LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: LME | OTC: LMEFF | FSE: 5YD) has provided an update on environmental, technical, and regulatory work supporting its 100%-owned Ishkōday Gold and Polymetallic Project in Northwestern Ontario. The company is advancing two complementary initiatives at the historical Sturgeon River Mine: recovery and remediation of a surface waste rock stockpile, and a proposed Advanced Exploration Project focused on dewatering and rehabilitating the historical mine shaft and underground workings.
The surface stockpile recovery involves an application for a Recovery of Minerals Permit submitted to Ontario's Ministry of Energy and Mines, including a Recovery and Remediation Plan under section 152.1 of the Mining Act and Ontario Regulation 463/24. The stockpile, a legacy of historic mining operations, contains mineralized material that LAURION seeks to recover through removal and off-site processing, followed by remediation. This work is not expected to require new infrastructure, mining, or underground development. The company believes this represents a value-additive, environmentally sound opportunity to recover residual mineralization while addressing a long-standing surface waste issue.
Separately, LAURION is advancing plans to rehabilitate the historical Sturgeon River Mine shaft to evaluate in-situ resource potential. The shaft extends approximately 642 metres below surface with 15 historical underground levels and has remained flooded since operations ceased in 1942, containing an estimated 114,000 cubic metres of static water. The proposed Advanced Exploration Project would involve removing the existing shaft cap, rehabilitating the shaft collar, and installing a temporary exploration headframe and hoisting plant to allow safe access, controlled dewatering, and progressive rehabilitation. Once underground access is established, LAURION intends to conduct exploration drilling and sampling. No commercial mineral production or ore processing is currently proposed.
To facilitate dewatering, LAURION is preparing a Permit to Take Water application for submission to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks in Q4 2026. A detailed hydrogeological impact assessment will be completed to characterize the proposed taking and assess potential effects on surrounding water resources. In parallel, the company is advancing an Advanced Exploration Closure Plan under the Mining Act and additional environmental approvals for mine water treatment and discharge, air and noise emissions, and associated infrastructure, with submissions targeted for early 2027.
Over the past five years, LAURION has completed a comprehensive environmental baseline program, including terrestrial ecology and species-at-risk studies, aquatic and benthic assessments, multi-year groundwater and surface water monitoring, shaft water and hydrogeological studies, and a Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment. These studies provide a foundation for regulatory review and will inform environmental management, monitoring, mitigation, and remediation measures.
LAURION has also engaged with Indigenous communities through an Indigenous Joint Steering Committee and project-specific consultation with Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek First Nation, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation, and Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek First Nation. Public notice and meetings will be part of the Closure Plan process.
Management emphasizes the thoroughness of the baseline work. "Five years of rigorous, independent environmental baseline work is not a small undertaking," said Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin, President and CEO. "Recovering potentially economic residual mineralization within the stockpile, and doing so responsibly, is exactly the kind of value-additive, environmentally sound project our shareholders should expect." She added that dewatering the shaft is expected to provide safe underground access for geological mapping and evaluation, and facilitate rehabilitation of a legacy mine hazard.
Linda Byron, Director at Blue Heron Environmental, commented, "Blue Heron has been pleased to support LAURION with the environmental baseline studies and permitting work required to advance the Ishkōday Project."
The technical contents have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Trevor Boyd, Ph.D., P.Geo., a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. LAURION is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, OTCQB, and Frankfurt Stock Exchange. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.LAURION.ca.
