
January 17, 2025
Amarc Resources Ltd. ("Amarc" or the "Company") (TSXV:AHR)(OTCQB:AXREF) is pleased to announce discovery of the new, high grade, gold-rich porphyry copper-gold-silver ("Cu-Au-Ag") AuRORA deposit at its 100% owned JOY Copper-Gold District ("JOY"), in the prolific Toodoggone-Kemess porphyry Cu-Au region of north-central British Columbia ("BC"). The AuRORA Deposit Discovery is located within an area of the 495 km 2 JOY District that had not previously been drill tested (see Figures 1, 2 and 3). Freeport-McMoRan Mineral Properties Canada Inc. ("Freeport") is fully funding work programs at JOY to earn an interest in the project, and Amarc is the operator of all programs.
Highlights from Initial AuRORA DEPOSIT Discovery Drill Holes Include:
Drill Hole | Int.1,2,3 (m) | From (m) | Incl. | Au (g/t) | Cu (%) | Ag (g/t) | CuEQ4 (%) |
JP24057 | 82 | 18 | 1.24 | 0.38 | 2.47 | 1.08 | |
42 | 58 | Incl. | 1.97 | 0.49 | 3.58 | 1.61 | |
JP24059 | 271 | 24 | 0.98 | 0.25 | 1.93 | 0.81 | |
171 | 24 | Incl. | 1.32 | 0.34 | 2.62 | 1.09 | |
89 | 106 | and | 2.29 | 0.46 | 3.65 | 1.76 | |
JP24071 | 212 | 21 | 1.36 | 0.40 | 3.35 | 1.18 | |
108 | 104 | Incl. | 2.38 | 0.60 | 5.17 | 1.96 | |
JP24074 | 162 | 69 | 2.19 | 0.63 | 6.95 | 1.90 | |
147 | 84 | Incl. | 2.40 | 0.69 | 7.60 | 2.08 | |
108 | 111 | and | 3.09 | 0.82 | 8.99 | 2.59 | |
81 | 135 | and | 3.69 | 0.92 | 9.72 | 3.04 |
Notes: See Table 1.
Hole JP24057, the first hole ever drilled at AuRORA, intersected a new porphyry Cu-Au-Ag system hosting high and continuous Au grades (see Tables 1, 2 and 3). Following completion of this discovery hole, Amarc, with Freeport, systematically stepped out, aggressively drilling with three core rigs, with a view to begin outlining an outstanding Cu-Au-Ag deposit and to confirm its high grade potential. This release details the results of discovery hole JP24057 and six other holes drilled at approximately 100 m intervals on east-west section 7800N (see Figures 2 and 3). Drilling on this section established a 600 m wide zone of porphyry mineralization encountered from near surface that is open to lateral expansion, and which is characterized by excellent lateral and vertical continuity. Final compilations and confirmatory analyses from six additional holes drilled at AuRORA along east-west section 7900N, a 100 m step out to the north of section 7800N, are near completion and will be released in the very near future. These additional results show similar very encouraging grades and characteristics to those reported in this release.
"This impressive new, high grade porphyry copper-gold-silver discovery is a pivotal moment for Amarc and its shareholders," said Dr. Diane Nicolson, Amarc President and CEO. "It represents a significant inflection point in the exploration of the JOY District with Freeport. Our discovery is the culmination of years of relentless groundwork by the Amarc team, coupled with the firm, unwavering belief, shared by Freeport, that the JOY District holds significant potential for high grade porphyry gold-copper deposits. This discovery comes during a period of positive market sentiment for gold, copper and silver, which we believe further increases the attractiveness of Amarc as an exciting investment opportunity."
The AuRORA Deposit Discovery is located within the expansive Northwest Gossan ("NWG") Target area located at the northwest end of a possible 15 km mineralized trend that extends southeast toward the GAP and SWT Targets (see Figure 1). The NWG Target is outlined by a 3.7 km 2 Induced Polarization ("IP") anomaly (>14mV/V) (see Figure 3) with coincident Cu, Au, Mo and Ag anomalies outlined in soils and rocks (see Amarc releases May 2 and July 11, 2024). The 2024 initial drill testing of the NWG Target area focused primarily on an internal zone of higher (>20 mV/V) IP chargeability some 1,500 m long and 500 m wide. Much of the NWG Target area remains unexplored.
"The AuRORA Deposit Discovery has been made through the Amarc team's depth of knowledge and porphyry copper-gold discovery track record in BC and the Toodoggone region, combined with the support and insight from Freeport, based on its global capabilities as a top-tier copper and gold producer and discoverer. Together, our goal in 2024 was to focus on discovery and we are clearly on the right track with AuRORA. Notably, the AuRORA Deposit Discovery area is only one of eight large scale sulphide mineralized systems clustered along several mineralized trends drilled in 2024 at JOY. These important-scale sulphide systems have been established by district-wide geological, geochemical and geophysical ground IP surveys. Additional results from the 2024 drill program will be forthcoming. We are extremely optimistic about further important progress at JOY," concluded Nicolson.
In addition to today's announced drill holes, an additional 33 scout holes were also completed on eight porphyry Cu-Au targets, including at the AuRORA Deposit Discovery, PINE Deposit, Canyon Discovery and at the Twins Deposit Target within the JOY District (see Figure 1). These targets were established through 290 line-km of property wide IP surveying, the collection and analyses of 8,400 soil and 1,500 rock samples, and geological mapping and prospecting.
