Westward Gold Targets High-Grade Potential with 2026 Drilling at the SSD Zone, Toiyabe Hills Property, Nevada
(TheNewswire)
SSD is one ofthree high-priority target areas to be tested with RC and coredrilling in 2026 on the Company’s 84-square-kilometre Property
Systematicexploration has expanded the SSD Target’s plan dimensions andimproved the Company’s understanding of mineralizationcontrols
8-12 holes plannedat SSD with strategic step-outs from the most significant historicalgold intersections seen on the Property
Vancouver, British Columbia – TheNewswire -April 27, 2026 – Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE:IM50) (“Westward” or the“Company”) is pleased to provide additional detailspertaining to its 2026 exploration plans at the SSD Target (“SSD”), one of three zonesslated for reverse-circulation (“RC”) and core drilling at the Company’s Toiyabe HillsProperty in Lander County, Nevada (“Toiyabe Hills”, or the “Property”). This year’s field activities are alreadywell underway, beginning with sampling programs across newly-stakedground, 1:5000 surface geological and alteration mapping, and expandedgeophysical surveys. Westward expects drilling to commence in earlyJune, with trenching, road and pad construction to begin in May.
SSD was originally identified several years ago by the Company througha detailed investigation of legacy drill hole data; it is a separateand unique zone of gold mineralization that lies beneath the CourtneyZone, an area of shallow gold mineralization that was the focal pointof the vast majority of historical drilling by previous operators.Westward subsequently expanded upon SSD with drilling in 2022 and2023, and now with the benefit of large-scale systematic programscompleted since then – including 1:5000 surface mapping, reloggingof legacy RC and core drill holes, soil and rock-chip sampling,gravity and magnetic surveys – this target has been deemed a toppriority for follow-up in 2026. SSD also represents the target zonethat is most proximal to the recently-identified Threemile Stock, adeep-seated intrusive centre interpreted from magnetic data, dikeswarms, and mapped/logged thermal alteration (see press release dated March 26, 2026,for additional details). Importantly, SSD earthwork is alreadypermitted under the Company’s existing Exploration Plan ofOperations (“EPO”) withthe U.S. Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”), allowing for significant trench, road, anddrill-pad construction flexibility – additional permitting updatesfor the entire 2026 drill program are outlined below. Details relatedto 2026 drilling plans at the other two target areas (Campfire and ElSegundo) will be provided in subsequent press releases (see Figure 1below).
Steven Koehler, Westward’s Lead Technical Advisor, commented: “In2022, the Westward Technical Team began to recognize a potentialtarget opportunity beneath the Courtney Zone. Since then, thatpotential has been refined and verified through the integration ofsurface mapping, detailed re-logging of RC and core holes, gravity andmagnetic surveys, and historical geochemical sampling. Combining thesetime-tested exploration techniques with fresh, experienced eyes on therocks led to the confirmation of a new and unique geological setting– the SSD Zone. The setting is characterized by crosscuttinghigh-angle faults, a blind thrust fault, multiple pulses of igneousintrusion within a northeast-striking fault corridor, deeper –potentially hypogene – oxidation, and a hydrothermal system thatcreates higher gold grades (>10 g Au/t) in select outcrop and drillsamples. Gold mineralization is closely associated with quartzporphyry dikes, shearing, decalcification and silicification. Thesefeatures are reminiscent of pre-discovery geological patternsdocumented at several well-known gold deposits on the Cortez andCarlin Trends. Based on this new work, SSD is a compelling,high-value, Carlin-type gold target. I’m very eager to begin thediscovery-oriented trenching and drilling activities at SSD.”
Please see “TechnicalDisclosure” section below for important details related tohistorical drilling and surface sampling results referenced herein.All intervals are presented as drillhole lengths, and true thicknessesof mineralization are currently unknown and estimated to beapproximately 70-90% of the reported interval lengths.
Figure 1: 2026 Drill Targets atToiyabe Hills
SSD Target – Key Characteristics
The target area is roughly 1.6 km long by 0.8 km wide, along anortheast-striking dike-filled fault corridor that is cut bywest-northwest-striking faults, including the Roberts Mountains Thrust(“RMT”).
SSD gold mineralization is hosted in the lower-plate Wenban Formation,which is exposed at surface across much of the area. Alteration andstructural characteristics of the mineralized zones includedecalcification, silicification, oxidation to depths exceeding 600metres, dolomitization, association with quartz porphyry andlamprophyre dikes, and a blind thrust fault.
Blind thrusts are often primary ore controls for some of the largestgold deposits in the greater Cortez District.
