Users can manage, access, and organize files with a supercharged Files app that features an updated List view and new folder customization options. With folders in the Dock, users can conveniently access downloads, documents, and more from anywhere. Additionally, they can set a default app for opening specific files or file types.

Advanced Accessories for iPad Air

From sketching ideas to getting work done, Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard unlock new levels of creativity and productivity on iPad Air. ⁴ Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro offer users two incredible options. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is a great value for essential tasks like note taking and sketching, and Apple Pencil Pro delivers the ultimate experience, enabling users to take advantage of capabilities such as squeeze and barrel roll to bring their ideas to life in entirely new ways. Apple Pencil Pro also supports Find My®, helping users locate it if misplaced.

Magic Keyboard for iPad Air provides an amazing typing experience and expands what users can do, with a built-in trackpad ideal for precision tasks like selecting text, and a 14-key function row that allows easy access to features like screen brightness and volume controls. It attaches magnetically, and the Smart Connector® immediately connects power and data without the need for Bluetooth; a machined aluminum hinge also includes a USB-C connector for charging. Magic Keyboard for iPad Air has a magical floating design customers love, and comes in black and white.

Ideal for iPad and iPad Air Upgraders

With game-changing improvements over iPad and earlier iPad Air models, there’s never been a better time to upgrade.

Big performance gains: Upgraders will enjoy enhanced speed and responsiveness with 12GB of unified memory and 120GB/s of memory bandwidth, and will experience even more seamless windowing in iPadOS 26. Users coming from iPad Air with M1 will see up to 2.3x faster performance, with over 4x faster 3D pro rendering with ray tracing performance. ⁵

Advanced Center Stage® camera, mics, and speakers: Users coming from iPad Air with M1 will also enjoy a front 12MP Center Stage camera located along the landscape edge, as well as landscape stereo speakers. For upgraders coming from M1, the 13-inch model delivers even better sound quality, which is great for enjoying music and videos.

Powerful Apple Intelligence capabilities: Built seamlessly into iPadOS with groundbreaking privacy, Apple Intelligence provides upgraders and new iPad users with intuitive features that make their experience even more helpful and powerful. ⁷

Even more value: Users coming from previous-generation iPad Air models will get faster connectivity with N1 and C1X, and M1 upgraders will also get 128GB of starting storage. iPad Air with M4 has the same starting price at just $599 for the 11-inch model, and $799 for the 13-inch model.

iPad Air and the Environment

Apple 2030 is the company’s ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by the end of this decade by reducing product emissions from their three biggest sources: materials, electricity, and transportation. iPad Air is made with 30 percent recycled content, ⁸ including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. It is manufactured with 40 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain. iPad Air is designed to be durable and repairable, and also offers industry-leading software support, while meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safe chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled. ⁹

Pricing and Availability

• The 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air with M4 will be available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations.
• The 11-inch iPad Air starts at $599 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and $749 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The 13-inch iPad Air starts at $799 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and $949 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
• With education savings, the 11-inch iPad Air starts at $549 (U.S.), and the 13-inch iPad Air starts at $749 (U.S.).
• Magic Keyboard, available in black and white, is compatible with the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air. The 11-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $269 (U.S.), and the 13-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $319 (U.S.). With education savings, the 11-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $249 (U.S.), and the 13-inch Magic Keyboard is available for $299 (U.S.).

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

¹ Results are compared to 13-inch iPad Air (M3) units with 8-core CPU and 8GB of unified memory.

² Results are compared to iPad Air (5th generation) units with 8-core CPU and 8GB of unified memory.

³ Wi-Fi 7 is available in countries and regions where supported.

⁴ Accessories sold separately.

⁵ Testing was conducted by Apple in January and February 2026. See apple.com/ipad-air for more information.

⁶ Data plan is required. 5G is available in select markets and through select carriers. Speeds vary based on site conditions and carrier. For details on 5G support, contact carrier and see apple.com/ipad/cellular .

⁷ Apple Intelligence is available in beta with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see support.apple.com/en-us/121115 .

⁸ Product recycled or renewable content is the mass of certified recycled material relative to the overall mass of the device, not including packaging or in-box accessories.

