Vancouver, B.C. - January 27, 2026 - Gladiator Metals Corp. (TSX-V: GLAD, OTCQB: GDTRF, FSE: ZX7) (“Gladiator” or the “Company”) is pleased to report assay results from the last 32 drill holes, totalling 8,072 metres drilled at its Cowley prospect in 2025.
Recent drilling at Cowley continues to extend strong near-surface copper, gold, and molybdenum mineralization. Key results from the west side of the “Northern Limb” include:
Drilling on the far east side of the Northern Limb (~310m east of CPG-112D2) continued to intercept significant mineralization, with further drilling planned to be completed under Class 3 permit conditions to extend mineralization further east along strike. Results included:
Drilling on the “Southern Limb”, continued to extended skarn mineralization >250m east, confirming vertical continuity down dip from CPG-118 (13.2m @ 1.50% Cu, 0.50 g/t Au, 10.16 g/t Ag & 314 ppm Mo1). Notable southern limb results include:
Additionally, access on the western side of the Southern Limb allowed Gladiator to start bringing mineralization closer to surface whilst waiting on Class 3 permitting to target the limb near surface. Drilling returned:
Gladiator has advanced step‑out drilling across accessible areas, consistently intersecting new mineralization whilst moving towards a maiden resource for Cowley. Additional significant intercepts outside of the known Northern and Southern Limbs, include:
Gladiator CEO Jason Bontempo commented:
"These latest results from Cowley represent a significant step forward in our understanding of the system. Intersecting over 90 meters of 1.03% copper starting essentially from surface is an exceptional outcome that reinforces the near surface, high-grade nature of both Copper and Molybdenum, and the continuity of this system.
As of late January 2026, the price of molybdenum has shown significant strength, with spot prices rising for several consecutive months to average around USD $55,000–$63,000 per metric ton (approx. $25–$28 per lb) making for a significant potential economic co-product credit to any future copper resource reported at Cowley.
Also noteworthy is the discovery of a new, subparallel zone of mineralization at depth. With a strike potential of over 600 meters based on our magnetic data, this new zone, combined with the fact that the main body remains open in all directions, highlights the substantial scale and growth potential at Cowley. Our team remains focused on aggressive step-out drilling as we move toward delivering a maiden resource estimate that truly reflects the value of this asset."
1 Refer News Release Dated 8th Dec 2025 “Gladiator Extends High-Grade Copper Skarn Mineralization 250m to the East at Cowley.”
2 Refer News Release Dated 11th Aug 2025 “Gladiator Discovers New Zone in First Drilling Below 200m at Cowley.”
COWLEY DRILLING
This release completes reporting of the 2025 drilling program at the Cowley prospect and covers the remaining unreleased 32 drill holes for 8,072 metres (Refer Figure 1 and Table 1).
2025 drilling successfully:
Overall, these advancements underscore the continued success and exciting potential at the Cowley prospect, setting the stage for further growth and maiden resource definition.
The final portion of 2025 drilling focused on extensions to the currently known high-grade copper skarn extents of Cowley’s “Southern Limb” and “Northern Limb”, the extents of mineralization along and across the entirety of the system, as well as testing the depth potential of the system as highlighted by hole CPG-092 (55m @ 0.70% Cu from 176m plus, including 21.90m @ 1.27% Cu from 199.1m)2.
Recently returned assays from drilling at Cowley have continued to intersect strong copper, gold & molybdenum mineralization near surface. Drilling completed on the west side of the northern limb returned exceptional results, including:
Drilling on the far east side of Cowley’s Northern Limb (~310m east of CPG-112D2) continued to intercept significant mineralization, with further drilling planned to be completed under Class 3 permit conditions to further extend the mineralization east along strike. Results included:
Additional assays have also been received from further drilling designed to test extensions to the skarn mineralisation greater than 250 metres east along strike on Cowley’s “Southern Limb”. These results relate to drilling announced 8 December 2025 (“Drilling at Cowley extends High-Grade Copper Skarn Mineralization 250m to the East”).
