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THUNDER MOUNTAIN GOLD INC

For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Mar 12, 2024.

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A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2023 · Filed Mar 12, 2024

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ITEM 2. - DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES

These measures are to be seamlessly integrated into our broader operational risk management framework aimed at minimizing exposure to unnecessary risks across our operations. For cybersecurity, we collaborate with expert consultants and third-party service providers to implement industry-standard strategies aimed at identifying and mitigating potential threats or vulnerabilities within our systems. Additionally, the policy strategy will have a comprehensive cyber crisis response plan to manage high severity security incidents, ensuring efficient coordination across the organization.

Cybersecurity threats haven't significantly impacted our operations, and we don't anticipate such risks materially affecting our business, strategy, financial condition, or results of operations. However, given the escalating sophistication of cyber threats, our preventive measures may not always suffice. Despite well-designed controls, we acknowledge the inability to foresee all security breaches, including those stemming from third-party misuse of AI technologies, and the potential challenges in implementing timely preventive measures. Please refer to Item 1A: Risk Factors for further insights into cyber attack-related risks.

The Chief Financial Officer will oversees our information security programs, including cybersecurity initiatives, and is integrated into our Cybersecurity Incident response process. The Audit committee oversees cybersecurity risk management activities, supported by Company management, the Board of Directors, and external consultants. We assess and prioritize risks based on potential impact, implement technical controls, and monitor third-party vendors' security practices.

The Company, including its subsidiaries, owns mining rights, mining claims, and properties in the mining areas of Nevada and Idaho, which includes its South Mountain Property in Idaho, and its Trout Creek Property in Nevada.

The Company owns 100% of the outstanding stock of Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc., a Nevada Corporation. Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. owns 100% of the outstanding stock of South Mountain Mines, Inc. (SMMI), an Idaho Corporation., Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc. completed the direct purchase of 100% ownership of South Mountain Mines, Inc. on September 27, 2007, which consisted of 17 patented mining claims (approximately 327 acres) located in Owyhee County in southwestern Idaho. After the purchase, Thunder Mountain Resources staked 21 unpatented lode mining claims and obtained mineral leases on 489 acres of adjoining private ranch land.

The current land package at South Mountain consists of 18 patented mining claims encompassing approximately 346 acres, 36 acres of private land, 21 unpatented mining lode claims covering approximately 290 acres, and approximately 489 acres of leased private land. In addition, the project owns 360 acres of private land (mill site) not contiguous with the mining claims. All holdings are in the South Mountain Mining District, Owyhee County, Idaho.

The Company's plan of operation for the next twelve months, subject to business conditions, will be to continue to advance the South Mountain Project, including continued baseline environmental and engineering work necessary to complete a Preliminary Economic Analysis or Initial Analysis.

The South Mountain Project

The South Mountain Mine is a polymetallic development project focused on high-grade zinc, silver, gold, and copper. It is located approximately 70 miles southwest of Boise, Idaho (see Figure 2). The Project was intermittently mined from the late 1800s to the late 1960s and its existing underground workings remain intact and well maintained. Historic production at the Project has largely come from high-grade massive sulfide zones that remain open at depth and along strike. According to historical smelter records, approximately 53,642 tons of mineralized material has been mined to date. These records also indicate average grades;14.5% Zn, 11.63 opt Ag, 0.063 opt Au, 2.4% Pb, and1.4% Cu were mined.

Thunder Mountain Gold Inc. purchased the Project in 2007, after selling its main asset in central Idaho and donating thousands of acres at that site to conservation. The Company continues to advance South Mountain, investing in excess of $20M during this period. The Project is largely on, and surrounded by private land, and as such, the permitting and environmental aspects of the Project are expected to be straightforward. Permits are currently in place for underground and surface exploration and development activities.

Figure 2. Location of South Mountain Project

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS - SOUTH MOUNTAIN PROJECT

On December 21, 2023, the Company filed and reported a new and updated independent NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate ("43-101 43-101 MRE") incorporating results from surface diamond drilling program conducting in 2021 at the South Mountain Project ("South Mountain" or "South Mountain Project" or the "Property") in southwestern Idaho, U.S.A. The updated 43-101 MRE includes an increased resource for the Project while maintaining the high-grade mineralization. The updated Independent 43-101 MRE, which has an effective date of October 16, 2023, was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI-43-101") by Hard Rock Consulting, LLC, based in the U.S.A.

