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Astral Resources
Investor Insight
Astral Resources presents a compelling investment case as an ASX-listed gold explorer with a 1.46 Moz resource base in Western Australia's premier Kalgoorlie region, anchored by its flagship Mandilla project which demonstrates robust economics with an AU$442 million NPV and 11-year mine life.
Overview
Astral Resources (ASX:AAR) is a gold mineral exploration company with three gold projects in tier 1 mining jurisdictions of Western Australia. The three assets are the Mandilla gold project, the Feysville gold project, and the Carnilya Hill gold project. The flagship and 100 percent owned Mandilla gold project has a mineral resource containing 1.27 million ounces (Moz) of contained gold. The other key project, 100 percent owned Feysville, hosts an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 5.0 Mt at 1.2g/t gold for 196 koz of contained gold . Feysville could potentially become a satellite source of high-grade ore feed for the flagship Mandilla gold project.
The scoping study completed at Mandilla unveils robust project economics. The cornerstone of the scoping study is the Theia deposit, which alone accounts for 81 percent of the total Mandilla mineral resource estimate. The deposit hosts a mineral resource estimate of 29 Mt at 1.1 g/t gold for 1.02 Moz of contained gold in one large open pit. The scoping study indicates a mine life of 11 years with an annual production of 100,000 oz in the first seven and a half years, dropping to 41,000 oz for the remaining three and a half years. The study outlines compelling financial metrics, including NPV@8 percent of AU$442 million, free cash flow of AU$740 million, and a payback period of nine months.
Astral benefits from a team of professionals boasting extensive expertise in geology and mining.
The company is led by managing director Marc Ducler, who has more than two decades of experience in the mining industry. The management team has a proven track record of executing several successful exploration and development projects, as well as M&A.
Company Highlights
- Astral Resources is an ASX-listed gold exploration company in the Kalgoorlie region of Western Australia, a tier 1 jurisdiction and a mature mining region with a successful development history and granted mining leases.
- The company has three assets - the Mandilla gold project, the Feysville gold project, and the Carnilya Hill gold exploration project.
- The focus is on advancing its flagship Mandilla gold project, with a mineral resource estimate of 37 Mt at 1.1 g/t gold for 1.27 Moz.
- The scoping study at Mandilla highlights the project’s robust economics with a mine life of 11 years, NPV@8 percent of AU$442 million, and free cash flow of AU$740 million.
- Mandilla’s cornerstone Theia deposit comprises 81 percent of the project’s resources, contains 29 Mt at 1.1 g/t gold, with 1.02 Moz of contained gold in one large open pit.
- Updated JORC 2012 mineral resource estimate (MRE) at the Feysville gold project is 5.0Mt at 1.2g/t gold for 196koz of contained gold.
- Including the Mandilla MRE of 37Mt at 1.1g/t gold for 1.27Moz of contained gold, Astral’s total gold MRE is now calculated to be 42Mt at 1.1g/t gold for 1.46Moz of contained gold (Group MRE).
- The company is led by an experienced team with a proven track record of advancing projects to development and M&A.
Key Projects
Mandilla Gold Project
The Mandilla gold project is located within the northern region of the Widgiemooltha greenstone belt, approximately 70 kilometers to the south of the prominent mining hub of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Mandilla includes four deposits namely, Theia, Iris, Eos and Hestia. The cornerstone of the project is the Theia deposit, constituting 81 percent of Mandilla's resources, totaling 29 Mt at a grade of 1.1 g/t gold, amounting to 1.02 Moz of contained gold in a single open pit. Mandilla has a total mineral resource estimate of 37 Mt at 1.1 g/t gold for 1.27 Moz.
The scoping study indicates a mine life of 11 years with an annual production of 100,000 oz in the first seven and a half years, dropping to 41,000 oz for the remaining three and a half years. Astral estimates the pre-production capital spend at AU$191 million, and the project is anticipated to generate a free cash flow of AU$740 million (assuming a gold price of A$2,750/oz). The project’s NPV @8 percent is estimated at AU$442 million, and the IRR at 73 percent.
