Distributed on behalf of Trident Resources Corp.
Gold rallied about 65% higher in 2025, its strongest showing in years. Now, after pulling back to about $4,800, it’s creating another opportunity. In fact, according to analysts at UBS, the metal could rally to $6,200 by mid-year with geopolitical tensions, two potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve by September, further and central bank buying. That’s all creating big opportunity for stocks, such as Trident Resources Corp. (TSXV: ROCK) (OTCQB: TRDTF), Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM), Barrick Mining (NYSE: B) (TSX: ABX), Franco-Nevada (NYSE: FNV), and Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC) (TSX: K).
In addition, as noted by GoldSilver.com, “After hitting highs above $5,000 earlier this year, gold has corrected to around $4,400. UBS analysts see this as consistent with a pattern that preceded last year’s historic 65% surge. Sustained consolidation has historically preceded significant upward moves in gold. The structural drivers, in UBS’s view, remain intact.”
Look at Trident Resources Corp. (TSXV: ROCK) (OTCQB: TRDTF), For Example
Trident Resources Corp. just announced assay results for the first 9 (nine) diamond drill holes from the ongoing 2026 winter drill program at the Contact Lake Gold Project in northern Saskatchewan. Hole CL26028 returned high-grade gold values from numerous broad zones within the Bakos Shear zone. This mineralization was discovered over 200m ENE from high-grade gold reported in hole CL25003 from Trident’s 2025 fall drill program (previously reported CL 25003 intersected 7.03 g/t over 43.25m from 121.00m; Trident Resources Corp. - News). The Company has decided to increase this winter phase of drilling from 10,000m to 13,000m.
Trident’s Regional Project Location Map:
https://www.tridentresourcescorp.com/projects/contact-lake-gold-project/#&gid=1&pid=1
The consistency of broad mineralized intervals, together with well-developed high-grade cores, demonstrates Contact Lake is hosting a laterally and vertically extensive gold system rather than a collection of isolated intercepts. The emerging scale and continuity of mineralization confirm the presence of a robust, cohesive gold system that remains open in all directions.
Contact Lake Gold Property Map:
http://www.tridentresourcescorp.com/_resources/maps/contact-lake-property-map.jpg
Highlights:
- Hole CL26028 returned 4.61 g/t gold (Au) over 38.48m from 77.00m
- including 5.48 g/t Au over 26.14m from 79.36m
- including 19.98 g/t Au over 5.15m from 79.36m
- including 33.16 g/t Au over 1.89m from 79.36m
- In a separate shallower zone, hole CL26028 returned 19.07 g/t Au over 4.25m from 60.00m
- Hole CL26025 returned 11.97 g/t Au over 10.70m from 324.30m
- including 39.26 g/t Au over 2.65m from 332.35m
· Hole CL26026 returned 8.18 g/t Au over 3.50m from 279.00m
- All nine holes reported intersected gold mineralization; assays are pending for
- twenty more holes from the Contact Lake program
- Based on the reported results thus far and visual inspection of drill core in holes with assays pending, the 2026 winter drill program has been expanded from a planned 10,000m to approximately 13,000m
· The Company is fully funded for additional aggressive drilling throughout the summer and fall of 2026
· The discovery of high-grade gold in hole CL25028 is crucial in that it represents an important advancement for testing future extensions of the mineralization both at depth and along strike
Jonathan Weisblatt, CEO and Director, stated: “We are extremely encouraged by these results, which continue to demonstrate the strength and continuity of the mineralized system at Contact Lake. Encountering additional high-grade mineralization both along strike and at depth reinforces our view that we are not dealing with isolated occurrences, but with a growing, cohesive gold system. The scale, geometry, and consistency emerging from our drilling are increasingly reminiscent of systems seen in proven gold belts in Canada and globally, and we believe Contact Lake is on a similar trajectory.”
“The most recent analytical results confirm that Contact Lake plays host to a robust mineralizing system that continues to return strong gold mineralization at distance along strike and down dip from the historical mine workings.”
“As we continue our winter drilling program, we are building on the exciting momentum established to date. Each new hole is sharpening our understanding of the geology, the controls on mineralization, and the broader characteristics of the Contact Lake system. With a strong balance sheet of more than $30 million, we are well positioned to execute one of the largest gold exploration program in the La Ronge Gold Belt in several decades. Our planned 30,000 to 40,000 metres of drilling in 2026 will allow us to aggressively test the systems, expand known mineralization, and unlock the full potential of this emerging gold deposit.”
Summary of Drilling:
The first seven holes of the 2026 winter program were drilled from land-based locations along the low-density drill corridor located immediately northeast of the existing underground mining infrastructure. However, the majority of the 2026 winter drill program will test for the extension of gold mineralization at the BK3 zone, an area located to the northeast below Contact Lake.
Highlight hole CL26025 returned high-grade gold mineralization, including 11.97 g/t Au over 10.70m, from two separate splays of the Bakos Shear zone, both of which show higher grade cores within broad zones of substantial mineralization and alteration. Combined with hole CL26024, hole CL26025 successfully extended the high-grade M-zone gold mineralization toward the BK3 zone, located roughly 65m toward the northeast.
