Star Metro - Ameriwest Completes 3D Geological Model Defining High-Grade Copper Shell Along with Two Additional Zones at the Bornite Project

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / April 20, 2026 / Ameriwest Critical Metals Inc. (CSE:AWCM)(OTC:AWLIF)(FSE:5HV) ("Ameriwest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that APEX Geoscience Ltd. ("APEX") has completed a preliminary 3D geological model (the "Model") for the Company's 100%-owned Bornite Copper-Gold-Silver Project in Oregon ("Bornite" or the "Project"). The Project hosts a copper, gold and silver deposit located about 50 miles east of Salem, Oregon. The deposit is contained within a roughly cylindrical, vertically standing, cigar-shaped breccia pipe. Copper minerals, principally bornite and chalcopyrite, were deposited as part of the breccia matrix, mainly along the pipe's margins. Higher-grade mineralization is found on the pipe's outer shell, with lower-grade mineralization within the pipe's interior.

Key Highlights:

• Following validation of historical data through a limited confirmatory program, the Company expects to prioritize expansion drilling over infill drilling, with target areas identified on the southeast and northwest portions of the modeled system.

The Model integrates historical drill data and surface geological mapping along with cross-sectional interpretation. It will be combined with data from relogging of historical core to plan for future drilling, target resource generation and expansion, and other 2026 technical work at Bornite. "Completing this Model is an important step in turning Bornite's historical data, based on drilling and mapping from the 1970s to the 1990s, into a modern exploration framework," stated David Watkinson, CEO of Ameriwest. "The work completed by APEX helps us better understand the geometry of mineralization of the deposit, prioritize the historical drill holes that should be relogged first, and focus future drilling on the areas most likely to generate resources and expand the mineralized footprint of the deposit. In our view, this is exactly the type of disciplined technical work required to systematically advance the Project toward resource-stage evaluation."

In addition, because historical work at Bornite was focused primarily on copper, gold and silver, the Company intends to incorporate broader multi-element geochemical analysis as part of any relogging, re-sampling and future drilling programs. This is important because comparable breccia pipe and tourmaline-breccia copper systems have also yielded other metals, including molybdenum, tungsten and other trace elements, that may not have been systematically evaluated in the historical database. By testing for a wider suite of elements, Ameriwest aims to build a more complete understanding of the Bornite mineralization system, which could help identify additional by-product or co-product opportunities and, if present, potentially enhance the overall economics of the project. There can be no assurance that any additional metals of economic significance will be identified.

APEX personnel modeled all lithological units identified in the historical plan maps and sections and interpreted several mineralization domains (Figures 1 and 2). Based on the historical data reviewed, the highest-grade copper ("Cu") domain is interpreted as a high-grade shell (the "High-Grade Shell") located outside the interior pipe (the "Interior Pipe"), with an average grade of approximately 2.4% Cu. Surrounding that shell, APEX interpreted and modeled a sheeted vein (the "Sheeted Vein Zone") domain with average grades of approximately 0.9% Cu. The Interior Pipe domain averages 0.60% Cu. APEX personnel also modeled two breccia types-intrusive breccia and sericite-tourmaline breccia-which returned similar average copper grades of approximately 0.3% Cu and may be grouped as a single breccia-style domain for future work. At a broader scale, andesite and quartz biotite form a lower-grade mineralized envelope averaging approximately 0.15% Cu and may likewise be grouped as a single low-grade domain. Additional low-grade mineralized shells were interpreted on the north side of the deposit, but APEX noted that these areas will require additional logging data, including relogging of historical core, and additional drilling to confirm continuity. The grades of these domains are based on length-weighted average %Cu and do not take into account gold or silver by-products at this stage of analysis.

APEX has also recommended a focused relogging program to strengthen the geological model and support future resource work. Priority holes-CC03, CC09, CC15, CC16, CC17, CC26, and CC29-are considered critical for confirming and testing the high-grade shell, improving definition of the northern low-grade quartz diorite domain, enhancing the understanding of the deeper breccia continuity and alteration.

APEX has recommended that, once historical data are validated through a small number of confirmatory infill or twin holes, Ameriwest should prioritize expansion drilling over infill drilling. In particular, the Company intends to evaluate targets on the southeast and northwest portions of the Model where the contacts between andesite and quartz diorite remain uncertain. APEX noted that expanding the volume of lower-grade, higher-tonnage material could be important in supporting a deeper future pit shell and in capturing additional mineralization associated with the pipe-style system.

Figure 1. Cross-section looking west along 48535E.

Note: Section window is ±50 m. Drill holes shown are historical.

Figure 2. Cross-section looking north along 31215N.

Note: Section window is ±50 m. Drill holes shown are historical.

The Model provides the foundation for a structured 2026 work program. Priority activities include:

• Relogging of priority historical drill holes CC03, CC09, CC15, CC16, CC17, CC26, and CC29;

• Confirmatory infill or twin drilling to validate historical data;

• Expansion drilling targeting the southeast and northwest flanks;

• Broad multi-element geochemical sampling in all new programs; and

• Future resource-stage evaluation, incorporating updated Model data.

The Company notes that the preliminary geological model is based on compilation and interpretation of historical data and is intended to guide exploration planning. It does not constitute a current mineral resource estimate, mineral reserve estimate, or economic study, and the interpreted domain grades described above should not be relied upon as such. Ameriwest intends to use the Model to guide core retrieval, relogging, possible selective re-sampling of available historical material, and the design of confirmatory and expansion drilling programs at Bornite.

Qualified Person Statement

David Watkinson, P.Eng., a non-independent qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Watkinson is the CEO and a director of Ameriwest.

About Ameriwest Critical Metals Inc.

Ameriwest is an exploration company focused on identifying and acquiring strategic critical mineral projects for exploration and resource development. The Company is currently advancing its Bornite copper-gold-silver property in Oregon, its Xeno rare earth property in British Columbia and its Thompson Valley lithium clay property in Arizona. Ameriwest also owns a lithium clay property in Clayton Valley, Nevada, and is in the process of optioning its Railroad Valley lithium brine property in Nevada to Pure Energy Minerals Limited.

For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's filings available at www.sedarplus.ca.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

David Watkinson
Chief Executive Officer and Director

For further information, please contact:

Ameriwest Critical Metals Inc.
Tel: (416) 918-6785
Email: [email protected]

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the matters referenced herein and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward‐looking information. Forward‐looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward‐looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward‐looking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward‐looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward‐looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward‐looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward‐looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward‐looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE: Ameriwest Critical Metals

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S.Cloutier--SMC