Sometimes the real value isn’t what you see at surface.

Key Concepts

• Epithermal Vein System: A geological deposit formed at shallow depths from hydrothermal fluids.
• Stockwork: A mineral deposit consisting of a complex network of small, branching veins.
• Carlin Trend: A highly productive gold mining district in Nevada, known for hosting massive, sediment-hosted gold deposits.
• Lower Plate Window: A geological feature where erosion has removed the "upper plate" (typically non-mineralized rock), exposing the "lower plate" (carbonate rocks) which are highly favorable for hosting gold.

Austin Gold: Project Overview

Austin Gold currently manages three primary exploration projects: two located in Nevada and one in Oregon. The company’s strategy focuses on identifying high-grade gold sources by analyzing surface indicators and regional geological structures.

1. Oregon Project: Epithermal Stockwork System

• Geological Characteristics: The project is defined as a classic epithermal vein-type system featuring a "stockwork" at the surface.
• The "Windshield" Analogy: The company describes the stockwork as a shattered windshield, where the cracks represent veinlets carrying gold values.
• Exploration Results: Previous drilling (conducted 1.5 years ago) yielded gold values of 8 to 9 grams over 2.5 to 4 feet.
• Strategic Objective: While the stockwork confirms the presence of gold, the company’s primary goal is to locate the "source"—the geological equivalent of the object that shattered the windshield. This source is hypothesized to be significantly larger and richer in gold grade.
• Future Timeline: A targeted drill program is scheduled for the summer of 2026 to locate this primary source.

2. Nevada Projects: The Long Mountain Focus

• Location: The Long Mountain project is situated approximately 20 miles east of the Carlin Trend and 10 miles south of Hair Canyon.
• Regional Significance: The Carlin Trend is identified as one of the top five richest gold districts globally, having produced over 100 million ounces of gold within a 40-kilometer stretch.
• Geological Framework: The company emphasizes the importance of "lower plate windows." In this region, gold deposits are almost exclusively found within or adjacent to these windows.
  • Mechanism: The "upper plate" sits atop "lower plate" rocks. Through erosion, the upper plate is breached, exposing the lower plate carbonate rocks.
  • Economic Importance: These exposed lower plate carbonate rocks are the primary hosts for the massive gold deposits characteristic of the Carlin Trend.

Synthesis and Conclusion

Austin Gold’s exploration strategy is rooted in structural geology and the identification of high-potential host rocks. In Oregon, the company is moving beyond surface-level stockwork mineralization to target the deeper, high-grade source of the system. In Nevada, the company is leveraging the proven geological model of the Carlin Trend, specifically targeting lower plate windows where carbonate rocks—the primary host for large-scale gold deposits—are exposed. The company’s roadmap includes a significant drilling campaign in 2026 to test these geological hypotheses.