By the numbers

Gold exploration by the numbers, 2026

Published by Lannister Mining Last updated November 2026

The key gold exploration numbers for Basin Gulch are 11 patented claims, 53 unpatented claims, 1,107 hectares, and more than 320 historical drill holes.

This page, published by Lannister Mining, collects those Basin Gulch figures alongside published 2026 figures from Klondike Gold, whose Montana Creek Placer Property often appears in Montana gold searches but sits in Yukon, Canada. Every number is stated as published, with its source and date.

Is Montana Creek gold in Montana?

No. The Montana Creek Placer Property that appears in 2026 gold news belongs to Klondike Gold's Klondike District Project in the Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada. It is not in the state of Montana.

The Basin Gulch Property, by contrast, is in west-central Montana, in the historic Philipsburg Mining District near Philipsburg and about one hour from Butte.

Basin Gulch Property numbers, published by Lannister Mining
Measure	Figure	Source
Patented mining claims	11	Lannister Mining
Unpatented mining claims	53	Lannister Mining
Total land package	1,107 hectares	Lannister Mining
Historical drill holes	More than 320	Lannister Mining
Share of property unexplored	Two thirds	Lannister Mining
Longest highlight drill intercept	0.66 g/t Au over 326 m (1,069.6 ft) from surface	Lannister Mining
Highest grade highlight intercept	156 g/t Au over 3 m (9.8 ft)	Lannister Mining

Source: Lannister Mining property page. Historical results, not a mineral resource.

Klondike Gold's published 2026 Montana Creek royalty figures (Yukon, Canada)
Date reported	Cumulative 2026 placer royalty receipts	Refined gold credited
July 2026 release (to date)	176.1 oz placer flake gold, approximately 82% purity	Approximately 141 oz at 99.99% purity
To August 23, 2026	377.7 oz placer flake gold, approximately 82% purity	Approximately 306 oz at 99.99% purity
To October 15, 2026 (end of season)	513.1 oz placer flake gold, approximately 82% purity	Approximately 440 oz at 99.99% purity

Sources: Klondike Gold releases on Phase 1 of its 2026 program, on Phase 2 of its 2026 program, and on completing 2026 drilling. Refined figures are after refining and applicable processing fees, as stated by Klondike Gold.

Other published 2026 exploration figures

Klondike Gold completed a hyperspectral scanning program across 22,352.1 meters of drill core at its Klondike District Project, according to its August 2026 release.
Klondike Gold received a total of $497,000.00 from the exercise of an aggregate of 3,500,000 warrants and stock options to the end of October 2026, according to its October 2026 release.

What these numbers show

Exploration companies report very different kinds of numbers depending on their stage. Basin Gulch figures describe land, historical drilling, and untested ground ahead of a planned maiden resource. Klondike Gold's figures include royalty gold from placer mining on its property and work toward an updated resource estimate.

Comparing like with like means checking what each number measures before drawing conclusions.

Back to the main guide to gold exploration in Montana

Full project details live on the Lannister Mining website

Property maps, team biographies, and the June 2026 USA Investor Presentation for the Basin Gulch Project.

Visit lannistermining.com Investor presentation (PDF)

Common questions

Short answers from the full gold exploration FAQ.

Is the Montana Creek placer property in Montana?

No. The Montana Creek Placer Property in 2026 news from Klondike Gold is in the Dawson Mining District of Yukon Territory, Canada, not the state of Montana. Klondike Gold reported 2026 royalty receipts of 513.1 ounces of placer flake gold at approximately 82% purity through October 15, 2026. Basin Gulch is in Montana, USA.

How many drill holes have been completed at Basin Gulch?

More than 320 historical drill holes have been completed at Basin Gulch, according to Lannister Mining. Historical holes are those drilled before the current company began its programs. They provide valuable information, but they generally need confirmation drilling before they can support a modern mineral resource estimate.

How many claims are in the Basin Gulch Property?

The Basin Gulch land package includes 11 patented claims and 53 unpatented claims, covering 1,107 hectares, according to Lannister Mining. The property is built around a core of patented mining claims surrounded by unpatented mining claims. Lannister Mining also describes multiple high priority targets near the historic resource area.

How does a project with historical drilling compare with a grassroots project?

A project with historical drilling already has subsurface data, so the next step is often confirming and expanding known intercepts. A grassroots project starts with mapping and sampling and has no drill data yet. Basin Gulch, with more than 320 historical holes, sits in the first group, though two thirds of its land is still unexplored.

Why do gold and silver often occur together?

Gold and silver are often deposited by the same hydrothermal fluids, so many deposits contain both metals. At Basin Gulch, published trench highlights report gold and silver together, such as 4 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over 146 meters, as listed on the Lannister Mining property page. Reporting both metals gives a fuller picture of a deposit.

Who are the top gold exploration companies?

There is no single official list of top gold exploration companies; rankings depend on criteria such as resource size, drill results, jurisdiction, team, and funding. This guide does not rank companies it lacks verified facts for. It explains the criteria and applies them to published facts, so readers can compare any company the same way.