Figure 2: AuRORA Deposit Discovery: Located in the New Underexplored NWG Target
Figure 4: AuRORA Deposit Discovery Never Previously Drilled and Open to Expansion
Figure 5: AuRORA Deposit Discovery: Drilling Outlines Open-Ended, Near Surface, Continuous, High Grade Cu-Au-Ag Mineralization (Section 7800N)
Table 1: JOY AuRORA Porphyry Cu-Au-Ag Deposit Discovery Section 7800N Mineralized Intervals of Significance
Drill Hole | Incl. | From (m) | To | Int.1,2,3 (m) | Au (g/t) | Cu (%) | Ag (g/t) | CuEQ4 (%) |
JP24057 | 18.00 | 100.00 | 82.00 | 1.24 | 0.38 | 2.5 | 1.08 | |
Incl. | 58.00 | 100.00 | 42.00 | 1.97 | 0.49 | 3.6 | 1.61 | |
120.29 | 190.00 | 69.71 5 | 2.56 | 0.42 | 5.0 | 1.88 | ||
Incl. | 120.29 | 166.00 | 45.71 | 3.30 | 0.56 | 6.2 | 2.44 | |
And | 120.29 | 136.00 | 15.71 | 4.54 | 0.84 | 8.6 | 3.42 | |
JP24059 | 24.00 | 295.25 | 271.25 | 0.98 | 0.25 | 1.9 | 0.81 | |
Incl. | 24.00 | 194.50 | 170.50 | 1.32 | 0.34 | 2.6 | 1.09 | |
And | 106.00 | 194.50 | 88.50 | 2.29 | 0.46 | 3.7 | 1.76 | |
Incl. | 211.00 | 239.10 | 28.10 | 0.99 | 0.18 | 1.1 | 0.73 | |
JP24071 | 21.10 | 233.00 | 211.906 | 1.36 | 0.40 | 3.4 | 1.18 | |
Incl. | 104.00 | 212.00 | 108.00 | 2.38 | 0.60 | 5.2 | 1.96 | |
JP24074 | 69.00 | 231.00 | 162.00 | 2.19 | 0.63 | 7.0 | 1.90 | |
Incl. | 84.00 | 231.00 | 147.00 | 2.40 | 0.69 | 7.6 | 2.08 | |
And | 111.00 | 219.00 | 108.00 | 3.09 | 0.82 | 9.0 | 2.59 | |
And | 135.00 | 216.00 | 81.00 | 3.69 | 0.92 | 9.7 | 3.04 | |
JP24076 | 57.00 | 198.00 | 141.007 | 0.73 | 0.18 | 1.3 | 0.60 | |
Incl. | 102.00 | 198.00 | 96.00 | 1.00 | 0.24 | 1.8 | 0.81 | |
And | 129.00 | 180.00 | 51.00 | 1.44 | 0.31 | 2.2 | 1.13 | |
JP24079 | 179.00 | 189.50 | 10.50 | 0.06 | 0.24 | 2.7 | 0.29 | |
341.00 | 400.70 | 59.70 | 0.29 | 0.08 | 1.7 | 0.26 | ||
JP24082 | 131.00 | 277.95 | 146.95 | 0.34 | 0.22 | 3.2 | 0.43 | |
Incl. | 161.00 | 277.95 | 116.95 | 0.39 | 0.25 | 3.8 | 0.50 | |
And | 212.00 | 242.00 | 30.00 | 0.84 | 0.54 | 7.2 | 1.06 |
Notes to Table 1:
- Widths reported are drill widths, such that true thicknesses are unknown.
- All assay intervals represent length-weighted averages.
- Some figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.
- Copper equivalent (CuEQ) calculations use metal process prices of: Cu US$4.00/lb, Au US$1800/oz., and Ag US$24/oz. and conceptual recoveries of: Cu 85%, Au 72% and 67% Ag. Conversion of metals to an equivalent copper grade based on these metal prices is relative to the copper price per unit mass factored by conceptual recoveries for those metals normalized to the conceptualized copper recovery. The metal equivalencies for each metal are added to the copper grade. The general formula for this is: CuEQ% = Cu% + ((Au g/t * (Au recovery / Cu recovery) * (Au $ per oz./31.1034768 / Cu $ per lb. * 22.04623)) + ((Ag g/t * (Ag recovery / Cu recovery) * (Ag $ per oz./ 31.1034768 / Cu $ per lb. * 22.04623)).
- Drill hole JP24057 interval 166-169 m comprised broken ground, no core was recovered, and it was therefore averaged at zero grade.
- Drill hole JP24071 interval 179-182 m comprised broken ground, no core was recovered, and it was therefore averaged at zero grade.
- Drill hole JP24076 intervals 72-75 m, 78-81 m and 96-102 m comprised broken ground, no core was recovered, and each was therefore averaged at zero grade.
AuRORA Deposit Geological Information - Section 7800N
The geological and hydrothermal characteristics of AuRORA discovery hole JP24057, and other holes along the section, are broadly consistent with generalized models for porphyry Cu-Au deposits in the Kemess Mining District and in the wider Toodoggone Region. East-west cross section 7800N across the AuRORA Deposit Discovery highlights the excellent continuity of the near surface, high grade, Cu-Au-Ag mineralization discovered in hole JP24057, as well as consistent vertical and lateral patterns in the grade, hydrothermal and geological characteristics in the holes along the section (see Figures 4 and 5 and Table 2).
In the upper part of AuRORA, mineralization is hosted by andesitic tuff and in its lower part by quartz-monzonite intrusive rocks. The contact between the volcanic and intrusive rocks is typically masked by intense alteration that coincides with the highest-grade mineralization. High grade mineralization is associated with pervasive quartz-sericite/chlorite-pyrite alteration, which overprints potassic K-feldspar and magnetite alteration. Copper mineralization is mainly chalcopyrite and trace to minor bornite (see Figure 6).
About Amarc Resources Ltd
Amarc is a mineral exploration and development company with an experienced and successful management team focused on developing a new generation of long-life, high-value porphyry Cu-Au mines in BC. By combining high-demand projects with dynamic management, Amarc has created a solid platform to create value from its exploration and development-stage assets.
Amarc is advancing its 100%-owned JOY, DUKE and IKE porphyry Cu±Au Districts located in different prolific porphyry regions of northern, central and southern BC, respectively. Each District represents significant potential for the development of multiple and important-scale, porphyry Cu±Au deposits. Importantly, each of the three districts are located in proximity to industrial infrastructure - including power, highways and rail.
Amarc's exploration is led by an internationally successful team of experienced geologists specializing in porphyry Cu-Au deposits. Members of this team have been involved in and have tracked porphyry Cu-Au exploration advancements in the Toodoggone region since 1990. Their experience and early recognition of the porphyry potential at the NWG Target in terms of a shallowly overburden covered and underexplored transitional epithermal-porphyry geological setting, led to the discovery of the Au-rich AuRORA porphyry Cu-Au-Ag Deposit.
Freeport-McMoRan Mineral Properties Canada Inc. ("Freeport"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. at JOY and Boliden Mineral Canada Ltd. ("Boliden"), an entity within the Boliden Group of companies at DUKE, can earn up to a 70% interest in each District through staged investments of $110 million and $90 million, respectively. Together this provides Amarc with potentially up to $200 million in non-share dilutive staged funding for these Districts. In addition, Amarc has completed self-funded drilling at its higher-grade Empress Deposit in the IKE District. Drill results from nine core holes drilled late in 2024 at Empress are being compiled and are expected to be released next month. Amarc is the operator of all programs.
Amarc is associated with HDI, a diversified, global mining company with a 35-year history of porphyry Cu deposit discovery, development and transaction success. Previous and current HDI projects include some of BC's and the world's most important porphyry deposits - such as Pebble, Mount Milligan, Southern Star, Kemess South, Kemess North, Gibraltar, Prosperity, Xietongmen, Newtongmen, Florence, Casino, Sisson, Maggie, AuRORA, PINE, IKE and DUKE. From its head office in Vancouver, Canada, HDI applies its unique strengths and capabilities to acquire, develop, operate and monetize mineral projects.
Amarc works closely with local governments, Indigenous groups and stakeholders in order to advance its mineral projects responsibly, and in a manner that contributes to sustainable community and economic development. We pursue early and meaningful engagement to ensure our mineral exploration and development activities are well coordinated and broadly supported, address local priorities and concerns, and optimize opportunities for collaboration. In particular, we seek to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous groups within whose traditional territories our projects are located, through the provision of jobs, training programs, contract opportunities, capacity funding agreements and sponsorship of community events. All Amarc work programs are carefully planned to achieve high levels of environmental and social performance.
