Including 10.7 g/t Au over 9.4 m, 8.2 g/t Au over 5.6 m & 14.5 g/t Au over 2.7 m

i-80 GOLD CORP. (TSX:IAU) (OTCQX:IAUCF) is pleased to announce positive assay results from the ongoing underground drill program at the Company’s Granite Creek Property located in Humboldt County, Nevada.

High-grade drill results from the 4790 Level targeting mineralization in the Otto, Adam Peak and Range Front fault horizons proximal to and below existing mine workings are designed to confirm continuity in one of the initial areas being defined for underground mining (see Table 1). The Otto, Adam Peak, and Range Front fault horizons are three of multiple target areas being drilled with several holes intersecting gold mineralization in multiple horizons. The 2022 program has been upsized and is expected to comprise more than 30,000 metres (m) from surface and underground. The Company anticipates providing regular updates throughout the year as assay results are received.

Highlight results from initial underground drilling (ten holes) from Level 4790 include:

• 20.3 g/t (grams per tonne) Au (gold) over 1.3 m in hole iGU21-15
• 8.2 g/t Au over 5.6 m in hole iGU21-17
• 14.5 g/t Au over 1.5 m in hole iGU21-18
• 24.4 g/t Au over 1.2 m in hole iGU21-22
• 14.5 g/t Au over 2.7 m & 10.6 g/t over 1.5m & 9.9 g/t over 1.1 m in hole iGU21-23
• 10.7 g/t Au over 9.4 m in hole iGU21-24

As part of the program targeting development and mining at Granite Creek, definition drilling utilizing two underground Cubex drills has started in areas where encouraging assays results were received in 2021.  This drilling is being completed to define initial stoping areas as the Company advances towards a production decision.

The primary goal of the 2022 drill program is to delineate and expand underground mineralization as the Company ramps up mining on the Property. It is expected that refractory mineralization from the underground operation at Granite Creek will initially be trucked to Twin Creeks for processing, pursuant to the agreement entered into with Nevada Gold Mines, until such time that the Company’s Lone Tree facility is operational.

Matt Gili, President and Chief Operating Officer of i-80 commented: “These results further confirm the high‑grade opportunity that we are developing at Granite Creek. We are focused on bringing these near‑mine areas into reserves and then into production.”

High-grade mineralization at Granite Creek occurs in a near-identical geological setting as that at the multi‑million-ounce Turquoise Ridge Mine located immediately to the north; proximal to a major regional fault (the Getchell or Range Front fault) on the eastern edge of the large Osgood Mountains intrusive complex. The Granite Creek deposit remains open at depth and along strike from the existing underground workings with step-out drilling aimed at expanding resources currently underway with multiple surface drill rigs.

Table 1 – Summary Assay Results from Level 4790 Drilling

 Figure 1 – 3D View of Mineralized Zones Being Drilled from Underground Workings

The Granite Creek Property is strategically located proximal to Nevada Gold Mines’ Turquoise Ridge and Twin Creeks mines at the north end of the Battle Mountain-Eureka Trend, at its intersection with the Getchell gold belt in Nevada (See Figure 2).

 Figure 2 – Property Location Map 

QAQC Procedures

All samples were submitted to Paragon Geochemical Assay Laboratories (PAL) of Sparks, NV, which is an ISO 9001 and 17025 certified and accredited laboratory, independent of the Company. Samples submitted through PAL are run through standard prep methods and analyzed using FA-Pb30-ICP (Au; 30g fire assay) and 48MA-MS (48 element Suite; 0.5g 4-acid digestion/ICP-MS) methods. PAL also undertake their own internal coarse and pulp duplicate analysis to ensure proper sample preparation and equipment calibration. i-80 Gold Corp’s QA/QC program includes regular insertion of CRM standards, duplicates, and blanks into the sample stream with a stringent review of all results.

Qualified Person

Tim George, PE, Manager of Engineering Services, reviewed the technical and scientific information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101.

About i-80 Gold Corp.

i-80 Gold Corp. is a well-financed, Nevada-focused, mining company with a goal of achieving mid-tier gold producer status through the development of four new open pit and underground mining operations that will ultimately process ore at the Company’s central Lone Tree complex that includes an Autoclave