Grande Portage Resources Secures Drilling Contractor for 2026 Program at the New Amalga Gold Project and Provides Project Update

The most recent news (February 25, 2026) confirms that Grande Portage has secured Timberline Drilling Inc. for its 2026 diamond drilling program at the New Amalga Gold Project in Alaska. The 4,300-meter program is scheduled to begin in late June 2026. Critically, the company announced it is in the final stages of its National Instrument 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), expected by the end of Q1 2026. The news also highlights the intent to apply for US Federal FAST-41 status to streamline permitting and confirms several environmental and engineering contracts are active.

The news is Routine - Positive. While securing a driller is a standard operational step, it confirms the company is adhering to the timeline established in its January 2026 permit approval. The material weight of this release lies in the confirmation of the PEA timing (late Q1). - Resource Validation: The project maintains a high-grade profile (9.47 g/t Au Indicated). - De-risking: The transition from "pure exploration" to "strategic development planning" is evidenced by geotechnical and hydrogeological logging, which are essential for mine design rather than just finding more gold. - Infrastructure: The "Direct Shipping Ore" (DSO) concept—transporting material offsite for processing—is a significant CAPEX-saving strategy that the upcoming PEA will finally quantify.

Grande Portage is focused on the New Amalga Gold Project (formerly Herbert Gold), located 25km north of Juneau, Alaska. - Resource: 1.44 Moz Au Indicated (9.47 g/t) and 0.52 Moz Au Inferred (8.85 g/t). - Strategy: Developing a low-footprint underground mine using a DSO model to avoid building an onsite mill or tailings facility, which simplifies the environmental footprint and permitting.