Hercules Metals Intersects 273 m of 0.60% Copper, within 379 m of 0.50% Copper, including 35 m of 1.01% Copper and 6.2 g/t Silver at the Leviathan Porphyry System New 2025 Exploration Model Results in Long Intervals of Continuous
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Hercules Metals Intersects 273 m of 0.60% Copper,
within 379 m of 0.50% Copper, including 35 m of 1.01%
Copper and 6.2 g/t Silver at the Leviathan Porphyry
System
New 2025 Exploration Model Results in Long Intervals of Continuous
Copper Mineralization at Shallower Depths with Growing Significance of
Widespread Silver in Cover Rock
New 3D model now driving consistently positive results in 2025 drilling –
o Drill hole HER-25-05 intersected:
273 m of 0.60% Cu, 77 ppm Mo, and 1.8 g/t Ag,
within 379 m of 0.50% Cu, 75 ppm Mo, and 1.3 g/t Ag,
including 35 m of 1.01% Cu and 6.2 g/t Ag
o Drill hole HER-25-03, further outward from 25-05, intersected:
256 m of 0.44% Cu, 85 ppm Mo, and 0.9 g/t Ag
within 452 m of 0.37% Cu, 73 ppm Mo, and 0.9 g/t Ag
Hanging Wall Zone closer to surface – Mineralization begins at a true depth of just
110 m below surface in HER-25-05.
750 metre-wide fence completed – Assays remain pending for drill hole HER-25-15,
which completes a 750 metre-wide drill fence.
Building continuity – Drilling with a new exploration model this season is building
continuity in both the Hanging Wall Zone (this news release) and Footwall Zone (see
Hercules news release dated September 17, 2025), with a systematic grid-based
approach that allows vectoring toward the highest-grade centre of each drill fence.
Widespread silver in cover rock – Recent strength in silver prices has renewed
interest in the potential to view Leviathan as a larger-scale open-pit target,
encompassing the deeper porphyry mineralization together with widespread low-grade
silver in the near-surface cover rock.
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Additional catalysts ahead – Assay results are now pending for an additional seven
(7) completed holes now in the lab, with additional sample shipments ongoing, and
drilling continuing.
Toronto, Ontario / October 22, 2025 – Hercules Metals Corp. (“Hercules” or the
“Company”) ( TSX-V: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) (FRA: C0X) is pleased to report further
results from its 2025 drilling campaign at the Company’s flagship Leviathan porphyry
copper discovery, located on its Hercules Property in western Idaho (the “Property”).
Results are now demonstrating continuity in the Hanging Wall Zone, with HER-25-05 (“25-
05”) returning 273 m of 0.60% Cu, 77 ppm Mo, and 1.8 g/t Ag, within a broader interval of
379 m of 0.50% Cu, 75 ppm Mo, and 1.5 g/t silver , beginning at 110 m true depth below
surface. HER-25-03 (“25-03”), drilled further outward along the same fence, intersected 256
m of 0.44% Cu, 85 ppm Mo, and 0.9 g/t Ag within 452 m of 0.37% Cu, 73 ppm Mo, and
0.86 g/t Ag.
Assays for HER-25-15 are pending and will complete this fence, delineating the full width of
mineralization across both the Hanging Wall and Footwall zones on this section. With five
additional fences drilled at 200-metre spacing this season, continuity is building rapidly
across the Leviathan system. And, by applying a systematic, model-driven approach, the
Company is able to identify and delineate where the highest-grade core is centred on each
drill fence, guiding additional infill drilling.
Drill hole HER-25-04 (“25-04”) was deemed to have been collared away from the centre, at
a dip later determined to be too steep, and was terminated in a late-mineral dyke. However,
prior to encountering the late-mineral dyke, assay results revealed a consistent increase in
copper within the surrounding volcanic host rock. The final 85 metres immediately preceding
the dyke averaged 0.30% Cu, including a final 38 metre interval grading 0.48% Cu,
supporting higher grades being located west of 25-04, where the centre of the system is
now inferred.
Table 1: Highlight Intervals
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu (%) Ag (g/t) Mo (ppm)
HER-25-03 181.66 633.98 452.32 0.37 0.9 73
Including 295.66 551.69 256.03 0.44 0.9 85
HER-25-05 131.06 510.51 379.45 0.50 1.5 75
Including 131.06 403.86 272.8 0.60 1.8 77
Including 181.05 215.8 34.75 1.01 6.2 32
HER-25-04 236.22 321.29 85.07 0.30 1.0 41
Including 283.01 321.29 38.28 0.48 0.9 53
The intercepts reported in this table represent drilled intervals and insufficient data is available at this time to state the true thickness of
the mineralized intervals.
