Gold Explorer Discovers Possible 1Moz Resource Breakthrough at Nevada's Hercules Project
StrikePoint Gold Inc. (SKP:TSX.V; STKXF:OTCQB) announces its strategy for 2026, including a resource definition drilling initiative at the Hercules Gold Project in Nevada. Read why one expert sees the company as a "rare combination."
A key element for StrikePoint Gold Inc.'s (SKP:TSX.V; STKXF:OTCQB) strategy for 2026 will include a resource definition drilling initiative at the Hercules Gold Project in Nevada, the company reported in a release December 22.
The exploration agenda for 2026 aims to transform its existing National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Exploration Target into an inferred resource estimate that aligns with the company's established exploration target range of 40.3 million to 65.6 million tonnes of mineralized material grading 0.48 to 0.63 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au), the company said.
Source: StrikePoint Gold Inc.Upon the successful execution of the definition drilling, StrikePoint expects a market reevaluation based on enterprise value per resource-defined gold ounces, consistent with NI 43-101 inferred resources of comparable deposits.
"2026 will be a transformational year for StrikePoint," President and Chief Executive Officer Michael G. Allen said. "We anticipate launching a drill program in early March 2026 at our Hercules Gold Project located in Nevada's Walker Lane. The goal of the program is to provide sufficient data for a maiden resource estimate on the property in the third quarter of 2026. This work program is the beginning of an opportunity to unlock significant shareholder value as we believe the Hercules Gold Project is an underappreciated asset within the Walker Lane. The drill program will be the first step in rerating the company in an improving gold market."
StrikePoint said it has approved a budget for a drilling initiative comprising approximately 30 reverse circulation holes totaling around 3,500 meters. The holes are strategically planned to ensure adequate spacing to achieve a substantial new resource estimate for the site.
Drilling is anticipated to commence in early March and is projected to continue for up to 60 days. Initial assay results are expected by mid-April 2026, with the final outcomes anticipated in June 2026. Following the drilling phase, data will be compiled to prepare a resource estimate, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.
AI Used to Create Trend Model
Situated roughly an hour from Reno, Nevada, the Hercules Gold Project encompasses 1,323 unpatented claims and four patented claims, covering an area of approximately 100 square kilometers.
The Hercules exploration target was formulated using historical drilling, trenching data, and gold assay results, the company said. Mineralization patterns were assessed using artificial intelligence to create a trend model, which guided the development of grade shells in conjunction with current geological insights. These grade shells were employed to estimate the distribution of mineralized tonnes and to aid in generating grade-tonnage curves.
The exploration target and AI-generated model will direct future drilling in these known mineralization zones, StrikePoint said.
An inaugural technical report released by the company in March estimated between 819,000 and 1,018,000 ounces of gold within the 40.3 million to 65.6 million tonnes of mineralized material, with an estimated grade range between 0.48 and 0.63 g/t Au.
The quantity and grade are conceptual in nature, and there has not been sufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource, the company noted. The exploration target model has not been evaluated for reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction.
"Most notably, we believe this previous drilling has only scratched the surface of this project's potential, as we have multiple untested geophysical and geochemical targets, some of which include visible gold at surface," Allen said at the time. "We believe that the Hercules Gold Project has the potential to be Nevada's next multi-million-ounce gold resource."
The exploration target incorporated data from the Sirens, Hercules, Cliffs, Loaves, Lucky Rusty, Rattlesnakes, and NorthEast showings on the Hercules Gold Project. In this area, there are a total of 306 historical drillholes yielding a total of 31,776 m in the drillhole database, along with data for 121 surface trenches. The drillhole database contains a total of 18,409 sample interval entries, with the trenches providing another 475 sample entries. A total of 5,620 sample intervals is contained within the mineralization domains utilized for the exploration target. Numerous targets remain untested, and the previously drilled showings remain open for further expansion and potential conversion to mineral resources.
'One of the Most Overlooked Gold Exploration Stories'
1John Newell of John Newell & Associates remarked that StrikePoint "may be one of the most overlooked gold exploration stories in Nevada's Walker Lane" in a piece for Streetwise Reports on August 11.
He added, "In a move that stunned insiders familiar with the asset, the company acquired the Hercules Gold Project, a large, fully permitted oxide gold system, for just US$250,000 after the asset had previously sold for US$25 million."
With new funding, a streamlined share structure, and a fresh drilling strategy, the company is starting to validate a 1-million-ounce exploration target, he observed. "And the market hasn't caught on," Newell wrote. "Yet."
"SKP.V is a rare combination: deep-value optionality, a fully permitted oxide gold asset in one of the world's best mining jurisdictions, a proven technical and capital markets team, and a meaningful exploration target on a district-scale land package," Newell said. "Add in a tight share structure, current drilling, and the possibility of news flow in the coming months, and you have the ingredients for a speculative turnaround."
Mining Financier Donates Shares to Foundation
On December 22, mining financier Eric Sprott announced that through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a company he beneficially owns, he donated 2,984,200 common shares of StrikePoint to The Sprott Foundation, which he controls. This, along with previous share issuances by StrikePoint Gold, led to Sprott's beneficial ownership position decreasing by approximately 9.6% since the last early warning report and his beneficial ownership position falling below 10% on a partially diluted basis, the company said. Consequently, Sprott and 2176423 Ontario are no longer insiders of the company.