Qualified Person
Mark Rebagliati, P.Eng, a Qualified Person ("QP") as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved all technical and scientific information related to the JOY Project contained in this news release. Mr. Rebagliati is not independent of the Company.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program
Amarc drilled NQv (48.1mm) and HQ (63.5mm) size core in 2024 at the JOY project. All drill core was logged, photographed, and cut in half with a diamond saw. Half core samples from the JOY drilling were sent to ALS Canada Ltd., Kamloops or Langley, Canada, for preparation and to North Vancouver, Canada for analysis. All facilities are ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited. At the laboratory, samples were dried, crushed to 70% passing -2mm, and either a 250 g split or 1,000 g split was pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 microns. Samples were analyzed for Au by fire assay fusion of a 30 g sub-sample with an ICP-AES finish, and for 60 elements including Cu, Mo and Ag by a four-acid digestion, multi-element ICP-MS package. Samples with Cu results > 10,000 ppm were reanalyzed by a single element four-acid digestion ICP-AES method for Cu. As part of a comprehensive Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QAQC") program, Amarc control samples were inserted in each analytical batch of the core samples at the following rates: standards one in 20 regular samples, in-line replicates one in 20 regular samples and one coarse blank per hole. The control sample results were then checked to ensure proper QAQC.
The QP visited the site to verify location of drill holes, and review the core and logging, sampling and sample shipment processes. He also reviewed and assessed the assay results.
For further details on Amarc Resources Ltd., please visit the Company's website at www.amarcresources.com or contact Dr. Diane Nicolson, President and CEO, at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114, or Kin Communications, at (604) 684-6730, Email: AHR@kincommunications.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMARC RESOURCES LTD.
Dr. Diane Nicolson
President and CEO
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking and Other Cautionary Information
This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All such statements, other than statements of historical facts that address exploration plans and plans for enhanced relationships are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: Amarc's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of Amarc's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Amarc Resources Ltd., investors should review Amarc's annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca.
Table 2: AuRORA Discovery Assay Data by Sample Interval for Drill Holes JP24059 and JP 24074
Hole JP24059
Sample | From (m) | To (m) | Int.1,2,3 (m) | Au (g/t) | Cu (%) | Ag (g/t) | CuEQ4 (%) |
732288 | 106.00 | 109.00 | 3.00 | 1.38 | 0.49 | 2.9 | 1.28 |
732289 | 109.00 | 112.00 | 3.00 | 1.22 | 0.36 | 2.2 | 1.06 |
732291 | 112.00 | 115.00 | 3.00 | 1.44 | 0.52 | 2.9 | 1.34 |
732292 | 115.00 | 118.00 | 3.00 | 1.37 | 0.44 | 2.6 | 1.22 |
732293 | 118.00 | 121.00 | 3.00 | 1.43 | 0.45 | 3.5 | 1.27 |
732294 | 121.00 | 124.00 | 3.00 | 2.12 | 0.59 | 4.3 | 1.80 |
732295 | 124.00 | 127.00 | 3.00 | 3.04 | 0.83 | 6.1 | 2.56 |
732296 | 127.00 | 129.00 | 2.00 | 2.02 | 0.52 | 5.4 | 1.68 |
732297 | 129.00 | 130.90 | 1.90 | 1.74 | 0.73 | 5.0 | 1.73 |
732298 | 130.90 | 133.00 | 2.10 | 2.37 | 0.58 | 4.4 | 1.92 |
732299 | 133.00 | 136.00 | 3.00 | 2.56 | 0.79 | 4.8 | 2.24 |
732300 | 136.00 | 139.00 | 3.00 | 1.92 | 0.51 | 4.1 | 1.60 |
732301 | 139.00 | 142.00 | 3.00 | 2.77 | 0.61 | 4.6 | 2.18 |
732302 | 142.00 | 145.00 | 3.00 | 3.63 | 0.61 | 4.6 | 2.66 |
732303 | 145.00 | 148.00 | 3.00 | 3.87 | 0.62 | 4.6 | 2.80 |
732304 | 148.00 | 149.50 | 1.50 | 4.65 | 0.72 | 6.0 | 3.35 |
732305 | 149.50 | 151.00 | 1.50 | 4.82 | 0.86 | 6.6 | 3.59 |
732306 | 151.00 | 154.00 | 3.00 | 2.85 | 0.72 | 4.7 | 2.34 |
732307 | 154.00 | 157.00 | 3.00 | 1.01 | 0.21 | 1.7 | 0.78 |
732308 | 157.00 | 160.00 | 3.00 | 2.70 | 0.32 | 2.7 | 1.84 |
732309 | 160.00 | 163.00 | 3.00 | 2.78 | 0.31 | 2.6 | 1.87 |
732311 | 163.00 | 166.00 | 3.00 | 2.15 | 0.38 | 3.5 | 1.60 |
732312 | 166.00 | 169.00 | 3.00 | 2.71 | 0.42 | 3.6 | 1.96 |
732313 | 169.00 | 172.00 | 3.00 | 2.06 | 0.37 | 4.0 | 1.54 |
732314 | 172.00 | 175.00 | 3.00 | 1.93 | 0.33 | 4.4 | 1.43 |
732315 | 175.00 | 178.00 | 3.00 | 1.36 | 0.16 | 2.8 | 0.94 |
732316 | 178.00 | 180.30 | 2.30 | 2.54 | 0.27 | 4.6 | 1.72 |
732317 | 180.30 | 182.25 | 1.95 | 1.54 | 0.21 | 2.9 | 1.09 |
732318 | 182.25 | 184.75 | 2.50 | 4.03 | 0.38 | 4.2 | 2.65 |
732319 | 184.75 | 187.00 | 2.25 | 0.90 | 0.19 | 1.8 | 0.70 |
732320 | 187.00 | 190.00 | 3.00 | 0.90 | 0.19 | 1.4 | 0.70 |
732321 | 190.00 | 192.25 | 2.25 | 3.05 | 0.32 | 1.9 | 2.02 |
732322 | 192.25 | 194.50 | 2.25 | 2.99 | 0.31 | 2.5 | 1.99 |
See Table 1 for Notes.
