U.S. GoldMining has commenced its 2026 drilling program at its Whistler gold-copper project in Alaska to test high-priority exploration targets. As porphyry systems typically occur in clusters, testing these near-deposit anomalies offers higher-probability opportunities to discover potential new porphyry centers.
“Achieving active drilling at the Whistler Orbit targets is an exciting milestone for our team and our stakeholders. With the recent release of the PEA, our focus now shifts to seeking to unlock the large upside exploration potential of the district,” said Tim Smith, chief executive officer of U.S. GoldMining.
“By targeting the Whistler Orbit right out of the gate, we are aggressively hunting for the next major porphyry center potentially situated right next door to our primary Whistler deposit. The 2026 program is fully funded to drill a minimum of 6,000 meters of core to test the highest-ranked eight to 10 targets within the Whistler Orbit. We have safely executed our mobilization ahead of schedule, our camp is fully active, and we look forward to providing the market with updates and assay results as we advance the program.”
The Whistler Orbit represents a classic “porphyry cluster” spanning a 7.5- by 4.5-km area. The technical team has systematically delineated more than 25 individual exploration targets by stacking multiple lines of evidence, including geological mapping, geophysical surveying, and geochemical vectors, to prioritize the highest-ranked targets for drill testing.
The start of drilling propels U.S. GoldMining into a catalyst-rich phase, designed to build upon the recent Whistler initial economic assessment. The company anticipates releasing the first batches of assay results by the end of the third quarter, subject to laboratory turnaround times.
Source: U.S. GoldMining