Big Ridge Gold Corp Commences 2026 Work Program at Hope Brook Gold Project

• Big Ridge Gold Corp. has officially commenced its 2026 work program at the Hope Brook Gold Project (HBGP) in Newfoundland & Labrador.
• The company is mobilizing its first drill rig in early June 2026 to focus on geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling, followed by infill and expansion drilling at the 240 Zone and Main Zone.
• Key objectives include finalizing metallurgical test work for concentrate samples (26–30% Cu, 270–539 g/t Au) and completing the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).
• The company retains operational infrastructure including a 28-person camp, airstrip, ice-free dock, and grid-connected power substation.
• Resource estimates remain consistent with previous reports: Indicated 16.19 Mt @ 2.32 g/t Au (~1.2 Moz) and Inferred 2.215 Mt @ 3.25 g/t Au (~231 koz).

• The news confirms the execution of a previously announced timeline (H1 2026 PEA completion) established in November 2025 and March 2026 updates.
• Mobilization of drilling is an expected operational milestone rather than a surprise discovery or financing event, limiting immediate material upside from this specific release alone.
• The focus on metallurgical testing for off-take partners validates the project's potential to generate revenue beyond gold, adding incremental value but not fundamentally altering the asset profile overnight.
• No new capital raise is announced in this release; funding relies on proceeds from the March 2026 warrant exercise ($2.6M) and existing cash reserves.
• The market has already priced in significant progress given the stock's rise from $0.34 (March 25) to $0.51 (April 27), suggesting expectations are high for the upcoming PEA results.

• Flagship Project: Hope Brook Gold Project (HBGP) in Newfoundland & Labrador, a past producer (~752k oz Au 1987–1997).
• Ownership: Big Ridge holds 100% ownership following the July 2025 acquisition of the remaining 20% stake from First Mining Gold Corp.
• Project Status: Advanced exploration/development stage; infrastructure is in place (camp, airstrip, dock, power) reducing immediate CAPEX for production readiness.
• Secondary Assets: Destiny Gold Project (Quebec) under partnership with Caprock Mining; Oxford Gold Project (Manitoba) historic resource.
• Strategy: Consolidate high-grade assets in Tier 1 jurisdiction and advance HBGP toward production via PEA and feasibility studies.