
June 02, 2025
Athena Gold Corporation (CSE:ATHA)(OTCQB:AHNRF) ("Athena Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a property option agreement (the "Agreement") with Firetail Resources Limited (ASX:FTL) ("Firetail") dated May 28, 2025, whereby the Company has granted Firetail the exclusive right (the "Option") to acquire an 80% undivided interest in the Company's Excelsior Springs Project located in Nevada, USA ("Excelsior" or the "Property"). If the Option is exercised, Firetail will pay Athena Gold AUD$200,000 in cash and issue 32,000,000 ordinary shares, and Firetail will be required to incur USD$5,000,000 in expenditures over a five-year term. A 1% net smelter return royalty will also be provided to Athena Gold on certain claims comprising the Property. If Firetail successfully earns its 80% interest, the parties will form a joint venture partnership that provides Athena Gold with a 20% free-carried interest until a Definitive Feasibility Study is published.
In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that mobilization for the proposed till program at its Laird Lake project in Red Lake, Ontario, has begun (refer to press release dated April 17, 2025).
"Our efforts at Excelsior have attracted international interest, and we are pleased that the capable team at Firetail is keen to take on the risk and share the benefits with Athena Gold. The cash and share payments, as well as the exploration spend required for Firetail to earn an 80% interest, surpass the book value of Excelsior. When normalized to a 100% basis from 80%, the total investment approaches our current market capitalization. In addition to our significant shareholding in Firetail, Athena will maintain significant upside in the project through royalties and its 20% free-carried interest to a Definitive Feasibility Study. With Excelsior successfully monetized, we can place our focus on our new flagship project, Laird Lake, where crews have now mobilized for the 2025 field season," said Koby Kushner, President & CEO of Athena Gold.
Summary of the Terms of the Agreement
TERM: The term of the Option is five (5) years.
OPTION PERIOD: In consideration for the granting of the right to explore the Property and to purchase the Option Firetail shall pay a non-refundable cash fee of AUD$50,000 within five days from execution of the Agreement. Firetail has three (3) months from execution of the Agreement to determine whether to proceed with exercising the Option.
EXERCISE OF THE OPTION: Firetail can exercise the Option (the "Exercise Date") within the three-month period and acquire the Property by:
- Paying AUD$200,000 within five (5) business days of the Exercise Date; and
- Issuing 32,000,000 ordinary shares in the capital of Firetail (the "Consideration Shares") within five (5) business days of the Exercise Date. Firetail may at its sole discretion, elect to pay to the Company the value of the Consideration Shares in cash, calculated using the 5-day VWAP of Firetail ordinary shares trading on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Firetail agrees to incur an aggregate of not less than USD$5,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the Property over a five-year period commencing from the Exercise Date. If the Option is exercised, Athena Gold will retain a 20% free-carried interest in the Property until completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study by Firetail.
Potential Joint Venture
Assuming the entering into of a joint venture and prior to, the Company and Firetail agree to enter into a joint venture wherein the Company shall be responsible for 20% of the exploration expenditures on the Property, subject to Firetail having first expended or incurred the initial USD$5,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the Property. On commencement of the joint venture, Firetail will grant a 1% net smelter return royalty to the Company with respect to the production of all metals and minerals from the grounds without pre-existing royalties.
Upon commencement of production, from any and all mineral concessions, interests or rights acquired (collectively, the "Interests"), directly or indirectly, within the area of influence, these Interests will be subject to a 1% net smelter return royalty that will be granted to the Company and if any party's interests are diluted below the 10% percentage share, this party's said Interest will be converted to an additional 1% net smelter return royalty on the Property.
The Company reserves the right that it may, at its sole election and by providing written notice to Firetail, buy back any royalty that it has granted.
Each party to the joint venture has a right of first refusal on the terms and conditions set out in the Agreement in respect of a transfer of the whole or part of its percentage share and a party may not transfer any part of its percentage share unless and until it has complied with the terms and conditions in the Agreement.
Firetail shall have the option to terminate the Agreement at any time after giving the Company written notice of termination. In the event Firetail does not complete any part of its obligations under the Agreement, the Property will remain with the Company. The Agreement remains subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.
About Athena Gold Corporation
Athena Gold is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on its projects across North America. Athena Gold's Laird Lake project is situated in the Red Lake Gold District of Ontario, covering over 4,000 hectares along more than 10 km of the Balmer-Confederation Assemblage contact, where recent surface sampling results returned up to 373 g/t Au. This underexplored area is road-accessible, located about 10 km west of West Red Lake Gold's Madsen mine and 34 km northwest of Kinross Gold's Great Bear project. Meanwhile, its Excelsior Springs Au-Ag project is located in the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada, where it us currently under option by Firetail Resources Limited. Excelsior Springs spans over 1,500 hectares and covers at least three historic mines.
