NV Gold Corp. said June 5 that it has expanded its recently acquired ATV project in Nevada to 417 lode mining claims after staking about 34 square kilometers of mineral rights covering an area near Newmont Mining Corp.'s Twin Creeks gold mine.

The company is planning a 2,500-meter drill program at the project, set to begin in late June or early July, focused on several gravity highs that were delineated by the company's recently completed gravity survey of the areas.

According to NV Gold CEO John Watson, ATV's "proximity to several existing mines with historic production or resources totaling nearly 60 million ounces of gold forms the conceptual basis when combined with the structural extensional dynamics of the area."

The program will comprise 12 to 18 reverse-circulation drill holes ranging from 100 meters to 300 meters and is expected to be completed in late July or early August.