Idaho Champion Gold Strengthens Baner Gold Discovery with Near-Surface Oxide Intercepts

TORONTO, March 9, 2021 - Idaho Champion Gold Mines Canada Inc. (CSE:ITKO; OTCQB:GLDRF; FSE:1QB1)("Idaho Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the assay results for the first two holes from the 2020 diamond core drilling program at its 100% controlled Baner Gold Project ("Baner") in the producing Elk City Mining District, Elk City, Idaho.

Drilling Highlights:

• Extends the northerly trend from the 2018 discovery holes and identifies a second parallel mineralized structure
• ICGB2020-1 intersected 0.83 g/t gold ("Au") over 11 metres from 19 metres down hole, including 4.60 g/t Au over 1 metre at the top of the interval
• ICGB2020-2 intersected 0.78 g/t Au over 26.50 metres from 168.86 metres depth
  • including 1.07 g/t Au over 15.17 metres from 180.19 metres depth
  • itself including 5.70 g/t Au over 0.84 metres from 180.19 metres depth
• Intercepts include shallow oxide-hosted gold and higher-grade quartz-sulfide vein-hosted gold mineralization at depth

"We are extremely motivated by the strong mineralization encountered in the first core holes from the 2020 program. These initial results show us that the mineralized zone identified in the 2018 drill program continues to the north and remains open," commented President and CEO, Jonathan Buick. "The second hole was also important because it tested the depth extent of a quartz vein system identified through surface mapping and sampling. We believe the gold encountered in hole 2 is indicative of a new trend that aligns with the orientation of many historical workings in the Orogrande Shear Zone."

Baner Drilling Technical Summary

The 2020 drill program consisted of eleven (11) diamond drill holes totaling 2,190 metres (Figure 1). Seven drill holes (ICGB2020-1 to -6, and -11) were placed centrally in the company's claim block, targeting the northern extension of the mineralization discovered in Idaho Champion's 2018 drill program (see press releases dated 23 October 2018 through 13 November 2018 on the Company's website). Drill holes ICGB2020-7 and -8 were collared in the western area of the claim block, targeting strongly anomalous gold values in surface grab samples. Drill holes ICGB2020-9 and -10 are within the northeast corner of the claim block, targeting the historical producing BL Mine.

Table 1: Summary of Significant Assay Results from 2020 Diamond Drill Hole Program Holes 1 and 2

¹Reported intervals are down-hole lengths and not true thickness. True thickness is estimated to be 75-90% of the reported down-hole length. No gold assays are cut and intervals are calculated using a 0.1 g/t Au cutoff and a maximum of 1 metre allowable waste and a nominal threshold of significant grade-thickness at 5 gram-metres gold.

Drill hole ICGB2020-1 was drilled directly north of the 2018 drilling to determine if the mineralization discovered in 2018 continues along strike (Figures 1 and 2). It was drilled along an azimuth of 276° with a plunge of -45° to a depth of 299.31 metres. In addition to the reported intervals, ICGB2020-1 intersected significant mineralization at >0.1 g/t gold but below a 5 gram-metres threshold. These intervals include 20 individual core lengths from 1m to 9m with assays ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 g/t gold and 5 individual core lengths from 0.7m to 1.0m ranging from 1.3 to 2.2 g/t gold.

Drill hole ICGB2020-2 was drilled east of the main trend in order to target the downdip extent of mineralized quartz veins mapped at surface (Figures 1 and 3). It was directed along an azimuth of 70° with a plunge of -45° to a depth of 223.24 metres. In addition to the reported intervals, ICGB2020-1 intersected significant mineralization at >0.1 g/t gold but below a 5 gram-metres threshold. These intervals include 12 individual core lengths from 1m to 6m with assays ranging from 0.1 to 0.8 g/t gold and 2 individual core lengths of 1.0m ranging from 1.6 to 3.5 g/t gold.

Results from holes ICGB2020-1 and -2 extend the mineralized signature of the 2018 drill program, intersecting shallow oxide-hosted gold as well as high grade quartz-sulfide vein hosted gold mineralization at depth. The drill program in 2020 has served to further define the geometry of the Orogrande Shear Zone (OSZ) within the Idaho Champion claim block.

Mineralization is found to occur in two styles: shallow oxide mineralization and deeper quartz-sulfide veins and stringers (see Figures 2 and 3). Shallow oxide mineralization is dominantly hosted within strongly fractured and brecciated quartzite occurring as an oxide overprint on pre-existing quartz-sulfide vein mineralization. Deeper quartz-sulfide vein mineralization is localized by brittle structures which are commonly found at the contact between metamorphosed sedimentary rocks of the Belt Supergroup with quartz monzonite igneous dikes. The oxide-sulfide transition is usually associated with highly fractured rock, with a basal layer of rock fragments cemented by iron oxide stained clay.

Multi-element analyses of drill core indicate that arsenic, mercury, and antimony are good geochemical indicators of gold mineralization. Enrichment of lead, zinc, and weak copper is also associated with elevated gold content.

Figure 1. Locations of 2020 diamond drill holes (blue lines) in the context of the Orogrande Shear Zone and 2018 drilling (black lines). Significant Au assay intervals are shown by highlighting in the drill hole trace.

