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Kestrel Gold Reports 2025 Diamond Drill Results from Its 100% Owned QCM Gold Property, British Columbia (Pursuant to Option to Earn in Agreement with Centerra Gold) with Grades Reporting up to 72 Metres of 0.60 g/t Gold on the Main Zone and 22.35 Metres of 0.66 g/t Gold on the 14 Vein

Drill Results Property Options & Staking Exploration Programs

NEWS RELEASE

KESTREL GOLD REPORTS 2025 DIAMOND DRILL RESULTS FROM ITS 100% OWNED QCM GOLD PROPERTY, BRITISH COLUMBIA (PURSUANT TO OPTION TO EARN IN AGREEMENT WITH CENTERRA GOLD) WITH GRADES REPORTING UP TO 72 METRES OF 0.60 G/T GOLD ON THE MAIN ZONE AND 22.35 METRES OF 0.66 G/T GOLD ON THE 14 VEIN

Calgary, Alberta – February 10, 2026 – Kestrel Gold Inc. (“Kestrel”, TSX-V: KGC) is pleased to announce results from the 2025 diamond drilling program completed on the “Main Zone” and “14 Vein” zones at its 100%-owned QCM Gold Property, located in the Manson–Germansen area, approximately 240 kilometres northwest of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.

Highlights include:

  • Main Zone – diamond drill intersections up to 93.94 metres of 0.501 g/t Au (drill hole QCM25-036).
  • Known extents of gold mineralization at Main Zone successfully expanded to approximately 500 metres along strike, by 200 metres width and approximately 270 metres vertical depth.
  • Initial bottle roll tests of eight Main Zone samples show >90% recovery in 24 hours for all samples.
  • 14 Vein - diamond drill intersections up to 33.84 metres of 0.412 g/t Au (drill hole QCM25-019).
  • Known extents of gold mineralization at 14 Vein successfully expanded to approximately 300 metres along strike, by 20 metres width and approximately 60 metres vertical depth.
  • Visible gold encountered in Main Zone holes QCM25-006 (125.72 m depth) and QCM25-035 (362.21 m depth), and in 14 Vein hole QCM25-030 (104.3 m depth).

Exploration at the QCM Gold Property is being conducted by Centerra Gold Inc. (“Centerra”, TSX: CG or NYSE: CGAU) pursuant to an option agreement under which Centerra may earn up to a 75% interest in the QCM project. Centerra is required to make aggregate cash payments of $900,000 to Kestrel Gold Inc. and complete $6.5 million in exploration expenditures, including a minimum of 13,500 metres of drilling, by May 7, 2029.

Pat Lynch, President and CEO of Kestrel, states: “We are strongly encouraged by the potential for QCM to host significant mineralization in both Main Zone and 14 Vein and Centerra’s continued project evaluation to pursue the full earn-in Option agreement. The 2025 results extending Main Zone to a 500 metre strike length, open to the north, northwest and down dip are particularly encouraging. The 2025 results for 14 Vein are the first extensive drilling completed and hold strong evidence for parallel zones and to increase extents in future testing. The early stage >90% gold recovery tests demonstrated in 24- hour bottle roll tests suggest the gold is easily liberated and we look forward to further testing.”

During the 2025 field season Centerra, the project operator, was responsible for planning and execution, completing 9,110.5 metres of diamond drilling in 36 drill holes. At Main Zone, 22 diamond drill holes were completed for 6,305.5 metres and at 14 Vein, 14 diamond drill holes were completed for 2,805.00 metres.

