Pure GoldMining Inc. will ramp up its 2016 exploration program at thecompany's 100% owned Madsen gold project in Ontario with a $9.1 millionexpansion.

The expansion, which will include an additional 35,000meters of diamond drilling, will increase the total drilling planned for 2016to about 51,000 meters, the company said June 9.

The planned expansion includes an additional 30,000-meterdiamond drill program focused on the potential expansion of the McVeighhorizon. Two rigs are currently active at McVeigh and the company willaccelerate the drilling through the mobilization of a third rig; about 5,000meters of drilling at Russet South and other satellite targets with plans toexpand the near surface, high-grade mineralization discovered to date; anddevelopment of a plan to re-open the existing McVeigh portal and decline,allowing for inspection of the underground, as well as completion of detailedunderground geological mapping and sampling to refine structural setting,characterize mineralization and aid in additional targeting at McVeigh.

The expansion also calls for the continued surface geologymapping, soil and rock sampling, scientific review of historic data sets andmultidisciplinary analysis and refinement of targeting.

The Madsen Mine produced 2.5 million ounces of gold fromsurface to a depth of 1,200 meters at a production rate of roughly 2,000 ouncesof gold per vertical meter.