Western Exploration Commences 2025 Drill Program at the Aura Project, Nevada
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) has launched its fully-funded 4,000-meter reverse circulation drill program at the Aura Project in Elko County, Nevada. The program targets a 1.3 km strike length of the Tomasina Fault zone, focusing on high-grade epithermal gold-silver vein targets near Wood Gulch.
The drilling campaign aims to evaluate areas down dip from the Wood Gulch and Saddle NI 43-101 resource areas, with targets at depths of 100-450 meters. The Wood Gulch Open Pit, previously mined by Homestake Mining Company (1988-1990), showed significant high-grade drill intercepts, including 13.72m @ 79.26 g/t AuEq. The program follows recent exploration success that led to a 54% increase in inferred Au-Ag resources at the Gravel Creek and Jarbidge target areas.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) ha avviato il suo programma di perforazione a circolazione inversa completamente finanziato di 4.000 metri presso il progetto Aura nella contea di Elko, Nevada. Il programma si concentra su una lunghezza di 1,3 km della zona di faglia Tomasina, puntando a vene epiterimali ad alto tenore di oro e argento vicino a Wood Gulch.
La campagna di perforazione mira a valutare le aree in discesa rispetto alle risorse NI 43-101 di Wood Gulch e Saddle, con obiettivi a profondità comprese tra 100 e 450 metri. La miniera a cielo aperto di Wood Gulch, precedentemente sfruttata dalla Homestake Mining Company (1988-1990), aveva mostrato significativi intervalli di perforazione ad alto tenore, tra cui 13,72 m @ 79,26 g/t AuEq. Il programma segue il recente successo esplorativo che ha portato a un aumento del 54% delle risorse inferite di Au-Ag nelle aree target di Gravel Creek e Jarbidge.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) ha iniciado su programa de perforación a circulación inversa completamente financiado de 4,000 metros en el Proyecto Aura, en el condado de Elko, Nevada. El programa se enfoca en una longitud de 1.3 km de la zona de falla Tomasina, apuntando a vetas epitermales de oro y plata de alto grado cerca de Wood Gulch.
La campaña de perforación tiene como objetivo evaluar áreas en dirección descendente desde las zonas de recursos NI 43-101 de Wood Gulch y Saddle, con objetivos a profundidades de 100 a 450 metros. La mina a cielo abierto de Wood Gulch, previamente explotada por Homestake Mining Company (1988-1990), mostró interceptaciones significativas de alta ley, incluyendo 13.72 m @ 79.26 g/t AuEq. El programa sigue al reciente éxito exploratorio que llevó a un aumento del 54% en los recursos inferidos de Au-Ag en las áreas objetivo de Gravel Creek y Jarbidge.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF)는 네바다 엘코 카운티의 Aura 프로젝트에서 완전 자금 지원을 받은 4,000미터 역순환 시추 프로그램을 시작했습니다. 이 프로그램은 Tomasina 단층대의 1.3km 연장을 대상으로 하며, Wood Gulch 인근의 고등급 에피서멀 금-은 광맥을 집중 탐사합니다.
시추 캠페인은 Wood Gulch 및 Saddle NI 43-101 자원 지역의 하향 지역을 평가하는 것을 목표로 하며, 목표 심도는 100~450미터입니다. 과거 Homestake Mining Company(1988-1990)가 채굴한 Wood Gulch 노천광산은 13.72m @ 79.26 g/t AuEq와 같은 고등급 시추 구간을 보여주었습니다. 이 프로그램은 Gravel Creek 및 Jarbidge 목표 지역에서 Au-Ag 추정 자원이 54% 증가한 최근 탐사 성공을 기반으로 합니다.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) a lancé son programme de forage à circulation inversée entièrement financé de 4 000 mètres sur le projet Aura dans le comté d'Elko, Nevada. Le programme cible une longueur de 1,3 km de la zone de faille Tomasina, en se concentrant sur des veines épithermales à haute teneur en or et argent près de Wood Gulch.
La campagne de forage vise à évaluer les zones en plongée depuis les ressources NI 43-101 de Wood Gulch et Saddle, avec des cibles à des profondeurs de 100 à 450 mètres. La mine à ciel ouvert de Wood Gulch, exploitée auparavant par Homestake Mining Company (1988-1990), avait montré des intersections de forage à haute teneur significatives, incluant 13,72 m @ 79,26 g/t AuEq. Le programme fait suite au succès récent de l'exploration qui a conduit à une augmentation de 54% des ressources inférées en Au-Ag dans les zones cibles de Gravel Creek et Jarbidge.
Western Exploration (OTCQX:WEXPF) hat sein vollständig finanziertes 4.000-Meter Reverse-Circulation-Bohrprogramm im Aura-Projekt im Elko County, Nevada, gestartet. Das Programm zielt auf eine 1,3 km lange Streichlänge der Tomasina-Störungszone ab und konzentriert sich auf hochgradige epithermale Gold-Silber-Gangziele in der Nähe von Wood Gulch.
