New Age Metals Expands Ring of Fire Project with Southern Extension Acquisition

Rockport, Ontario — February 12, 2026 — Leads & Copy — New Age Metals Inc. has expanded its Northern Shield Platinum Group Metals–Copper–Nickel and Critical Minerals Project in Ontario’s Ring of Fire region through staking, increasing the total project footprint to approximately 32,000 hectares (79,074 acres).

The acquisition of the southern extension strengthens the company’s land position along interpreted mafic-ultramafic geological trends within the Ring of Fire.

Harry Barr, Chairman and CEO of New Age Metals, stated that the expansion represents disciplined growth. He also acknowledged the efforts of the technical and corporate teams in securing additional prospective ground in the southern extension.

Barr noted progress toward unlocking one of Canada’s most important critical mineral regions, citing the Province and First Nation communities moving forward on the Ring of Fire supply road and transmission lines.

Highlights of the expansion include:

• 100% ownership acquired through staking with no option payments or earn-in obligations.
• Expanded land position to approximately 32,000 hectares (79,074 acres), comprising 1,560 claims.
• Proactive engagement and consultation with local First Nations, adhering to New Age Metals’ established policy.
• Capture of additional interpreted bedrock EM conductors prospective for platinum group metals and nickel-copper mineralization.
• Strengthened control along interpreted intrusive and structural trends associated with magmatic sulphide systems.
• Building upon an extensive historical exploration database, including airborne geophysics, ground EM surveys, mapping, and previous diamond drilling.
• Systematic data compilation underway to refine targets and prioritize field programs ahead of drill targeting.
• Ongoing regional consolidation strategy with continued evaluation of additional acquisitions in the immediate area.
• Strategic addition to New Age Metals’ Platinum Group Metals project pipeline, complementing the River Valley PGM Project, Genesis PGM–Cu–Ni Project, Northern Shield PGM Project, and Platreef PGM Project (Ontario).
• Government momentum continues to strengthen the district, with Ontario targeting 2026 for commencement of the Ring of Fire supply road.

The company has staked an additional 621 mining claims covering approximately 12,000 hectares (29,653 acres) in the southern extension of the project. The Northern Shield Project targets magmatic sulphide systems prospective for platinum group metals (PGM), nickel, and copper. The property is interpreted to cover portions of a layered mafic–ultramafic intrusive complex supported by historical drilling, airborne and ground geophysics, and publicly available Ontario assessment records.

The Fishtrap Lake Intrusive Complex is characterized by:

• Cyclic anorthosite–gabbro–pyroxenite stratigraphy.
• Magnetite-rich horizons.
• Localized sulphide mineralization.

These features are consistent with geological environments known globally to host stratiform PGM-bearing systems.

The Northern Shield Project is situated within the James Bay Lowlands region of Ontario, an emerging critical minerals district that includes the Ring of Fire and nearby exploration and development projects operated by groups such as Wyloo Metals.

MetalQuest Mining Inc. (“MQM”) announced on December 3, 2025, that it secured the ROF-1 Project and recently announced on January 23, 2026, the Fishhook Polymetallic Project, a critical minerals land package within the Ontario Ring of Fire. New Age Metals currently holds an equity interest in MetalQuest Mining.

Data compilation and geological interpretation will continue across the expanded land package to prioritize targets and optimize exploration planning. The company intends to advance select targets toward field validation and potential drill testing as part of its phased exploration strategy.

The Government of Ontario has declared the 230-kilometre Greenstone Transmission Line a priority project and designated Hydro One to develop and construct it. The line will run from Nipigon Bay to the area of Aroland First Nation and is expected to be completed by 2032.

The project is expected to create more than 7,000 jobs, with approximately 93% of project spending retained within Canada.

Hydro One’s President and CEO, David Lebeter, stated that the line is foundational to building a secure and reliable electricity system in the north.

Additional regional initiatives include proposed all-season access road development intended to improve connectivity, reduce exploration costs, and support long-term economic opportunities in collaboration with local First Nations communities.

Premier Doug Ford was quoted on December 23, 2025, stating that the Ring of Fire agreement will create jobs and build a more competitive economy.

Ford predicted that construction on the Ring of Fire would begin in June 2026.

Troy Gallik, P.Geo., a geological consultant to New Age Metals Inc., has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this release.

New Age Metals is focused on the discovery, exploration, and development of critical green metal projects in North America. The Company has three divisions: a Platinum Group Element division, a Lithium/Rare Metals division, an Antimony-Gold Division as well as an investment in MetalQuest Mining’s (TSXV:MQM | OTC:MQMIF) high purity Lac Otelnuk Iron Project.

The PGM Division includes the River Valley Project. In addition to River Valley, NAM owns 100% of the Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska.

On January 21st 2026, the Company recently expanded its Platinum Group Metals portfolio through the acquisition of the Northern Shield PGM Project in Ontario’s Ring of Fire region.

On February 11, 2026, the Company also acquired the Platreef PGM Project, a platinum group metals–nickel–copper (PGM–Ni–Cu) exploration property located in northwestern Ontario within the prospective Lac des Iles Igneous Complex.

The Company’s Lithium Division is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, where the Company is exploring hard rock lithium and various rare elements such as tantalum, rubidium, and cesium.

On August 6, 2025, New Age Metals announced an additional investment in a 4th critical metal. NAM currently owns approximately 9.63% and holds warrants that, if exercised with today’s issued and outstanding shares of MQM, would bring NAM to a 14.6% interest in MetalQuest Mining inc.

MetalQuest Mining inc. is developing one of North Americas largest iron projects, where approximately $120 million has been spent on the project.

Management is currently aggressively seeking new mineral acquisition opportunities on an international scale.

Source: New Age Metals