Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE:AMQ) (OTCQB:AMQFF) (FSE:FW0) has officially resumed drilling operations at its B26 Polymetallic Deposit in Québec’s Abitibi Greenstone Belt, marking the relaunch of its fully funded Phase 3 drill program. With 2,522 metres completed before the spring pause, two drill rigs are now active at the site, with a third rig scheduled for deployment in the coming weeks.

“With drills now turning, we’ve entered an exciting new phase at the B26 Project,” said Jonathon Deluce, CEO of Abitibi Metals. “This program is strategically focused on testing near-resource extensions and deeper targets, including the newly defined gravity anomalies that could signal a much larger system at depth. Beyond drilling, we’ve also restructured our operational approach behind the scenes to enable smarter capital allocation—maximizing the project’s organic growth potential and positioning us to deliver stronger and long-term returns for our shareholders. Upon completion of this program, the Company will remain in a strong position heading into year-end, with over 20,000 metres of drilling fully funded for 2026.”

The company currently holds a 50% ownership stake in the B26 Deposit and has the option to earn an additional 30% from SOQUEM Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Investissement Québec. The ongoing Phase 3 drill campaign represents the company’s largest and most technically advanced drilling effort to date, with up to 17,500 metres planned.

Expanded Scope of Exploration

Phase 3 drilling is primarily focused on expanding the existing resource. Secondary goals include infill drilling and the conversion of inferred resources into indicated categories. The targeted zones include copper-gold (Cu-Au) and zinc-silver (Zn-Ag) mineralization, which were detailed in the company’s recent drill strategy release on June 18, 2025. These areas, designated as high-priority extension targets, are viewed as key to unlocking further value from the project.

The company is also pursuing an internal economic assessment of the B26 Deposit, incorporating approximately 16,500 metres of drilling from the earlier Phase II program into a revised resource model. This model will inform future economic studies, including the potential development of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

Strategic Enhancements to Operational Efficiency

In tandem with the resumption of drilling, Abitibi Metals has implemented a series of operational changes designed to improve decision-making and capital efficiency. One major shift is the transition from using third-party drilling contractors to establishing an internal operations team. This change is expected to reduce costs on a per-metre basis and enhance the continuity of operations, as well as improve integration of real-time geological and drill data.

The transition aims to support a more nimble and data-driven exploration approach, enabling the company to evaluate drill results in near real time and adjust strategies accordingly.

Early Phase 3 Results and Target Refinement

Initial results from the Phase 3 program have already highlighted promising mineralization. One notable intercept revealed 4.8% CuEq over 4.1 metres, part of a wider interval measuring 1.0% CuEq over 63.2 metres. These findings, disclosed in the June 24, 2025 press release, suggest strong mineral potential in zones that have previously seen limited drilling.

According to the company, these underexplored areas had been statistically downgraded due to insufficient data density. However, they are now being reevaluated as high-priority targets within the block model. Increasing drill density in these zones could improve the overall confidence in the grade and quality of the resource.

Advancing Geophysical Analysis for Improved Targeting

To support more precise drill targeting, Abitibi is also enhancing its geophysical interpretation efforts. At the regional level, the company has integrated new data from a high-definition VTEM survey conducted by Geotech, along with gravity and magnetic anomaly data and reinterpretations of historic drilling.

At the deposit scale, the company is consolidating substantial downhole electromagnetic (EM) survey data into a unified database. A specialized geophysicist is currently analyzing this data to identify patterns associated with B26-style mineralization. The goal is to pinpoint the central zones of conductivity within the mineralized system and identify a new generation of high-confidence drill targets.

These initiatives are designed to refine both the regional exploration model and deposit-scale understanding, potentially increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of future drilling.

Resource Development and Project Background

Abitibi Metals’ portfolio includes the option to earn 80% ownership of the B26 Deposit. According to company data, the deposit currently holds a resource estimate of 11.3 million tonnes (Mt) at 2.13% CuEq (indicated: 1.23% Cu, 1.27% Zn, 0.46 g/t Au, 31.9 g/t Ag) and 7.2 Mt at 2.21% CuEq (inferred: 1.56% Cu, 0.17% Zn, 0.87 g/t Au, 7.4 g/t Ag).

In addition to B26, the company also holds interest in the Beschefer Gold Project. Historical drilling at this site has yielded high-grade intercepts, including 55.63 g/t gold over 5.57 metres and 13.07 g/t gold over 8.75 metres.

The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a licensed professional for investment advice. The author is not an insider or shareholder of any of the companies mentioned above.