# Lode Gold Expands Fremont Mine Drill Program in California

**Published:** 2026-09-11T09:03:09.197Z  
**Topic:** Gold  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/a9498558-b179-4e67-afe8-afecb3efaafe

Lode Gold Resources is expanding its drill program at the Fremont gold mine in California to accelerate a 2027 pre-feasibility study for the brownfield site.

Lode Gold Resources has expanded its ongoing drill program at the Fremont Gold Mine in Mariposa County, California, adding four new drill pads to advance engineering and exploration objectives [1]. The move aims to streamline regulatory approvals and accelerate the company’s path toward a pre-feasibility study (PFS) targeted for completion in 2027 [1, 2].

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Project Location | Mariposa County, California |
| Primary Target | Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) |
| Target Completion | 2027 |
| Historical Grade | 10.7 g/t (pre-1942) |

## Advancing Technical Objectives
The expanded drilling scope incorporates two metallurgical core holes, designated PT-J 011 and PT-J 012, which are designed to collect high-quality samples to refine geometallurgical domain modeling [1]. These efforts follow a 2014 metallurgical report that indicated a 91% recovery rate, a figure the company is now working to validate through new testing [2]. Additionally, two vertical hydrogeological holes, HGD-002 and HGD-003, will undergo in-situ permeability testing to establish baseline parameters required for future mine planning [1].

Beyond engineering data, the new drill pads are positioned to test subsurface targets in areas currently lacking historical drilling data [1]. The Fremont site, which spans over 3,000 acres of private and patented land, was historically mined at 10.7 grams per ton before operations were suspended in 1942 due to wartime gold mining prohibitions [1, 2]. The project currently hosts an indicated resource of 1.16 million ounces at 1.90 g/t and an inferred resource of 2.02 million ounces at 2.22 g/t [1].

## Operational Strategy
The current work program is part of a broader effort to transition the project away from previous open-pit mine plans, which management noted did not resonate with investors [3]. The company is now evaluating bulk underground mining scenarios [3]. As part of the integrated 2026 exploration program, Lode Gold plans to relog over 20,000 meters of the 43,000 meters of historical core available at the site [3]. The drilling is being conducted by American Drilling Corp., a contractor engaged to mobilize personnel and equipment for the multi-phase exploration effort [3].

## What to watch
*   **PFS Progress:** Monitor updates regarding the 2027 pre-feasibility study, which serves as the primary benchmark for the project's economic viability [2, 3].
*   **Resource Upside:** Watch for results from the newly added step-out exploration pads, which are intended to test zones outside of current mineralization trends [1, 3].
*   **Regulatory Milestones:** Track the impact of the amended drill permit on operational timelines, as the company seeks to avoid regulatory friction during the exploration phase [1].

The success of the expanded program hinges on the company's ability to validate historical data and successfully model the underground potential of the Mother Lode Belt. Whether these technical objectives provide the necessary rigor to satisfy future feasibility-level engineering remains the central question for the project's development.

## Sources
1. Newswire — [Lode gold expands drill program at flagship fremont gold mine...](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/lode-gold-expands-drill-program-at-flagship-fremont-gold-mine-project-873994878.html)
2. Canadianminingjournal — [Metallurgical drilling underway at Fremont - Canadian Mining Journal](https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/news/metallurgical-drilling-underway-at-fremont/)
3. Newsfilecorp — [Lode Gold Engages Contractor to Initiate Drilling at Fremont Gold...](https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/305941/Lode-Gold-Engages-Contractor-to-Initiate-Drilling-at-Fremont-Gold-Mine)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Lode Gold Expands Fremont Mine Drill Program in California", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/a9498558-b179-4e67-afe8-afecb3efaafe