This report is endorsed by the following Qualified Persons, as defined by NI 43-101: Ms. J.J. Brown, P.G., Mr. Jeffrey Choquette, P.E., and Mr. Richard Schwering, all of Hard Rock Consulting (HRC).

HIGHLIGHTS OF UPDATED MINERAL RESOURCE

  • Measured & Indicated ("M&I"): 223,000 tons grading 9.02% Zinc ("Zn"), 4.27 ounces per ton ("opt") Silver ("Ag"), 0.059 opt Gold ("Au"), 0.64% Copper ("Cu"), and 0.94% Lead ("Pb").

  • This represents a 7.7% increase to the M&I tonnage from the previous 2021 43-101 MRE, with a 18.82% Zn equivalent grade ("ZnEq"), or a 20.55opt Ag equivalent grade ("AgEq")

  • Inferred: 959,000 tons grading 7.56% Zn (14% increase in Zn lbs), 5.67 opt Ag (14.10% increase in Ag ounces), 0.037 opt Au (3.3% increase in Au ounces), 0.80% Cu (14.5% increase in Cu lbs), and 1.06% Pb (25.4% increase in Pb lbs).

  • This represents a 15.1% increase in the Inferred tonnage from the previous 2021 43-101 MRE with an 17.2% ZnEq or a 19.30 opt AgEq.

  • The DMEA Zone in the model was extended an additional 250 feet down dip and remains open.

This latest round of drilling completed during the late fall of 2021 proves the continuation of the down plunge extension of the DMEA zone at depth. This zone remains open in both directions. All the of the drill results have now been in incorporated into the updated 43-101 MRE for the South Mountain deposit. The increase in Measured and Indicated tons are the result of updated metal prices and mining costs. Surface drilling completed in 2021 accounts for approximately 8% of the increase in Inferred tons, while the remaining 7% increase is due to updated metal prices and mining costs.

Table 1 below provides the Mineral Resource Statement for the Project in U.S. units with details of the modelling methodology and cut-off grades applied to the mineral resource. Figure 1 illustrates the principal areas where the South Mountain deposit has been expanded from the historical 43-101 MRE that was completed in 2021. The historical Technical Report for the Mineral Resource Estimate for the South Mountain Project Owyhee County, Idaho USA Report Date: June 15, 2021 - is filed on SEDAR.

Table 1. South Mountain Mineral Resource Statement (U.S. Units)

Metallurgical DomainMassive Sulfide Type
ClassificationMeasuredIndicatedMeasured + IndicatedInferred
Short Tons54,000122,000176,000868,000
NSR ($/sh. Ton)343.35370.05361.92307.62
Zinc (%)11.5111.1511.268.25
Zinc (lb.)12,300,00027,300,00039,600,000143,200,000
Silver (t. oz/ sh. Ton)3.624.744.395.96
Silver (t. oz)194,000580,000774,0005,177,000
Gold (t. oz/ sh. Ton)0.0700.0740.0730.040
Gold (t. oz)3,8009,10012,90034,700
Copper (%)0.450.550.520.74
Copper (lb.)500,0001,300,0001,800,00012,800,000
Lead (%)0.791.321.161.16
Lead (lb.)850,0003,240,0004,080,00020,200,000
ZnEq (%)19.5420.9320.5117.69
ZnEq (lb.)20,900,00051,200,00072,200,000307,200,000
Metallurgical DomainSkarn Type
ClassificationMeasuredIndicatedMeasured + IndicatedInferred
Short Tons15,00032,00047,00091,000
NSR ($/sh. Ton)196.71149.31164.73166.76
Zinc (%)0.990.440.621.02
Zinc (lb.)300,000300,000600,0001,900,000
Silver (t. oz/ sh. Ton)4.613.443.822.86
Silver (oz/ sh. Ton)70,000109,000179,000261,000
Gold (t. oz/ sh. Ton)0.0170.0050.0090.005
Gold (oz/ sh. Ton)300100400400
Copper (%)1.121.121.121.41
Copper (lb.)300,000700,0001,000,0002,600,000
Lead (%)0.270.070.130.04
Lead (lb.)80,00040,000120,00070,000
ZnEq (%)14.8311.3812.5012.65
ZnEq (lb.)4,500,0007,200,00011,700,00023,100,000
Metallurgical DomainTotal
ClassificationMeasuredIndicatedMeasured + IndicatedInferred
Short Tons69,000154,000223,000959,000
NSR ($/sh. Ton)310.88324.73320.46294.21
Zinc (%)9.188.959.027.56
Zinc (lb.)12,600,00027,600,00040,200,000145,000,000
Silver (t. oz/ sh. Ton)3.844.474.275.67
Silver (oz/ sh. Ton)264,000688,000953,0005,438,000
Gold (t. oz/ sh. Ton)0.0580.0600.0590.037
Gold (oz/ sh. Ton)4,0009,30013,30035,200
Copper (%)0.600.660.640.80
Copper (lb.)800,0002,000,0002,900,00015,400,000
Lead (%)0.671.060.941.06
Lead (lb.)930,0003,280,0004,210,00020,270,000
ZnEq (%)18.5018.9718.8217.21
ZnEq (lb.)25,500,00058,400,00083,900,000330,300,000
  1. The effective date of the mineral resource estimate is October 16, 2023. The QP for the estimate Mr. Richard A. Schwering, SME-RM, P.G., of Hard Rock Consulting, LLC. is independent of South Mountain Mining, LLC.

