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AUE achieves in excess of 95% gold recoveries from Boundiali
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Aurum Resources
Investor Insights
Aurum Resources offers a compelling value proposition through its highly prospective gold asset in Côte d'Ivoire, a fast-emerging gold region in West Africa. It's cost-effective exploration strategy of drill rig ownership, also sets it apart from its peers.
Overview
Aurum Resources (ASX:AUE) is a mineral exploration company primarily focused on gold through its flagship Boundiali gold project located in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.
Côte d'Ivoire's gold mining sector is experiencing significant growth and development, with several key projects contributing to the country's economic expansion. The overall gold mining sector in Côte d'Ivoire is supported by substantial investments in infrastructure and exploration.
Geopolitically, Côte d'Ivoire outperforms most developing countries in the world in political, legal, tax and operational risk metrics. Additionally, Côte d'Ivoire continues to make notable strides in its political stability and Absence of Violence and Terrorism Index.
Aurum is led by a board and management team with considerable experience and a track record of success in the mining industry and a history of creating shareholder value.
Company Highlights
- Aurum Resources is a precious metals company with exploration prospects in the same greenstone belt as the Syama (11.5 Moz), Sissingué (1.0 Moz), Tongon (5.0 Moz) and Kone Gold (4.5 Moz) deposits of West Africa.
- Upcoming catalysts include a maiden mineral resource estimate expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The company believes mineralization is open at depth and along strike and highlights the existence of numerous gold mineralization targets within the large land holding of Aurum’s Boundiali Gold Project.
- Aurum operates its own drill rigs, allowing the company to significantly reduce its exploration costs relative to peers.
- Management has a track record of creating value for shareholders from exploration through to project development, mine construction and gold production.
- Strong leverage to increasing gold prices that will benefit from a declining interest rate environment and rising global geopolitical risk factors.
- Well-funded for greater than 12 months and over 100,000 metres diamond drilling programs and metallurgical study
Key Project: Boundali Gold Project
The Boundiali gold project in Cote d’Ivoire is located within the Boundiali Greenstone Belt, which hosts Resolute’s Syama gold operation (11.5 Moz) and the Tabakoroni deposit (1 Moz) in Mali. Neighbouring assets also include Barrick’s Tongon mine (5 Moz) and Montage Gold’s Kone project (4.5 Moz).
The Boundiali project area covers the underexplored southern extension of the Boundiali belt, where a highly deformed synclinal greenstone horizon traverses finer-grained basin sediments, and to the west, Tarkwaian clastic rocks lie in contact with a granitic margin. The project benefits from year-round road access and excellent infrastructure.
The first stage of drilling at Boundiali occurred in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 for both the BM and BD tenements (BM1 and BM2; BD1, BD2 and BD3 targets) and was designed to test below-gold-in-soil anomalies oriented along NE trending structures. Having completed its initial exploration program, Aurum is now ramping up and undertaking a scout and step-back diamond drilling campaign with plans to increase its drilling fleet to include six rigs targeting a drilling rate of ~10,000 metres per month. The company expects to drill more than 45,000 metres of diamond core at Boundali to support an inaugural mineral resource estimate that is anticipated by the end of 2024.Drilling costs are estimated at US$45 per metre, as Aurum owns all of its drilling rigs and employs its operators, representing a significant value proposition relative to peers who use commercial drilling companies that charge upwards of $200 per meter. The company believes there is potential for multi-million ounce gold resources to be defined with hundreds thousands meters of drilling over years within the Boundiali Gold Project’s land holding areas.
The Boundiali gold project comprises four contiguous granted licenses: PR0808 (80 percent interest), PR0893 (80 to 88 percent interest), PR414 (100 percent interest), and PR283 (70 percent interest). Historic exploration at PR0893 includes 93 AC drill holes and four RC holes. Airborne geophysical surveying, geological mapping and extensive soil sampling have also been performed at PR0893, while PR0808 has had 91 RC holes drilled for 6,229 metres along with geochemical analysis and modeling. Detailed geochemical sampling and drilling at PR414 revealed three strong gold anomalies and returned impressive high-grade results.
