Alaska mining companies start 2026 drilling at Palmer and Illinois Creek projects

Vizsla Copper (TSX‑V: VCU) has begun a 10,000‑metre diamond‑drilling program at its Palmer volcanogenic massive sulphide project in southeastern Alaska. Two rigs are targeting the South Wall zone, where previous work identified a high‑grade copper core. The fully funded 2026 program aims to expand the high‑grade mineralisation and evaluate additional targets across the district, including the HG and Waterfall prospects. The Palmer deposit currently hosts an indicated resource of 4.77 Mt at 1.69 % copper and 5.17 % zinc, with inferred resources of 12.0 Mt at 0.57 % copper and 3.92 % zinc.

Alaska Silver Corp. has expanded its 2026 summer exploration at the Illinois Creek district, initiating drilling at Waterpump Creek North (holes WPC26‑0038 and WPC26‑0039). The drill sites, about 200 m north of existing infrastructure, are intended to test the continuity of the historic silver‑lead‑zinc mineralisation. The company emphasizes the logistical challenges of remote Alaskan field work and the need to meet strict federal and state environmental requirements. Results from these holes will feed into an updated mineral resource estimate for the district.