i-80 Gold’s Lone Tree Study Points to Higher Margins and Fast Payback on US$430 Million Plant Refurbishment

An announcement from i-80 Gold Corp ( (TSE:IAU) ) is now available.

i-80 Gold has released an engineering study outlining plans to refurbish and upgrade its Lone Tree processing plant in Northern Nevada into a modern pressure oxidation and carbon‑in‑leach facility with nameplate capacity of roughly 2,268 tonnes per day. The project carries an AACE Class 3 capital cost estimate of about US$430 million including spares, higher than earlier expectations due to inflation, design refinements and expanded tailings capacity, but is projected to materially improve economics by shifting the company from toll‑milling to an owner‑operated model that could boost margins by an estimated US$1,000–US$1,500 per ounce and deliver a payback in 12 to 24 months once in operation. Early works have started under a limited notice to proceed, with full construction contingent on completing a recapitalization that management aims to finish by mid‑2026, and the plant is targeted for construction start in the second half of 2026 and commissioning by the end of 2027, positioning i‑80 Gold to centralize processing of ore from its three underground mines and strengthen its competitive standing alongside Nevada Gold Mines as one of the only autoclave operators in the state.

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 producer and developer, operating in the precious metals mining industry with a portfolio of high‑grade underground mines including Granite Creek, Archimedes and Cove. The company’s strategy is to build a mid‑tier gold producer centered on its Lone Tree complex in Northern Nevada, leveraging one of only two autoclave processing facilities in the state to treat refractory and oxide ores in a key North American gold jurisdiction.

Average Trading Volume: 1,221,915

Technical Sentiment Signal: Hold

Current Market Cap: C$1.63B

See more data about IAU stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.