Gladiator Metals Intersects High-Grade Copper at Best Chance Prospect, Advancing Whitehorse Copper Belt Development

• Gladiator Metals has intersected 18 meters of 1.10% copper from surface within a broader 77.25-meter interval grading 0.70% copper at its Best Chance prospect, demonstrating significant near-surface, high-grade copper mineralization potential.
• The drilling results point to an emerging discovery at Best Chance within the Arctic Chief trend, with the prospect now showing potential strike and width similar in size to the company's Cowley Park prospect.
• Recent gravity survey data has identified a 2-kilometer long trend of elevated density response linking historically explored areas including Arctic Chief, Best Chance, and Grafter, suggesting these areas may form part of a larger connected mineralized system.
• The company is advancing a planned 29,000-meter drill program targeting high-grade copper skarns throughout the Whitehorse Copper Belt before the end of Q4 2025, with three diamond drill rigs currently operating.
• Gladiator is targeting to report maiden high-grade copper NI 43-101 compliant resources by Q2 2026, building on the historical production of 267.5 million pounds of copper from the district between 1967 and 1982.

Gladiator Metals Corp (TSXV:GLAD) is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on developing the Whitehorse Copper Project, an advanced-stage high-grade copper, molybdenum, silver, and gold skarn exploration project in the Yukon Territory. The company is advancing exploration across a 35-kilometer long copper belt that previously produced 267.5 million pounds of copper, 225,000 ounces of gold, and 2.838 million ounces of silver between 1967 and 1982.

With institutional backing from Dynamic, Mackenzie, Macquarie Bank, and Orimco, Gladiator represents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to high-grade copper development in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with established infrastructure.

Best Chance Drilling Results

Gladiator's recent three-hole, 515-meter drill program at the Best Chance prospect has delivered encouraging results that expand the known mineralization footprint along the Arctic Chief Trend. The standout intersection from hole ACG-009 returned 77.25 meters grading 0.70% copper from 2.75 meters depth, including a high-grade zone of 18 meters at 1.10% copper from 28 meters depth.

The drilling program was specifically designed to confirm and test the continuity of near-surface, high-grade copper mineralization observed on surface at Best Chance for future resource definition, while also testing significant exploration upside including extensions to known high-grade copper skarn mineralization.

In the news release, Gladiator CEO Jason Bontempo commented on the significance of the results,

"Drill hole ACG-009 has significantly broadened the breadth and size of near surface, high-grade copper mineralization previously intersected from surface at Best Chance. Best Chance is now showing potential strike and width similar in size to the Cowley Park Prospect but with only 10 drill holes completed by Gladiator to date it has become an advanced priority prospect within the Whitehorse Copper Belt to unlock potential near surface high grade copper resources."

Gravity Survey Reveals Larger Connected System

A recently completed gravity survey conducted in May 2025 has provided additional geological insight into the broader Arctic Chief Trend. The survey identified a broadly north-south oriented, 2-kilometer long trend of elevated density response linking historically explored areas within the Arctic Chief Trend, including Arctic Chief, Best Chance, and Grafter prospects.

The gravity survey measures variations in the Earth's gravitational field to identify subsurface variations in density. Copper skarn mineralization in the Whitehorse district has significantly higher density than surrounding country rock, making subsurface anomalism valuable for identifying prospective mineralization targets for first-pass drilling.

This higher density trend suggests these historically separate exploration areas may form part of a larger connected mineralized system within the 2.5-kilometer long trend. The company is conducting additional geological fieldwork to verify the potential significance of this recently identified density anomaly.

Comparison to Historical Production Areas

The mineralization encountered at Best Chance is consistent with high-grade copper-gold-magnetite skarn mineralization previously mined at the Arctic Chief deposit, located 1.5 kilometers to the south. However, the recent drilling also encountered broad widths of high-grade copper-silicate skarns, which represent a significant discovery as these mineralized bodies do not display the same high-tenor magnetic signatures as the previously mined magnetite-skarn bodies.

Historical drilling at Best Chance has demonstrated the continuity of unmined mineralization, with notable intercepts including 51.66 meters at 0.67% copper from 12.13 meters in hole BCH-006, and 46.27 meters at 1.01% copper from 24.38 meters in hole BCH-023, including 25.30 meters at 1.37% copper.

Aggressive 2025 Drilling Campaign

Gladiator is executing an ambitious 29,000-meter drill program targeting high-grade copper skarns throughout the Whitehorse Copper Belt before the end of Q4 2025. The program includes two primary objectives: advancing Cowley Park to resource definition and expansion, and conducting exploration drilling at multiple prospects including the Chiefs Trend, Best Chance, Arctic Chief, and Cub Trend.

The company has completed more than 14,000 meters at the cornerstone Cowley Park project and more than 3,000 meters at the Chiefs Trend and Arctic Chief Trend, with assay results pending. Three diamond drill rigs are currently operating to maintain drilling momentum across the project.

"This result at Best Chance highlights the underexplored resource potential of the >2km Arctic Chief mineralized trend that has been mapped on surface but remains undrilled and sits within the highly prospective 35km long Whitehorse Copper Belt," Bontempo noted.

Resource Development Timeline & Infrastructure Advantages

The company is targeting to report maiden high-grade copper NI 43-101 compliant resources by Q2 2026, representing a significant milestone in the development of the Whitehorse Copper Project. The project benefits from excellent infrastructure positioning, located within 2 kilometers of the South Klondike Highway and Alaska Highway, with access to existing electric power facilities through the main Yukon power grid.

An extensive network of historical gravel exploration and haul roads exists throughout the project area, providing excellent access to the claim package. This infrastructure advantage, combined with the project's proximity to Whitehorse City, positions Gladiator favorably for future development scenarios.

For Investors

Gladiator Metals presents a compelling copper development opportunity in a proven mining district with established infrastructure and supportive geology. The recent drilling results at Best Chance expand the known mineralization footprint and demonstrate the potential for near-surface, high-grade copper resources.

With an aggressive drilling program underway, institutional investor support, and a clear path toward maiden resource definition by Q2 2026, Gladiator offers investors exposure to copper development in a mining-friendly jurisdiction during a period of increasing copper demand. The company's systematic approach to exploring the 35-kilometer Whitehorse Copper Belt, combined with modern geophysical techniques and historical production context, positions it well for potential resource expansion and development advancement.