Significant gold intervals reported in historical SSD drilling rangedfrom 9.1 to 50.3 metres thick at depths of 255 to 570 metres (seeFigure 2 below), with notable intervals grading between 0.34 and 3.03g Au/t (and sub-interval grades of up to 17.0 g Au/t). Mineralization remainsopen in all directions, particularly to the northeast and northwestwhich will be a focus for 2026 trench sampling, surface mapping, anddrilling.
SSD and the Courtney Zone represent the only areas of the Propertywhere the following coincident observations have been made: i) anabundance of quartz porphyry dikes that host strong silica alteration;ii) altered quartz porphyry dikes and lamprophyre dikes close to oneanother (with near-surface gold grades of up to 21.8 g Au/t indrilling samples); iii) upper-plate siliciclastic rocksstructurally-emplaced within lower-plate carbonate rocks along a blindthrust / duplex; and iv) silicification as either carbonatereplacement or as quartz veins, with a strong correlation between goldmineralization and silica.
Within the greater Cortez District, this level of silica alteration inquartz porphyry intrusive rocks is distinctly reminiscent of theground above Barrick Gold’s Fourmile deposit.
Figure 2: SSD Target Plan View –Surface Geology & Select Historical Drilling
Note: Several other historical holescompleted in the area shown in Figure 2 are not referenced, with mostreaching insufficient depths to test the SSD Target.
SSD Target – Re-Logging Campaign
In the months leading up to 2026 drilling, the Company has undertakenan extensive re-logging campaign of available legacy core and RC chipsacross SSD and the Courtney Zone, led by Technical Advisor StevenKoehler, an expert Carlin-type economic geologist with decades ofexperience in northern Nevada who participated in multiple significantdiscoveries (including nearby Cortez Hills). To date, 3,273 metres ofcore and 4,116 metres of RC chips have been re-logged, and the programremains ongoing. Major take-aways include:
There is clear evidence of a large hydrothermal system at depth thatis expressed up-dip in high-grade gold samples – both in surfacerocks and shallow historical drilling, including:
In T722, in the limonitic interval from surface to 30 feet (9.1 m),clay-altered lathy lamprophyre grading up to 21.8 g Au/t (from 5-10ft), hosted in the northeast-striking, dike-filled Diamond Fault –an important gold control at the Courtney Zone;
750 m to the northeast, where a rock-chip sample contained 16.4 g Au/t(the highest surface sample on the Property), pointing to the scaleand strength of the underlying system.
Three distinct types of igneous rocks were identified, with felsic tomafic varieties including: i) quartz porphyry – texturally identicalto dikes / sills at Cortez Hills (quartz eyes and white feldsparphenocrysts); ii) diorite (less common) – with proximalcalc-silicate marble observed; and iii) lamprophyre – lathy, embayedquartz xenocrysts with green mica.
This is the only area of the Property currently covered by mappingwhere all three igneous varieties are observed in close proximity toone another.
Elevated gold concentrations occur with silicification, or in closeproximity to igneous rocks as follows:
In upper-plate siliciclastic rocks, higher grades are associated withquartz stringers / stockworks;
In lower-plate carbonate rocks (Wenban Formation), higher grades areassociated with decalcification, silicification, and/or quartzstringers / stockworks.
Dolomitic alteration is an important characteristic of thehydrothermal system and occurs as a broader halo above goldmineralization.
Dolomitization is a well-documented feature within numerous golddeposits on the Carlin Trend.
The blind thrust, deep oxidation, and gold occurrences at SSD areconfirmed features – compressional fabrics are evident in multipleRC and core holes across a distance of approximately 600 m along themapped northeast strike.
Figure 3: T902C Core Photos (266.7– 273.7 m)
The SSD Zone interval presented inFigure 3 above is a typical example of elevated gold grades inconjunction with deep oxidation, pervasive shearing breccia associatedwith a blind thrust. Due to their high-grade nature, samples weretested a second time by the operator with those assays confirming theoriginal results.
SSD Target – Drilling Plan
SSD will be tested with a combination of RC and core drilling acrossapproximately 8-12 holes / 4,500-9,000 metres, with a particular focuson three distinct target types (see Figure 4 below).
High-grade gold along dike margins, thrust and / or duplex-controlledgold, and classic Carlin-type laterally-disseminated gold inlower-plate rocks of the Wenban Formation.
Westward’s 2025 drilling campaign proved that cost-effective RCholes can be completed to significant depths on the Property (900+metres), and the Company will retain the option of pre-collaring withRC, setting casing, and drilling core tails.