  2. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability such as diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when material is mined or extracted; or modifying factors including but not restricted to mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors.

  3. Inferred mineral resources are part of a mineral resource for which the grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Inferred mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability and may not be converted to mineral reserves. It is reasonably expected, though not guaranteed, that the majority of Inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to Indicated mineral resources with continued exploration.

  4. The mineral resource is reported at an underground mining cut-off of $97.50 U.S. Net Smelter Return ("NSR") within coherent wireframe models. The NSR calculation and cut-off is based on the following assumptions: an Au price of $1,800/oz, a Ag price of $23.50/oz, a Pb price of $1.00/lb., a Zn price of $1.35/lb. and a Cu price of $4.00/lb.; Massive Sulfide type metallurgical recoveries and payables of 52.25% for Au, 71.25% for Ag, 71.40% for Zn, 66.50% for Pb, and 49.00% for Cu and a total smelter cost of $33.29; Skarn type metallurgical recoveries and payables of 71.25% for Au, 80.75% for Ag, 51.00% for Zn, 47.50% for Pb, and 87.70% for Cu and a smelter cost of $7.24; assumed mining cost of $65/ton, process costs of $25/ton, general and administrative costs of $7.50/ton. Based on the stated prices and recoveries the NSR formula is calculated as follows; NSR = (Ag grade * Ag price * Ag Recovery and Payable) + (Au grade * Au price * Au Recovery and Payable) + (Pb grade * 20 * Pb Price * Pb Recovery and Payable) + (Cu grade * 20 * Cu Price * Cu Recovery and Payable) + (Zn grade * 20 * Zn Price * Zn Recovery and Payable) for each metallurgical domain. The zinc equivalent grades were calculated as Zn Grade + (((Pb Price * Pb Recovery and Payable) / (Zn Price*Zn Recovery and Payable)) * Pb Grade) + (((Cu Price * Cu Recovery and Payable) / (Zn Price * Zn Recovery and Payable)) * Cu Grade) + (((Ag Price * Ag Recovery and Payable) / (Zn Price * 20 * Zn Recovery and Payable)) * Ag Grade) + (((Au Price * Au Recovery and Payable) / (Zn Price * 20 * Zn Recovery and Payable)) * Au Grade) for each metallurgical domain.

  5. Rounding may result in apparent differences when summing tons, grade and contained metal content. Tonnage and grade are in U.S. Customary units.

Figure 1: 3D Perspective view inclined 200 looking north-north-east, indicating the areas of the expanded mineral resource, with zones that are open.

Qualified Person Statement for the Mineral Resource Estimate

Mr. Richard A. Schwering, P.G., SME-RM, a Resource Geologist with Hard Rock Consulting, LLC, is responsible for the South Mountain Project Mineral Resource Estimate with an effective date of October 16, 2023. Mr. Schwering is a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101 and is independent of Thunder Mountain Gold Inc., and South Mountain Mines, Inc. Mr. Schwering estimated the mineral resources based on drill hole and channel sample data constrained by geologic boundaries using an Ordinary Krig algorithm. The Geologic Model and Mineral Resource Estimate were completed using Leapfrog Geo® Software version 2023.1.1. Hard Rock Consulting also completed the previous resource estimate.

