Westward Gold Announces Final 2025 Drilling Results, Expansion of Land Position, and 2026 Plans at the Toiyabe Hills Property, Nevada

12:30 Uhr  |  The Newswire

Phase I framework drilling at Campfire confirmed a vertically - Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) ("Westward" or the "Company") is pleased to provide results for the remaining three reverse-circulation ("RC") drill holes of 2025 (CF25-08 through CF25-10), detail major takeaways from its +7,000-metre Phase I campaign at the Campfire Target Complex ("Campfire"), and outline next steps at Campfire and the broader Toiyabe Hills Property in Lander County, Nevada ("Toiyabe Hills", or the "Property"). The Company is also pleased to report the additional consolidation of contiguous exploration ground along the strike length of a major north-south mantle-tapping structural feature originally identified via gravity (the "Hilltop Corridor"). Since it's entrance into the Cortez District in 2021, Westward has grown its land position by over 400%.

Dr. Quinton Hennigh, Westward Chairman, commented: "I'm proud of what the team accomplished last year; not only did this campaign represent a successful proof of concept on the operational side - sinking 900-metre RC holes into an undrilled Nevada target is no small feat - Campfire itself stood on its merits in this first-pass test. The framework program accomplished exactly what we expected of it and has established a solid foundation and high confidence for focused Phase II drilling. With two additional target zones now advanced to drill-ready status, and more land to feed the exploration pipeline, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for Westward."

Phase I Campfire Drilling - Campaign Highlights:

• The wide-spaced framework drilling program was successful in achieving its primary objectives:

  • Determining the third-dimension architecture of favourable stratigraphy: lower-plate carbonate rocks (namely of the Wenban Formation) were reached from 9 of 10 drill sites at shallower-than-anticipated depths; the target area is eminently explorable (see Figure 1 below).

  • Identifying broad zones of Carlin-type alteration in lower-plate carbonate rocks: vertically-extensive decalcification (amongst other alteration types) was logged in every hole that reached the Lower Plate; the significant Carlin-type alteration cell also remains open laterally.

  • Confirming the hydrothermal system is associated with gold and Carlin-suite pathfinder elements: several holes encountered elevated gold (and anomalous arsenic, antimony, mercury and thallium); Phase II drilling will begin vectoring into discrete targets with grade potential.

• New gold zone discovered at Campfire in hole CF25-04, with 10.7 m of 0.94 g Au/t including 3.1 m of 2.50 g Au / t, a significant geochemical vector to be followed up on in 2026.

• The Company demonstrated that reverse-circulation ("RC") drilling at the Property can reach meaningful depths (+900 metres) effectively and efficiently; under-budget all-in costs led to an expanded program.

• 3D modelling has incorporated all available data (surface / downhole geochemistry, surface / downhole geology and alteration mapping, geophysics and structural data) to reveal priority Phase II targets.

  • Framework drilling footprint will also be expanded in Phase II, including to the north.

• Phase I at Campfire further demonstrated that the entire uplifted section of favourable host rocks west of the Hilltop Corridor is highly prospective for Carlin-type gold exploration; as a result, the Company has expanded its land position to cover more of its strike length (see Figures 2 and 3 below).

Figure 1: Campfire Target Complex - Completed Phase I Drill Campaign

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Refer to Westward press releases dated September 26, 2024 (for technical disclosure surrounding its 2024 geophysical programs and interpreted results), and November 13, 2024 (for technical disclosure surrounding its surface sampling programs and assay results).

Table 1: Campfire Target - 2025 Drill Hole Results

Gold intervals reported were calculated using a 0.14 g Au/t cutoff. Included intervals were calculated using a 1.00 g Au/t cutoff. All gold intervals are presented as drill hole lengths and true thicknesses of mineralization are currently unknown and estimated to be approximately 70-90% of the reported interval lengths.

2025 Land Expansion:

110 unpatented mining claims administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") were staked by the Company at the end of 2025; Westward's 100%-owned fully-contiguous land position is now comprised of 847 claims covering approximately 70 square kilometres (see Figure 2 below). These new claims are not subject to any underlying royalties or obligations with the exception of annual maintenance fees payable to the BLM and Lander County. This Property expansion is consistent with the Company's long-established strategy of consolidating ground within the third lower-plate window of the greater Cortez District (with Cortez-Cortez Hills, and Gold Acres-Pipeline representing the other two). Westward's significant footprint enables large-scale systematic exploration programs which in turn drive a robust target pipeline. Additional strategic considerations included the following:

• Capturing more of the Hilltop Corridor by expanding along strike to the south: Westward was the first operator to identify this north-south structural corridor via a property-wide gravity survey in 2024, and since then it has been recognized as a vital piece of the puzzle at Toiyabe Hills.

