Ashley Gold starts Phase III drilling on Tak, extends NTZ vein to 300 m

  CALGARY, ALBERTA - July 22, 2026 – TheNewswire - Ashley Gold Corp. (CSE: “ASHL”) (“ Ashley ” or the “ Company ”) has mobilized drill crews for a Phase III drill program on its wholly-owned Tak property in Northwestern Ontario. The new campaign will target strike and step-out extensions on the 67Z and Northern Trench Zone (NTZ), where recent surface prospecting has extended the NTZ vein expression to 300 meters. Phase III Drilling Launch : Targeting high-priority step-outs along the 67Z and exploratory drilling to probe the NTZ depth.   300m Strike Extension in the NTZ : Successful prospecting and mapping have extended the NTZ vein’s surface expression to 300 meters, remaining open along strike.

The vein parallels or splays off of the 1 km resistive body, which lies South (See Figure 1).   Recent Surface Success : Follows historical highs and recent grab sampling returning grades up to 398 g/t Au.   Fully Funded : The program is supported by a strong treasury and a recent follow-on financing raise of up to $500,000 to support increased meterage. Tranche 1 was announced closed on July 15, 2026, raising CDN$375,034.01   "As we finalize our logging and fire assays from Phase II, the sheer scale of the NTZ surface expression extending to 300 meters gives us added confidence as we kick off Phase III. The Tak QFP has undergone what appears to be multiple phases of mineralization and the NTZ Vein may be an overprint." stated Noah Komavli, President of Ashley Gold Corp. "With crews mobilized and the program fully funded, our focus remains on stepping out from the 67Z and proving up additional mineralization on the Tak property." Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1: Planned Drilling and Recent Prospecting Results Exploration Progress and Target Expansion Following recent prospecting success on the Northern Trench Zone (NTZ), which returned some of the highest-grade grab samples in the property's history, Ashley’s geological team has successfully mapped and defined the surface extension of the NTZ vein system to 300 meters.

The mineralization remains open along strike and at depth, presenting a highly compelling target for immediate subsurface testing. Table 1: Second Pass Prospecting Assays Phase III Drill Campaign This third drill campaign will focus on high-priority targets along the strike of the 67Z and NTZ trends. The Company has designed the program for approximately 50-meter step-outs to test the down-dip and lateral continuity of these high-grade structures.

Drilling is slated to utilize shallow to medium-depth holes to maximize geological understanding and identify bulk-tonnage potential. Financing and Operations This phase of drilling builds on a highly successful operational season, supported by an upsized flow-through and non-flow-through financing recently closed by the Company. These funds ensure continuous operational momentum and meterage as the Company actively awaits assays from preceding Phase II drillholes (including TAK-26-07 and TAK-26-08).

Tak Project - Background   Situated abutting the Northeast of the Goliath Gold Complex, the Tak Patents have been the subject of intermittent exploration efforts from the 1900’s, with legendary companies like Lac Minerals (Barrick) and Cominco (Teck) exploring in and around the patented ground. At least two surveys were flown, with the most detailed mapping occurring in the late 1900’s. Within the patented boundary, only 11 historic holes were ever recorded from two operators - in 1999 and 2002.

After 2002, the project sat idle for 24 years until acquired by the Company.   Click Image To View Full Size Figure 2: Regional Map and Area of Activity   In 2026, mere weeks after acquisition, Ashley commissioned the first modern IP survey. The results highlighted a +1km resistive body, with two main chargeable units flanking the resistive body to the North. Ashley engaged 518 Drilling Ltd., deploying equipment into the patents for continued use.

Guided in part from historic records and Phase 1 drilling results, three high priority zones have emerged.   Exploration Zones   D99Z: In early 2026, a 5 hole, first phase program was successful in validating and expanding 1999 results. The zone was given the moniker “ D99Z ”. The surface mineralization width in the D99Z has been defined as up to 100m.   67Z: Two holes carried out in 2002 included TAK-02-06 and TAK-02-07, intercepting 3.08 g/t Au over 7.57 m (plus 7.0 g/t Au over 1.1 m) and 3.18 g/t Au over 8.7 m (incl. 9.67 g/t Au over 0.8 m), respectively (Southern Rio, 2002).

