Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. (TSXV: NTH) has reported progress on its Gowganda recovery-permit program following a Ministry of Mines site visit on September 15, 2026. The company confirms that process water for tailings reprocessing will be drawn from underground mines, requiring a Permit to Take Water and Environmental Compliance Approvals to be pursued alongside its Mineral Recovery Permit application. Nord is targeting September 30, 2026 for completion of a regulatory completeness matrix and October for submission of the Mineral Recovery Permit application.

Key Points

  • Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. (TSXV: NTH | OTCQB: NPMMF | FSE: QN3) is advancing silver recovery permitting at its Gowganda project in Ontario's historic Cobalt-Gowganda mining camp.
  • Underground mine dewatering has been identified as the source of process water for tailings reprocessing, adding Permit to Take Water and Environmental Compliance Approval requirements to the permitting program.
  • Preliminary engineering targets nominal and design throughput of 1,000 tonnes of tailings per day on a seasonal, 24-hour operating schedule, subject to testwork and design refinement.
  • The company plans to share its regulatory completeness matrix and project overview with the Ministry of Mines in early October and continue drafting the Mineral Recovery Permit application.

Ministry Site Visit Shapes Gowganda Dewatering and Permitting Approach

Following the September 15, 2026 site visit by the Ministry of Mines, Nord confirmed that process water for tailings reprocessing will come from the underground mines on the Gowganda property. This determination means the company must now pursue a Permit to Take Water and applicable Environmental Compliance Approvals concurrently with its Mineral Recovery Permit application. Nord and its engineering team are supplying the project and operating details required to define that work and integrate it with the broader recovery-permit program, with PTTW and ECA submissions potentially following a different schedule from the primary permit.

Preliminary Engineering Sets Out 1,000 Tonne-Per-Day Tailings Circuit

Nord's process consultant has delivered revised key design parameters, mass and water balances, and detailed process-stream tables for review. The preliminary engineering considers nominal and design throughput cases of 1,000 tonnes of tailings per day based on a 24-hour seasonal operating schedule. The proposed processing route uses screening, classification, and gravity-flotation concentration. These planning assumptions remain subject to testwork and design refinement. The company's 63 square kilometre combined Castle-Gowganda property, which includes 225 hectares of leases, hosts several past-producing silver mines alongside the Castle East discovery.

Regional Silver Processing Strategy Anchored by TTL Laboratories Infrastructure

Nord's recovery strategy is built around its wholly owned TTL Laboratories in Cobalt, described in the announcement as the only permitted high-grade milling facility in Ontario's historic Cobalt Camp. TTL combines assay and bulk-sampling services with high-grade silver processing infrastructure and silver doré pouring capability. The company acquired four adjoining Gowganda mining leases on March 31, 2026, consolidating ground to support an initial recovery operation. Nord's stated objective is to establish Gowganda as an operating base from which to grow a wider silver-recovery business involving both company-owned and third-party material streams.