Northstar Gold drilling Cam Copper Mine Project, Ontario

Northstar Gold Corp. [CSE: NSG] has commenced a definition diamond drill program at its 100%-owned, historic high-grade Cam Copper Mine, situated 18 km southeast of Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The company has commissioned Forage Wawatay — RJLL Inc. to conduct a 1,200m definition drill program on the high-grade Zone 2 VMS copper lens to facilitate a NI 43-101 Resource Estimate and Technical Report by project affiliate Micon International Limited.

“The Cam Copper Zone 2 definition drill program, together with the forthcoming NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report, represents a key milestone toward advancing mine permitting and enabling near-term, turnkey surgical mining of Zone 2 by our project partner, Novamera Inc.,” stated Brian P. Fowler, P.Geo., President, CEO and Director of Northstar Gold.

Northstar is positioning to employ Novamera’s turnkey precision-mining solution to extract approximately 120,000 tonnes of copper-rich material from Zone 2 at the Cam Copper Project over a 31-month pilot window, using proprietary real-time downhole imaging, robotic drilling, and immediate backfilling to minimize surface disturbance and water discharge. Novamera recently completed a production deployment in Newfoundland that validated several key metrics and core technologies required for commercial Surgical Mining.

The previously signed Surgical Mining Services Agreement and Master Project Agreement with Novamera, DIGITAL and Micon International Limited are based on Novamera’s positive “Zone 2 Proposed Development and Surgical Mining Evaluation Study.” That study evaluated Northstar’s near surface Zone 2 Exploration Target with tonnages ranging between 75,000 to 140,000 tonnes with grades ranging between 9% and 18% copper, with a conceptual average grade of 12% copper.

The Cam Copper Mine Zone 2 is interpreted to contain copper-rich, Besshi-style volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization—primarily chalcopyrite and bornite—extending from surface to a depth of approximately 200 metres, over a strike length of approximately 125 metres and an average width of 1 metre. The high-grade mineralization remains open at depth, plunging southeast at -71 degrees along a well-defined VMS feeder structure.

Zone 2 is the largest of three narrow, steeply-dipping tabular copper horizons with an historic estimate by a previous operator averaging 10% copper over a 0.85-metre true width, 42-metre strike length and a minimum 140-metre depth extent from surface. Northstar’s 2023 and 2024 Zone 2 drilling (7 holes), including an intercept of 14.8% copper over 2.45 metres in drill hole CC-03-23, and Zone 2 Exploration Target results corroborate these historic estimates. Novamera’s Surgical Mining is well-suited to exploit Zone 2 copper mineralization with minimal mining dilution and environmental impact.

Novamera’s innovative and proven, Surgical Mining approach—featuring real-time reclamation and minimal water discharge can potentially streamline the regulatory pathway and accelerate project timelines. This is facilitated by rotary drilling large-diameter holes from the surface, targeting Zone 2 copper mineralization. The resulting broken rock is recovered and shipped directly to a nearby mill for processing. The process comprises data-driven hardware and software solutions that guide the drilling process and minimize dilution. Once drilled, the holes can be immediately reclaimed to provide structural support to the mine with a minimal environmental footprint on surface.

Northstar and Novamera have entered into a strategic agreement for the Cam Copper Project, with due diligence and implementation planning underway over the next several months. Novamera will earn a 5% revenue share from the project. With a low upfront capital requirement of approximately US $1.5 million and the remainder of project capital costs structured off-balance sheet, Novamera’s approach offers an attractive risk-adjusted return profile.

The definitive Northstar-Novamera agreement provides for the extraction of approximately 116,000 tonnes of high-grade copper material from the near-surface Zone 2 VMS horizon over an estimated 31 months, using Novamera’s precision large-diameter drilling system with real-time downhole imaging and data analytics.

The program is designed to demonstrate a low-impact, data-driven approach to copper recovery that reduces CAPEX, accelerates time-to-cash flow, and minimizes surface disturbance.

Northstar will commission a NI 43-101-compliant Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate and conduct metallurgical studies to establish Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction prior to any production decision.

Northstar’s focus is to advance and expand the near-surface Allied Gold Zone and high-grade Cam Copper VMS deposits on its 100 %-owned Miller Copper-Gold Property near Kirkland Lake. The company is targeting a +1 Moz gold/high-grade copper resource base capable of supporting regional or stand-alone production.

Northstar has three additional 100%-owned exploration projects in northern Ontario, including the 1,150 ha Rosegrove Property 0.5 km from the Miller Property, the 4,650 ha Bryce Gold Property (includes the recently optioned Britcanna Lease), an intrusive-gold/PME VMS project located along the projected east extension of the Ridout Break, and the Temagami-Milestone Cu-Ni-Co Critical Minerals Property located in Strathcona Township. Northstar is seeking exploration partners to advance all 3 properties.

Northstar’s primary exploration focus is to advance and expand the near-surface, Allied Gold Zone bulk-tonnage gold-telluride deposit and more recently discovered VMS copper mineral deposits on the company’s flagship, 100%-owned Miller Copper-Gold Property. The company’s strategy is to develop a material (+1M oz gold/high-grade copper) mineral resource base to supplement a nearby mining operation or support stand-alone mining operations at the property.