Holes CL260027 through CL26048 (22 drillholes) were all collared on the ice in order to thoroughly test the extents of the gold mineralization present at BK3. Trident will continue to explore and drill test in a systematic manner as the team looks to expand on and discover additional high-grade gold zones.
Contact Lake Drill Collar Location Map:
https://www.tridentresourcescorp.com/_resources/images/Contact-Lake-Drill-Collar-Location-Ma p.png
Detailed Description of the Drill Holes:
Holes CL26020 (354o/-45o) and CL26021 (354/-53o) were collared from the same pad along the northeast corridor between the underground mine infrastructure and the lakeshore. Both holes were designed to test for mineralization at depth in an area with very little historical subsurface information. Both holes encountered isolated metre-scale gold intervals that ranged from detection limit to ~4 g/t Au.
Plan View of the Contact Lake Drilling in Fall of 2025:
https://www.tridentresourcescorp.com/_resources/images/Plan-View-of-the-Contact-Lake-Drillin g-in-Fall-of-2025.png
Hole CL26022 (11o/-48o) was collared from a location near the first three holes of the 2025 fall program but angled to transect the known area of mineralization through an area devoid of previous drill data. The hole returned a shallow zone of mineralization (2.14 g/t Au over 19.0m between 52.0-71.0m depth) which included a 15.0m zone that returned 2.57 g/t Au (56.0-71.0m) and 6.0m grading 3.86 g/t Au between 65.0-71.0m. A second shear zone located below the upper shear returned 4.53 g/t Au over 3.0m between 117.0-120.0m depth.
Hole CL26023 (348o/-51o) was collared adjacent to hole CL25008 but angled more NNE to test for mineralization within an area that lacks previous drill data. At the top of the Bakos shear, a 4.0m interval returned 2.48 g/t Au between 142.0-146.0m. A second mineralized zone was encountered below the main shear which returned numerous values >1.5 g/t Au.
Hole CL26024 (350o/-60o) was collared 15m southeast of holes CL25006 and CL25007, which successfully extended high-grade gold mineralization northeast of the M-zone stope. Drilled at a -60o dip, hole CL26024 returned gold mineralization from three distinct zones: 2.45 g/t Au over 6.0m (255.0-261.0m), 3.95 g/t Au over 3.0m (360.0-363.0m) and 2.48 g/t over 4.2m (480.8-485.0m). The mineralized zones in this hole correlate very well with the gold mineralization discovered in holes CK25006 and CL25007 and the lowermost intersection represents a new interval of gold mineralization located below the depth extent of either of the 2025 holes.
Hole CL26025 (351o/47o) was collared 20.0m forward of CL26024 and was drilled at a shallower dip to test for an up-plunge extension to the M-zone mineralization. Hole CL26025 returned a broad zone of mineralization between 213.3-248.0m (34.7m) that graded 1.34 g/t Au. This zone included higher grade intervals of 1.63 g/t Au over 23.5m (224.5-248.0m) and 1.95 g/t over 15.0m (233.0-248.0m). Notably, a high-grade zone was discovered between 324.3-335.0m (10.7m) that returned 11.97 g/t Au. This zone can be correlated to the gold zone near the bottom of hole CL26024 and featured a 102.00 g/t Au gold hit over 0.98m at 333.22m.
Hole CL26026 (349o/-47o) was collared 70m WNW of holes CL26024 and CL26025 to target an up-plunge western extension of gold mineralization in the M-zone and to test an area that lacks historical drill data. This hole encountered mineralization in two parallel shear zones located northeast of the existing historical mine workings. The upper shear zone returned multiple low to moderate gold hits ranging from 1.0 to 3.5 g/t Au between 208.0-246.5m depth. The lower shear zone featured a broad zone of mineralization between 267.0-302.0m (35.0m) that returned a length-weighted average of 1.89 g/t Au, which included 3.97 g/t Au for 10.0m and 8.18 g/t Au over 3.5m, both starting at 279.0m downhole depth.
Hole CL26027 (336o/-65o) was the first hole of the 2026 drill program to be collared on the ice at Contact Lake. A 2.0m zone of shallow mineralization that graded 6.84 g/t Au between 49.0-51.0m was intersected in an upper shear zone. A secondary shear zone between 179.0-207.0m returned multiple 1 metre intercepts including 4.70 g/t, 3.05 g/t and 2.15 g/t Au.
Hole CL26028 (348o/-65o) was collared 250m ENE of highlight drillhole CL25003 from the 2025 program and returned multiple horizons of high-grade gold mineralization. CL26028 transected a 4.25m zone that returned 19.07 g/t Au between 60.00-64.25m and a wide horizon between 77.0-115.48m (38.48m) that returned an average of 4.61 g/t Au. Included within this broad zone were higher grade horizons that returned 5.48 g/t Au over 26.14m (79.36-105.5m) and 11.35 g/t over 10.0m (77.0-87.0m). The mineralization in hole CL26028 is notable as it demonstrates the presence of broad shear zones that host high-grade gold mineralization in the northeast part of the BK3 zone, over 200m outboard of the high-grade gold zones returned in the land-based hole CL25003.