Drill collars at Theia deposit
Astral continues to advance exploration and resource expansion efforts at Mandilla. The company recently completed a four-hole 1,762-metre in-fill diamond drilling program at the Theia deposit late last year. Best results included: 28 metres at 2.63 g/t gold, 15.5 metres at 1.81 g/t gold, 9.6 metres at 27.6 g/t gold, 2.4 metres at 169.1 g/t gold, 24.9 metres at 4.14 g/t gold and 72.2 metres at 1.15 g/t gold.
Astral has commenced work on a pre-feasibility study at Mandilla, which is due in the June quarter 2025.
Feysville Gold Project
The Feysville project is situated in Australia's premier gold belt, merely 14 km south of the Golden Mile deposit, which boasts 70 million ounces, located in Kalgoorlie. The project's updated JORC 2012 MRE indicates 5.0 Mt at 1.2 g/t gold for 196 koz of contained gold. Including the Mandilla MRE of 37 Mt at 1.1 g/t gold for 1.27 Moz of contained gold, Astral’s total gold MRE is now calculated to be 42 Mt at 1.1 g/t gold for 1.46 Moz of contained gold (group MRE).
At Feysville, Astral is focusing on the high-grade Kamperman prospect. A recent 31-hole (3,834 m) reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at Kamperman returned encouraging assay results. The latest drilling program returned best assay results of 33 metres at 3.75 g/t gold, 22 metres at 5.21 g/t gold, and 22 metres at 4.44 g/t gold. This high success rate continues to indicate that Kamperman has the potential to be a substantial source of high-grade satellite ore for the Mandilla processing plant.
Carnilya Gold Project
The Carnilya Hill gold project is situated about 20 kilometers south-southeast of the company's Feysville project and approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The project encompasses various tenements – M26/047-049, M26/453 – spanning approximately 2.65 sq. km. Astral holds rights for gold mining, while Mincor Resources NL (ASX:MCR) holds rights to nickel and other minerals.Management Team
Mark Connelly – Non-executive Chairman
Mark Connelly is a mining industry veteran who has held positions of CEO and managing director with several multinational companies across many jurisdictions, including Australia, North America, South America, Africa and Europe. He has a proven track record in deal making and was principally responsible for the merger of Papillon Resources and B2 Gold Corp in October 2014 (value US$570 million), as well as the key person responsible for the merger of Adamus Resources and Endeavour Mining for US$579 million. He is currently the non-executive chair of Calidus Resources, Omnia Metals Group, Alto Metals, Warriedar Resources and Nickel Search.
Marc Ducler – Managing Director
Marc Ducler has more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry. He has held senior operational management roles with GoldFields, BHP, Fortescue Metals, MRL and Roy Hill. He was also the managing director of Egan Street Resources (a gold exploration and development company) until it was acquired by Silver Lake Resources (ASX:SLR).
Peter Stern – Non-executive Director
Peter Stern has experience in corporate advisory, specializing in M&A and capital raising. He has spent six years with Macquarie Bank and three years with UBS and Deutsche Bank. He is a graduate of Monash University with a Bachelor of Science (geology major). Stern is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the chairman of Troy Resources.
David Varcoe – Non-executive Director
David Varcoe is a mining engineer with over three decades of experience. He has extensive operational and managerial experience across various commodities, including gold, iron ore, copper, diamonds, coal, uranium and rare earths. His expertise spans board positions, operations management, project management and consulting. Varcoe is a principal consultant with the leading Australian firm AMC Consulting.
Justin Osborne – Non-executive Director
Justin Osborne is a geologist with over 30 years of experience in exploration. He was previously the executive director at Gold Road Resources (ASX:GOR), where he played a crucial role in developing the world-class Gruyere gold deposit (6.6 Moz gold). Osborne also held senior positions on the exploration executive team at Gold Fields. He was instrumental in developing the Damang Superpit project in Ghana and achieved significant discovery success at the St Ives gold mine.
Brendon Morton – Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary
Brendon Morton has over 20 years of experience, particularly in the global resources sector across Australia, Africa and Asia. He has held several executive financial and company secretarial roles with ASX-listed and unlisted companies in the resources industry.
Steve Lampron – Technical Services Manager
Steve Lampron is a mining engineer with more than 20 years industry experience. As well as having worked in production roles for companies such as Placer Dome, Barrick and North American Palladium he has also worked as a Consultant for over 10 years.
