Work begins on a portal for i-80’s McCoy-Cove’s underground development
program.

The first stoping area has been defined and mining of the stope access to this area is now under way. The company remains on target to ramp up to production in 2022. Mined material will be stockpiled on-site in preparation for trucking to Nevada Gold Mines’ (NGM) nearby Twin Creeks facility.

The Granite Creek mine project hosts both open-pit and underground resources and is strategically located proximal to Nevada Gold Mines’ Twin Creeks and Turquoise Ridge mines at the north end of the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend at its intersection with the Getchell gold belt in Nevada. The underground deposit at Granite Creek represents one of the highest- grade gold deposits in North America with resource grades in excess of 10 grams per metric ton (g/mt) of gold.

“The interim processing arrangement with Nevada Gold Mines has allowed us to fast-track the development of the Granite Creek underground operation, such that it will become Nevada’s newest gold mine,” President and COO Matt Gili said.

i-80 Gold Corp. also announced that the underground, advanced-exploration, program at its McCoy-Cove property has commenced. Construction of the decline is now under way and the Phase 1 program will include construction of an initial level with multiple drill bays to provide access for upgrading resources. Approximately 40,000 meters (m) of underground defi- nition and expansion drilling is anticipated to commence in the second half of 2022 followed by a feasibility study anticipated to be completed in 2023. The Cove deposit is also a high grade gold deposit with grades in excess of 10 g/mt. The deposit remains open for expansion down-dip.

Ultimately, McCoy-Cove’s ore will be processed at the company’s recently acquired Lone Tree Complex, Gili explained. “With interim processing arrangements with Nevada Gold Mines, in addition to our autoclave, we have secured the required processing that will allow us to build our portfolio of high-grade projects including the Cove mine that is an important component in our growth plans,” Gili said. The McCoy-Cove Property is strategically located 84 km south (by road) of the Lone Tree Complex and immediately south of Nevada Gold Mines’ Phoenix mine within the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend.

In related news, i-80 reported first gold from residual heap leach operations at its Lone Tree and Ruby Hill projects. “This is a truly historic event for i-80,” said Matthew Gollat, executive vice president at i-80. “After less than a year in existence we have produced our first gold from ongoing residual leach projects while we continue to execute the development of several projects within our portfolio as planned with the goal of becoming a significant operator in the state of Nevada.”