i-80 Gold Soars Over 144% In Last Six Months While It Reports Major Refurbishment Progress at Lone Tree Plant

Core Insights - i-80 Gold Corp. (NYSE:IAUX) is recognized as one of the best junior gold mining stocks to buy, with shares increasing over 144% in the past six months and a consensus Buy rating from analysts, indicating a median price target of $1.95, representing a potential upside of over 29% as of January 5 [1][4]. Group 1: Refurbishment Progress - On December 18, i-80 Gold Corp. reported significant refurbishment progress at its Lone Tree Plant in North Nevada, with the ability to process sulfide and oxide gold-bearing feed at a rate of 2,268 tonnes per day as outlined in Hatch's engineering study [2]. - The management aims to transition from toll mining to an owner-operator processing model, which could reduce costs by one-third and increase margins by approximately $1,000 to $1,500 per ounce of gold [3]. - A new capital benchmark of $430 million has been established, higher than previous expectations, with a potential payback period of 1 to 2 years, and construction activities are expected to commence in the second half of 2026 [3]. Group 2: Market Position and Sentiment - i-80 Gold Corp. is one of only two companies in Nevada with an autoclave facility, enhancing its potential and aligning with its strategic objectives [4]. - The company's shares have experienced a significant increase of over 138% in the past six months, reflecting strong investor sentiment and a promising outlook for the Lone Tree Plant [4].