Western Exploration Drilling Confirms New Precious Metals Bearing Epithermal System at Aura Project with 3.0 Meters of 7.1 G/t Gold at Tomasina Fault Zone Target Remains Open Along More Than 2.0 Kilometers of Strike Length
Western Exploration Drilling Confirms New
Precious Metals Bearing Epithermal System at
Aura Project with 3.0 Meters of 7.1 G/t Gold at
Tomasina Fault Zone
Target Remains Open Along More Than 2.0 Kilometers of
Strike Length
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 17, 2025) - Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV:
WEX) (OTCQX: WEXPF) (the "Company" or "Western Exploration") is pleased to announce results of
the first five reverse circulation ("RC") holes testing part of the Tomasina
target, approximately one
kilometer west of the Gravel Creek at the Company's wholly owned Aura gold-silver project (the "Aura
Project").
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
Hole
WG467,
drilled northwest of Wood Gulch on section T4760N, intersected
3.0 meters @ 7.1
g/t Au
and
4.8 g/t Ag (Table 2
and
Figure 2)
down hole of a broader interval of 44.20 meters 0.38
g/t Au and 1.71 g/t Ag.
The zone remains open for more than one kilometer of strike length to the northwest and
southeast.
Hole
WG463
intersected an extensive oxidation and clay silicification alteration typical of high-level
epithermal systems similar to what is above the Gravel Creek deposit. (
Figure 1
and
Table 3
).
The altered zone in WG463 included an interval of 15.24 meters @ 0.13 g/t Au and 10.0 g/t
Ag - a strong indicator of proximity to a potentially mineralized system at depth.
Western Exploration CEO, Darcy Marud, commented:
"
We are very encouraged that the current
drill program has confirmed the resource growth potential at the Tomasina fault area. Initial drill results
from WG466 and WG467 northeast of Wood Gulch show similar geology, alteration and
mineralization to Gravel Creek, located just one kilometer to the east. Importantly, the target remains
open for one kilometer of strike length.
Drilling to the southeast of the Wood Gulch open pit has identified high level epithermal alteration and
mineralization that is similar to that discovered above the Gravel Creek resource. Legacy hole
WG355 that was completed down dip and to the east of this area returned 13.17 meters of 1.67 g/t Au
and 28.5 g/t Ag including 1.52 meters of 10.9 g/t Au and 101 g/t Ag demonstrating the prospectivity of
this area.
To have this degree of success in an initial drill program is truly exciting! Considering that Western
Exploration has drill tested less than 20% of the Tomasina Fault trend strike length, we are very
encouraged about the future resource growth potential of this area. The strength and continuity of
alteration, together with the consistent mineralized intercepts, provide a clear case for continued step-
out and follow-up core drilling."
SIGNIFICANCE OF TOMASINA DRILL RESULTS
The Tomasina target is a 2.5-kilometer-long structural zone down dip of the Saddle and Wood Gulch NI
43-101 resources and the Hammer Head mineralization. The objective has been to evaluate for
mineralization in the highly favorable Frost Creek tuff (main host rock at Gravel Creek) at the faulted
unconformity with the basement Schoonover Formation.
The five RC drill holes, WG463-WG467, reported in this release, tested targets along approximately one
kilometer of strike length of the Tomasina structural zone, located to the northwest and southeast of the
down dip projection of Wood Gulch mineralization.
Table 1. Drill Hole Coordinates and Orientations
Drill Hole
Easting
(m)
Northing
(m)
Elevation
(m)
Depth (m)
Azimuth
Dip
WG463
586,824
4,614,614
2,080
317
216
65
WG464
586,772
4,614,667
2,087
238
244
66
WG465
586,789
4,614,765
2,077
207
270
59
WG466
586,411
4,615,571
2,222
360
240
65
WG467
586,410
4,615,570
2,222
372
240
49
WG468
586,108
4,615,892
2,277
422
243
78
WG469
586,108
4,615,893
2,277
408
0
90
WG470
586,171
4,615,831
2,253
457
0
90
WG471
586,169
4,615,830
2,253
457
245
70
Figure 1. 2025 Reverse Circulation holes and key target areas in relation to the 2.5-kilometer-long
Tomasina Structural Trend
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Wood Gulch Area
Holes
WG466-WG467
were drilled northeast of Wood Gulch on section T4760N (
Figure 2
). Both holes
intersected broad zones of clay alteration with local silicification and quartz-pyrite-marcasite veining
within the Frost Creek tuff. Mineralization improves in continuity and tenor towards the Tomasina Fault.