A 468-metretrenching program will be completed in the coming weeks tomore accurately sample and map structures – this data willcontribute to the final determination of collar locations and dips /azimuths.
High-grade structures – including the dike containing a 16.4 g Au/tsample – will be projected down-section based on mapped dips andstrikes.
Drills will be aimed to intersect these structures within favourablecarbonate host rocks, where the best potential exists for significantzones of gold mineralization.
Figure 4: SSD Target – IllustrativeCross-Section with Conceptual Drilling
2026 Permitting Update
Permitting activities have been ongoing since the begging of the year,and the Company is pleased to report that all three 2026 target areasare now permitted for drilling:
At SSD, drilling and trenching falls under the existing EPO whichallows for up to 100 acres of disturbance (to date, only 9.3 acreshave been utilized). Ahead of drilling, Westward will file a Work PlanConcurrence and provide the requisite bonding to the BLM.
At Campfire, the Company will be operating under its 2025 Notice ofIntent (“NOI”) with theBLM.
At El Segundo, the Company recently received approval for a new NOIand has posted the required bond with the BLM.
Technical Disclosure
Data Verification: Westward through its qualifiedpersons conducts robust data verification on all data that areconsidered to be material to the Property and the Company. Furtherdisclosure related to data verification may be found in the technicalreports listed below or in certain other news releases referencedbelow. For legacy drill assays and surface samples referenced hereinfrom former operators, the Company has reviewed lab certificates andhas logged core and RC chips where available. Gold intervals reportedare based on cut-off grades employed by the operator at the time, andmay differ from Westward’s own cut-off grade methodologies.
Data Sources: Sources include the legacy ToiyabeProperty data room, drill log files inherited from previous operators,lab certificates, and the following technical reports: 1) NI 43-101Technical Report, American Consolidated Minerals Corporation, Preparedby Paul D. Noland, P. Geo., May 27, 2009, 2) NI 43-101 TechnicalReport, IM Exploration Inc., Prepared by Donald E. Cameron, P.Geo,August 5, 2021.
Press Releases: Refer to Westward Gold’s pressrelease dated October 18, 2022, for full technical disclosuresurrounding its 2022 drilling campaign and assay results; refer toWestward Gold’s press release dated May 23, 2023, for full technicaldisclosure surrounding drillhole T2301 and assay results.
Qualified Person
The technical information contained in this news release was reviewedand approved by Robert Edie, Vice President Exploration of theCompany, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101– Standards of Disclosure forMineral Projects. Mr. Edie is a Certified ProfessionalGeologist (CPG) through the American Institute of ProfessionalGeologists (AIPG).
About Westward Gold
Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developingthe Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Trend area of LanderCounty, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along theCarlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Companymay also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assetsand 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 hasneither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility forthe adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
This news release contains orincorporates by reference “forward-looking statements” and“forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadiansecurities legislation. All statements, other than statements ofhistorical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, ordevelopments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed,to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements aregenerally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-lookingterminology such as "expect", "believe","anticipate", "intend", "estimate”,“potential”, “on track”, “forecast","budget", “target”, “outlook”, “continue”,“plan” or variations of such words and phrases and similarexpressions or statements that certain actions, events or results“may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” betaken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of suchterms.
Such statements include, but may notbe limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financialor operating performance, such as the Company’s expansion plans,project timelines, expected drilling targets, and other statementsthat express management’s expectations or estimates of future plansand performance.
Forward-looking statements orinformation are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks,uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events orresults to differ from those reflected in the forward-lookingstatements or information, including, without limitation, the need foradditional capital by the Company through financings, and the riskthat such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature ofexploration and the stages of the Company’s properties; the effectof changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development ofthe Company’s material properties will not be acceptable for social,environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (includingdrills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage ofwork will be completed within expected time frames, that currentgeological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may leadto a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilitiesof the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of thefactors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-lookingstatements or information. These and other factors may cause theCompany to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed withwork programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs.Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors thatmay affect the Company’s ability to achieve the expectations setforth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news releaseare set out in the Company’s latest management discussion andanalysis under “Risks and Uncertainties”, which is available underthe Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although theCompany has attempted to identify important factors that could causeactual results to differ materially, there may be other factors thatcause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described orintended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance onforward-looking statements or information. The Company’sforward-looking statements and information are based on theassumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as ofthe date of this press release, and other than as required byapplicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligationto update forward-looking statements and information if circumstancesor management’s assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinionsshould change, or changes in any other events affecting suchstatements or information.
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