For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Koby Kushner
President and Chief Executive Officer, Athena Gold Corporation
For further information, please contact:
Athena Gold Corporation
Koby Kushner, President and Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 416-846-6164
Email: kobykushner@athenagoldcorp.com
CHF Capital Markets
Cathy Hume, CEO
Phone: 416-868-1079 x 251
Email: cathy@chfir.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", ''plans", "may", "should", ''potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner.
The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise stated.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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09 January
Athena Gold
Investor Insight
Athena Gold’s high-grade gold exploration assets in two of the world’s safest and most prolific mining jurisdictions, backed by a highly technical and entrepreneurial leadership team, make it a compelling investment opportunity worth examining.
Overview
Athena Gold (CSE:ATHA,OTCQB:AHNR) is a dynamic gold exploration company focused on advancing its newly acquired asset in Ontario’s Red Lake Gold Camp in Canada, and its gold discovery project in Nevada’s Excelsior Springs in the US. These projects are located in two of the world’s safest, tier-one mining jurisdictions, where major mining companies are increasingly refocusing their exploration efforts due to geopolitical stability and established mining infrastructure.
Ontario’s Red Lake and Nevada’s Walker Lane Trend are globally renowned for their high-grade gold deposits. By operating in these regions, Athena Gold aligns itself with the recent trend toward safer, more predictable mining jurisdictions.
The company is guided by a young, entrepreneurial and highly technical leadership team, uniquely equipped to unlock the potential of its assets through cost-effective and innovative exploration strategies. Athena Gold is committed to discovery-driven growth, prioritizing projects with world-class potential.
Company Highlights
- Athena Gold operates in two of the world’s safest and most prolific mining jurisdictions—Nevada and Ontario—benefiting from established infrastructure, lower geopolitical risk, regulatory stability, and high exploration potential.
- Flagship Projects - Laird Lake and Excelsior Springs
- Laird Lake: Situated in Ontario's Red Lake Gold District, renowned for producing over 30 Moz of gold, with recent sampling identifying bonanza-grade gold up to 373 g/t gold. The project is in a pre-discovery phase.
- Excelsior Springs: Located in Nevada’s Walker Lane Trend, this project features historical high-grade gold production and recent discoveries, including a Western Slope intercept of 5.35 g/t gold over 33.5 m, with significant open-pit potential.
- Focused on advancing projects through grassroots exploration and systematic geological work to unlock high-grade deposits.
- Led by a technical and entrepreneurial team with a track record of delivering value through innovative exploration approaches.
- A lean and focused share structure with ~25 percent insider ownership ensures alignment with shareholder interests.
Key Projects
Laird Lake Gold Project
The Laird Lake project, encompassing 4,158 hectares, is located in Ontario’s Red Lake Gold District, an iconic mining camp producing over 30 million ounces of gold. This project spans over 10 kilometers of the Balmer-Confederation Assemblage contact, a key geological structure historically hosting major gold deposits, including the renowned Great Bear mine, now owned by Kinross (TSX:K,NYSE:KGC), and Madsen mine, owned by West Red Lake Gold (TSXV:WRLG:,OTCQB:WRLGF).
Recent sampling has confirmed the project’s exceptional potential, including a bonanza-grade surface grab sample returning 373 grams per ton (g/t) gold — the highest recorded at the site. Mineralization has been identified over a 2.2-kilometer strike length, with further extensions open to the east and west. Strategic proximity to major operations, such as West Red Lake Gold Mines' flagship Madsen mine and Kinross Gold’s Great Bear project, further enhances its appeal.
Map of Laird Lake project, showing selected assays from the October 2024 sampling program.
Athena Gold is executing a systematic exploration strategy, with plans for a property-wide geochemistry survey in 2025. These efforts aim to identify drill targets for a winter-spring drilling campaign, focusing on high-grade zones and expanding the project’s resource potential.
Excelsior Springs Gold Project
The Excelsior Springs project is located in Nevada’s Walker Lane Trend, a prolific mining district with more than 40 million ounces of historical gold output. Major mining companies already operating in the Walker Lane trend include Kinross Gold, AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) and Centerra Gold (TSX:CG). Located on patented and unpatented ground with year-round access, the project boasts a rich history of high-grade gold mining, including the Buster Mine, which produced 19,200 ounces at grades exceeding 40 g/t gold in the late 19th century.