Following the renewal of its Boundali South (BST) exploration licence in September 2024, drilling at the Nyangboue deposit is ramping up. Previous exploration at BST has returned impressive results, including 20 m at 10.45 g/t gold from 38 meters, and 30 m at 8.30 g/t gold from 39 m.
In May 2024, Aurum entered a strategic partnership agreement to earn up to a 70 percent interest in exploration tenement PR283, to be renamed Boundiali North (BN). Aurum, through subsidiary Plusor Global Pty Ltd, has partnered with Ivorian company Geb & Nut Resources Sarl and related party (GNRR) to explore and develop the Boundiali North (BN) tenement which covers 208.87sq km immediately north of Aurum’s BD tenement. Further to this agreement, Aurum announced it has earned 51 percent project interest after completing more than 8,000 m of diamond core drilling. Aurum is continuing diamond drilling on the BM tenement targeting an initial JORC resource by late 2024.
Management Team
Troy Flannery – Non-Executive Chairman
Troy Flannery has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining industry, including nine years in corporate and 17 years in senior mining engineering and project development roles. He has a degree in mining engineering, masters in finance, and first class mine managers certificate of competency. Flannery has performed non-executive director roles with numerous ASX listed companies and was the CEO of Abra Mining until October 2021. He has worked at numerous mining companies, mining consultancy and contractors, including BHP, Newcrest, Xstrata, St Barbara Mines and AMC Consultants.
Dr. Caigen Wang – Managing Director
Dr. Caigen Wang founded Tietto Minerals (ASX:TIE), where he led the company as managing director for 13 years through private exploration, ASX listing, gold resource definition, project study and mine building to become one of Africa’s newest gold producers at its Abujar gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire. He holds a bachelor, masters and PhD in mining engineering. He is a fellow of AusIMM and a chartered professional engineer of Institution of Engineer, Australia. Wang has 13 years of mining academic experience in China University of Mining and Technology, Western Australia School of Mine and University of Alberta, and over 20 years of practical experience in mining engineering and mineral exploration in Australia, China and Africa. Other professional experience includes senior technical and management roles in mining houses, including St. Barbara, Sons of Gwalia, BHP Billiton, China Goldmines PLC and others.
Mark Strizek – Executive Director
Mark Strizek has nearly 30 years’ experience in the resource industry, having worked as a geologist on various gold, base metal and technology metal projects. He brings invaluable geological, technical and development expertise to Aurum, most recently as an executive director at Tietto Minerals’, which progressed from an IPO to gold production at the Abujar gold project in West Africa. Strizek has worked as an executive with management and board responsibilities in exploration, feasibility, finance and development-ready assets across Australia, West Africa, Asia and Europe.
Quarterly Activities/Appendix 5B Cash Flow Report
Aurum hits 150 g/t gold at Boundiali, Cote d'Ivoire
MKG: Directors Recommend AUE's Best and Final Offer
Boundiali Gold Project Maiden Resource delivers 1.6 Moz
Aurum hits 277 g/t gold at Boundiali BM Target 3
New Priority Drill Targets Identified at Laverton South Adjacent to New Gold Discovery
Emerging gold discovery on E79’s tenement boundary with KalGold
- Recent drilling by Kalgoorlie Gold Mining Ltd (KalGold) (ASX: KAL) on an adjoining tenement to E79 Gold’s Laverton South Project highlights a potential emerging gold discovery, called Lighthorse.
- Recently announced drilling results by KalGold have returned thick, shallow zones of gold mineralisation with results including1,2:
- 8m @ 2.29g/t Au from 60m (KGAC24045) – located ~40m from the E79 Gold/KalGold tenement boundary; and
- 17m @ 4.81g/t Au from 48m (KGAC24152) – ~550m from the E79 Gold/KalGold tenement boundary.
- Structural trends, host stratigraphy and drill targets strike towards E79 Gold-owned tenements, where there has been no drilling to date.
- Planning is underway for aircore drilling to drill test the newly identified targets on the E79 Gold tenure late in the March Quarter.
