Viva Gold Makes Major New High-Grade Gold Discovery at Midway Hills at the Tonopah Gold Project in Nevada Viva intercepts 0.89 g/t Gold and 6.78 g/t silver over 38.1 meters including 6.1 meters averaging 3.56 g/t Au and 22.45 g/t Ag from 179.8 meters below prior drilling.
NR 26-11
Viva Gold Makes Major New High-Grade Gold Discovery at Midway Hills at the
Tonopah Gold Project in Nevada
Viva intercepts 0.89 g/t Gold and 6.78 g/t silver over 38.1 meters including 6.1 meters averaging 3.56 g/t
Au and 22.45 g/t Ag from 179.8 meters below prior drilling.
Highlights
• New gold zone discovered at Midway Hills, ~1,400 m northwest of the main Tonopah
resource: drillhole TG2616 returned 38.1 m of 0.89 g/t gold and 6.78 g/t silver, including
6.1 m of 3.56 g/t gold and 22.45 g/t silver from 179.8 m depth.
• A new target type at Tonopah — the intercept sits entirely within the Palmetto Argillite
(OPA), ~27 m below the volcanic contact and beneath historic drilling.
• Open at depth and along strike — anomalous gold continues to the bottom of TG2616,
with assays pending for two step-out holes ~100 m east and west.
• Drill-ready — the target lies within the existing Exploration Plan of Operations, allowing
follow-up drilling to be approved on an accelerated basis, while Tonopah advances
through a pre-feasibility study.
VANCOUVER, BC – July 2, 2026 – Viva Gold Corp ( TSXV: VAU; OTCQB: VAUCF ) (the “Company” or
“Viva”) is pleased to announce that it has made a major new gold discovery in the Midway Hills portion
of 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.
TG2616 drilled vertically at a dip of minus 90 degrees intercepted 0.89 g/t Gold and 6.78 g/t silver over
38.1 meters including 6.1 meters averaging 3.56 g/t Au and 22.45 g/t Ag from 179.8 meters depth.
This significant intercept was entirely within Ordovician age Palmetto Argillite (OPA) , commencing
approximately 27 meters below the Tertiary Volcanic (TVL) /OPA contact . Assays are pending for two
remaining exploration holes in the Midway Hills , drilled on a line approximately 100 meters to the east
and west of TG2616. The Midway Hill s are located approximately 1,400 meters ( ~1.0 mile) NW of the
main resource pit at Tonopah, which is currently the subject of pre -feasibility study. Midway Hills is
located within the boundaries of the existing Exploration Plan of Operations which will significantly
accelerate the approval of additional drilling on this target.
“We are very encouraged with these results. This discovery clearly demonstrates the potential for a new
zone of high-grade gold mineralization in an area of the Tonopah Gold Project that had been discounted
by prior explorers. This area was originally drilled by Coeur d’Alene Mines in the 1980’s followed by Rio
Algom and Kennecott Minerals, with minor follow-up drilling by subsequent companies, all of whom had
targeted p otential gold mineralization in the overlaying TVL consistent with early geologic targeting
concepts for the project . Numerous gold intercepts were encountered in the TVL , but nothing of any
significance. After almost 40 years of effort, Viva made this new high-grade discovery by targeting deeper
potential mineralization below prior drilling in the underlying OPA,” stated James Hesketh, President &
CEO.
The gold mineralization in TG2616 is located wholly within OPA and is related to Tertiary intrusives (“Tki”)
within the argillite, and is associated with pyrite, quartz veining and minor silicification. Quartz veins and
veinlets have acted as plumbing for mineralizing fluids, but significant wall rock penetration is evident.
Intrusive Tki dikes are often present within and peripheral to the mineralization, suggesting that the
structural preparation which allowed the emplacement of these dikes is also acting as a condui t for
mineralizing fluids. Tki dikes are altered and mineralized within the broader gold zone.
The Midway Hills are foothills to the east of the San Antonio Mountains and differ from the main Tonopah
project area which is located on the valley floor in flat terrain. The TVL/OPA contact around TG2616 dips
steeply to the north and west and suggests potential target zones at varying depths below surface. Surface
geology and earlier shallow drilling in the vicinity confirm that several major faults exist nearby.
Anomalous gold grades are present to the bottom of TG2616, suggesting that mineralization could
continue below this major gold zone. The increase in the silver/gold ratio relative to the main deposit
suggests that the mineralizing fluids are distinct and that emplacement could be deeper beneath the
paleo-surface.
Viva consistently assays for total gold and silver as well as cyanide soluble gold and silver in all its drilling.
The ratio of cyanide assay values to total values provides a rough approximation of potential gold recovery
through heap leaching methods. The ratios seen in hole TG2616 indicate that the Midway Hill’s may be
metallurgically different from the main pit area with potential silver recovery being significantly higher
than what is seen in the main deposit.
Nineteen reverse circulation drill holes totaling 3,210 meters have been completed in the 2026 reverse
circulation drill program including three exploration holes drilled in the Midway Hills prospect area at
Tonopah.