Athena Gold has identified significant potential for Excelsior Springs, with near-surface gold oxide mineralization. A standout discovery in the Western Slope zone yielded an impressive intercept of 5.35 g/t gold over 33.5 meters, supported by broader mineralized zones such as 1.02 g/t gold over 52 meters. These results suggest the potential for an open-pit mining operation, making the project an attractive prospect for resource expansion.
The project is geologically analogous to AngloGold’s Silicon project, which has demonstrated similar mineralization and structural settings. Excelsior Springs also benefits from a multi-phase exploration plan. A recent property-wide structural mapping program is refining the understanding of geological controls, with trenching and targeted geochemical sampling already underway.
Upcoming exploration phases will include oriented core drilling to delineate high-grade zones further and test for additional deposits.
Leadership Team
David Goodman - Chairman
David Goodman transitioned from a successful legal career to the investment management industry, becoming a partner, vice-president and portfolio manager at the firm behind Dynamic Funds. As president and CEO of Dynamic Funds and later DundeeWealth, he led the firm to significant growth, increasing assets under management from $5 billion to approximately $50 billion. Under his leadership, the firm was recognized multiple times as Fund Company of the Year at the Canadian Investment Awards. Goodman has also served on the boards of DundeeWealth, Repadre Capital, Dundee and SickKids Foundation.
Koby Kushner - President & CEO
Koby Kushner is a licensed professional engineer in Ontario and a CFA charter holder, with a background in mining engineering and equity research. He has worked at several mines in Ontario and Manitoba, including Hemlo (Barrick Gold) and Detour, gaining experience across all stages of project development. As an equity research analyst at Red Cloud Securities, a mining-focused investment bank, he covered more than 100 companies across various development stages and commodities, with a focus on precious and energy metals.
John Power - Secretary & Director
John Power has been with Athena Gold since its inception, serving in various capacities, including president and CEO. He managed the Langtry silver project, developing an NI 43-101 compliant resource of more than 60 million ounces of silver. Power was the president of Redwood Microcap Fund, where he increased shareholder value sixfold. He has also served as a director and/or officer of Magellan Gold and co-managing member of Silver Saddle Resources, a private entity owning mining claims in Nevada.
Ty Minnick - CFO
Ty Minnick is a certified public accountant with more than 25 years of experience across various industries. Since 2011, he has worked with Augusta Gold (formerly Bullfrog Gold), serving as chief financial officer until October 2020, and continuing as a consultant thereafter. He has also been associated with Grand Mesa CPAs and served as director of finance and administration for the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority.
Ben Kuzmich - VP Exploration
Ben Kuzmich is a geologist with a strong track record of significant discoveries, driving the technical aspects of Athena’s projects. His expertise includes porphyry and epithermal systems, with a focus on cost-efficient exploration.
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High-grade gold exploration in Ontario and Nevada
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Keith Weiner, founder and CEO of Monetary Metals, discusses gold and silver's performance so far this year and shares his outlook for the rest of 2025.
He also explains what makes today's gold bull market different than those seen in prior years.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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China-Linked Gold Syndicates Driving Toxic Mining Boom in Indonesia: Report
Remote hillsides in Indonesia are being stripped bare and villages are grappling with poisoned soil, all due to a growing illicit gold trade that investigators say is being driven in large part by Chinese syndicates.
A Washington Post exposé based on satellite imagery, trade data, public records and interviews across three continents, found that these operations, which are being bankrolled by private Chinese investors, are far beyond the reach of local authorities, often running without interference from local police.
In Indonesia’s Lantung region, gold trader Heru Hairuddin expressed concern, telling the news outlet, “We don’t know where they take it. We only know it doesn’t stay here.”
Villagers say cyanide runoff from nearby pits has killed crops and cattle. Locals who mine with hand tools are dwarfed by the scale of Chinese-operated sites, where zinc-roofed dormitories house workers guarding the perimeter.
Protests, residents say, have been ignored.
While Indonesian authorities have stepped up enforcement by creating a special law enforcement arm in the minerals ministry and cracking down on cyanide smuggling rings, prosecutions remain rare and bribery has hampered cases.
In one instance, a large Chinese-run mine in Kalimantan employing 80 workers led to trials, but all of the defendants were acquitted in a decision later linked to judicial misconduct.
