Highlights

• 2021 drilling at Hushamu targeted an under-drilled volume on the SW of the existing pit shell design area
• All four holes intercepted mineralization with grades significantly above the existing published resource grades
• HU21-01 at Hushamu intercepted 147m grading 0.31% Cu, 0.42g/t Au, 0.01% Mo, and 0.81 g/t Re, or 0.67% Cu Eq., more than 50% above the avg. Indicated Cu Eq. published resource grade at Hushamu
• Potential to increase resource grade and add tonnage in future resource estimate at Hushamu
• Northisle has completed an additional 6 holes in this area of the Hushamu deposit in 2022; results anticipated before the end of Q2 2022
• NW21-04 at Northwest Expo has intersected 33m grading 0.358g/t Au and 54m grading 0.258g/t Au, extending the gold-rich zone at Northwest Expo by approximately 175 meters to the east

Vancouver, B.C. – Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. (TSX-V: NCX) (“Northisle” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce complete assay results from its 2021 drill program. Results at Hushamu include intercepts of mineralization with grades significantly above the existing Indicated Resource estimate. At Northwest Expo, NW21-04 intersected significant gold grades which extend the gold-rich zone to the east. The remaining 2021 assays at the Northwest Expo target confirm the existence of an extensive porphyry system while results at Macintosh suggest that the significant area of alteration represents an extension of the Hushamu hydrothermal system which warrants further exploration.

Table 1: Hushamu 2021 Significant Intercepts

Copper and gold equivalent calculations based on the following metal prices which were used in the Company’s 2021 PEA on the North Island Project:
Cu = US$3.25/lb, Au = US$1,650/oz, Mo = US$10/lb, Re = $1,256/kg. Calculations assume 100% recovery; totals may not add due to rounding

Note on equivalent calculation:
Copper equivalent is determined by calculating total contained metal value/ tonne, dividing by the copper price, and then dividing the resultant number of pounds of copper by 2204.6. Gold equivalent is determined by calculating total contained metal value/tonne, dividing by the gold price, and then multiplying the resultant number of troy ounces of gold by 31.103.

Sam Lee, President & CEO of Northisle stated “Our 2021 drilling program was successful and demonstrated the potential of expanding our already large mineral resource base across our 50 km porphyry district.  Drilling at Hushamu intersected a zone of copper-gold mineralization, within the existing pit shell, which is more than 50% above the existing resource grade of the deposit.  This drilling demonstrates the potential for higher grade intercepts within the Hushamu deposit and has the potential to improve modelled tonnage and grade in future resource estimates.  With key exploration catalysts set in motion for this year at Northwest Expo, Pemberton Hills and now Hushamu, we will continue to deliver enduring value for our shareholders in 2022.”

Robin Tolbert, Vice President Exploration of Northisle added “We initiated infill drilling at Hushamu in late 2021, with a goal of targeting high priority under-drilled volumes within the PEA pit shell. These drill holes, combined with a review of previous drill logs, indicate that previous drilling intersected an interpreted fault zone which runs northwest to southeast along the south side of the deposit and which provides an opportunity for improvement to the grades and tonnage in the resource estimate in this area. Northisle is completing a comprehensive review of the assay database to understand the potential for further grade improvement as part of its proposed in-fill program.  At Northwest Expo, NW21-04 intersected significant gold grades 175m to the east of previous drilling, and drilling in zones 2 and 3 has confirmed the existence of extensive porphyry style alteration. Our upcoming IP survey in the area is anticipated to generate additional drill targets.”

Figure 1 shows the Company’s existing deposits as well as key exploration targets at the North Island Project. The Hushamu deposit forms the core of the PEA completed by the Company in 2021.

Figure 1: North Island Project Map

Hushamu 2021 Drill Results

Northisle has now received the assay results of the four drill holes from its 2021 drill program at Hushamu (HU21-01 to HU21-04), which are the first from the extensive in-fill program for the deposit which has the objective of adding drill holes in under-drilled areas of the deposit and converting Inferred Resources to Indicated Resources ahead of the Company’s planned pre-feasibility study.  Future drilling is also targeted at extending the resource to the southeast and northwest. An additional six holes have been drilled to date in 2022 and results for these are anticipated by the end of Q2 2022.  Significant intercepts from the 2021 drill holes can be found in Table 1 above.

Drill hole collar locations for the 2021 drilling at Hushamu can be found in Table 2, and the drill holes are shown in context in Figure 2, with key sections highlighted (580400E, 580700E, 580800E) in the context of the 2021 PEA proposed final pit outline as well as the surface projection of the Hushamu resource estimate.

