FAQ
Questions about Basin Gulch and gold exploration
Published by Lannister Mining. Last updated November 2026.
Here are 43 plain answers about Lannister Mining, the Basin Gulch Property, exploration partnerships and how gold exploration works.
What is the most common question about Basin Gulch?
Most readers first ask what Basin Gulch is. It is a 1,107-hectare gold and silver oxide exploration property in west-central Montana, held by Lannister Mining, with more than 320 historical drill holes and two-thirds of the ground still unexplored.
Lannister Mining and the Basin Gulch Property
What is Lannister Mining?
Lannister Mining is a mineral exploration company focused on the Basin Gulch Property in west-central Montana. It explores near-surface gold and silver oxide mineralization on a 1,107-hectare land package with more than 320 historical drill holes, and it plans further exploration and resource development toward a future Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate.
Where is the Basin Gulch Property?
Basin Gulch is in west-central Montana, in the historic Philipsburg Mining District. Lannister Mining reports year-round access from Philipsburg on paved and well-maintained gravel roads, and the property is about one hour from Butte. The Philipsburg district led the original US silver boom in the late 1800s.
How big is the Basin Gulch land package?
The land package covers 1,107 hectares. Lannister Mining reports it is made up of 11 patented claims and 53 unpatented claims, with a core of patented mining claims surrounded by unpatented claims. The company describes it as a large, consolidated package with multiple high priority targets near the historic resource.
What metals does Lannister Mining explore for?
Lannister Mining explores for gold and silver. The company describes the Basin Gulch mineralization as near-surface gold and silver (Au-Ag) hosted in oxides. Historical trench results on the property report both gold and silver grades, while the highlighted historical drill intersections are reported in grams per tonne of gold.
How much of Basin Gulch has been explored?
Lannister Mining states that two-thirds of the Basin Gulch Property is still unexplored. The company describes the mineralization as open at depth, open along strike, open in multiple directions and untested regionally. Future drilling is planned to concentrate on additional mineralized target areas within the property.
Does Basin Gulch have a current mineral resource estimate?
Not yet. Lannister Mining describes a future Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate that will draw on historical drilling and new work programs, after expansion and confirmation drilling of historical intercepts. Until that estimate is published, the drill and trench figures on this site should be read as historical results reported by the company.
Who leads Lannister Mining?
Jim Greig is CEO and Director, with more than 25 years of experience advancing and developing projects toward production. He was a founder, President and Director at Thesis Gold (formerly Benchmark Metals). Kelvin Lee is CFO, with over 15 years of financial management experience at publicly traded companies. The board and advisors are listed on the About page.
Is Montana a good place for gold exploration?
Montana is known as the Treasure State for its mineral wealth and mining history, and Lannister Mining describes it as a safe jurisdiction. The first gold discovery in the Montana territory was in 1852 at Gold Creek near present-day Garrison, and silver, copper, nickel and platinum have since been discovered and mined there.
Exploration partners and joint ventures
What is an exploration joint venture?
An exploration joint venture is an agreement in which two or more parties share the cost, work and interest in exploring a mineral property. Terms vary widely: a partner may fund drilling to earn an interest, or the parties may contribute in fixed proportions. Lannister Mining discusses specific structures directly with prospective partners.
Is Lannister Mining open to an exploration joint venture in Montana?
This site exists so potential exploration partners and investors can review the Basin Gulch Property and contact Lannister Mining directly. The company plans further exploration and resource development in Montana, and conversations about partnership or investment start through its contact page at lannistermining.com/contact.
What does a mineral exploration partner usually contribute?
A mineral exploration partner usually contributes funding, technical work or both, in exchange for an interest in the project or its results. As a published market example, Mundoro reported Q1 2026 exploration expenditures of $1,742,275, the majority funded by partners. Any Basin Gulch terms are set in direct discussion with Lannister Mining.
What would an exploration partner be looking at in Basin Gulch?
A partner would be reviewing a 1,107-hectare package of 11 patented and 53 unpatented claims, more than 320 historical drill holes, historical trench results and multiple high priority targets. Lannister Mining states two-thirds of the property is unexplored. The scope of data shared with a partner is confirmed directly with the company.
Does the Lannister Mining team have joint venture experience?
Yes. Director Victor Cantore has over 25 years of advisory and leadership experience and has organized and structured numerous equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint venture partnerships and strategic alliances. Director Mario Vetro is a co-founder of K92 Mining and has extensive experience structuring and advising resource companies.
