Westward Gold Inc. Outlines 2025 Exploration Program for the Toiyabe Hills Project, Cortez Trend, Nevada

27.02.2025  |  The Newswire

Phase 1 drilling to focus on multiple opportunities within the Campfire Target Complex

Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) ("Westward" or the "Company") is pleased to outline its plans for the 2025 exploration season at its 100%-owned flagship Toiyabe Hills Property situated along Nevada's Cortez Trend ("Toiyabe Hills", or the "Property"). Toiyabe Hills is a +60 square-kilometer land package comprised of 737 contiguous, unpatented mining claims administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). Multiple targets within the Campfire Target Complex ("Campfire") have been identified, de-risked and are primed for drilling under a Phase 1 program.

The 2025 program objectives are: 1) at Campfire, complete up to 5,000 meters of reverse circulation ("RC") drilling across approximately 10 holes starting in late Q2 / early Q3, to test new, high-value greenfield targets; 2) expand the soil and rock-chip geochemistry and gravity coverage on recently-acquired ground (refer to Westward's press release dated January 15, 2025); and 3) expand the 1:5000 scale Anaconda-style geological mapping and surface sampling with a focus on developing new drill targets in the footwall of a district-scale, mantle-tapping structural corridor (the "Hilltop Corridor").

Kelly Cluer, Director, noted: "The information gleaned from our systematic 2024 programs has revealed new and compelling large-scale features that had been overlooked in the decades preceding the consolidation of this ground, and has elevated Campfire to must-drill status. This intersection of previously-independent claim blocks contains a substantial gravity alteration cell developed in lower-plate carbonate rocks, in the immediate footwall of the Hilltop Corridor, a massive north-south structural corridor that runs the entire extent of the Property. We've also identified lamprophyre dikes within the Hilltop Corridor, marking a compelling crustal crack. The structural setting of this target is reminiscent of the many significant discoveries made in the footwall of the Post Fault on the Carlin Trend."

Key Highlights for 2025:

• At Campfire, Phase 1 drilling will test up-plunge and down-plunge stratigraphic and structural targets developed in the Campfire Anticline (see Figures 1 and 2 below). An estimated 10 holes, with collar spacings of approximately 500 meters, will be drilled using an RC rig rated to a maximum depth capacity of 3,000 feet (~915 meters).

  • RC drilling is a cost-effective technique commonly used in Nevada to establish proof of concept in greenfield targets, and will identify anomalous Carlin-type mineralization, major stratigraphy, and hydrothermal alteration. This maiden drill program is designed to inform and guide a follow-up Phase 2 campaign.

  • Westward will adapt to conditions on the ground, potentially advancing deeper in certain locations at the expense of others, and / or casing holes for future re-entry using a core rig.

  • Estimated depth to favourable lower-plate carbonate rocks will vary, with near-surface targets up-plunge along the Campfire Anticline and deeper targets over the nexus of geophysical anomalies further north-east. The west-east cross-section shown in Figure 2 below illustrates potential drillholes around the latter.

  • The Company is estimating an all-in budget of approximately US$2 million for this program, from earthwork to assays, and is currently evaluating proposals from over 20 contractors and service providers.

• The Company will expand soil and rock-chip geochemistry and gravity coverage over its recently-acquired ground (refer to Westward's press release dated January 15, 2025 and see Figure 3 below).

  • In combination with detailed geological mapping, these are the most cost-effective surface programs available in the hunt for Carlin-type gold deposits.

• At the Hilltop Corridor, the Company will expand the 1:5000 scale Anaconda-style geological mapping and surface sampling with a focus on advancing a pipeline of new drill targets in the footwall of this north-trending structural corridor.

  • Gravity and initial field reconnaissance confirms this structural feature is a major control on Carlin-type alteration and igneous dikes, namely lamprophyres.

  • Westward believes that additional mapping along strike will continue to identify new, previously-unrecognized target opportunities in footwall rocks.

Figure 1: Campfire Target Complex - Combined Datasets

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Figure 2: Campfire Down-Plunge Targets - Cross-Section (Looking North)

(Note: drill holes shown are illustrative and do not necessarily reflect final collar locations)

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Target Discussion:

Following a 2024 exploration campaign focused on district-scale, systematic, and multi-disciplinary exploration programs, the data conclusively pointed the Company's technical team towards the compelling greenfield opportunity that is the Campfire Target Complex (refer to Westward's press release dated November 13, 2024, for detailed description of 2024 programs, technical disclaimers and interpretations). The layering of independent datasets - geology, geophysics, and geochemistry - continued to solidify the thesis of a potential gold feeder zone and Campfire's status as Westward's top priority:

• Geology: 1:5000 Anaconda-style geological mapping identified a northeast-plunging, dike-filled anticline, developed in lower-plate carbonate rocks and plunging directly to the nexus of gravity and ZTEM-imaged alteration features.

• Geophysics: the confluence of (i) a large gravity alteration cell developed in lower-plate carbonate rocks, (ii) a pronounced circular resistivity low at 200m elevation, transitioning to a circular resistivity high at 1,700m elevation - identified through ZTEM and suggestive of a sulfidic breccia pipe-like body, and (iii) a deep-seated intrusive interpreted through RTP magnetics; all in the footwall of the Hilltop Corridor - a lamprophyre-filled north-south trending structural corridor spanning the entire Property.

• Geochemistry: A distinct gold-arsenic geochemical plume, mapped by extensive soil grid and rock sample surveys, is developed along the west and south margins (up-plunge) of the circular geophysical features - as expected for a main-stage fluid conduit in Carlin-type gold systems. Near-surface gold mineralization at the Courtney Zone and adjacent past-producing Toiyabe-Saddle Mine is interpreted as higher-grade gold deposition within the geochemical plume.

Figure 3: Westward's Toiyabe Hills Property

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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 Hills 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.