NOVAGOLD's 2025 Donlin Gold Drill Program Returns High-Grade Gold Intercepts, Strengthens Resource Conversion, and Supports Bankable Feasibility Study Progression
Executive Summary
- Donlin Gold’s 2025 drill program delivered multiple high‑grade intercepts, highlighted by a 7.35 m interval grading 23.49 g/t Au (hole DC25‑2258) and several other significant zones supporting resource conversion for the upcoming Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS).
- The program, expanded after the $1 billion acquisition of a 50 % interest by Paulson Advisers, also included 19 grid infill holes (5,079 m), 24 in‑pit exploration holes (10,370 m) and ~30 m of geotechnical drilling to aid pit stability and access‑road design.
- A Request for Proposal (RFP) for the BFS engineering work has been issued; selection of a lead engineering firm is expected in Q4 2025.
Key Details
- Top five intercepts (in‑pit exploration):
- DC25‑2252 – 51.90 m @ 3.77 g/t Au (true width ~47 m) starting at 305.60 m depth.
- DC25‑2258 – 7.35 m @ 23.49 g/t Au (true width ~45 m) starting at 525.34 m depth.
- DC25‑2253 – 16.33 m @ 6.57 g/t Au (true width ~14 m); sub‑interval 4.52 m @ 14.02 g/t Au (true width ~4 m).
- DC25‑2257 – 9.12 m @ 8.32 g/t Au (true width ~7 m).
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DC25‑2253 – 6.37 m @ 10.29 g/t Au (true width ~6 m).
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Drilling effort totals:
- Grid infill: 19 holes, 5,079 m.
- In‑pit exploration: 24 holes, 10,370 m.
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Geotechnical & access‑road material sites: ~30 holes, 3,000 m.
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Resource conversion focus: Targeting conversion of Inferred Resources to Indicated Resources ahead of the BFS.
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Strategic context: The drill program follows the June 3, 2025 closing of a $1 billion transaction with Paulson Advisers LLC acquiring 50 % of Donlin Gold. The expanded drilling is intended to supply data for a Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) and to support infrastructure planning (access road from Jungjuk port).
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RFP for BFS engineering: Issued to top‑tier firms; award expected Q4 2025.
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Community & employment impact: 80 locally hired personnel plus contractors; workers drawn from 19 Yukon‑Kuskokwim villages; ongoing engagement with >60 communities and tribal corporations.
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QA/QC: HQ‑diameter core, ~97 % recovery, standards (5 %), blanks (5 %) and duplicates (2.5 %) inserted; no bias detected. Independent labs (Bureau Veritas, ALS Limited) performed assays.
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Qualified Persons: Henry Kim (P.Geo.), Mike Woloschuk (P.Eng.), Kirk Hanson (MBA, P.E.) – Wood Canada; Paul Chilson (P.E.) – NOVAGOLD.
Notable Quotes
“It is most rewarding to see what we believe are such great returns on our investment to date in the 2025 Donlin Gold drill program,” — Greg Lang, President & CEO, NOVAGOLD.