Drilling successfully confirmed the vertical continuity down dip of the mineralization, extending from the previously reported high-grade intercept in hole CPG-118, which returned 13.2 metres grading 1.50% Cu, 0.50 g/t Au, 10.16 g/t Ag & 314 ppm Mo. Significant results from this phase of drilling include:
Additionally, access on the western side of the Southern Limb allowed Gladiator to start bringing mineralization to near surface, where drilling returned:
While awaiting approval of the Class 3 permit, Gladiator has maintained strong momentum by continuing to drill across accessible extents of the system. This proactive approach is positioning Gladiator to deliver a maiden resource at Cowley sooner once the Class 3 permit is granted.
Step‑out drilling continues to uncover additional mineralization beyond the already defined high‑grade Northern and Southern Limbs. These ongoing efforts are intersecting further significant mineralization, highlighting the growing potential of the Cowley system, including:
Gladiator has continued to advance its definition drilling program at Cowley under its Class 1 exploration permit. This ongoing activity is part of a broader strategy to better delineate the mineralized system within the Cowley area.
Definition drilling is scheduled to be completed in 2026 under a Class 3 permit that is currently under review. This will be a critical step, as it will allow Gladiator Metals to drill line by line, systematic cross sections to deliver maiden resources for the Whitehorse Copper Project.
Results from the ongoing resource definition drilling have affirmed the continuity of the mineralized system across the broader Cowley area. Recent drilling has been concentrated on the flanks of the mineralized system, where access is currently possible. This targeted approach has enabled the identification of potential extensions along the boundaries of the known extents of the mineralized system and confirmed the presence of shallow copper-skarn mineralization within the Cowley region.
For a detailed overview of the results and intersections from these drilling activities, readers are referred to Figure 1 (plan map) and Table 1.
Gladiator is nearing completion of the process to obtain a Class 3 permit. Once this permit is granted, it will enable the Company to expand its exploration activities significantly. The new permit will allow Gladiator to target the up-dip extensions of shallow mineralization, conduct infill drilling on the main mineralized bodies, and explore the (predominantly) eastern lateral extents to the mineralized system that have yet to be drilled.
Drilling to be completed under the Class 3 permit will be included in the maiden resource estimate for Cowley, which is scheduled for 2026.
EXPLORATION STRATEGY - 2026
The reported drilling at the Cowley is part of ~50,000m of drilling completed during 2025 targeting high-grade copper skarns throughout the Whitehorse Copper Belt, including the recently announced Cub East Discovery.
In addition, Gladiator is fully funded to execute a further 50,000m’s of additional diamond drilling in 2026. This drilling will be driven by expanded gravity and induced polarization (IP) surveys coupled with further surface mapping and data integration throughout the Whitehorse Copper Belt.
Drilling will be designed with the following objectives:
1 – Advancing Cowley to resource definition and expansion:
2 – Exploration drilling:
Drilling will be supported by planned geophysical programs including Induced Polarization (ongoing), Electromagnetic and Gravity surveys to help refine drill targeting in the prospect areas and highlight undiscovered areas of exploration potential.
THE WHITEHORSE COPPER PROJECT
The Whitehorse Copper Project is an advanced-stage high grade copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), silver (Ag) and gold (Au) skarn exploration project in the Yukon Territory, Canada.
Copper mineralization was first discovered in 1897 on the Whitehorse Copper Belt and comprises over 30 copper-related, primarily skarn occurrences covering an area of 35km long by 5 km wide on the western margin of Whitehorse City, Yukon.
Exploration and mining development have been carried out intermittently since 1897 with the main production era lasting between 1967 and 1982 where production from primarily the Little Chief deposit totalled 267,500,000 pounds copper, 225,000 ounces of gold and 2,838,000 ounces of silver from 10.5 million tons of mineralized material milled (Watson, 1984). The Whitehorse Copper Project is accessible by numerous access roads and trails located within 2 km 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. Access to existing electric power facilities is available through the main Yukon power grid.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
QA / QC
Drilling completed by Gladiator is irregularly spaced to test parts of the mineralized systems, holes were directionally surveyed utilising a North Seeking Gyro direction tool. Drill collars are subsequently surveyed utilising a high-accuracy RTK DGPS or DeviSite system. Diamond drilling is usually cased, then cored utilising HTW diameter before reducing at shallow depth in stable ground to NTW diameter drill core.
