Mr. Peter Cashin reports

AURIGINAL-IAMGOLD ANIK JV DRILLING PROGRAM COMMENCES IN THE NELLIGAN GOLD CAMP

Auriginal Mining Corp., in partnership with Iamgold Corp. have commenced diamond drilling at the Anik joint venture property to test new high-priority gold targets. The Anik property in immediately adjacent to the northern boundary of Iamgold's prolific Nelligan gold project, 40 kilometres southwest of Chapais, Que. Access to the property is by paved Highway 113 N, which links Chapais to Chibougamau, and by forestry gravel roads that reach all points on the property.

Highlights:

• The Anik JV property is adjacent to Iamgold's Nelligan gold deposit.
• Anik straddles the eastern continuation of the Nelligan deformation zone (NDZ), host to the Nelligan gold deposit and parallel gold structures immediately to the north of the NDZ.
• Drilling is under way in the north-central portion of the Anik property, with a planned program of eight holes totalling 1,600 metres.

"We are excited to have Iamgold as a JV partner to advance the Anik gold project," said Peter Cashin, Auriginal's chief executive officer. "The property, being adjacent and to the east of the Nelligan gold project and one of Quebec's premier gold project developments, provides us with an opportunity to supplement the significant resource potential of the area. We are monitoring Iamgold's developments on their drilling plans and look forward to updates as the drilling progresses."

Anik project exploration history

The Anik property has been the subject of a comprehensive geological, geophysical, rock and soil geochemical, and diamond drilling programs between 2014 and 2025. The property straddles the eastern continuation of the geology and structure that hosts Iamgold's Nelligan gold deposit. The focus of historical work was on drill testing gold potential of the eastern continuation of the Nelligan deformation zone. To date, the best intersections on the property were returned from the Opawica West target area, which intersected 2.82 grams per tonne gold over 6.3 metres, including 9.76 g/t Au over 1.5 m (BH ANK-22-29), and 1.46 g/t Au over 6.6 m, including 4.84 g/t Au over 0.6 m (ANK-24-39).

2026 proposed drill program

Iamgold, as operator of the program, has commenced an eight-hole, 1,600-metre drill program to test gold targets in the north-central part of the Anik property. The program is designed to test important geophysical, geological and structural targets identified on this part of the property. Drilling is progressing well and has commenced on the third hole of the program. Drilling is expected to be completed in February.

Terms of the Auriginal-Iamgold Anik joint venture

The Anik project was an earn-in and joint venture agreement between Iamgold and Kintavar Exploration Inc. (currently Auriginal) comprising a total of 96 designated cells for a total surface area of 5,374.56 hectares (or 53.75 square kilometres). Under the terms of the agreement signed on May 26, 2020, Kintavar granted Iamgold an option to earn up to an 80-per-cent interest in the project.

Iamgold had a first option to acquire 75-per-cent undivided interest in the Anik project in consideration of: (a) staged cash payments totalling $600,000; and (b) the completion of $4-million in exploration expenditures on the project over a period of five years. All the option terms were met by Iamgold for the fifth and last year of the option agreement on May 26, 2025. Iamgold has exercised its first option to acquire a 75-per-cent undivided interest in the property. The Anik project is now owned 75 per cent by Iamgold and 25 per cent by Auriginal.

About Auriginal Mining Corp.

Auriginal is a Quebec-focused copper and gold company with one of the province's largest and most diversified exploration portfolios. Its 100-per-cent-owned flagship Roger project, located in the Chibougamau district, hosts a known gold-copper deposit with strong potential to host volcanic-hosted polymetallic massive sulphide deposits. With a diversified pipeline of greenfield projects across Quebec's best-known mining regions and backed by the Ore Group's proven exploration and capital markets team, Auriginal has a clear focus on discovery and growth for copper, zinc and gold. The company is well positioned to immediately execute an aggressive exploration and acquisition strategy and attract broader market attention.

Qualified person statement

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Charles Beaudry, PGeo (No. 1202) and Geo (No. 311), a director of Auriginal and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

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