Table 2. Summary of +0.4 g/t Au drill results in holes WG466 and WG467 evaluating the Tomasina
Target
DRILL HOLE
START
END
INTERVAL
Au
Ag
(m)
(m)
(m)
*
g/t
g/t
WG466
288.04
295.66
7.62
0.66
13.3
with
294.13
295.66
1.52
1.72
49.5
WG467
292.61
336.81
44.20
0.38
1.7
with
327.66
329.19
1.52
2.53
1.3
WG467
344.43
347.48
3.05
7.10
4.8
* True width is estimated to be between 80 and 100% of interval width
Hole WG467was highlighted by an interval of
3.0 meters @ 7.1 g/t Au and 4.8 g/t
Ag. The hole was lost
in a vein/fault zone near the contact with the Schoonover Formation argillite.
The alteration and Au-Ag mineralization give support to the exploration concept of mineralization in
the Frost Creek tuff along the Tomasina Fault.
The zone is open for at least one kilometer of strike length to the northwest and southeast of hole
WG467 (
Figure 1
), bracketed by legacy drill holes WG360 and WG421 which intersected strong
alteration in the Frost Creek tuff.
WG421, located 300 meters to the northwest, intersected 9.14
meters of 1.13 g/t Au and 2.8 g/t Ag. WG360, located approximately 600 meters to the southeast,
intersected 1.52 meters of 7.28 g/t Au and 15.4 g/t Ag within a broader zone of 25.9 meters of
0.91 g/t Au and 11.1 g/t Ag.
Figure 2. Cross section T4760N, and holes WG466-WG477 showing mineralization in the Eocene
Frost Creek Tuff near the Tomasina Fault.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
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Hammer Head Area
Holes
WG463-WG465
focused on a 225 meter segment of the target zone southeast of the Wood Gulch
area on sections T3675N to T3900N.
Table 3. Summary of +0.2 g/t Au drill results in holes WG463 to WG465 evaluating the Tomasina
Target
DRILL HOLE
START
END
INTERVAL
Au
Ag
(m)
(m)
(m)
*
g/t
g/t
WG463
210.31
225.55
15.24
0.13
10.0
WG464
218.97
233.17
14.20
0.23
7.2
WG465
198.12
204.22
6.10
0.08
34.0
* True Width is unknown at this time due to limited drill density
All three holes intersected the projected Tomasina Fault above the main part of the favourable Frost
Creek tuff and did not hit the proposed target.
Of particular significance, southernmost hole WG463 intersected a zone of oxidation with strong
clay +/- silicification from 45-215 meters down hole in the Jarbidge rhyolite. The zone displayed
anomalous Au-Ag values up to 15.24 meters of 0.13 g/t Au and 10.0 g/t Ag.
The alteration is very
similar to alteration seen on Discovery Hill above the Gravel Creek deposit and is less than 200
meters northwest of an induced polarization line run in 2023 (the "2023 IP Line 5"), which identified
a very significant chargeability anomaly with the same order of magnitude as that over Gravel
Creek (
Figure 3
). These two factors indicate that additional drilling is warranted on a second one
kilometer long trend to the SE of WG463, along the Tomasina structural zone down dip of Hammer
Head mineralization (
Figure 1
).
Legacy drill hole WG355, located approximately 100 meters east of WG464, intersected 1.52
meters of 10.9 g/t Au and 101.0 g/t Ag within a broader zone of 13.71 meters of 1.67 g/t Au and
28.5 g/t Ag further supporting the need for additional follow up drilling in this area.
Figure 3. Location of 2023 IP Line 5, highlighting a significant chargeability anomaly (with the same
magnitude as over Gravel Creek) that lies in the hanging wall of the Tomasina Fault. The 2023 IP
Line 5 is located less than 200 meters southeast of hole WG463 and 500 meters northwest of the
Hammer Head Zone.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
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ABOUT WESTERN EXPLORATION
Western Exploration is 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:
Nichole Cowles
Investor Relations
Telephone:
775-240-4172
Email:
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 National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("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, Nevada. Chip
trays were photographed and logged by Company geologists. Sample intervals were recorded. Quality
control 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 amended and restated technical report,
titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Doby George Deposits and Updated Resource
Estimate for the Gravel Creek Gold-Silver Deposits, Aura Gold-Silver Project, Elko County, Nevada",
dated October 1, 2025, as amended (with an effective June 17, 2025), 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
drill results from the Tomasina 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 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, please refer to the continuous disclosure record of Western Exploration on
SEDAR+ (
www.sedarplus.ca
) under Western Exploration's issuer profile . 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.
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