RUA GOLD Reports Further High-Grade Drill Results and Mineral Continuity at its Auld Creek Gold-Antimony Project

Drilling has confirmed the host structure over 1,400 meters northward, while resource-category conversion exceeds 70%.

Rhea-AI Summary

RUA GOLD (NZAUF) reported further gold-antimony drill results and mineral continuity at its Auld Creek project in Reefton, New Zealand. Hole ACDDH127 returned 6.6m grading 10.5 g/t gold and 6.7% antimony, with a true width of 3.6m. ACDDH130 returned 6.3m grading 13.7 g/t gold and 0.3% antimony, with a true width of 2.5m. Its results included 0.3m at 69.2 g/t gold.

The mineralized host structure has been confirmed over 1,400 meters northward and intercepted below 500 meters depth. Mineralization remains open along strike and at depth; conversion of inferred resources to the higher-confidence indicated category exceeds 70%. Four rigs continue resource drilling. The company targets an updated resource estimate in Q4 2026, submission of its substantive Fast-Track Approvals application in October 2026 and publication of a pre-feasibility study in December 2026. Supporting technical testing is largely complete.

14 points · 0 major

PositiveiHow this balance works

How this balance works

Rhea-AI gives every point it takes from this document a weight. Minor counts 1, Moderate 3 and Major 9, so one Major point outweighs several Minor ones. The bar adds up the weights on each side, and when neither side holds more than 65% of the total the balance reads Mixed.

It reads the document as published, with the same rules for every company, and it does not look at what the market expected or at how the stock traded, so a point can be objectively good on a day the stock falls.

Rhea-AI Sentiment measures something else, the tone of the wording.

How the balance worksHow Sentiment works

0 major · 1 point

Hollow bars mark forward-looking points. How the balance works

Positive

• Moderate pointACDDH127 intersected 6.6m at 10.5 g/t gold and 6.7% antimony; true width was 3.6m.
• Moderate pointACDDH130 intersected 6.3m at 13.7 g/t gold and 0.3% antimony; true width was 2.5m.
• Moderate pointFraternal host structure extends over 1,400 meters northward and has been intercepted at over 500 meters depth.
• Moderate pointInferred-to-indicated resource conversion is greater than 70%, improving with successful drilling.
• Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Repeating mineralized shoots at 40–60m depth intervals support company-described potential for further resource growth.
• Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Resource development continues with four drill rigs; the company targets an updated resource estimate in Q4 2026.
• Moderate point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Pre-feasibility study publication is targeted for December 2026; supporting geotechnical and metallurgical testing is largely complete.

7 minor points

• Minor pointACDDH123A intersected 2.2m at 10.3 g/t gold and 11.3% antimony; true width was 0.6m.
• Minor pointACDDH121 intersected 11.7m at 4.1 g/t gold and 0.4% antimony; true width was 4.9m.
• Minor pointACDDH123B intersected 5m at 4.8 g/t gold and 1.2% antimony; true width was 1.3m.
• Minor pointACDDH124 intersected 10.4m at 1.3 g/t gold and 0.4% antimony; true width was 9.3m.
• Minor pointACDDH126 intersected 7m at 2.1 g/t gold and 0.1% antimony; true width was 1.8m.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Depth-potential drilling is planned for Q4 2026, alongside ongoing northward exploration.
• Minor pointAuld Creek was accepted as a listed project under the Fast-Track Approvals regime in July 2026.

Negative

• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Substantive Fast-Track Approvals application remains to be submitted; the company targets October 2026.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 5, 2026) - Rua Gold Inc. (TSX: RUA) (NZX: RGI) (OTCQX: NZAUF) (WKN: A40QYC) ("RUA GOLD" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on exploration and resource drilling at its Auld Creek gold-antimony project (the "Auld Creek Project") in Reefton, New Zealand.

Ongoing resource drilling at Auld Creek continues to demonstrate strong continuity of the high-grade mineralized shoots, with mineralization remaining open along strike and at depth. Following the Company's July 2026 announcement0F¹ that Auld Creek had been accepted as a listed project under New Zealand's Fast-Track Approvals regime, RUA GOLD remains on track to submit its substantive application in October 2026 and publish a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") in December 2026.