⁹ Breakdown of U.S. retail packaging by weight. Adhesives, inks, and coatings are excluded from Apple’s calculations.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple Newsroom ( www.apple.com/newsroom ), or email Apple’s Media Helpline at media.help@apple.com .

© 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPad Air, iPadOS, Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard, iPad, Apple Creator Studio, Pixelmator Pro, Final Cut Pro, AirDrop, Apple Pencil, Find My, Smart Connector, Apple Intelligence, Apple Store, AppleCare, AppleCare+, Apple Care One, Apple Card, and Daily Cash are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260302883514/en/

Press Contacts:
Skylar Eisenhart
Apple
s_eisenhart@apple.com

Tara Courtney
Apple
tcourtney@apple.com

Bold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: BOL,OTC:BVLDF) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Bold’) is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement dated February 27, 2026 (the ‘Vending Agreement’) with 2099840 Ontario Inc. oa Emerald Geological Services (‘EGS’) to acquire 6 staked mining claims (the ‘Additional Claims’) contiguous to its Joutel Property, located 140 km northwest of Val d’Or, Quebec in consideration for the issuance of 750,000 common shares of the Company to EGS (the ‘Transaction’). EGS is a non-arm’s length party controlled by Bruce MacLachlan, President and COO of Bold, and Coleman Robertson, VP Exploration of Bold. The Additional Claims cover versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEMTM) geophysical anomalies from a 2012 survey carried out on the Joutel Property by Bold. Anomalous area 3B (see Figure 1) is associated with historical diamond drill hole intercepts of 0.83% Nickel over 3.7 metres including 1.27% nickel over 2.3 metres, as well as 0.51 gt gold over 3.05 metres (see Figure 2). The Vending Agreement and Transaction are subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Bold CEO David Graham commented that ‘we are pleased to have re-assembled our Joutel claims. Our 2012 VTEM survey outlined a number of anomalies that we believe are prospective for Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Gold (Au) and Silver (Ag). We are excited to explore these anomalies to generate what we anticipate will be high potential drill targets.’

Bruce MacLachlan, President and COO of Bold Ventures and President and CEO of EGS, stated: ‘The proposed acquisition of the EGS claims is a major step forward for Bold’s Joutel project, which will become a consolidated land package of 58 claims comprising 3217 hectares covering numerous geophysical anomalies associated with known base and precious metal mineralization. We anticipate a ground geophysical survey this winter to better define these geophysical anomalies in advance of drilling.’

The transaction is a related party transaction as EGS is a non-arm’s length party controlled by Bruce MacLachlan and Coleman Robertson, two insiders of the Company. The related party transaction is exempt from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (‘MI 61-101‘) by virtue of the exemptions contained in sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1) (a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration for the securities of the Company to be issued to EGS does not exceed 25% of its market capitalization.

Figure 1: Joutel property claims on 2012 VTEM^TM conductors.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5762/285801_7b9b5a63046319eb_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Historical diamond drill hole intersections on EGS claims

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/5762/285801_7b9b5a63046319eb_002full.jpg

About the Joutel Property

The Joutel claim group of Bold Ventures Inc. (‘Bold‘) is located approximately 140 km northwest of the city of Val d’Or, Québec, and 6 kilometres south-southeast of the historical mining town of Joutel, Québec, in Poirier and Dalet Townships (see Figure 3). The property currently consists of 52 staked claims.

The property area was previously worked by Bold in 2012, when Bold flew a versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEM^TM) survey over the area. Bold let the Additional Claims lapse in 2014 and the Additional Claims were acquired by EGS before Bruce MacLachlan and Coleman Robertson became insiders of Bold. In the northern part of the current property, the 2012 survey identified anomalous area 3B which is spatially associated with historical values in diamond drill core of 0.83% nickel over 3.7 metres including 1.27% nickel over 2.3 metres, as well as 0.51 g/t gold over 3.05 metres (see Figure 1 and Figure 2). Historical holes also intersected anomalous copper and zinc. In the southern part of the property where anomalous areas 3C and 3D were identified by the airborne survey, there is one drill hole totaling 155 meters recorded in the Quebec drillhole database (https://sigeom.mines.gouv.qc.ca).

