Blende Silver Corp. (TSX.V: BAG) (OTC: BAGGF) announced that the Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources has granted a Class 3 Quartz Mining Land Use Approval for its 100%-owned Blende Silver-Zinc-Lead Project. The approval, effective July 13, 2026, and valid through July 12, 2031, covers all 260 quartz claims and is the final major permit needed for the company's multi-year exploration programs.
The five-year permit allows diamond drilling across the project area, with an operating season from February 1 to September 15 annually. It supports camp facilities for up to 50 persons, enabling up to 11,300 person days of work. A permitted airstrip (25,000 m²) will enhance air access, while 5 km of existing access roads can be upgraded and 2 km of new road constructed. Winter access via the Wind River Winter Road (two round trips per year) and on-site fuel storage further support sustained operations.
Andrew H. Rees, President and CEO, stated: “This approval is a major de-risking milestone for Blende Silver. With a five-year Class 3 permit in hand covering the entire claim package, the Company now has the regulatory certainty to plan and execute sustained, multi-season drill programs at what is the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in Yukon. The permitted airstrip and camp infrastructure will materially improve the efficiency and cost profile of our field operations.”
The Blende Project hosts the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in the Yukon, as noted in a 1995 Economic Geology paper by M. Robinson and C.I. Godwin. A mineral resource estimate prepared under National Instrument 43-101 was disclosed on May 20, 2021, and is reproduced in the original press release. The estimate used a 1.5% ZnEq cutoff and assumed silver at US$26/oz, zinc at US$1.30/lb, and lead at US$1.00/lb. However, metal prices have changed, and the estimate has not been updated. The Company has not re-estimated and expresses no view on current price effects. Historical exploration defined the East and West Zones, located about two kilometers apart.
With the approval, Blende Silver intends to plan and advance exploration programs over the coming seasons, subject to permit conditions and regulatory requirements. The company acknowledges the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, on whose traditional territory the project is located, and commits to responsible exploration, progressive reclamation, and compliance with all approval conditions.
The Blende property covers 5,345 hectares within the Keno Hill silver district, one of Canada's highest-grade historic silver-producing areas, currently advanced by Hecla Mining Company. More than $9.2 million in past exploration has been conducted, including 25,195 meters of drilling in 132 holes. The Class 3 approval marks a significant step toward resource growth and development.
