Au Extending High-Grade Continuity at Cub East
Gladiator Intersects 32.0m @ 1.36% Cu + 0.63
g/t Au Including 18.0m @ 2.12% Cu + 1.06 g/t
Au Extending High-Grade Continuity at Cub
East
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2026) -
Gladiator Metals Corp. (TSXV: GLAD)
(OTCQB: GDTRF) (FSE: ZX7) ("Gladiator" or the "Company")
is excited to announce the latest
assay results from Cub East, confirming high-grade copper, gold, and silver mineralization across
multiple drill holes.
Step-out drilling has successfully extended high-grade strike continuity to over 300 metres,
solidifying Cub East as a major discovery within the Bear Cub trend.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1
. Continued high-grade strike continuity now confirmed over greater than 300 metres, with
recent results returning:
32.0m @ 1.36% Cu, 0.63g/t Au & 10.93g/t Ag from 178.0m
Incl. 18.0m @ 2.12% Cu, 1.06g/t Au, 16.33/t Ag from 188.0m
32.77m @ 1.06% Cu, 0.44 g/t Au & 6.37g/t Ag from 176.73m
Incl. 7.28m @ 2.47% Cu, 1.45 g/t Au, & 15.09 g/t Ag from 186.52m
And 3.70m @ 1.97% Cu, 0.46 g/t Au, & 8.04 g/t Ag from 204.3m
38m @ 1.20% Cu, 0.43 g/t Au & 10.29 g/t Ag from 168m
Incl. 15.1m @ 2.41% Cu, 0.93g/t Au &18.85 g/t Ag from 185.4m
2. In addition,
six rock chip samples of exposed mineralized copper skarn mineralisation
were
collected from historic trenches located approximately
300m along strike to the southeast of
BCG-017
, within the interpreted mineralized corridor:
2.37% Cu, 0.88 g/t Au & 32.6 g/t Ag (SA0047516)
1.00% Cu, 3.24 g/t Au & 10.8 g/t Ag (SA0047512)
1.31% Cu, 1.43 g/t Au & 30.8 g/t Ag (SA0047514)
These samples further support the potential for mineralization to extend beyond the currently drilled
Cub East footprint and provide compelling near-surface targets for follow-up drilling
3.
Planned drilling metres for 2026 has increased to 50,000m from 35,000m
Gladiator CEO Jason Bontempo commented:
"Cub East continues to deliver exactly the type of results we want to see from a rapidly emerging high-
grade copper-gold-silver discovery with more multiple broad mineralized intercepts extending over
300 metres of strike and further reinforcing the continuity of the high-grade copper gold Cub East
target.
"The Cub East target footprint remains open along strike, up-dip and down-dip with a compelling
coincident gravity and IP anomaly now defined over more than 900 metres including recent high-
grade copper and gold rock chip samples from exposed mineralized skarn, providing a clear and
sizeable target area for continued expansion.
"With Cub East continuing to advance as one of our highest-priority growth areas, Cowley resource
delineation drilling underway, and an increase in planned drilling to more than 50,000 metres across
the Whitehorse Copper Project in 2026, Gladiator is exceptionally well positioned to deliver sustained
exploration news flow and continue delivering high-grade, near-surface, copper-gold results in one of
Canada's most infrastructure-rich historic copper districts."
SUMMARY – CUB EAST
At Cub East, Gladiator has completed 18 holes for 5,406 metres to date and assays have been
received for eleven holes. Recently returned assays from Cub East further reinforce the discovery as an
emerging high-grade copper-gold-silver centre within the broader 1.5km prospective Bear Cub trend.
Current drilling is targeting down-dip, up-dip and strike extensions across a currently defined 900-metre
coincident gravity and Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical anomaly.
Importantly, the success of IP and gravity as targeting tools provides Gladiator with a clear technical
pathway to continue expanding and prioritizing high-impact drill targets at Cub East and the entire
Whitehorse Copper Project.
Results continue to define a robust mineralized core bounded by interpreted faults to the east and west,
with geological modelling suggesting mineralization may step up to the west, bringing the system closer
to surface and potentially linking the previously mined Black Cub South open pit. To the east, the system
is interpreted to step down, highlighting meaningful depth potential and leaving the discovery open for
further expansion.
The high-grade core has now been confirmed over 300 metres of strike continuity from drill holes BCG-
015 to BCG-017, with further step-out drilling continuing to demonstrate the scale, continuity and growth
potential of the Cub East system.
