Mr. Brian Thurston reports

COPPER QUEST TO ACQUIRE 100% INTEREST IN THE KITIMAT COPPER-GOLD PROJECT

Copper Quest Exploration Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in the Kitimat copper-gold project, located approximately 10 kilometres northwest of the deepwater port community of Kitimat, B.C.

Project overview

The Kitimat copper-gold project covers approximately 2,954 hectares within the Skeena mining division of northwestern British Columbia. The project is road accessible year-round through a network of logging and mineral exploration roads extending north from Kitimat. The property benefits from exceptional infrastructure, being within 10 kilometres of tidewater, 1.5 kilometres of rail and six kilometres of high-voltage hydroelectric transmission lines.

Geologically, the project is situated within the Stikine terrane, a prolific belt that hosts numerous porphyry copper-gold systems and is underlain by Late Triassic volcanic rocks intruded by Jurassic diorite and granodiorite bodies of the Coast plutonic complex. The project's principal target area is the Jeannette copper-gold zone displaying alteration and mineralization interpreted to represent low-level intermediate-to-low-sulphidation epithermal expressions of a larger copper-gold porphyry system.

Historical exploration and highlights

Exploration on the Kitimat property dates back to the late 1960s, with multiple operators conducting geochemical, geophysical and drilling campaigns. The most significant historical work was conducted by Decade Resources Ltd. (2010), which completed 16 diamond drill holes totalling 4,437.5 metres in the Jeannette copper-gold zone. Notable results include:

• Hole J-7: 117.07 m grading 1.03 grams per tonne Au and 0.54 per cent Cu from 1.52 m to 118.60 m;
• Hole J-1: 103.65 m grading 1.00 g/t Au and 0.55 per cent Cu from 9.15 m to 112.80 m;
• Hole J-2: 107.01 m grading 0.80 g/t Au and 0.45 per cent Cu from 6.10 m to 113.11 m;
• Hole J-8: 112.20 m grading 0.41 g/t Au and 0.33 per cent Cu from 11.89 m to 124.09 m.

The mineralized intervals encountered in the 2010 drilling demonstrate continuous near-surface copper-gold mineralization extending over significant widths, remain open at depth within the Jeannette zone and occur within a broader hydrothermal system that is interpreted to extend laterally beyond the area tested.

Acquisition details

Under the terms of the agreement, Copper Quest has until Jan. 5, 2026, to complete a due diligence review of the project. Upon successful review, the company will issue two million common shares to the vendor, Bernie Kreft, on Jan. 6, 2026, as full consideration for the acquisition. The project is subject to a 2.5-per-cent net smelter return (NSR) royalty, of which 40 per cent may be repurchased by the company for $1-million. Copper Quest will also retain a right of first refusal on any transaction involving the sale of the remaining royalty interest. Mr. Kreft is a well-known Canadian prospector, entrepreneur and former star of the Discovery Channel's Yukon Gold television series. He has a long record of successful mineral discoveries and project generation across British Columbia and Yukon.

A finder's fee is payable in connection with the acquisition.

Management comments

Brian Thurston, chief executive officer of Copper Quest, commented: "The addition of the Kitimat copper-gold project demonstrates Copper Quest's continued effort to add shareholder value through the acquisition of critical mineral projects. This project is ideally located, with exceptional infrastructure, in a proven geological belt known for hosting major copper-gold systems. The strong historical drill results from the Jeannette zone speak to the potential of a larger near-surface mineralized system. We look forward to advancing this asset as part of our growing copper-gold portfolio."

Next steps

The company plans to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) analysis to integrate all historical and modern exploration data to establish a comprehensive geological and geophysical model for the Kitimat porphyry project and improve targeting precision.

Additional geological mapping, sampling and geophysical surveys may be completed to refine priority drill targets as required. Fieldwork could include ground magnetics, induced polarization (IP) and passive seismic to better define subsurface structure and mineralization trends.

A follow-up drill program would test key targets within the interpreted geology and surrounding high-grade corridors.

Qualified person

Brian G. Thurston, PGeo, the company's president and chief executive officer and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.

About copper

Despite surging demand, global copper supply remains constrained. Ore grades are declining at major mines, permitting timelines for new projects have lengthened, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping supply chains toward stable, transparent jurisdictions. Governments in Canada, the United States and allied nations have increasingly identified copper as a strategic and critical metal necessary for economic and national security. Within this context, Copper Quest's acquisition of the Kitimat copper-gold project in British Columbia positions the company to advance a discovery-stage asset in one of the world's safest and most infrastructure-rich mining jurisdictions -- precisely when new, scalable copper sources are most needed.

About Copper Quest Exploration Inc.

Copper Quest is focused on building shareholder value through the acquisition, exploration and development of its North American critical mineral portfolio of assets. The company's land package currently comprises five projects that span over 40,000 hectares in great mining jurisdictions.

Copper Quest has a 100-per-cent interest in the Stars property, a porphyry copper-molybdenum discovery, covering 9,693 hectares in central British Columbia's Bulkley porphyry belt. Contiguous to the Stars property, Copper Quest has a 100-per-cent interest in the 5,389-hectare Stellar property. Copper Quest also has an earn-in option (up to 80 per cent) and joint venture agreement on the 4,700-hectare porphyry copper-molybdenum Rip project, also in the Bulkley porphyry belt.

Copper Quest has a 100-per-cent interest in the Nekash copper-gold project, a porphyry exploration opportunity located in Lemhi county, Idaho, along the prolific Idaho-Montana porphyry copper belt, which hosts world-class systems such as Butte and Cumo. The project is fully road-accessible through maintained U.S. highways and forest service roads and currently consists of 70 unpatented federal lode claims covering 585 hectares.

Copper Quest has a 100-per-cent interest in the Thane project, located in the Quesnel terrane of Northern British Columbia, which spans over 20,658 hectares with 10 high-priority targets identified demonstrating significant copper and precious metal mineralization potential.

Copper Quest's leadership and advisory teams are senior mining industry executives who have a wealth of technical and capital markets experience and a strong record of discovering, financing, developing and operating mining projects on a global scale. Copper Quest is committed to sustainable and responsible business activities in line with industry best practices, supportive of all stakeholders, including the local communities in which it operates. The company's common shares are principally listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the symbol CQX.

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