Emperor Metals Inc. (CSE: AUOZ) has released the latest assay results from its 2026 exploration campaign at the Duquesne West project in Quebec. The company reported a significant intersection of 21.3 meters grading 3.0 g/t Au at a vertical depth of approximately 45 meters. These findings, which come from a broader drilling program, aim to refine the resource model for a potential open-pit operation. The stock closed at $0.29, up 5.45% on July 29, 2026, following the news.

The current exploration data represents 31 of 66 holes drilled during the 2026 season. Overall, the company has integrated more than 20,000 meters of new drilling with 8,000 meters of historical core resampling, totaling over 28,000 meters of new data. The program has now reached completion, and the results reported so far account for roughly 36% of the total assays expected from the current season. This systematic approach is part of the company's long-term plan to advance the project toward a Preliminary Economic Assessment in the near term.

"We continue to validate the project's compelling economic potential. The intersection of 21.3 meters grading 3.0 g/t Au, encountered at 64 meters downhole (approximately 45 meters vertical depth) within our conceptual Phase 1 open pit, demonstrates the presence of thick, high-grade gold mineralization projecting toward surface. This intercept strengthens our conviction that a higher-grade, near-surface resource can materially improve the economics of a future PEA by increasing the grade of the initial mining phase. More importantly, it supports our long-term strategy of defining a large-scale, high-grade open-pit gold project targeting average grades in excess of 2.0 g/t Au; a profile that would distinguish the project from many conventional bulk-tonnage open-pit operations."

— John Florek, CEO

Emperor Metals is leveraging AI-driven exploration techniques to model the deposit, specifically targeting gold trends that were previously unknown. By identifying these structures, the company believes it can more effectively expand the resource base and enhance the internal quality of the mineralized envelope. The identification of free gold within the system is also viewed as a positive development, as it represents a characteristic that had not been previously integrated into the project's geological framework. The company maintains that these findings support the continuity of the high-grade system within the targeted open-pit environment.

With the field work now concluded, the company expects to use these results to refine its geological model, aiming to demonstrate the project's potential as a viable, multi-million-ounce gold deposit. Emperor remains focused on integrating this large dataset to support its goal of delivering a robust project profile that stands out among conventional bulk-tonnage gold assets in the Abitibi region.

Read the full announcement: Emperor Metals Expands Near-Surface Gold with 21.3 m of 3.0 g/t Au at Duquesne West, Quebec