The investigation further revealed that shadow networks span from Southeast Asia to South America and across Africa. Operators are stepping into artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) with industrial equipment, advanced geological data and cash, and in many cases, they are extracting gold without permits and ignoring environmental rules.
Experts say the surge in illicit gold mining is linked to China’s long-term strategy to reduce reliance on the US dollar, shield itself from possible sanctions and secure commodities it views as strategically vital.
A growing criminal nexus
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime warned in May that organized crime is embedding itself so deeply in gold supply chains that the trade now poses a “serious global threat.” Criminal groups, including drug cartels, terrorist networks and mercenary outfits, are increasingly getting involved, often in partnership with Chinese-linked operators that have the resources and connections to penetrate previously untapped deposits.
Unlike traditional artisanal miners, the Post indicates that these syndicates operate at near-industrial scale, but without environmental or safety safeguards. In many regions, they are shifting from mercury to cyanide in gold processing, a more efficient method, but one that is even more hazardous to surrounding communities if left unchecked.
China has been among the world’s top gold buyers for over a decade, but analysts speculate that the true size of its reserves remains a mystery and may be far higher than reported publicly.
Jan Nieuwenhuijs, a gold analyst at Money Metals, estimates that in 2024 alone, the Chinese central bank covertly purchased 570 metric tons— more than double its declared figure. The scale of buying, Nieuwenhuijs told the Post, is changing the gold market because Beijing sees the metal as an “alternative to the dollar.”
While Chinese officials insist their gold import and export data is “open and transparent,” researchers warn that secrecy surrounding state holdings makes it easier for illicitly mined gold to enter the system undetected.
Globally, the illicit gold sector is valued at more than US$30 billion a year, according to conservative estimates. A 2024 study by nonprofit Swissaid found gold smuggling out of Africa doubled between 2012 and 2022.
Once refined, illegal gold is virtually indistinguishable from legally mined metal, making it attractive to major buyers.
A global pattern and calls for coordinated action
As mentioned, the same dynamics are playing out far from Indonesia.
In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made eliminating illegal mining from Indigenous lands a central pledge since returning to office in 2023. Raids by environmental agency Ibama have targeted the Yanomami and Munduruku territories, where mining has caused severe deforestation, mercury contamination and health crises.
New regulations now require electronic invoices for gold trades in an attempt to reduce laundering of illegal metal.
Yet the profits remain irresistible. The World Gold Council estimates that ASGM now accounts for about 20 percent of global gold production, up from around 4 percent in the 1990s, when the price was near US$250 an ounce. The gold price has risen as high as US$3,500 this year, and is currently priced at the US$3,350 level.
Dominic Raab, former UK deputy prime minister and now head of global affairs for Appian Capital Advisory, told S&P Global that a high gold price is tempting for illegal operators. “If the price goes up … criminal organizations have looked at diversifying into gold. It’s easy to melt down. It’s easy to smuggle. It’s pretty tough to track," he said.
In November 2024, Raab partnered with the World Gold Council to publish "Silence is Golden," a report on how criminal gangs, armed groups and corrupt officials exploit ASGM to fund wars, terrorism and organized crime.
The report identifies three fundamental challenges: lack of transparency in business and government compliance with legal standards; failures of accountability; and disjointed enforcement across jurisdictions.
It then outlines 24 practical actions for governments, international organizations, NGOs and the mining sector, ranging from prosecuting offenders to sustaining a coordinated G7 and G20 response.
However, not all ASGM is illegal, as some miners are seeking to adopt safer, mercury-free techniques.
As the gold price remains high, demand from buyers like China will keep fueling the trade.
The challenge, according to market participants, is to channel ASGM into regulated, sustainable frameworks before criminal networks entrench themselves further.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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"All you need to do is believe that gold is not crashing back below US$2,000 (per ounce) to load up on these stocks and be set to make five, 10 times your money."
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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Element79 Gold CEO Highlights Strategic Pivot Toward Nevada Projects
Element79 Gold (CSE:ELEM,OTCQB:ELMGF,FWB:7YS) is providing more details on recent developments at its Lucero project in Peru, after the company invoked the force majeure clause under its agreement with Condor Resources (TSXV:CN).
“When you're working outside of … a de-risked jurisdiction like North America, you can run into these delays. And while we have been working diligently with the community for over two and a half years since acquiring this project at Lucero, there's ebbs and flows, both on a federal level as well as at local level, inside the community,” said James C. Tworek, the company’s CEO and director.
Invoking the force majeure clause allowed Element79 to pause payment obligations with regards to the Lucero project for a maximum of two years.
