Viva Gold Drills One of its Strongest Holes to Date at the Tonopah Gold Project in Nevada
NR 26-09
Viva Gold Drills One of its Strongest Holes to Date at the Tonopah Gold Project in
Nevada
VANCOUVER, BC – June 3, 2026 – Viva Gold Corp ( TSXV: VAU; OTCQB: VAUCF ) (the “ Company” or
“Viva”) is pleased to announce additional high-grade results from two holes drilled in the 2026 reverse-
circulation (“RC”) drill program at its Tonopah Gold Project (“ Tonopah,” or the “ Project”). Tonopah is
located on the prolific Walker Lane Mineral Trend in western Nevada, approximately a 30-minute drive
south of Kinross Gold’s Round Mountain Mine. These results include one of the strongest holes drilled to
date in the western portion of the 2025 PEA resource pit area, returning high-grade gold over significant
widths.
“We are very pleased with these results. TG2610 and TG2609 were drill ed to test the width extension
potential of the north and south limits of the down-d ropped block of deeper mineralization situated in
the western section of the main 2025 PEA resource pit. TG2610 returned significant lengths of high-grade
mineralization in two zones and is one of the strongest holes drilled to date in this western pit area, while
TG2609 returned lower grade zones of mineralization on the southern extent. The re sults for TG2610
demonstrate the potential to add gold mineralization in the north dimension of this section of the
resource pit,” stated James Hesketh, President & CEO.
RC Drill Program Highlights
Highlights of our latest assay returns include:
• TG2610: 88.4 meters (m) @ 0.98 grams per to nne gold (g/t Au) in two zones, including 59.4 m
at 1.08 g/t Au, which included 6.1 m @ 4.23 g/t Au, and 4.6 m @ 2.26 g/t Au and a second zone
containing 29 m @ 0.76 g/t Au including 1.5 meters @ 8.67 g/t Au, all between 123.4 and 217.9
meters depth;
• TG2609:: 15.2 m @ 0.44 g/t Au in two zones including 7.6 m @ 0.58 g/t Au from 131.1 m depth
and a second zone of 7.6 m @0.31 g/t Au from 201.2 m depth.
The 2026 RC drill program was designed to expand and infill gold mineralizatio n, with the goal of
upgrading inferred resources to a level that supports conversion to mineral reserves in the pre-feasibility
study. Nineteen holes totaling 3,210 me ters were drilled, including three exploration holes targeting the
Midway Hills prospect at Tonopah. Prior assay results in this program were released on April 23, and May
13, 2026. Assay results for an additional nine holes drilled in this program are pending.
Hole Azimuth Dip From To Length
Depth To
Mineral Gold Grade Silver Grade Rock Type Comment
Meter Meter Meter Meter Gram/Tonne Gram/Tonne
TG2610 0 -90 262.1
123.4 182.9 59.4 123.4 1.08 1.97 Tvl North side of Western pit
including 123.4 129.5 6.1 123.4 4.32 7.80 Tvl extension in inferred resource
including 158.5 163.1 4.6 158.5 2.26 1.90 Tvl block. Mill feed grade.
including 173.7 181.4 7.6 173.7 1.17 1.56 Tvl Likely grade increase and
189.0 217.9 29.0 189.0 0.76 3.88 Tvl/Opa upgrade to Indicated mtl.
including 196.6 198.1 1.5 196.6 8.67 10.50 Opa
TG2609 0 -90 266.7
131.1 138.7 7.6 131.1 0.58 1.44 Tvl South Side of Western Pit
201.2 208.8 7.6 201.2 0.31 2.24 Opa
Released 13 May, 2026
TG2606 0 -90 176.8
21.3 24.4 3.0 21.3 1.40 0.90 Tvl Infill hole located 35 meters
74.7 106.7 32.0 74.7 3.14 8.11 Opa north of TG2422 confirms
including 76.2 85.3 9.1 76.2 9.27 16.48 Opa shallow pit potential.