Table 1. 2025 Diamond Drill Collars – all Drill holes Main Zone and 14 Vein

Hole IDZoneEast (NAD83)North (NAD83)Elev. (m)Azimuth (Deg.)Dip (Deg.)DEPTH (m)
QCM-25-001Main Zone4000326172606117157.0-49.8245.00
QCM-25-002Main Zone3999576172671116353.5-50.1242.00
QCM-25-003Main Zone3997756172593119290.0-60.0407.00
QCM-25-004Main Zone399772617259011922.6-45.5404.00
QCM-25-005Main Zone399951617245312353.7-46.8378.50
QCM-25-006Main Zone3999536172455123589.9-45.4330.00
QCM-25-007Main Zone40034361720291109358.2-50.4192.00
QCM-25-008Main Zone4003446172030110988.5-60.4201.00
QCM-25-009Main Zone40019561721841136358.4-45.3255.00
QCM-25-010Main Zone40027061722871169357.0-50.5252.00
QCM-25-011Main Zone4003196171920108687.8-59.8300.00
QCM-25-012Main Zone400464617194111020.2-59.9282.00
QCM-25-013Main Zone4001406172584115353.2-59.6201.00
QCM-25-014Main Zone3997486172728114738.6-44.7231.00
QCM-25-015Main Zone3996506172725115140.0-45.0276.00
QCM-25-016Main Zone3995886172835112738.7-45.1255.00
QCM-25-01714 Vein3961666179106108543.1-44.9201.00
QCM-25-01814 Vein3959686179272107742.5-45.1175.00
QCM-25-01914 Vein3960426179348107643.8-45.1175.00
QCM-25-02014 Vein3959706179400105645.0-45.0177.00
QCM-25-02114 Vein3959696179399105544.6-79.8174.00
QCM-25-02214 Vein3962176179376108143.3-44.5150.00
QCM-25-02314 Vein3962396179313107844.9-44.9116.00
QCM-25-02414 Vein3962186178931108244.5-39.8201.00
QCM-25-02514 Vein3959316179235107343.3-46.5300.00
QCM-25-02614 Vein3959316179235107343.7-62.7325.00
QCM-25-02714 Vein3959086179319107343.3-45.3175.00
QCM-25-02814 Vein3958996179484101445.2-70.3225.00
QCM-25-02914 Vein3958986179484101343.3-44.7195.00
QCM-25-03014 Vein395896617994996044.4-43.4216.00
QCM-25-031Main Zone3997776172592119243.5-46.3306.00
QCM-25-032Main Zone3999266172350120084.0-46.4372.00
QCM-25-033Main Zone4000546172356120484.5-46.0261.00
QCM-25-034Main Zone3997606172500121088.0-60.3363.00
QCM-25-035Main Zone3996336172562121544.4-45.5402.00
QCM-25-036Main Zone4001546172439117845.3-59.9150.00

Drill hole results for the drill holes QCM-25-001, 003 to 008, 010 and 014 were previously reported in the news release dated October 10, 2025, drill update on the QCM drill results.

Two zones of gold mineralization have been discovered to date at the QCM Property, the Main zone and 7.5 kilometres to the northwest, the 14 Vein. The initial drilling and discovery at 14 Vein were completed in nine Reverse Circulation (“RC”) drill holes totaling 1,124 metres in 2024. The main purpose of the 2025 diamond drilling was to extend both these discovered zones of mineralization. Main Zone gold mineralization is associated with quartz-ankerite-sulfide veins and veinlets in quartz-sericite-ankerite-albite altered greywacke and tuff assigned to the Takla Group. The 14 Vein gold mineralization is associated with quartz-ankerite-sulfide veins and veinlets in quartz-sericite-ankeritealbite altered greywacke and schist assigned to the Big Creek Group. The two zones are separated by the Manson Creek fault.

Main Zone – 2025 Drill Results

The best 2025 results were from QCM-25-006 and returned up to 137.0 metres at 0.522 g/t Au from 136.00 metres (see news release October 10, 2025). QCM-25-035 returned multiple zones of mineralization at 74 metres and 216 metres depth and up to 72 metres at 0.591 g/t Au from 319 metres depth. This drill hole tests the NW extension which remains open.

Drilling confirmed continuity of broad, lower-grade mineralization hosting discrete highergrade intervals. Drill results delineate a NW trending zone 500 metres along strike length by 200 metres width and 270 metres depth and is open to the northwest and depth. The zone of mineralization is defined to the north by Takla Sediments and the east by an interpreted fault. Mineralization is open to northwest and depth. Mineralization occurs as multiple sub-parallel vein sets and stockworks with strong structural control.

Figure 1. Main Zone Plan View Diamond Drill Hole Location Map

Diamond drill holes QCM-25-011 to 012 test a proposed north-south fault that is terminating mineralization to the east.

Diamond drill holes QCM-25-015 to 016 test a proposed north-west extension of the Main Zone.

Diamond drill hole QCM-25-035 has several zones with the most robust being 72 m of 0.591 g/t Au starting at 319 metres.

