Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd. (TSXV: OMM) (OTCQB: OMMSF) has provided a program update for its Wingdam Underground Paleoplacer Gold Recovery Project in the Cariboo Mining District of south-central British Columbia. The company reports that underground development and stabilization work in crosscut #2 has resulted in the recovery of substantial quantities of placer gold.
Mining partner D&L Mining completed preparation of crosscut #2 for advance across the paleochannel and through the pay gravel zone, encountering significant gold. The company is awaiting approval from the BC Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals to continue using the current mining method—grouted spiling and shotcrete arch ground support designed by the Engineer-of-Record, MineTech International Limited.
In a significant development, Omineca announced receipt of a formal letter of support from the Lhtako Dene Nation (Red Bluff Indian Band), addressed to the British Columbia government. Chief Clifford Lebrun expressed the Nation's backing for the Wingdam Project, reflecting positive long-standing consultation and relationship between the company and the Nation.
The Wingdam project aims for full-scale recovery of high-grade placer gold from a paleochannel buried approximately 50 metres beneath Lightning Creek. The project's economic potential was demonstrated in 2012 when a bulk sample from a single crosscut recovered 173.4 ounces of placer gold. The underground project covers more than 15 linear kilometres of placer claims and sits within Omineca's larger land package exceeding 600 square kilometres.
During the 2026 operating season, D&L Mining has made steady progress using the engineered ground stabilization method. The company changed from cementitious grout to an epoxy-based chemical grout, which sets in less than an hour compared to one day for cement, and is immune to water infiltration. This has proven highly effective in the complex, water-bearing ground conditions beneath Lightning Creek valley. Click here to see more video and photos of Crosscut #2.
Operations temporarily shifted to crosscut #2 due to high spring freshet water inflows through drill holes near crosscut #3A. Work will resume in that area at a future date. Once safe tunneling and gold recovery across the paleochannel from multiple locations is demonstrated, Omineca intends to file its Five-Year Mine Plan for full development along the initially indicated 1.4 kilometres of paleochannel.
Omineca is committed to responsible resource development and creating lasting benefits for the Lhtako Dene Nation and the broader Cariboo region. The company looks forward to continued collaboration with Chief Lebrun and Council as the project progresses. All scientific and technical information in this release has been prepared or approved by Stephen Kocsis, PGeo, an independent qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.
