NorthWest Reports Near-Surface Intersept of 25.9 Metres Grading 0.91 % Cu, 1.29 g/t Au (2.09% CuEq) From 154 Metres
NorthWest Copper Redefines Kwanika: High-Grade Drill Bit Success Sets Stage for 2026 PEA Pivot
The most recent news (January 5, 2026) reports final drill results from the 2025 exploration program at the Kwanika Project. Hole K-25-287 intersected multiple high-grade zones within the Pit and Central areas, including 65.0 metres of 1.12 g/t Au and 32.0 metres of 1.13 g/t Au. These results confirm the continuity of higher-grade "subdomains" that the company began targeting in early 2025. Management indicates these results will support an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) in Q1 2026 and a revised Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in mid-2026. Additionally, the company completed a vertical amalgamation with its subsidiaries to reduce administrative costs.
The impact is Material - Positive for several reasons: - Validation of Strategy: Throughout 2025, the company shifted focus from a broad low-grade "block cave" model to identifying higher-grade subdomains (1.0 g/t Au threshold). The 15 holes reported since October 2025 consistently hit these targets, often exceeding the grades used in the 2023 PEA. - Economic De-risking: By proving higher-grade zones near the surface (Pit Zones) and at depth (Central Zone), the company is pivoting toward a "selective bulk underground" and "starter pit" mining method. This is intended to lower initial capital expenditure (CAPEX) compared to the massive block cave previously envisioned. - Metallurgical Optionality: Results from the 2025 program highlight significant gold enrichment. Parallel metallurgical testing (initiated Sept 2025) is targeting gold recoveries higher than the 65.6% cited in the 2023 PEA, which would significantly enhance project NPV at current spot prices. - Execution: The 2025 program was completed on time and successfully expanded known mineralization (e.g., Pit Zone 12 and Western Zone extensions).
NorthWest Copper Corp. is a Canadian copper-gold explorer/developer. Its flagship project is the Kwanika-Stardust Project in the Omineca region of British Columbia. Kwanika is a copper-gold porphyry deposit, while Stardust is a high-grade carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) located 7km away. The company's new strategy involves a "hub and spoke" approach, potentially utilizing a central mill at Kwanika to process higher-grade ore from both projects, plus satellite resources like Lorraine.