E79 Gold CEO, Ned Summerhayes, said:“The great work done by KalGold to make the greenfields Lighthorse gold discovery is very exciting for E79 Gold, with shallow intercepts of strong gold grades in drilling so close to our tenement boundary and the two main extensions to the mineralisation interpreted by KalGold both trending onto our tenure. There is no drilling on our side of the tenement boundary and, in light of this exciting breakthrough, we will move quickly to drill test these walk-up targets.”
Laverton South Projects
Lake Yindana (100%) and Pinjin (100%)
The Laverton South Project, with an area of 272km2, covers a southern portion of the Laverton Tectonic Zone (‘LTZ’) approximately 130km east-northeast of Kalgoorlie, within the major gold producing Archean Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia.
The LTZ is one of the world’s richest gold belts with more than 30 million ounces (‘Moz’) in historical production, reserves and resources and hosts numerous prolific deposits including Granny Smith (5.8Moz), Sunrise Dam (10.3Moz) and Wallaby (11.8Moz)3.
Neighbouring company, Kalgoorlie Gold Mining Ltd (ASX: KAL) (KalGold) has recently released significant assay results from drilling at an emerging greenfields gold discovery called Lighthorse, in a structure parallel to the LTZ.
The discovery sits to the west of KalGold’s Kirgella Gift/Providence deposits (2.34Mt @ 1.0g/t Au for 76,400 ounces4) and to the immediate east of E79 Gold’s tenure, see Figure 1).
The discovery holes at Lighthorse are interpreted by KalGold to define a zone of mineralisation up to 600m long and 200m wide under transported cover, which is open both at depth and along strike. This new ‘blind’ discovery sits between 40m and 550m east of E79 Gold’s Pinjin Project.
The main Lighthorse mineralised structure trends north-west into E79 Gold’s tenure, creating the North Target (see Figure 1), which sits in a zone of structural complexity with a structural offset and interpreted demagnetisation evident in the regional aeromagnetic data. There has been no historic drilling over the North Target in E79 Gold’s tenure.
A second cross-cutting mineralised structure strikes south-west, creating the South Target. The regional aeromagnetic data shows this south-west trending zone extending into the E79 Gold tenure, where again there has been no previous drilling in E79 Gold’s tenure.
Both of these targets will be the focus of an upcoming aircore (AC) program at the Laverton South Project, planned for the end of the March Quarter.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from E79 Gold Mines Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
New Central Porphyry System Identified at Venatica
Ultra-potassic stockwork outcrop identifies a new Central Porphyry
Altair Minerals Limited (ASX: ALR) (‘the Company’ or ‘Altair’) is pleased to announce preliminary findings following a site visit where the Company has identified a significant outcrop of stockwork system at Central Porphyry. Outcropping quartzite, magnetite and secondary biotite veined porphyry stockwork which is part of a new separate Central Porphyry – 3km Southwest of the high-grade Irka NE Porphyry2.
Key Highlights:
- Identification of new Central Porphyry | Venatica West a Porphyry Cluster
Site visit has discovered a significant outcrop of leached porphyry stockwork and ultra-potassic vein system which identifies a Central Porphyry intrusive part of a cluster system at Venatica West. Typical alteration and veining present within Bornite-Gold rich Copper Porphyry systems. - Extremely dense veining and stockwork | Multi-stage Mineralisation
Stockwork of A-type quartz, magnetite and secondary biotite on Central Porphyry is the densest identified to date across Venatica West, suggesting significant hydrothermal activity, overlapping events, fracturing and multi-stage mineralisation at Central Porphyry, ideal for copper enrichment. - Small portion of a much larger system | Central Porphyry Remains Open
Identification of Central Porphyry is an outstanding outcome, due to only a portion of the potassic stockwork zone outcropping, which could’ve easily been missed. Ultra-potassic alteration with dense stockwork as seen within this outcrop, generally tends to expand kilometres, with remaining footprint of alteration sitting under soil cover. Further fieldwork can identify full extent of this Central Porphyry. - Potential for regional Porphyry system | SW – NE Regional Porphyry System
Preliminary fieldwork analysis on-going, with already a new Central Porphyry system being identified within virgin grounds at Venatica West, sitting ~3km Southwest of the high-grade Irka NE Porphyry and ~2km Northeast of the Irka SW Porphyry-Skarn system2. Suggestive of a regional SW to NE trending porphyry cluster, filling the intersection of two district faults. - Community Engagement Commenced | Early Community Approval
Early engagement has commenced with the local community, with multiple local members showing support for on-going exploration works. Altair’s exploration team has also met with the President of the Community with very positive preliminary discussions. Altair has received initial community approval for exploration works with intention of putting forward long-term proposal of work programs, community incentive programs, project scheduling and local training.
