Founders Metals Makes First Discovery at Antino North; Drills 17.22 g/t Au over 3.6 m within 24.6 m of 2.81 g/t Au
District-Scale Discovery in Suriname
The most recent news (April 2, 2026) announces the first-ever diamond drill discovery at the Antino North target. Drillhole AN001 intersected 24.6 meters of 2.81 g/t Au, including a high-grade core of 3.6 meters at 17.22 g/t Au starting from just 1.5 meters depth. This follows the March 17, 2026, announcement of the company's inclusion in the GDXJ Index and the commencement of drilling in this previously untested 10,000-hectare area. The discovery confirms that the high-grade mineralization styles seen at the more advanced Upper Antino and Lower Antino targets extend into the newly consolidated northern concessions.
The news is Material - Positive. While the company has consistently reported high-grade results from Upper and Lower Antino, this is the first proof-of-concept for the "Antino North" area, which was only recently acquired and consolidated (January 2026). - Validation of Strategy: It justifies the aggressive land consolidation strategy and the $50M investment by Gold Fields intended for regional exploration. - Scale: Antino North represents a massive 10,000-ha addition with no prior drilling. Finding high-grade gold in the very first hole significantly increases the probability of defining a second "center of gravity" for the project. - Index Inclusion: The simultaneous inclusion in the GDXJ index (March 2026) provides the necessary liquidity and institutional "floor" for the stock as it transitions from a single-target explorer to a district-scale developer.
Founders Metals is focused on the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname. The project now covers over 100,000 hectares following the 2025/2026 consolidation. The project is located in the Guiana Shield, a region known for multi-million-ounce deposits (e.g., Rosebel, Merian). The project has three primary tiers: - Advanced: Upper Antino (2.5km strike) and Lower Antino (1.9km strike). - Intermediate: Buese, Maria Geralda, and Parbo. - Grassroots: Antino North (Discovery hole AN001).