First Mining Provides Update on 2025 Exploration Program at the Duparquet Gold Project and Mobilizes First Drilling Rig
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NEWS RELEASE
First Mining Provides Update on 2025 Exploration Program at the
Duparquet Gold Project and Mobilizes First Drilling Rig
March 5, 2025 – Vancouver, Canada – First Mining Gold Corp. (“First Mining” or the “Company”) (TSX: FF)
(OTCQX: FFMGF) (FRANKFURT: FMG) is pleased to announce its 2025 exploration programs at the D upa rquet
Gold Project (“Duparquet Project ” or the “Project ”) located in the Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada . The
2025 program at the Duparquet Project will be the l argest exploration drill program undertaken by the
Company since acquiring full ownership of the P roject in 2022. First Mining will aim to complete an
approximate 18,000 m of exploration drilling this year, focusing on advancing priority targets that are aligned
to resource growth potential which will further unlock an important regional gold endowment supportive of
future development optionality at the Duparquet Project. The program is built upon key target centres that
the Company has previously identified and significantly de-risked, for an expansion of internal successes and
recent discoveries while also pursuing new regional exploration opportunities.
The Company commenced its maiden drill program at the Duparquet Project in May 2023. Over the last two
years, First Mining has completed approximately 20,000 m of exploration drilling combined with significant
updated geoscience modelling and targeting . The exploration strategy continues to be guided by further
advancing resource confidence, as well as developing extension and discovery -level targets spanning the
approximately 5,800 hectare mineral tenure which covers a 19 km strike length of the highly prospective
Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone (“DPFZ”). Initial drill rig mobilization to the property will commence during the
first week of March 2025.
“We are excited to embark on a new exploration program that will almost double the amount of drilling
completed to date since First Mining acquired the Duparquet Project in 2022 ,” stated Dan Wilton, CEO of
First Mining. “In addition to the 20,000 m of drilling First Mining has completed, the Company inherited
270,000 m of historical drilling at the Project that provides a strong foundation for our understanding of the
deposit. We are keen to further advance upon a number of significant exploration opportunities at Duparquet
and are extremely excited about potential new catalyst s for growth for this important project located in t h e
heart of the Abitibi gold region.”
Highlights from the last three phases of drilling programs include the unlocking of new discovery zones at
Miroir, Aiguille (2024) and Buzz (2023), successfully demonstrating resource extensional targets along strike
and at depth (Valentre, North Zone, DCD and East Extension), as well as delineating higher-grade zones within
key mineralization areas (CDHG , Valentre and North Zone) (see Figure 1, Figure 2 and Table 1 for assay
results). In addition, new favo urable host lithologies and structures were identified, with significant results
returned within mafic volcanic units to the north of the main resource at the North Zone and Miroir targets,
and similarly from the south at the Buzz and Aiguille targets, which are hosted in brecciated units in contact
with sediments.
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Figure 1: Plan view map of Duparquet g eology and resource with main targets labelled
Figure 2: Long Section (A-A’) looking north across the Main Duparquet resource area with select targets highlighted
The 2025 exploration drilling program and target selection is supported by a robust geoscience foundation
and a comprehensive target catalogue. This framework has been refined through two years of exploration
activities, including a property-wide, high-resolution airborne geophysical and LiDAR survey. Additionally, a
two-phase 3D Leapfrog geological model update was completed, integrating key geological features across
the entire mineral tenure. The Company also conducted two summer field prospecting and mapping
campaigns to further advance and refine regional targets.
The exploration program will commence in March 2025 with the Phase 3B winter program, starting with one
drill rig and targeting approximately 3,000 m of drilling. The first target of the program will be at the recen t
discovery zone, Miroir, after which further extensional opportunities at the Central Duparquet -Valentre-
Dumico (“CVD”) and East Extension (“EEXT”) targets will be drill tested, concluding with the drill testing of a
regional exploration target.
The Company will aim to bring on a second drill rig in Q2 2025 for the Phase 4 program which will be focused
on further advancing select targets, namely the North Zone, Buzz, Miroir, Aiguille , and South Zone, and on
select resource growth as well as regional targets for an additional forecasted 15,000 metres of exploration
drilling for the year.
The 2025 exploration outlook for the Company is to continue to demonstrate that the Duparquet Project has
significant exploration potential and that a geoscience systems approach to exploration strategy execut i o n
can unlock further value for the Project, which is underpinned by a meaningful resource foundation.
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Table 1: Highlights from Previously Disclosed Exploration Drill Results from the Duparquet Gold Project
at Select Targets that will be the F ocus for the 2025 Drill Program
Hole ID From
(m) To (m) Length (m) Grade (Au g/t) Target
DUP24-048 6.75 26.1 19.35 3.12 Miroir
DUP24-048 inc. 15.5 25.1 9.6 5.47 Miroir
DUP24-048 inc. 22.1 25.1 3.0 11.26 Miroir
DUP24-044 545.9 549.0 3.1 8.99 Aiguille
DUP24-044 inc. 548.0 549.0 1.0 15.50 Aiguille
DUP24-036 215.20 225.40 10.20 3.27 Valentre
DUP24-036 inc. 220.50 225.40 4.90 5.23 Valentre
DUP24-035 157.30 160.50 3.20 4.14 Valentre
DUP24-035 inc. 159.40 160.00 0.60 9.42 Valentre
DUP24-026 163.00 171.70 8.70 3.98 Valentre
DUP24-024 448.4 453.7 5.3 10.67 North Zone
DUP24-024 476.0 485.0 9.0 6.63 North Zone
DUP24-024 488.5 522.0 33.5 3.04 North Zone
DUP24-024 534.0 567.0 33.0 5.97 North Zone
DUP23-008 243 254 11 2.83 CDHG Zone
DUP23-005 306 312.15 6.15 2.73 CDHG Zone
DUP23-002 450.8 455.4 4.60 6.52 Buzz
DUP23-002 inc. 452.6 454.4 1.80 12.82 Buzz
DUP23-002 inc. 453.5 454.4 0.90 18.60 Buzz
DUP23-002 582.0 592.4 10.40 1.19 Buzz
DUP23-002 inc. 587.8 588.5 0.70 3.97 Buzz
2025 Exploration Drilling Focus
The 2025 exploration programs at the Duparquet Project will be focused on further defining a nd
characterizing the controls on mineralization, as well as drill test ing the extent of the mineralization at the
newly discovered Miroir and Aiguille targets and further advancing and testing up to four resource expansion
targets at depth and along strike. The First Mining exploration teams have been focusing on updating target
models with data from the 2024 drilling and field programs, and by integrating the latest results into the multi-
layered geoscience data model, have further delineated key zones for resource expansion and discover y
potential.
The North Zone is a priority drilling area for the Company, and the aim is to target higher-grade zones at depth
and below the existing mineral resource (Figure 3). The North Zone returned multiple significant intercepts in
drill hole DUP24-024 (see Table 1) and this hole, as well as subsequent holes drilled in 2024, supports and
demonstrates that there is a secondary higher-grade control on the mineralization on the northern contact of
the main deposit which will be the targeting priority for depth extension targets.
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Figure 3: North Zone Long Section (B-B’), showing the resource outline and delineation of higher -grade zones
The CVD target area has evolved significantly over the last two years of drilling and the Company has drill
tested a 175 m strike target (Valentre) and demonstrated the continuity in mineralization with 142 unique
mineralized intercepts in 16 drill holes. The focus of the 2025 follow-up programs at the CVD area is to extend
the mineralization at depth, drill test the higher-grade zones delineated and ensure the target area is drilled
to a confidence level sufficient for incorporation into a future resource model update (Figure 4).
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Figure 4: Central Duparquet, Valentre, Dumico Long Section (C-C’) looking north, highlighting the resource outline, drill spacing, and
updated exploration target modelling
Final Disclosure of 2024 Assay Results
The final assay results from the remaining three drill holes of the 2024 program are listed in Table 2, with drill
hole location details presented in Table 3.
The Donchester Central Duparquet Zone (“DCD”) drilling strategy was focused on potential resource
expansion along strike towards the eastern edge of the North and South Zones. Gold mineralization
encountered at the DCD Zone consists of brecciated silica-altered basalt units, with up to 5% fine-grained to
very fine-grained disseminated pyrite mineralization. The EEXT drilling strategy was focused on potential
resource expansion along the eastern strike extent of the historical Dumico resource area. The EEXT drilling
intersected gold mineralization hosted within silica- and sericite-altered rhyolite units, with up to 5% fine -
grained to medium-grained disseminated pyrite and stringers of quartz carbonate veining.
The exploration drilling at the DCD and EEXT Zones was successful in intersecting mineralization along strike
of the existing mineral resource. Follow-up exploration along these target zones will aim to further validat e
and delineate the controls on the mineralization and results from the recent drilling of these and other targets
on the property will be incorporated into an updated target model to vector towards broader and higher-grade
gold zones.