Discovery of New Central Porphyry at Venatica West
The Central Porphyry is located on the Irka permit, situated ~3km southwest of the high-grade Irka NE Porphyry target and is a new intrusion system identified within Venatica West during initial site visit. The upper zone of a new Central Porphyry has been identified through outcrop which consists of leached ultra-potassic stockwork of quartz, magnetite and secondary biotite dense veining, and surrounded by phyllic alteration halo and hosted within overprinted argillic alteration.
The ultra-potassic alteration suggests Altair is standing above the core of the Central Porphyry. The overprinting of strong argillic alteration has occurred from later stage hydrothermal fluids which has replaced the feldspars with clay material while maintaining the stockwork veining – suggesting a multi- stage mineralisation event which can significantly enrich the grades of copper sulphide and hypogene zone below. This leached stockwork from late-stage argillic alteration indicates the copper has been remobilized and disseminated into structurally favourable zones below, with potential to enhance grades within the contacts and breccia’s at the core of the Central Porphyry.
The ultra-potassic zone generally sits right above the core of a Porphyry intrusion and in the case of the Central Porphyry, it is the densest set of stockwork, and veinlets discovered so far at Venatica West, with high alteration suggesting this area is the key part of hydrothermal activity and potentially the feeder to multiple other Porphyry systems.
The presence of dense secondary biotite veining on altered ultra-potassic outcrop not only indicates the presence of a new Porphyry system sitting below but also is an essential element for developing a large-scale Porphyry deposit within this particular belt.
Within other billion-tonne deposits proximal to Venatica, the presence of secondary biotite into the plays a key role in developing “scale” as its presence within porphyry stock and outwards into diorite host rock, tends to allow substitution of Fe2+ and Mg2+ with Cu2+, which can extend the copper mineral deposit footprint by a further ~500m radius in each direction from the main Porphyry core.1
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Altair Minerals Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Providence Gold Mines
Investor Insight
Providence Gold Mines’ portfolio of past-producing gold assets with a resource potential of 1 to 4 million ounces, makes it a compelling investment opportunity for investors seeking exposure to undervalued, high-potential gold assets amid a current gold bull market.
Overview
Providence Gold Mines (TSXV:PHD,OTCQB:PRRVF,GR-FRANKFURT:7RH1) is a junior gold exploration company focused on the revitalization of the historic Providence Group of Mines and further unlocking the potential of its high-grade gold deposits within the Mother Lode Gold Belt in Sonora, California. This prolific gold district has historically reportedly produced over 128 million ounces of gold, making it one of the most significant gold-producing regions in North America.
Providence Gold is strategically positioned to benefit from the current gold bull market, as global economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and rising demand for safe-haven assets continue to drive gold prices to historic highs. With a portfolio of past-producing gold mines, high-grade drill targets, and a near-term pathway to production through stockpile processing, the company is poised to potentially generate significant value for shareholders. The Providence Group of Mines consists of seven patented mineral claims: Bonita, Consuelo, Fair Play, Good Enough, McCarthy, Mexican and Providence.
This past-producing gold asset was historically one of the more famous high-grade mines in the Mother Lode Belt, with reported production grades exceeding 1 oz/ton (or 31 g/t gold). Mining operations ceased in 1916, leaving behind significant unmined high-grade ore at depth, as well as gold-bearing stockpiles that have since been identified as a near-term cash flow opportunity.
Providence Gold Mines is led by professionals with extensive experience in discovery of new mines in the mother lode district and corporate finance. Their combined expertise in geology, capital markets and project execution positions the company for successful exploration and potential near-term production. This, combined with high-grade historical production, modern geological exploration techniques, and near-term catalysts, Providence Gold is well-positioned to emerge as a high-value gold exploration and development play in a rising gold market.