Hole JP24074
Sample | From (m) | To | Int.1,2,3 (m) | Au (g/t) | Cu (%) | Ag (g/t) | CuEQ4 (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
731140 | 111.00 | 114.00 | 3.00 | 1.00 | 0.65 | 8.1 | 1.26 |
731141 | 114.00 | 117.00 | 3.00 | 1.26 | 0.55 | 8.0 | 1.30 |
731142 | 117.00 | 120.00 | 3.00 | 0.64 | 0.27 | 4.1 | 0.65 |
731143 | 120.00 | 123.00 | 3.00 | 1.48 | 0.49 | 8.1 | 1.36 |
731144 | 123.00 | 126.00 | 3.00 | 1.47 | 0.48 | 6.6 | 1.34 |
731145 | 126.00 | 129.00 | 3.00 | 1.01 | 0.40 | 4.9 | 1.00 |
731146 | 129.00 | 132.00 | 3.00 | 1.59 | 0.59 | 6.3 | 1.51 |
731147 | 132.00 | 135.00 | 3.00 | 2.02 | 0.62 | 6.6 | 1.79 |
731148 | 135.00 | 138.00 | 3.00 | 1.48 | 0.53 | 5.2 | 1.39 |
731149 | 138.00 | 141.00 | 3.00 | 4.01 | 0.84 | 10.5 | 3.14 |
731151 | 141.00 | 144.00 | 3.00 | 4.94 | 1.16 | 14.2 | 4.00 |
731152 | 144.00 | 147.00 | 3.00 | 4.32 | 0.99 | 8.8 | 3.45 |
731153 | 147.00 | 150.00 | 3.00 | 3.02 | 0.78 | 6.8 | 2.50 |
731154 | 150.00 | 153.00 | 3.00 | 3.63 | 1.31 | 11.3 | 3.40 |
731155 | 153.00 | 156.00 | 3.00 | 5.35 | 1.18 | 9.6 | 4.22 |
731156 | 156.00 | 159.00 | 3.00 | 3.33 | 0.98 | 8.0 | 2.89 |
731157 | 159.00 | 162.00 | 3.00 | 5.25 | 1.05 | 9.8 | 4.03 |
731158 | 162.00 | 165.00 | 3.00 | 3.49 | 0.90 | 10.3 | 2.91 |
731159 | 165.00 | 168.00 | 3.00 | 2.47 | 1.14 | 13.8 | 2.60 |
731160 | 168.00 | 171.00 | 3.00 | 5.86 | 1.36 | 10.3 | 4.68 |
731161 | 171.00 | 174.00 | 3.00 | 4.78 | 0.88 | 9.6 | 3.61 |
731162 | 174.00 | 177.00 | 3.00 | 7.73 | 1.28 | 11.1 | 5.65 |
731163 | 177.00 | 180.00 | 3.00 | 8.00 | 1.34 | 11.2 | 5.86 |
731164 | 180.00 | 183.00 | 3.00 | 6.33 | 0.93 | 8.6 | 4.51 |
731165 | 183.00 | 186.00 | 3.00 | 3.52 | 0.75 | 7.2 | 2.75 |
731166 | 186.00 | 189.00 | 3.00 | 3.25 | 0.66 | 7.5 | 2.52 |
731167 | 189.00 | 192.00 | 3.00 | 2.39 | 0.69 | 7.9 | 2.08 |
731168 | 192.00 | 195.00 | 3.00 | 3.84 | 0.57 | 4.6 | 2.74 |
731169 | 195.00 | 198.00 | 3.00 | 2.07 | 0.64 | 6.4 | 1.83 |
731171 | 198.00 | 201.00 | 3.00 | 1.09 | 0.97 | 11.4 | 1.65 |
731172 | 201.00 | 201.70 | 0.70 | 2.05 | 0.65 | 8.0 | 1.84 |
731173 | 201.70 | 202.90 | 1.20 | 0.06 | 0.03 | 0.6 | 0.06 |
731174 | 202.90 | 204.00 | 1.10 | 2.74 | 0.75 | 8.9 | 2.33 |
731175 | 204.00 | 207.00 | 3.00 | 1.62 | 1.14 | 12.9 | 2.12 |
731176 | 207.00 | 210.00 | 3.00 | 1.84 | 0.89 | 15.1 | 2.01 |
731177 | 210.00 | 213.00 | 3.00 | 2.41 | 0.90 | 15.4 | 2.34 |
731178 | 213.00 | 216.00 | 3.00 | 2.06 | 0.61 | 10.0 | 1.82 |
731179 | 216.00 | 219.00 | 3.00 | 1.10 | 0.51 | 8.3 | 1.17 |
731180 | 219.00 | 222.00 | 3.00 | 0.58 | 0.32 | 6.6 | 0.69 |
731181 | 222.00 | 225.00 | 3.00 | 0.78 | 0.36 | 6.0 | 0.84 |
See Table 1 for Notes.
Table 3: AuRORA Drill Hole Information Section N7800
Drill Hole | Easting | Northing | Elevation | Azim (°) | Dip (°) | EOH (m) |
JP24057 | 622779 | 6347801 | 1368 | 90 | -70 | 586 |
JP24059 | 622776 | 6347801 | 1369 | 270 | -60 | 427.4 |
JP24071 | 622770 | 6347796 | 1370 | 180 | -60 | 374 |
JP24074 | 622920 | 6347799 | 1385 | 90 | -70 | 315 |
JP24076 | 622655 | 6347819 | 1369 | 270 | -60 | 258 |
JP24079 | 623060 | 6347815 | 1422 | 88 | -60 | 503 |
JP24082 | 623059 | 6347815 | 1422 | 0 | -90 | 311 |
Note: Collar locations are in UTM NAD83, Zone 9N coordinates.

Figure 2: AuRORA Deposit Discovery: Located in the New Underexplored NWG Target

Figure 3: AuRORA Deposit Discovery: Hosted Within the Exciting New NWG Target Area
IP-Chargeability Anomaly Never Previously Drilled

Figure 4: AuRORA Deposit Discovery Never Previously Drilled and Open to Expansion

Figure 5: AuRORA Deposit Discovery: Drilling Outlines Open-Ended, Near Surface, Continuous,
High Grade Cu-Au-Ag Mineralization (Section 7800N)


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Blackstone Minerals
Investor Insights
Rapidly emerging as Southeast Asia’s premier base and battery metals developer, Blackstone Minerals now holds two globally significant projects: the Ta Khoa nickel-cobalt project in Vietnam and the Mankayan copper-gold porphyry project in the Philippines. Both projects are critical to the company’s strategy to become a vertically integrated, low-cost, low-carbon producer of critical battery and base metals.
Overview
As the global economy accelerates toward net-zero emissions, the demand for critical minerals continues to rise, with nickel and copper positioned at the forefront of the energy transition. Historically used in stainless steel, nickel is now a core component in lithium-ion batteries; while copper, vital for electrification infrastructure, is similarly facing a looming supply crunch.
Blackstone Minerals (ASX:BSX,OTC:BLSTF,FRA:B9S) recognizes this strategic imperative and has positioned itself as a diversified, vertically integrated producer of low-cost, low-carbon battery and base metals.
Following its transformational merger with IDM International, Blackstone now controls two globally significant assets: the Ta Khoa nickel project in Vietnam and the Mankayan copper-gold project in the Philippines. Together, they represent a rare combination of scale, grade and strategic location in Southeast Asia, an increasingly vital region in the global clean energy supply chain.
The Mankayan copper-gold project is located in Northern Luzon, Philippines
The recently acquired Mankayan project adds substantial scale and diversification to Blackstone’s portfolio. One of the largest undeveloped copper-gold porphyry systems in Asia, Mankayan features over 56,000 meters of historical drilling and a resource of 793 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.756 percent copper equivalent (CuEq), including a high-grade core of 170 Mt at 1.049 percent CuEq. The project benefits from proximity to existing infrastructure and its location just 2.5 km from the operating Lepanto gold mine, owned and operated by Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, and Far Southeast Gold Resources’ Far Southeast project.
The Ta Khoa project, meanwhile, includes both a past-producing underground nickel sulphide mine (Ban Phuc) and an advanced-stage refinery designed to produce battery-grade precursor cathode active material (pCAM). Vietnam’s low labor and energy costs, coupled with regulated power pricing and surging foreign direct investment, make it an ideal base for Blackstone’s vertically integrated strategy.
