Big Ridge Gold talks up Hope Brook, Destiny projects

Executive Summary

• Big Ridge Gold Corp. consolidated 100% ownership of its Hope Brook Gold Project (HBGP) by renegotiating an earn-in agreement and purchasing the remaining 20% interest, avoiding $6 million in committed expenditures.
• The company has engaged SGS Geological Services to conduct a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for HBGP, with results expected in the first half of 2026.
• Partner Caprock Mining has commenced a Phase I drill program at the Destiny gold project, targeting deep-seated high-grade mineralization, while Big Ridge holds 18 million shares in Caprock.

Key Details

• Hope Brook Ownership Consolidation: Between September 2022 and July 2025, Big Ridge renegotiated its Stage II earn-in to 80% and purchased the remaining 20% interest, achieving 100% ownership. This transaction avoided $6 million in time-sensitive committed expenditures.
• Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA): SGS Geological Services has been engaged to prepare a PEA for HBGP. The company expects positive economics based on high-grade open pit copper and gold resources, past production history, and a strategic tidewater location.
• Metallurgical Testwork Results: Recent testwork on Hope Brook ore produced high-grade Cu-Au concentrates ranging from 26% to 30% Copper (Cu) with 270 to 539 grams per tonne Gold (g/t Au).
• Historical Production Context: HBGP produced approximately 750,000 ounces of gold from 1987 to 1997. A 1992 flotation circuit produced a concentrate at approximately 22% Cu and 34.28 g/t Au.
• Current Resource Estimates:
  • Indicated: 16.19 million tonnes grading 2.32 g/t Au for 1.2 million ounces (0.4 g/t cut-off).
  • Inferred: 2,215,000 tonnes grading 3.25 g/t Au for 231,000 ounces (2.0 g/t cut-off).
  • Valuation Basis: Long-term gold price of $1,750 USD.
• Destiny Project Drill Program: Caprock Mining initiated a Phase I drill program at the Destiny gold project. The program targets deep-seated, high-grade mineralization identified in historical holes with grades up to 26 g/t Au.
• Caprock Financial Obligations: Big Ridge owns 18 million shares of Caprock Mining. The company anticipates first anniversary payments due by December 31, 2025, consisting of $100,000 in cash and common shares with a fair value of $250,000.
• Infrastructure: HBGP features an operational 28-person camp, a 1,100-metre airstrip, an ice-free docking facility, and connection to the provincial electrical power grid.

Notable Quotes

• "Two thousand twenty-five has been a significant year for Big Ridge Gold. The company renegotiated the Hope Brook earn-in agreement, increasing its ownership to 100 per cent and recently engaged SGS Geological Services to complete a preliminary economic assessment on the Hope Brook gold project. In addition, the company is preparing concentrate samples for marketing and potential offtake agreements. We are also happy to announce that Caprock Mining, the company's partner at the Destiny gold project recently commenced a phase I drill program, testing the deposit at depth." — Michael Bandrowski, President and CEO