Viva Gold Advances Tonopah Gold Project, Nevada, on Three Fronts: Pre-Feasibility Study, Permitting Baseline Work and Midway Hills Drilling
Viva’s Tonopah PFS is on track, Midway Hills metallurgy shows promise, and permitting advances.
Viva Gold Corp. (VAU) released an operational update on its 100%-owned Tonopah Gold Project in Nevada, detailing progress across three parallel workstreams: the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), environmental baseline studies for permitting, and follow-up drilling at the Midway Hills discovery.
The PFS is on schedule for completion in late Q4 2026. Mine design is substantially complete, and a detailed trade-off study for plant sizing has been finished, comparing a 3,000 tpd gravity/CIL mill for higher-grade mineralization against a 7,000 tpd heap leach for lower-grade material.
Follow-up drilling at Midway Hills is underway with a 1,000-meter core program. The first hole has reached ~250 meters, intersecting the Ordovician Palmetto Argillite. Early assay data indicates higher cyanide-soluble gold/silver ratios and lower silica content compared to the main deposit, which are positive early indicators for metallurgical recovery pending full laboratory confirmation.
Environmental baseline studies are advancing, including groundwater monitoring well drilling, archaeological surveys, and the submission of golden eagle/raptor survey reports and geochemistry studies to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The company aims to submit a Mine Plan of Operations to the BLM to initiate the formal NEPA permitting process, targeting a 2027 commencement.
Viva Gold Corp. (VAU) confirmed it is on track to meet previously communicated milestones, including the completion of a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) by the fourth quarter of 2026 and the execution of a follow-up drilling program at Midway Hills. Early metallurgical results from the Midway Hills project align with the positive indicators established during the company’s discovery announcement in July 2026, introducing no new surprises to the project’s profile.
Permitting baseline work is progressing according to plan, supporting the company’s stated strategy to de-risk the project through ongoing technical and environmental studies. The update serves as an expected operational follow-up that validates management’s execution capabilities. It does not alter the existing valuation model, introduce a new catalyst, or deviate from prior guidance, representing routine progress within the advanced exploration and development phase.
Viva Gold Corp. (VAU) is advancing its 100%-owned Tonopah Gold Project in western Nevada. Situated on the prolific Walker Lane Structural Trend, the property lies approximately 30 minutes south of Kinross Gold's Round Mountain Mine.
The project is in an advanced development stage. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) was completed in August 2025, with a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) targeted for completion in Q4 2026. Additionally, the Midway Hills discovery, located ~1.4 km northwest of the main pit area, represents a new high-grade target type within the Ordovician Palmetto Argillite, adding potential resource growth and metallurgical upside.