  • The upthrown block of lower-plate carbonates to the west (footwall) of the Hilltop Corridor is an ideal setting for Carlin-type gold exploration, and the Company expects this new ground to yield additional target zones.

• Increasing the footprint of anomalous Carlin-type geochemistry: surface sampling indicates that the large geochemical footprint at Toiyabe Hills remains open to the south; historic drill holes and turquoise prospects have also been observed. Turquoise is known to occur proximal to large Carlin-type gold deposits in Nevada.

Figure 2: Evolution of Westward's Toiyabe Hills Property

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Figure 3: Toiyabe Hills Property - 2026 Drilling Targets

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Refer to Westward press releases dated September 26, 2024 (for technical disclosure surrounding its 2024 geophysical programs and interpreted results), and November 13, 2024 (for technical disclosure surrounding its surface sampling programs and assay results).

Upcoming 2026 Field Season:

Preparations for an ambitious 2026 field season are already well underway, which will include RC and core drilling at three target zones (Campfire, SSD, El Segundo), soil and rock-chip sampling programs, geophysical surveys, and district-scale surface mapping (see Figure 4 below).

Two RC rigs have been secured and the selection process for a core rig is currently ongoing. With more target ground to cover as compared to 2025, the Company has prioritized efficiency and flexibility - including the ability to drill with RC pre-collars and core tails to mitigate difficult downhole ground conditions (CF25-09/09A as an example). At Campfire, 3D modelling has been a vital tool in consolidating and assessing target data, and Phase II will test unique structural and stratigraphic settings with grade potential, in addition to expanding vertical framework holes to the north. At the SSD Zone, a trenching program will be completed ahead of drilling in order to better map the dip and strike angles of high-grade structures and project them down into the favourable lower-plate carbonate rocks. Framework-style step-outs to the north and east will also be completed to extend the lateral extent of the oxidized gold-bearing horizon that lies under the Courtney Zone (shallow gold mineralization where the majority of historic drilling was completed). At the El Segundo Target, Phase I drilling will test a northeast-striking fault corridor that cuts a mapped anticline. Drilling will be centered around a gravity alteration cell, elevated gold, antimony and arsenic in surface rock / soil geochemistry, and will test both the footwall and hanging wall of the Hilltop Corridor. Depth to target stratigraphy in this area is significantly shallower than at Campfire, with many of the planned holes at El Segundo Zone anticipated to be collared in lower-plate carbonate rocks (Wenban Formation). Additional details surrounding specific drill sites and total planned metreage at each zone will be provided in follow-up press releases.

Figure 4: Upcoming Exploration Activities Schedule

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Note: Scheduling is based on current best estimates and is subject to change.

Extensive soil and rock-chip sampling programs will continue in 2026, with a particular focus on the newly-acquired southern ground. Those claims will also be covered by an expanded gravity survey to tie into existing geophysical data on the Property. Detailed Anaconda-style surface geologic and alteration mapping will continue across Toiyabe Hills, focused on areas within the footwall of the Hilltop Corridor that have yet to be covered. The Company expects that these large-scale systematic exploration programs will continue to feed its pipeline of priority targets, as they have in the past.

Phase I Campfire Drilling - Technical Details & Takeaways:

The wide-spaced (500-700 m) framework drill program was designed with vertical holes across a plan extent of approximately 1.5 by 2 km. This first pass cast a wide net over the vast target zone at Campfire and was intended to characterize and map down-hole geology, geochemistry, alteration, and structure - the vital data required for more precise grade-targeting in follow-up campaigns. Detailed logging of the RC chips (noting stratigraphy, alteration, and intrusive rocks) complemented multi-element assay results to build out a robust 3D Leapfrog model.

Several types of discrete targets have emerged as Phase II priorities following preliminary modeling. There appears to be a geochemical vector leading to the north: hole CF25-04 intersected the strongest gold on a gram-metre basis, followed by surrounding holes to the south, west, and east (CF25-07, -03, and -08, respectively; see Figure 1 and Table 1 above). The 10.7 m of 0.94 g Au/t (including 3.1 m of 2.50 g Au/t) in hole CF25-04 is associated with decalcified, quartz and dolomite veined silty limestone of the Wenban Formation. Additionally, a 132 metre-thick shear zone containing strong/pervasive decalcification, quartz veining and/or selvages of silicification, discrete zones of oxidation, and elevated sooty sulfides was intersected from approximately 567 m to 700 m downhole. This structural zone is reminiscent of blind compressional structures that are well-documented controls for Carlin-type gold systems throughout the neighbouring Cortez District. CF25-07 - which intersected 3.1 m of 0.80 g Au/t -demonstrated significant Carlin-type hydrothermal / thermal alteration, encountered multiple igneous dikes (both lamprophyres and quartz-feldspar porphyry), and provided the best examples of hornfels ever observed at the Property, both as quartz hornfels in the upper plate and calc-silicate hornfels in the lower plate. Westward plans to expand the vertical framework array at Campfire by stepping out to a new northern pad in 2026, and will also consider angled holes drilled from 2025 pads.