This release reports five additional drill holes — BCG-024, BCG-025, BCG-030, BCG-031 and BCG-
035 — for a total of 1,576m, delivering multiple broad copper-gold-silver intercepts, including:
BCG-024: 32.77m @ 1.06% Cu, 0.44 g/t Au & 6.37 g/t Ag from 176.73m
Incl. 7.28m @ 2.47% Cu, 1.45 g/t Au, & 15.09 g/t Ag from 186.52m
And 3.70m @ 1.97% Cu, 0.46 g/t Au, & 8.04 g/t Ag from 204.3m
BCG-030: 38m @ 1.20% Cu, 0.43 g/t Au & 10.29 g/t Ag from 168m
Incl. 15.1m @ 2.41% Cu, 0.93 g/t Au &18.85 g/t Ag from 185.4m
BCG-031: 6m @ 1.10% Cu, 0.49 g/t Au & 11.77 g/t Ag from 168m and
35.0m @ 0.83% Cu, 0.18 g/t Au & 6.91 g/t Ag from 198.0m
Incl. 17.0m @ 1.38% Cu, 0.29 g/t Au, 11.75 g/t Ag from 202.00m
BCG-035: 32.0m @ 1.36% Cu, 0.63 g/t Au & 10.93 g/t Ag from 178.0m
Incl. 18.0m @ 2.12% Cu, 1.06 g/t Au, 16.33 g/t Ag from 188.0m
BCG-025: 16.0m @ 0.57% Cu, 0.16 g/t Au & 3.50 g/t Ag from 180.0m
Incl. 6.3m @ 1.06% Cu, 0.33 g/t Au, 6.41 g/t Ag from 185.7m
In addition, five rock chip samples of exposed mineralized garnet-diopside skarn were collected from
historic trenches located approximately 300m along strike to the southeast of BCG-017, within the
interpreted mineralized corridor. These samples further support the potential for mineralization to extend
beyond the currently drilled footprint and provide compelling near-surface targets for follow-up drilling.
Newly received results from this area include:
1.00% Cu, 3.24 g/t Au & 10.8 g/t Ag (SA0047512)
1.31% Cu, 1.43 g/t Au & 30.8 g/t Ag (SA0047514)
1.67% Cu, 0.79 g/t Au & 38.0 g/t Ag (SA0047515)
2.37% Cu, 0.88 g/t Au & 32.6 g/t Ag (SA0047516)
RC drilling is scheduled to commence in September, initially targeting these historic trenches before
expanding to additional known targets and mineralization proximal to the Cub East discovery. This next
phase is expected to provide a cost and time-effective opportunity to rapidly test the broader strike
potential of the system and generate further news flow from one of Gladiator's highest-priority growth
areas.
CUB EAST
DRILL TARGETING
Gladiator Metals has commenced a structural geology review at Cub East to improve drill targeting and
better understand the controls on high-grade copper-gold mineralisation. Early work has identified
northeast-trending structures that appear to host high-grade mineralisation and may represent previously
under-tested exploration targets due to the orientation of historic drilling. Combined with the recently
completed 3D IP survey, which has outlined a mineralised trend exceeding 900 metres, these findings
suggest significant expansion potential at Cub East. The structural model will also be applied across
Cowley and the broader Whitehorse Copper Belt to support district-scale exploration and future
discoveries.
Figure 1:
Plan map of Black Cub over Drone Aeromagnetic Survey. New drill results from Cub East
subject to this release highlighted in dark yellow. Please note Section Line showing projection of
Figure 2, 3 and 4.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/306060_dab3691b149e79e7_002full.jpg
Figure 2:
Section (9,960 N) through Cub East (Viewing NNW). Drill results from Cub East subject to
this release highlighted in dark yellow. Refer to Figure 1 above for the location of section.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/306060_dab3691b149e79e7_003full.jpg
Figure 3:
Section (9,920 N) through Cub East (Viewing NNW). Drill results from Cub East subject to
this release highlighted in dark yellow. Refer to Figure 1 above for the location of section.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/306060_dab3691b149e79e7_004full.jpg
Figure 4:
Section (9,880 N) through Cub East (Viewing NNW). Drill results from Cub East subject to
this release highlighted in dark yellow. Refer to Figure 1 above for the location of section.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1930/306060_dab3691b149e79e7_005full.jpg
Hole Id
Depth
East
North
Dip
Azim
Note
From
To
Interval
(m)
Cu
(%)
Au
(g/t)
Ag
(g/t)
Remarks
BCG-024
349.00
503,071
6,715,365
-60
223
176.73
209.50
32.77
1.06
0.44
6.37
Incl.
186.52
193.80
7.28
2.47
1.45
15.09
And
204.30
208.00
3.70
1.97
0.46
8.04
BCG-025
280.42
503,123
6,715,431
-58
222
180.00
196.00
16.00
0.57
0.16
3.50
Incl.
185.70
192.00
6.30
1.06
0.33
6.41
BCG-026
321.56
503,123
6,715,485
-60
221
Assays Pending
BCG-027
400.81
503,222
6,715,585
-64
219
Assays Pending
BCG-028
396.24
503,016
6,715,381
-61
226
Assays Pending
BCG-029
265.18
503,124
6,715,373
-60
229
Assays Pending
BCG-030
253.50
503,091
6,715,344
-60
222
168.00
206.00
38.00
1.20
0.43
10.29
Includes 1.6m of Lost Core
Incl.