Table 2: Hushamu 2021 Drill Hole Collar Locations

The significance of these four drill holes are:

• They have more than 50% higher grade than the average Indicated resource grade at Hushamu (per Northisle’s 2021 PEA) and potentially increase the grade in this area of the resource model
• 2021 drill holes carry rhenium values that are over two times higher than the grade identified in the global resource
  • Rhenium is generally associated with molybdenum and would be a credit on sale of that concentrate;
  • This strategic metal is one of the rarest metals in the earth’s crust, used for high temperature steel applications related to the aircraft and space industry;
• Drilling shows that mineralization extends further on some sections and indicates previous holes underestimated the grade and extent of mineralization due to faulting;
  • For example, HU21-04 on Section 580700E shows mineralization extends further south than H17-02 would indicate;

Figure 3 shows Section 580400E, where HU21-01 and HU21-02 can be seen in the context of previous drill holes.

Figure 3: Section 580400E

Figure 4 shows HU21-04 on section 580700E in context.

Figure 4: Section 580700E

The drill hole structure log for H17-02 on Figure 4: Section 580700E indicates the presence of a fault zone from 307m to 384 m, and the structure log for EC-172 on Figure 5: Section 580800E indicates the presence of a fault zone between 200 m and 454 m. This may explain the lower grades exhibited in these holes.  The objective of future additional drilling like HU21-04 on either side of these ’null’ holes is to increase the resource in these and similar areas elsewhere in the deposit.

Figure 5: Section 580800E

Northwest Expo Drilling

All assays for NW21-01 to NW21-08 have now been received. NW21-03 assay results were detailed, along with nearby historical drill holes in Zone 1, in Northisle’s press release dated January 25, 2022 and outlined a significant area of gold-rich mineralization. NW21-04 also contains significant gold intercepts, including over the last 10 metres, as shown in Table 3.  NW21-04 intersects gold-rich mineralization at a point approximately 175 metres to the east of NW21-03 and indicates that the gold rich zone could be larger than previously anticipated. As noted in the Company’s March 31, 2022 press release, Northisle intends to complete a resource definition drilling program at Northwest Expo during the second half of 2022.

Table 3: Significant Intercepts in NW21-04

The additional drill holes completed in Zones 2 and 3 provided a better understanding the porphyry system at Northwest Expo. The observed styles of alteration and mineralization in drill holes at Northwest Expo are consistent with the current hypothesis that this porphyry system is tilted to the southwest so that the core of the porphyry system lies to the northeast of NW21-08.

Northwest Expo has been the subject of several drill programs dating back to at least 2005. Current exploration is focused on gaining a better understanding of three zones, labelled Zone 1, 2, and 3. Zone 1 contains significant intercepts of gold-rich copper porphyry mineralization and is a compelling target for near-term exploration. Zone 2 exhibits extensive faulting and may represent a down faulted block. Zone 3 contains historic drill intercepts of significant (>0.1 % Cu) copper-gold porphyry mineralization from 91 metres to 176 metres in length.

The objective of the 2021 program at Northwest Expo was to drill test anomalies indicated by limited induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveys completed in 2012. A review of historical drilling from 2005 and 2007, and updated with additional data from 2008, identified several intercepts of economically significant gold and copper which are detailed below.

Figure 6 shows the location of 2021 drilling at Northwest Expo in the context of historical drilling. 2012 IP geophysics identified a 550 metre wide chargeability anomaly (>15mV/V) extending south from a line running northeast from 5619500 North (north of DDH EC-245) to 571400 East (northeast of DDH NW21-02). This anomaly is open to the northeast. The IP/mag survey planned to commence in Q2 2022 will cover that un-surveyed area.

A plan view Northwest Expo, showing the complete 2021 drill holes as well as past drilling, can be found in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Northwest Expo Zones and Drill Holes

Collar data for the relevant drill holes in Zones 1, 2 and 3 can be found on the Company’s website here.

MacIntosh Drill Program

Northisle has now reviewed the preliminary results of the 9 hole, 3,579 metre drill program to test the extensive silica-clay-pyrite (SCP) alteration and chargeability anomalies resulting from the recent geophysical survey at MacIntosh. The drilling confirmed the extensive SCP alteration of Bonanza Formation volcanics/volcaniclastics, diorite and rhyodacite in the area of the ridge south of Hushamu. However, no significant copper, gold or molybdenum values are anticipated from assays. It appears this area is a portion of the southeast arm of the Hushamu hydrothermal system. In order to address limited assay lab capacity, these assays have been deferred until later in 2022. The eastern portion of the Macintosh target is located in the western boundary of the proposed tailings/waste storage for Hushamu, and this drilling has provided increased confidence in the viability of the waste/tailings storage area. The southwest side of MacIntosh is interpreted to be faulted and remains to be explored following the detailed review of assays, geochemistry, mapping and geophysics, as this area remains very much under-drilled.

2022 Surface Geophysical Surveys

Simcoe will resume geophysical surveying on the remaining four regional targets Northwest Expo, Pemberton Hills, Red Dog and Goodspeed once snow clears from these areas. This program is anticipated to be complete in Q3 2022.

