Sun Summit Minerals Corp. has reported assay results from the first 13 drill holes of its 2026 program at the Creek Zone, part of the JD Project in north-central British Columbia's Toodoggone Mining District. The results include a highlight intercept of 23.5 metres grading 4.35 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, which itself contains a higher-grade section of 4.50 metres at 21.8 g/t gold. The drilling has extended gold mineralisation approximately 100 metres along strike to the northwest, where the zone remains open.
Drilling program and results
The 2026 drill program at the JD Project comprised 16,000 metres across 55 holes targeting the Creek, Finn and Schmitt zones. At the Creek Zone, 21 holes for about 7,400 metres were completed, covering an area roughly 650 by 300 metres to a vertical depth of around 350 metres. The first 13 holes reported today total 5,017 metres. Four of these were step-out holes that tested the northwest strike extension of the modelled structural corridor and returned high-grade and bulk-tonnage style gold mineralisation similar to that intersected 100 metres to the southeast in 2025.
Other notable intercepts from the batch include 31.98 metres of 0.81 g/t gold (with 3.64 g/t silver) and 32.5 metres of 3.02 g/t gold (with 2.53 g/t silver) in hole CZ-26-032, as well as 26.6 metres of 3.23 g/t gold (with 11.62 g/t silver) in hole CZ-26-031. One interval containing visible gold returned 90.6 g/t gold and 15.45 g/t silver over 0.55 metres.
Geological setting and mineralisation style
The mineralisation at the Creek Zone is hosted in a bedded sequence of intermediate volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks interpreted to lie within the lower sequence of the Metsantan Member of the Early Jurassic Toodoggone formation. Higher-grade gold occurs in epithermal-related, locally banded quartz-carbonate veins, veinlets and sulfide-cemented breccias with strong potassium feldspar alteration halos. Vein-hosted sulfides include pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. Bulk-tonnage mineralisation is associated with pervasive sericite-chlorite-hematite alteration with disseminated pyrite adjacent to vein-related potassic alteration.
The company described the scale and intensity of alteration as highly encouraging for the style of epithermal system being tested. The new results, combined with data from 2024 and 2025, support the interpretation of grade continuity within the Creek Zone.
Implications for resource estimate
Sun Summit is using the 2026 drilling to establish inaugural mineral resource estimates for the Creek, Finn and Schmitt zones, as well as to explore the lateral and vertical extents of near-surface, epithermal-related gold-silver-base metal mineralisation. The company plans to deliver a mineral resource estimate in the first quarter of 2027. Assay results from the remaining 42 holes of the 16,000-metre program are still pending.
CEO Niel Marotta noted that the third drilling campaign at the Creek Zone demonstrates the scale of the mineralised hydrothermal system and provides a clear path toward expanding the zone. He added that the strong grade continuity across drill fences builds confidence that the mineralisation remains open along strike and is consistent with previous results. These findings will help refine the geological model and inform the upcoming resource estimate.
Key takeaways
- First 13 holes of 2026 drilling at Creek Zone return 23.5m at 4.35 g/t gold, including 4.5m at 21.8 g/t gold.
- Step-out drilling extends high-grade and bulk-tonnage mineralisation 100m along strike to the northwest; zone remains open.
- Visible gold interval assayed 90.6 g/t gold over 0.55m.
- Results support planned inaugural mineral resource estimate for Q1 2027; assays from 42 more holes awaited.
Common questions
What is the JD Project?
The JD Project is a gold-silver-base metal exploration project located in the Toodoggone Mining District of north-central British Columbia, Canada. It is owned by Sun Summit Minerals Corp. and hosts several zones of epithermal-related mineralisation, including Creek, Finn and Schmitt.
What does 'epithermal' mean in gold exploration?
Epithermal refers to a type of hydrothermal mineral deposit formed at relatively shallow depths and low to moderate temperatures (typically 50–300°C). Gold in epithermal systems often occurs in quartz veins, stockworks and breccias, and can produce both high-grade and bulk-tonnage mineralisation.
When will the full 2026 drill results be released?
Sun Summit expects to receive assays from the remaining 42 holes over the coming weeks and will provide updates as they become available. The company plans to use all 2026 data to produce a mineral resource estimate in Q1 2027.
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