Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd. has provided an operational update for its Wingdam underground paleoplacer gold project in British Columbia's Cariboo Mining District, reporting that mining contractor D&L Mining has successfully managed challenging ground conditions and resumed operations with expectations of accelerated progress and increased gold recovery.
Following a holiday break, tunneling and placer recovery operations recommenced at crosscut 3A. Additional time was required to tunnel through a fault zone at the channel periphery, where modified grout formulations and spiling patterns were successfully implemented. This allowed operations to return to standard tunneling and excavation procedures. With the faulted ground conditions now safely managed, D&L anticipates tunneling and excavation will proceed at an increased pace within the more competent compacted sand and gravel of the channel interior.
As anticipated, pay gravels excavated from the initial advance into the channel interior have yielded increasing amounts of placer gold and nuggets compared to the earlier bedrock contact zone. Placer gold recoveries will be fully tabulated, subject to quality assurance and quality control by a qualified person, and reported as the crosscut progresses through the central main placer gold target and through to the opposite side of the channel.
Separate from the underground placer project, approximately 3,500 meters of core from six holes drilled during the 2025 winter drill program has been logged, split, and sent for assay. Results will be reported once received, with a follow-up drill program to be designed based on these findings. All scientific and technical information in the update has been prepared or approved by independent qualified person Stephen Kocsis, P.Geo., in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 standards.
The operational progress is significant for investors and the mining sector as it demonstrates the company's ability to navigate geological challenges and advance toward the project's core gold-bearing zone. The transition into the channel interior, where higher gold yields are already being observed, suggests potential for improved economic returns from the project. This development could impact the valuation of Omineca and contribute to the broader understanding of paleoplacer deposits in the region. The company's use of specialized equipment like the Brokk Electric Demolition Robot and Scooptram highlights modern mining techniques being applied to historical placer deposits. The forthcoming assay results from the exploration program may provide additional insights into the hard rock sources of the placer gold, potentially revealing broader mineralization on the property.
