Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd. (TSXV: OMM) (OTCQB: OMMSF) has provided an update on its Wingdam Underground Paleoplacer Gold Recovery Project in south-central British Columbia, reporting that underground development in crosscut #2 has yielded substantial quantities of placer gold. The company is awaiting BC Ministry approval to advance across the paleochannel using a grouted spiling and shotcrete arch ground support method designed by the Engineer-of-Record.
In a significant development, the Lhtako Dene Nation (Red Bluff Indian Band) has submitted a formal letter of support for the Wingdam Project to the British Columbia government. This endorsement underscores the positive consultation and relationship between Omineca and the Nation, as the company pursues responsible resource development in the Cariboo region.
The Wingdam project, located 30 kilometres west of Barkerville along Lightning Creek, aims to recover high-grade placer gold from a paleochannel buried approximately 50 metres beneath the active creek. A 2012 bulk sample from a single crosscut recovered 173.4 ounces of placer gold, demonstrating the project's economic potential. The underground project covers more than 15 linear kilometres of placer claims within Omineca's 600-square-kilometre land package.
During the 2026 operating season, mining partner D&L Mining has made steady progress using the engineered ground stability program. Work temporarily shifted to crosscut #2 this spring due to high water inflows from freshet through drill holes near crosscut #3A. D&L has changed from cementitious grout to an epoxy-based chemical grout, which sets in less than an hour and is immune to water infiltration, proving highly effective in the variable ground conditions.
The company is awaiting BC Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals approval to continue crossing the paleochannel. Once safe crossing and gold recovery from multiple locations are demonstrated, Omineca intends to file its Five-Year Mine Plan for full development along the initially indicated 1.4 kilometres of paleochannel.
This project is important as it advances a potentially significant placer gold resource in British Columbia, with First Nations support that could facilitate regulatory approvals. The engineered ground support method and new grouting technique address challenging geological conditions, potentially enabling large-scale gold recovery. For the mining industry, success at Wingdam could demonstrate viable extraction methods for deep paleochannel deposits. For the reader, the project represents a major gold development in a historic mining district, with implications for local employment and economic benefits.
For more information, see the original press release at NewMediaWire.
