Purecore Metals Appoints HEG & Associates for 2026 Bankier Property Exploration and Launches Market-Making and Investor Awareness Initiatives

HEG & Associates Selected to Lead 2026 Field Operations and Technical Development

Purecore Metals has appointed Kelowna-based HEG & Associates Exploration Services Inc. to oversee the planning and execution of its 2026 exploration season at the Bankier Property. HEG specializes in exploration programs across the Okanagan region, focusing on advancing early-stage projects through cost-effective, systematic field activities while maintaining operational flexibility and responsible exploration practices. The proximity of HEG’s head office—about 50 minutes from the site—provides a strategic advantage by enabling efficient field support and lowering mobilization and overall program expenses.

Peter Berdusco, Purecore’s CEO, stated: "We are excited to collaborate with HEG for the 2026 field season at Bankier. Their strong regional expertise and close location make them an ideal partner to advance our exploration efficiently and with technical precision. We eagerly anticipate the outcomes as we mobilize on the ground." This partnership aligns with Purecore’s strategy to work with contractors capable of delivering both operational efficiency and technical excellence in advancing its mineral exploration portfolio.

Bankier Property Geology and Past Exploration Insights

Purecore holds a 100% interest in the Bankier Property, an early-stage exploration asset in British Columbia’s Central Okanagan region, approximately 22 kilometres west of Peachland and near the historic Brenda Mine, a former copper–molybdenum producer currently undergoing remediation. The property features a structurally complex intrusive system composed of granodiorite and granite lithologies, intersected by alaskite dykes associated locally with alteration and mineralization.

Exploration to date has identified three MINFILE showings: Glad, Bankier, and HP. Historical and recent geochemical and geophysical surveys—including airborne magnetics, Mobile Metal Ion (MMI) soil sampling, and rock sampling—have delineated multiple multi-element anomalies in copper, molybdenum, gold, zinc, silver, lead, and uranium. These datasets form the technical foundation for the 2026 program, with HEG tasked to leverage its expertise to advance target evaluation across the property.

Details of the 2026 Summer Exploration Program

The 2026 summer exploration campaign will utilize HEG’s experience in early-stage project development to conduct geological mapping, prospecting, sampling, and target evaluation at the Bankier Property. The company has not disclosed the program’s budget, expected field duration, or specific drilling plans. The program will be executed in phases aligned with seasonal conditions and operational capabilities.

Geological mapping and prospecting aim to enhance understanding of mineralization systems and prioritize targets for future advancement. The collaboration with HEG underscores Purecore’s commitment to a systematic early-stage exploration approach, building on historical data through fresh fieldwork and integrated analysis. Outcomes from the 2026 program will guide Purecore’s long-term strategy for the Bankier asset, though no specific exploration milestones or results beyond the planned field activities were forecasted.

Market-Making Partnership with Independent Trading Group

Purecore has engaged Independent Trading Group (ITG), a Toronto-based CIRO dealer-member, to provide market-making services for its shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) and other platforms. The agreement began on May 21, 2026, for an initial one-month term, renewing monthly unless terminated with 30 days’ notice. ITG will trade Purecore shares aiming to maintain a reasonable market and enhance liquidity.

The agreement contains no performance conditions, and ITG will not receive shares or options as compensation. At signing, neither ITG nor its principals held any direct or indirect interest in Purecore securities. Founded in 1992, ITG focuses on market structure, execution, and trading, using proprietary technology to provide liquidity and execution services to public issuers and institutional investors. This market-making initiative is designed to improve trading conditions and accessibility for investors in Purecore’s common shares.

Investor Awareness and Digital Marketing Contract with Spark Newswire

Purecore has contracted Vancouver-based Spark Newswire Inc. for investor relations, financial publishing, and digital marketing services over a twelve-month term starting May 21, 2026. The company will pay Spark Newswire USD $62,500 monthly. Spark Newswire will not receive securities as compensation, and either party can terminate the agreement with 30 days’ notice.

The investor relations program aims to boost awareness and interest in Purecore through social media, digital publications, advertising, websites, and newsletters, reporting directly to the CEO. Spark Newswire is selective with clients, partnering only with organizations known for quality and credibility and working with one client per market sector at a time. Purecore and Spark Newswire operate at arm’s length with no prior relationship. This engagement reflects Purecore’s efforts to expand market presence and shareholder communication during an active exploration phase.

Purecore’s Strategic Focus on Critical Minerals Exploration

Purecore Metals Inc. identifies as a mineral exploration company advancing materials essential for modern energy systems and emerging technologies. The company is building a critical minerals portfolio aligned with long-term trends in energy, technology, and defense sectors, focusing on high-impact opportunities and disciplined execution. The Bankier Property’s copper–molybdenum potential fits this strategy, given these metals’ roles in renewable energy infrastructure and advanced technologies.

The concurrent announcements of exploration, market liquidity, and investor awareness initiatives demonstrate an integrated approach to progressing Purecore’s asset base while strengthening its capital markets presence. Investments in fieldwork, trading infrastructure, and shareholder communication indicate the company’s confidence in its portfolio’s long-term potential and commitment to transparent, disciplined advancement of early-stage mineral projects in British Columbia’s established mining regions.

Qualified Person Review and Technical Assurance

Ali Wasiliew, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this announcement. This independent review ensures that the geological and exploration data meet Canadian regulatory standards and reflect sound technical evaluation.

The Qualified Person’s involvement highlights the regulatory framework for mineral property disclosure in Canadian public markets. Investors can view this oversight as confirmation of adherence to disclosure best practices and technical rigor. The Qualified Person evaluates geological potential and exploration methods, providing an independent perspective on Purecore’s technical approach.

Capital Allocation and Operational Strategy Overview

The announcement details capital allocation across field exploration, trading infrastructure, and investor communications. The USD $62,500 monthly fee to Spark Newswire totals USD $750,000 annually for investor awareness. Costs for HEG’s engagement and the market-making agreement with ITG were not disclosed. These expenditures underscore Purecore’s prioritization of asset advancement alongside capital markets visibility and trading liquidity during an active exploration cycle.

Timing the announcements in May 2026 positions Purecore to begin field activities during favorable seasonal conditions in British Columbia’s interior plateau. This multi-faceted approach—combining field operations, liquidity provision, and shareholder communication—reflects management’s belief that successful asset advancement requires simultaneous operational execution and investor engagement. The company did not provide forward guidance on exploration results, financing, or future milestones in this release.

Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors

The announcement includes forward-looking information under Canadian securities laws, covering the planned 2026 summer exploration program, its scope, timing, geological potential of Bankier, and business objectives. These statements are based on current management expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially.

Identified risks include delays or failure to start or complete exploration, weather and access challenges, commodity price volatility, exploration results, capital availability, and market conditions. Purecore disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by law. Investors should carefully consider these risks and the inherent uncertainties of early-stage mineral exploration and commodity markets before investing.