Known deposits within 11 kilometres of the northern property boundary include the past-producing Joutel gold mine, the Poirier base metal mine, the Joutel copper deposit, and the Explo-Zinc base metal deposit (see Figure 3). For more information refer to the Joutel Property information page on Bold’s website.

Figure 3: Joutel property nearby deposits

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The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Coleman Robertson, B.Sc., P. Geo., the Company’s V.P. Exploration and a qualified person (QP) for the purposes of NI 43-101.

Bold Ventures management believes our suite of Battery, Critical and Precious Metals exploration projects are an ideal combination of exploration potential meeting future demand. Our target commodities are comprised of: Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd) and Chromium (Cr). The Critical Metals list and a description of the Provincial and Federal electrification plans are posted on the Bold website here.

About Bold Ventures Inc.

The Company explores for Precious, Battery and Critical Metals in Canada. Bold is exploring properties located in active gold and battery metals camps in the Thunder Bay and Wawa regions of Ontario. Bold also holds significant assets located within and around the emerging multi-metals district dubbed the Ring of Fire region, located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘will’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to such risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION
IN THE UNITED STATES

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71.8 g/t Au over 31.95 m and 76.6 g/t Au over 16.00 m at Iceberg 51.3 g/t Au over 3.40 m and 11.8 g/t Au over 9.95 m at Keats

New Found Gold Corp. (TSXV: NFG) (NYSE American: NFGC) (‘New Found Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the final results of the Company’s 2025 grade control drill program on its 100%-owned Queensway Gold Project (‘Queensway’ or the ‘Project’) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, including results from the Keats zone (‘Keats’) and Iceberg zone (‘Iceberg’) excavations in the AFZ Core (‘AFZC’), completed as part of the Company’s 2025 drill program.

Iceberg excavation highlights include:

Keats excavation highlights include:

Melissa Render, President of New Found Gold stated: ‘These final results from our highly successful 2025 grade control drill program at the Keats and Iceberg excavations continue to deliver consistently high gold grades over broad widths, returning some of the best intercepts we have drilled to date at Queensway. We continue to systematically de-risk Queensway, as demonstrated by the continuity of high-grade gold mineralization in these at-surface zones targeted for early open pit mining in our 2025 PEA Phase 1 mine plan.’

Work Summary

The results presented in this release include the final 907 m of drilling in 32 diamond drill holes (‘DDH‘) from the Keats excavation (‘KEGCDP‘) and the entirety of the 2,390 m of drilling in 40 DDH from the Iceberg excavation (‘IEGCDP‘) 2025 grade control drill program (Figures 1 to 4). The KEGCDP and IEGCDP were designed to improve confidence in the distribution of high-grade, near- to at-surface gold mineralization and support mine planning as outlined in the 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (‘PEA‘) Phase 1 open pits (see the New Found Gold press release dated July 21 2025). Drill highlights, along with detailed results for these 72 DDH, are provided in Tables 1 to 3 below.

The full KEGCDP comprises 2,773 m in 84 DDH; for the previously reported KEGCDP results see the New Found Gold press releases dated December 1, 2025 and February 2, 2026 and highlights below. The full IEGCDP comprises 2,390 m of drilling in 40 DDH and all results are reported in this press release.

The KEGCDP tested a volume that is approximately 65 m long by 30 m deep by 40 m wide and the IEGCDP a volume that is approximately 60 m long by 35 m deep by 40 m wide with a drill spacing of 5 m by 5 m and includes the near- to at-surface high-grade portions of Keats and Iceberg that were exposed as part of the Company’s excavation programs (see the New Found Gold press releases dated September 23, 2024, December 2, 2024, September 25, 2025, December 1, 2025 and February 2, 2026).

Results released to date correlate well with the initial mineral resource estimate (‘MRE‘) block model and indicate strong continuity of -high grade mineralized shoots at both Keats and Iceberg, providing improved definition of their geometry, with most intervals occurring at or within a few meters of surface. The detailed geostatistical data from this phase of work will further validate the resource models, specifically by increasing confidence in grade-capping and influence-limiting parameters applied to high-grade intersections in advance of a MRE update and subsequent mine planning.

