i-80 Gold Advances Lone Tree Plant Refurbishment Study

i-80 Gold Corp ( (TSE:IAU) ) has issued an update.

On December 18, 2025, i-80 Gold Corp. reported the results of an engineering study for the refurbishment of its Lone Tree Plant in Northern Nevada, a cornerstone asset in the first phase of its growth plan. The study, prepared to an AACE Class 3 level by Hatch, outlines a US$430 million project to modernize the autoclave facility into an integrated POX-CIL plant with nameplate capacity of 2,268 tonnes per day, including new environmental systems, a filtered tailings facility, upgraded grinding controls and a new oxygen plant operated under a third-party supply contract. The refurbishment is designed to process both refractory and oxide ore from the company’s three underground mines, shift i-80 Gold from toll-milling to an owner-operated processing model, and cut processing costs to about one third of current levels, driving an estimated US$1,000–US$1,500 per ounce increase in margins and a projected 12–24 month payback period, depending on grade and gold prices. Early works began after the board approved a limited notice to proceed in August 2025, with detailed engineering roughly 30% complete; permit design work is slated to finish in the fourth quarter of 2025, permit applications are targeted for the first quarter of 2026, major construction is planned to start in the second half of 2026 following recapitalization and regulatory approvals, and commissioning is forecast to begin at the end of 2027, supported by an experienced Nevada-based team and local contractors.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:IAU) stock is a Buy with a C$3.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on i-80 Gold Corp stock, see the TSE:IAU Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on TSE:IAU Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, TSE:IAU is a Neutral.

i-80 Gold Corp’s overall stock score is primarily impacted by its financial performance, which is weak due to profitability and cash flow challenges. Despite strong technical indicators suggesting bullish momentum, the negative valuation metrics and ongoing operational challenges weigh heavily on the score. Positive developments from the earnings call and corporate events provide some optimism, but the company needs to address its financial inefficiencies to improve its overall standing.

To see Spark’s full report on TSE:IAU stock, click here.

More about i-80 Gold Corp

i-80 Gold Corp. is a Nevada-focused gold mining company working to build a mid-tier production profile by developing a portfolio of high-grade underground gold mines. The company is one of only two gold producers in Nevada with an autoclave processing facility, positioning it to process refractory ore from its Granite Creek, Archimedes and Cove projects through its Lone Tree Plant hub.

Average Trading Volume: 1,222,181

Technical Sentiment Signal: Hold

Current Market Cap: C$1.72B

Learn more about IAU stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.