Liberty Gold Strengthens Black Pine Development Team with the Appointment of Curtis Cadwell as General Manager

Liberty Gold appoints an experienced mine operator to lead Black Pine project development.

What the company is saying

Liberty Gold Corp. (TSX:LGD, OTCQX:LGDTF) has named Curtis Cadwell as General Manager for its 100%-owned Black Pine Oxide Gold Project in Idaho, effective October 12, 2026. The company frames this as a key step in strengthening its mine operating team as it advances detailed engineering and permitting for Black Pine. The release emphasizes Cadwell’s three decades of mining experience, including over 20 years at Barrick Gold where he managed the Goldstrike and Cortez operations with a workforce of approximately 2,500. His recent roles at Kinross Gold, McEwen Mining, and OceanaGold are highlighted to reinforce his operational and financial acumen. President and CEO Jon Gilligan states that Cadwell’s experience in complex mine ramp-ups and cost control is critical as Liberty Gold prepares for disciplined project development and a potential construction decision, pending permits. The company’s messaging is confident, focusing on technical simplicity, environmental performance, and value creation, but does not provide new technical or financial data for Black Pine.

What the data suggests

The announcement confirms Curtis Cadwell’s appointment as General Manager for Black Pine, effective October 12, 2026, and details his extensive operational background. Cadwell managed Barrick Nevada’s Goldstrike and Cortez mines, overseeing a workforce of about 2,500, and held senior finance and operations roles at Kinross Gold, McEwen Mining, and OceanaGold. Liberty Gold owns 100% of the Black Pine project, described as a large-scale, past-producing, run-of-mine heap leachable gold deposit in Idaho. The project is currently advancing through detailed engineering and permitting, with no construction decision yet made and no new technical, resource, or financial figures disclosed. The company’s disclosures are specific regarding personnel and project ownership but do not provide operational or economic progress metrics for Black Pine. All quantitative data in this release relate to Cadwell’s prior management scope and the company’s project ownership.

Analysis

This announcement is a routine personnel update, naming Curtis Cadwell as General Manager for the Black Pine Oxide Gold Project. The tone is positive, emphasizing Mr. Cadwell's extensive experience and the strategic importance of his role as the company advances engineering and permitting. While there are forward-looking statements about strengthening operating capability and advancing the project, these are standard for such appointments and not exaggerated relative to the evidence. No operational, financial, or technical progress is claimed or quantified for the Black Pine project itself, and no capital outlay or immediate project milestones are disclosed. The language is proportionate to the nature of the update, with no overstatement of realised progress or imminent benefits. The gap between narrative and evidence is minimal, as the claims are limited to the appointment and background of the new executive.

Risk flags

• ●The Black Pine project is still in the permitting and detailed engineering stage, meaning that actual mine construction and production are contingent on regulatory approvals that may be delayed or denied. This introduces significant execution risk, as timelines for permitting in the United States can be unpredictable and subject to change.
• ●The announcement relies on the operational experience of a single executive to drive project advancement. While Cadwell’s background is extensive, key-person risk remains if project success becomes overly dependent on his leadership, particularly given the early stage of project development.
• ●No new technical, operational, or financial milestones for Black Pine are disclosed, leaving investors without updated indicators of project progress or economic viability. This limits visibility into near-term catalysts or the likelihood of advancing to construction.

Bottom line

Liberty Gold’s appointment of Curtis Cadwell as General Manager for Black Pine signals an intent to build a strong operating team ahead of potential mine development, leveraging his experience managing large U.S. gold operations and a workforce of 2,500. The project remains at the permitting and engineering stage, with no construction or production timeline announced, so the appointment’s impact is preparatory rather than immediately value-creating. Investors should view this as a routine but necessary step for a company seeking to advance a large-scale gold project, not as evidence of imminent project milestones or financial upside. The most important takeaway is that Liberty Gold is investing in experienced leadership but still faces permitting and execution hurdles before Black Pine can deliver tangible returns.

Announcement summary

(TSX:LGD, OTCQX:LGDTF) Liberty Gold Corp. has appointed Curtis Cadwell as General Manager for its run-of-mine, heap leach Black Pine Oxide Gold Project in southeastern Idaho, effective October 12, 2026. The appointment is intended to strengthen Liberty Gold's mine operating capability as the company advances detailed engineering and permitting at Black Pine and fills a key role in the operating team required for successful design, construction, and future production. Curtis Cadwell brings three decades of mining industry experience, including more than 20 years with Barrick Gold Corporation in progressively senior operating and financial roles. As General Manager, Operations for Barrick Nevada, Mr. Cadwell was responsible for the Goldstrike and Cortez operations, which included open-pit and underground mining, processing, resource development, technical services, supply chain functions, and a workforce of approximately 2,500. Most recently, he served as Finance Manager, Nevada for Kinross Gold Corporation, supporting the Round Mountain and Bald Mountain open pit, ROM leach gold operations with responsibility for budgeting, life-of-mine planning, continuous improvement, purchasing, warehousing, and cost optimization. He has also held roles as Operations and Finance Manager at McEwen Mining Inc.'s Gold Bar operation and as Mine Manager and Director of Operations at OceanaGold Corporation’s Haile Gold Mine, where he managed the transition from startup to operating site. Mr. Cadwell holds a BBA in Accounting and Finance from the University of New Mexico and is a Certified Public Accountant. Jon Gilligan, President and CEO of Liberty Gold, stated that Curtis Cadwell brings an exceptional combination of large-scale U.S. gold operating experience and financial discipline to the team, and that his experience in managing complex mining operations and life-of-mine planning will be valuable as the company advances detailed engineering and permitting at Black Pine. Liberty Gold owns 100% of the Black Pine oxide gold project in Idaho, located within the Great Basin. Black Pine is a large-scale, past-producing, run-of-mine heap leachable gold deposit advancing through permitting toward a potential construction decision. The company’s strategy is focused on advancing high-quality, long-life gold assets with an emphasis on technical simplicity, strong environmental performance, project executability, collaborative permitting processes, and value creation.

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