Company Highlights
- Providence Gold controls a portfolio of gold mines in Tuolumne County, California, situated in the heart of the historic Mother Lode district, a region that has produced over 128 million ounces of gold to date.
- The Providence Group of Gold Mines, consisting of seven patented staked mineral claims, was historically a high-grade producer, with reported grades grossly exceeding 1.0 oz/ton.
- The company has identified gold-bearing stockpiles from historical operations that could provide an immediate cash-flow opportunity through simple gravity-based processing.
- Utilizing 3D terrestrial LIDAR laser scanning technology and traditional exploration methods, Providence Gold has identified new high-grade drill targets beneath and between historical stopes, supporting a resource potential estimate of 1 to 4 million ounces.
- The company has outlined a 4,000-meter core drilling program, targeting high-grade zones identified through 3D modeling, trenching and soil geo chemistry and traditional mapping.
Key Project
Providence Group of Mines
The Providence Group of Mines, located in Tuolumne County, California, sits within the Mother Lode Belt, a historic gold-producing region responsible for over 128 million ounces of gold production since the 19th century. The Mother Lode Belt is one of the most significant gold districts in the United States, characterized by high-grade mesothermal vein-hosted orogenic gold deposits. The district features structurally controlled mineralization associated with regional shearing and faulting, forming a series of gold-bearing quartz veins that have been the focus of both historic and modern mining operations.
Gold mining at the Providence Mines dates back to 1894, with extensive production recorded until 1916. At the time of closure, the mine was actively extracting high-grade ore, but operations ceased due to a dispute and a regional fire that destroyed surface infrastructure, rather than depletion of mineral resources. Historical reports indicate the mine's lower levels, specifically from the 10th to 12th levels, were actively being developed into rich ore shoots at the time of shutdown, suggesting that significant mineralization remains in place.
The ore shoots within the Providence Gold system are reported to have historically produced between 30,000 to 50,000 ounces per stope, with average gold grades exceeding 1 oz/ton (31 g/t gold). The McCarthy Mine, one of the key areas within the Providence Group, has returned surface samples with gold assays ranging from 77 g/t to 97 g/t gold, further demonstrating the district’s exceptional high-grade potential. Importantly, the historical mine workings only reached a depth of 100 feet, leaving down-dip extensions of the ore body entirely unexplored.
Modern structural interpretations and geophysical surveys suggest that gold mineralization at Providence is open at depth and along strike, with a strong likelihood of additional undiscovered high-grade ore shoots. Given that mining operations in the early 20th century were limited by technology and capital, the potential for discovering new gold zones using modern exploration techniques remains highly attractive.
Exploration and Development Plans
Providence Gold has embarked on a multi-phase exploration strategy designed to assess the down-dip and strike extensions of near surface, historically mined high-grade gold veins, as well as evaluate the potential for bulk-tonnage, low-grade gold mineralization at surface. The company’s technical approach integrates cutting-edge technologies, including 3D terrestrial LIDAR scanning, geophysical surveys and targeted diamond drilling.
One of the most significant near-term opportunities is the processing of historical stockpiles, which were initially misclassified as waste but have since been confirmed to contain gold mineralization. Recent trenching and bulk sampling returned positive assay results, with recovery tests demonstrating that gold can be efficiently extracted using simple crushing and gravity separation methods. Since the stockpile material is already milled, this initiative could provide a near-term source of revenue while exploration drilling advances.
The primary exploration initiative at Providence is a 4,000-meter core drilling program, targeting previously untested areas near surface, beneath and between the historical stopes. The company has identified high-priority drill targets based on 3D geological modeling and interpretation of compiled data, which suggest that gold-bearing structures extend well beyond the historically mined zones.
Another key aspect of Providence’s exploration strategy is the development of a digital 3D mine model, integrating historical production data, drill results, 3D Lidar surveys and structural interpretations. This modeling enables the team to simulate mineralized zones, predict ore shoot continuity, and optimize future mining scenarios.
