Upside Gold Corp. (CSE: UG) has released results from a comprehensive compilation of historic exploration data at its 10,115-hectare Kena Gold-Copper Property in southeastern British Columbia, revealing a large mineralized system that extends well beyond the historic resource estimate. The work, which integrated geological, geochemical, and geophysical data from 1974 to present, outlines a mineralized trend spanning at least seven kilometres along strike, highlighting significant expansion potential.
The historic resource at Kena comprises 2.77 million inferred ounces at 0.486 g/t Au and 0.561 million indicated ounces at 0.544 g/t Au, but the new compilation suggests the system remains open in multiple directions and at depth. Dr. Trevor Boyd, Vice President of Exploration, stated, 'This compilation work has significantly improved our understanding of the Kena mineralized system. Integrating decades of exploration data into a modern 3D model is helping us identify areas where mineralization may extend beyond the historic resource and focus our 2026 drilling on the most promising expansion targets.'
A key finding from the compilation was the extraction of silver and copper results from historical drill core analyses. Over 90% of the 24,200 core samples had multi-element data, but only gold results were previously recorded. The updated database now includes copper values up to 71,800 ppm (over 2,900 samples exceeding 500 ppm Cu) and silver values up to 145 ppm (over 2,650 samples exceeding 1 ppm Ag). These results occur within a database containing 6,300 samples grading greater than 0.25 g/t Au, with sample widths averaging 1.87 metres. The addition of copper and silver data is expected to demonstrate significant additional value within the project.
Geological and geophysical integration confirms that mineralization is structurally controlled by the Kena Deformation Zone, a steeply dipping, southeast-trending fault zone traceable for at least 11 kilometres. Induced polarization surveys identify zones of high chargeability and low resistivity extending the known mineralization from four kilometres to at least seven kilometres along strike. Sporadic historic drilling outside the historic resource has returned wide intervals of gold and copper mineralization, including 117 metres of 0.22% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au, 88.69 metres of 0.13% Cu and 0.21 g/t Au, and 210 metres of 0.17% Cu and 0.13 g/t Au in the Kena Copper Zone, as well as 90 metres of 0.9 g/t Au and 115 metres of 0.67 g/t Au in the South Gold Zone.
The company has identified multiple priority gold-copper drill targets for the 2026 program, with the majority focusing on the Kena Copper Zone to define a second major mineralized zone. The southern half of the property, which has never been drilled, also shows promising geochemical and geophysical signatures. As noted in the company's February 3, 2026 news release, the integration supports the presence of major surface to near-surface Cu-Au porphyry bodies requiring detailed drilling.
The Kootenay region of British Columbia has been largely overlooked for gold and copper exploration, offering opportunities for new discoveries. Upside Gold's work positions the Kena Property as a potentially significant gold-copper project, with the historic resource and new data providing a strong foundation for advancing towards a current resource estimate and potential development.
