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Western Exploration: Mine Plan of Operations Submitted for a $115M CapEx Nevada Gold Mine

CEO.CA Aug 26, 2026 6:56

Summary

Western Exploration's filed Mine Plan of Operations starts the federal permitting clock for Doby George, moving the Nevada gold deposit toward development.

The mine plan of operations — the official development blueprint a regulator reviews — is what kicks off federal permitting with the Forest Service.

CEO Darcy Marud says pairing Doby George development with Gravel Creek exploration keeps news flow and resource growth running when engineering plateaus.

Gravel Creek already holds a million ounces from only 90 holes, and Marud sees El Peñon-like system scale in its footprint.

Over the next two to four quarters, watch permitting progress, a hydrological study, and an October power-supply feasibility study at Doby George.

Darcy Marud's takeaways

  • Top takeaway The CEO argues the Dobby George mine plan of operations filing is the turning point for Western Exploration, starting the permitting process that leads to development and production.
  • He draws a parallel between Gravel Creek and El Peñon in Chile, which he helped discover: El Peñon began with only about a six-year mine life and grew through continued drilling, and he sees the same signs of a large, robust system — a wide exploration footprint, strong alteration and good grades — at Gravel Creek.
  • He frames the company as a two-track story in which Dobby George development work and Gravel Creek resource growth keep news flow running even when engineering normally causes it to plateau.
  • For the next 12 months he directs investors to Dobby George milestones: working with the Forest Service on permitting, completing the hydrological study, and a power-supply feasibility study available in the October timeframe.
  • He says Gravel Creek is intentionally not the current focus while resources go to a successful Dobby George start, but behind the scenes metallurgy and drill plans are being readied for a very large drill program to be announced in the next quarter or so.