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Framework drilling has identified a fully-preserved, lower-plate-hosted, Carlin-type gold system over a plan extent of approximately 1.6km by 1.0km and open in all directions

Lower-plate host rocks (notably the Wenban Formation) are reachable at relatively shallow depths across the entirety of the target complex area tested to date

Initial 5,000-metre goal will be exceeded based on lower-than-anticipated drilling costs; assays received for two holes with four pending in lab and one in progress

Vancouver, British Columbia, September 18, 2025 – TheNewswire - Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) (“Westward” or the “Company” ) is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing 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 (“Toiyabe Hills” , or the “Property” ). Westward initially set out to test its high-priority Campfire Target Complex (“Campfire” ) with approximately 5,000 metres (~16,500 feet) of RC drilling (see press release date July 8, 2025, for additional details) , however based on productivity and costs to date the Company expects to meaningfully exceed that metreage. To date, 4,506m of RC drilling has been completed across seven drill holes (see Figure 1 below for a map of completed and in-progress holes at Campfire). Samples are being analyzed by Paragon Geochemical Services Inc. (“Paragon” ) for gold and multi-element analysis.  

The Phase 1 framework drilling program, with holes located at 500-700m collar spacings, was designed to characterize large-scale gold system patterns and answer key geological questions by: 1) determining the third-dimension 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 down-dip 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 I drilling was designed to set us up smartly, in a large new undrilled Carlin system, for a future Phase II grade-hunting campaign. It’s still early days and we expect forthcoming results to contribute greatly to our vectoring efforts.”

Roundtable video discussion available here:

Figure 1: Campfire Target Complex – Completed and In-Progress Drilling

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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 sulfidized igneous dikes have been observed in all holes. Approximately 68% 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 1.6km by 1.0km. 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 sulfidized lamprophyre dikes. Gold and trace element signatures increase near the bottom of CF25-02. 

• Difficult drilling conditions were encountered in drill holes CF25-01, -03, -05, and -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 US$61/ft (US$200/m), which is below Westward’s original budget. Due to these cost savings, Phase 1 drill metreage will exceed the original 5,000m estimate. 

Table 1: Campfire Target Complex – Drill Hole Table  

Click Image To View Full Size Gold intervals reported in this table were calculated using a 1.00 g Au/t cutoff

Figures 2 and 3 below clearly show the Carlin-suite gold and pathfinder elements associated with the more strongly-altered and dike-filled zones logged in holes CF25-01 and CF25-02. Carlin geochemistry is present in the horizons expected: in and near the Roberts Mountains Thrust Fault where the Vinini Formation (upper plate – Ov notation) structurally overlies the lower-plate Devonian Wenban Formation (Dw), and within the more altered zones of both the Devonian Wenban and Roberts Mountains Formations, with a notable anomalous zone near the contact of these two major host-rock carbonate strata. Gold deposition in these areas is expected based on broad district trends and according to the RC chip logging. Whereas the various units of the Wenban Formation are not discernable through RC chips, based on the average expected thickness of the formation in the district, Westward believes that hole CF25-02 drilled a nearly-complete section. The reader should note that where drilling conditions were poor, sample recoveries for certain intervals were insufficient to accommodate both assays and detailed logging – in those cases assays were prioritized.

Figure 2: Campfire Target Complex – CF25-01 Downhole Geology and Geochemistry

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Figure 3: Campfire Target Complex – CF25-02 Downhole Geology and Geochemistry

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Quality Assurance / Quality Control (“QA/QC”)

The Company is implementing a best-practices 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, NV, 89431. Samples are 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 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% or greater. Rig duplicates, coarse duplicates, and pulp duplicates are being collected or created every 250 feet respectively for a sample frequency of 2% each. Standards and blanks were sourced from MEG LLC of Lamoille, NV. 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 (35AR-OES) 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 drillholes leads to a better contextual understanding of the RC samples, and a more robust 3D geological model.

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 results, 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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