Storm Exploration Outlines 2026 Drill Program to Test Major VMS Target at Gold Standard Project

Vancouver, British Columbia — Storm Exploration Inc. has announced detailed 2026 exploration plans for its fully owned Gold Standard Project in northwestern Ontario, where the company intends to test a large volcanogenic massive sulphide, or VMS, target with ground surveys and a core drilling program. The project is located about 60 kilometres north of Fort Frances and is accessible by all-weather forestry roads.

Large Conductive Target to Be Tested

The main focus of the 2026 program is a roughly five-kilometre-long electromagnetic conductivity anomaly identified from Storm’s 2022 VTEM airborne geophysical survey. The company believes this anomaly may represent a VMS-style mineralized system, a deposit type known for hosting copper, zinc, gold, silver, and other critical minerals.

Storm plans to begin with ground geophysical surveys, geological mapping, prospecting, and soil sampling. These activities are designed to refine the target, improve the company’s understanding of the anomaly, and identify the best locations for drilling.

Planned 2026 Drill Program

After the first phase of fieldwork is completed, Storm expects to move into drilling. The company plans to drill between 10 and 15 core holes, totaling approximately 2,000 to 3,000 metres. The drilling will test for precious metals and critical minerals while also helping determine the dip, width, and continuity of any mineralized zones.

Phase 1 fieldwork is expected to begin in early June 2026, after snow conditions allow safe access. Storm expects the first phase to take about three weeks. The second phase, including drilling, is expected to begin in early July 2026, depending on results from the field surveys and sample interpretation.

Historical Drilling Supports VMS Potential

The Gold Standard target has historical support from drilling completed by International Nickel Company of Canada, known as Inco, in 1969 and 1970. Four historical holes reportedly intersected sulphide mineralization, including copper- and zinc-bearing sulphides. However, the holes were shallow, all less than 50 metres deep, and no assay results were completed at the time.

Two historical holes are especially important. One hole reportedly intersected a 21-metre interval containing alternating massive sulphides and sulphide stringers, including pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite. Another hole reportedly intersected a 19-metre interval of massive pyrite with lesser chalcopyrite, beginning at a depth of about 14.9 metres.

Gold and Copper Results Add Exploration Interest

In addition to the VMS target, Gold Standard also has high-grade gold and copper potential. The project area includes several small historical gold mines, including Sairy Gamp, HW-271, and AD34. The HW-271 mine, located about four kilometres from the electromagnetic anomaly, operated briefly in the early 1900s.

Storm collected surface rock samples near HW-271 in 2022 and reported high-grade results, including samples grading up to 166 grams per tonne gold, 197 grams per tonne silver, and 1.47% copper. Other samples returned 88.6 grams per tonne gold, 83.4 grams per tonne gold, and 77.6 grams per tonne gold, along with silver and copper values.

Project Location and Land Position

The Gold Standard Project covers 289 single-cell mineral claims across about 6,121 hectares. The property lies within the traditional territory of the Naicatchewenin and Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nations. Storm stated that it has Memorandums of Understanding with both First Nations. Drill permitting for the Gold Standard program is currently ongoing.

Management View

Storm President and CEO Bruce Counts described Gold Standard as an early-stage target with several important exploration features: a long and wide geophysical anomaly, historical sulphide intersections, and nearby high-grade gold, silver, and copper mineralization. He said the coming ground surveys, soil sampling, and drilling mark an important stage in the company’s exploration work.

Why VMS Targets Matter

VMS deposits are important in mining because they can contain multiple metals in the same system. These deposits commonly occur in ancient volcanic belts and may host copper, zinc, gold, silver, and other metals. Canada has several well-known VMS mining districts, including areas in Ontario and Quebec.

For Storm, confirming whether the five-kilometre anomaly at Gold Standard is linked to VMS mineralization would be a major step forward. The planned drill program is expected to provide stronger geological evidence and may help determine whether the system has scale, grade, and continuity.

Additional Corporate Update

Storm also announced that it has engaged Soar Financial Partners for digital marketing and investor outreach services. The agreement began on April 23, 2026, and has a one-year term. Compensation is set at US$7,500 per month, or US$90,000 for the full term. Storm also plans to grant Soar Financial 100,000 stock options at an exercise price of $0.25 per share, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Qualified Person Review

The technical information in the company’s release was reviewed and approved by Jo Price, M.Sc., MBA, P.Geo., a director of Storm Exploration and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

Outlook

The 2026 program at Gold Standard gives Storm Exploration a clear opportunity to test a large, drill-ready target in a proven mining region of northwestern Ontario. With a long electromagnetic anomaly, historical sulphide intersections, and nearby high-grade gold-copper showings, the project presents several exploration angles.

Investors and market watchers will likely focus on the results of the ground geophysics, soil sampling, and the planned core drilling campaign. While the project remains early stage and exploration results are not guaranteed, the upcoming work could provide important new data on the size and quality of the Gold Standard mineral system.

#SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM