First Atlas Resources Corp. has delineated two high-priority drill targets in the Oxford-Salt Springs area of Nova Scotia following an extensive 2026 natural hydrogen soil-gas densification campaign.

Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. undertook the field program on behalf of First Atlas during July and August, systematically intensifying soil-gas sampling along existing roads and trails in the Salt Springs area to increase resolution around previously identified hydrogen anomalies. The program measured hydrogen alongside H₂S, CO, CH₄, CO₂, and subsequently incorporated helium.

The Oxford-Salt Springs target area lies within a structurally complex section of the Cumberland Basin where northwest-southeast, east-west, and northeast-southwest faults intersect folded stratigraphy, including the Windsor Formation and Cumberland Group. Edward Procyshyn is leading the geological interpretation of the target area, evaluating these structures as potential permeability pathways influencing the migration of natural hydrogen from depth.

Because variable glacial overburden can affect the amount of hydrogen reaching the surface, the technical team is integrating the densified soil-gas results with surficial and structural geology, geographic information system data, and ground-based gravity and magnetic surveys. This combined approach is designed to optimize final drill collar locations, orientations, and depths.

First Atlas and Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. are completing the data integration to finalize collar locations, azimuths, inclinations, and planned depths. The current technical plan contemplates NQ core drilling to test the targets, subject to field conditions, permitting, and operational planning.

“The 2026 densification campaign has accomplished exactly what it was designed to do — take previously identified hydrogen anomalies and systematically increase the resolution around them to define specific locations for drill testing,” said Richard Penn, President and CEO of First Atlas. “QIMC's team has undertaken an extensive field program along the roads and trails in the Oxford-Salt Springs area, and that higher-density dataset has now allowed us to delineate two high-priority drill targets.”

“This represents an important transition for First Atlas from surface exploration to drill targeting in Nova Scotia. Our focus now is on integrating the detailed soil-gas results with the structural and geophysical datasets so that we can optimize the two drill holes and test the strongest targets supported by the combined technical evidence.”
— Richard Penn, President and CEO of First Atlas

Regional activity across the surrounding district has also advanced, with Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. reporting a peak mud-gas reading of 24.3% hydrogen at 707 metres in drill hole DDH-26-04 at its Bennett Hill project.

Read the full announcement: First Atlas Delineates Two High-Priority Natural Hydrogen Drill Targets Following Extensive 2026 Soil-Gas Densification Campaign