U.S. GoldMining Inc. (NASDAQ: USGO) announced on September 28, 2026, the completion of a surface exploration program at its 100% owned Whistler Gold-Copper Project in Alaska. The Company states that the program, which included geological mapping, prospecting, and rock chip sampling, was conducted alongside a previously completed 7,493-meter diamond core drilling campaign targeting 10 areas within the Whistler Orbit.
The Company reports that field observations indicate potential extensions to known gold-copper porphyry mineral systems at the Whistler-Raintree and Island Mountain areas, as well as the Muddy Creek intrusion-related gold system. The program aimed to identify new outcrop zones of mineralization to build a pipeline of high-priority drill targets.
Highlights from the 2026 field season include:
- Whistler Orbit Footprint: Geologists identified and sampled new outcrop zones of porphyritic intrusions and alteration in the Snow-Canyon Ridge area, located 2 to 5 miles north of the Whistler deposit. Historical rock grab samples in this area have reached grades of 26.9 g/t Au and 0.07% Cu.
- Island Mountain: Reconnaissance mapping over zones of historical elevated gold and copper rock grab samples indicates potential to expand the mineral resource to the northwest of the existing drill-delineated resource. Historical samples in this area have reached grades of 17.25 g/t Au.
- Muddy Creek: Mapping identified new high-density quartz vein zones along the contact zone between a granodiorite intrusion and surrounding country rocks, located 1.7 miles west of previously identified zones. Historical samples at this prospect have reached a peak assay of 111.5 g/t Au.
U.S. GoldMining notes that 58 rock grab samples were submitted for gold, copper, and multi-element assaying, with results pending laboratory turnaround times. The Company states that pending assay results, additional systematic mapping, prospecting, and sampling, and potentially geophysical survey extensions and drilling, will be assessed.
The Company reports that the Whistler Project currently comprises 5.41 Moz AuEq of indicated resources and 4.97 Moz AuEq of inferred resources across the Whistler, Raintree West, and Island Mountain deposits. The Company states that surface exploration is designed to delineate high-priority targets for future drill testing with the goal of ultimately expanding the mineral resource inventory.
