Mr. Jason Attew reports

GOLD STANDARD VENTURES PROVIDES EXPLORATION AND MANAGEMENT UPDATE

Gold Standard Ventures Corp. has released drill results from 15 metallurgical core holes and two additional development holes at the Pinion oxide gold deposit. Assays for five 2020 geotechnical core holes (PC20-17 through PC20-21) are pending.

Key exploration highlights

• Decreased drill spacing at the Pinion inferred oxide resource continues to support conversion to measured and indicated resources for inclusion in the coming feasibility study.
• PC20-22, a south-directed core hole, intersected an oxidized interval of 61.1 metres of 1.07 grams per tonne gold, including two higher-grade intervals of 14.2 m of 1.77 g/t Au and 19 m of 1.43 g/t Au.
  • These results are on the southern margin of the drill pattern and expand the Pinion deposit approximately 50 m to the south.
  • Oxide mineralization remains open to the south and east of this intercept.
• Currently 15 drill holes define the Pinion SB zone, a N60W-striking zone of higher-than-average deposit gold grade, considerable breccia thickness and an increase in igneous sills and dikes. Along this trend, oxide mineralization exhibits vertical and strike continuity over an area approximately 300 m (along a northwest/southeast strike) by approximately 170 m wide. Oxide mineralization remains open for another 600 m to the southeast of this drilling and at depth.

Jason Attew, president and chief executive officer, commented: "We are excited about the southern extension opportunity at Pinion. The Pinion SB zone has returned some of the highest-grade drill holes in the 40-year exploration history at Pinion. Mineralization remains open to the southeast and we believe represents one of the best opportunities across the property to extend mine life at the South Railroad project. We look forward to continuing to explore this target in 2021."

Other exploration highlights

Metallurgical core holes PC20-01 through PC20-15 verified the tenor, vertical and strike continuity, and oxide character of the gold mineralization at the Pinion deposit.

PC20-02 intersected 23.3 m of 1.69 g/t Au, including 12.1 m of 2.19 g/t Au, and PC20-14 intersected 42.1 m of 1.02 g/t Au, including 15.2 m of 1.78 g/t Au.

PC20-15 intersected 39.1 m of 0.94 g/t Au north of reverse circulation holes PR20-09, -10 and -11 (see Oct. 20, 2020, news release for further details with respect to those drill holes). All four holes intersected shallow oxide mineralization in the southeast portion of the 2020 drill pattern. Oxide mineralization in this area begins approximately 40 m to 55 m below the current topographic surface and remains open to east and south for additional drill testing.

PC20-02 intersected a reduced gold zone of 7.1 m of 1.76 g/t Au approximately 85 m northwest of PR20-34, a reverse circulation hole with a reduced intercept of 10.7 m of 2.14 g/t Au (see Nov. 12, 2020, news release for further details with respect to that drill hole). These reduced intercepts, calculated at a one g/t Au cut-off, represent a newly observed gold host -- the Tripon Pass formation -- and style of disseminated gold mineralization that has not been previously encountered at Pinion.

Sampling methodology, chain of custody, quality control and quality assurance

All Gold Standard sampling was conducted under the supervision of the company's senior geologists and the chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility was continuously monitored. A blank certified reference material, or rig duplicate, was inserted approximately every 10th sample. Samples from holes PC20-01 through PC20-04, PR20-61 and PC20-22 were delivered to Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories preparation facility in either Sparks, Nev., or Hermosillo, Mexico, where they were crushed and pulverized. Resulting sample pulps were digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and an atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) finish on a 30-gram split. The remainder of the samples were shipped to Paragon Geochemical's certified laboratory in Sparks, Nev., where they were crushed and pulverized. Resulting sample pulps were digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and an ICP-OES finish on a 30-gram split. Overlimit gold assays were determined using a fire assay fusion with a gravimetric finish on a 30-gram split. All other elements were determined by ICP. Data verification of the analytical results included a statistical analysis of the standards and blanks that must pass certain parameters for acceptance to insure accurate and verifiable results.

Drill hole deviation was measured by gyroscopic downhole surveys that were completed on all holes by International Directional Services of Elko, Nev. Final drill collar locations are surveyed by differential GPS by Apex Surveying LLC of Spring Creek, Nev.

All third party laboratories and service providers used or retained in the analysis of the samples are independent of Gold Standard.

Qualified persons

Steven R. Koehler, manager of projects, is the company's qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.

Management update

The company also announces the retirements of Don Harris, general manager, effective May 13, 2021, and Mr. Koehler, manager of projects, effective April 21, 2021.

Mr. Attew, president and chief executive officer, commented: "Mr. Harris and Mr. Koehler have been instrumental in the development of the South Railroad project and the surrounding property package. They leave a legacy at Gold Standard and we wish them both the best in their respective retirements."

Richard Yancey will join the project team as geology manager, effective May 3, 2021. Mr. Yancey brings over 30 years of geology and exploration experience and was most recently with Coeur Mining at the Rochester mine in Pershing county, Nevada. Prior to that, he held positions with Tahoe Resources, Kennecott Copper and Barrick Gold.

Eric Hill will also join the project team as chief metallurgist, effective May 3, 2021. Mr. Hill has over a decade of experience in metallurgy, operations and project management. Mr. Hill has worked for Newmont, Kinross Gold and Jacob's Engineering.

Larry Radford, chief operating officer, commented, "I look forward to working with Richard and Eric as we advance the Feasibility Study and move the project towards a construction decision."

About Gold Standard Ventures Corp.

Gold Standard is developing the South Railroad project, an open-pit, heap leach gold project located in Elko county, Nevada. The project is part of a 21,000-plus-hectare land package on the Carlin trend, and is 100 per cent owned or controlled by Gold Standard. The goal of the company is to become the low-cost junior producer of choice in Nevada, one of the premier mining jurisdictions in the world.

We seek Safe Harbor.