The Keats and Iceberg zones are hosted within the Keats-Baseline Fault Zone (‘KBFZ‘), a high-grade gold-bearing structure that has been defined over a current strike length of 1.9 kilometres (‘km‘). This corridor consists of a broad mineralized fault zone with limited deep drill testing to date. Drilling completed in 2024 confirms that the system extends to vertical depths of up to 1.1 km (see the New Found Gold press releases dated July 11, 2024, October 31, 2024, and April 29, 2025).

Figure 1: Plan view map of the AFZC with location of Keats and Iceberg excavation grade control drill programs.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7337/285803_de2d97bbf46729b2_001full.jpg

• Iceberg excavation grade control drill program (this press release):
  • 71.8 g/t Au over 31.95 m from 37.80 m (NFGC-25-GC-069)
  • 76.6 g/t Au over 16.00 m from 51.45 m (NFGC-25-GC-055)
  • 44.4 g/t Au over 21.55 m from 13.40 m (NFGC-25-GC-072)
  • 35.4 g/t Au over 21.20 m from 34.95 m (NFGC-25-GC-061)
  • 31.6 g/t Au over 18.65 m from 3.60 m (NFGC-25-GC-106)
  • 40.6 g/t Au over 12.70 m from 40.35 m (NFGC-25-GC-118)
  • 41.1 g/t Au over 11.40 m from 40.40 m (NFGC-25-GC-079)
  • 55.4 g/t Au over 8.30 m from 21.75 m (NFGC-25-GC-107)
  • 43.2 g/t Au over 19.85 m from 16.80 m (NFGC-25-GC-082)
  • 22.6 g/t Au over 17.55 m from 50.45 m (NFGC-25-GC-050)
  • 30.4 g/t Au over 12.90 m from 8.00 m (NFGC-25-GC-112)
  • 11.9 g/t Au over 27.55 m from 27.65 m (NFGC-25-GC-097)
  • 27.3 g/t Au over 11.70 m from 48.90 m (NFGC-25-GC-084)
  • 27.8 g/t Au over 11.45 m from 38.85 m (NFGC-25-GC-067)
  • 120 g/t Au over 2.60 m from 17.15 m (NFGC-25-GC-109)
  • 11.6 g/t Au over 26.15 m from 31.30 m (NFGC-25-GC-058)
  • 30.9 g/t Au over 9.00 m from 32.30 m (NFGC-25-GC-064)
  • 28.1 g/t Au over 9.15 m from 45.15 m (NFGC-25-GC-048)
  • 18.4 g/t Au over 12.85 m from 38.45 m (NFGC-25-GC-076)
  • 26.7 g/t Au over 8.05 m from 16.45 m (NFGC-25-GC-119)
  • 7.56 g/t Au over 23.85 m from 48.15 m (NFGC-25-GC-052)
  • 6.77 g/t Au over 20.05 m from 54.70 m (NFGC-25-GC-046)
  • 12.0 g/t Au over 11.05 m from 33.30 m (NFGC-25-GC-059)
  • 8.55 g/t Au over 15.40 m from 25.40 m (NFGC-25-GC-109)
  • 12.8 g/t Au over 10.10 m from 28.80 m (NFGC-25-GC-113)
  • 13.0 g/t Au over 9.90 m from 13.45 m (NFGC-25-GC-122)
  • 8.26 g/t Au over 12.55 m from 63.00 m (NFGC-25-GC-087)
  • 11.1 g/t Au over 9.05 m from 14.40 m (NFGC-25-GC-123)
  • 16.9 g/t Au over 4.15 m from 29.60 m (NFGC-25-GC-121)
  • 5.17 g/t Au over 12.40 m from 17.00 m (NFGC-25-GC-124)
  • 6.70 g/t Au over 9.20 m from 42.80 m (NFGC-25-GC-087)
  • 8.38 g/t Au over 6.85 m from 15.35 m (NFGC-25-GC-074)
  • 15.5 g/t Au over 3.65 m from 71.95 m (NFGC-25-GC-043)
  • 3.88 g/t Au over 13.10 m from 31.15 m (NFGC-25-GC-074)
  • 17.5 g/t Au over 2.80 m from 40.95 m (NFGC-25-GC-084)
  • 20.1 g/t Au over 2.35 m from 69.80 m (NFGC-25-GC-085)
  • 18.0 g/t Au over 2.30 m from 41.80 m (NFGC-25-GC-085)
  • 15.0 g/t Au over 2.70 m from 23.75 m (NFGC-25-GC-058)
  • 19.7 g/t Au over 2.05 m from 4.35 m (NFGC-25-GC-122)
  • 13.3 g/t Au over 2.85 m from 69.15 m (NFGC-25-GC-048)
  • 14.3 g/t Au over 2.60 m from 12.60 m (NFGC-25-GC-107)
  • 11.9 g/t Au over 2.80 m from 65.20 m (NFGC-25-GC-079)
  • 2.21 g/t Au over 11.55 m from 14.10 m (NFGC-25-GC-079)
  • 11.7 g/t Au over 2.20 m from 57.35 m (NFGC-25-GC-079)