These intercepts were some of the best in recorded history on the Tak Patents, and the area was given the title “ 67Z ” by Ashley. In Phase 2 drilling, Ashley deployed 3 holes on IP line 250 to target the zone and collect data on lithologies, as well as dip. Example mineralization has been shared.   NTZ: The Northern Trench Zone ( “NTZ” ) comprises five trenches, up to 2m wide, 2m deep and some as long as 60m.

This area has no drilling records, yet was worked vigorously, as evidenced by the scale of the trench networks. Ashley discovered a high-grade gold zone through prospecting, sampling up to 398 g/t Au. Phase 3 drilling will allocate some meterage to test these zones with no historic drill records.

Prospecting has confirmed a surface trend of over 300m, open in all directions.   Tak History   January 1940s - Long Lac Minerals (Mosher Long Lac Gold Mines Ltd.), extensive surface trenching (trenches up to 70 m long) on the Tak Grid targeting gold mineralization in quartz-feldspar porphyry (QFP); followed by 1948 magnetometer survey. MDI .   1980 - Cominco, geological mapping, rock sampling, and magnetometer survey over the property identifying porphyry-hosted gold potential. MDI .   1998-1999 - Triex Resources, acquired the Tak Patents; conducted prospecting, sampling, trenching (assays 1,100–29,790 ppb Au), and drilled 10 DDH (~1,558 m total), including TAK-99-10 returning 2.082 g/t Au over 31.83 m from 3.57–35.40 m (incl. 11.778 g/t Au over 2.88 m and 7.632 g/t Au over 1.10 m); outlined stockwork quartz-carbonate veining in silicified/carbonatized QFP ; MDI .   2002 - Southern Rio Resources, optioned the property from Triex and drilled 8 DDH (~1,209 m) on the Tak Grid; outlined gold mineralization over ~350 m strike length to ~100 m depth with stockwork veining, visible gold noted, and intercepts including TAK-02-06: 3.08 g/t Au over 7.57 m (plus 7.0 g/t Au over 1.1 m) and TAK-02-07: 3.18 g/t Au over 8.7 m (incl. 9.67 g/t Au over 0.8 m).

Southern Rio AFRI report.   January 6, 2026 - Ashley Gold Corp., acquired 100% ownership of the Tak Patents (part of Burnthut Project, ~100 ha patented ground adjoining NexGold Goliath-Gold Complex) via all-stock deal from for 3.5M shares; consolidates historical data showing bulk-tonnage QFP-hosted gold potential open in all directions; 5% NSR to Royal Gold Inc. (2.5% buyback for $1M).   February 10, 2026 - Ashley Gold Corp., announced operational readiness for winter drilling campaign on Tak Patents and engagement of Abitibi Geophysics for first-ever modern OreVision IP survey to refine targets and twin historic holes.   March 14, 2026 - Ashley Gold Corp., provided interim IP data revealing 1 km resistive trend on Tak Patents aligning with historic gold zones and abutting NexGold Goliath-Gold Complex.   April 2–10, 2026 - Ashley Gold Corp., completed mobilization to site (drill trails, 10+ pads, rig and skidder in place) and announced crew mobilization/drilling kick-off for Phase 1 program targeting validation of historic D99Z zone and extensions .   April–May 2026 - Ashley Gold Corp., completed Phase 1 diamond drilling (5 holes: TAK-26-01 to TAK-26-05) as twins/fans to historic holes; core logging/cutting showed strong alteration, pyrite, and quartz-carbonate veining with multiple visible mineralization examples; equipment left on site for Phase 2.   May 14, 2026 - Ashley Gold Corp., reported first Phase 1 assay (TAK-26-01): 1.104 g/t Au over 28 m from collar (incl. 1.662 g/t Au over 12 m), confirming and validating historic near-surface mineralization in D99Z zone; mineralization starts at surface with strong continuity of grade within interval.   May 20, 2026 - Ashley Gold Corp., reported TAK-26-02 assays: multiple gold intervals including 0.586 g/t Au over 34.2 m from surface within 194.1 m of anomalous gold mineralization, further confirming broad width and continuity of the mineralized D99Z stockwork system south of TAK-26-01.   June 4, 2026 - Ashley Gold Corp., reported TAK-26-03 assays: multiple gold intervals including 2.347 g/t Au over 4.35 m within 156.5 m of anomalous gold mineralization, further confirming broad width and continuity of the mineralized D99Z stockwork system south of TAK-26-01.   QA/QC   All samples were collected in the field using a hammer and chisel. Locations were obtained using a handheld GPS with samples placed in pre-labelled sample bags. Samples were securely transported by field staff to ActLabs in Dryden, ON for 1A2 Au fire assay.

