Red Bird was explored by Homestake Mining for high-grade epithermal vein, breccia and replacement targets. Multiple levels of historical development give direct access to the mineralised zones.
Sampling
Underground chip-channel and grab sampling of the shallow historical levels returned bonanza-grade assays peaking at 49.2 g/t Au, validating and in several instances exceeding historical results. Further channel sampling in March 2026 returned 13.7m @ 16.0 g/t Au (including 4.6m @ 38.5 g/t Au) and 6.7m @ 18.3 g/t Au (including 3.0m @ 36.0 g/t Au).
Maiden drilling
Following BLM approval of a Notice of Intent in January 2026, a 25-hole, 2,509m reverse circulation program was completed in February 2026. It was the first systematic, modern test of the historical Red Bird mine and its surrounding mineralised footprint.
Results confirmed a coherent, shallow gold system with vertical continuity from surface to at least 60m depth, across two stratigraphic horizons that converge on a major NE-striking controlling fault. Historical mining was largely confined to discrete ultra-high-grade zones, leaving most of the mineralisation unmined. This underpins the potential for a low-cost, shallow open-pit scenario.
| Hole | From | Intercept | Including |
|---|---|---|---|
| RBRC023 | 22.9m | 24.4m @ 3.1 g/t Au | 9.1m @ 6.6 g/t |
| RBRC019 | 42.7m | 22.9m @ 2.8 g/t Au | 4.6m @ 8.7 g/t |
| RBRC026 | 22.9m | 25.9m @ 2.4 g/t Au | 6.1m @ 5.2 g/t |
| RBRC020 | 41.1m | 16.8m @ 2.9 g/t Au | 6.1m @ 5.2 g/t |
| RBRC012 | 4.6m | 42.7m @ 1.4 g/t Au | 9.1m @ 3.9 g/t |
| RBRC013 | 4.6m | 45.7m @ 1.3 g/t Au | 13.7m @ 2.2 g/t |
| RBRC015 | 3.0m | 36.6m @ 1.0 g/t Au | — |
| RBRC031 | 13.7m | 15.2m @ 2.2 g/t Au | 7.6m @ 3.8 g/t |
| RBRC027 | 1.5m | 13.7m @ 2.9 g/t Au | 4.6m @ 7.8 g/t |
| RBRC010 | 15.2m | 27.4m @ 1.0 g/t Au | — |
| RBRC025 | 22.9m | 22.9m @ 1.7 g/t Au | — |
| RBRC016 | 22.9m | 12.2m @ 2.1 g/t Au | — |
Geological model
Drilling and mapping support a model in which Red Bird represents the boiling zone of a low-sulphidation epithermal gold system, a favourable position for gold deposition.
Next steps
- Internal mineralisation and mining scenario work, integrating drilling, historical underground data and the completed IP survey, due for completion in the December 2026 quarter.
- Heap-leach metallurgical test work: composites prepared from RC samples for a US metallurgical laboratory.
- Planning of the next exploration phase, targeting expansion of the mineralised zone.