Key Exploration Catalysts

Key exploration catalysts for the coming year are detailed in Table 4:

Table 4: Key Exploration Catalysts

Logging, Sampling and Assaying Procedures

The diamond drill core logging and sampling program was carried out under a rigorous quality assurance / quality control program using industry best practices. Drill intersections in this release are typically HQ to 100 m and NQ thereafter to the end of holes. After drilling, core was logged for geology, structure, and geotechnical characteristics utilizing Geospark© core logging software, then marked for sampling and photographed on site. The cores for analyses were marked for sampling based on geological intervals with individual samples 3 m or less in length. Drill core was cut lengthwise in half with a core saw. Half-core was sent for assays reported in this news release. Prior to cutting core for assay bulk density was also determined on site by taking 20 to 25 cm lengths of whole core of each lithology at 10 m intervals. The ends of these were then cut at right angle to the core axis, retaining all pieces to be returned to the core box for later sample cutting and analysis. The diameter of each core sampled for bulk density was measured at each end with digital calipers to 3 decimal places and recorded. The length of the core was measured on four sides at 90 degrees to each other, to 2 decimal places and recorded. The software averaged the lengths and diameters. The mass of the dry core was measured twice on an Ohaus© balance to 2 decimal places. If no discrepancy occurred the measurement was recorded. If there was a discrepancy the measuring was repeated until no discrepancy between 2 measurements occurred. The density was calculated using the formula Bulk Density = π times r² times h (where r is radius of core and h is length of core). Certified standard masses are used to calibrate the scale balance used for bulk density determinations. The balance in the core logging area was levelled on a large concrete block to avoid vibration, was leveled, and surrounded by a wooden partition to avoid wind affecting the balance. The measurements were recorded in Geospark© logging software and Bulk Density calculated to 2 decimal places.
A total of 5% assay standards or blanks and 5% core duplicates are included in the sample stream as a quality control measure and are reviewed after analyses are received. Standards were obtained from WCM Minerals, Vancouver and CDN Minerals, Langley. Blanks were obtained from unmineralized course bagged limestone landscaping rock. Standards and blanks in 2021 drill results to date have been approved as acceptable. Duplicate data add to the long-term estimates of precision for assay data on the project and precision for drill results reported is deemed to be within acceptable levels. Samples were sent to the Bureau Veritas laboratory in Vancouver, BC where the samples were dried, then crushed, split and a 250 g split was pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh size pulps. Clean crush material was passed through the crusher and clean silica was pulverized between each sample. The pulps were analyzed for gold by fire assay fusion of 50 g of the 250 g split. Total gold content was determined by digesting the silver doré bead from the fusion and then analysing by ICP/ES (Bureau Veritas Code FA350-Au). All samples were also analyzed for multiple elements by taking a 0.25 g of the 250g split which was heated in HNO3, HClO4 and HF to fuming and taken to dryness. The residue was dissolved in HCl and then analyzed utilizing ICP-ES/MA (Bureau Veritas Code MA200). Bureau Veritas (Vancouver) is an independent, international ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited laboratory.
Pulps and rejects of holes with significant assay intervals are stored at Western Mineral Storage. The remaining split core is indexed and stored at Northisle logging and office facility in Port Hardy, BC.
Results in this news release are length weighted averages.

Qualified Person

Robin Tolbert, P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of Northisle and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Northisle

Northisle Copper and Gold Inc. is a Vancouver-based company whose mission is to become a leading and sustainable mineral resource company for the future. Northisle owns the North Island Project, which is one of the most promising copper and gold porphyry deposits in Canada. The North Island Project is located near Port Hardy, British Columbia on a 33,149-hectare block of mineral titles 100% owned by Northisle stretching 50 kilometres northwest from the now closed Island Copper Mine operated by BHP Billiton. Northisle recently completed an updated preliminary economic assessment for the North Island Project and is now focused on advancement of the project through a prefeasibility study while continuing exploration within this highly prospective land package.

For more information on Northisle please visit the Company’s website at www.northisle.ca.

On behalf of Northisle Copper and Gold Inc.

Nicholas Van Dyk, CFA
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: (778) 655-9582
Email: info@northisle.ca
www.northisle.ca

Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities law. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the 2021 PEA results, anticipated 2022 activities, the Company’s plans for advancement of the North Island Project, including the potential use of existing infrastructure, expectations regarding the 2022 exploration program; the Company’s plans for engagement with Indigenous nations, communities and key stakeholders, and the Company’s anticipated exploration activities. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, Northisle’s ability to implement its business strategies; risks associated with mineral exploration and production; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; stakeholder engagement; marketing and transportation costs; loss of markets; volatility of commodity prices; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; industry and government regulation; changes in legislation, income tax and regulatory matters; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations; and other risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive.

Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the expectations of management of Northisle as of the date of this news release, and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Northisle does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

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 news release.

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 news release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the reasonable beliefs of Northisle and its management as of the date of this news release; however, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based upon factors that may change and assumptions that may prove, with the passage of time, to be incorrect as a result of exploration and other risk factors associated with mineral exploration and development that are beyond the control of Northisle. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon such statements. If factors materially change or assumptions are materially incorrect, the actual results, performance or achievements of Northisle may be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Northisle does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.