Blackstone is uniquely positioned to benefit from geopolitical tailwinds. Vietnam’s Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and the US Inflation Reduction Act are drawing significant interest from global partners and battery manufacturers. Meanwhile, the Philippines is undergoing a mining renaissance, with the government promoting foreign investment in responsible resource development. Mankayan has already been identified as a priority project by the Philippines’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
The company’s development strategy is underpinned by a commitment to ESG leadership. Blackstone is advancing renewable energy solutions for Ta Khoa via a direct power purchase agreement with Limes Renewables and is collaborating with Arca Climate Technologies to explore carbon capture through mineralization. At Mankayan, the company is focused on sustainable development in partnership with local communities.
Financially, Blackstone is well-capitalized to deliver on its dual-track growth plan. Following the merger with IDM, the company raised AU$22.6 million and holds AU$24.36 million in cash as of June 2025. The company’s experienced leadership team and strong partnerships provide a clear path to near-term value creation, as both projects progress toward definitive feasibility studies and long-term production.
Blackstone Minerals is now one of Southeast Asia’s leading battery and base metals developers, with a clear vision to supply responsibly sourced nickel and copper for the global energy transition.
Company Highlights
- Nickel Supply Deficit: The global nickel market is projected to enter a structural deficit with battery-grade nickel demand expected to grow 950 percent by 2040.
- Diversified Portfolio: With Ta Khoa in Vietnam and Mankayan in the Philippines, Blackstone offers exposure to two critical and high-demand metal classes: nickel and copper-gold.
- Strategic Southeast Asia Presence: Vietnam and the Philippines are emerging hubs for EV and mineral resource development, with robust government support and increasing foreign direct investment.
- Infrastructure Advantage: Both projects benefit from existing infrastructure, including hydroelectric power, trained workforces, and government collaboration.
- Sustainability Leadership: Blackstone is pursuing low-emission mining solutions through partnerships in renewable energy and carbon capture technologies.
- Financially Strong: Blackstone raised AU$22.6 million post-merger, supporting an aggressive exploration and development strategy across both assets.
Key Project
Mankayan Copper-Gold Project – Philippines
Following its merger with IDM International, Blackstone now owns a 64 percent effective interest in the world-class Mankayan copper-gold project through Crescent Mining Development. Located in the prolific mineral belt of Northern Luzon, Philippines, Mankayan is one of Asia’s largest undeveloped copper-gold porphyry systems. It lies approximately 340 km from Manila by road, and just 2.5 kilometers from the operating Lepanto gold mine, which includes a 900 ktpa underutilized milling facility.
The Mankayan deposit spans roughly 1,100 meters of strike and 600 meters in width, with mineralization open to the north, south and at depth. Over 56,000 meters of diamond drilling has been completed to date, and the deposit hosts a JORC 2012-compliant mineral resource estimate of 793 Mt at 0.37 percent copper and 0.40 grams per ton (g/t) gold, equating to 0.756 percent CuEq. This includes a high-grade core of 170 Mt at 0.48 percent copper and 0.59 g/t gold (1.049 percent CuEq), offering valuable optionality.
Drilling results support Mankayan’s classification as a globally significant resource. Notable historic intercepts include:
- 911 meters at 1 percent CuEq, including 253 meters at 1.43 percent CuEq
- 543 meters at 1.08 percent CuEq, including 277 meters at 1.43 percent CuEq
- 1,119 meters at 0.86 percent CuEq, including 352 meters at 1.15 percent CuEq
- 754 meters at 1.03 percent CuEq, including 430 meters at 1.21 percent CuEq
In July 2025, Blackstone confirmed significant new surface mineralization through historical rock chip samples returning grades up to 6 g/t gold and 1.9 percent copper, and a standout recent drill hole – 432 meters at 1.25 percent CuEq (including 210 meters at 1.60 percent) – further underscoring the project's scale and growth potential.
A key strategic advantage of Mankayan is its dual development pathway. The high-grade core supports a low-capex startup via selective mining methods, while the bulk of the deposit can be exploited through larger-scale mining scenarios that benefit from lower operating costs and economies of scale. This tiered approach allows Blackstone to balance capital efficiency with long-term growth.
Regulatory and community engagement milestones have also been achieved. The project’s 25-year mineral production sharing agreement was renewed in 2022, and a memorandum of agreement with local Indigenous Peoples was signed in 2024, making Blackstone the first mining company to obtain IP consent in the area. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Philippines has since designated Mankayan as a priority development project.
Mankayan stands out globally when benchmarked against peer porphyry systems. A comparative analysis of undeveloped copper-gold projects ranks it near the top in terms of grade and copper equivalent tonnage, reaffirming its strategic and economic potential on the world stage.
In 2025 and beyond, Blackstone will continue metallurgical testwork, geophysics (including magnetics, IP and electromagnetics), environmental baseline studies, and further drilling to refine and expand the resource. These efforts will support upcoming mining studies and a targeted prefeasibility study.
Ta Khoa
Ta Khoa nickel project in Vietnam
Blackstone Minerals holds a 90 percent interest in the Ta Khoa nickel project, located in the Son La Province of northern Vietnam, about 160 km west of Hanoi. The project comprises the Ban Phuc underground nickel sulphide mine – a modern operation built to Australian standards that operated between 2013 and 2016 – and the adjacent Ta Khoa refinery, currently being developed to produce battery-grade precursor cathode active material (pCAM).
The Ban Phuc mine is currently under care and maintenance but is poised for recommissioning alongside the construction of a concentrator and refinery. The broader Ta Khoa asset base contains probable reserves of 48.7 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.43 percent nickel, equivalent to 210 kilotonnes (kt) of contained nickel. The mining inventory totals 64.5 Mt at 0.41 percent nickel, containing 265 kt of nickel. This figure excludes additional developing prospects such as Ban Khoa.
Over the planned 10-year mine life, Ta Khoa is expected to produce an average of 18 kt of nickel concentrate annually, with the potential to extend well beyond this horizon through integrated refining. The existing infrastructure onsite, including a 450 ktpa mill and a mining camp, provides significant capital efficiency and accelerates time to production.
A recent 12-month pilot program, conducted in partnership with ALS and Wood, successfully demonstrated that Ta Khoa’s hydrometallurgical flowsheet can convert concentrate into nickel sulphate at 99.95 percent purity and 97 percent recovery. This success positions the refinery as a credible supplier to the Asia-Pacific battery supply chain.
The project is further distinguished by its low emissions profile. Independent assessments by Digbee, Minviro, Circulor and an audit by the Nickel Institute have confirmed Ta Khoa as the lowest-emitting pCAM flowsheet in the industry, with carbon intensity of just 9.8 kg CO₂ per kg of pCAM, with opportunities for further reduction.
Blackstone’s development strategy includes flexible feedstock acceptance – from nickel concentrate to black mass – and is strengthened by partnerships with Cavico Laos for third-party supply, Arca Climate Technologies for carbon capture via mineralization, and Limes Renewables to supply clean wind energy. Additionally, the company has secured byproduct offtake arrangements for manganese sulphate and sodium sulphate with VinaChem, PVChem and Nam Phong Green, reinforcing its commitment to full-cycle resource utilization and ESG leadership.