Table 2. Main Zone Summary of Significant Composite Zone Results

Hole IDZoneFrom (m)To (m)*Length (m)Gold (g/t)
QCM-25-002Main Zone3.0022.0019.000.798
Includes 2 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 7.5 g/t Au at 7 m depth
And27.00114.0087.000.230
Includes 3 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 2.3 g/t Au at 46 m depth
And119.00124.055.050.236
And128.50146.0017.500.207
QCM-25-009Main Zone66.00147.0081.000.207
Including105.00106.001.002.584
And152.00165.0013.000.378
Including160.00161.001.001.087
And170.00181.0011.000.213
QCM-25-011Main Zone85.0090.005.000.328
QCM-25-012Main Zone38.0042.004.000.186
QCM-25-013Main Zone18.0050.0032.000.216
QCM-25-015Main Zone43.0053.0010.000.149
And71.0078.877.870.108
And82.0085.003.000.125
And114.86117.002.140.17
And124.00157.2633.260.149
And162.70182.3419.640.185
QCM-25-016Main Zone225.00231.006.000.279
QCM-25-031Main Zone12.0031.0019.000.413
Includes 2 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.6 g/t Au at 19 m depth
And46.0056.0010.000.424
Including53.0054.001.002.727
And63.00146.0083.000.261
Includes 4 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.8 g/t Au at 64 m depth
And151.00 155.00172.00 159.0021.00 4.000.492 1.358
Including
And184.00193.009.000.208
And201.00208.007.000.263
And212.22221.008.780.316
And232.00262.0030.000.392
Includes 3 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.5 g/t Au at 248 m depth
And272.00298.0026.000.331
QCM-25-032Main Zone158.00166.008.000.139
And185.00186.001.001.361
And193.00267.0074.000.337
Includes 5 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.9 g/t Au at 228 m depth
And277.00294.0017.000.31
Including283.00284.001.001.376
QCM-25-033Main Zone104.00111.007.000.332
And119.00 119.00122.00 119.683.00 0.681.253 3.395
Including
And128.00144.0016.000.525
Includes 2 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.3 g/t Au at 138 m depth
And152.00224.0072.000.578
Includes 5 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.5 g/t Au at 166 m depth
And229.00233.004.000.134
And240.00243.003.000.328
QCM-25-034Main Zone93.00 97.00104.00 98.0011.00 1.000.508 1.817
Including
And118.00 127.00130.00 129.0012.00 2.000.854 3.279
Including
And135.00164.1529.150.239
And176.00196.0020.000.489
Includes 3 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.9 g/t Au at 193 m depth
And202.00263.0061.000.347
Includes 4 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.8 g/t Au at 220 m depth
And274.00302.0028.000.178
And336.00351.7015.700.375
Including348.00349.001.001.121
QCM-25-035Main Zone6281.0019.000.41
And133.00138.005.000.85
And149.00188.0039.000.3
Includes 3 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.8 g/t Au at 135 m depth
And216.00222.006.000.289 1.212
including216.00217.001.00
And228.00248.0020.000.249
Includes 2 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 1.8 g/t Au at 246 m depth
And265.00 268.00274.00 269.009.00 1.000.378 1.569
including
And319.00391.0072.000.591
Includes 10 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 11 m of 1.41 g/t Au at 359 m depth
QCM-25-036Main Zone18.06112.0093.940.501
Includes 9 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 2 m of 2.9 g/t Au at 88 m depth
  • Intervals are drilled core length; insufficient drilling has been completed to determine true widths.

** Composite grade reported as weighted average, >0.1 g/t Au cutoff and <4.01 m dilution.

Bottle Roll Metallurgical Initial Testing

Eight representative composite samples from Main Zone were sent to MSA Labs located in Prince George, BC, Canada, for preliminary cyanide leach (bottle roll) metallurgical testing. Samples ranged in head grade and lithology to provide an early-stage assessment of gold recoverability. All samples achieved greater than 90% gold recovery within 24 hours, indicating that a significant portion of the gold occurs as free or easily liberated gold. These results are considered preliminary.

14 Vein - 2025 Drill Results

Drilling at 14 Vein consists of two RC holes drilled in 2022, eight RC drill holes drilled in 2024, and 14 diamond drill holes drilled in 2025. The initial discovery was through prospecting in 2022; 2024 RC drilling showed a NW-SE trending zone of Au mineralization with grades up to 2.33 g/t Au over 44.19 metres. The Au mineralization is associated with narrow quartz-ankerite-sulfide veins hosted in quartz-sericite-ankeritealbite altered schist and greywacke. For further details see Kestrel’s October 26, 2022, news release: https://www.kestrelgold.com/news/oct-25-2022-e7yzr.

The 2025 drilling at 14 Vein further defined a NW-SE trending mineralized zone with localized higher-grade intercepts but limited lateral and vertical continuity at depth. The 14 Vein remains open along strike, and future work will focus on identifying parallel or offset zones.

The purpose of the 2025 drill program was to test the extent of mineralization along trend.

Figure 2. “14 Vein” Zone” - Plan View Diamond Drill Hole Location Map The 2025 drill program has successfully tested gold mineralization to over 300 metre strike length by 20 metres width by approximately 60 metre depth. Further 14 Vein exploration drill delineation is warranted.

Diamond drill holes QCM-25-018 to 019 returned assay results of up to 25 metres of 0.632 g/t Au from 91.00 metres depth and 17.69 metres of 0.631 from 156 metres depth. Drill hole QCM-25-018 returned four metres of 1.628 g/t Au at 165 metres depth, near to end of this hole at 175 m.

Weak mineralization in Hole QCM-25-026 appears to define the depth extent on this section.

Hole QCM-25-030, a 500 m step out to the NW was testing a high contrast resistivity anomaly, with a coincident 300 ppb Au soil sample. One 15 cm quartz vein contains a <1 mm flake of visible gold. The best interval of six metres of 0.103 g/t Au at 210 metres is at the end of the drill hole (216 m total depth).

