Gladiator Metals Delivers High-Grade Copper Results as Resource Definition Advances

• Gladiator Metals has intersected 58.7 meters grading 1.94% copper at its Cowley Park project, including an exceptional 11.1-meter section grading 6.00% copper, confirming the continuity of high-grade copper-gold mineralization near surface.
• The drilling results demonstrate mineralization extending over more than 250 meters of strike and 200 meters down dip in the northeast project area, with additional intercepts 190 meters to the west confirming broad mineralization continuity.
• The company completed its 2025 Phase 1 drilling campaign comprising 23 diamond drill holes totaling 4,377 meters and has commenced Phase 2 drilling with results from the first 8 holes now available.
• Gladiator is advancing toward a maiden resource estimate planned for Q2 2026, supported by ongoing drilling with two rigs currently operating at Cowley Park and a third conducting regional exploration.
• The Whitehorse Copper Project benefits from significant infrastructure advantages, located within 2 kilometers of major highways and with access to existing electric power facilities through the main Yukon power grid.

Gladiator Metals Corp. (TSXV:GLAD) is a Vancouver-based exploration company focused on advancing its flagship Whitehorse Copper Project in the Yukon Territory, Canada. The company is developing an advanced-stage high-grade copper, molybdenum, silver and gold skarn exploration project on a historically productive copper belt that generated 267.5 million pounds of copper, 225,000 ounces of gold and 2.838 million ounces of silver between 1967 and 1982. With strong institutional backing from Dynamic, Mackenzie, Macquarie Bank and Orimco, Gladiator is positioned to advance the project through resource definition toward potential production.

Strong Drilling Results Confirm Mineralization Continuity

The latest drilling results from Gladiator's Cowley Park prospect have delivered significant high-grade copper intercepts that confirm the continuity of mineralization systems across the project area. The standout result from drill hole CPG-078 returned 58.7 meters grading 1.94% copper from 102.3 meters depth, including a high-grade zone of 11.1 meters grading 6.00% copper from 113.9 meters depth.

These results demonstrate the extension of high-grade copper and molybdenum mineralization to near surface levels, now defined over more than 250 meters of strike and 200 meters down dip in the northeast portion of the project area. Additional drilling 190 meters to the west has returned complementary results, with drill hole CPG-077 intersecting 24.8 meters grading 0.77% copper from 30 meters depth, including 16.8 meters grading 1.03% copper.

The drilling program has systematically tested strike extensions to previously identified high-grade copper skarn mineralization, building on earlier results that included 98 meters grading 1.49% copper with 14 meters grading 7.67% copper. The consistency of results across multiple drill holes indicates a robust mineralization system with potential for resource expansion.

Exploration Progress

In the news release, Gladiator CEO Jason Bontempo provided insight into the company's drilling strategy and results, stating: "Ongoing resource definition drilling on the defined high-grade mineralized skarn at Cowley Park continues to deliver consistent high copper grades from near surface and confirms the exciting potential of the Cowley Park prospect."

Bontempo emphasized the company's exploration focus, noting:

"Ongoing exploration drilling is now focused on further step out drill holes and on testing the vertical extents of these zones below the depth of current drilling. Gladiator currently has two rigs operating at Cowley Park and a third conducting exploration on regional targets. We look forward to presenting further results from resource definition and exploration drilling in the coming months."

This commentary highlights management's confidence in the mineralization system and their systematic approach to expanding the known resource base through targeted drilling campaigns.

Advancing Towards Resource Definition

The recently completed 2025 Phase 1 diamond drilling campaign comprised 23 diamond drill holes totaling 4,377 meters at Cowley Park. The company has now received results from all Phase 1 holes, with the final seven holes (CPG-072 to CPG-076) completing the program. Additionally, results from the first eight holes of the ongoing Phase 2 drilling program have been received, totaling 1,443.23 meters across holes CPG-077 to CPG-080D1.

The drilling program was designed with multiple strategic objectives, including confirming the continuity of near-surface high-grade copper mineralization for future resource definition, testing high-grade domain continuity within the Cowley Park prospect, and exploring significant upside potential including extensions to known high-grade copper skarn mineralization.

Notable results from the expanded drilling program include CPG-079D1 returning 43 meters grading 0.74% copper from 79 meters depth, and CPG-080D1 intersecting 8 meters grading 1.75% copper from 35 meters depth. These results demonstrate the presence of mineralization across multiple zones within the prospect area.

Infrastructure Advantages & Historical Context

The Whitehorse Copper Project benefits from significant infrastructure advantages that differentiate it from many early-stage exploration projects. The project is accessible by numerous access roads and trails located within 2 kilometers 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.

Critically, access to existing electric power facilities is available through the main Yukon power grid, addressing one of the primary infrastructure challenges facing many mineral development projects. This existing infrastructure could significantly reduce future development costs and timeline requirements.

The project area has a substantial production history, with the main production era lasting between 1967 and 1982. During this period, production from primarily the Little Chief Deposit totaled 267.5 million pounds of copper, 225,000 ounces of gold and 2.838 million ounces of silver from 11.1 million tons of mineralized material. This historical production provides valuable geological and metallurgical data that can inform current exploration and future development planning.

Path to Resource Definition

Gladiator is advancing toward a maiden resource estimate for Cowley Park, planned for Q2 2026. The current drilling results will be incorporated into this resource estimate, providing the foundation for the company's resource classification and expansion strategy. The systematic approach to drilling and the consistency of results across multiple holes suggest the potential for a substantial resource base.

The company's timeline allows for continued drilling and resource expansion prior to the maiden resource estimate, providing opportunities to enhance the scale and confidence level of the initial resource classification. With two rigs currently operating at Cowley Park and ongoing regional exploration, Gladiator maintains multiple pathways for resource growth and project advancement.

For Investors

For investors evaluating Gladiator Metals, the company presents a compelling combination of high-grade copper mineralization, systematic exploration progress, and significant infrastructure advantages. The consistency of drilling results and the scale of mineralization demonstrated across multiple drill holes indicate a robust geological system with expansion potential.

The company's strategic focus on resource definition while maintaining regional exploration optionality provides multiple value creation pathways. The planned Q2 2026 maiden resource estimate represents a key near-term catalyst that could provide greater clarity on the project's economic potential and future development trajectory. With strong institutional backing and a systematic approach to exploration and development, Gladiator appears well-positioned to advance the Whitehorse Copper Project through critical development milestones in the current favorable copper market environment.