Lode Gold Resources Inc. has announced the initiation of a new Mineral Resource Estimation block model for its flagship Fremont Gold Project in Mariposa, California. The updated model will incorporate over 7,000 historical underground channel samples that were recently recovered from original mine level maps and plans, data previously unavailable in digital format. This significant expansion of data density within the historically mined areas of the deposit represents a substantial enhancement to the project's geological database.
The new block model will reinterpret the Fremont deposit as a continuous mineralized body rather than discrete vein-only domains. This approach aligns with the company's strategic focus on bulk underground mining as outlined in recent technical and economic studies. The resource evaluation will utilize a lower cut-off grade supported by updated underground mining cost assumptions provided by local contractors. According to Jonathan Hill, Director and Chair of the Technical Committee of Lode Gold, this evolution in interpretation better reflects the scale, continuity and mining potential of the system.
The inclusion of this additional dataset is expected to enhance geological continuity, improve confidence in grade distribution, and support the evaluation of wider mining widths consistent with a bulk underground mining scenario. The Fremont Gold Mine is an advanced exploration and early development brownfield project that was previously mined at 10.7 grams per ton gold until production halted in 1942 during World War II when gold mining was prohibited. The property has been a mine since 1849, making it one of the first projects that started the California Gold Rush.
Fremont features seven deposits along a four-kilometer strike on the prolific 190-kilometer Mother Lode Belt, with only two of the seven deposits having seen exploitation. According to the 2025 Mineral Resource Estimate, only 8% of the resource has been exploited, leaving 92% to be mined in upcoming years. The project has substantial existing infrastructure including 42,717.3 meters drilled, 8,593 underground channel samples, 23 kilometers of underground workings, 20 adits, 16 levels, and five shafts. It sits on 3,351 acres of patented private land with 100% ownership of surface and mineral rights, with road access, electricity, and proximity to rail and airport facilities.
The new Mineral Resource Estimation is currently underway and will be completed in accordance with NI 43-101 standards. Further updates, including the results of the revised resource estimate, will be provided once the work has been finalized and reviewed by Qualified Persons. Technical reports prepared on the company's properties are available on the company's profile on SEDAR+ and the company's website at https://www.lode-gold.com. The company recently completed an internal scoping study evaluating the potential to resume operations at Fremont based on 100% underground mining, following a Preliminary Economic Assessment completed in March 2023 that evaluated a mix of open pit and underground mining.
This development represents a significant step forward in understanding the true potential of a historically important gold mining district. The integration of previously unavailable historical data with modern geological modeling techniques could potentially increase the economic viability of the Fremont project by supporting bulk mining methods. For the mining industry, this approach demonstrates how historical data recovery and reinterpretation can breathe new life into brownfield projects, potentially extending mine life and improving resource confidence. The project's location in a stable mining jurisdiction with existing infrastructure further enhances its potential significance for future gold production in North America.
