Westward completes 4,506 m of RC drilling at Toiyabe

Mr. Andrew Nelson reports WESTWARD GOLD PROVIDES UPDATE ON 2025 DRILLING CAMPAIGN AT THE CAMPFIRE TARGET COMPLEX Westward Gold Inc. has provided an update on its continuing 2025 drilling campaign, including results for two reverse circulation (RC) drill holes (CF25-01 and CF25-02), at its flagship Toiyabe Hills property in Lander county, Nevada. Westward initially set out to test its high-priority Campfire target complex with approximately 5,000 metres (m) (approximately 16,500 feet (ft)) of RC drilling (see news release dated July 8, 2025, for additional details), however, based on productivity and costs to date, the company expects to meaningfully exceed that metreage. To date, 4,506 m of RC drilling has been completed across seven drill holes. Samples are being analyzed by Paragon Geochemical Services Inc. for gold and multielement analysis. The phase 1 framework drilling program, with holes located at 500 to 700 m collar spacings, was designed to characterize large-scale gold system patterns and answer key geological questions by: (1) determining the third-dimensional architecture of the favourable lower-plate carbonate rocks; (2) identifying vertically extensive Carlin-type alteration in lower-plate carbonate rocks -- namely decalcification -- over a large area; (3) confirming a Carlin-type gold and trace-element signature associated with the hydrothermal system; and (4) confirming the downdip expression of an igneous dike-filled fault corridor within the Campfire anticline. Kelly Cluer, director, noted: "The drill chips we have logged so far and the initial geochemical data released herein indicate that success has been achieved. Ultimately, phase 1 drilling was designed to set us up smartly, in a large new undrilled Carlin system, for a future phase 2 grade-hunting campaign. It's still early days and we expect forthcoming results to contribute greatly to our vectoring efforts." Key drilling highlights at the Campfire complex: All seven drill holes have intersected favourable lower-plate carbonate rocks and the six holes collared in upper-plate rocks intersected the lower plate at shallower-than-predicted depths, and at costs that are below budget (see table 1). Vertically extensive decalcification, an alteration type characteristic of Carlin-type gold systems, and sulphidized igneous dikes have been observed in all holes. Approximately 68 per cent of the phase 1 drilling metreage has been in favourable lower-plate rocks. Drilling has confirmed a fully preserved, lower-plate-hosted, Carlin-type gold system over a plan extent of approximately 1.6 kilometres (km) by 1.0 km. The hydrothermal alteration cell at Campfire remains open in all directions and at depth. Drill holes CF25-01 and CF25-02 intersected anomalous gold and Carlin-type trace element signatures -- especially in decalcified carbonate rocks of the Wenban and Roberts Mountains formations -- and proximal to sulphidized lamprophyre dikes. Gold and trace element signatures increase near the bottom of CF25-02. Difficult drilling conditions were encountered in drill holes CF25-01, CF25-03, CF25-05 and CF25-06, which resulted in either zones of no sample recovery or holes being terminated prior to fully testing the intended target. Direct drilling costs have averaged $61 (U.S.) per ft ($200 (U.S.) per m), which is below Westward's original budget. Due to these cost savings, phase 1 drill metreage will exceed the original 5,000 m estimate. Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) The company is implementing a best practice QA/QC program during its 2025 drilling campaign. All sampling is being 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 is being continuously monitored. Samples are being transported directly from the field to Paragon's facility located at 1555 Industrial Way, Sparks, Nev., 89431. Samples are dried at 100 C, crushed to 70 per cent passing 10 mesh, riffle split 250 grams and pulverized to 85 per cent passing 200 mesh. Fire assay and multielement analysis will be completed at the same location. RC samples are being collected in five-foot intervals. Certified standards and blanks are being inserted every 65 feet/13 samples for a frequency of 8 per cent or greater. Rig duplicates, coarse duplicates and pulp duplicates are being collected or created every 250 feet, respectively, for a sample frequency of 2 per cent each. Standards and blanks were sourced from MEG LLC, of Lamoille, Nev. All samples will be analyzed for gold and 35 additional elements. Assays will consist of fire assays (Au-FA30) for gold and aqua regia/ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy) (35AR-OES) for multielement geochemistry. Drill hole deviation for the submitted holes was measured by gyroscopic downhole surveys with tooling provided by Reflex, of Elko, Nev. 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 3-D geological model. Qualified person The technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Robert Edie, vice-president of 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 Inc. 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. We seek Safe Harbor.