Upside Gold Corp. has released preliminary results from its initial diamond drilling program at the Kena Gold-Copper Property in southeastern British Columbia, intersecting multiple wide zones of near-surface gold mineralization. The first phase of drilling, comprising 1,002 metres across three diamond drill holes, was designed to test the northeast margin of the Kena lode gold zone and was paused in November due to snow conditions, with operations expected to resume in June.
The drilling intersected broad zones of significant gold mineralization starting from shallow depths, with one notable intersection of 178 metres from 15 metres depth grading 0.36 grams per tonne gold, 1.8 grams per tonne silver, and 534 parts per million copper. These results demonstrate the width and continuity of gold mineralization along the northeastern margin, with grades comparable to the Kena Historic Resource. Future drilling will continue to test targets to the northeast, as well as additional priority targets to the southwest down dip and southeast along strike, extending beyond the boundaries of the historical resource estimate.
The significance of these findings lies in their potential to advance the understanding and development of a substantial gold resource in a region with established mining history. The Kena Project hosts a historical gold resource comprising an Indicated Mineral Resource of 32,146,000 tonnes at 0.544 g/t Au for 0.561 million ounces of gold, and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 177,507,000 tonnes at 0.486 g/t Au for 2.77 million ounces of gold, as detailed in the technical report entitled NI 43-101 Resource Estimate for the Kena and Daylight Properties prepared by Sue Bird, P.Eng. of Moose Mountain Technical Services. However, a Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources, and additional drilling is required to upgrade the historical estimate.
For investors and the mining industry, these initial results provide tangible evidence of mineralization continuity and grade consistency, which are critical factors in resource definition and eventual economic assessment. The presence of elevated copper and silver values alongside gold adds potential economic complexity and value to the mineralization. The program's technical rigor is supported by quality assurance protocols, with drill core samples analyzed at ALS Canada Ltd., an independent accredited laboratory conforming to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards, as detailed on their website at https://www.alsglobal.com.
The implications of successful continued exploration at Kena extend beyond the company to the regional economy of southeastern British Columbia and the broader Canadian mining sector. Confirmation and expansion of the historical resource could lead to increased investment, job creation, and infrastructure development in the area. For global commodities markets, the addition of a new, significant gold resource in a stable jurisdiction like Canada contributes to supply diversification and security. The company's progress can be monitored through regulatory filings available on SEDAR, where the original technical report is filed.
Trevor Boyd, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for Upside Gold and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 standards, has reviewed and approved the technical information in the report. The company emphasizes that the historical resource estimate is provided for information purposes only and should not be relied upon, as additional drilling is needed to upgrade it to current mineral resource status. The forward-looking nature of exploration means results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, but these initial findings mark a positive step in systematically advancing the Kena Gold-Copper Project through evidence-based exploration.
