Toronto, Ontario, April 8, 2022 – Willeson Metals Corp. (the “Company” or “Willeson Metals”) is pleased to announce rock assay results from a preliminary prospecting program completed at its Beaucage Project, located approximately 55 km south-southeast of Lynn Lake, Manitoba.  The program, completed in late August and early September 2021, returned positive results discussed below.

Highlights:

• A total of 98 rock samples were collected including 43 grab samples, 43 continuous chip samples, and 12 saw-cut channel samples from outcrops, historical pits and trenches.  Notably, 25 samples, or 26%, returned greater than 1.0 g/t Au.
• Star Lake Gold Showing:
  • 13 samples returned >1.0 g/t Au.
  • Continuous chip and channel sampling of a historical trench returned a composite grade of 1.5 g/t Au over 10.5 m and a select interval on the opposite wall of the same trench returned a composite grade of 83.1 g/t Au over 3.3 m including 301 g/t Au over 0.9 m.
• Beatty Gold Showing:
  • 7 samples returned >1.0 g/t Au.
  • Continuous chip sampling of a historical blast pit returned a composite grade of 14.0 g/t Au over 2.0 m.
• Ham Lake Arkose Gold Showing:
  • 2 samples returned >1.0 g/t Au.
• Beaucage North and Ham Lake Iron Formation Gold Showings:
  • 3 samples returned >1.0 g/t Au.

Stephanie Hart, President and CEO of Willeson, commented, “These 2021 sample results have confirmed the presence of high-grade gold mineralization and quartz veins at several Beaucage targets.  We are particularly excited to follow up the historically undrilled Star Lake, Beatty, and Ham Lake Arkose gold targets with additional field work and diamond drilling planned for this coming summer.”

Beaucage Project Overview
The Beaucage Project (“Beaucage”) is located approximately 55 km by air south-southeast of the town of Lynn Lake. Beaucage consists of 23 contiguous mining claims encompassing 5,888 hectares. The claims are 100% owned by Willeson.

Beaucage lies along the contact of the Lynn Lake Volcanic Belt and Kisseynew Gneissic Basin of the Churchill Province and boasts numerous significant historical gold assay values associated with multiple styles of gold mineralization, including iron formation (IF)-hosted; structurally controlled stockwork and veins in clastic sediments; and quartz-veined shear zones in the Black Trout Diorite. The project area has had very little modern exploration with almost no follow-up work on most of the high grade gold occurrences.   

2021 Field Work, Rock Sampling Results
Following wildfire delays in the summer of  2021, the Company mobilized a 3-person crew to conduct a Lynn Lake based helicopter-supported exploration program, focused on prospecting of historical gold occurrences at the Beaucage Property (Figure 1). Field work was completed between August 27 and September 6, 2021.

A total of 98 rock samples were collected at Beaucage with gold values assaying up to 301 g/t Au. Twenty-five samples returned >1.0 g/t Au (Table 1).  Samples included 43 grab samples, 43 continuous chip samples, and 12 saw-cut channel samples collected from outcrops and historical pits and trenches.

The Star Lake gold occurrence is characterized by diorite-hosted quartz veins. Preliminary observations suggest a strong gold association with sulphides (dominantly pyrite) in quartz veining and diorite wall rock exposed within an area at least 250 m east-west by 100 m north-south. Exposed veins up to approximately 1 m thick trend NW and dip moderately to the north. A total of 37 samples returned gold values up to 301 g/t Au; 13 samples returned >1.0 g/t Au (see Table 1). Continuous chip and channel sampling of a historical trench returned a composite grade of 1.5 g/t Au over 10.5 m and a select interval on the opposite wall of the same trench returned a composite grade of 83.1 g/t Au over 3.3 m including 301 g/t Au over 0.9 m (Table 1 and Figure 2).

The Beatty occurrence area, located approximately 1.3 km east of the Star Lake occurrence, is also characterized by diorite-hosted quartz veins and a gold association with sulphides (dominantly pyrite) in quartz veining and diorite wall rock at two locations approximately 400 m apart. Exposed veins suggest two potential trends: N and W-NW. A total of 30 samples returned gold values up  to 36.9 g/t Au with seven of the samples returning >1.0 g/t Au. Continuous chip sampling of a historical blast pit returned a composite grade of 14.0 g/t Au over 2.0 m (Table 1).