Julie Reid – Geology Manager
Julie Reid has 36 years of experience working across Australia, Vietnam and Indonesia, covering a variety of commodities in diverse geological terrains. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from Curtin University of Technology.
Gold exploration with highly prospective assets in Western Australia
Pinnacle Silver and Gold
Investor Insight
Pinnacle Silver and Gold presents a compelling investment opportunity in the precious metals sector as it continues to advance its flagship high-grade El Potrero project in Mexico and its Red Lake, Ontario assets. The company’s proven business model focuses on rapidly reactivating past-producing mines to generate early cash flow, while simultaneously exploring for district-scale potential, offering a strong value proposition in a bullish gold-silver environment.
Overview
Pinnacle Silver and Gold (TSXV:PINN,OTC:PSGCF,Frankfurt:P9J) is a promising player positioned for growth in the precious metals exploration sector, with its strategic focus on high-potential projects, commitment to responsible mining practices, and experienced leadership team.
Focused on silver and gold projects in the Americas, Pinnacle is strategically placed to capitalize on the growing demand for these valuable resources. Its core projects include the high-grade El Potrero gold-silver project in Mexico, and the Argosy gold mine and North Birch gold project in Ontario’s Red Lake District – each offering near-term development potential and strong exploration upside.
Pinnacle’s current flagship project, El Potrero, is located within the Sierra Madre Gold Silver Trend.
The company's investment appeal stems from several key factors:
- A robust pipeline of projects at various stages of exploration and development
- Strategic focus on high-potential areas in North and South America
- Effective capital management practices
- Aggressive expansion strategy through strategic acquisitions
The company’s business strategy involves the acquisition of past-producing mines that can be put back into production quickly to generate cash flow. By focusing on high-grade, underground mines, Pinnacle can leverage low capex, a smaller operational footprint, easier and faster permitting process and protection against metal price volatility. At the same time, the company conducts brownfield exploration for resource expansion, increasing its potential for district-scale discovery.
Pinnacle's emphasis on creating shareholder value is evident in its approach to project selection and development. The company's portfolio is carefully curated to balance near-term production potential with long-term growth prospects, offering investors exposure to both immediate returns and future upside.
Company Highlights
- Pinnacle Silver and Gold is a Canada-based exploration and development company dedicated to building long-term shareholder value with its silver- and gold-focused assets in North and South America.
- The company’s flagship El Potrero gold-silver project, located in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Belt, has returned exceptional underground sample grades up to 85.1 grams per ton (g/t) gold and 520 g/t silver, with exploration potential across a 1.6 km strike length.
- The 100-percent-owned Argosy gold mine and North Birch project are located in the Red Lake District in Northwestern Ontario, a region famous for gold production and high-grade underground mines.
- The company’s strategy is to generate near-term production from past-producing assets while growing its resource base through modern, brownfields exploration.
- Pinnacle is led by a highly experienced management team with a successful track record in advancing exploration-stage assets through to production.
Key Projects
El Potrero Gold-Silver Project
El Potrero is a high-grade, past-producing gold-silver project located in the prolific Sierra Madre Belt in Mexico, within 35 km of four operating mines, including Fresnillo’s 4,000 tpd Ciénega Mine. The project comprises two concession blocks totaling 1,074 hectares, which include the historic mines and a 100 tpd on-site processing plant.
Recent Developments (as of July 2025):
- Over 600 rock samples have been collected from underground and surface sources for geochemical analysis.
- Channel sampling at the Pinos Cuates mine returned assays of up to 85.1 g/t gold and 520 g/t silver over 0.5 m, and composite intervals of 50.3 g/t gold and 269 g/t silver over 1.7 m.
- Geological interpretation highlights a significant quartz-feldspar porphyry dyke as a structural control on gold-silver mineralization.
- The Dos de Mayo vein system has been mapped over 1.6 km with trench and underground samples showing high-grade mineralization, including 13.2 g/t gold and 2,280 g/t silver from surface grab samples.
- Work is underway to design an underground and surface drill program to define continuity and guide future mine development.
- A site inspection of the 100 tpd plant confirmed that the base infrastructure is sound. Refurbishment of key equipment (crusher, mill, Merrill Crowe circuit) is being planned.
