Trifecta Gold Ltd. has announced two new exploration projects in east-central Yukon, advancing its footprint in the Tombstone Gold Belt and moving closer to a 100-per-cent interest in both properties under an agreement with Strategic Metals Ltd.
Where Liam and Lois sit in the territory
The two properties, called Liam and Lois, lie about 100 kilometres north of Faro and roughly 75 kilometres west-southwest of Snowline Gold Corp.'s Valley Deposit. Both cover mid-Cretaceous plutons — the same type of intrusive rocks that are widely associated with gold mineralization across Yukon and neighbouring Alaska.
Company materials place Liam and Lois inside the hanging wall of the Robert Service Thrust Fault, a major structural feature that runs northward across hundreds of kilometres of Yukon geology. Several significant local deposits and occurrences are spatially linked to that fault, which has become a key target for exploration teams hunting Reduced Intrusion-Related Gold Systems (RIRGS).
Permitting and funding
Trifecta said it has received a Quartz Class 1 notification from the Yukon government for the projects. That regulatory clearance allows a broad array of surface and subsurface exploration activities, including diamond drilling, subject to the conditions of the notification.
In addition, the company disclosed that the Lois project has been awarded a Yukon Mineral Exploration Program (YMEP) grant. The grant covers 50 per cent of eligible exploration expenditures for the property, up to a maximum of $34,180.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | ~100 km north of Faro; ~75 km WSW of Valley Deposit |
| Regulatory | Yukon Quartz Class 1 notification approved |
| Grant | YMEP grant for Lois: 50% of eligible costs, up to $34,180 |
| Ownership | Trifecta earning 100% interest from Strategic Metals Ltd. |
Geological context and regional comparisons
Trifecta frames Liam and Lois as RIRGS targets — a model that links mineralization to relatively young, mid-Cretaceous plutonic intrusions. In Yukon and Alaska this model underpins several important deposits, such as the past-producing Eagle Gold Mine and property-scale targets like Prospector Metals’ ML Project.
The company notes the projects share structural and stratigraphic settings with other notable local deposits. Examples cited include Banyan Gold Corp.'s AurMac deposit, Sitka Gold Corp.'s RC Gold project and the ML Project, many of which are hosted in Hyland Group metasedimentary rocks within the hanging wall thrust sheet.
What this means for the territory
Exploration activity in this part of Yukon can carry several implications. If further work — geological mapping, trenching and drilling — confirms substantial mineralization, projects could advance to more intensive field programs and, potentially, future development stages. The YMEP grant is one practical boost that helps offset early-stage costs and keeps crews on the land during the short northern field season.
Local communities, land users and Indigenous governments typically engage through permitting and consultation processes as programs advance; the Quartz notification and any planned field work will fall under those regulatory frameworks.
Next steps
Trifecta’s immediate options for Liam and Lois include conducting more detailed surface work and, with the Class 1 notification in hand, initiating diamond drilling programs if warranted by initial results. The company is earning the projects from Strategic Metals under the terms already disclosed in its property acquisition framework.
- Permitting: Quartz Class 1 notification allows diamond drilling and broader exploration.
- Funding: Lois receives a YMEP grant covering up to $34,180.
- Geology: Both properties target mid-Cretaceous plutons and sit in a structure-rich setting tied to the Robert Service Thrust Fault.
As exploration in the Tombstone Gold Belt continues to attract attention, companies must balance technical goals with regulatory requirements and community engagement. Trifecta’s announcement provides an early outline of work and funding for Liam and Lois; further reporting will track field results and any follow-up programs in the coming seasons.