Figure 2. Interpretive geological cross section showing Au intercepts from drillhole ICGB2020-1, plotted on interpreted geology. Gold was intersected in both oxide and sulfide zones. The size of red disks corresponds to Au grade. Rock chip samples were collected from drill road cuts, and from outcrop exposed while constructing the drill pad.

Figure 3. Interpretive geological cross section showing Au intercepts from drillhole ICGB2020-2, plotted on interpreted geology. Gold was intersected in both oxide and sulfide zones. The size of red disks corresponds to Au grade. Rock chip samples were collected during reconnaissance mapping, from drill road cuts, and from outcrop exposed while constructing the drill pad

QA/QC Program

Idaho Champion Gold adheres to a regimented drill core handling and processing procedure. Core from the drill rig(s) is logged for lithology, mineralization, structure, alteration, and veining. During the logging process samples up to 1.5m core length are delineated by company geologists. Core is then photographed and sawn in half. Following sawing, individual samples are extracted from core boxes and inserted into individual sacks with a unique waterproof sample number tag and sealed. The remaining half-core is left in core boxes for storage. Sacks containing samples are kept securely indoors on site until they are transported to the assay lab.

Quality control (QC) samples are inserted into the sample stream such that there is one QC sample for every ten drill core samples. These QC samples consist of certified standards (known metallic content) and blanks (known barren of metals). Two styles of blank material were used: a coarse blank and a pulverized blank. QC sample insertions alternate between standard and blank. Additional core duplicates were inserted into the sample stream where necessitated by geology, i.e. core samples containing wide veins were sawn in half, then one half sawn into quarters and submitted as two separate samples.

This sample shipment was delivered to Bureau Veritas Minerals (BVM) in Sparks, NV. All subsequent sample shipments were delivered to American Assay Labs (AAL) in Sparks, NV, with a small number of samples being analyzed at American Analytical Services (AAS) in Osburn, Idaho. BVM, AAL, and AAS conform to ISO 17025 requirements. All drill samples and coarse blanks are crushed to 70% passing 2mm at the sample prep lab, and 1 kg material is split and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns. All samples are processed by 30-gram fire assay- inductively coupled plasma - emission spectrometry (ICP-ES). Samples are additionally analyzed for 36 or 47 element analysis by ICP-ES and/or inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples containing Au or Ag above maximum reporting limits by ICP-ES analysis are automatically re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish.

All drill intervals reported in this release are calculated using a 0.10 g/t gold cut-off grade and a maximum of 1-metre consecutive waste and a minimum 5 gram-metres of gold.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Karelse P.Geo., a consultant to the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Karelse has more than 30 years of experience in exploration and development.

About the Baner Project

The Baner Project is located within the Orogrande Shear Zone (OSZ), a 20-kilometre long and up to 1-kilometre wide regional shear zone located in Central Idaho. The OSZ is a transpressional shear zone composed of metamorphosed Proterozoic sedimentary rocks of the Belt Supergroup and granitic rocks of the Cretaceous Idaho Batholith, which is intruded by Tertiary rhyolites and dacitic dikes. Hydrothermal alteration is spatially associated with the OSZ consisting of: silicification, sericitization, and chloritization. Different types of mineral systems occur in the OSZ and along sympathetic structures in the area, most likely of Cretaceous or Tertiary ages. Mineralization may include disseminated bulk-mineable precious metal mineralization associated with sheeted or stockwork veins, hydraulic breccias and with extensive widespread alteration; but high-grade gold also occurs within discreet structurally controlled quartz veins and silicified zones.

The Baner Project is located 8 kilometers southwest of Elk City, Idaho, in the heart of the historical Orogrande-Elk City Mining District. Elk City is an historic gold mining region dating back to the 1860s that once supported more than 20 underground mines and extensive placer operations. During the 1930s there were three cyanide mills along the Crooked River processing open pit and underground sulfide ore. Exploration in the district was conducted by Cyprus Amax, Kinross Gold, and Bema during the 1980s and 1990s. Premium Exploration conducted extensive soil sampling, airborne and surface geophysics, and drilling during the period around 2010. In 2020, Endomines AB brought the Friday Gold Project into production based on a reported measured plus indicated resource of 462,000 tonnes grading 6.54 g/t gold and mined 6,600 tonnes of ore with a 3.52 g/t head grade (Endomines AB Annual Reports for 2019, 2020). The Friday Gold Project is located within the OSZ approximately 8 kilometres south of the Baner Project.

About Idaho Champion Gold Mines Inc.

Idaho Champion is a discovery-focused gold exploration company that is committed to advancing its 100% owned highly prospective mineral properties located in Idaho, United States. The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "ITKO" and on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "GLDRF". Idaho Champion is vested in Idaho with the Baner Project in Idaho County, the Champagne Project located in Butte County near Arco, and four cobalt properties in Lemhi County in the Idaho Cobalt Belt. Idaho Champion strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and a contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates. Idaho Champion takes its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Jonathan Buick"
Jonathan Buick, President and CEO

For further information, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or the Company's corporate website at www.idahochamp.com.

For further information please contact:

Nicholas Konkin, Marketing and Communications
Phone: (416) 477 7771 ext. 205
Email: nkonkin@idahochamp.com

THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

Cautionary Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Idaho Champion Gold Mines Canada Inc.