Lode Gold Expands Drill Program at Flagship Fremont Gold Mine Project
Lode advances metallurgical testing for the Fremont project via a drill permit amendment, targeting a 2027 preliminary feasibility study.
Lode Gold Resources Inc. (LOD) is expanding its ongoing drill program at its 100%-owned Fremont Gold Mine in California through an amendment to its Authorized Use Permit. The expansion adds four new drill pads—PT-J 011, PT-J 012, HGD-002, and HGD-003—to advance engineering, metallurgical, and hydrogeological objectives.
Specific technical goals include collecting high-quality PQ-diameter core samples for geometallurgical modeling and conducting in-situ permeability testing for mine planning. Pads HGD-002 and HGD-003 are strategically positioned to test subsurface targets in areas lacking historical drilling data, aiming for potential resource expansion. The expansion is executed via an amendment to the previously approved permit to streamline operational timelines and avoid regulatory friction.
Lode Gold Resources Inc. (LOD) announced an expected incremental step in its 2026 drilling campaign, which was previously outlined when the company secured a three-year Administrative Use Permit in August 2026. This activity aligns directly with the company's stated roadmap to gather technical data for a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) targeted for completion in 2027.
The focus on metallurgical and hydrogeological drilling, rather than pure resource expansion, indicates a deliberate shift toward de-risking engineering parameters for the planned 100% underground bulk mining scenario. The update confirms steady execution of the previously disclosed technical plan without introducing new financial, strategic, or operational surprises or altering the company's near-term catalysts.
Lode Gold Resources Inc. is a junior mining company focused on the development of the Fremont Gold Mine in Mariposa County, California. The project is a brownfield, previously producing mine that halted operations in 1942 due to WWII gold mining prohibitions. The company has pivoted its development strategy from an open-pit to a 100% underground bulk mining scenario, utilizing Sublevel Stoping methods.
The 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) reports 1.11 moz in Measured & Indicated categories and 1.99 moz in Inferred categories at a 1 g/t Au cut-off. The project sits on over 3,000 acres of 100% privately owned patented land designated as a federal Opportunity Zone, offering potential tax incentives. Historical production averaged 10.7 g/t Au when gold was $35/oz, with 89% of the current indicated resource left unmined.