West Point Gold Drills 32.0m of 1.05 g/t Au from 9.1m at Sheep Trail, 600m Step-Out Supports Third Potential Resource Area at Gold Chain
West Point Gold Drills 32.0m of 1.05 g/t Au
from 9.1m at Sheep Trail, 600m Step-Out
Supports Third Potential Resource Area at
Gold Chain
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2026) - West Point Gold Corp. (TSXV: WPG)
(OTCQB: WPGCF) (FSE: LRA0) ("West Point Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce initial
drill results from its Sheep Trail and South Tyro targets. Shallow gold mineralization was intersected at
the Sheep Trail target, which is located about 600 metres ("m") south of the Tyro Main Zone, at the
Company's Gold Chain Project in Arizona. The initial results across the upper portions of the Sheep Trail
target are consistent with historical mining activities and surface sampling, which suggests that the
Sheep Trail mine area likely represents a third area where a resource could be defined at the Gold
Chain Project. The Sheep Trail and South Tyro targets are two of several gold targets tested in early
2026. This press release includes drill results from 4,517m; to date, 15,173m of the ongoing 20,000m
drill program at the Gold Chain project have been completed. Results are pending from 32 holes or
5,859m from the Tyro Main and NE zones, Black Dyke, and Bull 8 targets.
Highlights:
Sheep Trail is defined by a strike length greater than 1km and hosts between 1 and 3 zones of
gold-bearing quartz veinlets and breccia in a rhyolite dike complex.
Hole GC26-106 intersected 32.0m of 1.05 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") starting 9.1m from
surface.
In the same zone, Hole GC26-105 intersected 15.3m of 1.24 g/t Au from 19.8m, including a
historical stope (no sample) from 19.8 to 21.3m.
Hole GC26-111 intersected 19.8m of 1.42 g/t Au from 51.8m.
Hole GC26-113 intersected 7.6m of 2.41 g/t Au from 61.0m.
The South Tyro target was tested, intersecting broad zones of quartz veining and associated
alteration with anomalous arsenic and antimony values, suggesting mineralization may be deeper
than tested.
The Company currently has 3 rigs operating at Gold Chain, with one core rig and two RC rigs
focused on expanding the NE Tyro and the Main Tyro zones to depth.
"Sheep Trail has delivered meaningful grades over a strike length exceeding one kilometre at shallow
depths, confirming it as a third potential resource area at Gold Chain. Results like these underscore
the district-scale opportunity that West Point Gold is defining at Gold Chain. Separately, current
drilling is focused on expanding the Tyro Main Zone, particularly the high-grade northeast Tyro Zone
to depth and along strike. Step-out success at multiple targets, along with continued success at Tyro,
suggests that it remains early days in defining the full potential of Gold Chain,"
stated Derek
Macpherson, President and CEO.
Table 1: Drill Results
Holes
From
(m)
To
(m)
Width
(m)
Grade
(g/t Au)
Comments
GC26-103
18.3
38.1
19.8
0.48
Stope: 15.8-18.3m
GC26-105
19.8
35.1
15.3
1.24
Stope: 19.8-21.3m
GC26-106
9.1
41.2
32.0
1.05
GC26-108
30.5
54.9
24.4
0.84
GC26-111
51.8
71.6
19.8
1.42
GC26-112
56.4
70.1
13.7
0.39
GC26-113
61.0
68.6
7.6
2.41
Including
62.5
64.0
1.5
7.75
Note: All widths shown are downhole; true widths are greater than 60% of downhole widths.
Figure 1: Plan view of the Gold Chain project showing geology, historical mines and/or current
prospects.
Note the location of the Sheep Trail target.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
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Figure 2A. Geologic map of the western Sheep Trail target showing drill holes and surface
samples.
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Figure 2B. Geologic map of the eastern Sheep Trail target showing drill holes and surface
samples.
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Sheep Trail Drilling Summary
Several RC holes were drilled across accessible portions of the Sheep Trail target in areas where
historical mine workings are widely scattered (see Figure 2A and 2B). These holes include GC26-103,
GC26-105, GC26-106 and GC26-108 across the western extent of the mineralized zone (Figure 2A)
and holes GC26-111, GC26-112 and GC26-113 further to the east (Figure 2B) and across what is
referred to as the 'Golden Elbow' (Figure 2B). The target zone is shallow and within 60m of the surface; a
couple of holes were extended deeper to test the possibility of additional veins in the Precambrian
granite. To date, all gold mineralization is contained within the major rhyolite dike complex or at the
contact with the Precambrian basement (Sheep Trail ledge).
