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HWG.CN ·

Headwater Gold Commences Drilling at TJ Project, Nevada

Exploration Programs

Suite 1210 – 1130 West Pender Street

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 4A4 Canada

T +1 (604) 681-9100

[email protected]

Headwater Gold Commences Drilling at TJ Project, Nevada

Vancouver, British Columbia, October 22, 2025: Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE: HWG) (OTCQB:

HWAUF) (the "Company" or "Headwater") is pleased to announce the commencement of drilling

on the TJ project, located in northeastern Nevada. The program is expected to total approximately

1,500 metres of core drilling, fully funded through an earn -in agreement with OceanaGold

Corporation (TSX: OGC, OTCQX: OCANF) (“OceanaGold”) announced on October 15, 2025.

Highlights:

• Approximately 1,500 metres of core drilling planned: The drill program is planned to

consist of 4 to 6 holes and test multiple epithermal vein targets.

• Fully Funded Program: The drill program is fully funded by OceanaGold through a n

option and earn -in transaction announced October 15, 2025 that includes a US $1M

minimum expenditure commitment by OceanaGold on the TJ project.

• Priority focus on the East Sinter fault target: Test high-grade epithermal vein targets

identified by Headwater’s 2024 RC scout drilling program. The 2024 program identified

widespread silicification and epithermal veining as well as broad intervals of anomalous

gold mineralization in the hanging wall of the East Sinter fault, but initial drilling did not

penetrate sufficient depths to test for potential high-grade veins.

• Additional drilling to target major structures in the core of the alteration cell :

Structural targets supported by CSAMT resistivity , geology, and surface geochemical

datasets will be tested along the main structural corridor.

Caleb Stroup, President and CEO of the Company, states: “We are extremely pleased to be

launching the first drill program under our recently announced partnership with OceanaGold. Their

team brings deep technical experience in low-sulfidation epithermal systems and we’re excited to

collaborate as we advance the TJ project. This marks the start of what we expect to be a

productive and discovery -driven exploration partnership across multiple projects in northern

Nevada. With OceanaGold’s support, we can now systematically test the high-quality vein targets

we’ve defined at TJ and move one step closer to realizing the district -scale potential we see in

this system.”

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Figure 1: Map of the TJ project area showing generalized project geology, alteration and locations of

planned and existing drillholes. Cross-section A–A’ corresponds to the interpreted geologic and CSAMT

cross sections shown in Figure 2.

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2025 TJ Drill Program

The 2025 drill program is expected to consist of 1,500 m of core drilling to test two target areas

(Figures 1 and 2):

East Sinter Fault Target: Drilling will target the down-dip projection of the East Sinter fault, a major

west-dipping structural zone that hosts widespread epithermal alteration capped by a thick silica

sinter. The initial reverse circulation (“RC”) drill test, completed by Headwater in 2024 (see news

release dated January 16, 2025), revealed broad intervals of silicification, veining, and anomalous

gold mineralization in the hanging wall of the East Sinter fault. For example, RC drillhole TJ24-04

intercepted 123.44 m grading 0.150 g/t Au including 0.741 g/t Au over 1.52 m. Thin chalcedonic

quartz veins correspond with the highest -grade samples and have distinctive epithermal vein

textures, which together with anomalous epithermal pathfinder element zonation suggest good

potential for fault-hosted feeder veins deeper in the system. The 2025 drill program will target the

inferred boiling horizon at depths of 150 to 300 m below surface, along the > 1 km mapped strike

extent of the East Sinter fault (Figure 1). Following completion of a three -hole drill fan beneath

the silica sinter cap (Figure 2), step-out holes 250 m to the north and south are planned to test for

continuation of the mineralized structure at favorable depths.

Jackpot Fault Target: The Jackpot fault bounds the western margin of known silicification and

veining in the hanging wall of the East Sinter fault (Figure 1). The Jackpot fault is characterized

by a major, >2 km-long break in CSAMT resistivity (Figure 2) that may represent either a splay or

roughly parallel structure to the East Sinter fault. Historic RC drilling encountered difficult

conditions in the Jackpot fault zone and failed to fully test the structure but returned anomalous

gold mineralization. The 2025 drill program will first test the fault at relatively high elevations to

determine the geometry and nature of alteration localized along the structure. If successful, an

existing cased hole (TJ24-04) can be re-entered to effectively test the Jackpot fault at depth.