Management Team
Hamish Halliday - Non-executive Chairman
Hamish Halliday is a geologist with over 20 years of corporate and technical experience. He is also the founder of Adamus Resources Limited, an AU$3 million float that became a multimillion-ounce emerging gold producer.
Scott Williamson - Managing Director
Scott Williamson is a mining engineer with a commerce degree from the West Australian School of Mines and Curtin University. He has over 10 years of experience in technical and corporate roles in the mining and finance sectors.
Geoff Gilmour – Non-executive Director
Appointed following Blackstone’s merger with IDM, Geoff Gilmour brings deep experience in Southeast Asian mining ventures. He has held senior roles in exploration and development across copper and gold projects in the Philippines and broader Asia-Pacific.
Tessa Kutscher - Executive
Tessa Kutscher is an executive with more than 20 years of experience in working with C-Level executive teams in the fields of business strategy, business planning/optimisation and change management. After starting her career in Germany, she has worked internationally across different industries, such as mining, finance, tourism and tertiary education.
Lon Taranaki - Executive
Lon Taranaki is an international mining professional with over 25 years of extensive experience in all aspects of resources and mining, feasibility, development and operations. Taranaki is a qualified process engineer from the University of Queensland Australia. He holds a Master of Business Administration, and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Taranaki has established his career in Asia where he has successfully worked (and lived) across multiple jurisdictions and commodities ranging from technical, mine management and executive management roles.
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18h
Copper Price Update: Q2 2025 in Review
The copper price was volatile during Q2, but remained elevated compared to where it began the year.
Several factors were at play for copper during the second quarter, most notably the ongoing threat of tariffs. This caused significant fallout in global financial sectors, with economists raising the specter of a widespread recession.
Uncertainty, fear and speculation were primary price drivers as metal traders, market movers and investors tried to determine the best investment strategy against the backdrop of a chaotic economic landscape.
What happened to the copper price in Q2?
Copper started the second quarter in free fall.
After reaching an all-time high of US$5.22 per pound on the COMEX on March 26, it plummeted to US$4.06 on April 8. By April 11, it had climbed back above US$4.50 and continued on to US$4.88 on April 22.
Copper price, April 1 to July 23, 2025.
Chart via TradingEconomics.
For the end of April, all of May and much of June, the copper price was volatile but rangebound, trading between US$4.50 and US$4.80. However, the end of June saw a surge in momentum in the market, as the price began to climb, and on June 30, it reached US$4.97. Since then, the price has soared, setting a new all-time high of US$5.65 on July 10.
Copper supply and demand dynamics
Over the past few years, a growing imbalance has developed in the copper market, as demand growth has outpaced the expansion of primary and secondary supply lines.
Data from the International Copper Study Group (ICSG) shows 3.2 percent growth in refined production, with a combined gain of 4.8 percent from China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the two largest producers globally. Further increases came from Asia, where output was 3.5 percent higher.
The increased levels were offset by Chile, where smelter output fell 9.5 percent due to smelter maintenance.
However, refined production outpaced mining production, which rose just 2 percent during the period.
Peru accounted for a 5 percent year-on-year growth due to increased output at MMG’s (HKEX:1208) Las Bambas, Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:AAUKF) and Mitsubishi's (TSE:8058) Quellaveco and Chinalco Mining’s (HKEX:2600,SHA:601600) Toromocho mines.
Likewise, production in DRC surged by 8 percent, attributable to the expansion of the Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN,OTCQX:IVPAF) and Zijin Mining's (HKEX:2899,SHA:601899) Kamoa-Kakula joint venture.
Demand continued to grow at a higher rate than refined output during the first quarter of 2025, with the ICSG suggesting a 3.3 percent increase in copper usage. The largest segment came from Chinese markets, which required 6 percent more copper than in 2024, but this demand occurred during an 11 percent decline in net refined imports into the country. China is the world’s largest consumer of copper, accounting for about 58 percent of global demand.
Outside of China, demand was essentially flat, with high demand from Asian, Middle Eastern and North African countries being offset by weak demand in Europe and North America.
Overall, the data provided by the ICSG indicated a 233,000 metric ton surplus of refined copper through the first four months of 2025, a slight decrease from the 236,000 metric tons during the same period in 2024.
Copper's supply deficit
In an email to the Investing News Network (INN), Jacob White, ETF product manager at Sprott Asset Management (TSX:SII,NYSE:SII), said the copper market may have already entered a supply deficit.
“Yes, we believe we have moved into a supply deficit in 2025 and that the market is currently in deficit," he said.
"Uncertainties in the financial markets (trade, growth and inflation) have had a negative impact on copper demand, but this has been offset as copper is becoming less tied to global economic growth and more tied to industries that provide structural growth to the market,” White went on to say. He also noted that artificial intelligence data centers, emerging economies and the energy transition are all putting increased stress on copper supply.
"Furthermore, the supply outlook was not expected to keep pace with demand this year," he added.
"Q1 2025 mined copper production has indicated low production, and the copper supply outlook for this year has already worsened with the first major disruption of the year."
The shutdown referred to by White was at the Ivanhoe-Zijin Kakula-Kamoa mine in the DRC.
Ivanhoe reported a temporary interruption of underground mining at Kakula on May 2. The company cited seismic activity and initiated a partial shutdown of operations at Phase 1 and 2 concentrators, utilizing surface stockpiles.
Operations at the mine were suspended until June 11, when the company announced it had initiated a restart. It also stated that it was slashing production guidance by 28 percent due to the impact, with the revised number falling between 370,000 and 420,000 metric tons, down from the previous range of 520,000 to 580,000 set in January.
The difference in guidance accounts for more than half of the projected surplus in the ICSG report, demonstrating just how tight the copper market has become.
The Trump effect for copper
Volatility has been present since the start of the year, with much of it attributed to uncertainty stemming from an ever-shifting US trade policy under President Donald Trump.
Commodity prices plummeted at the start of the second quarter, with copper losing 22 percent between its quarterly high of US$5.22 on March 26 and April 8, when it fell to US$4.06.
The drop came alongside the fallout from the “Liberation Day” tariffs Trump announced on April 2, which applied a 10 percent baseline tariff to imports into the US from all but a handful of countries.
It also threatened the imposition of more significant retaliatory tariffs to take effect on April 9.
Additionally, the US initiated a tit-for-tat tariff war with China in early April, starting with a 34 percent tariff on Chinese imports, which quickly rose to 145 percent on Chinese imports and 125 percent on US exports to China.
The effect of the tariffs caused significant declines in major US indices, with the Dow losing 9.5 percent, the S&P 500 shedding 10 percent and the Nasdaq losing 11 percent in two days.
More than $6 trillion was wiped from the markets over two days, the most significant such loss in history.
More importantly, the uncertainty seeped into the US bond markets, causing yields on the 10-year Treasury to rise sharply to 4.49 percent as investors began to dump US bonds. The rising rates came as China and Japan both sold holdings back into the market in an attempt to counter Trump’s trade plans.
The combined effect led analysts to suggest that a recession was imminent, prompting broad sell-offs in the commodity markets as traders worked to dispose of stockpiles of high-value inventories. Copper is susceptible to recessions due to its wide range of applications, which are heavily dependent on consumer spending.