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Chris Paul, CEO and Director of Hercules Metals, commented, “2025 drilling continues
to show dramatic improvements as follow-up drilling continues, thanks to the utilization of
our 3D model, guiding drilling across the porphyry system. With long intervals of up to 0.6%
copper beginning 110 m below surface, we are now rapidly building confidence in the
continuity of stronger grades over a significant strike length.”
“We are employing a systematic, fence-based drilling strategy with the objective of
delineating where the highest-grade mineralization occurs on each 200 metre-spaced fence.
We are still awaiting assay results on this fence and look forward to updating the market
when those results become available. By the end of the 2025 campaign, the Company will
have completed a total of six (6) 200 metre-spaced drill fences, at which time, it may evaluate
the prospect of initiating a maiden mineral resource estimate.”
Mr. Paul concluded, “The Hercules Project was initially acquired for its extensive silver
mineralization, long before the discovery of the Leviathan porphyry transformed it into one
of the most compelling new copper projects in the U.S. With silver prices strengthening,
we’re now beginning to see an opportunity to view Hercules as a larger-scale open-pit target,
encompassing both the porphyry copper system at depth and the near-surface silver
mineralization in the overlying cover rock. Recent metallurgical testing is helping to support
the optionality for a potential multi-metal system, as the project advances.”
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Figure 1: Drill plan. Grade bars for copper (orange) and molybdenum (blue) are shown, with emphasis on 2025
drill holes testing the system with the more favourable northwest drilling orientation. Also shown is the location
of Figure 2’s cross-section (B-B’). Note – assays remain pending for drill hole HER-25-15 on this fence.
COMPLETE CORE PHOTOS FOR ALL REPORTED INTERVALS WILL BE AVAILABLE
FOR VIEWING WITHIN 24 HOURS AT:
https://www.herculesmetals.com/hercules/core-photos/
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Figure 2: Cross-section B-B’ (See Figure 1 for location), showing drill holes HER-25-03 and HER-25-05. Holes
previously drilled along and in close proximity to this fence include HER-23-05, HER-23-11, and HER-24-08, as
shown. Assays remain pending for drill hole HER-25-15, located at the centre of the fence.
Mineralized Cover: A Silver Lining
The Hercules Project was originally acquired as a silver project in 2021, supported by over
300 historical drill holes that tested widespread silver mineralization hosted within the
extensive Hercules Rhyolite unit, which extends for over 3 km at surface. The subsequent
2023 discovery of the Leviathan copper porphyry, situated beneath the Hercules Rhyolite,
shifted the Company’s focus toward a much larger, deeper-seated mineralized system, with
the overlying rhyolite thereafter regarded as “cover rock.” However, recent strength in silver
prices has renewed interest in the potential to view both zones as a broad, near-surface
open-pit target, encompassing the porphyry mineralization together with widespread low-
grade silver in the cover rock at surface.
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Prior to the discovery of the Leviathan porphyry in late 2023, the Company conducted an
initial 9-hole confirmation drilling program in 2022, to validate the historical drilling grades
reported by previous operators (Table 2). The results were in line with historically reported
grades and widths, providing confidence in the historical drilling data.
While several zones of higher-grade silver occur on the Property — including the Hercules
Adit, Frogpond, Belmont, Grade Creek, and Hercules Ridge zones — widespread low-grade
silver is also disseminated throughout the Hercules Rhyolite unit, which forms a significant
portion of the Jurassic cover sequence overlying the Leviathan porphyry system. It should
be noted that, due to lower silver prices at the time and silver being the primary exploration
target, a 35 g/t Ag cutoff was applied when reporting intercepts from the 2022 drilling
program. A lower cutoff may be considered in future evaluations, particularly in the context
of a potential stripping scenario of the cover rock above Leviathan.
Initial metallurgical testing conducted in 2023 demonstrated that the silver in the Hercules
Rhyolite is amenable to cyanide leaching. By applying a sulfurous acid pre-leach to first
extract the manganese content, silver recoveries of 86% and 82% were achieved for oxide
and sulfide mineralization, respectively (see Hercules news release dated December 3,
2024). The metallurgical work conducted in 2023 was preliminary by nature and additional
test work is required. Nonetheless, the results demonstrated the potential amenability of the
silver mineralization for extraction.
