i-80 Gold Reports Final Results from Archimedes Upper 426 Zone Program

i-80 Gold reported final Archimedes drill results with intercepts up to 16.2 g/t gold over 56.4m and remains on track for first gold in Q4 2026.
- The completed upper 426 zone infill drill program at Archimedes returned high-grade intercepts, including 16.2 grams per tonne gold over 56.4 metres, 21.9 grams per tonne gold over 20.2 metres, and 11 grams per tonne gold over 26.1 metres, while also extending mineralisation beyond the current Mineral Resource Estimate.
- Results from the upper 426 zone support the company's view that the deposit may continue to grow, with a larger drill program currently underway in the lower 426 zone and Ruby Deeps zone ahead of a planned feasibility study in 2027.
- Drilling intersected additional oxide mineralisation that is not included in the current Mineral Resource Estimate, and i-80 Gold is evaluating whether this material can be incorporated into future mine plans using Ruby Hill's heap-leach infrastructure and the refurbished Lone Tree Plant.
- The 2026 drilling campaign targets approximately 55,000 metres across 140 drill holes, with an updated Mineral Resource expected to incorporate roughly 65,000 metres of drilling to support future mineral reserve estimation.
- Archimedes remains on schedule for development, with mining above the 5,100-foot level fully permitted, construction advancing as planned, and first gold production still targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
Company Overview
i-80 Gold Corp. (NYSE American: IAUX | TSX: IAU) is a Nevada-focused mining company advancing a fully funded 3-phase development plan across a portfolio of high-grade, multi-stage gold projects. The Company is the 5th largest gold mineral resource holder in Nevada. i-80 Gold's hub-and-spoke regional processing strategy is centred on its central processing facility at the Lone Tree Complex, with operating and development assets at Granite Creek Underground, Archimedes Underground, Cove Underground, Granite Creek Open Pit, and Mineral Point Open Pit.
Archimedes Drill Results
i-80 Gold reported remaining assay results from the completed 2025-2026 infill drill campaign within the upper 426 zone of the Archimedes Underground Project, located on the Company's Ruby Hill property in northeastern Nevada. The completed infill campaign was designed to delineate the upper 426 zone at approximately 60-foot spacing in preparation for mining.
The 20 drill holes reported in this release returned intercepts including 16.2 grams per tonne gold over 56.4 metres, 21.9 grams per tonne gold over 20.2 metres, 11.0 grams per tonne gold over 26.1 metres, 7.3 grams per tonne gold over 33.1 metres and 5.4 grams per tonne gold over 56.5 metres, with true widths estimated at approximately 40% to 65% of core width. Results also extended mineralisation beyond the boundaries of the current Mineral Resource Estimate used to support the Archimedes Preliminary Economic Assessment filed March 31, 2025.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of i-80 Gold Corp., Paul Chawrun, commented:
"These drill results from the upper 426 zone at Archimedes are excellent, demonstrating significant widths and continuity of high-grade material that extends the known mineralised area. We expect the mineralisation at Archimedes to expand based on the latest results and as we advance a larger drill program currently underway within the lower 426 zone and Ruby Deeps zone, which is expected to be complete in advance of a planned feasibility study in 2027."
Oxide Mineralisation & Processing Options
Drilling also intersected oxide mineralisation not included in the current Mineral Resource Estimate, supporting the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). The company is evaluating whether this material can be incorporated into future mine plans using the existing heap-leach infrastructure at Ruby Hill and the processing options available through the Lone Tree Plant refurbishment.
Mineral Resource & 2026 Drilling Program
As of December 31, 2025, Archimedes hosts an Indicated Mineral Resource of 1.8 million tonnes containing 436,000 ounces of gold grading 7.6 grams per tonne and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 4.2 million tonnes containing 988,000 ounces of gold grading 7.3 grams per tonne. The majority of the current Mineral Resources are hosted in the Ruby Deeps zone, located below the deposit's 5,100-foot elevation and representing the primary target of the 2026 drill program.
An infill drilling program within the lower 426 zone and Ruby Deeps zone commenced in the second quarter of 2026, targeting approximately 55,000 metres across 140 drill holes in support of the planned Archimedes Feasibility Study (FS). The updated Mineral Resource is targeted to incorporate approximately 65,000 metres of drilling, primarily focused on supporting mineral reserve estimation.
Archimedes Development & Permitting
The Project is fully permitted for the area above the 5,100-foot level, where construction continues to advance on schedule. The PEA outlined an approximate 10-year mine life with average annual gold output of approximately 100,000 ounces following production ramp-up, per the Company's February 18, 2025 disclosure.
Permitting activities for the area below the 5,100-foot level are underway, with targeted completion by mid-2027. The planned start of mining above the 5,100-foot level is fully supported by existing permits and is not dependent on the timing or outcome of permitting activities below the 5,100-foot level.
Updated Technical Study Timing
The feasibility-level technical studies for Granite Creek Underground and Cove Underground have been extended from the second quarter of 2026 to the third quarter of 2026 as the company continues to optimise the sequencing of its development plan. Results and corresponding technical reports remain targeted for the third quarter of 2026.
Next Steps
The Archimedes infill drill program targeting approximately 55,000 metres across 140 drill holes remains underway in support of the planned Archimedes FS. First gold from Archimedes remains targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. Feasibility-level technical studies for Granite Creek Underground and Cove Underground remain targeted for completion and announcement in the third quarter of 2026, while the Archimedes FS is planned for completion in the late first quarter of 2027.
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