Borealis Mining Company Limited executed its first production blast at the Borealis Gold Mine near Hawthorne, Nevada, on January 28, 2026, marking a significant operational milestone in the company’s mine restart initiative. The blast fragmented approximately 40,000 short tons of material in the East Ridge open pit, initiating material excavation and hauling to the heap leach pad for processing through the on-site ADR facility. This event demonstrates the company’s progress in resuming gold production in a historically productive mining region.
Borealis Mining, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, trades on multiple exchanges under the symbols TSXV: BOGO, OTC Pink: BORMF, and FSE: L4B0. The successful blast represents a critical step in the company’s strategy to bring the Borealis Gold Mine back into production, leveraging existing infrastructure and a phased restart approach.
The inaugural blast, completed within the permitted East Ridge open pit, successfully fragmented approximately 40,000 short tons of material. This operation is a key component of the company’s planned mining sequence, following extensive site preparation, contractor mobilization, and commissioning activities. Material will now be excavated and hauled to the heap leach pad and processed through the on-site ADR facility.
Andreas Steckenborn, Chief Operating Officer of Borealis, described the blast as a defining operational milestone, reflecting the successful execution of the restart plan and the collaborative efforts of the site team and contractors. The company is now focused on advancing toward consistent, sustained mining operations while prioritizing safety protocols.
The Borealis Gold Mine benefits from substantial pre-existing infrastructure, which significantly reduces restart risk and capital requirements compared to developing a new project from scratch. The property features multiple permitted open pits, a permitted heap leach pad, and an operational Acid Detoxification and Recovery (ADR) plant capable of producing doré bars. This established infrastructure supports the company’s conventional open-pit, heap-leach operating model.
Historically, the Borealis Gold Mine property, located near Hawthorne, Nevada, has produced over 600,000 ounces of gold through open pit heap leach operations. The property has seen limited exploration activity, with no drilling conducted since 2011, apart from modest exploration efforts by Borealis Mining in 2024 and 2025. The company believes there is significant potential for expanding high-grade mineralization, supported by robust historical drilling results and multiple untested regional targets.
The property encompasses approximately 815 unpatented mining claims, totaling roughly 16,300 acres, along with one unpatented mill site claim of approximately five acres in western Nevada. Borealis Mining considers the property highly prospective for additional high-sulfidation gold mineralization.
The Borealis Gold Mine holds existing federal and state permits for mining and processing operations. However, the company acknowledges that certain permit modifications may be necessary for expanded production, with approval timelines subject to regulatory review. Borealis Mining cannot guarantee the timing or success of any required permit modifications for future expansions.
Operating within Nevada’s established mining jurisdiction offers advantages such as access to infrastructure, a skilled labor force, and experienced service providers. Borealis Mining views the successful first production blast as a validation of its restart strategy and a reinforcement of its position as an emerging gold producer in Nevada.
Beyond the Borealis Gold Mine, Borealis Mining is also advancing the Sandman project, located in Nevada. This project was recently acquired through the acquisition of Gold Bull Resources Inc. The Sandman project is an advanced exploration initiative that includes a completed 2021 NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate and a 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment. The PEA indicated compelling economics, particularly in light of increased commodity prices since its publication.
Borealis Mining is guided by a board and management team possessing extensive experience in founding, managing, and successfully divesting mining and exploration companies. The company’s strategic focus remains on safe operations, disciplined execution, and long-term value creation. This includes advancing the Borealis Gold Mine toward sustained production, continuing to evaluate regional exploration opportunities, and identifying operational synergies across its Nevada asset portfolio.
Sources
- https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/282008/Borealis-Mining-Announces-First-Production-Blast-at-Borealis-Gold-Mine-Nevada
- https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/stocks/BORMF/pressreleases/37293796/borealis-mining-announces-first-production-blast-at-borealis-gold-mine-nevada/
