Vancouver-based NovaGold Resources Inc. has delivered a double victory for its flagship Donlin Gold project, announcing exceptional high-grade drilling results alongside a crucial legal win from the Alaska Supreme Court that preserves key permits for what could become America's largest gold mine.
Record-Breaking Drill Results
The final assay results from the 2025 Donlin Gold drill program have exceeded expectations, revealing multiple high-grade gold intercepts across different zones. The standout finding came from drill hole DC25-2275, which intersected an impressive 4.38 meters grading 26.22 grams per tonne gold starting at 165.95 meters depth.
Other significant results from the expanded 2025 program include DC25-2262 with 41.09 meters at 3.06 g/t gold, DC25-2262 showing 21.03 meters at 4.51 g/t gold, and DC25-2267 returning 13.89 meters at 7.08 g/t gold. These findings substantially reinforce Donlin Gold's position as one of the world's largest and highest-quality gold development projects.
Legal Victory Secures Project Future
In a parallel development, the Alaska Supreme Court delivered a favorable ruling that affirms two critical permits for the Donlin Gold project. The court upheld the project's water rights for mine operations and validated the State Right-Of-Way lease for the proposed 316-mile natural gas pipeline.
This decision represents a significant legal milestone that validates the State of Alaska's rigorous environmental review process and removes a major regulatory hurdle for the project's advancement. The ruling demonstrates strong regulatory support for responsible resource development in the region.
Path to Bankable Feasibility Study
According to NovaGold President and CEO Greg Lang, the 2025 drill program has provided key data points essential for the upcoming Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS), which is scheduled to commence by the first quarter of 2026. The expanded program focused on three critical areas:
- Grid drilling to refine mine-planning inputs
- In-pit exploration drilling to strengthen geological modelling
- Geotechnical drilling for pit wall and material site assessments
The program employed approximately 80 locally hired staff and external contractors, contributing vital information for engineering work, mine planning, and resource modelling. The consistent high-grade intercepts provide strong technical validation as the project moves toward its next development phase.
Federal Permitting Advances
Adding to the positive momentum, Donlin Gold has been accepted into the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council's FAST-41 program. This initiative enhances transparency, accountability, and predictability in the supplemental federal permitting process requested by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.
The combination of exceptional technical results, favorable legal outcomes, and streamlined federal permitting creates strong momentum for NovaGold as it positions Donlin Gold to become a standout project in the global gold sector. With all major federal permits already secured and now reinforced by state-level legal victories, the project appears well-positioned for its next development phase.