“It gives us the ability to work out the things that are delaying the progress at the project. While we still believe firmly in the opportunity that the Lucero project has and what it stands to be in the future, unfortunately it's a slow go for the time being,” Tworek explained.
Meanwhile, the company will be shifting its exploration focus to its Nevada projects, which include the Elephant project and the recently acquired Gold Mountain project.
“Nevada is nothing new to us. We've acquired a portfolio of 16 projects back in 2021, all located in the general Carlin Getchell and Battle Mountain trend,” Tworek said.
The chief executive noted the Elephant project sits close to some large producing and past-producing mines, and has about 40 drill holes that will give the exploration team a jump start. The company is working on releasing the first-ever NI 43-101 report on the Elephant project, which Tworek said will provide insight on current resource and future project work.
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11 August
Brunswick Exploration
Investor Insight
With multiple significant lithium discoveries under its belt and a proven exploration strategy that yields results, Brunswick Exploration makes a compelling investment proposition in the ever-expanding lithium space.
Overview
Brunswick Exploration (TSXV:BRW,OTCQB:BRWXF,1XQ:FF) is one of North America's few publicly traded companies aggressively pursuing grassroots lithium exploration across Canada and Greenland. The company is leveraging cutting-edge exploration technologies and systematic geological fieldwork to uncover new spodumene-bearing pegmatite discoveries in underexplored districts.
Brunswick has staked and is actively exploring large-scale pegmatite fields in Quebec and both western and eastern Greenland. Its multi-regional strategy is designed to fast-track discoveries of high-grade lithium deposits to meet rising global demand driven by the energy transition.
Brunswick’s exploration process begins with comprehensive data compilation and geological analysis to pinpoint promising target areas. Its experienced field teams then deploy traditional prospecting techniques—including bedrock mapping, sampling, and geophysical surveys—to validate targets on the ground. This hands-on approach has led to multiple new lithium discoveries and remains central to the company’s value creation strategy.
The company has launched an aggressive, regional-scale prospecting and mapping campaign across its extensive Greenland portfolio which will run for six weeks, supported by four field crews and two helicopters. The initial phase will see one team conducting detailed mapping and sampling around the Ivisaartoq spodumene discovery and surrounding areas. A second team will cover the expanded Nuuk and Paamiut licenses, including follow-up at the historical spodumene showing at Paamiut.
Starting in July 2025, fieldwork will pivot based on June results, with one crew continuing follow-up at Nuuk and Paamiut, and another moving to Disko Bay and Uummannaq. Findings will guide advanced exploration in August–September, including first-pass work at the newly acquired Hinksland project.
In Quebec, Brunswick Exploration has prioritized three key lithium projects in the Eeyou Istchee–James Bay region: Mirage, Anatacau, and PLEX with active drilling underway at Mirage following 2023 grassroots discoveries.
In 2024, the company made Greenland’s first lithium-bearing spodumene pegmatite discovery at the Ivisaartoq field under its Nuuk license—an area characterized by ancient Mesoarchean geology. Brunswick is now expanding its land position in both western and eastern Greenland to build on this breakthrough. In 2025, the company reported it had submitted license applications covering 20,785 hectares at Paamiut that include multiple metavolcanic amphibolite belts and nine mapped pegmatites 500–900 m in strike length, with approval pending. Brunswick had also applied for a 17,800-hectare Hinksland license in eastern Greenland containing over 50 mapped and interpreted pegmatite outcrops, including nine that are between 500 m and roughly 10,000 m in strike length, likewise awaiting government sign-off.
The exploration team is led by Executive Chairman Robert Wares, a renowned geologist and co-founder of Osisko Mining. Wares played a pivotal role in discovering the Canadian Malartic gold deposit, which became one of Canada’s largest gold producers. His leadership and exploration success provide strong technical guidance for Brunswick’s operations.
Company Highlights
- Brunswick Exploration (BRW) is a Montreal-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSXV under symbol BRW. The company is focused on grassroots exploration for lithium in Canada and Greenland, a critical metal necessary to global decarbonization and energy transition.
- This has generated one of the largest grassroots lithium portfolios globally.
- BRW's board includes Robert Wares, one of the founders of Osisko Mining.
- BRW was recognized as one of the Top 50 TSX Venture listed companies in 2023.
- The company has staked hundreds of untested prospective pegmatites measuring a minimum strike length of 500 meters and within 50 kms of infrastructure.
- In 2023, three discoveries were made in the Eeyou Istchee-James Bay region of Quebec at the Mirage, Anatacau Main and Elrond projects.
