NorthWest Reports Exploration Target Drill Results Highlighting Expansion Potential at Andesite Breccia

Core Insights - NorthWest Copper Corp. has reported final drill results from its 2025 exploration at the Kwanika project, indicating potential for expansion at the Andesite Breccia target and plans for a follow-up drill program in 2026 [1][5]. Exploration Results - The final three holes of the 2025 drill program focused on areas outside the main Kwanika Central deposit, with one hole successfully advancing the Andesite Breccia target [1]. - Hole K-25-279 at the Andesite Breccia target extended the mineralized zone by approximately 90 meters to the southeast, returning a copper-dominant intercept of 43.6 meters grading 0.17% Cu and 0.03 g/t Au [3][28]. - Historical hole K-22-247, located 280 meters north of K-25-279, contained a low-grade palladium intersection of 0.17 g/t Pd over 80 meters, suggesting palladium may be an additional exploration vector [4]. Geological Model and Resource Update - The first fifteen holes drilled at the Kwanika Central deposit have been incorporated into a geological model, with an updated mineral resource expected in the first quarter of the year [2]. - The exploration drilling has upgraded the Andesite Breccia target into a three-dimensional mineralized zone with near-surface potential, remaining open towards the northwest and at depth [10]. Future Plans - The company aims to deliver a higher-quality mineral resource to support a more capital-efficient and economically compelling combined open pit and underground development plan, with an updated preliminary economic assessment (PEA) planned for mid-2026 [5]. - The 2026 drill program will focus on further defining the potential of the Andesite Breccia target and expanding the Kwanika Central deposit [10]. Transfer Target Evaluation - The 2025 drill program also evaluated the Transfer Target, but neither of the two holes completed returned significant assay results, leading to a downgrade of this target [9][10]. - Hole K-25-285 intersected disseminated pyrite mineralization, interpreted as the source of the induced polarization response, while hole K-25-288 intersected a healed fault zone, providing valuable geological information for future exploration [9][27]. Technical Aspects - Drilling was designed and supervised by NorthWest, with QA/QC checks implemented by Explore Geosolutions, ensuring analytical accuracy and precision [31]. - The laboratory's internal quality control system complies with global certifications for quality ISO 17025, and samples were analyzed using a combination of multi-element analysis methods [31].