• Keats excavation grade control drill program (this press release):
  • 51.3 g/t Au over 3.40 m from 54.60 m (NFGC-25-GC-115)
  • 11.8 g/t Au over 9.95 m from 13.20 m (NFGC-25-GC-065)
  • 9.73 g/t Au over 11.30 m from 9.75 m (NFGC-25-GC-063)
  • 15.9 g/t Au over 5.85 m from 4.90 m (NFGC-25-GC-115)
  • 40.3 g/t Au over 2.25 m from 23.95 m (NFGC-25-GC-068)
  • 16.9 g/t Au over 3.90 m from 1.00 m (NFGC-25-GC-071)
  • 4.22 g/t Au over 10.35 m from 5.65 m (NFGC-25-GC-066)
  • 2.56 g/t Au over 15.95 m from 0.00 m (NFGC-25-GC-100)
  • 14.5 g/t Au over 2.45 m from 10.00 m (NFGC-25-GC-096)
  • 1.41 g/t Au over 20.25 m from 20.45 m (NFGC-25-GC-102)
  • 1.73 g/t Au over 15.45 m from 4.20 m (NFGC-25-GC-062)
  • 2.37 g/t Au over 10.60 m from 23.70 m (NFGC-25-GC-111)

Figure 2: Keats and Iceberg excavations with grade control drill hole highlights.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7337/285803_de2d97bbf46729b2_002full.jpg

Figure 3: Keats longitudinal section view of grade control drill hole traces (looking northwest, +/- 12.5 m).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7337/285803_de2d97bbf46729b2_003full.jpg

Figure 4: Iceberg longitudinal section view of grade control drill hole traces (looking northwest, +/- 12.5 m).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7337/285803_de2d97bbf46729b2_004full.jpg

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Queensway drill program included 74,377 m of drilling in 614 DDH, with approximately 75% of the drilling focused on the AFZC to support advancement of the Phase 1 mine plan as outlined in the PEA and 25% focused on exploration targets such as the Dropkick zone (‘Dropkick‘). To date, approximately 45% of the results from 2025 drilling remain outstanding, in addition to channel sampling results from the Lotto excavation. These results will be reported once available.

The 2026 Queensway drill program is underway, with four drill rigs currently active (see the New Found Gold press release dated January 21, 2026). Initial 2026 infill drilling is planned to first target PEA Phase 2 open pit resource conversion, transitioning later in the year to PEA Phase 3 underground resource conversion.

The Company plans to expand its grade control drilling beginning in Q2/26. The next phase of work will leverage results from the 2025 program to optimize drill hole spacing and program scope. This will include completing grade-control drilling at the Iceberg excavation, commencing grade-control drilling at the Lotto excavation and potentially expanding the grade-control drilling at the Keats and Iceberg excavations. The objective of this work is to improve confidence in the distribution of gold mineralization and support mine planning as outlined for the PEA Phase 1 open pits.

Exploration drilling will focus on AFZC resource expansion including an initial grid-based program targeting the prospective corridor adjacent to the AFZ at Bullseye, continued step-outs at Dropkick, located 11 km north of the AFZC, and targeted segments of the AFZ at AFZ Peripheral. A regional drilling program testing advanced targets at Queensway South is in the planning phase and expected to commence in H2/26.