- In 2024, BRW announced a newly discovered pegmatite outcrop from its Nuuk License, making it the first confirmed lithium discovery in Greenland.
- In 2025 BRW bolstered its first-mover position in Greenland by staking about 38,500 ha across two new licenses — 20,785 ha at Paamiut (SW Greenland) hosting nine 500-900 m pegmatite trends and 17,800 ha at Hinksland (E Greenland) with over 50 mapped pegmatites, including nine 500-10,000 m trends — making BRW one of the country’s largest mineral-license holders and giving it hundreds of untested targets for lithium exploration.
Key Projects
Mirage Project
The Mirage Project consists of 427 claims covering 21,230 hectares (including both staked and optioned claims), situated approximately 40 km south of the Trans-Taiga Highway in Quebec’s James Bay region. The project was initially staked following insights from a geologist who explored the area for gold over two decades ago and documented numerous angular pegmatitic glacial boulders containing large, well-defined spodumene crystals, including one boulder measuring 8 x 4 x 3 meters.
In fall 2023, Brunswick Exploration uncovered multiple high-grade spodumene outcrops along a 2.5-km trend, alongside a distinct 3 km boulder train with different mineralogical characteristics, suggesting the presence of multiple lithium-bearing sources within the project area.
The company intersected 37 m at 1.14 percent Li₂O in hole MR-24-87 at the MR-3 dyke; 36 m at 1.51 percent Li₂O in hole MR-24-102 within the Stacked Dyke area where the same hole also cut thirteen additional spodumene-bearing dykes and 28 m at 1.32 percent Li₂O in hole MR-24-101 at the MR-6 dyke, together extending the combined MR-3–MR-6–Stacked Dyke swarm to more than 1 km by 450 m. In the past drillings, Brunswick intercepted 1.55 percent and 1.64 percent Li₂O at 93.45 m and 69.3 m respectively at the MR-6 dyke The project continues to show excellent continuity and scale, with stacked dykes and new zones being delineated through ongoing drilling.
The winter 2025 drill program covering over 5,000 meters is designed to test new extensions to MR-3, MR-4, and MR-6 dykes, as well as additional targets within the broader Central Zone. Mirage is quickly emerging as a potential high-grade, large-tonnage lithium system.
Spodumene crystals at Mirage are massive and white to pale grey, both at the surface and in the core.
In 2025, BRW has continued to advance Mirage through additional drilling and metallurgical testing. The winter drill program intersected 36 meters at 1.51percent Li2O in the Stacked Dyke area and 28 meters at 1.32 percent Li2O at the MR-6 dyke, significantly extending these pegmatites along strike. This drilling confirms that the MR-3, MR-6 and Stacked Dyke systems form a major spodumene-bearing pegmatite swarm now traced over ~1,000 by 450 meters and open in multiple directions. Phase 1 metallurgical results indicate the potential for a dense media separation (DMS)-only flowsheet (no flotation required), capable of producing a clean spodumene concentrate grading ~5.5–5.7 percent Li2O with up to 76 percent recovery and low impurities.
PLEX Project
The company is also advancing the early-stage Poste Lemoyne Extension (PLEX) project, located along the La Grande shear zone approximately 75 km west of Patriot Battery Metals’ Corvette project. PLEX consists of 375 claims covering 19,175 hectares and remains a target for future prospecting campaigns.
Anatacau
Comprising the Anatacau Main and Anatacau West projects, these assets are under an option agreement with Osisko GP, a subsidiary of Osisko Development, under which Brunswick Exploration can earn a 90 percent interest in the projects. The Anatacau property is located just east of Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) recently acquired James Bay Lithium deposit (previously known as the Cyr deposit), previously owned by Arcadium (NYSE:ALTM) which has a total mineral resource of 110.2 million tons (Mt) at 1.30 percent lithium oxide and a total ore reserve of 37.3 Mt at 1.27 percent lithium oxide.
BRW completed a maiden drill program at the Anatacau West property totalling 3,712 meters. 17 of the 18 drilled holes intersected spodumene mineralization that generated up to 26.5 metres at 1.51 percent Li2O.
In the summer of 2023, Brunswick discovered a significant lithium pegmatite outcrop, measuring at least 100 meters long by 15 meters wide known as the Anais showing in Anatacau Main. The outcrop is within a larger cluster of pegmatite dykes all of which contain high-grade lithium mineralization.