- Permitting efforts are progressing efficiently, aided by the site's historical disturbance. Baseline studies and formal permitting proposals are underway.
Pinnacle can earn an initial 50 percent interest upon production and increase its ownership of El Potrero to 100 percent subject to a 2 percent NSR, primarily through cash flow-funded payments, offering a low-dilution path to full ownership.
Argosy Gold Mine
Located within the Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt in Ontario’s Red Lake District, and approximately 10 km from First Mining’s Springpole deposit, the Argosy gold mine produced 101,875 ounces at 12.7 g/t gold from 1931 to 1952. Pinnacle owns 100 percent of the project, subject to a 2.5 percent NSR.
Exploration Highlights:
- Past drilling intersected high-grade mineralization, including:
- 14.67 g/t gold over 1.7 m (No. 3 Vein)
- 12.02 g/t gold over 1.29 m (No. 8 Vein)
- 11.75 g/t gold over 1.55 m (No. 2 Vein)
- The project offers strong depth potential, with 2002–2004 drilling intersecting multiple new veins and gold mineralization extending to 400 m vertical depth.
North Birch Gold Project
Located 4 km from the Argosy Mine, North Birch is a 3,850-hectare grassroots project with major upside. The property lies in an underexplored section of the Birch-Uchi Belt and covers a folded and sheared iron formation, interpreted as analogous to Newmont’s Musselwhite Mine.
Exploration Work:
- LiDAR surveys and IP geophysics have revealed 8+ km of structural breaks with multiple drill targets.
- 2022 drilling intersected anomalous gold and copper mineralization within structurally deformed and altered iron formations, confirming the favorable structural setting
Management Team
Robert Archer - President, CEO and Director
Robert Archer has more than 40 years’ experience in the mining industry, working throughout the Americas. After spending more than 15 years with major mining companies, Archer held several senior management positions in the junior mining sector and co-founded Great Panther Mining, a mid-tier precious metals producer, where he served as president and CEO from 2004 to 2017 and director until 2020. He joined Pinnacle as a director in March 2018 followed by his appointment as CEO in January 2019 and president in October 2021. Archer is a professional geologist and holds an Honours BSc from Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.
David Cross - CFO
David Cross is a CPA and CGA with over 21 years’ experience in the junior sector with a focus on finance and corporate governance. He is currently a partner of Cross Davis and Company LLP Chartered Professional Accountant, which specializes in accounting and management services for private and publicly listed companies within the mining industry, and has recently been appointed CFO of Ashburton Ventures.
Colin Jones - Independent Director
Colin Jones is principal consultant for Orimco Resource Investment Advisors in Perth, Australia. He has almost 40 years’ experience as a mining, exploration and consulting geologist in a number of different geological environments on all continents. He has managed large exploration and due diligence projects, and has undertaken numerous bankable technical audits, technical valuations, independent expert reports and due diligence studies worldwide, most of which were on behalf of major international resource financing institutions and banks. Jones holds a Bachelor of Science (Earth Sciences) degree from Massey University, NZ.
David Salari - Independent Director
David Salari has worldwide experience in the design, construction and operation of extractive metallurgical plants. He is an engineer with more than 35 years of experience in the mining and mineral processing field. He is currently the president and CEO of DENM Engineering.
Ron Schmitz - Independent Director
Ron Schmitz is the principal and president of ASI Accounting Services, providing administrative, accounting and office services to public and private companies since July 1995. Schmitz has served as a director and/or chief financial officer of various public companies since 1997, and currently holds these positions with various public and private companies.
Why Juniors Gain in a Soaring Precious Metals Market
Spotlight on juniors
Junior explorers are relatively small, agile companies focused on discovery rather than production. With valuations tied almost entirely to exploration potential, they tend to be more volatile, but in a bull market, that volatility often works in their favour. Strong commodity prices make it easier to raise capital, the market places a premium on drill results, and well-funded majors are more inclined to acquire promising deposits to replenish reserves.
Historical cycles show that juniors have significantly outperformed larger peers during sustained uptrends, delivering more than double the average annual return, albeit with greater risk.
Bull market infographic: rising precious metal prices and capital for junior explorers.