Near and Long-term Development Plan Going Forward
In the near-term, the company has identified gold-bearing stockpiles from historical operations that could provide an immediate cash-flow opportunity through simple crushing and gravity-based processing.
In the long-term, Providence remains focused on developing its assets through a phased approach which includes:
- Phase 1 Drilling (2025-2026): Targeting high-grade extensions of previously mined stopes, validating historical resource potential.
- Phase 2 Resource Definition (2025-2026): Expanding the drill program to delineate an NI 43-101 compliant resource, incorporating both high-grade underground targets and bulk-tonnage surface mineralization.
- Preliminary Economic Assessment & Engineering Studies (2026-2027): Evaluating the feasibility of underground mining operations, along with potential processing of the historical stockpiles for early cash-flow generation.
- Permitting & Development (2028+): Advancing toward potential production, leveraging California’s permitting framework and existing infrastructure within the Mother Lode Belt.
Management Team
Ronald A. Coombes - President, CEO & Director
Ronald Coombes brings over 25 years of experience in mineral exploration and project development. He has successfully managed multiple mining ventures, including a molybdenum project that grew from a $1.5 million to $288 million market cap in just 12 months. Throughout his career, Coombes has reviewed and assessed over 100 mining projects across Canada, the US and Mexico, specializing in fundraising, acquisitions and early-stage resource development. He is also a director of Lincoln Mining, which is currently advancing the Pine Grove Gold Deposit in Nevada.
Rodger Young - Chairman, Vice-president & Director
Rodger Young has extensive expertise in international financing, particularly in the natural resources sector. He was the founder and director of a major finance house based in London, specializing in raising capital for mining and resource-based projects. His experience in corporate governance, financial structuring, and investment strategies provides Providence Gold with a strong foundation for securing capital and advancing its projects.
Dr. Lee Groat - Qualified Person & Senior Advisor
Dr. Lee Groat is a renowned geologist and professor at the University of British Columbia. With expertise in structural geology, economic mineral deposits, and exploration strategy, he has contributed significantly to advancing mineral projects globally. His technical leadership ensures Providence Gold’s exploration programs are guided by cutting-edge geological analysis and best industry practices.
Gold Price Breaks US$2,900 as Tariff Turmoil Boosts Safe-haven Appeal
The gold price gained 30 percent in 2024, setting new highs along the way.
It broke through US$2,500 per ounce, then continued higher, hitting US$2,600 and then US$2,700.
Less than a month and a half into 2025, the breakneck pace continues. The price of gold broke through the US$2,800 mark on January 31, and pushed above US$2,900 during intraday trading on Monday (February 11).
Gains since the start of the year have been primarily driven by economic uncertainty, as US President Donald Trump has vowed to make sweeping changes to trade and foreign policy and amid relative strength in the US dollar.
The most recent announcement came on Sunday (February 10), when Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he was planning 25 percent tariffs on aluminum and steel and reciprocal tariffs on all countries. He said a formal announcement would be made on Monday, but at the time of publication, no announcement had been made.
There was quick pushback on the tariff plans as the EU threatened its own retaliatory tariffs.
The new tariffs come just one week after the US backed down from imposing sweeping 25 percent tariffs on all goods entering the US from Mexico and Canada. The president appeared to be leveraging the threat of tariffs against its two trading partners to increase border security. Both countries had previously announced significant increases in funding for technology and patrols along their respective borders.
Recent weeks have also seen the President make remarks about the future of Gaza that would see the displacement of millions of Palestinians. Trump also suggested that Gaza could become US property as it works to redevelop the area, likening it to the Riviera. On Monday he expanded on the idea saying that Gaza residents would have no right to return.
The language and tone of his statements were met with pushback, particularly from other Middle Eastern countries, which argued it could push the region deeper into conflict.
Investors seek stability as uncertainty mounts
All these announcements have spooked some investors, prompting them to turn to gold for added stability in their portfolios.
According to data from the World Gold Council (WGC), US$2.6 billion in investments were added to gold ETFs in January. The majority of these inflows came from European funds, which saw investors add 39 metric tons to their holdings. However, both US and Asian funds saw some decreases, with combined losses of 10 metric tons.
