Blende Silver Corp. (TSX.V: BAG) (OTC: BAGGF) announced that the Yukon Department of Energy, Mines and Resources has granted a five-year Class 3 Quartz Mining Land Use Approval for its 100%-owned Blende Silver-Zinc-Lead Project. The approval, effective July 13, 2026, and valid through July 12, 2031, covers all 260 quartz claims and represents the final major permit needed for the company to execute its planned multi-year exploration programs.
According to the company, the permit allows for diamond drilling across the project area, with an operating season from February 1 to September 15 annually. It also authorizes camp facilities for up to 50 persons, supporting up to 11,300 person days of work, a permitted airstrip (25,000 m2), upgrading of 5 km of existing access roads, construction of 2 km of new road, and winter access via the Wind River Winter Road with two round trips per year. On-site fuel storage will support sustained drilling and camp operations.
Andrew H. Rees, President and CEO of Blende Silver Corp., stated: “This approval is a major de-risking milestone for Blende Silver. With a five-year Class 3 permit in hand covering the entire claim package, the Company now has the regulatory certainty to plan and execute sustained, multi-season drill programs at what is the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in Yukon. The permitted airstrip and camp infrastructure will materially improve the efficiency and cost profile of our field operations. Combined with the district-scale targeting work currently underway with Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience, Blende is now positioned to advance aggressively toward resource growth.”
The Blende Project hosts the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in the Yukon, according to M. Robinson and C.I. Godwin (Economic Geology 1995). A mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 at a 1.5% ZnEq cutoff was disclosed in the company’s news release dated May 20, 2021. The estimate was prepared by Sue Bird, P.Eng., of Moose Mountain Technical Services, and is based on metal prices of silver at US$26 per ounce, zinc at US$1.30 per pound, and lead at US$1.00 per pound. However, metal prices have since changed, and the estimate has not been updated. The company cautions readers not to rely on the estimate as reflecting current market conditions.
The project lies within the Keno Hill silver district, one of Canada’s highest-grade historic silver producing districts, currently being advanced by Hecla Mining Company. The property has undergone more than $9.2 million in past exploration, including 25,195 meters of drilling in 132 drill holes. With the Class 3 approval in hand, the company intends to plan and advance exploration programs across the Blende Project over the coming seasons, subject to the conditions of the approval and applicable regulatory requirements.
For business and technology leaders, this approval signals a significant step forward for a major undeveloped silver-zinc-lead deposit in a mining-friendly jurisdiction. The five-year permit window provides long-term planning stability, while the permitted infrastructure—including an airstrip and camp—reduces logistical barriers and operating costs. As the world seeks to secure critical minerals for clean energy technologies and industrial applications, the advancement of the Blende Project could contribute to supply diversification for silver, zinc, and lead, which are essential for solar panels, batteries, and galvanization. The company’s commitment to engagement with the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun and compliance with environmental protections also highlights the importance of responsible resource development in the region.