About the TJ Project

The TJ project is located on BLM land in a relatively underexplored area of northeastern Nevada,

approximately 25 km southeast of the town of Jackpot. The project area contains indications of a

fully preserved epithermal system, including a thick and laterally extensive accumulation of silica

sinter. Epithermal alteration is localized along a series of steeply inclined faults that bound a

graben filled with Miocene-age sedimentary rocks.

Limited historic exploration on the property included shallow RC drilling that confirmed the

presence of a broad zone of high -level epithermal alteration. In 2024, Headwater completed an

initial round of scout drilling which confirmed the project has potential for high -grade epithermal

vein-style mineralization at depth (see news release dated January 16, 2025). The follow-up 2025

core drilling program is underway and will test prospective epithermal structures at depth that

were identified during the 2024 program.

Headwater holds an option to acquire a 100% undivided interest in the TJ project, subject to

retained royalties and subject to OceanaGold’s option to acquire up to 65% of the project following

certain expenditures and preparation of a Pre-Feasibility Study within a designated time frame.

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Figure 2: Interpreted geologic cross section through A-A’ with Headwater drillholes showing anomalous Au-

Ag intercepts (continuous zones of assays greater than 50 ppb Au), generalized geology and silica

alteration, conceptual vein targets, and planned drillholes (top image); and generalized geology and silica

alteration with CSAMT geophysics apparent resistivity profile (bottom image).

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About Headwater Gold

Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE: HWG, OTCQB: HWAUF) is a technically -driven mineral exploration

company focused on exploring for and discovering high -grade precious metal deposits in the

Western USA. Headwater is actively exploring one of the world’s most well -endowed, mining-

friendly jurisdictions, with a goal of making world-class precious metal discoveries. The Company

has a large portfolio of epithermal vein exploration projects and a technical team with diverse

experience in capital markets and major mining companies. Headwater is systematically drill -

testing several projects in Nevada and has strategic earn-in agreements with OceanaGold on its

TJ, Jake Creek, and Hot Creek projects as well as Newmont Corporation on its Spring Peak and

Lodestar projects. In August 2022 and September 2024, Newmont and Centerra Gold Inc.

acquired strategic equity interests in the Company, further strengthening Headwater’s exploration

capabilities.

For more information about Headwater, please visit the Company's website at

www.headwatergold.com.

Headwater is part of the NewQuest Capital Group which is a discovery -driven investment

enterprise that builds value through the incubation and financing of mineral projects and

companies. Further information about NewQuest can be found on the company website at

www.nqcapitalgroup.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Caleb Stroup

President and CEO

+1 (775) 409-3197

[email protected]

For further information, please contact:

Brennan Zerb

Investor Relations Manager

+1 (778) 867-5016

[email protected]

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr.

Gregory Dering, P.Geo (AIPG CPG -12298), a “Qualified Person” (“QP”) as defined in National

Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Dr. Dering is not independent

by reason of being the Company’s Vice President of Exploration.

References

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release includes certain forward -looking statements and forward -looking information

(collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation,

statements regarding future capital expenditures, exploration activities and the specifications, targets,

results, analyses, interpretations, benefits, costs and timing of them, Newmont and OceanaGold ’s

anticipated funding of the earn -in projects and the timing thereof, and the anticipated business plans and

timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes

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that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be

correct. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by words such as “pro forma”,

“plans”, “expects”, “may”, “should”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”,

“believes”, “potential” or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that

refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may

cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future

results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward -looking statements. Such risks

and other factors include, among others, risks related to the anticipated business plans and timing of future

activities of the Company, including the Company’s explorat ion plans and the proposed expenditures for

exploration work thereon, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business

activities and plans, the risk that Newmont or OceanaGold will not elect to obtain any additional prognostic

interest in the earn-in projects in excess of the minimum commitment, the ability of the Company to obtain

the required permits, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, the Company’s

limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities,

as well as those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s prospectus dated

May 26, 2021 and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Autho rities, copies of which

can be found under the Company’s profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward -looking statements. The Company

undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by

law.