Table 2: Hercules Metals Reported 2022 Drilling Intercepts, at 35 g/t Ag Cutoff
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%)
HER-22-01 25.91 64.01 (EOH) 38.10 353 0.16 0.64 2.28
Including 28.96 33.53 4.57 791 0.18 1.25 4.06
HER-22-02 48.77 56.39 7.60 52 0.03 0.08 0.45
HER-22-03 4.57 21.34 16.76 54 0.03 0.08 0.17
HER-22-04 6.10 12.19 6.10 40 0.01 0.17 0.18
HER-22-05 30.48 131.06 100.58 58 0.02 0.41 0.78
Including 103.63 112.78 9.14 134 0.04 1.78 1.04
Including 118.87 123.44 4.57 345 0.06 0.61 0.81
HER-22-06 24.38 59.44 35.05 38 0.01 0.49 0.80
Including 39.62 47.24 7.62 93 0.03 1.69 0.75
AND 76.20 92.96 (EOH) 16.76 16 0.01 0.16 0.57
HER-22-07 1.52 45.72 44.20 224 0.09 0.32 0.38
Including 6.10 25.91 19.81 398 0.07 0.44 0.16
HER-22-08 3.05 60.96 (EOH) 57.91 124 0.05 0.18 0.51
Including 39.62 60.96 (EOH) 21.34 252.3 0.08 0.31 0.51
Including 42.67 53.34 10.67 384.2 0.14 0.44 0.62
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HER-22-09 24.38 60.96 (EOH) 36.58 292.4 0.13 0.53 1.37
Including 35.05 45.72 10.67 750.6 0.33 1.10 2.36
The intercepts reported in this table represent drilled intervals and insufficient data is available at this time to state the true thickness of
the mineralized intervals.
Table 3: Surveyed Drill Collar Locations
Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Depth (m) Azimuth Dip
HER-25-03 511969.41 4956199.15 1438.24 687.63 315.0 -71.5
HER-25-04 512020.45 4956381.29 1515.69 336.59 315.0 -82.1
HER-25-05 511906.43 4956235.14 1438.49 703.17 315.2 -54.9
Sample Analysis and QAQC
All drill core samples were prepped and analyzed at MSA Labs in Langley, British Columbia,
an ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 certified laboratory. Samples were dried and crushed to 2 mm,
from which a 250 g sub-sample split was then pulverized to 85% passing a 75 micron sieve.
Following preparation, assays were determined by the IMS-230 method. A 0.25 g aliquot of
the prepared pulp was digested in a 4-acid solution consisting of hydrochloric, nitric,
perchloric and hydrofluoric acids. 4-acid is a near total digest and only the most highly
resistant minerals are not dissolved. The resulting solution was analyzed via ICP-MS and
ICP-ES for 48 elements and was corrected for inter-element spectral interferences. Lower
detection limits for this procedure are 0.01 ppm for silver, 0.5 ppm for lead, 2 ppm for zinc,
and 0.2 ppm for copper. Mercury is not reported due to volatilization in reaction with
hydrofluoric acid and gold is not reported due to the small, 0.25 g aliquot size being
insufficient to overcome the nugget effect.
Samples with initial results beyond the upper detection limit of the IMS-230 method were
analyzed by procedures ICF-6Ag, ICF-6Cu, ICF-6Pb and ICF-6Zn. The thresholds are 100
ppm for silver, and >1% for copper, lead and zinc.
A 30 g split from the crushed and pulverized samples are being composited into larger 300 g
composite samples (consisting of ten continuous samples) and will be analyzed for gold
utilizing CPA-Au1 photon assay method. Any material gold results from the composite
samples will require additional analytical work for reporting.
MSA Labs employs internal quality control standards, duplicates and blank samples at set
frequencies.
Blind certified reference materials (CRMs) and blank samples were systematically inserted
by the Company into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company’s quality
assurance/quality control protocol.
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Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and
approved for disclosure by Dillon Hume, P.Geo. and Vice President, Exploration for the
Company. Mr. Hume is a "Qualified Person" for Hercules Metals within the meaning of
National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Hercules Metals Corp.
Hercules Metals Corp. (TSXV: BIG) (OTCQB: BADEF) (FWB: C0X) is an exploration
Company focused on developing America’s newest porphyry copper district, in Idaho.
The 100% owned Hercules Project located northwest of Cambridge, hosts the newly
discovered Leviathan porphyry copper system, one of the most important new discoveries
in the region to date. The Company is well positioned for growth through continued drilling,
supported by a strategic investment from Barrick Mining Corporation.
With the potential for significant scale, the Company’s management and board of directors
aims to build on its proven track record which includes the discovery and development of
numerous precious metals projects worldwide.
For further information please contact:
Chris Paul
CEO & Director
Telephone +1 (604) 670-5527
Email: [email protected]
Greg DiTomaso
Investor Relations
Telephone: +1 (647) 243-4074
Email: [email protected]
Dillon Hume
VP, Exploration
Telephone: +1 (604) 283-2043
Email: [email protected]
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any
of the securities in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not and will not
be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ U.S.
Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United