Additional Project Highlights

On December 13, 2023, the Company completed a land purchase of an additional 56 acres of strategic land at the Company`s South Mountain Project. The land is a combination of both patented and private land, with full mineral rights, and was previously leased by the Company in prior years. The parcel is contiguous with the South Mountain patented claims and is important to the future development of the Texas Zone. This land acquisition covers a gap in the main mine area and eliminates any outside ownership within the main mine area.

On September 5, 2022, Crone Geophysics based in Toronto, Canada initiated a time domain pulse electromagnetic (PEM) survey over a portion of the South Mountain Mines. The objective of the survey is to delineate massive sulfide mineralization within a marble unit bounded by Paleozoic schists. Historic mining on the area was conducted on massive sulfide mineralization associated hosted by the Laxey Marble within the survey area. Bowes (1985) describes the sulfide bodies as pipe-like dipping to the southwest at 40-50° and raking 50°. The survey was completed on November 7, 2022. In addition to the PEM survey, property scale topography, geology and ground magnetics will be included to provide supporting data for the interpretation. The digital products include raw data, intermediate processed products, and final products in several data formats.

In May of 2021, the Company and its project team completed an updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE"), incorporating results from Phase 1 and 2 underground diamond drilling programs at the South Mountain Project. The updated MRE includes a substantially increased resource for the Project while maintaining the high-grade nature of the mineralization.

The updated Independent MRE, which has an effective date of April 20, 2021, was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI-43-101") by Hard Rock Consulting, LLC, based in the U.S.A. A technical report for this MRE was filed with SEDAR, and on the Company's website, within 45 days from the date of this news release.

Later in 2021, the Company embarked on a phase 3 program at South Mountain with the objective to significantly expand the scale of the current Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") at South Mountain (See Summary of the MRE below), testing and establishing the down depth extent of mineralization on the DMEA zone. The DMEA Zone is the largest known body of mineralization on the Property, containing the majority of tonnage in the current MRE, and the mineralized zone remains open at depth.

Based on the last two phases of underground drilling, the surface core drilling, and all the historical exploration data available, the Company believes there is the potential to expand the down-plunge extensions of the mineral resource with this new phase of surface drilling at the Property.

South Mountain Project - BeMetals Option Agreement

In 2019, Thunder Mountain Gold Inc. and BeMetals Corp. formed a project team early in 2019 that is focused on advancing the South Mountain Project.

The project team commenced drilling at South Mountain in July of 2019 and drilled twenty-one holes totaling 7,517 feet (2,290 meters) from five underground drilling stations within the Sonneman level. The drilling program was designed to test potential down plunge extensions, and overall continuity to the mineralized zones and confirm the grade distribution of the current polymetallic mineral resource. All of the drill core recovered from the drilling was logged on site and assayed by ALS Chemex. Selected intervals and results are summarized in the Company`s Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

On September 21, 2021, the Company agreed to an extension of the Option Agreement with BeMetals Corp. The Extension is through the 2022 calendar year, with the same terms to acquire up to a 100% interest in the South Mountain Project in southwest Idaho, U.S.A. In exchange for the Extension, BeMetals paid the Company the Tranche 6 Payment of $250,000.

On December 30, 2022, Thunder Mountain Gold, Inc. by and through its subsidiaries Thunder Mountain Resources, Inc., a Nevada Corporation, and South Mountain Mines, Inc., an Idaho Corporation ("SMMI") (collectively the "Company", "THMG", or "We", "Our" or "Us") agreed to terminate the Option Agreement, (the "BeMetals Option Agreement") with BeMetals Corporation, a British Columbia corporation, and BeMetals USA Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("BeMetals BMET").

Figure 3: Plan View of Sonneman & Laxey Levels,

showing locations of previously reported rib sampling

Note to United States investors concerning estimates of measured, indicated and inferred resources.

Information concerning our mining properties has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, which first became applicable to us for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. These requirements differ significantly from the previously applicable disclosure requirements of SEC Industry Guide 7. Among other differences, subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K requires us to disclose our mineral resources, in addition to our mineral reserves, as of the end of our most recently completed fiscal year both in the aggregate and for each of our individually material mining properties. You are cautioned that mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic value. Mineral resources are subject to further exploration and development, are subject to additional risks, and no assurance can be given that they will eventually convert to future reserves. Inferred Resources, in particular, have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and their economic and legal feasibility. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the Inferred Resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. See Item 1A, Risk Factors.

Disclosure of the NI-43-101 has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, including Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). The Highlights of South Mountain NI-43-101 section refers to "mineral resources," "measured mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources," and "inferred mineral resources."

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