Ultimately, a sliding stock market and spiking bond yields prompted Trump to announce a 90 day pause on the retaliatory tariffs, stating that it would allow countries to come to the table and negotiate a deal with the US.
Although the copper rout was short lived, it demonstrated the push-pull that tariffs and trade policy can have on copper prices. In February, Trump signed an executive order which invoked Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act to initiate an investigation into the impact of copper imports on all forms of national security.
In the order, Trump noted that while the US has ample copper reserves, its smelting and refining capacity has declined. China has become the world’s leading supplier of refined copper, commanding a 50 percent market share.
“The supply and demand imbalance has recently been catalyzed with the US trade actions, where copper stocks have moved into the US on speculation that the Section 232 investigation into copper may result in a copper tariff,” White said, explaining that the global inventory system has become fragmented.
With the supply deficit, it has become increasingly difficult to source physical copper, resulting in drastically lower inventories on the London Metal Exchange (LME) and Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE).
The administration reached a decision early in Q3, and on July 8, Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on all copper entering the US. The move caused prices on the COMEX to spike to record highs, triggering more panic buying among traders as they raced to transfer aboveground copper stocks into US-based facilities to avoid the additional tariff costs.
While ICSG hasn’t published numbers since May, it was already demonstrating then that significant stockpiles were being moved between international warehouses and the US.
It reported that stocks at the LME had declined 122,900 metric tons from the start of the year, while stocks at the COMEX and SHFE had both posted gains of 80,970 metric tons and 31,619 metric tons, respectively.
Lobo Tiggre, CEO of IndependentSpeculator.com, provided a more globally minded context.
“Copper is globally fungible — it’s like oil. The sanctions don’t work on Russian oil or Iranian oil, because it just flows around. Copper can do that too. So it is incorrect to think, 'Oh, copper tariff, therefore, copper is up, and all copper stocks have to go up.' If you’re a copper miner in Chile selling to China, then the US tariff has no direct bearing on your business whatsoever,” he said in an interview with INN on July 9.
Tiggre also explained that the US imports 50 percent of its copper needs, and there is no way that tariffs are going to fix that overnight. “The mines just aren’t there. The help (Trump has) provided with permitting is highly relevant, and it has already helped. But that's still — okay, you get the permits, and then you have to build the mine, right? So it’ll be years before this incentive creates more US production, if it does. Meanwhile, it’s Dr. Copper —it goes in everything. So we've got US consumers, manufacturers, everybody’s going to have this added cost,” he said.
Copper price forecast for 2025
Beyond tariffs, copper's fundamentals remain strong. As Tiggre pointed out, the world is dependent on copper, and demand for the red metal has been increasing faster than supply.
“There aren’t enough copper projects in the pipeline — not ones big enough to matter. So I’m extremely bullish on copper. All those reasons to be bullish on copper are still on the table in front of us," he said.
"When I first made the call, copper was around US$4 or something, and now (we're) at US$5, almost US$6 — and all of that tailwind is still to come and push it higher,” Tiggre said.
While he remains positive on copper, he declined to say where the price will be at the end of the year.
Even though copper may be one of the safer commodities bets owing to staggering demand and low supply, investors should keep in mind the broad economic landscape when entering into a position with a metal whose fortune can change quickly with consumer spending.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
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23h
Glencore to Close Last Australian Copper Mines, Smelter's Fate Uncertain
Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF) is preparing to shut down its final two Australian copper mines next week, ending more than six decades of upstream operations in Queensland.
The closure of the underground Enterprise and X41 mines in Mount Isa comes as uncertainty grows over the future of the adjacent copper smelter, which the company says could also be shut down without urgent government support.
The Swiss commodities giant first announced its plan to end mining operations in October 2023, citing declining ore grades and mounting financial losses. The decision coincides with Glencore’s sale of its Lady Loretta zinc mine and nearby landholdings to Austral Resources (ASX:AR1), further reducing its footprint in the region.
At the center of the company’s remaining copper assets is the Mount Isa smelter.
It processes over 1 million metric tons of copper concentrate annually from across Australia, including from BHP's (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) Olympic Dam in South Australia.
Now that smelter’s future now hangs in the balance. According to an internal staff memo obtained by local media, Glencore warned that without federal and state support, the Mount Isa smelter and Townsville copper refinery will be placed into care and maintenance, putting thousands of direct and indirect jobs at risk.
“To date Glencore has been absorbing losses hopeful that a viable solution could be found,” wrote Troy Wilson, Glencore’s interim chief operating officer in North Queensland, in a message to employees.
He noted that the company is engaged with the Queensland and Australian governments but has yet to secure a funding commitment. A final decision on the smelter is expected by the end of September.
Thousands of local jobs at risk
The potential shutdown could also have wide-reaching consequences for the regional economy.
While the smelter and refinery directly employ about 550 workers, industry group Townsville Enterprise estimates that as many as 17,000 jobs in the region are tied to the copper supply chain and related businesses.
That includes equipment suppliers, service contractors and downstream manufacturers.
Roland Lobegeiger, a field services manager at Isadraulics in Mount Isa, said the loss of the smelter would be devastating for the town. “Without it, the town’s not going to be here,” he told News.com.au. “There are other mines — there would be other work in the area, but would the town recover? It’s hard to say,” he added.
The company’s struggle to keep its Queensland operations afloat comes at a time when global smelting margins are being squeezed by Chinese overcapacity. In May, Bloomberg reported that Chinese smelters had matched their record for refined copper production, producing 1.254 million metric tons despite plummeting treatment and refining charges, which are the fees miners pay smelters to process raw ore. Beijing has allowed massive expansion in smelting capacity to support its clean energy sector, which depends heavily on copper.
Chinese smelters, many of which are state-owned, now produce more than half the world’s refined copper and are often shielded from financial distress by subsidies and state backing.
That advantage has fueled growing frustration among non-Chinese producers.
“Unfortunately, it’s no longer a level playing field with our competitors in China heavily subsidised by government, which means they produce copper metal at much lower cost,” Wilson said in June.Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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23h
Australia Welcomes Mining Joint Ventures with Pakistani Companies
Australia and Pakistan are planning to collaborate on delivering specialised training programs to introduce new mining techniques and services, according to several news sites.
The discussions happened during a meeting between Pakistani Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and Australian High Commissioner Neil Hawkins at the Ministry of Petroleum.
They focused on the expansion of a bilateral cooperation in energy and mining.
"Pakistan values Australia's advanced mining capabilities and technical knowledge. We welcome partnerships that build local capacity and attract investment in our mineral and energy sectors," Malik said.
Analysts from BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, predict Pakistan’s mining sector will experience “meaningful growth” over the next 10 years. They believe the Reko Diq copper-gold project will play a huge role in the sector’s development.
Reko Diq was discovered in the early 1990s through a joint venture between the Geological Survey of Pakistan and Australian mining giant BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) when it was still BHP Billiton.
Currently, half of Reko Diq’s interest is held by Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B), with the remaining half split equally between three federal state-owned enterprises and the Balochistan government.
The project is expected to begin production in 2029 to 2030.
