About this episode
U.S. GoldMining Inc. (NASDAQ: USGO) has released a preliminary economic assessment for its Whistler project in Alaska, outlining average production of approximately 250,000 gold equivalent ounces per year over a 15-year mine life, including roughly 345,000 gold equivalent ounces annually in the first three years. Speaking with Kitco Mining at PDAC 2026, CEO Tim Smith said the study returned a 33% after-tax internal rate of return using base case assumptions of $3,200 gold and $4.50 copper.Whistler contains more than 1 billion pounds of copper and nearly 20 million ounces of silver, with roughly 75% of project value derived from gold. “We are on state of Alaska mining claims, so we're just dealing with a single regulator,” Smith said, citing permitting advantages. Metallurgical testing achieved 89% gold recoveries, and higher-grade mineralization comes to surface, supporting stronger early production. At higher pricing assumptions, Smith said, “We go from 33 to 62%, after tax,” as the company advances toward pre-feasibility and prepares for additional district-scale drilling in 2026.Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews.Special thanks to our sponsors, GoldMining Inc., U.S. Gold Mining Inc., UEC & URC for making this coverage possible.To learn more, visit:https://www.goldmining.com/https://www.usgoldmining.us/https://www.uraniumenergy.com/https://www.uraniumroyalty.com/00:54 - Critical Minerals Tailwinds03:06 - Alaska Permitting Advantage04:12 - District Scale Exploration Upside06:36 - 2026 Drilling Game Plan07:32 - Whistler PEA Key Drivers09:46 - Metal Price Sensitivity10:53 - Access Road and Infrastructure13:40 - Next Six Months Inflection__________________________________________________________________Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.comStay connected with usX - https://x.com/KitcoMiningInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kitcominingLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitco-miningFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/KitcoMiningConnect with the Kitco Mining anchorsPaul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/miningDisclaimer: Videos are not trading advice, and the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc.Disclaimer: The view
