Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) has commenced its 2026 field program at the Pike-Warden project in southern Yukon. The explorer is focusing its current efforts on the Saddles epithermal target, an area characterized by intermediate-sulphidation veining. The project, which spans approximately 41 square kilometres, is situated along the northern margin of the Bennett Lake Caldera Complex, a region noted for its potential to host large polymetallic mineral systems.

Field teams are currently conducting hand stripping and trenching at the Saddles target to expose mineralized bedrock. Because the area is heavily covered by scree and felsenmeer, direct access to bedrock has historically proven challenging. By stripping back this surface material, the company aims to conduct channel sampling and map structural controls more effectively. This work is intended to define the size, orientation, and grade of the veins in place.

"This program aims to expose zones of subcropping veining at the Saddles Target so that their size, orientation, and grade over width can be properly evaluated in bedrock ahead of a first-pass drilling program."

— Scott McLean, CEO

These data points will directly inform a planned reverse circulation (RC) drilling program, which represents the next major technical milestone for the property. Previous surface sampling at the Saddles target has returned high-grade values, including 44.5 g/t gold and 491 g/t silver, alongside significant base metal indicators. The company’s geoscientists are using this surface work to refine their structural interpretation, ensuring the upcoming drilling program is optimally positioned to test the most prospective subsurface zones.

Transition Metals maintains a diversified portfolio, managing approximately 14 projects across several Canadian provinces. This operational approach allows the company to balance exploration activities across multiple assets while conserving capital. By advancing targets like Pike-Warden through systematic trenching and sampling, the firm intends to de-risk its properties ahead of more capital-intensive exploration phases, such as larger-scale drilling. The current program is a vital step in bridging the gap between historical surface prospecting and the rigorous testing required to identify potential economic mineralization. As field crews complete the planned trenching and mapping, the resulting information will be integrated into the broader project database, guiding the specific collar locations for the first-pass RC program scheduled to follow. The company continues to prioritize technical precision at these epithermal and porphyry targets to better understand the underlying geodynamic conditions within the Bennett Lake volcanic environment.

Read the full announcement: Transition Metals Commences 2026 Exploration Program at Pike Warden Epithermal Gold-Silver and Porphyry Copper Project, Yukon