Blende Silver Corp. (TSX.V: BAG) (OTC: BAGGF) announced that the Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources has granted a Class 3 Quartz Mining Land Use Approval for its 100%-owned Blende Silver-Zinc-Lead Project. The approval, effective July 13, 2026, and valid through July 12, 2031, covers all 260 quartz claims and is the final major permit required for the company to execute multi-year exploration programs.
President and CEO Andrew H. Rees emphasized the significance: "This approval is a major de-risking milestone for Blende Silver. With a five-year Class 3 permit in hand covering the entire claim package, the Company now has the regulatory certainty to plan and execute sustained, multi-season drill programs." The permit allows diamond drilling, camp facilities for up to 50 persons, a permitted airstrip, road upgrades, and winter access via the Wind River Winter Road.
The Blende Project hosts the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in Yukon, according to a 1995 Economic Geology study by M. Robinson and C.I. Godwin. A mineral resource estimate from May 2021, prepared by Sue Bird, P.Eng., of Moose Mountain Technical Services, reported resources at a 1.5% ZnEq cutoff using metal prices of US$26/oz silver, US$1.30/lb zinc, and US$1.00/lb lead. However, those prices have since changed, and the company has not updated the estimate. The deposit is located in the Keno Hill silver district, one of Canada's highest-grade historic silver-producing areas, currently being advanced by Hecla Mining Company.
The company plans to advance exploration programs over the coming seasons, combining the permit with district-scale targeting work with Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience. The property has seen over $9.2 million in past exploration, including 25,195 meters of drilling in 132 holes. The approval includes conditions for environmental protection, wildlife, and heritage, and the company acknowledged the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, on whose traditional territory the project is located.
This development is important for the Yukon mining industry, as it provides a clear pathway for advancing one of the territory's largest undeveloped silver-zinc-lead deposits. The five-year permit reduces regulatory uncertainty, allowing Blende Silver to plan long-term drilling and infrastructure improvements that could lead to resource growth. For investors, the approval signals project de-risking and potential value creation. The company's focus on responsible exploration and reclamation aligns with modern mining standards.