including 76.2 77.7 1.5 76.2 26.3 45.5 Opa Inferred conversion and grade
121.9 125.0 3.0 121.9 0.53 1.60 Opa increase to mill grade
134.1 141.7 7.6 134.1 1.31 1.58 Opa
157.0 163.1 6.1 157.0 0.79 1.75 Opa
TG2605 0 -90 170.7
62.5 74.7 12.2 62.5 0.38 1.86 Tvl Infill of inferred on north
115.8 123.4 7.6 115.8 0.34 1.04 Tvl boundary of 2025 PEA pit
Upgrades inferred
TG2608 0 -90 137.2
25.9 35.1 9.1 25.9 0.72 2.88 Opa Drilled on edge of inferred zone
including 29.0 32.0 3.0 29.0 1.39 3.45 Opa South east PEA pit
47.2 67.1 19.8 47.2 0.39 1.06 Opa Adds new mineralization
85.3 88.4 3.0 85.3 0.91 1.17 Opa Heap Leach grades
103.6 137.2 33.5 103.6 0.44 1.09 Opa
TG2607 225 -70 121.9
56.4 64.0 7.6 53.0 0.45 9.16 Opa Drilled 52 meters SE of
94.5 99.1 4.6 88.8 0.33 3.10 Opa TG2601 extending new zone
111.3 115.8 4.6 104.5 0.28 2.63 Opa Adds new mineralization
Released April 23, 2026
TG2601 225 -70 152.4
64.0 86.9 22.9 60 1.29 9.07 Opa 73M SE step-out from TG2422
including 64.0 68.6 4.6 60.0 4.73 21.60 Opa Mill circuit grade
TG2603 250 -70 131.1
94.5 109.7 15.2 88.3 1.16 1.59 Opa/Tvl 50M NW step-out from MW81
including 96.0 99.1 3.0 90.2 2.56 4.90 Contact Mill circuit grade
Tvu = Upper Tertiary Volcanic Cutoff Grade: 0.2 Au g/t
Tvl = Lower Tertiary Volcanic
Opa = Ordovician Palmetto Argillite True thickness/widths are unknown
NSS = No significant sample
Tonopah Gold Project
Preliminary 2026 Reverse Circulation Drilling Program Results
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Viva Gold utilizes a well-documented system of inserting blanks and standards into the assay stream and
has a strict chain of custody for samples taken by the Company. Assays taken by the Company are
completed at independent laboratories which have internal quality assurance and quality control systems
and procedures. Assays were performed by American Assay Laboratories Inc. of Reno, Nevada, by fire
assay and ICP methods with gravimetric finish.
Qualified Person
James Hesketh, MMSA-QP, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this press
release. Mr. Hesketh is not independent of the Company; he is an Officer and Director.
About Viva Gold Corp:
Viva Gold’s 100%-owned Tonopah Gold Project is located within a large land position in established gold-
mining country on the prolific Walker Lane Stru ctural Trend in western Nevada, approximately a 30-
minute drive south of Kinross Gold’s Round Mountain Mine. Viva has defined a high-confidence gold
mineral resource and has demonstrated the potential for an economically viable open-pit, heap leach/mill
gold project through its 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”). Viva Gold is committed to
advancing the Tonopah Gold Project in an environmen tally and socially responsible manner, consistent
with management’s core values.
Viva Gold is led by CEO James Hesketh, a 40-year mining industry veteran who has led the development
and construction of eight mines globally. The Board and management team include experienced mining
professionals with expertise in exploration, project development, construction, and mine operations.
Viva Gold trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (“VAU”), the OTCQB (“VAUCF”), and the Frankfurt Exchange
(“7PB”). Viva currently has approximately 172 million shares outstanding. The Company is advancing its
Tonopah Gold Project in mining-friendly Nevada with the support of institutional shareholders. More
information is available on https://www.sedar.com and at www.vivagoldcorp.com.
For further information please contact:
James Hesketh, President & CEO
(720) 291-1775
Graham Farrell, Investor Relations
(416) 842-9003
Forward-Looking Information :
This news release contains certain information th at may constitute forward-looking information or
forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-
looking information”), including but not limited to drilling operations and estimates of gold mineral
resource at the Tonopah Gold Project. This forward-looking information entails various risks and
uncertainties that are based on current expectations, and actual results may differ materially from those
contained in such information. These uncertainties a nd risks include, but are not limited to, the strength
of the global economy, inflationary pressures, pandem ics, and issues and delays related to permitting
activities; the price of gold; operational, funding and liquidity risks; the potential for achieving targeted
drill results, the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; the
degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks
and hazards associated with drilling and mining operatio ns; and the ability of Viva to fund its capital
requirements. Risks and uncertainties about the Com pany’s business are more fully discussed in the
Company’s disclosure materials filed with the securi ties regulatory authorities in Canada available at
www.sedar.com. Readers are urged to read these materials. Viva assumes no obligation to update any
forward-looking information or to update the reas ons why actual results could differ from such
information unless required by law.
Cautionary Note to Investors --- Investors are cautioned not to assume that any "measured mineral
resources", "indicated mineral resources", or "inferred mineral resources" that the Company reports in this
news release are or will be economically or legally mineable. United States investors are cautioned that
while the SEC now recognizes "measured mineral resour ces", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred
mineral resources", investors should not assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these
categories will ever be converted into a higher category of mineral resources or into mineral
reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under
Canadian regulations, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-
feasibility studies, except in limited circumstances. Further, "inferred mineral resources" have a great
amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be
assumed that any part or all of an inferred mineral re source will ever be upgraded to a higher category.
The mineral reserve and mineral resource data set out in this news release are estimates, and no assurance
can be given that the anticipated tonnages and grades will be achieved or that the indicated level of
recovery will be realized.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.