Alaska Silver Announces 6,000-Meter 2026 Drill Program for Illinois Creek, Alaska

Core Viewpoint - Alaska Silver Corp. is launching a fully-funded exploration program in summer 2026, focusing on its Illinois Creek Silver-Gold-Lead-Zinc and Gallium project, which spans 32,737 hectares in western Alaska, with plans for at least 6,000 meters of diamond drilling [1][2]. Exploration Program - The 2026 drilling program will target high-grade areas, specifically the Waterpump Creek deposit and the newly discovered Silver Sage Zone, while also scouting other high-priority targets [2][3]. - The company plans to utilize two drill rigs for simultaneous surface exploration and trenching, starting in early June [1][3]. Waterpump Creek Focus - A significant high-grade Ag-Pb-Zn Inferred Resource has been identified at Waterpump Creek, with a grade of 980 grams per tonne silver equivalent, interpreted as part of a larger Carbonate Replacement Deposit (CRD) system [3]. - The 2025 drilling program at Waterpump Creek consisted of four holes totaling 2,057 meters, with two holes intersecting a post-mineral fault zone, providing insights into the area's structural architecture [3]. Silver Sage Zone Discovery - The Silver Sage zone was discovered in July 2025, revealing a 550-meter-long breccia zone with high-grade silver-lead results, including samples exceeding 310 g/t silver and values up to 1,235 g/t silver [4][5]. - Initial drilling in 2025 showed significant localized silver and lead mineralization, indicating a thoroughly oxidized mineralization hosted in reactive carbonate rocks [5]. Regional Exploration Initiatives - Alaska Silver is advancing a regional exploration initiative, interpreting the Illinois Creek district as having two CRD-porphyry centers, with significant potential for CRD mineralization [8][9]. - The first center is the established Illinois Creek system, while the second hub is centered on the Round Top Ag-Cu-Mo porphyry, located approximately 20 km away, which shows strong geochemical leakage to the surface [9][10]. Target Inventory Expansion - The TG and TG North CRD prospects within the Round Top hub are identified as high-priority targets, with soil geochemistry indicating a robust mineralizing system [10][11]. - The combined exploration efforts at Illinois Creek and Round Top hubs represent a district-scale opportunity, significantly expanding the company's target inventory and discovery potential [12].