Viva Gold Announces High-Grade Drill Results from Tonopah Gold Project

VANCOUVER, BC – June 3, 2026 – Leads & Copy – Viva Gold Corp. (TSXV: VAU; OTCQB: VAUCF) has announced high-grade results from two holes drilled as part of its 2026 reverse-circulation drill program at the Tonopah Gold Project. The project is situated on the Walker Lane Mineral Trend in western Nevada, approximately 30 minutes south of Kinross Gold’s Round Mountain Mine. The latest results include significant gold mineralization over substantial widths in one of the strongest holes drilled to date in the western portion of the 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) resource pit area.

James Hesketh, President & CEO of Viva Gold, stated, "We are very pleased with these results. TG2610 and TG2609 were drilled to test the width extension potential of the north and south limits of the down-dropped block of deeper mineralization situated in the western section of the main 2025 PEA resource pit." He added that TG2610 returned significant lengths of high-grade mineralization in two zones, marking it as one of the strongest holes in the western pit area, while TG2609 encountered lower-grade mineralization on the southern extent. The results from TG2610 suggest the potential to increase gold mineralization in the northern dimension of this resource pit section.

Key highlights from the latest assay returns include: Hole TG2610 returned 88.4 meters grading 0.98 grams per tonne gold in two zones. This includes a zone of 59.4 meters at 1.08 g/t Au, which further contained 6.1 meters at 4.23 g/t Au, and 4.6 meters at 2.26 g/t Au. Additionally, a second zone in TG2610 yielded 29 meters at 0.76 g/t Au, including 1.5 meters at 8.67 g/t Au, all found between depths of 123.4 and 217.9 meters.

Hole TG2609 reported 15.2 meters at 0.44 g/t Au in two zones, including 7.6 meters at 0.58 g/t Au from 131.1 meters depth. A second zone in TG2609 found 7.6 meters at 0.31 g/t Au from 201.2 meters depth.

The 2026 RC drill program, comprising nineteen holes totaling 3,210 meters, was designed to expand and infill gold mineralization with the objective of upgrading inferred resources to a level suitable for conversion to mineral reserves in the pre-feasibility study. The program also included three exploration holes targeting the Midway Hills prospect at Tonopah. Previous assay results from this program were released on April 23 and May 13, 2026, with results for an additional nine holes still pending.

Viva Gold employs a rigorous Quality Assurance/Quality Control system, including the insertion of blanks and standards into the assay stream and maintaining strict chain of custody for all samples. Assays are conducted by independent laboratories, such as American Assay Laboratories Inc. of Reno, Nevada, using fire assay and ICP methods with gravimetric finish. James Hesketh, MMSA-QP, an officer and director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

Viva Gold’s 100%-owned Tonopah Gold Project is located on an extensive land package within an established gold-mining region on the Walker Lane Structural Trend in western Nevada. The company has defined a high-confidence gold mineral resource and has demonstrated the project’s potential for an economically viable open-pit, heap leach/mill gold operation through its 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). The company is committed to advancing the project responsibly.

The company is led by CEO James Hesketh, a mining industry veteran with 40 years of experience, and a board and management team with extensive expertise in exploration, project development, construction, and mine operations. Viva Gold trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (VAU), the OTCQB (VAUCF), and the Frankfurt Exchange (7PB), with approximately 172 million shares outstanding. The company is advancing its Tonopah Gold Project in Nevada with the support of institutional shareholders. Further information can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the company website at www.vivagoldcorp.com.

Source: Viva Gold Corp