Additionally, five (5) holes were drilled across the down-dip extension of the Sheep Trail ledge about
200m to the south of the above-noted holes (Figure 2A). All holes encountered extensive zones of quartz
veinlets hosted in silicified rhyolite but did not contain gold values greater than 0.07 g/t Au. A description
of these holes is provided in Table 4. Additional work is likely required to better understand the
relationship between these holes and the ones drilled at upper Sheep Trail.
The results of the upper Sheep Trail drilling are provided in Table 1 and discussed below. Both areas
drilled reveal intervals of up to 30m of multistage quartz veinlets, veins, and breccia in the rhyolite dike.
This dike, which has been mapped over a strike of several kilometres, dips moderately to the south-
southwest at 50 to 60 degrees and locally forms a dip-slope across which historical prospecting
occurred. Mapping and sampling conducted by West Point Gold have identified widespread veins and
breccia masses with values reported (3.7m at 19.52 g/t Au).
Figure 3. Geologic section across the Sheep Trail Ledge along Holes GC26-105, GC26-106 and
GC26-108, revealing a horizon in the south-dipping dike, which has been preferentially
fractured and cemented by multiple stages of quartz and calcite.
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Sheep Trail Geology
Gold mineralization at the Sheep Trail mine and adjacent areas (i.e. Boulevard mine) is mostly hosted in
a Miocene rhyolite dike complex near contacts with the hosting Precambrian granite or along internal
structures associated with faulted slivers of the Precambrian rocks. The primary structural corridor here
is the Sheep Trail Ledge (fault zone), with elevated gold values concentrated where it is intersected by
NE-trending structures, i.e., the Tyro vein/fault system.
Figures 2A and 2B show the Sheep Trail ledge in
the study area where the upper Sheep Trail mine is hosted in a nearly east-west trending dike (holes
GC26-103, GC26-105, GC26-106 and GC26-108; Figure 2A) immediately southeast of the NE-trending
East Tyro structure. The Sheep Trail ledge extends to the east, where it bends southward to the SE,
where holes GC26-111, GC26-112 and GC26-113 (Figure 2B) were drilled. The bend in the dike is
locally referred to as the Golden Elbow due to the location of numerous prospects and elevated gold
values.
Mineralization in the holes drilled to date at Sheep Trail occurs as narrow (<5mm) white quartz veinlets
over much of the dike complex. Within this envelope of generally barren, white quartz veinlets is a later
quartz stage defined by lime green quartz-chalcedony veinlets, stockwork and breccia (Figure 4), which
hosted high grades (up to 5 ounces per ton Au) in the historical Sheep Trail mine. Additional quartz
events include white-to-gray sucrosic quartz veins and breccia with low gold values.
Figure 4. Photograph of green, sucrosic quartz stockwork/breccia cutting rhyolite; sample
#0203 -
14 g/t Au,
Sheep Trail mine area.
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Project History
The Sheep Trail mine was discovered in 1865 by Jack Mellen, a steamboat captain running on the
Colorado River. The mine was later acquired by the New Comstock Mining Company, which improved
the property, installed a 20-stamp mill at the river, and milled about 2,000 tons of ore. In 1909, the Sheep
Trail mine was developed to a depth of 130 feet by drifts, tunnels and shafts with over 5,000 feet of
underground development; the lower tunnel (Figure 3) is about 230 metres long. The Sheep Trail 'vein'
system or 'ledge' has invaded a nearly east-west ridge composed of a fine-grained rhyolite dike complex
up to 400m wide, emplaced into the Precambrian granite. Schrader (1909) states, "The vein (and dike)
dips about 60° S. The ore consists mostly of quartz and hematite (limonite) gangue and is reported to be
rich."
Lausen (1931) states that mineralization consists of a number of small quartz stringers over a width of
three to seven feet. This quartz is not all mineralized, and only certain portions of the vein stained with
iron oxides were mined. Much of the quartz is fine-grained, and some of it shows a platy structure (lattice
texture). The average width of the stopes was four feet. The best mineralization was found where
manganese oxide occurred in the porous quartz, and such mineralization would carry up to 5 oz/ton Au.
The best mineralization was found at the water table or at a short distance below it. Lausen (1931)
concluded that this occurrence strongly suggests secondary enrichment of the gold. In the lower parts of
the mine, the mineralization was too low-grade to be mined at a profit at that time.
Table 2: Drill hole locations and descriptions - Upper Sheep Trail Zone
Hole No.