Die Bohrkampagne soll Bereiche unterhalb der NI 43-101-Ressourcen von Wood Gulch und Saddle bewerten, mit Zielen in Tiefen von 100 bis 450 Metern. Der Tagebau Wood Gulch, der zuvor von der Homestake Mining Company (1988-1990) abgebaut wurde, zeigte bedeutende hochgradige Bohrabschnitte, darunter 13,72 m @ 79,26 g/t AuEq. Das Programm folgt auf den jüngsten Explorationserfolg, der zu einer 54%igen Steigerung der abgeleiteten Au-Ag-Ressourcen in den Zielgebieten Gravel Creek und Jarbidge führte.
- Fully-funded 4,000-meter drill program targeting high-grade gold-silver veins
- Previous exploration success led to 54% increase in inferred Au-Ag resources
- Historical high-grade drill intercepts indicate strong mineralization potential
- Strategic location with 3.0 km strike length potential for resource expansion
- Results from drilling program won't be available until late August/early September 2025
- Exploration is still at early stage with no guaranteed success
4,000-Meter Reverse Circulation Drill Campaign to Focus on High Grade Epithermal Gold-Silver Vein Targets near Wood Gulch for Resource Expansion
Reno, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - August 5, 2025) - Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX) (OTCQX: WEXPF) (the "Company" or "Western Exploration") is pleased to announce the initiation of its fully-funded 2025 drill program at the high-grade Aura Project in Elko County, Nevada.
The 4,000-meter reverse circulation drill program focuses on evaluating a 1.3 km strike length of the Tomasina Fault zone, down dip from the current Wood Gulch and Saddle NI 43-101 resource areas (Figure 1).
- The Wood Gulch Open Pit (previously mined in 1988 to 1990 by Homestake Mining Company) contained some of the highest-grade drill intercepts recorded on the Aura Property, including 13.72m @ 79.26 g/t AuEq (RC hole WG159), and 9.45m @ 26.56 g/t AuEq (core hole WG135); see news release of February 24, 2025 titled "Western Exploration Expands Exploration Footprint at Gravel Creek with 3.0 Km Untested Structural Corridor at the Past Producing Wood Gulch Mine."
Darcy Marud, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The 2025 Aura reverse circulation drill program will build on exploration success that led to a
Discovery success here will give Western open-ended mineralization in several key zones to focus on near-term resource expansion. This could redefine the overall size and significance of the Aura district."
Using the Gravel Creek model as an analogy, 2025 drilling will prioritize favorable targets where the Tomasina Fault crosscuts the Frost Creek tuff down dip from known surface mineralization in the Wood Gulch and Saddle resource zones (Figure 2).
Geologic interpretation indicates that the Tomasina Fault intersects the highly favorable Eocene Frost Creek tuff at depths of 100-450 meters down dip from surface mineralization.
The Frost Creek tuff has proven to be a very receptive host rock at Gravel Creek (1.0 km to the east), containing wide intercepts within the current resource, including 18.29 meters true width @ 9.67 g/t AuEq (RC hole WG391) and 20.43 meters true width @ 11.97 g/t AuEq (core hole WG443).
Figure 1. Location of Gravel Creek-Wood Gulch area NI 43-101 Resources in relation to the Tomasina Fault zone, the focus of 2025 reverse circulation drilling
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7771/260988_cf722612d4748b24_002full.jpg
| HOLE | From (m) | Interval (m) | Au (g/t) | Ag (g/t) | AuEq (g/t) | |
| WG-355 | 269.75 | 13.71 | 1.67 | 28.5 | 2.01 | |
| WG-355 | with | 269.75 | 1.52 | 10.90 | 101.0 | 12.09 |
| WG-355 | 288.04 | 13.71 | 1.00 | 11.7 | 1.14 | |
| WG-360 | 195.07 | 6.10 | 0.83 | 10.7 | 0.96 | |
| WG-360 | 211.84 | 25.90 | 0.91 | 11.1 | 1.04 | |
| WG-360 | with | 211.84 | 1.52 | 1.92 | 101.0 | 3.11 |
| WG-360 | and | 228.60 | 1.52 | 7.28 | 15.4 | 7.46 |
| WG421 | 403.86 | 9.14 | 1.13 | 2.8 | 1.16 | |
| WG421 | and | 431.29 | 9.15 | 0.89 | 7.8 | 0.98 |
Table 1: Results of past drilling adjacent Tomasina Fault Zone - Figure 1.
Figure 2. Cross section from Saddle Zone to the Gravel Creek-Jarbidge resource areas, highlighting undrilled potential at depth where the Tomasina Fault intersects the Frost Creek tuff.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7771/260988_cf722612d4748b24_003full.jpg
Program Timing
RC drilling is now underway, with the program expected to continue through Q3. Initial assays are expected in late August/early September, and the Company will provide ongoing updates as results are received.
About Western Exploration
Western Exploration is focused on advancing the
Additional information regarding Western Exploration can be found on Western Exploration's corporate website (www.westernexploration.com) and on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Western Exploration's issuer profile.
For further 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
For Investor Inquiries, Contact:
www.westernexploration.com
(TSXV: WEX) (OTCQX: WEXPF)
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260988
FAQ
What is the size and focus of Western Exploration's (WEXPF) 2025 drill program at Aura?
What were the historical drilling results at Wood Gulch for WEXPF?
When will Western Exploration (WEXPF) release initial drilling results from Aura?
What was the recent resource increase at Western Exploration's Gravel Creek?
What is the depth target for Western Exploration's 2025 Aura drilling program?