185.40
200.50
15.10
2.41
0.93
18.85
BCG-031
399.28
503,063
6,715,310
-61
224
75.00
81.00
6.00
1.10
0.49
11.77
115.00
117.00
2.00
1.04
0.31
16.10
198.00
233.00
35.00
0.83
0.18
6.91
Incl.
198.00
219.00
21.00
1.22
0.24
10.48
Incl.
202.00
219.00
17.00
1.38
0.29
11.75
BCG-032
262.13
503,036
6,715,514
-58
224
Assays Pending
BCG-033
225.55
503,107
6,715,359
-60
225
Assays Pending
BCG-034
320.04
503,010
6,715,488
-59
229
Assays Pending
BCG-035
294.13
503,121
6,715,314
-61
226
178.00
210.00
32.00
1.36
0.63
10.93
188.00
206.00
18.00
2.12
1.06
16.33
Table 1
: Recently returned drill assay results from Cub East Drill holes. Note that the quoted Intersections are reported as interval widths and not
true width. True widths of the intersected mineralized skarn system is complex, with different grade distributions present related to the form of the
contact between the granodiorite and sedimentary units as well different vein generations and orientations within the various intervals.
Sample Id
Sample
Type
East
North
Note
Cu
(%)
Au
(g/t)
Ag
(g/t)
Lithology
Description
Remarks
SA0047512
RKO
503,270
6,715,016
1.00
3.24
10.80
Garnet Diopside Altered Skarn
SA0047513
RKO
503,361
6,715,147
0.18
-0.01
2.30
Magnetite Skarn
SA0047514
RKO
503,270
6,715,015
1.31
1.43
30.80
Garnet Diopside Altered Skarn
SA0047515
RKO
503,271
6,715,016
1.67
0.79
38.00
Garnet Diopside Altered Skarn
SA0047516
RKO
503,270
6,715,019
2.37
0.88
32.60
Garnet Diopside Altered Skarn
SA0047517
RKO
503,270
6,715,019
0.03
-0.01
-0.50
Garnet Diopside Altered Skarn
Sample Id
Sample
Type
East
North
Note
Cu
(%)
Au
(g/t)
Ag
(g/t)
Lithology
Description
Remarks
Table 2
: Recently returned Rock Chip assay results from Cub East. Sample Type RKO = "Rock Chip of Surface Outcrop"
COWLEY RESOURCE DELINEATION DRILLING
Drilling commenced at Cowley on 20 April. Gladiator plans to complete at least 8,000 metres of drilling
to support resource delineation under Class 3 permit conditions, which allow for greater flexibility and
increased drill density both within and beyond the boundaries of the known mineralized system. Using a
regularly spaced grid, the program will systematically test mineralized zones and support comprehensive
resource definition.
The initial priority is to:
Complete step-out, sectional and infill drilling in areas where high-grade mineralisation may be
incorporated into future resource models; and
Assess near-surface high-grade mineralisation for inclusion in future resource models on both the
southern and northern limbs of the deposit. This work is intended to maximize the shallow resource
potential in areas where drilling directly above the mineralisation has not previously been possible.
Additional results are expected in the coming weeks.
THE WHITEHORSE COPPER PROJECT
The Whitehorse Copper Project is an advanced-stage high grade copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), silver
(Ag) and gold (Au) skarn exploration project in the Yukon Territory, Canada.
Copper mineralization was first discovered in 1897 on the Whitehorse Copper Belt and comprises over
30 copper-related, primarily skarn occurrences covering an area of 35 km long by 5 km wide on the
western margin of Whitehorse City, Yukon.
Exploration and mining development have been carried out intermittently since 1897 with the main
production era lasting between 1967 and 1982 where production from primarily the Little Chief deposit
totalled 267,500,000 pounds copper, 225,000 ounces of gold and 2,838,000 ounces of silver from 10.5
million tons of mineralized material milled (Watson, 1984). The Whitehorse Copper Project is accessible
by numerous access roads and trails located within 2 km of the South Klondike Highway and the Alaska
Highway. An extensive network of historical gravel exploration and haul roads exists throughout the
project area, providing excellent access to the claim package. Access to existing electric power facilities
is available through the main Yukon power grid.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Advanced 35 km long high-grade copper belt.
Located on western margin of infrastructure rich Whitehorse City, Yukon.
Expanded 2026 exploration program now targeting more than 50,000 m of drilling across the
Whitehorse Copper Project, with near-term focus on advancing Cowley toward maiden resource
definition, accelerating the high-grade Cub East discovery, and systematically testing multiple
high-priority copper-gold skarn targets across the broader district-scale portfolio.
