Lahontan Gold Launches 2025 Exploration Program at Nevada's Santa Fe Mine

Lahontan Gold Corp. has commenced its 2025 drilling program at the Santa Fe Mine project located in Nevada's Walker Lane region. The company has strategically positioned a reverse-circulation drill rig and support equipment to begin exploration activities targeting the Slab target area. The initial drilling phase will first focus on patented claims, with plans to expand onto Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered land pending regulatory approval. The primary objectives of this program include expanding known gold and silver resources at the Slab and York targets while collecting additional sample material for comprehensive metallurgical testing.

The Santa Fe Mine project has a significant historical production record, having previously yielded 359,202 ounces of gold and 702,067 ounces of silver between 1988 and 1995 through open pit mining and heap-leach processing. Current mineral resource estimates indicate an Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,539,000 ounces of gold equivalent and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 411,000 ounces of gold equivalent. This substantial resource base provides a strong foundation for the current exploration program and potential future development scenarios.

Exploration results are anticipated within four to six weeks, with initial assay results expected to provide insights into the potential expansion of the project's mineral resources. The timing of these results coincides with a period of renewed interest in gold exploration in established mining districts, particularly in Nevada's prolific Walker Lane region. This drilling program represents a critical step in Lahontan Gold's strategy to advance the Santa Fe Mine project towards potential future production.

The strategic importance of this drilling campaign extends beyond immediate resource expansion. The metallurgical testing component will provide crucial data on ore processing characteristics, which could influence future extraction methods and economic viability assessments. The combination of resource expansion drilling and metallurgical sampling represents a comprehensive approach to project advancement that addresses both quantity and quality of the mineralized material.

The Santa Fe Mine's location in the Walker Lane region places it within one of North America's most productive mineral belts, known for hosting numerous significant gold and silver deposits. The project's historical production credentials combined with substantial existing resources position it as a compelling exploration target with development potential. The current drilling program aims to build upon this established foundation through systematic exploration of priority targets identified through previous geological work and modeling.