What should a partner check before joining a gold exploration project?
A partner should check land tenure, the quality and age of historical data, access and infrastructure, permitting context, the team, and how results will be confirmed. At Basin Gulch, Lannister Mining reports patented and unpatented claims, year-round road access, and historical data that is planned for confirmation drilling.
How do I start a partnership conversation with Lannister Mining?
Use the contact page at lannistermining.com/contact. Lannister Mining lists its investor relations contact as Ken Cotiamco at 604-687-7130 and IR@lannistermining.com, with offices at 1500 - 1055 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 4N7. Mention your organization and the type of involvement you have in mind.
Gold exploration basics
What is gold exploration?
Gold exploration is the work of finding and defining gold deposits before any mine is built. It usually moves from mapping and sampling to trenching and drilling, then to a resource estimate. At Basin Gulch, Lannister Mining is working from historical drilling toward a future Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate.
What does a gold exploration company do?
A gold exploration company acquires mineral properties, gathers geological data, drills to test targets and works to define a resource that could support development. Lannister Mining is a gold exploration company of this kind, focused on gold and silver oxide mineralization at the Basin Gulch Property in Montana.
What is the difference between a mineral exploration company and a mining company?
A mineral exploration company looks for and defines deposits; a mining company extracts and processes ore from deposits already defined. Lannister Mining is a mineral exploration company. Its advisory board includes John Lewins, CEO of K92 Mining, a high grade gold producer in Papua New Guinea.
How does exploration for gold work in practice?
Exploration for gold usually follows a sequence: review historical data, map and sample the surface, trench, drill, assay, then model results into a resource estimate. Basin Gulch already has more than 320 historical drill holes and trench results, so the next stages Lannister Mining describes focus on confirmation and expansion drilling.
What does near-surface oxide mineralization mean?
Near-surface oxide mineralization is metal-bearing rock close to the surface that has been weathered and oxidized. Lannister Mining describes Basin Gulch gold and silver as hosted in oxides and near surface, and states this implies significant mine design optimization flexibility. Several highlighted historical intercepts start from surface.
What does g/t mean in gold drill results?
g/t means grams per tonne: the grams of gold or silver in one metric tonne of rock. A result such as 1.8 g/t Au over 162 meters means the sampled interval averaged 1.8 grams of gold per tonne across 162 meters of drilling. Grade multiplied by length gives a gram-metre value.
How much do mineral exploration companies spend worldwide?
S&P Global Market Intelligence reports that global nonferrous mineral exploration spending totaled $12.40 billion in 2025, a third consecutive year of decline in nominal terms, down about 0.6% year over year. These are market figures from its World Exploration Trends 2026 study, not Lannister Mining figures.
What are silver mining companies, and is Lannister Mining one?
Silver mining companies produce silver from operating mines. Lannister Mining is not a producer; it is an exploration company whose Basin Gulch target includes silver alongside gold. Historical trench results reported by the company include silver grades such as 54 g/t Ag over 34 meters, in the historic Philipsburg silver district.
Technical data and drilling
How many drill holes are at Basin Gulch?
Lannister Mining reports more than 320 historical drill holes at Basin Gulch. The company plans to use this historical drilling together with new work programs in a future Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate, after expansion and confirmation drilling of historical intercepts.
What are the best historical drill results at Basin Gulch?
Lannister Mining highlights historical intersections including 1.8 g/t Au over 162 meters from surface, 0.66 g/t Au over 326 meters from surface, 3.2 g/t Au over 72 meters from surface, 156 g/t Au over 3 meters and 25 g/t Au over 14 meters. All are historical results.
What did trenching at Basin Gulch show?
Lannister Mining reports trench highlights of 62 g/t Au and 32 g/t Ag over 159 meters, 4 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag over 146 meters, 5 g/t Au and 54 g/t Ag over 34 meters, and 25 g/t Au and 45 g/t Ag over 61 meters. Figures appear exactly as the company reports them.
Is the Basin Gulch mineralization open?
Yes, according to Lannister Mining. The company states the gold-silver mineralization is open in multiple directions and at depth, open along strike and untested regionally. That is why future drilling is planned to focus on additional mineralized target areas within the property.
Are the Basin Gulch drill results NI 43-101 compliant?
The highlighted results are historical. Lannister Mining states that historical drilling and new work programs will be used in a future Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate, and it points to a market premium for SK1300 and NI 43-101 compliant ounces in the USA. Confirm current technical reporting status directly with the company.
