Gold Mine Optimization
Lode Gold Initiates Metallurgical Drilling at Fremont Mine for Economic Optimization
Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD) has started metallurgical drilling at its Fremont Gold Mine in Mariposa, California, the company announced. The drilling marks a key early step toward bringing the historic mine back into production, according to Barchart.
The work will focus on areas where Lode Gold plans to build out the mine. A larger exploration and drilling program is set to begin in Summer 2026, The Sudbury Star reported.
Metallurgy Tests Will Shape How Gold Gets Recovered
The drilling is designed to help the company figure out the best way to pull gold out of the ore. Lode Gold's geology team will use the drill cores to set what the company calls "robust metallurgy criteria," according to Fairview Post. In plain terms, that means figuring out exactly what the rock contains and how to process it most efficiently.
The company will also nail down core collection protocols for an upcoming large-diameter drill program. That program is a bigger, more intensive round of drilling that will follow the current work.
Gravity vs. Flotation: Two Recovery Methods Under Review
To get the most value out of the mine, Lode Gold will run trade-off studies comparing two gold recovery methods: gravity separation and flotation. Gravity separation uses the weight of gold to separate it from rock. Flotation uses air bubbles and chemicals to float gold particles to the surface for collection.
The goal is to find which method — or combination — delivers the best return on investment while also speeding up the permitting process, Fort Saskatchewan Record reported. Faster permitting means less time and money spent before the mine can operate.
Fremont Mine Holds Historical Significance in California Gold Country
The Fremont Gold Mine sits in Mariposa County, in the heart of California's historic Mother Lode gold belt. The site has a long mining history, making it a notable target for modern resource companies looking to revive past-producing operations with updated technology.
Lode Gold, a Canadian company listed on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTCQB market, describes Fremont as its flagship project. The current metallurgical drilling is the first major on-site activity ahead of the planned Summer 2026 program, according to Hanna Herald.
Summer 2026 Exploration Program Is the Next Big Milestone
The metallurgical drilling now underway is a precursor to a much larger effort. Results from the current program will directly shape the design of the Summer 2026 exploration campaign, Whitecourt Star reported. That campaign is expected to be the company's most significant drilling push at the site yet.
By running the trade-off studies and locking in core collection methods now, Lode Gold says it can maximize both project economics and permitting speed when the larger program begins. The company has not yet disclosed how many meters of drilling are planned for 2026.
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