Equinox Gold Announces Significant New AI-Supported Gold Discovery 8 km from Valentine Mill and Additional High-Grade Gold Mineralization Outside of Resources at The Valentine Gold Mine, Canada

Core Insights - Equinox Gold Corp. has announced new results from its 2025 diamond drill program at the Valentine Gold Mine, confirming a new gold discovery in the Minotaur Zone and broad zones of high-grade mineralization in the Frank Zone, indicating significant potential for resource expansion and new discoveries in the area [1][2][4] Exploration and Discoveries - The 2026 exploration program will target approximately 100 km of drilling across the Valentine property, focusing on the Frank and Minotaur Zones, as well as additional greenfield discoveries [1] - The Minotaur Zone has shown significant gold mineralization over a 700-meter strike length, with potential extensions of approximately 2 km, and initial drilling results include visible gold samples grading as high as 650 g/t [3][8] - The Frank Zone has demonstrated consistent high-grade gold mineralization over broad widths, supporting the potential for a new open pit that could enhance production growth and extend mine life beyond the current 14-year plan [2][9] Drilling Highlights - Initial drilling highlights from the Minotaur Zone include significant gold grades, with the potential for further exploration and development [4][8] - Notable drill results from the Frank Zone include: - 2.43 g/t Au over 172.80 m ETW - 22.10 g/t Au over 6.30 m ETW - 3.12 g/t Au over 63.90 m ETW - 16.45 g/t Au over 3.60 m ETW [6][7][9] Production and Operational Insights - The Valentine Gold Mine is expected to produce between 150,000 to 200,000 ounces of gold in 2026, with all-in sustaining costs projected between US$1,200 to US$1,300 per ounce [10] - Once fully operational, the mine is anticipated to be the largest gold-producing mine in Atlantic Canada, with an average production of 175,000 to 200,000 ounces per year for the first 12 years of its 14-year reserve life [10] Technological Integration - The discovery of the Minotaur Zone has been enhanced by the integration of artificial intelligence in exploration, utilizing VRIFY's AI-powered software to analyze multiple geological data layers, which has led to the identification of high-priority targets [8]