Is Basin Gulch on patented or unpatented land?
Both. Lannister Mining reports Basin Gulch is primarily on patented land, with a core of 11 patented mining claims surrounded by 53 unpatented mining claims. In general, patented claims are privately held land, while unpatented claims hold mineral rights on federal land.
How do I get the full technical data on Basin Gulch?
Start with the Lannister Mining USA investor presentation, dated June 2026, on lannistermining.com, then request further information through the contact page. The company property page includes maps of the Montana location and drill layout. Detailed datasets for partner review are arranged directly with Lannister Mining.
Comparing gold exploration companies
Who are the top gold exploration companies?
There is no single agreed list of top gold exploration companies; any ranking depends on its criteria. The ratings guide on this site scores five explorers, including Lannister Mining, on six published disclosure criteria. Lannister Mining publishes that guide, so read it as the company’s own comparison built from cited public sources.
How should I compare gold exploration companies?
Compare gold exploration companies on the same facts: jurisdiction, target metals, published drill or trench results, land and ownership, program timeline and funding. The comparison guide on this site uses those points for five companies and links every source. Lannister Mining publishes the guide and is one of the companies in it.
Which mineral exploration companies are active in Montana?
Two explorers in this site’s guides work in Montana: Lannister Mining at Basin Gulch, and Stillwater Critical Minerals, which Investing News reports is advancing its 100%-owned Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co-Cr plus Au project in the Stillwater mining district. Other Montana explorers exist and are not covered here.
How does Basin Gulch compare with Precore Gold’s project in Peru?
They are different deposit styles in different countries. Precore Gold’s published intercepts in the Arequipa region are copper-led, such as 142 m at 0.37% Cu, 0.17 g/t Au and 2.02 g/t Ag from 66 m. Basin Gulch, per Lannister Mining, hosts gold and silver oxide mineralization in Montana.
Why does US jurisdiction matter for gold explorers?
Lannister Mining states that US-based companies with 43-101 compliant resources trade at a significant premium compared to their peers, and that there is a clear market premium for SK1300 and NI 43-101 compliant gold and silver ounces in the USA. Those are the company’s own statements, not an independent finding.
Are the comparison and rating guides independent?
No. Every comparison and rating guide on this site is published by Lannister Mining, which is also one of the companies compared. Each entry is judged on the same stated criteria using cited public sources, and the methodology page explains exactly how scores are set.
Investing and getting started
How can I invest in Lannister Mining?
Start with the investor presentation and the invest page on lannistermining.com, then contact investor relations. Lannister Mining lists Ken Cotiamco at 604-687-7130 and IR@lannistermining.com. This site does not give investment advice, so speak with a licensed advisor before making any investment decision.
Where can I download the Lannister Mining investor presentation?
Lannister Mining publishes a USA investor presentation dated June 2026 on its website, alongside a Canadian investor presentation. Both are listed on the company invest page at lannistermining.com/invest, and the USA version is linked directly from the contact page on this site.
What does Lannister Mining plan to do next at Basin Gulch?
Lannister Mining plans further exploration and resource development: expansion and confirmation drilling of historical intercepts, work on additional mineralized target areas, and a future Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate. A schedule is not published on this site, so ask the company for its current timeline.
What experience does the Lannister Mining board have?
Directors include Mario Vetro, a K92 Mining co-founder; Victor Cantore, a capital markets professional with over 25 years of experience; Max Zaretsky, with over 18 years in funding and financing; geologist Jo Anne Price, with over two decades of experience; and geologist Will Randall, with over 20 years in the industry.
How far is Basin Gulch from major towns?
Lannister Mining reports year-round access to Basin Gulch from Philipsburg, Montana, on paved and well-maintained gravel roads, and states the property is only one hour from Butte. Ask the company directly about visiting the property as part of a partner or investor review.
Who publishes this website?
Lannister Mining publishes this website. It is one of a small number of websites the company publishes, and it focuses on the Basin Gulch Property for potential exploration partners and investors. The company’s main website is lannistermining.com, where its contact page, team page and investor materials live.
Where can I read more?
Start with the overview of an exploration joint venture in Montana at Basin Gulch, or go to the technical summary.
Talk to Lannister Mining
Investors and potential exploration partners can reach Lannister Mining directly. Investor relations: Ken Cotiamco, 604-687-7130, IR@lannistermining.com.