# Headwater Gold Identifies Meridian Zone and Plans Follow-Up Geophysics at Lodestar Project, Nevada *2026-05-06T06:30:00-04:00* Headwater Gold Identifies Meridian Zone and Plans Follow-Up Geophysics at Lodestar Project, Nevada (TheNewswire) | [](https://headwatergold.com/) | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [](https://thenewswire.com/api/apps/tnw/r?i=1kx7F1jbP&m=twi) | [](https://thenewswire.com/api/apps/tnw/r?i=1kx7F1jbP&m=lin) | [](https://thenewswire.com/api/apps/tnw/r?i=1kx7F1jbP&m=you) | | Vancouver, British Columbia, May 6, 2026 – TheNewswire -Headwater Gold Inc. (CSE: HWG) (OTCQX: HWAUF) (the “Company” or “Headwater”) is pleased to announce results from the 2025-2026 drill program at its Lodestar project, located in the Aurora Mining District of Nevada. The program was fully funded by Newmont Corporation (“Newmont”) (NYSE: NEM, ASX: NEM, PNGX: NEM) pursuant to the earn-in agreement announced May 9, 2023. The program identified a new alteration zone (the “Meridian Zone”), now the primary focus for follow-up exploration. Highlights: - Meridian Zone identified:Reverse circulation (“RC”) drilling intersected an approximately 600 metre by 700 metre zone of pervasive illite-pyrite alteration with anomalous gold, arsenic and mercury geochemistry interpreted to be open in multiple directions and at depth. - Emerging vectors to system core:Alteration intensity and geochemistry are interpreted to increase systematically to the east with multiple holes ending in strongly altered rock at the limits of drilling. - Follow-up geophysics planned:A 12.6 line-kilometre induced polarization (IP) survey is planned to further define the system and prioritize potential drill targets. - Zodiac Fault tested: Core drilling intersected the targeted structure but did not encounter significant precious metal mineralization or alteration at depth, indicating the Zodiac Fault does not represent the primary feeder to the sinter system. - Permitted for immediate follow-up:A drill permit covering the Meridian Zone is in place, allowing for efficient advancement to a potential next phase of drilling. Caleb Stroup, President and CEO of the Company, states:“The 2025–2026 drill program at Lodestar significantly improved our understanding of the system and identified the Meridian Zone, a large and previously unrecognized area of hydrothermal alteration. Our geologists interpret the Meridian Zone alteration as similar in character to the alteration associated with the nearby Borealis deposits, located approximately 6 kilometres to the northeast along trend and largely covered between the two areas. While drilling on the Zodiac Fault confirmed it does not represent the primary feeder to the sinter system, the RC program defined a clear vector, with alteration intensity, temperature, and geochemistry strengthening to the east. The scale of this alteration system, combined with the fact that multiple holes ended in strongly altered rock, suggests the core of the system remains untested. With a permit already in place, we are moving directly to IP geophysics to define the next phase of potential drilling.” 2025-2026 Lodestar Drill Program: Headwater completed approximately 2,950 metres of drilling in four core holes and RC holes between October 2025 and February 2026. With completion of this program, Newmont has satisfied the Minimum Commitment component of Stage 1 under the earn-in agreement and is advancing toward completion of Stage 1, which would require additional investment of approximately US$8,000,000. [](https://www.thenewswire.com/data/tnw/clients/img/4924b5a44342a76db3a351cc2e26213c.png) Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1. District Map of the Aurora-Borealis epithermal gold trend and the Headwater Gold property with total horizonal gradient gravity map. Zodiac Fault Drilling Core drilling targeted the Zodiac Fault, a northwest-striking structure exposed over approximately 550 metres at surface and associated with silica sinter and hydrothermal breccia (see news release dated October 14, 2025). All core holes intersected the Zodiac Fault as modelled; however, geochemical anomalism observed at surface diminished rapidly with depth along the fault, and only weakly anomalous precious metal values were encountered. The Zodiac Fault does not appear to represent the primary feeder to the sinter system. Meridian Zone RC drilling northeast of the Zodiac Fault identified the Meridian Zone, a previously unrecognized 600 metre by 700 metre zone of pervasive illite-pyrite-silica alteration hosted in Miocene volcanic rocks. The alteration zone is shallowly covered by pediment gravel and