# Viva Gold Intersects a New High-Grade Gold Zone at Shallow Depths at its Tonopah Gold Project in Nevada Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/viva-gold-intersects-a-new-high-grade-gold-zone-at-shallow-depths-at-its-tonopah--6dc4b801-e9b0-4864-b289-a47a22c1f084 Original source: https://money.tmx.com/en/quote/VAU/news/7854155155180032/viva-gold-intersects-a-new-high-grade-gold-zone-at-shallow-depths-at-its-tonopah Publisher: tmx Original announcement: 2026-04-23T11:00:00.000Z Analysis by Minestarters Atlas Atlas analysis published: Unknown date Atlas analysis updated: Unknown date - Company: Viva Gold Corp - Ticker: VAU - Exchange: TSX - Region: Nevada - Primary commodity: Gold - Secondary commodities: None reported - Document categories: Drill results, Economic study, Metallurgy - Extracted: 2026-09-19 03:33:19 UTC Narrative sentiment: 0.60 · Bullish ## Minestarters Atlas summary Viva Gold has reported initial high-grade gold drill results from its 2026 RC program at the Tonopah Gold Project in Nevada, identifying new shallow mineralization zones. The company is also advancing its pre-feasibility study \(PFS\), with metallurgical testing suggesting potential for lower-cost coarse-crush heap leaching. Reasoning: The announcement reports encouraging new shallow high-grade drill intercepts that could improve early mining economics, alongside steady progress on the PFS and metallurgical optimization. - Positive factor: New high-grade gold zones identified at shallow depths - Positive factor: Drilling supports potential for starter-pit mineralization - Positive factor: Pre-feasibility study \(PFS\) on track for Q4 2026 completion - Positive factor: Metallurgical testwork suggests potential for coarser crush size and lower costs - Negative factor: Assay turnaround times have increased from 3 to 5-6 weeks - Negative factor: Results are partial for some holes \(TG2608\) Facts used in scoring: 7 ## Classification and evidence **Step-Out Extension** Polarity: positive Definition: Mineralization extended beyond the previously known limit. Why it applies: Drilling identified new zones of higher-grade mineralization in areas previously only sparsely drilled. Evidence · text > identified new areas of near surface, higher-grade mineralization **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: Release mentions use of blanks, standards, independent labs, and fire assay/ICP methods. Evidence · text > utilizes a well-documented system of inserting blanks and standards into the assay stream **Infill Drilling** Polarity: neutral Definition: Confirmatory drilling to raise resource confidence, not new discovery. Why it applies: The drill program focuses on expanding and infilling gold mineralization to upgrade resources. Evidence · text > The drill program focuses on expanding and infilling gold mineralization **Heap Leach Route** Polarity: neutral Definition: Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected. Why it applies: the document describes a heap\_leach route \("heap leach"\) **Single Domain Only** Polarity: negative Definition: Testing limited to one composite or domain — representativeness not established. Why it applies: only one composite was tested ## Extracted facts Stored fact records: 6. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record. ## Drill Results (5) ### TG2601 [Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/viva-gold-intersects-a-new-high-grade-gold-zone-at-shallow-depths-at-its-tonopah--6dc4b801-e9b0-4864-b289-a47a22c1f084#fact-drill-facts-0) Tonopah · gold #### Identity - Hole ID: TG2601 - Project: Tonopah - Commodity: gold - Region: usa\_nv - Reported Region: usa\_nv - Ticker: VAU #### Geometry - Grade: 1.3 - Grade Unit: g/t - Intercept: 22.9 m - From: 64 m - To: 86.9 m - Intercept Depth: 64 m #### Classification - Program: mixed - Sample Type: drill - Group ID: TG2601:64-86.9 - Mining Method: open\_pit #### QA/QC - Laboratory: American Assay Laboratories Inc. - QA/QC Disclosed: Yes - QP Signed: Yes - QA/QC Methods: standards, blanks #### Review - Needs Review: No - Interp. Status: scored - Historical: No #### Dates - Event date: 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z Reasoning: Solid intercept at shallow depth with a notable high-grade component. - Positive factor: Includes a high-grade sub-interval of 4.6 g/t Au Evidence · text > TG2601 : 22.9 meters \(m\) 1.3 grams per tonne \(g/t\) gold \(Au\) from 64 m depth, including 4.6 m @ 4.6 g/t Au #### Tags used in scoring **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: qaqc\_disclosed is true **Cut-off Undisclosed** Polarity: negative Definition: High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing. Why it applies: no cutoff\_grade was stated **Infill Drilling** Polarity: neutral Definition: Confirmatory drilling to raise resource confidence, not new discovery. Why it applies: drill\_program\_type is "mixed" **Nearology Play** Polarity: neutral Definition: Value premise rests on proximity to a known deposit rather than own results. Why it applies: proximity is offered as the value premise: "Exploration A total of 14,000 m of new Controlled Source Audio Frequency Magnetotellurics \(“CSAMT”\) surveying has been c" ### TG2601 [Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/viva-gold-intersects-a-new-high-grade-gold-zone-at-shallow-depths-at-its-tonopah--6dc4b801-e9b0-4864-b289-a47a22c1f084#fact-drill-facts-1) Tonopah · gold #### Identity - Hole ID: TG2601 - Project: Tonopah - Commodity: gold - Region: usa\_nv - Reported Region: usa\_nv - Ticker: VAU #### Geometry - Grade: 4.6 - Grade Unit: g/t - Intercept: 4.6 m #### Classification - Program: mixed - Sample Type: drill - Mining Method: open\_pit #### QA/QC - Laboratory: American Assay Laboratories Inc. - QA/QC Disclosed: Yes - QP Signed: Yes - QA/QC Methods: standards, blanks #### Review - Needs Review: No - Interp. Status: scored - Historical: No #### Dates - Event date: 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z Reasoning: Strong grade within the larger intercept. - Positive factor: High-grade sub-interval Evidence · text > including 4.6 m @ 4.6 g/t Au #### Tags used in scoring **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: qaqc\_disclosed is true **Cut-off Undisclosed** Polarity: negative Definition: High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing. Why it applies: no cutoff\_grade was stated **Infill Drilling** Polarity: neutral Definition: Confirmatory drilling to raise resource confidence, not new discovery. Why it applies: drill\_program\_type is "mixed" **Nearology Play** Polarity: neutral Definition: Value premise rests on proximity to a known deposit rather than own results. Why it applies: proximity is offered as the value premise: "Exploration A total of 14,000 m of new Controlled Source Audio Frequency Magnetotellurics \(“CSAMT”\) surveying has been c" ### TG2603 [Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/viva-gold-intersects-a-new-high-grade-gold-zone-at-shallow-depths-at-its-tonopah--6dc4b801-e9b0-4864-b289-a47a22c1f084#fact-drill-facts-2) Tonopah · gold #### Identity - Hole ID: TG2603 - Project: Tonopah - Commodity: gold - Region: usa\_nv - Reported Region: usa\_nv - Ticker: VAU #### Geometry - Grade: 1.2 - Grade Unit: g/t - Intercept: 15.2 m - From: 88.3 m - To: 103.5 m - Intercept Depth: 88.3 m #### Classification - Program: mixed - Sample Type: drill - Group ID: TG2603:88.3-103.5 - Mining Method: open\_pit #### QA/QC - Laboratory: American Assay Laboratories Inc. - QA/QC Disclosed: Yes - QP Signed: Yes - QA/QC Methods: standards, blanks #### Review - Needs Review: No - Interp. Status: scored - Historical: No #### Dates - Event date: 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z Reasoning: Moderate grade intercept at shallow depth. - Positive factor: Includes a 2.6 g/t Au sub-interval Evidence · text > TG2603 : 15.2 m @ 1.2 g/t Au from 88.3 m depth, including 3.0 m @ 2.6 g/t Au #### Tags used in scoring **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: qaqc\_disclosed is true **Cut-off Undisclosed** Polarity: negative Definition: High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing. Why it applies: no cutoff\_grade was stated **Infill Drilling** Polarity: neutral Definition: Confirmatory drilling to raise resource confidence, not new discovery. Why it applies: drill\_program\_type is "mixed" **Nearology Play** Polarity: neutral Definition: Value premise rests on proximity to a known deposit rather than own results. Why it applies: proximity is offered as the value premise: "Exploration A total of 14,000 m of new Controlled Source Audio Frequency Magnetotellurics \(“CSAMT”\) surveying has been c" ### TG2603 [Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/viva-gold-intersects-a-new-high-grade-gold-zone-at-shallow-depths-at-its-tonopah--6dc4b801-e9b0-4864-b289-a47a22c1f084#fact-drill-facts-3) Tonopah · gold #### Identity - Hole ID: TG2603 - Project: Tonopah - Commodity: gold - Region: usa\_nv - Reported Region: usa\_nv - Ticker: VAU #### Geometry - Grade: 2.6 - Grade Unit: g/t - Intercept: 3 m #### Classification - Program: mixed - Sample Type: drill - Mining Method: open\_pit #### QA/QC - Laboratory: American Assay Laboratories Inc. - QA/QC Disclosed: Yes - QP Signed: Yes - QA/QC Methods: standards, blanks #### Review - Needs Review: No - Interp. Status: scored - Historical: No #### Dates - Event date: 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z Reasoning: Good grade over a narrow interval. - Positive factor: High-grade sub-interval Evidence · text > including 3.0 m @ 2.6 g/t Au #### Tags used in scoring **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: qaqc\_disclosed is true **Cut-off Undisclosed** Polarity: negative Definition: High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing. Why it applies: no cutoff\_grade was stated **Infill Drilling** Polarity: neutral Definition: Confirmatory drilling to raise resource confidence, not new discovery. Why it applies: drill\_program\_type is "mixed" **Nearology Play** Polarity: neutral Definition: Value premise rests on proximity to a known deposit rather than own results. Why it applies: proximity is offered as the value premise: "Exploration A total of 14,000 m of new Controlled Source Audio Frequency Magnetotellurics \(“CSAMT”\) surveying has been c" ### TG2608 [Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/viva-gold-intersects-a-new-high-grade-gold-zone-at-shallow-depths-at-its-tonopah--6dc4b801-e9b0-4864-b289-a47a22c1f084#fact-drill-facts-4) Tonopah · gold #### Identity - Hole ID: TG2608 - Project: Tonopah - Commodity: gold - Region: usa\_nv - Reported Region: usa\_nv - Ticker: VAU #### Geometry - Grade: 1.6 - Grade Unit: g/t - Intercept: 12.2 m - From: 29 m - To: 41.2 m - Intercept Depth: 29 m #### Classification - Program: mixed - Sample Type: drill - Group ID: TG2608:29-41.2 - Mining Method: open\_pit #### QA/QC - Laboratory: American Assay Laboratories Inc. - QA/QC Disclosed: Yes - QP Signed: Yes - QA/QC Methods: standards, blanks #### Review - Needs Review: No - Interp. Status: scored - Historical: No #### Dates - Event date: 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z Reasoning: Encouraging shallow intercept, but results are incomplete. - Positive factor: Identifies a second potential zone - Negative factor: Partial results only Evidence · text > TG2608 : 12.2 m @ 1.6 g/t Au from 29 m depth \(partial results received; additional assays pending\) #### Tags used in scoring **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: qaqc\_disclosed is true **Cut-off Undisclosed** Polarity: negative Definition: High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing. Why it applies: no cutoff\_grade was stated **Infill Drilling** Polarity: neutral Definition: Confirmatory drilling to raise resource confidence, not new discovery. Why it applies: drill\_program\_type is "mixed" **Nearology Play** Polarity: neutral Definition: Value premise rests on proximity to a known deposit rather than own results. Why it applies: proximity is offered as the value premise: "Exploration A total of 14,000 m of new Controlled Source Audio Frequency Magnetotellurics \(“CSAMT”\) surveying has been c" ## Metallurgical Results (1) ### column leach [Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/viva-gold-intersects-a-new-high-grade-gold-zone-at-shallow-depths-at-its-tonopah--6dc4b801-e9b0-4864-b289-a47a22c1f084#fact-metallurgical-facts-6) Tonopah Gold Project · gold #### Identity - Project: Tonopah Gold Project - Commodity: gold - Region: usa\_nv - Reported Region: Nevada - Ticker: VAU #### Test Work - Program Status: preliminary - Test Type: column leach - Processing Route: heap leach - Sample: Two additional oxide gold recovery column tests commenced on March 3rd, based on a coarse crush size of 37 mm #### Review - Needs Review: No - Historical: No #### Dates - Event date: 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z Reasoning: Metallurgical optimization could significantly improve project economics. - Positive factor: Potential to use coarser crush size to reduce CAPEX and OPEX Evidence · text > Two additional oxide gold recovery column tests commenced on March 3 rd , based on a coarse crush size of 37 mm. #### Tags used in scoring **Heap Leach Route** Polarity: neutral Definition: Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected. Why it applies: processing\_route matches the heap\_leach signal ## How Atlas produces this analysis Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.