Later in the year focus will revert to the known mineralized areas adjacent to previous operating
mines, including the Chiefs and Arctic Chief-Best Chance trends.
Targeting to report maiden high-grade copper NI 43-101 compliant inferred resource(s), in 2026
for Cowley on completion of Class 3 delineation drilling.
The Project area was a previous producer at Little Chief, Arctic Chief, Keewenaw & Black Cub
South and other deposits.
Between 1967-82 Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting, mined 10.5 mt at 1.5% Cu plus 0.75 g/t Au
(Watson P.H. (1984) The Whitehorse Copper Belt - A Compilation. Yukon Geological Survey,
Open File 1984-1).
Key Institutional Investors - Dynamic, Mackenzie, Macquarie Bank and Orimco.
QA / QC
Drilling completed by Gladiator is irregularly spaced to test parts of the mineralized systems, holes are
directionally surveyed utilising a North Seeking Gyro direction tool. Drill collars are subsequently
surveyed utilising a high-accuracy RTK DGPS or DeviSite system. Diamond drilling is usually cased,
then cored utilising HTW diameter before reducing at shallow depth in stable ground to NTW diameter
drill core.
Mineralized quoted intersections are reported as interval widths and not true width. True widths of the
intersected mineralized skarn system is complex making an estimate of the true width unreliable. This is
due to different grade distributions and angle geometries present related to the form or outline of the
contact between the granodiorite and sedimentary units as well different vein paragenesis and
orientations within the various intervals. Where possible, drilling is conducted perpendicular to
interpreted mineralization.
Upon drilling of diamond core, Gladiator undertakes geological logging, marking up of lineal length of the
core, recording core recovery, and Geotech measurements such as RQD's and taking core
photographs.
Based on the geological logging, core is then marked up for sampling with a new sampling ticket that
matches the submitted sample for analysis at the start of the sample interval, the drill core is then cut in
half utilizing a core saw equipped with a diamond saw blade. The core samples are then sent for
analysis and the remaining half core retained for future reference. Certified Reference Materials (CRMs)
or known blank material is placed within the sampling sequence at a nominal sampling rate of at least 1
in 20 samples to monitor the Laboratory.
Rock chip samples reported in this release were collected by Gladiator personnel from exposed
mineralized outcrop and historic trench material as representative grab samples of observed skarn
mineralization. Sample locations were recorded using handheld GPS, and samples were placed in
labelled sample bags prior to secure transport to the laboratory. Rock chip samples are selective by
nature and may not be representative of the average grade or continuity of mineralization across the
broader target area; however, the Company considers the results appropriate for identifying and
prioritizing prospective areas for follow-up exploration and drilling. The sampling, chain-of-custody,
analytical procedures and QA/QC protocols applied to the rock chip samples are considered suitable for
exploration reporting under National Instrument 43-101.
Samples are submitted to the Whitehorse based prep facility of ALS Global Laboratory (Canada).
Samples subject to this release were crushed to 70% less than 2mm before pulverizing to better than
85% passing <75 microns. Assay pulps are then transported by ALS to the Vancouver (Langley) facility
to be analysed. On occasions where the Whitehorse prep facility has reduced capacity to complete
preparation of the samples within a timely manner, samples may be forwarded by ALS Global to their
Langley facility for preparation utilising the same method as described above.
Samples were analysed by ALS method ME-ICP61 (34 Element Aqua Regia with ICP-AES finish), with
over-limit Cu analysed by method CU-OG62 (Aqua Regia with ICP-AES finish). Au was analysed by
ALS method AU-AA25 (Ore Grade Au 30g Fire Assay AA Finish). Gladiator captures required sampling
metadata and considers the QA/QC protocols applied to be suitable for exploration reporting under
National Instrument 43-101. The data is considered reliable for identifying future exploration targets and
informing follow-up drilling and exploration campaigns.
Additional drilling may be required to further confirm the reliability or future usability of certain data,
including through twinning of reported mineralization where appropriate, particularly where collar
locations, downhole surveys or historical QA/QC information cannot be independently verified.
References:
Watson P.H. (1984) The Whitehorse Copper Belt - A Compilation. Yukon Geological Survey, Open File 1984-1.
(
https://data.geology.gov.yk.ca/Reference/42011#InfoTab
)
Tenney D. (1981) – The Whitehorse Copper Belt: Mining, Exploration and Geology (1967-1980).
(
https://ia800602.us.archive.org/7/items/whitehorsecopper00tenn/whitehorsecopper00tenn.pdf
)
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared or reviewed and
approved by Kell Nielsen, the Company's Vice President Exploration, a "qualified person" as defined by
NI 43-101.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
"
Jason Bontempo
"
Jason Bontempo
Director and CEO
For further information please contact:
+1 778 726 3356
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