ACDC Metals Wins US Drilling Permit Unlocking Maiden 2,500m Nevada Gold Program
Key Takeaways
- ACDC Metals has received Bureau of Land Management (BLM) environmental permitting approval for its maiden drill program at Mount Jackson, removing the primary regulatory barrier to field activity.
- The approved program covers 15 RC drill holes across two target zones — the Pegasus Zone and the 3 Shaft Zone — totalling up to 2,500 metres of drilling targeted to commence Q4 CY2026.
- A 12 line-km CSAMT geophysical survey by KLM Geoscience is scheduled for October 2026 to sharpen drill targets ahead of the maiden program, building on aeromagnetic and radiometric work reported 22 July 2026.
- The 3 Shaft Zone has already returned a multi-metal surface sample grading 0.16 g/t Au, 17.7 g/t Ag, and 14.9% Cu, establishing the target priority now being tested for the first time by drilling.
- Lodgement of the reclamation bond with the BLM is the only remaining step before ground works — including access track and drill pad preparation — can commence.
BLM green-lights ACDC Metals’ maiden drill program at Mount Jackson
ACDC Metals (ASX: ADC) has received environmental permitting approval from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for its Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) geophysical survey and maiden drill program at the Mount Jackson Gold-Silver Project in Nevada’s Walker Lane. The permit is the key regulatory milestone that allows field activities to begin, with lodgement of the reclamation bond the immediate next step before ground works commence.
The approved program covers 15 holes across two target zones: the Pegasus Zone, testing extensions to known gold-silver mineralisation, and the 3 Shaft Zone, which will receive its first drill testing. The Walker Lane is a major mineralised belt with a long history of gold and silver production and a high level of current exploration and development activity across the region.
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What the BLM permit unlocks and why it matters
The Bureau of Land Management administers public lands across the western United States. Any surface disturbance on those lands, including drilling and civil works such as track and pad construction, requires prior permit approval. Without it, no ground activity can legally commence. The BLM permit is a non-negotiable prerequisite for exploration companies operating on public land in the US.
A reclamation bond is a financial security lodged with the BLM that guarantees the land will be restored to its original condition after exploration activities conclude. Once ACDC lodges that bond, field activities can begin immediately.
Practically, the permit removes a significant de-risking step for investors. Existing access tracks and drill pads from previous works at the site can be reused, minimising surface disturbance and reducing the civil works timeline before drilling can start.
Field program in focus — CSAMT survey and RC drilling
CSAMT survey sharpens drill targets
KLM Geoscience has been engaged to complete a 12 line-km CSAMT survey across the Pegasus gold-silver zone and 3 Shaft copper target. CSAMT, or Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics, is a geophysical method that maps subsurface resistivity to identify mineralised structures at depth.
The survey builds on and refines drill targets established by the aeromagnetic and radiometric survey reported on 22 July 2026. At the 3 Shaft Zone, a previously reported sample (SAMPLE #969216) returned 0.16 g/t Au, 17.7 g/t Ag, and 14.9% Cu, illustrating the multi-metal potential the CSAMT survey will help define further. Survey completion is targeted for October 2026.
The maiden drill program builds directly on earlier gold and copper results at Mount Jackson, including the multi-metal 3 Shaft Zone sample that returned 0.16 g/t Au, 17.7 g/t Ag, and 14.9% Cu, which first established the target priority now being tested by the permitted 15-hole program.
Maiden 2,500-metre RC drill program
Under an existing agreement with FTE Drilling USA Inc., ACDC has signed an agreement to complete up to 2,500 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling at Mount Jackson. Reverse circulation drilling uses a dual-tube system to return rock chip samples to surface, making it well suited to rapid, cost-effective target testing in the early stages of a program.
The 15 permitted holes will test mineralisation extensions at the Pegasus Zone and deliver maiden drilling at the 3 Shaft Zone, building on historical results reported on 30 April 2026. The program aims to confirm previous mineralisation, test extents, and validate the team’s understanding of the system. Drilling is targeted to commence in Q4 CY2026.
Key program milestones:
- CSAMT survey and interpretation — target completion October 2026
- Site works (access tracks, drill pads) — commencing October 2026
- Maiden RC drill program — targeted Q4 CY2026
CEO outlines the path ahead
Tom Davidson, Chief Executive Officer
“Receiving BLM approval is a key milestone for Mount Jackson. With the permit in hand, we can lodge the bond and begin field activities, starting with the CSAMT survey and site preparation for our maiden drill program. The CSAMT survey will sharpen the targets defined by our aeromagnetic and radiometric survey. Our maiden drill program will then build on the historical results reported on 30 April 2026, aiming to confirm previous mineralisation, test extents and validate our understanding of the system. Today’s announcement is an important step as we execute our field program and ramp up news flow on our Mount Jackson Project.”
Permitting removes the primary regulatory hurdle standing between ACDC and active exploration at Mount Jackson, with news flow expected to accelerate as field activities get underway. Mount Jackson is one of two active project fronts for the company, alongside the Goschen Central rare earths and mineral sands development project in Australia.
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Mount Jackson at a glance
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Project | Mount Jackson Gold-Silver Project |
| Location | Walker Lane, Nevada, USA |
| Permit authority | Bureau of Land Management (BLM) |
| Survey contractor | KLM Geoscience |
| Drill contractor | FTE Drilling USA Inc. |
| Drill program size | Up to 2,500m RC drilling, 15 holes |
| Target zones | Pegasus Zone, 3 Shaft Zone |
| Program timeline | CSAMT: October 2026 / Drilling: Q4 CY2026 |
The table above summarises the key project parameters as disclosed in ACDC’s 1 October 2026 ASX announcement. All program timing references are targeted dates and remain subject to operational and scheduling factors.
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