HighGold Mining Inc. announced the start of the 2023 exploration program at the Johnson Tract polymetallic Gold Project in Southcentral Alaska, USA. The Project hosts the high-grade JT Deposit with a 1.05 Moz indicated resource at 9.39 g/t gold equivalent. The 2023 Program plans for an 8,000 meter, two rig drill program in addition to engineering, hydrogeology and environmental studies to support permitting an underground exploration ramp as part of a multi-year 'advanced exploration' plan.

Crews are now on site at the Project with drilling to commence imminently. The objective of the 2023 drill program is to expand the known zones of mineralization at the Ellis Zone and JT Deposit and to test new high-potential target areas. Key drill targets include: Ellis Zone expansion - Follow-up expansion drilling on 50 to 100-meter centers on the high- grade Au-Ag-Zn-Pb (+Cu) structurally controlled vein and breccia zone.

The Ellis Zone shows similarities to the JT Deposit and remains open in multiple directions. East Difficult Creek (Ellis Zone Regional) - A new interpretation suggests that the mineralized system hosting the Ellis Zone is large and continues north and east under cover, and across syn- mineralization faults. Drilling will test offset and geophysical targets under overburden cover towards the East Difficult Creek prospect.

JT Deposit - A significant east-west cross-fault has been identified south of the JT Deposit as the result of drilling and interpretative work completed in 2022. Drilling will test the continuation of the known mineralization to the south across this fault. South Valley Target (JT Deposit South) - A blind target under overburden cover located 1 km (1/2 mile) along strike to the south of the JT Deposit.

Drilling will test a geophysical anomaly that shares a similar signature to the JT Deposit. Anhydrite alteration, a key alteration type surrounding the JT Deposit, borders the South Valley target. In addition to drilling, the 2023 exploration program will include geological mapping, prospecting, and soil & rock sampling programs to follow-up and expand on the positive results generated from the 2022 program and refine new drill targets.

A multi-year advanced exploration plan has been developed for the Johnson Tract project designed to de-risk the JT Project and support future engineering, environmental and economic studies that evaluate the potential for a small footprint, high-grade underground mine. A key component of this plan is to establish an exploration ramp for year-round drilling from underground. The exploration ramp will provide lateral underground access from a proposed portal site located at the base of the mountain to an area immediately adjacent the lowermost portions of the currently defined JT Deposit.

The ramp will parallel the trend of mineralization and provide an ideal platform for drilling to both grow the resource and to conduct cost-effective tightly spaced definition drilling of the deepest and highest-grade portions of the JT Deposit. The exploration ramp and all related surface infrastructure including airstrip, camp and 2.6- mile (4 km) access road are located on private lands owned by Cook Inlet Region Inc., an Alaska Native regional corporation. Key elements of the advanced exploration plan to be completed in 2023: Road and Expanded Airstrip Permitting - An application for a Section 404 permit was submitted in May to the US Army Corps of Engineers to lengthen and realign the existing airstrip and constructing of approximately 2.6 miles (4 km) of access road connecting the airstrip and Johnson Tract camp to the proposed exploration portal site.

The permitting process for the road and airstrip is anticipated to take eight to 12 months to complete with the objective of having approvals in hand in advance of the 2024 field season. Geotechnical Drilling for Surface Infrastructure - A shallow geotechnical drill hole program will be completed with a track-mounted rotary drill rig to support final construction design for the road and airstrip, including evaluation of local material sites. Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Drilling for Exploration Ramp - A program of targeted geotechnical and hydrogeological core drilling (up to 1,500m of drilling) will be completed in support of permitting and design of an underground exploration ramp.

Environmental and Cultural Surveys - Various surveys will be completed to support planning and permitting efforts related to the underground exploration ramp and related infrastructure, with a plan to initiate permitting of the exploration ramp early 2024 to have in hand for 2025. Beyond the above-described Section 404 permit that is currently underway, all other permits and authorizations required for the exploration ramp and related infrastructure will be issued under State of Alaska authority. Engineering Studies - Includes preliminary studies related to project infrastructure and evaluation of potential development scenarios.