The council suggests that the increase was at least partly due to European Central Bank rate cuts, which caused a sharp fall in bond yields during the month.
The release also predicts further gains in February, in particular from China, where New Year’s celebrations tend to favor retail gold sales. The WGC noted that February sales have a positive correlation with January's performance.
Monday saw gold rise sharply, gaining 1.48 percent to reach US$2,902.30 per ounce by 1 p.m. EST. Silver was also up, but not as much, gaining 0.71 percent to US$32 per ounce.
Despite the announcements of new tariffs, equity markets were also up in morning trading. The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) gained 0.64 percent to 6,064.57, while the Nasdaq-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) rose 1.22 percent to 21,754.19. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) saw a slight gain of just 0.2 percent to 44,390.78.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
WGC: Central Banks, Investors Fuel Record 2024 Gold Demand
Gold demand surged to a record high in 2024, driven by buying from central banks and individual investors.
Data from the World Gold Council's (WGC) latest report on gold demand shows that in 2024, total annual demand for gold, including over-the-counter transactions, reached a record-breaking 4,974 metric tons (MT).
Annual demand was up by 1 percent year-on-year from 2023's 4,945.9 MT.
Central banks added more than 1,000 MT of gold to their reserves for the third consecutive year, while investment demand hit a four year high, supported by a strong performance in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Central banks lead gold demand
Central banks remained the largest drivers of gold demand in 2024. As a group, they made cumulative net purchases of 1,045 MT in 2024, with the fourth quarter alone accounting for 333 MT.
The National Bank of Poland led the upsurge, purchasing 90 MT of the yellow metal in 2024, while other emerging market central banks also contributed significantly to the overall total.
This heightened demand from central banks marks a continuous shift in the global monetary system, with central banks increasingly favoring gold as a hedge against currency volatility and geopolitical tensions.
2024 was the third year in a row in which central banks' gold purchases exceeded 1,000 MT, marking a notable increase compared to the pre-2022 average of 473 MT.
Despite questions about future demand, central banks are expected to maintain their purchasing momentum into 2025, particularly as geopolitical risks continue to influence policy decisions.
Investor demand supports gold ETF growth
Gold's appeal to individual investors also remained robust in 2024, particularly in gold ETFs.
Investment demand for the precious metal reached 1,180 MT for the year, a 25 percent increase from 2023, with ETFs drawing significant inflows, especially in the second half of the year. These inflows were driven by factors including lower interest rates, geopolitical instability and a strengthening gold price.
In contrast to the previous three years, during which gold ETFs experienced substantial outflows, 2024 saw near-stagnant holdings by the end of the year, showing a marked shift in investor sentiment.
Market participants increasingly turned to gold as a safe haven, and the US market in particular witnessed considerable ETF inflows, driven by the relative weakness of the US dollar and concerns over inflation.
Gold jewelry demand struggles as price climbs
While investment demand soared, the jewelry sector struggled in 2024, with global jewelry consumption falling by 11 percent to 1,877 MT. The significant gold price rise during the year led to lower volumes of gold jewelry being purchased, as consumers found it increasingly difficult to afford the yellow metal.
The weakness in jewelry demand was global, though India saw relatively smaller declines compared to China, which experienced a significant drop of 24 percent from 2023.
However, the value of gold jewelry consumption increased by 9 percent, reaching a record high of US$144 billion. This allowed jewelers to achieve higher sales figures, with a marked contrast between demand volume and value.
Technology and industrial demand increases
In the technology sector, demand for gold grew by 7 percent in 2024, which the WGC attributes largely to the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
Gold used in electronics rose by 9 percent year-on-year, contributing to the technology sector's solid demand. Overall, total annual gold demand from the tech sector came to 326 MT.
While gold’s role in industrial applications is a smaller portion of overall demand, its usage in advanced technologies continues to grow, underlining its importance in cutting-edge sectors like AI, electronics and renewable energy.
Gold mine and recycling supply rise
Gold supply saw modest growth in 2024, rising by 1 percent to a record 4,974 MT, a new high for the data series. Both mine production and recycling were up compared to the prior year, with recycling climbing 11 percent.