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Table 2: Remaining Assay Results from 2024 Phase 3 Drill Program
Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Grade (Au g/t) Target
DUP24-042 68.4 70.0 1.6 1.58
DCD DUP24-042 92.0 93.0 1.0 0.50
DUP24-042 122.0 127.2 5.2 4.02
DUP24-042 135.5 136.2 0.7 0.55
DUP24-045 188.85 190.0 1.15 11.07
DCD DUP24-045 213.35 214.15 0.8 2.13
DUP24-045 252.8 254.05 1.25 1.55
DUP24-045 262.3 263.0 0.7 0.50
DUP24-045 273.0 274.0 1.0 0.88
DUP24-045 276.8 277.55 0.75 0.55
DUP24-046 136.7 137.45 0.75 0.53
East Extension
DUP24-046 165.4 169.0 3.6 0.51
DUP24-046 183.8 185.65 1.85 2.49
DUP24-046 194.25 197.75 3.5 0.98
DUP24-046 200.0 201.0 1.0 0.70
DUP24-046 206.0 207.0 1.0 0.94
DUP24-046 210.0 212.0 2.0 5.61
DUP24-046 inc. 210.0 211.0 1.0 9.95
DUP24-046 217.0 219.85 2.85 0.84
DUP24-046 228.5 229.25 0.75 0.49
DUP24-046 233.8 234.8 1.0 0.68
*Reported intervals are drilled core lengths (true widths are estimated at 75-85% of the core length interval; assay values
are uncut)
Table 3: 2024 Phase 3 Drill Hole Locations, DCD and EEXT Targets
Hole ID Azimuth (°) Dip (°) Length (m) Easting Northing
DUP24-042 170 -55 198 632871 5374214
DUP24-045 180 -63 279 632756 5374263
DUP24-046 180 -47 249 634347 5374018
Note: Collar coordinates in UTM NAD 83 z17
About the Duparquet Gold Project
The Duparquet Project is geologically situated in the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt and is
geographically located approximately 50 km north of the city of Rouyn-Noranda. The Project benefits from
easy access and proximity to an existing workforce and infrastructure, including road, rail and hydroelectric
grid power. The Duparquet Project currently hosts a n NI 43-101 compliant gold resource of 3.4 4 million
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ounces in the Measured & Indicated category, grading 1.55 g/t Au, and an additional 2.64 million ounces in
the Inferred category, grading 1.62 g/t Au. First Mining completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment 1
(“PEA”) on the Project in 2023 (see news releases dated September 7, 2023 and October 23, 2023).
The Duparquet Project totals approximately 5,800 hectares focused on an area of 19 km of strike length along
the prolific Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone, along with numerous mineralized splays and influential secondary
lineaments. The Duparquet Project includes the past-producing Beattie, Donchester and Duquesne mines as
well as the Central Duparquet, Dumico and Pitt Gold deposits.
1 Further details on the Duparquet PEA can be found in the technical report entitled “NI 43 -101 Technical Report: Preliminary
Economic Assessment, Duparquet Gold Project, Quebec, Canada” dated October 20, 2023, which was prepared for First Mining by G
Mining Services Inc. in accordance with NI 43 -101 and is available under First Mining’s SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca
Analytical Laboratory and QA/QC Procedures
All sampling completed by First Mining within its exploration programs is subject to a Company standard of
internal quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC) programs which include the insertion of certified
reference materials, blank materials and a level of duplicate analysis. C ore samples from the 2024 drilling
program at Duparquet were sent to AGAT Laboratories, with sample preparation in Val d’Or and analysis in
Thunder Bay, where they were processed for gold analysis by 50 gram fire assay with an atomic absorption
finish. Samples from selected holes were sent to AGAT Laboratories in Calgary, Alberta, for multi-element
analysis (including silver) by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) method with a four acid digest. AGAT
Laboratories systems conform to requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17025 guidelines and meets assay
requirements outlined for NI 43-101.
Qualified Person
James Maxwell, P.Geo., VP, Exploration and Project Operations for First Mining, is a “Qualified Person” for
the purposes of NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and has reviewed and approved the
scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.
About First Mining Gold Corp.
First Mining is a gold developer advancing two of the largest gold projects in Canada, the Springpole Gold
Project in northwestern Ontario, where we have commenced a Feasibility Study and permitting activities are
on-going with a final Environmental Impact Statement / Environmental Assessment for the project submitted
in November 2024, and the Duparquet Gold Project in Quebec, a PEA-stage development project located on
the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone in the prolific Abitibi region. First Mining also owns the Cameron Gold Project
in Ontario and a portfolio of gold project interests including the Pickle Crow Gold Project (being advanced in
partnership with Firefly Metals Ltd.) and the Hope Brook Gold Project (being advanced in partnership with Big
Ridge Gold Corp.).
First Mining was established in 2015 by Mr. Keith Neumeyer, founding President and CEO of First Majestic
Silver Corp.
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ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP.
Daniel W. Wilton
Chief Executive Officer and Director
For further information, please contact:
Toll Free: 1 844 306 8827 | Email: [email protected]
Paul Morris | Director, Investor Relations | Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain “forward-looking information” and “forward -looking statements” (collectively
“forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation
including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made
as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such
as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “projects”, “intends”, “estimat es”, “envisages”, “potential”,
“possible”, “strategy”, “goals”, “opportunities”, “objectives”, or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events
or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms
and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current
estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events. All forward-looking statements are based on First
Mining's or its co nsultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently
available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the
beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions
and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business,
economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Such factors include, without limitation the
Company’s business, operations and financial condition potentially being materially adversely affected by the outbreak
of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, and by reactions by government and private actors to such outbreaks;
risks to employee health and safety as a result of the outbreak of epidemics, pandemics or other health crises, that may
result in a slowdown or temporary suspension of operations at some or all of the Company's mineral properties as well
as its head office; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities;
fluctuations in the currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar); changes in national and loc a l
government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards
associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards,
industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and
regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local
communiti es, indigenous populations and other stakeholders; availability and increasing costs associated with mining
inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; title to properties.; and the additional
risks described in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the
Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR.
First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our
forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefull y
consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update
any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our
behalf, except as required by law.
Cautionary Note to United States Investors