This dynamic is currently playing out in the market.
Petratherm (ASX:PTS) delivered a 1,929 percent year‑to‑date share price gain following a major titanium discovery at its Rosewood deposit, lifting its market capitalization from about AU$5 million to around AU$123 million.
Harvest Gold (TSXV:HVG) has gained approximately 175 percent year-to-date, climbing from the mid-$0.05 range to about $0.14 after launching a 5,000-metre diamond drill program at its Mosseau gold project in Québec, where it has identified 15 primary and 10 secondary drill targets following government approvals. These gains underscore the multiplier effect of a strong metals market combined with meaningful exploration news.
Not all juniors are created equal
Despite headline-grabbing gains, not all juniors are benefitting equally. A significant portion remains constrained by limited treasury, a crowded market and execution risk.
This is why selectivity is critical. Well-funded juniors with strong assets, clear drill plans and proven technical teams are positioned to capture disproportionate gains when catalysts hit.
Equity Metals: Positioned to outperform
Equity Metals' resource expansion in BC: silver, gold, copper prospects; new drilling in 2025. No royalties.
Source: Equity Metals' August 2025 corporate presentation.
Equity Metals (TSXV:EQTY,OTCQB:EQMEF) is one such example. The company’s flagship Silver Queen project in BC is a high-grade, district-scale silver-equivalent asset. When Equity assumed management, it identified clear opportunities to expand the resource, prioritizing targets with the greatest potential impact.
A December 2022 NI 43-101 resource update validated that approach, boosting the resource to 62.8 million silver-equivalent (AgEq) ounces indicated at an average grade of 565 g/t AgEq, and 22.5 million ounces inferred at 365 g/t AgEq, based on a C$100 per tonne NSR cut off and conservative long-term metal prices.
The 2025 drill program has already returned standout results from the No. 3 North target, including 3.5 meters grading 536 g/t AgEq and a sub-interval of 0.7 meters averaging 1,374 g/t AgEq. These intercepts confirm the continuity of mineralization and point to meaningful additions in the resource update planned for late 2025. Beyond No. 3, the property hosts more than 20 identified veins across a 6 km² area, many still underexplored.
Ongoing drilling at Camp, Sveinson and George Lake targets aims to replicate the resource growth achieved at No. 3 and link mineralized zones into a larger district-scale system.
The company’s Arlington project, also in BC, is a district-scale gold-copper-silver property with multiple targets analogous to historically productive mines. In a strong metals market, Arlington offers diversification and optionality, with drilling underway and assays pending. Both projects are backed by fully funded 2025 exploration programs, allowing the company to advance aggressively without immediate financing pressure.
Equity Metals’ progress shows how a focused strategy, strong technical execution, and disciplined capital use can unlock significant value from high-grade assets. With multiple targets set for drilling this year and a resource update ahead, the company is positioned to benefit from both project-level advancements and the broader bull market tailwinds.
Investor takeaway
The current precious metals bull market is creating fertile ground for junior explorers. Capital is rotating into higher-beta names, financings are increasing, and discovery stories are being rewarded with rapid re-ratings.
Companies like Petratherm and Harvest Gold illustrate the upside potential, but Equity Metals — with its high-grade Silver Queen resource, district-scale Arlington project, and active drill programs — offers a compelling example of a junior positioned to ride the wave.
For investors, the lesson is clear: in a bull market, the right junior can deliver leveraged exposure to rising metals prices when backed by geological quality, execution discipline, and timely catalysts.
This INNSpired article is sponsored by Equity Metals (TSXV:EQTY,OTCQB:EQMEF,FWB:EGSD). This INNSpired article provides information which was sourced by the Investing News Network (INN) and approved by Equity Metals in order to help investors learn more about the company. Equity Metals is a client of INN. The company’s campaign fees pay for INN to create and update this INNSpired article.
This INNSpired article was written according to INN editorial standards to educate investors.
INN does not provide investment advice and the information on this profile should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. INN does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company profiled.
The information contained here is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities. Readers should conduct their own research for all information publicly available concerning the company. Prior to making any investment decision, it is recommended that readers consult directly with Equity Metals and seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.
Astral Resources Investor Kit
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects