New Found Nears Completion of Keats Trench, Begins Detailed Mapping and Sampling Program

New Found Gold Corp. (“New Found” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: NFG, NYSE-A: NFGC) is pleased to provide an update on surface trenching at the Keats Zone at its Queensway Project. New Found’s 100%-owned Queensway project comprises a 1,662km² area, accessible via the Trans-Canada Highway, 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Figure 1: Keats Trench plan view map - excavation progress as of September 28, 2023 (Photo: Business Wire)

Trench Highlights:

• Excavation of the Keats trench began in mid-August and is currently 85% through with an expected completion date in early November. As shown in Figure 1 below, the trench exposes a 200m long by 70m wide area, roughly corresponding to the known surface expression of the high-grade segment of Keats Main.
• A detailed mapping program is now underway that will provide critical geological information used to validate the current geological model. Accompanying detailed sampling will provide the information necessary for understanding the controls on mineralization at Keats, as well as lend clues to how the Keats Zone formed which will aid in future targeting.
• Prior to the Keats trench, the Keats Zone had only ever been observed in drill core and modelled in 3D, forming the basis of the Company’s geological model. As expected, the trench has revealed an extensive network of veins as well as the related Keats-Baseline Fault Zone and initial observations closely mirror our working model, but with added detail, including the presence of visible gold in areas where it was not previously identified by nearby drilling (see Figure 2).
• Keats Main starts 3m below surface at bedrock and has been drill-defined over 1.1km of strike and to a depth of 400m. The shallow portion of Keats demonstrates robust grades over significant thicknesses, a hallmark characteristic of the zone.

Greg Matheson, COO of New Found, stated: “It’s hard to describe what it’s like to finally get to see the Keats Zone exposed after all these years. As an exploration geologist having worked on this project since its discovery, this is an incredible moment to witness, and it has not disappointed. Our team of geologists is taking great enjoyment in scouring the trench, crawling over veins, searching for visible gold, and finding some excellent specimens, even in places where we did not expect them. Our senior geologist, John Fingas, has been hard at work mapping and comparing observations with our 3D model. It is a rewarding process and I am pleased to report that the 3D model is holding up well. While this work is still in its early days, detailed mapping is going to provide a plethora of information about how the Keats Zone formed and a full picture of the extent, orientations, and characteristics of the high-grade gold-bearing veins that, until now, could only be studied to a limited extent through the lens of a 6.4cm wide core sample.”

• Previously released near-surface highlight intervals from this area are mapped in Figure 1 above and include:

Table 1: Keats Near Surface Drilling Highlights

Note that the host structures are interpreted to be steeply dipping and true widths are generally estimated to be ¹70% to 95% and ²40% to 70% of reported intervals. Infill veining in secondary structures with multiple orientations crosscutting the primary host structures are commonly observed in drill core which could result in additional uncertainty in true width. Composite intervals reported carry a minimum weighted average of 1 g/t Au diluted over a minimum core length of 2m with a maximum of 4m consecutive dilution when above 200m vertical depth and 2m consecutive dilution when below 200m vertical depth. Included high-grade intercepts are reported as any consecutive interval with grades greater than 10 g/t Au. Grades have not been capped in the averaging and intervals are reported as drill thickness. Full details of drill holes previously released: NFGC-20-41 (see press release January 11, 2021); NFGC-20-37,56 (see press release February 11, 2021); NFGC-21-120 (see press release July 6, 2021); NFGC-22-593 (see press release June 6, 2022).

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Greg Matheson, P. Geo., Chief Operating Officer, and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Matheson consents to the publication of this press release dated October 24, 2023, by New Found. Mr. Matheson certifies that this press release fairly and accurately represents the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this press release.

About New Found Gold Corp.

New Found holds a 100% interest in the Queensway Project, located 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, and just 18km from Gander International Airport. The project is intersected by the Trans-Canada Highway and has logging roads crosscutting the project, high voltage electric power lines running through the project area, and easy access to a highly skilled workforce. The Company is currently undertaking a 500,000m drill program at Queensway and is well funded for this program with cash and marketable securities of approximately $29.5 million as of October 2023.

Please see the Company’s website at www.newfoundgold.ca and the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Contact

To contact the Company, please visit the Company’s website, www.newfoundgold.ca and make your request through our investor inquiry form. Our management has a pledge to be in touch with any investor inquiries within 24 hours.

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.

Forward-Looking Statement Cautions

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to surface trenching at the Keats Zone, excavation of the Keats trench, the detailed mapping and sampling program, and the timing and benefits of same; exploration, drilling and mineralization on the Company’s Queensway gold project in Newfoundland and Labrador; the interpretation of drilling and exploration results, the results of the drilling program, mineralization and the discovery of zones of high-grade gold mineralization; plans for future exploration and drilling and the timing of same; the merits of the Queensway project;; future press releases by the Company; and funding of the drilling program. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “interpreted”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “aims”, “suggests”, “indicate”, “often”, “target”, “future”, “likely”, “pending”, “potential”, “goal”, “objective”, “prospective”, “possibly”, “preliminary”, and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “can”, “could” or “should” occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made, and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration and drilling programs, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Annual Information Form and Management’s discussion and Analysis, publicly available at SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), the Canadian Securities Administrators' national system that all market participants use for filings and disclosure, for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.

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