Opus One Gold Completes 2026 Drill Program at Noyell, Extending Zone 1 Gold Mineralization From Surface to Approximately 750 Metres and Remaining Open at Depth
Opus One Gold Corporation (OOR) has announced the final assay results from its 2026 drilling program at the Noyell Gold Property in Quebec, confirming that Zone 1 gold mineralization extends continuously from surface to approximately 750 meters vertical depth and remains open at depth. The company also identified a new exploration front at "Zone West," located 3 km west of Zone 1, where all five drill holes intersected gold mineralization across an 800-meter strike length, though it remains untested below 300 meters vertical depth.
Significant intersections include a broad Zone 2 intercept in Hole NO-26-18 and high-grade deep intersections in Zone 1. Hole NO-26-21a returned 4.92 g/t Au over 11.37 m (9.08 m true width) at approximately 700 meters vertical depth, establishing the eastern shoot as the primary vector for future drilling. This hole is located approximately 200 meters vertically below NO-26-07, which previously reported an intersection of 8.22 g/t Au over 8.5 meters (7.16 meters true width), including a high-grade sub-interval of 49.1 g/t Au over 1.34 meters. The continuity of these results indicates vertical continuity of the high-grade eastern mineralized shoot.
In Zone 2, Hole NO-26-18 intersected 2.34 g/t Au over 9.34 meters. This is described as an unusually broad mineralized intersection for Zone 2, which typically returns narrower and lower-grade intersections.
First-pass drilling at Zone West, located 3 km west of Zone 1, intersected gold mineralization in all five holes across approximately 800 meters of strike. The specific intercepts for this zone are as follows:
- NO-26-09: 1.03 g/t Au over 8.90 metres; and a second zone of 3.48 g/t Au over 1.19 metres.
- NO-26-16: 0.50 g/t Au over 10.41 metres.
- NO-26-17: 1.11 g/t Au over 3.96 metres.
- NO-26-20: 1.34 g/t Au over 8.29 metres.
- NO-26-22: 1.18 g/t Au over 9.07 metres.
Zone West remains sparsely drilled and has not been tested below 300 meters vertical depth.
The program also included holes designed to test negative or weak results to refine the geological model. Hole NO-26-08 tested the western extension of Zone 1 at approximately 300 meters depth and returned marginal gold values for both Zones 1 and 2. Hole NO-26-18 also tested an interpreted west-dipping trend in Zone 1, returning marginal values, suggesting the trend may not continue as anticipated. Holes NO-26-14a, NO-26-19, and NO-26-23b were designed to test the vertical continuation of Zone 1; all intersected Zone 1 at anticipated positions, refining the interpretation that the strongest vector is in the eastern portion.
Louis Morin, President and CEO, commented on the results: "The 2026 program has materially advanced our understanding of Noyell. A year ago, our drilling had identified Zone 1 to approximately 500 metres vertical depth. We have now followed the mineralized structure from surface, down to approximately 750 metres, and most importantly, it remains open at depth."
Morin added, "The most important development for Zone 1 is that we believe we have identified the principal vector to be followed deeper. Hole NO-26-21a returned 4.92 g/t gold over 11.37 metres at approximately 700 metres vertical depth... This eastern shoot will be a major focus of our next phase of drilling."
Regarding the new area, Morin stated, "At the same time, our first drilling program at our new Zone West has given us another area to advance. Every drill hole intersected gold mineralization across approximately 800 metres of strike, and the system has only been tested at shallow depths. We now have two distinct areas identified at Noyell, where additional drilling can potentially expand the mineralized footprint."
Samples were prepared at Technominex in Rouyn-Noranda and shipped to the AGAT certified Laboratory in Val D’or. Gold was assayed using Fire Assay - Trace Au, ICP-OES finish with a 50g charge. Samples equal to or above 10 g/t Au are submitted to ore grade gravimetric finish. Multi-element analysis was performed using Aqua Regia Digest - Metals Package, ICP-OES finish. QA/QC included one control sample (certified blank and various gold grades) inserted after every 9 regular samples. Released drill hole true width values were calculated using Geotic Log software.