A sample size of 5 to 50 grams can be used but the routine size is 30 g for rock pulps, soils or sediments (exploration samples). The sample is mixed with fire assay fluxes (borax, soda ash, silica, litharge) and with Ag added as a collector and the mixture is placed in a fire clay crucible. The mixture is then preheated at 850°C, intermediate 950°C and finish 1060°C with the entire fusion process lasting 60 minutes.

The crucibles are then removed from the assay furnace and the molten slag (lighter material) is carefully poured from the crucible into a mould, leaving a lead button at the base of the mould. The lead button is then placed in a preheated cupel which absorbs the lead when cupelled at 950°C to recover the Ag (doré bead) + Au. The entire Ag dore bead is dissolved in aqua regia and the gold content is determined by AA (Atomic Absorption).

AA is an instrumental method of determining element concentration by introducing an element in its atomic form, to a light beam of appropriate wavelength causing the atom to absorb light. The reduction in the intensity of the light beam directly correlates with the concentration of the elemental atomic species.On each tray of 42 samples there are two blanks, three sample duplicates and two certified reference materials, one high and one low. Overlimits were re-run using 1A3, which is a fire assay gravimetric for over 5,000 ppb to ensure accurate values.   NI 43-101 Disclosure The technical information in this news release was prepared and/or reviewed by Darcy Christian, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

Mr. Christian is registered as a Professional Geoscientist with Engineers Geoscientists of Alberta. Mr. Christian is non-arms length of the company and serves as Director and CEO. Some results discussed in this document are historical.

Ashley Gold Corp. nor the qualified person have performed sufficient work or data verification of the historical data. Although the historical results may not be reliable, the Company nevertheless believes that they provide an indication of the Project's potential and are relevant for any future exploration program. Management cautions that grab samples are selective in nature and are not representative of the property in its entirety or indicative of any grade overall.

ABOUT ASHLEY GOLD CORP. Ashley Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on acquiring and developing highly prospective gold and polymetallic deposits in Canada’s top mining regions. The Company’s flagship assets are in the Dryden Area in Ontario with a 100% ownership in Burnthut (including Tak Patents), Howie, Alto-Gardnar claims as well as in British Columbia with the Icefield Portfolio having two highly prospective claim packages, which are out under option.   For more information, please refer to the Company’s information available on SEDAR+  (www.sedarplus.ca), or visit us at www.ashleygoldcorp.com .   Contact Information On behalf of the Board of Directors,   Noah J. Komavli, P.Eng, President, Director   C: (647) 567-9840 E: info@ashleygoldcorp.com X: KKomavli   -Or-   Darcy Christian, P.Geo, CEO C: (587) 777-9072 E: dchristian@ashleygoldcorp.com    Connect With Ashley: www.ashleygoldcorp.com X: https://x.com/AshleyGoldCorp   Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, and by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Although these statements are based on currently available information, Ashley Gold Corp. provides no assurance that actual results will meet management’s expectations. Factors which cause results to differ materially are set out in the Company’s documents filed on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ). Undue reliance should not be placed on “forward-looking statements.” Copyright (c) 2026 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.

TheNewsWire July 22, 2026 - 4:30 AM PDT News by QuoteMedia www.quotemedia.com