Lode Gold Accelerates Fremont Project with Aggressive Drill Plan Toward Feasibility

Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSX.V: LOD | LODFF:OTCQB) has announced an aggressive acceleration of its Fremont Gold Project in Mariposa County, California, aiming to fast-track the historic property toward production through a clear two-phase drilling strategy. The company, led by CEO Wendy T. Chan, plans a 3,500-meter drill program in 2026 to support a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) targeted for completion by Q2 2027, followed by a massive 7,800-meter underground drill program in 2028 to advance a full Feasibility Study (FS) by 2029. This revised development approach focuses on bulk underground mining, capitalizing on the project's strong geological continuity along the Mother Lode structural corridor and a growing Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) that already boasts approximately 3 million ounces of gold over just an 800-meter segment of a broader 4-kilometer trend.

The 2026 program is strategically designed to de-risk the project and includes 1,400 meters of metallurgical and geotechnical drilling, 600 meters of hydrological and infill drilling in the high-grade Pine Tree - Josephine area (historically mined at 10.7 g/t), and 1,500 meters of step-out exploration in the Chicken Gulch area. Technical leaders, including Jon Hill, Technical Committee Chair, and Bill Fisher of the Technical Advisory Board, emphasize Fremont's unique position, with mineralization characteristics ideal for bulk mining and the potential to advance a PFS within an ambitious 15-month timeframe due to an extensive historical database and easy-to-upgrade resource base. The subsequent 2028 FS program will utilize two parallel exploration ramps, each about 2,200 meters long, which will later be incorporated into the mining infrastructure, supporting a phased transition to production.

The Fremont project is a significant brownfield asset with a rich history, having last seen comparable technical advancement in 1986. It sits on over 3,000 acres of 100% owned private and patented land within an Opportunity Zone, offering special tax incentives. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) was completed in 2023, and an MRE was updated in 2025, revealing that 92% of the ounces remain unmined. The company's strategy reflects improved geological understanding and favorable market conditions, positioning Fremont as a scalable underground project with a clear path to unlocking its full value. Lode Gold also holds the Dingman Property in Ontario, Canada, but the current focus and accelerated capital are squarely on advancing the flagship Fremont Gold Project toward development.