A wave of mineral exploration activity in Pakistan is also anticipated over the coming years given commodity price increases and investments from the likes of mainland China and Saudi Arabia.
Over the last decade Australian investment in Pakistan has declined, but Hawkins’ talk with Malik confirmed renewed interest and the recognition of its potential to grow and generate profit.
This interest also highlights promising resource areas such as Balochistan (where Reko Diq is located), as well as Gilgit-Balistan and Azad Kashmir known for their copper, uranium and lithium potential.
Aside from mining, Australia is also collaborating with Pakistan to support the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) with modern telemetry and assessment tools, highlighting water resource management.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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23h
Questcorp Mining Continues Exploration in Advance of Drilling at the La Union Gold & Silver Project in Mexico
Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the "Company" or "Questcorp") is pleased to further update shareholders on the on-going surface exploration in preparation for drilling at the La Union Gold-Silver Project in Sonora, Mexico. Questcorp has an option to earn a 100% interest from Riverside Resources Inc. ("Riverside") in the 2,520 ha (25 km sq) property by making a series of cash payments and share issuance and incurring exploration expenditures.
Questcorp President & CEO, Saf Dhillon stated "The Riverside technical team continues to de-risk the upcoming 1500 metre mid-August maiden drill program through detailed surface mapping and sampling. The discovery of multiple stacked thrust faults in the main mineralized area has significantly enhanced the potential of the project. Management continues to be impressed with the excellent work and progress being made with prudent management of exploration dollars".
Riverside continues with surface exploration in advance of the mid-August diamond drill program. The key finding of the work to date has been the identification of stacked thrust faults in the mineralized area which may significantly enhance host rock volume and mineralization potential. Mapping has also identified previously unmapped intrusive bodies within the property which may act as additional sources of mineralized fluids and subsequently addition potential manto type mineralization.
Rock and soil sampling continues with numerous samples dispatched to the laboratory for analysis. Results are expected in the coming weeks. Drilling contractors have toured the site with the contract soon to be finalized. A bulldozer has commenced road maintenance in preparation for the drill program.
The La Union Project
The La Union Project is a carbonate replacement deposit ("CRD") project hosted by Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks (limestones, dolomites, and siliciclastic sediments) overlying crystalline Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Caborca Terrane. The structural setting features high-angle normal faults and low-to-medium-angle thrust faults that sometimes served as mineralization conduits. Mineralization occurs as polymetallic veins, replacement zones (mantos, chimneys), and shear zones with high-grade metal content, as shown in highlight grades of 59.4 grams per metric tonne (g/t) gold, 833 g/t silver, 11% zinc, 5.5% lead, 2.2% copper, along with significant hematite and manganese oxides, consistent with a CRD model (see the technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Union Project, State of Sonora, Mexico" dated effective May 6, 2025 available under Questcorp's SEDAR+ profile). These targets also demonstrate intriguing potential for large gold discoveries potentially above an even larger porphyry Cu district potential as the Company's target concept at this time.
Questcorp cautions investors that grab samples are selective by nature and not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the property.
The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P. Geo (BC), a director of the Company and a "qualified person" under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Questcorp Mining Inc.
Questcorp Mining Inc. is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metals properties of merit. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper Property, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, subject to a royalty obligation. The Company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100% interest in and to mineral claims totaling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union Project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.
Contact Information
Questcorp Mining Corp.
Saf Dhillon, President & CEO
Email: saf@questcorpmining.ca
Telephone: (604) 484-3031
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to Riverside's arrangements with geophysical contractors to undertake orientation surveys and follow up detailed survey to confirm and enhance the drill targets. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability of Riverside to secure geophysical contractors to undertake orientation surveys and follow up detailed survey to confirm and enhance the drill targets as contemplated or at all, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the geophysical surveys will be completed as contemplated or at all and that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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23 July
Forte Minerals Closes C$5.7 Million Strategic Placement, Welcomes Long-Term Partner
Forte Minerals Corp. (“Forte” or the “Company”) (CSE: CUAU) (OTCQB: FOMNF) (Frankfurt: 2OA), is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the “Strategic Placement”) with a strategic investor (the “Investor”). The Investor has acquired 6,326,066 common shares at a price of C$0.90 per share, for gross proceeds of C$5.7 million.
Following today’s closing, the Investor holds 9.99 % of Forte’s issued and outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis, establishing a meaningful, long-term position in the Company’s copper-gold growth pipeline.
Patrick Elliott, President & CEO, commented:
“Closing this placement is a pivotal milestone for Forte. The investor’s conviction and long-term horizon validates our exploration thesis in Peru. With capital in hand and technical collaboration secured, we can accelerate exploration & drill permitting at Alto Ruri while unlocking value across our broader portfolio.”
Use of Proceeds:
Consistent with the terms announced on July 16, 2025, at least 80% of the proceeds will be directed toward exploration activities at Forte’s flagship Alto Ruri high-sulfidation epithermal gold project in central Peru. Remaining funds will be allocated to general working capital and corporate purposes.
Investor Rights Agreement Highlights:
Concurrent with closing, Forte and the Investor entered into an Investor Rights Agreement whereby the Investor is entitled to certain rights, subject to the Investor maintaining certain ownership thresholds in the Company, including technical information sharing rights and the right to participate in future equity financings and top-up its holdings in relation to dilutive issuances in order to maintain its percentage ownership interest in the Company. The Investor has also agreed to voting support and standstill covenants.
In addition, under the Investor Rights Agreement, the Investor and Forte will:
- form a joint technical advisory committee; and
- collaborate on community engagement and long-term access strategies.
A copy of the Investor Rights Agreement will be made available on SEDAR+.
All shares issued under the Strategic Placement are subject to a four-month plus one-day statutory hold period expiring November 24, 2025.
ABOUT FORTE MINERALS CORP.
Forte Minerals Corp. is an exploration company with a strong portfolio of high-quality copper (Cu) and gold (Au) assets in Peru. Through a strategic partnership with GlobeTrotters Resources Perú S.A.C., the Company gains access to a rich pipeline of historically drilled, high-impact targets across premier Andean mineral belts. The Company is committed to responsible resource development that generates long-term value for shareholders, communities, and partners.
On behalf of FORTE MINERALS CORP.
(signed) “Patrick Elliott”
Patrick Elliott, MSc, MBA, PGeo
President & Chief Executive Officer
Forte Minerals Corp.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Inquiries
Kevin Guichon, IR & Capital Markets
E: kguichon@forteminerals.com
C: (604) 612-9976
Media Contact
Anna Dalaire, VP Corporate Development
E: adalaire@forteminerals.com
T: (604) 983-8847
info@forteminerals.com
www.forteminerals.com
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Certain statements included in this press release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, “forward-looking statements”), including those identified by the expressions “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “should” and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the intended use of proceeds of the Strategic Placement. These forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company with respect to the matter described in this press release. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are based on current expectations as of the date of this release and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional information about these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained under “Risk Factors and Uncertainties” in the Company’s latest management’s discussion and analysis, which is available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in other filings that the Company has made and may make with applicable securities authorities in the future.
Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that the statements will prove to be accurate or that management’s expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information or statements to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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