Nine widely spaced reverse circulation holes along the Tomasina Fault
corridor confirm widespread alteration and veining.
Vancouver, British Columbia – October 30, 2025 – Western Exploration Inc.
(TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) (the "Company" or "Western Exploration") is
pleased to update the status of the Phase 1 reverse circulation (RC) drill
program on the Tomasina Vein Zone target. The drill area is approximately 1.0
km west of the Gravel Creek resource and down dip from the Saddle and Wood
Gulch resource areas, at the Company's wholly owned Aura gold-silver project
(the "Aura Project").
The Tomasina target is a 2.5 km long structural zone down dip of the Saddle
and Wood Gulch NI 43-101 resources and the Hammer Head mineralization. It is
projected to intersect the highly favorable Eocene Frost Creek tuff (main host
rock at Gravel Creek) at the faulted unconformity with the basement
Permian-Mississippian Schoonover Formation.
Western completed nine RC drill holes totaling 3,239 meters across the
corridor, confirming widespread alteration and veining – strong indicators of
a robust hydrothermal system. These results highlight
resource expansion potential for the Aura Project, particularly down dip and
along strike from existing NI 43-101 resources. Assay results are
pending.
Program Highlights
-
Drilling confirms pervasive clay alteration and local quartz-sulfide veining
consistent with mineralized zones elsewhere at Aura.
-
Holes in the Saddle area successfully intersected the key Frost Creek tuff,
the same host rock as the Gravel Creek deposit with irregular stockwork
veining and hydrothermal breccia zones.
-
Drilling at the southeast extension confirmed alteration but did not
encounter the favorable Frost Creek tuff, though potential to the west and
at depth remains a prospective target.
Significance of Tomasina Target Results
Western Exploration CEO, Darcy Marud, commented:
"Western Exploration is encouraged by initial visual results of the 2025 RC
program, which tested only about 20% of the total strike length of the
Tomasina target. Key areas below Saddle, Wood Gulch and Gravel Creek remaining
to be drill tested.
Drilling was paused to allow for assay analysis and to extend permitting to
next phase targets in this highly prospective target zone. As the drilling has
confirmed the presence of widespread alteration and local quartz and sulphide
mineralization, additional drilling will be conducted with core drilling or RC
drilling with core tails.
Mr. Marud added “The 2025 drill results support Western’s confidence that the
Tomasina target holds resource expansion potential that will complement the
growing resource base at Gravel Creek and the Jarbidge discovery 1.0 km to the
east.”
Figure
1.
2025 Reverse Circulation holes and key target areas in relation to the 2.5km
long Tomasina Structural Trend
Holes WG463-465 focused on a 200m stretch of the target zone southeast of the
Wood Gulch area. Although locally strong alteration was observed in the
overlying Miocene Jarbidge Rhyolite and basement Schoonover sediments, very
little of the Eocene volcanic package was intersected. Additional drilling
needs to be located further east to target the Frost Creek Formation at depth.
Holes WG466 to WG471 targeted a 500m strike length of the Tomasina target down
dip and southeast of the Saddle Resource Zone. Three of five holes intersected
the Frost Creek tuff, with alteration extending into the Schoonover basement
rocks in all five holes. The Frost Creek tuff is pervasively clay altered,
with variable zones of silicification and disseminated pyrite. The Frost Creek
tuff and underlying Schoonover Formation metasediments below the faulted
unconformity are locally cut by irregular stockwork veining and hydrothermal
breccia zones 1.5 to 10.0 meters in drill width containing quartz
+/-pyrite-marcasite.
ABOUT THE AURA PROJECT
About Western Exploration
Western Exploration is focused on advancing the 100% owned Aura Project,
located approximately 120 kilometers/75 miles north of the city of Elko,
Nevada. The Aura Project includes three unique gold and silver deposits: Doby
George, Gravel Creek, and Wood Gulch. Western Exploration is comprised of an
experienced team of precious metals experts that aim to lead the company to
becoming North America's premiere gold and silver development company.
Additional information regarding Western Exploration can be found
on Western Exploration's corporate website (www.westernexploration.com) on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Western Exploration's issuer profile.
For more information please contact:
Darcy Marud
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (775) 329-8119
Email:
dmarud@westernexploration.com
Nichole Cowles
Investor Relations
Telephone: 775-240-4172
Email:
nicholecowles@westernexploration.com
Qualified Person Approval
The scientific and technical content in this news release has been reviewed
and approved by Mark Hawksworth, General Manager of the Western Exploration's
Aura Project, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101.
