Vancouver, British Columbia — February 26, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: MGM) (OTCQX: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G0) has announced initial assay results from seven drill holes completed during its ongoing 30,000-m winter drill campaign at its Douay and Joutel Gold Projects in Québec, Canada.
The company also announced the appointment of Pascal Lessard as Vice President, Exploration, and the promotion of Ian Cunningham-Dunlop to Executive Vice President, both effective immediately. These appointments are aimed at strengthening Maple Gold’s technical leadership as it advances resource growth across its gold projects.
Kiran Patankar, President & CEO of Maple Gold, stated that the Joutel results demonstrate that high-grade gold mineralization extends beyond the previously mined-out stopes. He added that the company’s strong cash position of approximately $30 million will support exploration through 2027.
The reported drill holes targeted shallow areas between and along strike from the historical Eagle and Telbel gold mines at Joutel. The Eagle, Eagle West and Telbel gold mines produced 1.1 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 6.5 g/t Au from 1974 to 1993.
Drilling highlights include:
Telbel mine area:
- 8.5 g/t Au over 8.0 m (drill hole JO-25-05)
- 7.6 g/t Au over 5.3 m (drill hole JO-25-01)
- 1.5 g/t Au over 6.0 m (drill hole JO-25-03)
Eagle-Telbel area:
- 1.4 g/t Au over 16.5 m (drill hole JO-25-06)
- 2.4 g/t Au over 16.0 m (drill hole JO-25-07)
Three drill holes (JO-25-01, JO-25-05 and JO-25-07) included five individual assays greater than 20.0 g/t Au with a high of 40.8 g/t Au over 0.5 m (drill hole JO-25-05).
The company has completed 39 drill holes totaling approximately 17,000 m as part of its ongoing 30,000-m program (approximately 57% complete). At Douay, drilling has focused on testing of the down-plunge extensions of the higher-grade Nika, 531, Douay West, and Porphyry West Zones. At Joutel, drilling is following-up on encouraging results from drill holes JO-25-01, JO-25-05, JO-25-06 and JO-25-07 with 50-m-spaced step-out drill holes.
Concurrent development initiatives are anticipated throughout 2026, including an updated Douay MRE and a maiden Joutel MRE expected in H1 2026, as well as an internal scoping/engineering study.
The company has also approved an inaugural 2,000 m diamond drill program at its Morris VMS Project, east of Matagami, Quebec, expected to be completed in H1 2026.
A total exploration budget of $13.9 million has been approved for 2026. Planning for additional drilling in 2026/27 is currently underway.
Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, P.Eng., Executive Vice President of Maple Gold, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information related to exploration and Mineral Resource matters contained in this news release.
The Douay/Joutel Gold Project is located adjacent to Highway 109 in the heart of Québec’s Abitibi greenstone belt. This land package includes the Douay Gold Project, which hosts a mineral resource containing 511,000 ounces of gold (Indicated) and 2.53 million ounces of gold (Inferred), as well as the past-producing, high-grade Joutel Mine Complex.
Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on advancing its 100%-owned, district-scale Douay/Joutel Gold Project located in Québec’s Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt.
Source: Maple Gold Mines Ltd.
