Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2026) - Auranova Resources Inc. (TSXV: AURA) ("Auranova" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the approval of a Phase 3 diamond drill program at the South Uchi Project (the "Project"), located in the Red Lake District of Ontario and held under an option agreement with Kenorland Minerals Limited ("Kenorland").

2026 Spring Exploration Program

The Spring 2026 exploration program and budget have been approved by Auranova and will include up to 3,000 metres of drilling across six drill holes at the Papaonga target area. This phase of drilling follows the successful identification of a new gold-bearing structural corridor discovered during the Phase 2 Fall 2025 drill program (see press release dated January 28, 2026). The planned drill holes are designed as large step-outs towards the west and east, testing strike extensions of the mineralised structural corridor concealed beneath deep glacial cover. Kenorland remains the operator of the Project, and drilling activities are scheduled to commence by the end of March.

Figure 1. Plan map of Papaonga target area with planned Phase 3 drill hole locations

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The upcoming drill program will consist of a series of drill fences approximately one kilometre apart, stepping out along strike from drill holes 25PADD031 and 25PADD034, which intersected an approximately 200-metre-wide mineralised corridor characterised by strong deformation, pervasive sericite-albite-silica alteration and disseminated sulphide mineralisation within mafic to felsic volcanic stratigraphy and feldspar porphyry intrusions. Within this corridor, multiple 10-metre-scale intervals contain anomalous gold values, highlighting the potential for significant mineralisation.

Interpretation of regional magnetic datasets have identified the gold-bearing structure as a belt-parallel, east-west trending deformation zone, concealed beneath deep till and glaciolacustrine cover sequences. Despite limited bedrock exposure over the target area, grab samples from volcanic stratigraphy immediately north of the structural corridor returned values of up to 14.4 g/t Au, further underscoring the potential to host high-grade mineralisation.

Figure 2. Regional geology with significant gold deposits and South Uchi Project location

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About South Uchi Project

The South Uchi Project was first identified and staked by Kenorland based on the under-explored region's prospectivity to host significant gold mineralised systems. The Project covers a portion of Confederation Assemblage volcanic rocks, as well as the boundary between the Uchi geological subprovince to the north and the English River geological subprovince to the south. Multiple major east-west striking deformation zones associated with the subprovince boundary transect the Project, resulting in zones of strong shearing and folding of the supracrustal stratigraphy, which are favourable settings for orogenic gold mineralisation. Prior to Kenorland staking the Project, records indicated little to no systematic exploration had been completed, and the land package remained under-explored. The majority of gold deposits in the Red Lake District (Red Lake, Madsen, Hasaga, and others) are located on the northern margin of the Confederation Assemblage. However, recent discoveries such as the LP Fault Zone on the Dixie Project by Great Bear Resources Ltd. (acquired by Kinross Gold and renamed Great Bear Project) highlight the prospectivity of the entire Confederation Assemblage along the southern margin of the Uchi subprovince.

Auranova announced on December 2, 2024, that it had entered into a definitive agreement with Kenorland, granting Auranova the right to earn up to a 70% interest in the Project. Pursuant to the agreement, Auranova may earn an initial 51% interest in the Project by making cash payments totalling $500,000 to Kenorland, completing a diamond drilling program with at least $8,000,000 in qualifying expenditures or completing 15,000 metres of drilling within two years of receiving a drill permit, issuing Kenorland 19.9% of Auranova's common shares, and maintaining Kenorland's 19.9% share position until Auranova raises a minimum of $10,000,000 through share issuances, after which Kenorland's stake will remain at 10% on a pro-rata basis through to the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA").

Kenorland has received the $500,000 in cash payments and currently holds 9,242,267 common shares of Auranova and confirms that Auranova has now earned a 51% ownership interest in the Project (see press release dated July 2, 2025). Further, Auranova may earn an additional 19% interest, for a total of 70%, by incurring an additional $10,000,000 in qualifying expenditures on or before the third anniversary of Auranova's election to proceed with the second option. Kenorland will also retain a 30% carried interest in the Project through to the completion of the PEA, at which point a joint venture will be formed.

Kenorland also holds a 2% net smelter return royalty on the Project (see press release dated September 16, 2024).

Qualified Person

William Yeomans, B.Sc., P.Geo. (EGBC #027187, PGO #2177), an independent "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

About Auranova Resources

The Company is focused on the discovery of new gold systems in the Birch Uchi Belt in partnership with Kenorland Minerals Ltd. as well as expanding its presence in the greenstone belts of Ontario.

Further information can be found on the Company's website www.auranovaresources.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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.

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Source: Auranova Resources Inc.