Quality Assurance – Quality Control
Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control
("QA/QC") and the interpretation of results is performed by
qualified persons employing a QA/QC program consistent with NI 43-101 and
industry best practices.
Reverse circulation drilling and sampling on 5’ (1.52m) intervals was
completed by Envirotech Drilling (Winnemucca, Nevada based). Samples were
collected by Western Exploration geologists at the drill site and transported
Western Exploration's warehouse/logging facility in Mountain City. Chip trays
were photographed and logged by company geologists. Sample intervals were
recorded. Quality control (QC) samples were inserted at regular intervals in
the sample stream with all sample shipments, including blanks, core duplicates
and reference materials, to monitor laboratory performance. Samples were
kept in the secure Mountain City facility until transported for assay.
Reverse Circulation samples were transported by ALS drivers to the ALS prep
facility in Elko, Nevada. Samples are being analyzed for gold using ALS CHEMEX
fire assay procedure Au-AA13, with over limits being analyzed by Au_GRA21.
Samples are being analyzed for silver and a 40 element suite using ALS Chemex
procedure ME-ICP41, , with over limits being analyzed by Ag_GRA21.
Please see below under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Information" for further details regarding the risks facing
Western Exploration.
For additional information on the Aura Project, please see the Technical
Report, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI
43-101, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Western Exploration's issuer profile and on Western Exploration's
corporate website (www.westernexploration.com).
Cautionary Statements Regarding Estimates of Mineral Resources
This news release uses the terms measured, indicated and inferred mineral
resources as a relative measure of the level of confidence in the resource
estimate. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral
reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral
reserves has not been demonstrated. The mineral resource estimate disclosed in
this news release may be materially affected by geology, environmental,
permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues.
The mineral resource estimate is classified in accordance with the Canadian
Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards on
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" (CIM) incorporated by reference into
NI 43-101. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not
form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies
except for preliminary economic assessments. Readers are cautioned not to
assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves
that can be mined economically.
Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their
existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. On
October 31, 2018, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules ("S-K 1300") that are more closely aligned with current industry and global regulatory
practices and standards, including NI 43-101, although there are some
differences in the two standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral
deposits contain in this release may not be comparable with information made
public by U.S. companies that report in accordance with S-K 1300.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and
United States securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking
statements"). These forward-looking statements, by their nature, require the
Company to make certain assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Any statement that
involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans,
projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but
not always, using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is
expected", "interpreted", "management's view", "anticipates" or "does not
anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates",
"potential", "feasibility", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such
words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or
"could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not
statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information and are
intended to identify forward-looking information. This news release contains
the forward-looking information pertaining to, among other things: the
significance of the results of the 2023 drill program; the accuracy of results
from prior exploration activities conducted at the Aura Project; the key
assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource
estimate disclosed in this news release; the prospects, if any, of the Doby
George, Wood Gulch and Gravel Creek mineral deposits; the potential to greatly
expand resources within the Gravel Creek mineralized system; future drilling
at the Aura Project; the significance of historic exploration activities and
results; the ability to expand the existing mineral resources at the Aura
Project. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the ability of
exploration activities (including drill results) to accurately predict
mineralization; errors in management's geological modelling; the ability of
Western Exploration to complete further exploration activities, including
drilling; property and royalty interests in respect of the Aura Project; the
ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of
exploration activities; risks relating to mining activities; the global
economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks; and community
and non-governmental actions. Although the forward-looking information
contained in this news release is based upon what management believes, or
believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, Western Exploration cannot
assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company
that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking information,
as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended, and neither Western Exploration nor any other person
assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such
forward-looking information. Western Exploration does not undertake, and
assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements
or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or
circumstances, except as may be required by law.
For additional information with respect to these and other factors and
assumptions underlying the forward‐looking statements and forward-looking
information made in this news release concerning Western Exploration, see the
management information circular dated November 12, 2021, available
electronically under Western Exploration's issuer profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The forward-looking statements set forth herein concerning Western
Exploration reflect management's expectations as at the date of this news
release and are subject to change after such date. Western Exploration
disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, other than as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or
other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information
contained herein.