Azimuth
(degrees)
Inclination
(degrees)
Easting
Northing
Length
GC26-103
20
-45
731,555
3,900,510
59.4
GC26-105
20
-80
731,555
3,900,508
77.7
GC26-106
330
-50
731,553
3,900,510
213.4
GC26-108
290
-50
731,552
3,900,508
269.8
GC26-111
50
-50
731,772
3,900,449
152.4
GC26-112
30
-50
731,866
3,900,375
172.2
GC26-113
30
-80
731,866
3,900,375
83.8
Table 3: Drill hole locations and descriptions - Lower Sheep Trail Zone
Hole No.
Azimuth
(degrees)
Inclination
(degrees)
Easting
Northing
Length
GC26-115
0
-60
731,547
3,900,355
141.7
GC26-117
315
-50
731,544
3,900,357
199.6
GC26-119
90
-50
731,544
3,900,311
198.1
GC26-121
135
-60
731,524
3,900,307
266.7
GC26-123
0
-80
731,540
3,900,311
205.7
South Tyro Vein System
A total of 9 (nine) RC holes were drilled across the South Tyro vein system with a total of 2,477 metres.
Extensive zones of silicification and illite-pyrite (limonite) alteration were traversed and hosted broad
intervals of quartz veinlets; no significant gold values were encountered. Low-level (< 0.066g/t Au) values
and anomalous arsenic-antimony values were identified over the entire vertical span of the drilling.
Results suggest that gold deposition occurred at greater depths and may reflect intra- and post-mineral
movement along several important faults that cross the Katherine District. West Point Gold is awaiting
additional detailed geochemical results, analysis of the recently completed gravity survey and plans to
incorporate the recently completed structural geology study into the design of the next phase of drilling at
South Tyro.
Table 4. Drill hole locations and descriptions - South Tyro Zone
Hole No.
Azimuth
(degrees)
Inclination
(degrees)
Easting
Northing
Length
GC26-092
60
-50
730,825
3,900,185
190.5
GC26-094
60
-75
730,824
3,900,185
274.3
GC26-096
100
-65
730,825
3,900,186
268.2
GC26-102
90
-60
730,794
3,900,097
251.5
GC26-104
90
-80
730,791
3,900,098
330.7
GC26-107
120
-60
730,789
3,900,096
243.8
GC26-109
110
-70
730,738
3,900,043
333.8
GC26-110
80
-70
730,737
3,900,041
339.9
GC26-114
315
-60
730,825
3,900,184
243.8
Qualified Person
Robert Johansing, M.Sc. Econ. Geol., P. Geo., the Company's Vice President, Exploration, is a qualified
person ("QP") as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this
press release. Mr. Johansing has also been responsible for overseeing all phases of the drilling
program, including logging, labelling, bagging and transport from the project to American Assay
Laboratories of Sparks, Nevada. Drillholes have a diameter of about 10cm, and samples have an
approximate weight of 5 to 10kg.
Samples were then dried, crushed and split, and pulp samples were
prepared for analysis. Gold was determined by fire assay with an ICP finish, and over-limit samples were
determined by fire assay and gravimetric finish. Silver plus 15 other elements were determined by Aqua
Regia ICP-AES (IM-2A16), and over-limit samples were determined by fire assay and gravimetric finish.
Both certified standards and blanks were inserted on site along with duplicates, standards and blanks
inserted by American Assay. The results summarized above have been carefully reviewed with reference
to the QA/QC results. Standard sample chain of custody procedures were employed during drilling and
sampling campaigns until delivery to the analytical facility.
About West Point Gold Corp.
West Point Gold is an exploration and development company focused on unlocking value across four
strategically located projects along the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada and Arizona, USA,
providing shareholders with exposure to multiple discovery opportunities across one of North America's
most productive gold regions. The Company's near-term priority is advancing its flagship Gold Chain
Project in Arizona.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact:
Aaron Paterson, Corporate Communications Manager
Phone: +1 (778) 358-6173
Email:
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These
statements relate to future events or future performance. Forward-looking statements include estimates
and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the
effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. The use of any of
the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions
and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking
information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing
of such future events including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, silver, and other
metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, timing of the Company's maiden resource
estimate, favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining government approvals and
financing on time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses
and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, availability of drill
rigs, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements
are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors,
many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and
uncertainties relating to West Point Gold's ability to complete any payments or expenditures required
under the Company's various option agreements for its projects; and other risks and uncertainties
relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, the uncertainties related to resources
estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections in relation to production, costs and expenses;
risks relating to grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill
results and other exploration data;
the potential for delays in exploration or development activities;
uncertainty related to the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future
exploration, development or mining results may vary from those expected; statements about expected
results of operations, royalties, cash flows, financial position may not be consistent with the Company's