The Company plans to file an updated Technical Report for Queensway, which will include an updated mineral resource estimate, in Q3/26

Table 1: Drill Result Highlights.

Note that the host structures are interpreted to be moderately to steeply dipping. Infill veining in secondary structures with multiple orientations crosscutting the primary host structures are commonly observed in drill core which could result in additional uncertainty in true width. Composite intervals reported carry a minimum weighted average of 1 g/t Au diluted over a minimum core length of 2 m with a maximum of 4 m consecutive dilution when above 200 m vertical depth and 2 m consecutive dilution when below 200 m vertical depth. Included high-grade intercepts are reported as any consecutive interval with grades greater than 10 g/t Au. Grades have not been capped in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness. Details of all drill holes reported in this press release are included in Table 2 and Table 3 below.

Table 2: Summary of composite drill hole results reported in this press release for Keats and Iceberg.

Note that the host structures are interpreted to be moderately to steeply dipping. Infill veining in secondary structures with multiple orientations crosscutting the primary host structures are commonly observed in drill core which could result in additional uncertainty in true width. Composite intervals reported carry a minimum weighted average of 1 g/t Au diluted over a minimum core length of 2 m with a maximum of 4 m consecutive dilution when above 200 m vertical depth and 2 m consecutive dilution when below 200 m vertical depth. Included high-grade intercepts are reported as any consecutive interval with grades greater than 10 g/t Au. Grades have not been capped in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness.

Table 3 Details of drill holes reported in this press release.

Sampling, Sub-sampling, and Laboratory

All drilling recovers HQ core. For deep holes, the core size may be reduced to NQ at depth. The drill core is split in half using a diamond saw or a hydraulic splitter for rare intersections with incompetent core.

A geologist examines the drill core and marks out the intervals to be sampled and the cutting line. Sample lengths are mostly 1.0 meter and adjusted to respect lithological and/or mineralogical contacts and isolate narrow (<1.0m) veins or other structures that may yield higher grades.

Technicians saw the core along the defined cutting line. One half of the core is kept as a witness sample and the other half is submitted for analysis. Individual sample bags are sealed and placed into totes, which are then sealed and marked with the contents.

New Found Gold has submitted samples for gold determination by PhotonAssay to ALS Canada Ltd. (‘ALS‘) since February 2024. ALS operates under a commercial contract with New Found Gold.

Drill core samples are shipped to ALS for sample preparation in Thunder Bay, Ontario. ALS does not currently have accreditation for the PhotonAssay method at their Thunder Bay, ON laboratory. They do however have ISO/IEC 17025 (2017) accreditation for gamma ray analysis of samples for gold at their Australian labs with this method, including the Canning Vale lab in Perth, WA.

Samples submitted to ALS beginning in February 2024 received gold analysis by photon assay whereby the entire sample is crushed to approximately 70% passing 2 mm mesh. The sample is then riffle split and transferred into jars. For ‘routine’ samples that do not have VG identified and are not within a mineralized zone, one (300-500g) jar is analyzed by photon assay. If the jar assays greater than 0.8 g/t, the remaining crushed material is weighed into multiple jars and submitted for photon assay.

For samples that have VG identified, the entire crushed sample is riffle split and weighed into multiple jars that are submitted for photon assay. The assays from all jars are combined on a weight-averaged basis.

Select samples prepared at ALS are also analyzed for a multi-element ICP package (ALS method code ME-ICP61) at ALS Vancouver.

Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control, and interpretation of results are performed by qualified persons employing a rigorous Quality Assurance/Quality Control program consistent with industry best practices. Standards and blanks account for a minimum of 10% of the samples in addition to the laboratory’s internal quality assurance programs.

Quality Control data are evaluated on receipt from the laboratories for failures. Appropriate action is taken if assay results for standards and blanks fall outside allowed tolerances. All results stated have passed New Found Gold’s quality control protocols.

New Found Gold’s quality control program also includes submission of the second half of the core for approximately 2% of the drilled intervals. In addition, approximately 1% of sample pulps for mineralized samples are submitted for re-analysis to a second ISO-accredited laboratory for check assays.

