Vancouver – October 19, 2026 -- Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) has completed six holes of its expanded 20-hole campaign at the Fremont Gold Mine in Mariposa County, California, and has lifted total planned drilling to 4,200 meters (13,780 feet) with ten additional holes.
First two holes already at the laboratory, assays pending
Samples from the first two holes have been submitted for analysis, and the company is awaiting assay results. Sample preparation and submission for the remaining holes will continue as drilling progresses. Lode Gold said it will report results once they have been received, reviewed and validated.
Six completed holes make up half of the 12-hole metallurgical program
The holes, designated PT-J_001 through PT-J_006, have planned target depths of roughly 105 to 171 meters (344 to 562 feet). They were designed with an azimuth of 240° and a dip of -75°.
The program uses PQ-diameter core, which yields enough material for both gold assays and metallurgical test work. For each hole, one quarter of the core goes to gold assay. A second quarter is reserved for metallurgical testing after the assay results are reviewed. The remaining half stays in core boxes for reference, and a further quarter may be released for additional testing if required.
Drillers can step down to HQ core to pass through historical workings
Jon Hill, Chair of the Technical Committee, said that where drilling intersects historical underground drifts and stopes, the core diameter can be reduced from PQ to HQ to continue past the open spaces. He added that the approach lets the company handle the practical challenges of drilling a historically mined deposit while still recovering enough material for the next stage of technical evaluation.
Metallurgical holes feed geometallurgical model for feasibility-level studies
CEO and Director Wendy T. Chan said the metallurgical holes will help refine the geometallurgical model for future feasibility-level studies. The company expects news flow and drilling from Q4 2026 through Q1 2027 for in-situ hydrogeological holes. Step-out exploration in untested zones is to follow. "The drill is turning," Chan said.
Gary Wong, P.Eng., Vice President of Exploration, reviewed and approved the technical information as the qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.