The partners forecast the planned programme to be the most extensive at Plateau and expect it to exceed all historic drilling metres combined.

Newmont, which struck a C$53 million (US$39.6 million) deal to earn up to 80% of Plateau in March, has applied for an expanded Advanced Exploration Permit to facilitate the programme.

Goldstrike said it had spent C$6 million on exploration this year and drilled 2,900m and was "preparing for the official handover of the Plateau project" to Newmont.

It said all gold mineralized targets tested in 2017 remained open along strike and to depth.

"Plateau represents a large property position on an emerging, prospective high-grade gold trend in the Yukon," Newmont group executive North America exploration Wayne Trudel said.

Goldstrike president and CEO Terrence King said the company was pleased to have a partner in Newmont that had the proprietary technologies, depth and experience to move Plateau forward. 

"We are confident that our shareholders are in very capable hands as we hand over the Plateau project for 2018 and beyond," King said.

Goldstrike shareholders were less convinced however, sending its stock down 16.67% to C20c, towards the lower end of its 52-week range of 13-43c.

Newmont lost 2.06% to $34.67, a rough mid-point in its range for the year, as the gold price also weakened.