The WGC states that the outlook for gold supply remains strong, with expectations for robust mine production and potential increases in recycling rates in the coming year.
The gold price reached an average of US$2,386 per ounce in 2024, a 23 percent increase from the previous year. In Q4, the average price peaked at US$2,663, contributing to a total value of US$111 billion for the quarter.
What's driving gold's record price highs?
The WGC's report comes as the gold price hits new records, and in an interview with the Investing News Network, Joe Cavatoni, senior market strategist, Americas, at the WGC, shed light on the metal's price drivers.
"I think many investors are seeing the benefits and the merits of having gold as a diversifying asset in their portfolio," he said. "I think they're understanding that the risk shocks you might see to risk assets will continue to be something that will develop over the next two to three months at a minimum as we start to hear and see policies unpacked."
Watch Cavatoni discuss the WGC's latest report.
Cavatoni also pointed to expectations of lower interest rates as a motivating force for gold.
"All of those factors are stacking up to continue to be a very strong performance driver for gold," he said.
Tariff uncertainty is also contributing to gold's movement. The US has placed additional tariffs on China, and although it's deferred tariffs on Canada and Mexico for the time being, much uncertainty remains.
In Cavatoni's opinion, it will be key for sector participants to tune out distractions.
"I think the key thing right now is that you can clearly see the benefits of gold in a portfolio that's diversified. You can see the benefits of having it as a component of your allocation mentality, and I think overall what I'd say is that clients, investors and those who understand the gold market need to understand there'll be a lot of noise," he noted.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, 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.
Sarama Resources Geochemistry Program Underway at Cosmo Gold Project
First Major Exploration Program in Several Decades on Highly Prospective Cosmo Project with Soil Sampling Designed to Generate Drill Targets
Sarama Resources Ltd. (“Sarama” or the “Company”) (ASX:SRR, TSX- V:SWA) is pleased to advise that it has commenced a multi-stage regional soil-geochemistry program at its majority- owned(1) 580km² Cosmo Gold Project (the “Project”)(2) in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. The program is the most significant exploration work to be undertaken on the Project in decades and is a foundational stage for drill target generation.
The program follows the Company’s acquisition of a majority and controlling interest in the Project in December 2024 and its agreement to acquire a majority and controlling interest in the nearby Mt Venn Project in January 2025(3). In aggregate, the belt-scale projects will cover approximately 1,000km²(2,3) and +100km of strike-length of greenstone rocks and are well-positioned and underexplored, presenting an exciting opportunity for Sarama in the Laverton Gold District which is known for its prolific gold endowment (refer Figure 1).
- Large-scale soil geochemistry program underway at the Cosmo Project to progress drill targeting
- Program is the most significant exploration works undertaken on the Project in several decades
- Initial focus on areas with large-scale structural features and lithological contacts identified in recent interpretation of airborne geophysical datasets
- Surface grab sampling returned grades up to 52g/t Au(5) in historical exploration within the Project
- Fieldwork already underway with experienced field crews mobilised; first samples for analysis in 2 weeks
- Opportunity for recommencement of modern exploration due to changes in land access
- Follows the recent execution of a non-binding Heads of Agreement to acquire majority interest in belt-scale Mt Venn Project(3)
- Sarama’s recent acquisitions will create in aggregate a 1,000km² exploration position(2,3) capturing 100km of strike length in underexplored terrane
- Projects located in the prolific Laverton Gold District, proximal to the producing Gruyere Gold Mine(4)
Sarama’s President, Executive Chairman, Andrew Dinning commented:
“We are very pleased to get exploration underway and bring the belt-scale Cosmo Project to account. Cosmo is genuinely underexplored, has all the geological ingredients to generate a discovery and with core team members that led the discovery of the multi-million ounce Moto and Sanutura(6) Projects in Africa and we look forward to seeing what this project can deliver. Leveraging its position at the Cosmo Project, upon completion of the transaction to acquire a majority interest in the nearby Mt Venn Project, Sarama will have 1,000km2 of highly prospective ground in the prolific Laverton Gold District.”
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Sarama Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
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