Mineralized quoted intersections are reported as interval widths and not true width. True widths of the intersected mineralized skarn system are complex making an estimate of the true width unreliable. This is due to different grade distributions and angle geometries present related to the form or outline of the contact between the granodiorite and sedimentary units as well different vein paragenesis and orientations within the various intervals. Where possible, drilling is conducted perpendicular to interpreted mineralization.
Upon drilling of diamond core, Gladiator undertakes geological logging, marking up of lineal length of the core, recording core recovery, and Geotech measurements such as RQD’s and taking core photographs.
Based on the geological logging, core is then marked up for sampling with a new sampling ticket that matches the submitted sample for analysis at the start of the sample interval, the drill core is then cut in half utilizing a core saw equipped with a diamond saw blade. The core samples are then sent for analysis and the remaining half core retained for future reference. Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) or known blank material is placed within the sampling sequence at a nominal sampling rate of at least 1 in 25 samples to monitor the Laboratory.
Samples are submitted to the Whitehorse based prep facility of ALS Global Laboratory (Canada). Samples subject to this release were crushed to 70% less than 2mm before pulverizing to better than 85% passing <75 microns. Assay pulps are then transported by ALS to the Vancouver (Langley) facility to be analysed. On occasions where the Whitehorse prep facility has reduced capacity to complete preparation of the samples within a timely manner, samples may be forwarded by ALS Global to their Langley facility for preparation utilising the same method as described above.
Samples were then analysed by ALS method ME-ICP61 (34 Element Aqua Regia with ICP-MS finish), with over limits for Cu analysed by method CU-OG62 (Aqua Regia with ICP-MS finish). Au is analysed by ALS method AU-AA25 (Ore Grade Au 30g Fire Assay AA Finish). As part of this process, Gladiator also captures the required sampling metadata to potentially utilize the core and analysis for any future requirements if deemed acceptable. The QA/QC meets the current required standards under reporting instruments, such as National Instrument 43-101. At this point, Gladiator regards the data collected from this exercise as reliable for the purposes of identifying future exploration targets and may be used to inform future drilling and exploration campaigns.
As part of this process, Gladiator also captures the required sampling metadata to potentially utilize the core and analysis for any future requirements if deemed acceptable. Further drilling will need to be completed by Gladiator at some stage to confirm the reliability or usability of this data in the future including but not limited to twinning of reported mineralization. This may be required as Gladiator may not be able to confirm the accuracy of the stated drill collar location or be able to re-enter the holes to confirm depths and undertake directional surveys, or that the QA/QC might not meet the current required standards under reporting instruments, such as National Instrument 43-101. At this point, the Company is treating the data collected from this exercise as reliable for the purposes of identifying future exploration targets and may be used to inform future drilling and exploration campaigns.
References:
Watson P.H. (1984) The Whitehorse Copper Belt - A Compilation. Yukon Geological Survey, Open File 1984-1 (https://data.geology.gov.yk.ca/Reference/42011#InfoTab)
Tenney D. (1981) – The Whitehorse Copper Belt: Mining, Exploration and Geology (1967-1980).
(https://ia800206.us.archive.org/20/items/whitehorsecopper00tenn/whitehorsecopper00tenn.pdf)
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared or reviewed and approved by Kell Nielsen, the Company’s Vice President Exploration, a “qualified person” as defined by NI 43-101.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“Jason Bontempo”
Jason Bontempo
CEO & Director
For further information contact:
Caitlin Cheadle, Investor Relations
+1-778-403-5139
ccheadle@gladiatormetals.com
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Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Company’s properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Company’s material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons; availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs; and that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements or information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
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