Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd. (TSXV: OMM) (OTCQB: OMMSF) has provided a program update for its Wingdam Underground Paleoplacer Gold Recovery Project, located in the Cariboo Mining District of south-central British Columbia. The company reports that underground crosscut development and stabilization work in crosscut #2 have resulted in the recovery of substantial quantities of placer gold.
Mining partner D&L Mining has completed preparation of Crosscut #2 for advance across the paleochannel and through the pay gravel zone, which has already yielded significant placer gold. The company is awaiting approval from the BC Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals to continue across the channel using the current mining method—grouted spiling and shotcrete arch ground support as designed by the Engineer-of-Record, MineTech International Limited.
Omineca also announced the receipt of a formal letter of support from the Lhtako Dene Nation (Red Bluff Indian Band), addressed to the British Columbia government. This expression of support reflects the positive, long-standing consultation and relationship between Omineca and the Nation. The company stated its commitment to responsible resource development and to creating meaningful and lasting benefits for the Lhtako Dene Nation and the broader Cariboo region.
During the 2026 operating season, steady progress has continued utilizing the grouted spiling and shotcrete arch ground stabilization method. D&L Mining has provided all required documentation for continued operations and is awaiting approval from the BC Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals. The ministry has become more proactive in overseeing mining projects, which has added significant time to the reporting and development cycle.
Operationally, the mine plan at Wingdam is performing as designed. The engineered ground stability program provides systematic ground support required to safely advance workings through the complex, water-bearing ground conditions beneath the Lightning Creek valley. This spring, work temporarily shifted to crosscut #2 due to unexpectedly high water inflow from spring freshet through existing drill holes near crosscut #3A. Work at crosscut #3A will recommence at a future date once the wet season subsides.
Through real-time operating trials, D&L has changed grout from a cementitious formulation to an epoxy-based chemical grout to enhance performance across the wide range of ground conditions encountered. The chemical grout works regardless of variations in host rocks and is immune to infiltration by water. With a very short setup time (less than one hour versus one day for cement grout), the current formulation is proving highly effective. D&L and Omineca are pleased with the technical progress made in executing the mine plan.
Once the ability to safely tunnel and recover placer gold across the paleochannel from multiple locations is demonstrated, Omineca intends to file its Five-Year Mine Plan with provincial authorities. The plan is designed to fully develop operations along the initially indicated 1.4 kilometres of paleochannel.
The Wingdam Underground Paleoplacer Gold Recovery Project is located approximately 30 kilometres west of Barkerville in the Cariboo Mining District. The underground project covers more than 15 linear kilometres of placer claims along the Lightning Creek valley and sits within Omineca's land package exceeding 600 square kilometres of combined hard rock and placer claims. The objective is full-scale recovery of high-grade placer gold from a paleochannel located about 50 metres beneath the active Lightning Creek. The economic potential was demonstrated in 2012 when the first bulk sample from a single 2.4 metre by 2.4 metre by 24 metre crosscut recovered 173.4 ounces of placer gold.
For more information, see photos and videos of Crosscut #2 at NewMediaWire.