Highlights: 

• Four drill rigs continue to advance resource drilling across the growing Auld Creek system, which remains open along strike and at depth. 
• Recent drilling continues to intersect high-grade gold-antimony mineralization, including narrow zones of exceptional gold grades in ACDDH127 and ACDDH130 of 0.3m at 43.6 g/t Au (>1 oz/t Au) and 0.3m at 69.2 g/t Au (>2 oz/t Au), respectively. Visible gold continues to be observed in drill core. 
• Highlighted assay results from drilling at Auld Creek include: 
  •  ACDDH121: 11.7m @ 5.0 g/t AuEq² (4.1 g/t Au & 0.4% Sb) from 365m 
  • ACDDH123A: 2.2m @ 34.6 g/t AuEq² (10.3 g/t Au & 11.3% Sb) from 228m 
  • ACDDH123B: 5m @ 7.4 g/t AuEq² (4.8 g/t Au & 1.2% Sb) from 236m 
  • ACDDH127: 6.6m @ 24.9 g/t AuEq² (10.5 g/t Au & 6.7% Sb) from 359m 
    • Incl 0.3m @ 43.6 g/t Au and 33.3% Sb 
  • ACDDH130: 6.3m @ 14.4 g/t AuEq² (13.7 g/t Au & 0.3% Sb) from 208m 
    • Incl 0.3m @ 69.2 g/t Au 
• Drilling continues to demonstrate continuity of the shallow-dipping mineralized shoots along strike. Repeating shoots at depth, occurring at approximately 40m intervals, support the potential for further resource growth to the north and at depth. 
• Four drill rigs remain focused on resource development ahead of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for Q4 2026. 
• The Company remains on track to submit its substantive application under New Zealand’s Fast-Track Approvals regime in October 2026. October 5, 2026.

The Company's CEO Robert Eckford commented, "These latest results, together with continued observations of visible gold, reinforce the high-grade nature and growth potential of Auld Creek. The continuity of the high-grade shoots, together with repeating mineralization at depth, is increasing our confidence in the potential for further resource growth.

With four rigs continuing to advance the resource, we are targeting an updated Mineral Resource Estimate in Q4 while remaining on track to submit our Fast-Track Approvals application in October."

Figure 1: Highlights from recent Auld Creek drilling -Long section Fraternal Structure

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10755/317277_b2cafcc0e4a3ca99_012full.jpg

AULD CREEK EXPLORATION UPDATE

Drilling continues to demonstrate strong evidence to expand the gold-antimony resource; the Fraternal structure (a major synclinal sheared fold structure) that hosts the mineralization has been drill confirmed to extend northward for over 1,400 meters and intercepted at over 500 meters depth.

Infill drilling along the Fraternal structure is confirming high-grade mineralized shoots dipping shallow- moderately northward in a repetitive sequence at depth of 40-60m. The current ratio of conversion of inferred to indicated resources is greater than 70% and improving with every successful drill hole.

Currently drilling is probing northward to extend the length of the mineralized body, with the depth potential to be examined in Q4 2026.

The active resource drill out program includes the full range of geotechnical and metallurgical testing required for PFS, including hydrology, rock strength, specific gravity and ore zone characterization. This work is largely complete for the up-and-coming Fast -Track application and lodgment of required NI 43 101 reports.

Figure 2: High grade Au and Sb from ACDDH127 and ACDDH130.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10755/317277_b2cafcc0e4a3ca99_018full.jpg

Table 1: Significant intercepts from recent Auld Creek drilling.

Hole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)	True Width (m)	Au (g/t)	Sb %	Including
ACDDH121	365.5	377.2	11.7	4.9	4.1	0.4%	5m @ 6.5g/t Au & 2m @ 1.7% Sb
ACDDH123A	228	230.2	2.2	0.6	10.3	11.3%
ACDDH123B	236	241	5	1.3	4.8	1.2%
ACDDH124	209.1	219.5	10.4	9.3	1.3	0.4%	0.4m @ 5.2g/t Au & 3.4% Sb
ACDDH126	228	235	7	1.8	2.1	0.1%
ACDDH127	359	365.6	6.6	3.6	10.5	6.7%	0.3m @ 43.6g/t Au & 33.3% Sb
ACDDH130	208.3	214.6	6.3	2.5	13.7	0.3%	0.3m @ 33.0g/t Au & 6.8% Sb followed by 0.3m @ 69.2g/t Au

 

Figure 3: Location of active Rua Gold exploration projects

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10755/317277_b2cafcc0e4a3ca99_019full.jpg

ABOUT RUA GOLD

RUA GOLD is an exploration company, strategically focused on New Zealand. With decades of expertise, our team has successfully turned major discoveries into long standing producing mines in multiple continents. The team is now focused on maximizing the asset potential of RUA GOLD's two highly prospective high-grade gold projects.

