Fortitude Gold starts County Line mine operations, gets permits for Scarlet South

Core Viewpoint - Fortitude Gold has commenced operations at its County Line mine and made its first shipment of mineralization to the Isabella Pearl gold processing facility in Nevada, marking a significant milestone for the company [1][5]. Group 1: County Line Mine Operations - The County Line mine consists of two historic open pits: the County Line Pit and the East Pit, with initial mineralization being mined from the bottom of the County Line Pit [2]. - A pit layback is planned to start in the second half of 2026 and extend into the second half of 2027 [2]. - The company is updating its County Line Mineral Resource to include exploration drilling from the East Pit, which was not part of the original 2022 Resource [3]. Group 2: Exploration Potential - The project has several areas with exploration upside potential, including targets north of the County Line Pit, south of the East Pit, the Newman Ridge area to the east, and an area further south at the historic Rex mine [4]. Group 3: Scarlet South Project - Fortitude Gold has received all necessary approvals to construct and operate the Scarlet South open-pit gold mine, located approximately 500 meters northwest of the Isabella Pearl mine [6][7]. - Operations at Scarlet South are expected to begin in the coming weeks, contributing to the company's growth strategy [7]. - The company plans to leverage existing infrastructure to expedite the production of gold from multiple sources, including Isabella Pearl deep, County Line, and Scarlet South, by 2026 [8].