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Lode Gold Commences Metallurgical Drilling at Fremont Gold Mine, Mariposa, CA

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Lode Gold (OTCQB: LODFF) has commenced metallurgical drilling at its flagship Fremont Gold Mine in Mariposa, California. A specialized metallurgical and engineering firm will oversee PQ core sampling, flowsheet design, and trade-off studies between gravity and flotation recovery to optimize future CAPEX and OPEX.

The work focuses on zones targeted for mine development and builds on a 2014 metallurgical report that confirmed 91% recovery. Fremont is a brownfield project with a 2023 PEA based on 1.16 Moz indicated and 2.02 Moz inferred resources, and an updated 2026 mineral resource estimate.

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Positive

  • Metallurgical drilling commenced at Fremont, focused on planned mine development zones
  • Engineering firm engaged to optimize flowsheet, CAPEX and OPEX for future processing
  • Trade-off studies to compare gravity versus flotation recovery methods for project economics
  • Historical metallurgical work reported 91% recovery in 2014, now being validated
  • Large Fremont resource base: 1.16 Moz @ 1.90 g/t Au Indicated and 2.02 Moz @ 2.22 g/t Au Inferred
  • Over 3,000 acres of 100% owned private and patented land in a designated Opportunity Zone

Negative

  • None.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 17, 2026) - Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: LODFF) ("Lode Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has commenced metallurgical drilling at the Company's flagship Fremont Gold Mine in California.

Key Scope of the Engineering Services:

  • Metallurgical Representativeness & QA/QC: Professional oversight of PQ core sampling protocols within early-stage zones to ensure optimal material mapping for future definitive composites.

  • Advanced Flowsheet Optimization: Engineering design and structuring of multi-phase metallurgical programs, balancing gravity circuit performance with optimal particle size reduction.

  • Operational & Capital Efficiency: Evaluating modern processing configurations aimed at optimizing future capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating costs (OPEX).

The metallurgical and engineering company will collaborate with Lode Gold's geology team to establish robust metallurgical criteria and optimize core collection protocols for the upcoming large-diameter (PQ) drill program. This phase of drilling will be focused on the areas where the Company plans to develop the mine.

To maximize project economics - various recovery methods will be evaluated. Trade off studies will be conducted to evaluate gravity versus flotation recovery to ensure permitting expediency and return on investment.

Conventional flotation circuits are aligned with historical mine production layouts while gravity recovery and coarse-particle sorting circuits tend to be more modern and highly efficient. By involving process engineers prior to the drill turning, Lode Gold is ensuring all baseline sample data is optimized right from the outset. This approach aims to maximize future processing efficiency, evaluate opportunities to optimize grinding size requirements, and ultimately enhance overall value proposition.

The upcoming exploration and drilling program at Fremont is currently scheduled to commence in Summer 2026.

"Previously, the 2014 Metallurgical Report confirmed a 91% recovery. We are conducting a new study to validate the information", says Jon Hill, Director and Chair of the Technical Committee at Lode Gold.

About Lode Gold

Lode Gold has key assets in Canada and United States.

Fremont Gold Mine Project (Fremont Gold Mining LLC) is a brownfield project in Mariposa, California with 43,000 m drilled, 10,000 underground channel samples, 14 adits and 2 shafts. Mining halted in 1942 due to the gold mining prohibition during WW II. It was mined at 10.7 g/t when price was gold was $35 per oz. PEA was completed (link) in 2023. The PEA was based on 1.16 Moz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 Mt Indicated, and 2.02 MOz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28 Mt Inferred with a composite cut-off[1]. MRE (link) was updated in 2026; 89% of the ounces were left unmined if we compare historical production with our current Indicated Resource. Average true widths at 1 g/t cut off is 53m. Project sits on > 3,000 acres of 100% owned private and patented land which is designated as OZ, Trump Administration Opportunity Zone (Special Tax Incentives).

Dingman Property is an orogenic deposit in Ontario, Canada with over 22,000 m drilled, with a 2013 PEA, MRE (link to report) : 376,000 oz at 0.94 g/t (M&I) and 47,000 oz at 0.71 g/t (Inferred.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this press release was reviewed and approved by Gary Wong, P.Eng., Vice President of Exploration of Lode Gold, designated as a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY

Wendy T. Chan
CEO & Director
info@lode-gold.com
+1(604) 977-GOLD (4653)

Kevin Shum
Investor Relations
kevin@lode-gold.com
+1(604) 977-GOLD (4653)

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the use of proceeds, advancement and completion of resource calculation, feasibility studies, and exploration plans and targets. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: the status of community relations and the security situation on site; general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; the supply and demand for, inventories of, and the level and volatility of the prices of metals; relationships with strategic partners; the timing and receipt of governmental permits and approvals; the timing and receipt of community and landowner approvals; changes in regulations; political factors; the accuracy of the Company's interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company's mineral deposits; the availability of equipment, skilled labour and services needed for the exploration and development of mineral properties; and currency fluctuations.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include a deterioration of security on site or actions by the local community that inhibits access and/or the ability to productively work on site, actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, business disruptions, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.


1 0.25 g/t for oxide, 0.45 g/t for open pit mineralization and 1.45 g/t for underground mineralization

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/309925

FAQ

What did Lode Gold (LODFF) announce about the Fremont Gold Mine on August 17, 2026?

Lode Gold announced it has started metallurgical drilling at its Fremont Gold Mine in Mariposa, California. According to Lode Gold, a specialist engineering firm will optimize sampling, process flowsheets, and cost efficiency to support future mine development in key project zones.

What is the purpose of the new metallurgical drilling program at Fremont for LODFF shareholders?

The metallurgical drilling aims to optimize future gold recovery, CAPEX and OPEX at Fremont. According to Lode Gold, engineers will design multi-phase metallurgical programs, compare gravity and flotation circuits, and refine grinding size requirements to improve potential project economics and processing efficiency.

What gold recovery was reported previously for the Fremont Gold Mine owned by Lode Gold?

A 2014 metallurgical report confirmed 91% gold recovery at Fremont. According to Lode Gold, the new metallurgical study and drilling are intended to validate this earlier result and establish updated metallurgical criteria for zones targeted for future mine development.

What are the key resource figures for Lode Gold’s Fremont Gold Mine project (LODFF)?

The 2023 PEA used 1.16 million ounces at 1.90 g/t Au indicated and 2.02 million ounces at 2.22 g/t Au inferred. According to Lode Gold, these resources sit within 19.0 Mt indicated and 28 Mt inferred, with an updated mineral resource estimate completed in 2026.

When is the broader exploration and drilling program at Fremont scheduled to start for LODFF?

The upcoming exploration and drilling program at Fremont is scheduled to commence in Summer 2026. According to Lode Gold, current metallurgical drilling and engineering work are preparing baseline data and optimized sampling protocols ahead of this larger drill campaign.

What other assets, besides Fremont, does Lode Gold (LODFF) hold?

Lode Gold also owns the Dingman property, an orogenic gold deposit in Ontario, Canada. According to Lode Gold, Dingman has over 22,000 m of drilling and a 2013 PEA/MRE with 376,000 oz at 0.94 g/t (M&I) and 47,000 oz at 0.71 g/t inferred.

Why is the Fremont Gold Mine’s land position important for Lode Gold investors (LODFF)?

Fremont covers more than 3,000 acres of 100% owned private and patented land. According to Lode Gold, this land is designated as a Trump Administration Opportunity Zone, which may provide special tax incentives for qualifying investments and potential project development.