The Company controls the Reefton Gold District as the dominant landholder in the Reefton Goldfield on New Zealand's South Island with over 120,000 hectares of permits, in a district that historically produced over 2Moz of gold grading from 9-50g/t2F³.

The Company's Glamorgan Project solidifies RUA GOLD's position as a leading high-grade gold explorer on New Zealand's North Island. This highly prospective project is located within the North Islands' Hauraki District, a region that has produced an impressive 15Moz of gold and 60Moz of silver3F⁴.

For further information, please refer to the Company's disclosure record on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Simon Henderson CP, AUSIMM, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and Chief Operating Officer and a director of RUA GOLD, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained herein. Mr. Henderson has participated in the geochemical sampling, and mapping programs to verify that they have been conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures. Mr. Henderson has verified the data disclosed by running checks on the location, analytical, and test data underlying the information in the technical disclosure herein.

QA/QC Drill Core

Core samples were sent to SGS Laboratories, Westport for sample preparation. SGS is independent of the Company. Samples were crushed and pulverized to 85% passing 75 µm. The pulverized rock-chips were split into two samples: ~50 g for laboratory analysis, and the reject returned to Rua for pXRF analysis and storage. Control samples (certified standards and uncertified blanks), along duplicates, are inserted at a target 12% insertion rate. Results are assessed for accuracy, precision, and contamination on an ongoing basis.

Pulverized rock-chip samples were sent to ALS Brisbane to be analyzed for gold (Au) by 50-g fire assay with AAS finish (ALS Code Au-AA26); and for antimony (Sb) with lithium borate fusion sample preparation followed by an X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) instrument finish (ALS Codes: Sb-XRF15b for 0.005-20.0% Sb and Sb-XRF15c for 0.01-80.0% Sb).

RUA GOLD Contact

New Zealand Simon Delander VP Risk Stakeholder Regulatory Affairs Email: sdelander@RUAGOLD.com Website: www.RUAGOLD.com

Canada Robert Eckford Chief Executive Officer Email: reckford@RUAGOLD.com

 

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur and specifically include statements regarding: the Company's strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions, including but not limited to drill program at the Auld Creek target and the timing and results thereof, the timing or results of PFS, the timing or result of an application for a mine permit, and the expected contributions of Mr. Prins. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; risks related to the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war; risks related to climate change; operational risks in exploration, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration projects or capital expenditures; the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changes in labour costs and other costs and expenses or equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to environmental hazards, flooding or unfavorable operating conditions and losses, insurrection or war, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, and commodity prices. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated July 11, 2024, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

Table 3: Location of Auld Creek reported drill holes from RUA program

Hole ID	Easting	Northing	rL	Total Depth	Site _ID	Dip	Azimuth (true)	Year
ACDDH084	1507192	5333296	514.43	230.5	Pad 04	-59.5	35	2026
ACDDH120	1507183	5333519	452.6	202.5	Pad 05	-46.6	127.2	2026
ACDDH121	1507082	5333094	583.28	397	Pad 08	-68.9	115.7	2026
ACDDH122	1506958	5332959	611.61	457.1	Pad 13	-56.7	92.3	2026
ACDDH123	1507290	5333151	537.69	255.1	Pad 24	-70.6	277.1	2026
ACDDH124	1507072	5332958	605.53	226	Pad 18	-46.7	112.5	2026
ACDDH125	1507183	5333521	452.46	187.5	Pad 05	-51.9	97.5	2026
ACDDH126	1507291	5333149	538.25	244.5	Pad 24	-70.7	260.4	2026
ACDDH127	1507082	5333094	583.17	378.1	Pad 08	-62	66.6	2026
ACDDH128	1507184	5333520	452.6	187.5	Pad 05	-51.9	110.9	2026
ACDDH130	1507290	5333152	537.45	247.5	Pad 24	-69.3	300.5	2026

 

Table 4: Significant drilling intercepts at Auld Creek, full mineralized zone composites