Before donating these Shares, Sprott beneficially owned and controlled 2,984,200 Shares, representing about 4.8% of the issued and outstanding shares. Following the donation, Sprott still controls the 2,984,200 Shares given to The Sprott Foundation, the company said. Therefore, he continues to control 2,984,200 shares, representing approximately 4.8% of the issued and outstanding shares. The securities are held for investment purposes.
According to the release issued the same day, Sprott maintains a long-term perspective on the investment and may acquire additional securities, either on the open market or through private acquisitions, or sell the securities, either on the open market or through private dispositions, in the future depending on market conditions, changes in plans, and other relevant factors.
The Catalyst: Gold Reaches All-Time High
According to Josh Martin writing for the BBC on December 22, the price of gold reached a new all-time high, surpassing US$4,400 per ounce for the first time. Analysts attribute the rise in the value of the precious metal to expectations that the U.S. central bank will further reduce interest rates next year.
Gold began the year valued at US$2,600 an ounce, but geopolitical tensions, the Trump administration's tariffs, and anticipated rate cuts have increased investor interest in safe-haven assets like gold and other commodities. On Monday, the prices of other precious metals also climbed, with silver reaching a new peak.
Gold's price has surged over 68% this year, marking the largest increase since 1979, according to Adrian Ash, director of research at the gold bullion marketplace BullionVault, Martin reported. The year 2025 has experienced "slow-burning trends around interest rates, around war and trade tensions,"
Ash noted, which have contributed to the rising price of gold. "The precious metals market says that President Trump has really triggered something and gold has gone crazy this year. You've got the trade war, the attacks on the U.S. Federal Reserve and you've got geopolitical tensions, all of those provocations come from Trump," he explained.
The consistent rise in gold prices throughout the year may be due to its perception as a safeguard against inflation and economic instability, Anita Wright, a chartered financial planner at Ribble Wealth Management, suggested, according to the BBC report. "When confidence in financial assets and policy stability starts to wobble, gold tends to respond first as the primary monetary metal."
Gold miners themselves have seen an extraordinary resurgence in 2025, climbing over 120% so far this year, yet they still appear fundamentally undervalued compared to the metal itself, according to global investment firm VanEck in a November 7 article titled "Gold in 2025: A New Era of Structural Strength and Enduring Appeal."
"With all-in sustaining costs averaging around US$1,600/ounce, nearly every producer remains profitable at current prices" of over US$4,300, "resulting in record margins across the industry," the report noted. "Miners are demonstrating improved capital discipline and stronger balance sheets a key differentiator from previous cycles when high prices often led to overspending."
According to Frank Holmes, writing for U.S. Global Investors on September 15, "Gold mining stocks are experiencing an exceptional year in 2025."
Holmes observed, "The price of gold has reached one record high after another, and the mining companies extracting it are delivering some of the best returns in the market today." He added, "It's rare to witness such a strong alignment of factors benefiting this industry. From central bank purchases to political uncertainty and disciplined corporate practices, everything seems to be aligning perfectly for gold and the miners who produce it."
Streetwise Ownership Overview*
StrikePoint Gold Inc. (SKP:TSX.V; STKXF:OTCQB)
*Share Structureas of 12/23/2025VanEck, in its November 7 article, echoed this outlook on the metal's future. The firm stated, "Gold has the potential to trade even higher in 2026. In recent years, strong rallies, such as the one gold has recently been enjoying, have often been followed by periods of consolidation around an established higher level, with the metal trading in a sideways pattern until a new catalyst emerges to drive prices even higher. Gold tends to outperform during later phases of inflationary cycles, when investors seek protection from social, geopolitical, and financial instability."
Ownership and Share Structure2
Executive Chairman Shawn Khunkhun owns 0.19% of the company, President and CEO Allen owns 0.98%, Director Ian Richard Harris owns 0.04%, and Director Adrian Wallace Fleming owns 0.01%.
Institutional and strategic investors own approximately 4.52% of the company, including Pathfinder Asset Management Ltd. with 3.21%.
The company has 62.39 million shares outstanding and a market cap of CA$8.73 million. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.08 and CA$0.34.
| Want to be the first to know about interestingGold investment ideas?Sign up to receive the FREE Streetwise Reports' newsletter. | Subscribe |
Important Disclosures:
StrikePoint Gold Inc. is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$3,000 and US$6,000.As of the date of this article, officers, contractors, shareholders, and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of StrikePoint Gold Inc.Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.For additional disclosures, please click here.
1. Disclosure for the quote from the John Newell article published on August 11, 2025
For the quoted article (published on August 11, 2025), the Company has paid Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, US$2,000.Author Certification and Compensation: [John Newell of John Newell and Associates] was retained and compensated as an independent contractor by Street Smart for writing this article. Mr. Newell holds a Chartered Investment Management (CIM) designation (2015) and a U.S. Portfolio Manager designation (2015). The recommendations and opinions expressed in this content reflect the personal, independent, and objective views of the author regarding any and all of the companies discussed. No part of the compensation received by the author was, is, or will be directly or indirectly tied to the specific recommendations or views expressed.John Newell Disclaimer
As always it is important to note that investing in precious metals like silver carries risks, and market conditions can change violently with shock and awe tactics, that we have seen over the past 20 years. Before making any investment decisions, it's advisable consult with a financial advisor if needed. Also the practice of conducting thorough research and to consider your investment goals and risk tolerance.
2. Ownership and Share Structure Information
The information listed above was updated on the date this article was published and was compiled from information from the company and various other data providers.