Contact Lake Gold Project Overview:
The Contact Lake Gold Project covers approximately 22,790 hectares and includes the past-producing Contact Lake gold mine, which produced approx. 190,000 ounces of gold at an average head grade of 6.16 g/t Au during active mining operations between 1994 to 1998. At the time of mine closure, the price of gold hovered around $300/oz (USD) and Cameco Corporation reported that substantial gold resources were left unmined. Situated in the highly prospective La Ronge Gold Belt of Saskatchewan, the Contact Lake Property also hosts the Preview SW, Preview North and the North Lake orogenic gold deposits.
Along with the Greywacke North deposit (located by road 40km northeast of Contact Lake), these four deposits are wholly-owned by Trident Resources and host current Mineral Resource Estimates (Trident news release Trident Resources Corp. - News) which do not include any gold-related ounces from the past-producing Contact Lake target area.
Other related developments from around the markets include:
Newmont reported gold Mineral Reserves of 118.2 million attributable ounces at the end of 2025 compared to 134.1 million attributable ounces at the end of 2024, mainly driven by the divestment of assets in 2025. Newmont's portfolio includes significant reserves from other metals, including 12.5 million attributable tonnes of copper reserves and 442 million attributable ounces of silver reserves. "In 2025, Newmont maintained its position of having the industry's largest gold reserve base, declaring 118 million ounces of reserves, representing decades of production life with meaningful upside," said Natascha Viljoen, Newmont's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Through the disciplined application of technical rigor in our leading exploration program, we remain focused on extending mine life, discovering new opportunities, and unlocking value across our world-class portfolio of operations and projects."
Barrick provided an update on the status of the Reko Diq project. On February 5, 2026 the Company announced that it was reviewing all aspects of the project in light of the escalation of security risks and increased security incidents. Barrick continues to believe in the long-term value of Reko Diq. Following the preliminary findings of the review and the further escalation of security issues in Pakistan and the region, the Company considers it necessary to slow the development activity and continue the project review until mid-2027. The continued review will allow the Company to assess in a comprehensive manner the evolving security situation, capital requirements, project financing, project scope and timeline. While development activity will be slowed, the project will remain under active management with a reduced capital spend. Development of Phase 1 of the Reko Diq project was approved on this basis. Barrick recognizes its important role in the local community and intends to continue to invest in and honor its existing in-country community and social programs.
2025 was a record-breaking year for Franco-Nevada driven by higher precious metal prices and growing production. “We achieved the top end of our revised 2025 GEO guidance range thanks to a strong fourth quarter”, stated Paul Brink, CEO. “The record increase in our annual cash flow allowed us to announce a 16% dividend increase in January this year. 2025 joined 2024 as two of our best-ever years for capital deployment. That success has continued post year-end and we have announced four further attractive acquisitions, all of which add additional optionality and create real value for shareholders rather than simply adding scale. Our 2026 guidance and the five-year outlook point to a strong growth foundation and the tremendous amount of exploration capital expected to be spent by operators on projects in our deep royalty portfolio is set to provide powerful additional organic growth. A restart of Cobre Panama would add significant further growth, and the Panamanian Government's willingness to approve the processing of stockpiles is a positive step in that direction. With the industry’s largest portfolio of gold royalties, no debt and $3.1 billion in available capital we are uniquely positioned to continue to create shareholder value.”
Kinross Gold CEO J. Paul Rollinson said, “2025 marked another excellent year for Kinross. We met our guidance once again, delivered robust margins, and generated record free cash flow of $2.5 billion, an 85% increase year-over-year. We returned approximately $1.5 billion to debt and equity holders, and achieved an end-of-year net cash position of $1 billion, further strengthening our balance sheet. These results underscore the consistency of our operating portfolio and our rigorous focus on cost discipline. We recently announced that we are proceeding with three U.S.-based projects, Phase X, Curlew and Redbird, which together are expected to contribute over $4 billion of net asset value and extend mine lives. In addition to these U.S. projects, we will have meaningful catalysts in the coming year at both of our world class development projects - Great Bear and Lobo-Marte. We are carrying strong momentum into 2026 and are forecasting another strong year of production of approximately 2.0 million gold equivalent ounces. Our focus will be on margins and cash flow as we continue to hold the line on controllable costs while maintaining capital discipline as we execute on our grade enhancement strategy. We are planning to continue with our capital allocation strategy by reinvesting in our business, further strengthening our balance sheet, and returning capital to our shareholders. This includes investing an additional $350 million in our business and are targeting 40% of free cash flow to return of capital through both share buybacks and dividends. This includes increasing our quarterly dividend by 14%.”
Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Pursuant to an agreement Winning Media has been paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services for Trident Resources Corp. by Trident Resources Corp. We own ZERO shares of Trident Resources Corp. Please click here for disclaimer.
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