Hole_ID	From	To	Interval	Au (g/t)	Sb (%)
ACDDH121	356	356.5	0.5	1.26	0.02
ACDDH121	356.5	357	0.5	3.36	0.01
ACDDH121	357	357.45	0.4	4.28	0.03
ACDDH121	357.45	358	0.6	2.69	0.01
ACDDH121	365.5	366	0.5	0.36	1.60
ACDDH121	366	366.5	0.5	5.18	2.74
ACDDH121	366.5	367	0.5	4.35	1.77
ACDDH121	367	367.5	0.5	2.43	0.83
ACDDH121	367.5	368	0.5	1.42	0.03
ACDDH121	368	368.5	0.5	6.93	0.09
ACDDH121	368.5	368.9	0.4	2.02	0.31
ACDDH121	368.9	369.5	0.6	2.57	0.03
ACDDH121	369.5	370	0.5	0.06	0.01
ACDDH121	370	370.3	0.3	0.2	0.01
ACDDH121	370.3	370.7	0.4	1.36	0.03
ACDDH121	370.7	371.05	0.35	0.19	0.01
ACDDH121	371.05	371.5	0.45	1.64	0.02
ACDDH121	371.5	372	0.5	7.83	0.02
ACDDH121	372	372.5	0.5	3.03	0.01
ACDDH121	372.5	373	0.5	1.02	0.04
ACDDH121	373	373.5	0.5	2.51	0.03
ACDDH121	373.5	374	0.5	7.25	1.85
ACDDH121	374	374.45	0.45	4.56	0.26
ACDDH121	374.45	375	0.55	11.65	0.44
ACDDH121	375	375.5	0.5	11.4	0.02
ACDDH121	375.5	376	0.5	8.25	0.01
ACDDH121	376	376.5	0.5	7.21	0.07
ACDDH121	376.5	377.15	0.65	1.45	0.02
ACDDH123	228	228.95	0.95	0.55	0.49
ACDDH123	228.95	229.25	0.3	14.05	29.20
ACDDH123	229.25	229.9	0.65	17.7	2.09
ACDDH123	229.9	230.2	0.3	22.1	47.30
ACDDH123	236	236.5	0.5	1.59	0.11
ACDDH123	236.5	237	0.5	2.45	0.04
ACDDH123	237	237.7	0.7	3.25	0.02
ACDDH123	237.7	238.3	0.6	9.76	8.03
ACDDH123	238.3	239	0.7	12.1	0.53
ACDDH123	239	239.5	0.5	6.03	1.40
ACDDH123	239.5	240	0.5	0.67	0.02
ACDDH123	240	240.5	0.5	2.93	0.05
ACDDH123	240.5	241	0.5	1.32	-0.01
ACDDH125	168	168.8	0.8	0.25	0.01
ACDDH125	168.8	169.2	0.4	0.76	-0.01
ACDDH125	169.2	169.5	0.3	0.85	0.06
ACDDH125	169.5	170	0.5	0.84	0.02
ACDDH125	170	170.5	0.5	1	0.07
ACDDH125	170.5	171	0.5	0.31	0.01
ACDDH125	171	171.5	0.5	1.34	0.22
ACDDH125	171.5	172	0.5	0.71	0.07
ACDDH125	172	172.5	0.5	2.62	0.76
ACDDH126	228	228.4	0.4	6.22	0.95
ACDDH126	228.4	229	0.6	0.86	0.02
ACDDH126	229	229.5	0.5	5.23	0.04
ACDDH126	229.5	230	0.5	5.61	0.01
ACDDH126	230	231	1	2.38	0.02
ACDDH126	231	232	1	0.73	0.01
ACDDH126	232	232.5	0.5	0.34	0.03
ACDDH126	232.5	233	0.5	1.59	0.14
ACDDH126	233	233.5	0.5	1.07	0.06
ACDDH126	233.5	234	0.5	0.92	0.01
ACDDH126	234	234.5	0.5	0.56	0.03
ACDDH126	234.5	235	0.5	2.28	0.21
ACDDH127	358.95	359.35	0.4	9.6	41.50
ACDDH127	359.35	359.65	0.3	43.6	33.30
ACDDH127	359.65	360	0.35	17.85	17.45
ACDDH127	360	360.5	0.5	16.45	6.51
ACDDH127	360.5	361	0.5	3.19	3.29
ACDDH127	361	361.5	0.5	9.46	3.63
ACDDH127	361.5	362	0.5	5.6	1.16
ACDDH127	362	362.5	0.5	17.75	2.53
ACDDH127	362.5	363	0.5	2.06	0.21
ACDDH127	363	363.45	0.45	4.71	0.14
ACDDH127	363.45	364.1	0.65	16.7	1.98
ACDDH127	364.1	364.5	0.4	1.99	0.13
ACDDH127	364.5	365	0.5	6.56	2.20
ACDDH127	365	365.5	0.5	2.36	0.14
ACDDH127	368	368.65	0.65	1.77	0.39
ACDDH127	368.65	369.15	0.5	0.76	3.34
ACDDH127	369.15	370	0.85	0.68	0.81
ACDDH127	370	370.5	0.5	1.18	0.23
ACDDH127	370.5	371	0.5	1.09	0.43
ACDDH128	170.5	171	0.5	2.34	5.19
ACDDH128	171	172	1	0.3	0.16
ACDDH128	172	173	1	0.5	1.07
ACDDH130	207.6	208.3	0.7	1.74	0.01
ACDDH130	208.3	208.8	0.5	4.07	0.01
ACDDH130	208.8	209.4	0.6	13.05	0.01
ACDDH130	209.4	209.8	0.4	22.6	0.01
ACDDH130	209.8	210.2	0.4	25	0.05
ACDDH130	210.2	210.5	0.3	33	6.75
ACDDH130	210.5	210.8	0.3	69.2	0.07
ACDDH130	210.8	211.7	0.9	12.5	0.04
ACDDH130	211.7	212.5	0.8	6.57	0.01
ACDDH130	212.5	213	0.5	3.7	-0.01
ACDDH130	213	213.7	0.7	9.18	0.01
ACDDH130	213.7	214.6	0.9	2.01	-0.01
ACDDH124	209.1	209.5	0.4	1.03	0.03
ACDDH124	209.5	210.05	0.55	2.15	0.03
ACDDH124	210.05	210.5	0.45	0.12	-0.01
ACDDH124	210.5	211	0.5	0.61	0.03
ACDDH124	211	211.35	0.35	5.2	3.39
ACDDH124	211.35	212	0.65	0.99	0.04
ACDDH124	212	212.6	0.6	0.46	0.01
ACDDH124	212.6	213.25	0.65	1.14	0.01
ACDDH124	213.25	214	0.75	0.01	0.01
ACDDH124	214	214.5	0.5	0.01	0.01
ACDDH124	214.5	215	0.5	0.01	0.01
ACDDH124	215	215.5	0.5	2.5	4.76
ACDDH124	215.5	216	0.5	3.03	0.19
ACDDH124	216	216.5	0.5	0.38	0.01
ACDDH124	216.5	217	0.5	1.69	0.02
ACDDH124	217	217.5	0.5	1.97	0.02
ACDDH124	217.5	218	0.5	0.88	0.01
ACDDH124	218	218.5	0.5	1.09	0.01
ACDDH124	218.5	219	0.5	2.71	0.01
ACDDH124	219	219.5	0.5	1.38	0.01

