Authored by John Mason, D.Sc., P. Geo., and backed by the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, this article offers a comprehensive overview of mining and exploration activity in Northwestern Ontario for the second quarter of 2026.
Equinox Gold and Orla Mining have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement for an at-market combination to create a new North American senior gold producer with approximately 1.1 million ounces of expected annual gold production and an $18.5 billion implied market capitalization. The combined company will be anchored by three long-life Canadian gold mines, including the Musselwhite and Greenstone Mines, of Northwestern Ontario.
Alamos Gold, at the Island Gold District, continues to expand gold production. Underground mining rates have increased to average a new record of more than 1,500 tpd to date in the second quarter, and are on track to increase to 2,000 tpd by the end of 2026. Underground and open pit grades are conforming to guidance. On June 22, Alamos Gold announced the discovery of the Island Gold West Extension Zone.
Hemlo Mining Corp. announced that effective June 15, the company commenced trading on the TSX. Hemlo Mining Operating Corp. and Williams Operating Corporation, have completed an Impact Benefit Agreement (“IBA”) with Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (“BN”) in relation to the Hemlo Mine. Mill head grades exceed 3.3 g/t. The Hemlo Gold Mine now has 4.8 million ounces in the Measured and Indicated categories, a 34% increase from 2025.
Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. announced an 8 year mine life (LOM) for the Eagle River Mine. At Eagle River, production is expected to be 100,000 to 120,000 ounces per year in 2027 and 2028, supported by increased mill utilization and a more consistent grade profile, with additional potential upside from material not included in the reserve-based mine plan.
West Red Lake Gold Mines announced that through April and May across underground development, ore movement and mill throughput was consistent with the planned ramp up strategy. Production is expected to continue building through 2026, with approximately 60% of annual production weighted toward the second half of the year as additional mining areas are brought into the production profile, including the 4447 Zone. Meanwhile at Rowan a new Mineral Resources Assessment was released illustrating a 70% increase in contained gold in the indicated category; growth to 335,000 ounces (13 g/t).
Evolution Mining at Red Lake Mine, illustrates LOM until 2040, with the goal of 200,000 ounces of annual gold production.
Coeur Mining, Inc. continued with gold production from open pit and underground at the Rainy River Mine. Coeur holds seven wholly-owned operations in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
Vault Minerals has submitted its certified Closure Plan Amendment to the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines in respect to a proposed Southern Tailings Management Facility at its Sugar Zone gold project, underpinning progression toward a planned restart of underground activities in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027.
Vault has completed an extensive drilling campaign of 114,000 meters since mining and processing activities went idle in August 2023. The program culminated in an Ore Reserve of 2.3 Mt at 5.4 g/t for 389,000 ounces and the addition of a third mining front at Sugar Zone South.”
Gold X2 announced a  2026 drill program of 160,000 meters with the objective of advancing the Moss Gold Project on three fronts: 1) resource expansion through step-out drilling, 2) resource conversion through infill drilling to upgrade Inferred resources to the Indicated category in support of project development, and 3) exploration drilling at near-deposit targets with the potential to define additional open pit and underground mineable styles of mineralization. Drill results for the QES Zone released in June include: 86.0 m of 1.37 g/t Au from 314.0m in MQD-26-366, including 26.0 m of 2.90 g/t Au from 345.0m.
Agnico Eagle has budgeted $11.2 million in 2026 for ongoing project optimization, permitting, and exploration at the Hammond Reef gold property near Atikokan, Ontario. Re-evaluated in a strong gold price environment, the fully permitted, high-tonnage deposit currently contains estimated probable mineral reserves of 3.3 million ounces of gold.
Thunder Gold announced acquisition of the Thunder Lake Gold Property, located adjacent the Tower Mountain flagship project. Tower Mountain contains 3.5 million ounces of gold in the indicated and inferred categories.
Delta Resource’s 2026 exploration program is strategically designed to assess the significant discovery potential across the Company’s extensive 340 km² land package while continuing to expand and advance the Eureka Gold Deposit. Delta will advance multiple high-priority targets, with initial field activities focused on the highly prospective I-Zone / Crayfish Creek Fault sector, located approximately 18 km. southwest of Eureka.
Tartisan Nickel is executing geophysical and diamond drill programming at the Kenbridge Mine including: Â airborne ZTEM electromagnetic geophysical survey over the entire property, Induced Polarization conductivity and resistivity work to be completed on surface grids and boreholes. Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) on surface grids and boreholes.
Frontier Lithium released a Definitive Feasibility Study for the PAK Lithium Deposit Mine and Mill. The Study confirms the Project could generate an estimated CA$11 billion in net revenue over a 31-year mine life, with an after-tax net present value (NPV) of CA$932 million, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 17.9%. Mitsubishi remains a significant partner with Frontier going forward.
Avalon Advanced Materials, specific to the Lake Superior Lithium Project, have opened a Thunder Bay office. Primero, Nordmin Engineering and other key consultants continue with completing a Feasibility Study by Q1 2027 for the lithium hydroxide facility (Convertor).
