TSX-listed gold and silver miner Rockhaven has garnered approval from the Energy, Mines and Resources Branch of the Yukon government to extract high-grade direct shipping oxide material from its wholly-owned Klaza deposit.

The permit allows for trench excavation, extraction and shipment offsite of mineralised vein material to a depth of 3.5 m from surface along the 460 m of assay confirmed strike length of the Western BRX zone.

Notably, the Klaza deposit is already road accessible and royalty free.

Rockhaven president and CEO Matt Turner says Klaza’s surface grades are in the upper tier of Canadian precious metal deposits and the company is excited to start extracting direct shipping oxide material.

“We cannot speculate on the economic potential of this bulk sampling and shipping programme, but by following a comprehensive set of field protocols, it will collect invaluable information to support a potentially larger scale development of the Klaza project – data which will be incorporated into an updated mineral resource model and a prefeasibility study (PFS),” Turner states.

To facilitate this approach to development, Rockhaven has signed agreements for the excavation, crushing and transportation scopes of the project, as well as an offtake agreement for the processing of the material.

The offtake agreement, which is signed with Ocean Partners UK, also provides for a $1.5-million revolving credit facility to support the direct shipping material extraction and transport. Rockhaven will deliver up to 10 000 t of material through the end of 2028 to a Ocean Partners facility offshore.

Rockhaven expects to start work on the direct shipping material early in June.

Turner explains that much of the surface overburden on the Western BRX zone was removed during 2025 work programmes, which will allow bulk sampling to begin immediately upon crews mobilising to site.

Owing to its oxidised nature, the direct shipping material is free-digging and does not require drilling or blasting before extraction.

Although the bulk sample programme is the primary focus for Rockhaven in 2026, the company may opt to conduct a drill programme focused on mineral resource expansion and infill drilling, as well as to obtain samples for further advanced metallurgical testwork in support of a PFS.