 

---

¹ See Rua Gold news release "RUA GOLD's Auld Creek Project Qualifies for New Zealand's 6-Month Fast-Track Approvals Process" dated July 30, 2026, available on the Company's website at www.ruagold.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca

²Based on the recent Reefton Technical Report, the gold equivalent formula is based on AuEq = Au g/t + 2.15 x Sb% using a Au price of US$3,000/oz, Sb price of US$25,000 per tonne and 85% recovery.

³ Technical Report on the Reefton Project, New Zealand, with an effective date of February 27, 2026 available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

⁴ Christie, A., Simpson, M., Barker, R., and Braithwaite, R. 2019. Exploration for epithermal Au-Ag deposits in New Zealand: history and strategy. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 62:1, 414-441. NI 43-101 Technical Report, Waihi District Pre-feasibility Study, New Zealand. OceanaGold Corporation, Report Date: December 11, 2024.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317277

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What were RUA GOLD's latest Auld Creek gold-antimony drilling results?

ACDDH127 intersected 6.6m at 10.5 g/t gold and 6.7% antimony, while ACDDH130 intersected 6.3m at 13.7 g/t gold and 0.3% antimony. Their true widths were 3.6m and 2.5m, respectively.

When does RUA GOLD plan to update the Auld Creek resource and publish its pre-feasibility study?

RUA GOLD targets an updated mineral resource estimate in Q4 2026 and publication of its pre-feasibility study in December 2026. These are planned milestones, not completed studies.

What narrow high-grade intervals did RUA GOLD report at Auld Creek?

ACDDH127 included 0.3m at 43.6 g/t gold and 33.3% antimony, and ACDDH130 included 0.3m at 69.2 g/t gold. ACDDH130 also included 0.3m at 33.0 g/t gold and 6.8% antimony, followed by the 69.2 g/t gold interval.

What technical testing is RUA GOLD conducting for the Auld Creek pre-feasibility study?

The resource drilling program includes hydrology, rock-strength, specific-gravity and ore-zone characterization work as part of geotechnical and metallurgical testing required for the pre-feasibility study. This work is largely complete for the upcoming Fast-Track application and required technical reports.