Excavator reveals mineralized material continues beyond Castle Mine limits
July 16, 2025 - TheNewswire -- Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. (TSX-V: NTH | OTCQB: CCWOF | FRANKFURT: 4T9B) ("Nord" or the "Company") today released video documentation of ongoing excavation work at its Castle Silver Mine property, capturing the moment crews reached Test Pit 68, which is the deepest and most revealing excavation to date in the Company's systematic exploration of legacy tailings deposits.
View the excavation video here
The footage, shot at the property boundary, 140 meters from the historic headframe, shows the Company's 45-tonne excavator extracting 2-cubic-meter samples, each bucket hauling between 5 and 10 tonnes of century-old tailings depending on moisture content. What makes Test Pit 68 particularly intriguing is its location: at the very edge of Nord's mining claims, where tailings continue beyond both the excavator's five-meter reach and the property line itself.
"The systematic mapping of these deposits is revealing a more extensive resource than historical records indicated," stated Frank J. Basa, B.Eng., CEO. "Test Pit 68 confirms that tailings migration extends to our property boundaries and likely beyond. Our technical team is now focused on determining the precise origin of this material. Previous tailings from Miller Creek has shown grades up to 18,486 g/t silver in flotation concentrates from our metallurgical test work."
Operational Progress
The excavation program has uncovered critical infrastructure insights. The area initially designated for gravity circuit installation sits atop historical tailings rather than bedrock as originally mapped. This discovery transforms site preparation into resource delineation, with each test pit providing both geotechnical data and potential feed material. The Company has confirmed an alternate location where Nord successfully operated a pilot plant in previous campaigns, providing proven ground conditions and established access for the planned modular facility.
The video captures the systematic approach: precision excavation within defined parameters, comprehensive documentation of stratified layers, and methodical sample collection for metallurgical characterization. The visual documentation provides stakeholders with direct observation of field operations and material handling procedures.
Strategic Implications
The discovery of extensive tailings deposits at property boundaries presents both opportunity and complexity. The confirmation that high-grade material extends beyond previously mapped areas suggests the resource footprint exceeds initial estimates substantially.
With the Company's Recovery Permit proceeding on schedule following selection of the gravity plant location, discoveries enhance the project's near-term potential. The newly delineated material could be incorporated into the initial permit scope, potentially strengthening project economics from commencement of operations.
Figure 1: Aerial view of the designated gravity circuit location at Castle Mine, where Nord previously operated a successful pilot plant. The modular processing facility will handle both Miller Creek tailings and newly discovered deposits.
Next Steps
Nord will continue test pit exploration to property boundaries, with particular focus on determining the source of migrating tailings. The Company's technical team is developing a three-dimensional model that will include tailings distribution data, integrating historical mine plans with current excavation results.
The Test Pit 68 video demonstrates the Company's systematic approach to resource evaluation and infrastructure development. As exploration continues, each excavation provides valuable data that informs both immediate operational planning and long-term district development strategy.
Qualified person
The technical information in this news release was approved and prepared under the supervision of Mr. Frank J. Basa, B.Eng., (PEO), director of Nord Precious Metals, a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101.
About Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc.
Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. operates the only permitted high-grade milling facility in the historic Cobalt Camp of Ontario, where the Company has established a unique position integrating high-grade silver discovery with strategic metals recovery operations. The Company's flagship Castle property encompasses 63 sq. km of exploration ground and the past-producing Castle Mine, complemented by the Castle East discovery where drilling has delineated 7.56 million ounces of silver in Inferred resources grading an average of 8,582 g/t Ag (250.2 oz/ton) in 27,400 tonnes of material from two sections (1A and 1B) of the Castle East Robinson Zone, beginning at a vertical depth of approximately 400 meters. Note that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Please refer to the Nord Precious Metals Press Release May 27, 2020, for the resource estimate.
Nord's integrated processing strategy leverages the synergistic value of multiple metals. High-grade silver recovery supports the economics of extracting critical minerals including cobalt, nickel, and other battery metals, while the Company's proprietary Re-2Ox hydrometallurgical process enables production of technical-grade cobalt sulphate and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) formulations. This multi-metal approach, combined with established infrastructure including TTL Laboratories and underground mine access, positions Nord to capitalize on both precious metals markets and the growing demand for battery materials.
The Company maintains a strategic portfolio of battery metals properties in Northern Quebec through its 35% ownership in Coniagas Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: COS) as well as the St. Denis-Sangster lithium project comprising 260 square kilometers of prospective ground near Cochrane, Ontario.
More information is available at www.nordpreciousmetals.com.
“Frank J. Basa”
Frank J. Basa, P. Eng.
Chief Executive Officer
For further information, contact:
Frank J. Basa, P.Eng.
Chief Executive Officer
416-625-2342
or:
Wayne Cheveldayoff,
Corporate Communications
P: 416-710-2410
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information in this news release or other communications unless required by law.