Table 3. “14 Vein” Zone - Summary of Significant Composite Zone Results

Hole IDZoneFrom (m)To (m)*Length (m)Gold (g/t)
QCM-25-01714 Vein15.0025.0010.000.202
And43.8452.008.160.153
And106.00110.004.000.563
QCM-25-01814 Vein50.0053.653.650.399
And80.0084.004.000.316
And 91.00 116.00 25.00 0.632 Includes 3 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 5.3 g/t Au at 91 m depth
And121.00124.003.000.574
And Including133.00 146.00147.00 147.0014.00 1.000.214 1.225
And 156.31 174.00 17.69 0.631 Includes 2 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 4 m of 1.6 g/t Au at 165 m depth
QCM-25-01914 Vein11.0018.007.000.144
And Including36.00 39.5245.00 42.009.00 2.480.526 1.274
And 49.16 83.00 33.84 0.412 Includes 3 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 2 m of 1.5 g/t Au at 59 m depth
And96.0097.501.502.205
QCM-25-020 Including14 Vein47.00 47.0059.00 48.0012.00 1.000.324 1.491
And64.0067.003.000.192
And72.0075.003.000.182
QCM-25-021 Including14 Vein67.00 67.0071.40 68.004.40 1.000.667 2.153
And105.00108.003.000.328
And143.00146.003.000.158
QCM-25-022 Including14 Vein8.00 11.0012.00 12.004.00 1.000.677 1.48
And Including25.00 28.0036.00 35.0011.00 7.000.975 1.347
And144.00145.001.001.226
QCM-25-02414 Vein16.8819.002.120.516
And Including40.65 44.0053.00 47.0012.35 3.000.581 1.793
And167.00167.710.712.001
QCM-25-02514 Vein105.71112.006.290.185
And163.00171.808.800.122
And194.00201.007.000.102
And 207.00 229.35 22.35 0.661 Includes 2 zones of >1 g/t Au and up to 4 m of 1.7 g/t Au at 223 m depth
And240.00251.0011.000.253
QCM-25-026 Including14 Vein127.71 138.30142.00 139.0014.29 0.700.237 3.13
And196.00200.004.000.122
And258.00261.753.750.143
QCM-25-02714 Vein101.00104.003.000.15
QCM-25-02814 Vein33.0036.003.000.163
And41.0044.003.002.493
Including41.0043.002.003.685
And60.00 60.0066.00 61.006.00 1.000.411 1.197
Including
And79.4882.002.520.167
QCM-25-02914 Vein71.0077.006.000.111
And189.00192.203.200.184
QCM-25-03014 Vein210.00216.006.000.103at
  • Intervals are drilled core length; insufficient drilling has been completed to determine true widths.

** Composite grade reported as weighted average, >0.1 g/t Au cutoff and <5 m dilution

Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Sampling Procedures

One-metre-long intervals of half-split NQ core were sampled along the entire length of the holes. Core was split along its length by hand with a diamond blade rock saw. Samples for drillholes QCM-25-001 to 035 were sent to Bureau Veritas, an independent laboratory in Vancouver B.C. where analytical results were obtained using FA430, a fire assay method for gold. Samples for drillholes QCM-25-034 and -036 were sent to MSA Labs, an independent laboratory in Prince George B.C. where analytical results were obtained using CPA-Au1, a gamma ray analysis for gold by PhotonAssay™. Standards, blanks, field duplicates (quarter core), and crush duplicates were inserted into the sample sequence at a rate of approximately one QA/QC sample for every ten samples submitted to the labs.

An initial review of the drilling, sampling and assaying procedures did not recognize any factors that would materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the assay data disclosed.

Quality assurance in the field was provided by the operator Centerra during drilling.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Duncan McBean, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and a Director of Kestrel Gold Inc.

About Kestrel Gold

Kestrel Gold Inc. is an exploration company headquartered in western Canada and focused on the Canadian Cordillera. Kestrel has earned a 100% interest, subject to a 2% NSR royalty with buydown provisions, in the QCM Property which is an orogenic gold target located in the Manson-Germanson placer district. Kestrel has also earned a 100% interest, subject to a 2.5% NSR royalty with buydown provisions, in the KSD Property which is an orogenic gold target located in the Yukon portion of the Tintina Gold Belt. Kestrel is listed on the TSX Venture exchange under the symbol KGC. Readers are encouraged to refer to the Corporation’s website “www.kestrelgold.com” for further information.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information and statements in this news release contain certain forward-looking information. This forward-looking information relates to future events or the Corporation’s future performance, including exploration activity that could take place on the Corporation’s properties or projects. This forward-looking information is subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking information. The Corporation’s forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

For further information contact:

Pat Lynch, President and CEO Office: (403) 660-3329 Email: [email protected]