Nicola Mining Inc. (NASDAQ:NICM)(TSXV:NIM)(FSE:HLIA) has commenced its 2026 diamond drilling program at the New Craigmont Copper Project in British Columbia, marking a key operational step shortly after the company’s recent listing on the Nasdaq exchange.
The program is focused on testing the high-priority “Jotun” geophysical target, a deep-seated anomaly identified through advanced ZTEM and Mobile MT surveying techniques. The initial phase of drilling is expected to reach depths of approximately 775 metres as the company seeks to determine whether the target represents a larger porphyry-skarn copper system.
According to previously released company information, the broader exploration campaign is budgeted at roughly $1.5 million and will also incorporate supporting geophysical work and geochemical sampling designed to refine subsurface targeting at the historic New Craigmont site.
The start of drilling comes as Nicola Mining continues to reposition itself in the public markets following its uplisting to the Nasdaq under the ticker NICM. The move is expected to increase the company’s exposure to a wider investor base and enhance trading liquidity as it advances both exploration and its existing operational assets.
Adding to recent momentum, Optimo Research published a new research note today highlighting Nicola Mining’s evolving investment profile. The report describes the company as a “transition story,” pointing to its dual structure of revenue-generating infrastructure alongside exploration-driven growth potential.
Analysts emphasized the New Craigmont project, particularly the Jotun target, as a key catalyst for future value creation, citing its scale and geophysical characteristics as indicative of a potentially significant copper system. The note also highlighted Nicola’s permitted milling infrastructure as a stabilizing asset that differentiates it from more typical early-stage explorers.
While exploration outcomes remain uncertain, market attention has increasingly focused on the company’s ability to balance near-term operational cash flow with longer-term discovery upside.
With drilling now underway, investors will be watching closely for early results from the Jotun target as Nicola Mining advances one of its most closely followed exploration programs to date.
For more information visit – https://www.nicolamining.com/