This discovery is located 22 km east of Anatacau West and Rio’s James Bay project along a large-scale E-W deformation corridor which is host to the known lithium-bearing pegmatite dykes in the region.
Greenland
Brunswick Exploration is now one of Greenland’s largest mineral license holders and the only company actively exploring for lithium in the country, capitalizing on a clear first-mover advantage. With supportive regulations, highly prospective geology, and excellent outcrop exposure, 2025 is set to be a breakthrough year as the company launches a major lithium exploration campaign.
A six-week regional program begins in June, with four field crews and two helicopters deployed across Brunswick’s vast land package. One team will focus on the Ivisaartoq spodumene discovery, while another targets the Nuuk and Paamiut licenses. In July, follow-up work will continue at Nuuk and Paamiut, while a second team begins prospecting at the Disko Bay and Uummannaq properties.
Initial results will guide advanced exploration phases in August and September across high-priority targets.
2025 Paamiut license area
Brunswick Exploration has applied for new licenses covering 20,785 hectares, approximately 90 to 130 km northeast of Paamiut, a coastal town about 260 km south of Nuuk. The area lies within the Bjornesund tectonic block of the North Atlantic Craton, a geologically favorable region comprising tonalitic and granodioritic orthogneiss and Mesoarchean metavolcanic amphibolite belts.The newly staked ground includes multiple amphibolite belts up to 1.5 km wide and 15 km long, along with nine mapped and interpreted pegmatite targets ranging from 500 to 900 meters in strike length. License applications have been submitted and are currently pending final government approval
Nuuk Expansion
Brunswick Exploration’s Nuuk holdings include the Ivisaartoq spodumene discovery within the Ivisaartoq belt. The company has applied to stake the adjacent Ujarassuit amphibolite belt, which is up to 1 km wide and 40 km long. Additional claims have been secured within the Fiskefjord Complex, located 95 km north of Nuuk and 75 km southeast of Maniitsoq, covering amphibolite belts up to 4.5 km wide and 20 km long. The newly acquired and applied-for claims span 33,138 hectares and host hundreds of mapped and interpreted pegmatite outcrops, including six targets with strike lengths between 500 and 2,000 m.
Disko Bay
The Disko Bay licenses are located roughly 30 to 80 kms from the coastal city of Ilulissat, which is the third largest city in Greenland. The licenses are near multiple seaports and container terminals, including Ilulissat. The area is situated within the Aasiaat domain, part of the Paleoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidian Orogen, sandwiched to the south by the Archean North Atlantic Craton and to the north by the Archean Rae Craton. The Orogen extends west into the Trans-Hudson orogeny of Canada that continues to the lithium deposits near Snow Lake Manitoba and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Multiple amphibolite and metasedimentary belts were acquired with some belts being over 20 km in strike length. The new claims have hundreds of mapped and interpreted pegmatite targets with a total license area of 49,639 hectares.
Uummannaq
The licenses are located roughly 70 km from the coastal city of Uummannaq, about 80 km north of Ilulissat. Uummannaq has a population of about 1,660, an airport and a ferry terminal as well as a nearby container terminal. The area is located within the Archean Rae Craton that is intermixed with the Paleoproterozoic Rinkian fold-thrust belt, both of which are in contact with the Paleoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidian Orogen to the south.
The new license contains multiple amphibolite and metasedimentary belts with dozens of mapped and interpreted pegmatites with a total license area of 9,770 hectares.
Management Team
Robert Wares - Executive Chairman
Robert Wares is a professional geologist with more than 35 years of experience in mineral exploration and development. He was responsible for discovering the Canadian Malartic bulk tonnage gold mine, which was subsequently developed by Osisko Mining into one of Canada's largest gold producers. Wares was a co-winner of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's "Prospector of the Year Award" for 2007. He was also named one of the "Mining
Men of the Year" for 2009 by the Northern Miner. He has a Bachelor of Science and an honorary doctorate in earth sciences from McGill University.
Killian Charles - President and CEO
From 2017 to 2021, Killian Charles worked as VP of corporate development for Osisko Metals. Charles was previously the manager of corporate development at Integra Gold Corp, which was an advanced-stage gold development company until it was acquired by Eldorado Gold in July 2017. He worked as a mining analyst at Industrial Alliance Securities and Laurentian Bank Securities. Charles covered small and mid-cap exploration and production companies as a mining analyst. Charles holds a Bachelor of Science with a major in Earth and planetary sciences from McGill University.
