Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining Company (NYSE: SSMR), based in Kellogg, Idaho, announced on September 21, 2026 that it has expanded its consolidated mineral rights position in the Silver Valley of northern Idaho by about 14,100 acres. The addition raises the company's holdings by 60 percent to roughly 38,000 acres. The company describes itself as the largest mineral rights holder in the district, which it calls the most prolific silver district in US history.
The company also launched a multi-year surface exploration program covering about 45,000 meters of drilling. Initial work will focus on three drill-ready areas. East Sunshine sits immediately east of the Sunshine Mine along strike of known mineralization in the Sunshine vein system. Rock Creek and Pine Creek lie elsewhere in the broader land package and were identified during a 2025 reconnaissance program. That program logged 322 man-days of fieldwork, 128 rock samples and 2,935 soil samples. Surface drilling is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Separately, the company is running a 50,000 meter underground in-fill drilling program at the Sunshine Mine. It supports a mine feasibility study planned for 2027 and tests near-mine resource expansion in the Upper Country. Drilling has advanced to downshaft areas and is on track to finish in October, with results expected in the fourth quarter.
Sunshine raised 270 million dollars in a US initial public offering in June. According to MINING.COM, the company's shares closed down 6 percent in New York on the day of the announcement, leaving a market capitalization of about 2.3 billion dollars. The company is also evaluating silver and copper refining and antimony production as additional opportunities.
Source: Sunshine Silver Mining & Refining - https://sunshinesilvermining.com/sunshine-silver-mining-refining-expands-silver-valley-land-position-by-60-to-approximately-38000-acres-andinitiates-multi-year-45000-meter-district-scale-exploration-program/