Hole Azimuth Dip From To Length Gold Grade Silver Grade Rock Type Comment
Meter Meter Meter Gram/Tonne Gram/Tonne
TG2616 90 0 225.6
160.0 163.1 3.0 0.32 1.55 Opa Midway Hills tageting
179.8 217.9 38.1 0.89 6.78 Opa OPA beneath existing
including 181.4 187.5 6.1 3.56 22.48 Opa driling.
Released June 23, 2026
TG2615 60 -70 152.4
32.0 83.8 51.8 0.36 2.08 Opa South Side of Eastern Pit
including 71.6 74.7 3.0 1.05 2.10 Opa 65m SSE of TG2608
93.0 97.5 4.6 0.28 2.23 Opa Comfirms thick package of
mineralization
TG2614 55 -65 152.4
51.8 59.4 7.6 0.71 3.70 Opa Drilled NE from collar of TG2602
62.5 65.5 3.0 0.91 4.20 Opa Bisects between TG2601 and
70.1 74.7 4.6 0.44 2.77 Opa TG2422 confirming width
85.3 89.9 4.6 2.14 4.13 Opa extent of new zone
TG2612 0 -90 134.1
56.4 61.0 4.6 0.29 3.33 Opa Offsets TG2607 and TG2601
70.1 73.2 3.0 0.41 2.55 Opa on north side of new SE trend
7.6 0.34
Released 3 June, 2026
TG2610 0 -90 262.1
123.4 182.9 59.4 1.08 1.97 Tvl North side of Western pit
including 123.4 129.5 6.1 4.32 7.80 Tvl extension in inferred resource
including 158.5 163.1 4.6 2.26 1.90 Tvl block. Mill feed grade.
including 173.7 181.4 7.6 1.17 1.56 Tvl Likely grade increase and
189.0 217.9 29.0 0.76 3.88 Tvl/Opa upgrade to Indicated mtl.
including 196.6 198.1 1.5 8.67 10.50 Opa
TG2609 0 -90 266.7
131.1 138.7 7.6 0.58 1.44 Tvl South Side of Western Pit
201.2 208.8 7.6 0.31 2.24 Opa
Released 13 May, 2026
TG2606 0 -90 176.8
21.3 24.4 3.0 1.40 0.90 Tvl Infill hole located 35 meters
74.7 106.7 32.0 3.14 8.11 Opa north of TG2422 confirms
including 76.2 85.3 9.1 9.27 16.48 Opa shallow pit potential.
including 76.2 77.7 1.5 26.3 45.5 Opa Inferred conversion and grade
121.9 125.0 3.0 0.53 1.60 Opa increase to mill grade
134.1 141.7 7.6 1.31 1.58 Opa
157.0 163.1 6.1 0.79 1.75 Opa
TG2605 0 -90 170.7
62.5 74.7 12.2 0.38 1.86 Tvl Infill of inferred on north
115.8 123.4 7.6 0.34 1.04 Tvl boundary of 2025 PEA pit
Upgrades inferred
TG2608 0 -90 137.2
25.9 35.1 9.1 0.72 2.88 Opa Drilled on edge of inferred zone
including 29.0 32.0 3.0 1.39 3.45 Opa South east PEA pit
47.2 67.1 19.8 0.39 1.06 Opa Adds new mineralization
85.3 88.4 3.0 0.91 1.17 Opa Heap Leach grades
103.6 137.2 33.5 0.44 1.09 Opa
TG2607 225 -70 121.9
56.4 64.0 7.6 0.45 9.16 Opa Drilled 52 meters SE of
94.5 99.1 4.6 0.33 3.10 Opa TG2601 extending new zone
111.3 115.8 4.6 0.28 2.63 Opa Adds new mineralization
Released April 23, 2026
TG2601 225 -70 152.4
64.0 86.9 22.9 1.29 9.07 Opa 73M SE step-out from TG2422
including 64.0 68.6 4.6 4.73 21.60 Opa Mill circuit grade
TG2603 250 -70 131.1
94.5 109.7 15.2 1.16 1.59 Opa/Tvl 50M NW step-out from MW81
including 96.0 99.1 3.0 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 Structural Trend in western Nevada, approximately a 30 -
minute drive south of Kinross Gold’s Round Mountain Mi ne. 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”). Pre-feasibility study (PFS) has
been initiated on the project with a final report due in fourth quarter of 2026. Viva Gold is committed to
advancing the Tonopah Gold Project in an environmentally 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 that may constitute forward -looking information or
forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward -
looking information”), including but not limited to drilli ng 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 and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength
of the global economy, inflationary pressures, pandemics, 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 operations; and the ability of Viva to fund its capital
requirements. Risks and uncertainties about the Company’s business are more fully discussed in the
Company’s disclosure materials filed with the securities 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 reasons 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 resources", "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 econo mic and legal feasibility. It cannot be
assumed that any part or all of an inferred mineral resource 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 achieve d 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.