i-80 Gold Reports Initial Assay Results from Granite Creek Underground and Provides Infill Drilling Update at High-Grade Cove Project
Results underscore the high-grade resources, strong conversion potential, and significant growth upside across
"At Granite Creek Underground, the first six holes from our infill drill program continue to show robust high-grade mineralization throughout the
Granite Creek Underground High-Grade Assay Results
Granite Creek Underground, i-80's first underground gold operation, continues to progress ramp-up activities toward steady state gold output. An infill and step-out drilling campaign on the
Hole iGS25-02A represents the most northerly and deepest hole drilled to date in the
This program aims to convert mineral resources from the inferred category to the indicated category and form the basis for the upcoming feasibility study for Granite Creek Underground, which is planned for completion in the first quarter of 2026. The feasibility study will incorporate an updated mineral resource estimate reflecting drill results over the past two years, including the current drill program.
Table 1: Summary Assay Results from South Pacific Zone Drilling
Drillhole ID |
Zone |
Type |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Length (m) |
Au (g/t) |
iGS25-02A |
SPZ |
Core |
616.6 |
619.5 |
2.9 |
33.6 |
And |
SPZ |
Core |
622.7 |
625.4 |
2.7 |
7.5 |
And |
SPZ |
Core |
634.1 |
637.7 |
3.6 |
29.7 |
iGU25-01 |
SPZ |
Core |
116.6 |
122.2 |
5.7 |
20.8 |
iGU25-02 |
SPZ |
Core |
53.1 |
54.8 |
1.7 |
12.4 |
And |
SPZ |
Core |
95.1 |
100.1 |
5.0 |
12.2 |
And |
SPZ |
Core |
106.1 |
109.3 |
3.3 |
16.2 |
iGU25-03 |
SPZ |
Core |
52.5 |
59.7 |
7.2 |
7.2 |
And |
SPZ |
Core |
113.5 |
117.0 |
3.4 |
11.4 |
iGU25-04 |
SPZ |
Core |
63.7 |
69.2 |
5.5 |
10.4 |
iGU25-05 |
SPZ |
Core |
244.8 |
247.8 |
3.0 |
11.4 |
True widths estimated 80-95%. |
Table 1a: Collar Coordinates
UTM |
Drillhole ID |
East m |
North m |
Elevation m |
Azimuth |
Dip |
NAD83 |
iGS25-02A |
478736 |
4554389 |
1541 |
309 |
-75 |
iGU25-01 |
478414 |
4554275 |
1258 |
293 |
-13 |
|
iGU25-02 |
478414 |
4554274 |
1257 |
285 |
-17 |
|
iGU25-03 |
478414 |
4554273 |
1257 |
277 |
-24 |
|
iGU25-04 |
478415 |
4554274 |
1257 |
287 |
-40 |
|
iGU25-05 |
478521 |
4554325 |
1259 |
341 |
-71 |
Cove Infill Drilling Update
At Cove, approximately 45,000 meters of infill drilling have been completed over the last two years. Drilling was conducted across the Gap and Helen zones on approximately 30 meter spacing (see Figure 3 in Appendix). The result of this work provides the Company with a more robust geological model, greater understanding of the gold mineralization at Cove, and increased confidence in future mineral resource delineation as the Company continues to work towards completing a feasibility study for Cove, planned for the first quarter of 2026 (the "2026 Cove FS"), which will replace the preliminary economic assessment for Cove filed in
Approximately 15% of the known mineralization is oxidized in the upper portions of the Helen zone. This material is expected to be processed at the Company's
Based on this additional work, it is now anticipated that the forthcoming mineral resource estimate for Cove – to be included in the 2026 Cove FS – is expected to reflect a conversion of currently estimated inferred and indicated resources into higher confidence categories of resource classification. These results further validate the Company's understanding of Cove as representing a Carlin-style mineralized system with an anticipated high degree of mineral resource conversion through additional drilling. The Company has engaged
Additional work required by the Company to release the 2026 Cove FS has not yet been completed and the results of work completed to date are subject to further confirmation and verification by the Company and SRK. i-80 and SRK are focused on advancing directly to the completion of the 2026 Cove FS by the first quarter of 2026, which will include the results of the infill drill program discussed herein.
Technical Disclosure and Qualified Persons
The technical information contained in this press release has been prepared under the supervision of, and has been reviewed and approved by
For a description of the data verification, assay procedures and the quality assurance program and quality control measures applied by the Company, please see the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
Endnotes
(1) |
The 2025 Cove PEA was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. An Initial Assessment for the |
(2) |
Pending the completion of the Lone Tree processing facility refurbishment Class 3 engineering study (where a series of trade-off scenarios will be considered comparing full autoclave refurbishment to alternate toll milling and mineralized material purchase agreement options that could potentially be available), Board approval, and the successful funding, development, and commissioning of the Company's |
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information
Certain information set forth in this press release, including but not limited to management's assessment of the Company's future plans and operations, the perceived merit of projects or deposits, and the impact and anticipated timing of the Company's development plan, expectations regarding the timing, execution and results of the Company's drilling programs, outlook on gold output, the anticipated growth expenditures, the anticipated timing of production, project development or technical studies, including the anticipated 2026 Cove FS, constitutes forward looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be inaccurate and, as such, reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, if any, that the Company will derive therefrom. By their nature, forward looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including general economic and industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, title risks and uncertainties, uncertainty in geological, metallurgical and geotechnical studies and opinions, and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. The Company's ability to refinance its indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and its financial condition at such time, currency fluctuations, construction and operational risks, licensing and permit requirements, environmental risks, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, imprecision of mineral resource, or production estimates.
Please see "Risks Factors" in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
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