All Company and contractor personnel are safely accounted for; drilling to resume once conditions permit

TORONTO, ONTARIO / BEARDMORE, ONTARIO – TheNewswire - July 15, 2026 – LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: LME | OTCQB: LMEFF | FSE: 5YD) ("LAURION" or the "Company") announces that, as a precautionary measure, it has temporarily suspended the Phase 1 diamond drilling program and all field activities at its 100%-owned Ishkōday Gold & Polymetallic Project (the "Project") in the Beardmore-Geraldton Greenstone Belt of Northwestern Ontario, and has safely evacuated all Company personnel, geological staff, and drilling contractor crews from site.

The decision was made in direct response to the rapidly evolving wildfire situation across Northwestern Ontario. Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources recently reported approximately 128 active wildland fires in the Northwest Fire Region, with the Ontario Provincial Police issuing mandatory evacuation orders for the community of Armstrong and several First Nations in the vicinity, and wildland fire hazard levels reaching "extreme" across parts of the region. Deteriorating air quality from wildfire smoke in the immediate vicinity of the Project made continued field work unsafe.

The Company’s on-site management, in consultation with its geological and safety personnel, made the decision to suspend the drill program and stand down field operations proactively, in advance of any order specific to the Project site, in order to prioritize the health and safety of its workforce. All personnel have been accounted for and safely relocated away from the affected area. There have been no injuries.

The Phase 1 A-Zone diamond drilling program, being carried out by Forage GeoNord, will remain suspended until local wildfire and air quality conditions improve to a level considered safe for field personnel, and until any relevant access restrictions in the area are lifted. The Company does not currently anticipate any impact on the integrity of the Project as a result of this temporary suspension. LAURION is monitoring the situation closely alongside provincial fire and emergency authorities and will provide further updates as circumstances develop, including a timeline for remobilization once it is safe to do so.

"The safety of our people comes first, always," said Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin, President and CEO of LAURION. "Our team made the right call to stand down operations well ahead of the situation reaching our site, and everyone is safe. Our thoughts are with the communities across Northwestern Ontario who have been evacuated and impacted by these fires. We will resume our field program at Ishkōday as soon as it is safe to do so and will keep shareholders informed."

About LAURION

LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (LME), OTCQB (LMEFF), and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (5YD), and is a mid-stage Canadian mineral exploration company, focused on advancing the 100%-owned Ishkōday Gold & Polymetallic Project in Northern Ontario.

 

The Ishkōday Project covers approximately 57 km² within the prolific Beardmore–Geraldton and Onaman–Tashota Greenstone Belts and hosts a single 6.0 km by 2.5 km mineralised corridor. Historical and modern exploration programs have completed over 98,000 metres of drilling, confirming a large and evolving gold-rich polymetallic mineral system.

 

LAURION's strategy emphasizes disciplined, data-driven exploration, systematic technical advancement, integrated geological modelling, and responsible capital allocation. The Company is focused on strengthening geological confidence, expanding the scale of the mineral system, and positioning the project for a future NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”). LAURION continues to evaluate opportunities that may enhance project development flexibility, including potential non-dilutive initiatives such as the evaluation of historical surface stockpile processing. The Company's objective is to build technical clarity, scale, and long-term project value before monetization, ensuring that future development decisions or strategic opportunities are supported by strong geological foundations and reduced execution risk.

 

Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin, President and CEO of LAURION, is the Company's largest shareholder, holding 17,221,306 common shares, reflecting strong alignment between management and shareholders.

 

For Further Information, Contact:

LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc.

 

Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin – President and CEO

Tel: 1-705-788-9186  Fax: 1-705-805-9256

 

Douglas Vass - Investor Relations Consultant

Email: info@laurion.ca

 

Website: http://www.LAURION.ca

Follow us on: X (@LAURION_LME), Instagram (laurionmineral) and LinkedIn

  

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events including with respect to LAURION's business, operations and condition, management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions, the impact of the aforementioned regional wildfires on the Project, the resumption of the drilling program and field operations relating to the Project (including with respect to timing), the Company's ability to advance the Ishkōday Project and achieve the Company's strategic and technical objectives (within the above-stated timeframes, if at all), including with respect to the Company's expectations regarding the MRE, the nature, focus, timing and potential results of the Company's exploration, drilling and prospecting activities, including the Company's exploration program and planned exploration and drilling activities referenced in this press release, and the statements regarding the Company's exploration or consideration of any possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities, as well as the potential outcome(s) of this process, the possible impact of any potential transactions referenced herein on the Company or any of its stakeholders, and the ability of the Company to identify and complete any potential acquisitions, mergers, financings or other transactions referenced herein, and the timing of any such transactions.

 

The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events and future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements could differ materially from those projected herein including as a result of a change in the trading price of the common shares of LAURION, the failure to obtain the consents, permits and/or approvals from applicable governmental bodies, regulators and First Nations communities, required in connection with the Company's strategic and technical objectives, the TSX Venture Exchange or any other applicable regulator not providing its approval for any strategic alternatives or transactional opportunities, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold and/or other metals, possible variations in grade or recovery rates, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the failure of contracted parties to perform, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly and annual filings, as well as any other additional documentation comprising the Company's public disclosure record, for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. All sample values disclosed in this press release are from grab samples, which by their nature, are not necessarily representative of overall grades of mineralized areas. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on the assay values reported in this press release.

 

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICE PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.