Anthony Glavac - CFO
Anthony Glavac has more than 17 years of experience in financial reporting, including over 12 years in the mining industry. Since August 2017, Glavac has served as vice-president, and corporate controller for Falco Resources, and previously served as director, financial reporting and internal controls at Dynacor Gold Mines. Glavac spent 10 years at KPMG, working with both public and private companies, providing audit, taxation, strategic advisory and public offering services. Glavac is also involved with other public companies in the mining industry.
Simon Hébert - Vice-president, Development
Simon Hébert is a professional geologist with over 13 years of experience in mineral exploration, having begun his career with Virginia Mines and Osisko Mining. He has worked on numerous metallogenic projects across Baie-James, Nunavik, and the Northwest Territories. In 2019, he helped form NQ Mining Investment, becoming its general manager in 2023. A member of the Ordre des Géologues du Québec since 2012, Hébert also serves as vice president of the AEMQ and is chair of the Table Jamésienne de concertation minière. He holds a BSc in Geology from Université Laval.
François Goulet - Exploration Manager, Quebec
François Goulet holds a master’s degree in structural geology from UQÀM and has extensive exploration experience in James Bay and internationally. He was recently president and CEO of Harfang Exploration, a gold project generator in Quebec. Goulet has worked with companies including Virginia Mines, Unigold, Maya Gold & Silver, the Canadian Malartic Partnership, and Glencore Canada. He is a board member of the AEMQ and a registered geologist with the Ordre des géologues du Québec since 2011.
Charles Kodors - Exploration Manager, Atlantic Canada
Charles Kodors is the Manager, Atlantic Canada at Brunswick Exploration Inc. and has been with the company since January 2021. Having 15 years of experience in the mining and exploration industry, he most recently served as an exploration manager for Osisko Metals and a senior exploration geologist for Kirkland Lake Gold. Kodors received his B.Sc. from Brock University and is a registered professional geologist within the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Shayaan Belluzzo – Corporate Secretary
Ms. Shayaan Belluzzo is a seasoned Corporate Secretary with over 8 years of experience of board governance and compliance, corporate restructuring matters for various global entities and investment vehicles, focusing on corporate regulatory and corporate governance best practices, and providing strategic legal support. Recently, Belluzzo also held key roles as Corporate Secretary of Windfall Mining Group and Assistant Corporate Secretary of Osisko Mining, supporting both companies during a $2.16 billion acquisition. Ms. Belluzzo’s diverse industry experience stems from her work in global investment, asset management, and law firms, including McCarthy Tétrault LLP.
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11 August
Alkane Completes Merger with Mandalay Resources, Begins Trading on TSX
Alkane Resources (ASX:ALK,TSX:ALK) said on August 5 that it has closed its merger with gold- and antimony-focused Mandalay Resources. The all-share transaction was valued at AU$559.1 million.
First announced in April, the deal creates a combined company that is projected to produce about 160,000 gold equivalent ounces in the 2025 fiscal year, with the potential to rise to 180,000 ounces the following year.
Alkane has acquired all of Mandalay's issued and outstanding common shares, with former Mandalay shareholders and existing Alkane shareholders respectively owning approximately 55 percent and 45 percent of the new entity.
“This merger represents a significant step forward for both companies. By combining our complementary portfolios, we have created a stronger, more resilient platform with the scale and financial flexibility to pursue long-term growth,” said Alkane Managing Director and CEO Nic Earner in a press release.
Alkane began pursuing a TSX listing following the merger announcement. The company began trading on the TSX under the symbol "ALK" on August 7, with the ASX remaining as its primary listing.
Mandalay shares officially delisted from the TSX on August 6, the day after the merger closed.
Australia remains Alkane’s focus, with its Tomingley gold project in New South Wales holding the potential to produce 70,100 ounces of gold this year, forming a substantial part of the company’s projected output.
According to Alkane’s recent Diggers & Dealers presentation, Mandalay’s Costerfield gold-antimony mine, located in Victoria, Australia, is also central to the combined entity’s current focus.
The company said Costerfield is one of the world’s richest gold and antimony mines. It is expected to produce 49,400 gold equivalent ounces during the 2025 fiscal year. Björkal, an open-cut gold mine in Sweden owned by Mandalay, also forms part of the transaction. Its output is projected at 41,400 ounces of gold for 2025.
“With a diversified production base, broader exploration pipeline and enhanced trading liquidity, (we are) well positioned for a market re-rating,” added former Mandalay President and CEO and Frazer Bourchier.
Bourchier is now a non-executive director at Alkane.
The combined company will operate as Alkane and remain headquartered in Perth.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource 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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