The Company does not recognize any factors of drilling, sampling, or recovery that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the assay data disclosed.

The assay data disclosed in this press release have been verified by the Company’s Qualified Person against the original assay certificates.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Melissa Render, P. Geo., President, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Ms. Render consents to the publication of this press release by New Found Gold. Ms. Render certifies that this press release fairly and accurately represents the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this press release.

About New Found Gold Corp.

New Found Gold is an emerging Canadian gold producer with assets in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Company holds a 100% interest in Queensway and the Hammerdown Gold Project, which includes fully permitted milling and tailings facilities. The Company is currently focused on advancing its flagship Queensway to production and bringing the Hammerdown deposit into commercial gold production.

In July 2025, the Company completed a PEA at Queensway (see New Found Gold press release dated July 21, 2025). Recent drilling continues to yield new discoveries along strike and down dip of known gold zones, pointing to the district-scale potential that covers a +110 km strike extent along two prospective fault zones at Queensway.

Through 2025 New Found Gold built a new board of directors and management team and has a solid shareholder base which includes cornerstone investor Eric Sprott. The Company is focused on growth and value creation.

Keith Boyle, P.Eng.
Chief Executive Officer
New Found Gold Corp.

Contact

For further information on New Found Gold, please visit the Company’s website at www.newfoundgold.ca, contact us through our investor inquiry form at https://newfoundgold.ca/contact/contact-us/ or contact:

Follow us on social media at
https://www.linkedin.com/company/newfound-gold-corp
https://x.com/newfoundgold

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including relating to the Company’s 2025 drill program on its Queensway Gold Project in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and the timing, results, and interpretation and use of the results; planned reporting of the remaining results from 2025 drilling and channel sampling from the Lotto excavation; the excavation program and the timing and results thereof; future drill and excavation programs and the timing and focus thereof; exploration, drilling and mineralization at Queensway; the extent of mineralization and the continuity of high-grade gold mineralization; the potential conversion of mineral resources; the potential resource expansion; planned filing of an updated Technical Report for Queensway, including a mineral resource update, and the timing thereof; focus on growth and value creation; and the merits of Queensway. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words ‘expects’, ‘plans’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘interpreted’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘projects’, ‘aims’, ‘suggests’, ‘indicate’, ‘often’, ‘target’, ‘future’, ‘likely’, ‘pending’, ‘potential’, ‘encouraging’, ‘goal’, ‘objective’, ‘prospective’, ‘possibly’, ‘preliminary’, and similar expressions, or that events or conditions ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘may’, ‘can’, ‘could’ or ‘should’ occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSXV, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with the Company’s ability to complete exploration and drilling programs as expected, possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results and the results of the metallurgical testing program, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company’s business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company’s Annual Information Form and Management’s Discussion and Analysis, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators’ System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

¹ g/t Au = grams of gold per tonne, m = metres.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285803

Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX:CY5) advises, in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 3.13.1, that the Annual General Meeting of the Company (‘Meeting’) will be held in West Perth, Western Australia on Friday, 1 May 2026. Further details in respect of the Meeting will be provided in the Notice of Meeting to be dispatched to shareholders prior to the Meeting.

An item of business at the Meeting will be the election and re-election of certain directors. In accordance with rule 6.1(p)(i) of the Company’s Constitution, the closing date for the receipt of nominations from persons wishing to be considered for election as a director is Monday, 9 March 2026.

Any nominations must be received at the Company’s registered office no later than 5.00pm (Perth time) on Monday, 9 March 2026.

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Cygnus.

David Southam
Executive Chairman
T: +61 8 6118 1627
E: info@cygnusmetals.com

About Cygnus Metals

Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5, TSXV: CYG,OTC:CYGGF, OTCQB: CYGGF) is a diversified critical minerals exploration and development company with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. The Company is dedicated to advancing its Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec with an aggressive exploration program to drive resource growth and develop a hub-and-spoke operation model with its centralised processing facility. In addition, Cygnus has quality lithium assets with significant exploration upside in the world-class James Bay district in Quebec, and REE and base metal projects in Western Australia. The Cygnus team has a proven track record of turning exploration success into production enterprises and creating shareholder value.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.