The Ham Lake Arkose occurrence area, located approximately 2 km north-northwest of the Star Lake occurrence, characterized by arkose-hosted quartz veins in proximity to narrow diorite dykes and sills. Willeson sampled primarily at two locations approximately 800 m apart. A total of 11 samples returned gold values up to 36.9 g/t Au with two samples returning >1.0 g/t Au (Table 1).

A total of 20 samples were taken  at the Beaucage North IF, Ham Lake IF, and Cache IF areas returning gold values up to 14.4 g/t Au with three samples over 1.0 g/t Au (Table 1).

2022 Outlook
Willeson’s 2021 sampling confirmed the presence of gold mineralization and validated historical gold assay results reported at several mineral occurrences at the Beacauge Project. Current sample results and general vein trends observed in 2021 together with compiled historical results will inform a Phase 1 summer/fall 2022 field program focused on reconnaissance prospecting and geochemistry and detailed mapping and sampling at known showings, designed to advance the geological understanding of the controls on gold mineralization and refine the initial diamond drilling program. Phase 1 exploration will also include approximately 3,000 metres of preliminary diamond drilling at known historical gold showings.

Ian Trinder, Vice President, Exploration of Willeson commented “Willeson’s 2021 work has confirmed historical gold assay values associated with multiple styles of structurally controlled gold mineralization, including IF-hosted; stockwork and veins in clastic sediments; and quartz-veined shear zones in the Black Trout Diorite. This is particularly encouraging for our planned summer 2022 work in the southern half of the project area which has seen little historical exploration, but has similar structurally deformed rocks with the potential to host gold mineralization.”

Willeson regularly engages with local First Nations and is currently working to complete an Exploration Agreement with Marcel Colomb First Nation. Work permit applications for the proposed programs have been submitted to Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development and are expected to be issued in the near term.

Table 1: 2021 Rock samples and composite sample intervals returning greater than 1.0 g/t Au

* Note: Sample widths are reported as apparent widths; true thicknesses are undetermined.

About Willeson Metals Corp.
Willeson is a Canadian-based, privately-owned mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of high-quality gold projects in the province of Manitoba, with a particular emphasis on Proterozoic terrains which, in Canada, have long been under-explored for gold. The company’s portfolio of four, 100%-owned, gold projects are all located within the Proterozoic Lynn Lake greenstone belt of northern Manitoba.

Willeson’s vision is to explore for and discover Tier 1 gold deposits in Proterozoic terrains and to do so in a responsible, safe and sustainable manner in order to create long-term value for all stakeholders, including the communities near its properties.

For further information contact:

Qualified Person
Ian Trinder, P.Geo. and Vice President, Exploration, for the Company and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, and approved the technical content of this news release.

Sample Security, Preparation and QAQC
Samples were transported daily from the Beaucage Property to Lynn Lake, Manitoba where they were securely stored until the end of the program. Willeson then transported samples to Manitoulin Transport in Thompson, Manitoba who then shipped the samples as a single batch to the ALS Canada Ltd. (ALS) laboratory in Thunder Bay, Ontario for preparation. ALS is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015 certified and independent of Willeson.

Sample preparation consisted of drying, as required, and crushing to 70% less than 2 mm or better using a jaw and/or roller crusher.  The crushed sample was split using a riffle splitter and an approximately 1000 g split was pulverized to 85% less than 75 microns or better using a ring and puck grinding mill. The pulverized splits of the samples were then transported by ALS from the preparation facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario to their facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for analyses.

All samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay, (ALS code Au-AA23), using a 30 g pulp sample aliquot with an atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. All samples with results above the 10-g/t upper detection limit of Au-AA23, were fire assayed with a gravimetric finish (ALS code Au-GRA21). Samples were also analyzed for 48 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr) using a four-acid near total digestion of a 0.4 g pulp sample aliquot and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) detection method (ALS code ME-ICP61a).

Sample QAQC included the insertion of six coarse blank samples (commercial ornamental quartz garden stone) and one sample each of unmarked certified standard reference materials OREAS 230, 234, 242 and 245. All standards passed within one standard deviation of the certified value and all blanks reported acceptable values.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information
This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operating or financial performance of Willeson, are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "plans", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this announcement relate to, among other things: the Company’s objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration and development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, Willeson does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.