Rock Tech Lithium acquired the Victory Lithium Project from Bounty Gold and Last Resort Resources Ltd. Victory lies 45 km east of Kenora.
Dryden Gold’s 2026 exploration strategy is focused on five key initiatives designed to generate and prioritize new targets across the Dryden Gold District:
- Expanding the Gold Rock mineralized system along strike and at depth.
- Advancing regional targets including Mud Lake, Hyndman, Sherridon and Selby.
- Completing a property wide HMC program on several identified targets.
- Additional gold-in-till sampling program on newly acquired claims in the Hyndman area.
- Integrating new geological, structural, and geochemical data into a district-scale exploration model.
Nexgold Mining Corp., Lac Seul FN and Wabigoon Lake FN have signed an MOU to address collaboration, relationship-building and negotiations related to the Goliath Gold Complex development. The MOU establishes a process for discussions around the environment, training and business development.
Clean Air Metals released their audited annual financial statement on June 1. The Company’s management team executed a successful drill program at the Current Deposit to delineate larger ballroom structures. This was followed up by a significant undertaking at the Escape Deposit down plunge, to reassess past MT data and refine drilling targets in the area. Management commissioned drilling of the first step-out exploration target within the Escape down-plunge in Q3, resulting in a 50 m mineralized intersection 400 m from the known resource.  The team also successfully completed and filed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for Thunder Bay North that outlined a toll-milling case with a mine-plan that is focused on higher margin material in the Current and Escape deposits.
First Mining Gold announced the completion of the Anishnaabe Led Impact Assessment Process for the Springpole Gold Project undertaken by Cat Lake First Nation and Lac Seul First Nation; First Mining has been informed by Chiefs and Councils of Cat Lake and Lac Seul that the Nations authorize the Springpole Project subject to important terms that have been captured in an agreement between First Mining, CLFN and LSFN. Informed by the ALIA, there are 35 negotiated terms secured in the Term Sheet Agreement including: Environmental & Water Protections, Cultural & Socio-Economic Safeguards, Economic Participation, and Community Healing. In addition, First Mining Gold and Cat Lake FN have finalized a landmark agreement to mobilize development of an all-season access road to Cat Lake First Nation.
Kinross Gold at the Great Bear Project is on track with development to produce gold by late 2029.All Advanced Exploration permits have been received. Federal and Provincial permitting continues to mature; Federally, the final phase of the Impact Statement will be submitted in Q1/26; The Province is advancing the permitting process under the One Project, One Process designation. Kinross wishes to commence construction of the underground decline this summer; surface works are substantially complete. The purpose of the decline is to provide access for exploration (and potentially identify an extension of the underground resource), including delineation drilling. Detailed engineering is advancing as well, with ~45% complete.
Generation Mining Limited announced that the Canada Infrastructure Bank (“CIB”) has received internal credit approval for a subordinated debt facility of CAD $200 million to support the construction and development of the Marathon Copper-Palladium Project.
The CIB Facility is comprised of the following two components:
- CAD $110 million subordinated debt facility to fund development and construction costs at the Marathon Project (the “Sub-Debt Facility”); and
- CAD $90 million subordinated standby facility available to fund any project cost overruns during construction (the “COF Facility”).
The Company has now secured approximately CAD $969 million of the funding required to bring the Marathon Project into production.
Juno Corp. announced the discovery of heavy rare earth elements (neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium) essential to defence, aerospace, electric vehicles and clean energy – within its Vespa critical minerals system in Ontario’s Ring of Fire. The discovery sits within the same geological system as Juno’s previously announced high-grade iron, titanium, vanadium, scandium and gallium intercepts at Vespa, broadening the critical minerals discoveries.
Laurion Mineral Exploration Inc. re-commenced exploration at the Ishkoday Project, designed to strengthen geological confidence, expand the scale of the mineral system, and position the project for a future NI 43- 101 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). Laurion continues to evaluate opportunities that may enhance project development flexibility, including potential non-dilutive initiatives such as the evaluation of historical surface stockpile processing (Sturgeon River Gold Mine).
Kenorland Minerals Ltd. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Golden Sidewalk Project from Prosper Gold Corp. for total consideration of $1,000,000 in cash. The acquisition will consolidate and form part of Kenorland’s recently staked Central Uchi Project , which now covers approximately 75,913 hectares in the Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt of Ontario, approximately 60 km. east of Red Lake.
Elementary Minerals, a private company jointly owned by Labrador Gold (80%) and Nemo Resources Inc. (20%), holds 127,000 ha of map staked mining claims, making it the largest land holding in the Fort Hope Greenstone Belt(Uchi Subprovince)). The Watson property covers the interpreted trace of three major belt parallel structures including 73km of the Norton Lake Shear Zone, 35km of the Gourlie Creek Shear Zone, and 15km of the Washi Lake Shear Zone, all three of which have been virtually untested for gold. Labrador Gold believes that the Watson property possesses significant potential for gold mineralization associated with the numerous folded and/or faulted banded iron formation (BIF) units adjacent to these major shear zones.