Additionally, significant faults and mineralized dikes with known dip and within robust alteration zones can be projected into the best host rocks to target discrete structural intersections where grade is likely to increase. Detailed surface mapping and soil / rock-chip sampling programs have provided meaningful vectors towards the strongest candidate structures, including an arsenic-rich lamprophyre dike (coined the "scorodike"). Westward will likely rely on core drilling and angled holes for this class of target. Subsurface structure-contour mapping has also revealed strong candidate zones for in-fill drilling within the broad Phase I array. This includes an uplifted, folded, and faulted structural target.

Figure 5: Campfire Target - CF25-08 Downhole Geology & Geochemistry

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Figure 6: Campfire Target - CF25-09A Downhole Geology & Geochemistry

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Figure 7: Campfire Target - CF25-10 Downhole Geology & Geochemistry

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Quality Assurance / Quality Control ("QA/QC")

The Company implemented a best-practices QA/QC program during its 2025 drilling campaign. All sampling was conducted under the supervision of the Company's Vice President Exploration and/or members of its technical team, and the chain of custody from the Property to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. Samples were transported directly from the field to Paragon's facility located at 1555 Industrial Way, Sparks, NV, 89431. Samples were dried at 100 degrees Celsius, crushed to 70% passing 10-mesh, riffle split 250 grams, and pulverized to 85% passing 200-mesh. Fire assay and multi-element analysis were completed at the same location. RC samples were collected in five-foot intervals. Certified standards and blanks were inserted every 13 samples for a frequency of 8% or greater. Rig duplicates, coarse duplicates, and pulp duplicates were collected or created at a frequency of 6%. Standards and blanks were sourced from MEG LLC of Lamoille, NV. All samples were analyzed for gold and either 35 additional elements (holes CF25-01 through CF25-04) or 49 additional elements (holes CF25-05 through CF25-10). Assays consist of fire assays (Au-FA30) for gold, and aqua regia / ICP-OES (35AR-OES or 50AR-MS) for multi-element geochemistry. Drill-hole deviation for the submitted holes was measured by gyroscopic down-hole surveys with tooling provided by REFLEX of Elko, NV. The deviation surveys provide accurate data about the true inclination and azimuth of the holes. Obtaining an accurate survey of the drill holes leads to a better contextual understanding of the RC samples, and a more robust 3D geological model.

Digital Marketing Services Agreement

In addition, the Company has engaged GRA Enterprises LLC, operating as National Inflation Association ("NIA"), to provide investor relations services (the "Services") for an initial six-month term, with an option for Westward to extend the agreement for an additional six months. The total fee for the initial six-month period is US$60,000. The Services include increasing awareness of the Company's activities through NIA's Inflation.us social media channels and facilitating outreach and engagement with the financial community, current shareholders, prospective investors and other key stakeholders. NIA and its affiliates currently hold no shares in Westward Gold Inc. NIA may, however, purchase or sell Company securities in the open market or through other means based on market conditions and other factors. NIA is at arm's length to Westward, has no other relationship with the Company and neither NIA nor its principal, Gerard Adams, has any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest, other than as disclosed herein. NIA can be contacted at (973) 277-7674 or at gerardadamsinflationus@gmail.com.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Robert Edie, Vice President Exploration of the Company, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Edie is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) through the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG).

About Westward Gold

Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developing the Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Trend area of Lander County, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Company may also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assets and opportunities.

For further information contact:

Andrew Nelson
Chief Financial Officer
Westward Gold Inc.
+1 (604) 828-7027

andrew@westwardgold.com

www.westwardgold.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release contains or incorporates by reference "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed, to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potential", "on track", "forecast", "budget", "target", "outlook", "continue", "plan" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of such terms.

Such statements include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the Company's expansion plans, project timelines, expected drilling targets, and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future plans and performance.

Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Company's properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Company's material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames, that current geological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may lead to a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilities of the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. These and other factors may cause the Company to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed with work programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs. Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are set out in the Company's latest management discussion and analysis under "Risks and Uncertainties", which is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information.

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