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Quimbaya Gold’s strategic focus on Colombia offers a compelling opportunity for gold exploration in a prolific, brownfield region supported by a favorable permitting environment. The upside potential is worthy of examination by any savvy investor.
Overview
Quimbaya Gold (CSE:QIM,OTCQB:QIMGF,FSE:K05) is a junior gold exploration company focused on its high-grade gold projects in Colombia. The company’s portfolio spans 59,057 hectares across three highly prospective regions in the Antioquia mining district. This region is responsible for approximately 50 percent of Colombia’s total gold production, equivalent to around 1 million ounces (Moz) annually.
Positioned right next to Aris Mining’s (TSX:ARIS) Segovia mine, Quimbaya leverages its proximity to established infrastructure and gold-rich geological formations. With Colombia being one of the most underexplored yet top mining jurisdictions in South America, Quimbaya’s projects are uniquely poised for significant discoveries.
Quimbaya’s projects benefit from Colombia’s favorable permitting environment, enabling faster transitions from discovery to production, compared to its global peers. Quimbaya’s strategy focuses on value creation through new discoveries and monetizing them via strategic transactions, including joint ventures and operational contracts.
Quimbaya has established a significant partnership with Independence Drilling, Colombia’s largest drilling company with over 40 years of experience. The agreement secures 100,000 meters of drilling over five years, with Independence. The first service order for the initial 4,000-meter drilling campaign has been completed.
The company’s management team brings extensive and deep expertise in exploration in Colombia, corporate finance and project development. Quimbaya trades on multiple exchanges: CSE (QIM), OTCQB (QIMGF), and FSE (K05).
Company Highlights
- Quimbaya Gold controls 59,057 hectares across three distinct projects in Antioquia, Colombia — renowned as the country's top mining department, accounting for over half of Colombia’s gold production.
- The flagship Tahami project is adjacent and on trend to Aris Mining’s Segovia mine, one of the highest-grade gold mines globally. Tahami benefits from its strategic proximity to Segovia and its potential for discovery of high-grade vein gold systems.
- Quimbaya has entered into a partnership with Independence Drilling, Colombia’s largest drilling company, which secures an extremely cost-effective 100,000 meters of drilling over five years. The first service order has concluded for an initial first 4,000-meter drilling campaign.
- Quimbaya utilizes software that allows for rapid and cost-effective acquisition of mining claims, giving the company a competitive edge in securing high-value assets.
- Quimbaya has signed a letter of intent with Denarius Metals to form a 50/50 joint venture to formalize small-scale mining at Quimbaya’s Tahami Project.
- The technical team’s proven track record of major discoveries in Colombia positions Quimbaya as a standout explorer in the region.
- Fully funded into 2026 for multi-project advancement in Colombia after closing $4 million financing
Key Projects
Tahami Project (Flagship)
The Tahami project is located in Segovia, Antioquia, adjacent to Aris Mining’s Segovia mine, one of the highest-grade gold mines in the world. Spanning 17,087 hectares, Tahami’s geology features mesothermal veins with multiple mineralization events underlain by Precambrian metamorphic rocks consolidated within the San Lucas Gneiss unit.
Quimbaya’s exploration plan for Tahami involves leveraging advanced geochemical and geophysical surveys to generate drill targets. These efforts will be complemented by modern 3D geological modelling and an initial drilling campaign to test high-grade zones. The integration of historical data and cutting-edge technology positions Tahami as a prime asset for discovery.
Maitamac Project
Located in Abejorral, Antioquia, 80 kilometers south of Medellín, the Maitamac project spans 33,223 hectares and offers excellent road access. This emerging gold metallogenic district features mesothermal veins and potential porphyry gold-copper systems.
Initial surface rock samples have reported gold grades of up to 3.2 g/t, with stream sediments revealing over 1 g/t gold. Identified as a promising district by the Colombian Geological Services, Maitamac is positioned alongside the past producing ABE project and structural corridor which has produced mined shoots averaging 26 g/t gold.
Berrio
Berrio is strategically positioned in the Low Magdalena Region of Antioquia, Colombia, spanning 8,746 hectares within a prolific mining district with over 50 years of continuous medium-scale gold production. The region’s well-established infrastructure and active mining ecosystem significantly reduce development risk.
Berrio hosts mesothermal gold systems with gold-bearing quartz veins, breccias, and stockwork structures – typical of high-grade deposits.
Management Team
Alexandre P. Boivin - CEO and Director
Alexandre Boivin is an entrepreneur with more than 10 years of experience in corporate finance and Colombian mining. Through his extensive experience in the mining industry, corporate finance, capital markets and business development, Boivin has been instrumental in managing and funding early-stage companies through a network of partners and investors immersed in the capital markets. Under his leadership, Quimbaya Gold has secured significant investments to advance its exploration projects. His commitment to the company's growth is further demonstrated by his substantial shareholding in Quimbaya Gold.
Olivier Berthiaume - CFO and Director
Olivier Berthiaume is an accountant with over 12 years of experience working with early-stage companies in the Canadian markets. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from HEC Montreal and specializes in private-to-public market transactions, compliance, corporate governance, and corporate growth strategies. Berthiaume has held various director and officer positions in junior mining companies.
Ricardo Sierra – Vice-president of Exploration
Ricardo Sierra is a professional economic geologist with over 18 years of exploration experience across Colombia, Chile, Cuba, and Brazil, focused on orogenic, mesothermal, porphyry, epithermal, and stratabound deposits. He began his career with Anglo American, leading greenfield and brownfield exploration, including diamond drilling in Colombia.
Sierra refined his expertise in vein systems as exploration superintendent at Continental Gold (now Zijin Mining Group), working on the Buriticá deposit and regional programs across Chocó, Nariño, Cauca, and Antioquia. He holds a geology degree from Universidad de Caldas (2007), is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, a Competent Person with Colombia’s CCRR, and a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM).
Sebastian Wahl - Director
Sebastian Wahl brings over 15 years of experience in the mining industry, with a strong focus on precious metals trading, capital markets, and corporate development. Wahl has played a pivotal role in shaping Quimbaya Gold’s strategic direction and elevating its external positioning during a critical growth phase.
Dr. Stewart Redwood - Senior Technical Advisor
Stewart Redwood is a distinguished geological consultant with more than 40 years of experience in mineral exploration and economic geology, specializing in epithermal, porphyry and skarn deposits, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. His notable achievements include significant discoveries, including the San Cristobal silver-zinc deposit in Bolivia, the Romero gold-copper deposit in the Dominican Republic, and the Antamina copper-zinc project in Peru, recognized as the world's largest copper skarn deposit. Throughout his career, Redwood has held key positions in prominent mining and exploration companies, including as chief geologist Latin America for AngloGold Ashanti, founder president and CEO of GoldQuest Mining, and VP exploration of Colombia Goldfields (which merged with Gran Colombia Gold). He has been instrumental in the success of Gran Colombia Gold’s Marmato project (now owned by Aris Mining), currently an 8.8 Moz deposit in the construction stage.
Nicolas Lopez Villegas - Technical Advisor
A Colombian native, with over 28 years of experience focused in the mining district of Antioquia, currently the CEO of MINING BRAIN SAS, Nicolas Lopez, leads this consulting company advising on the implementation, development of sustainable mining projects all over Colombia. Prior to the establishment of his consultancy practice, Lopez spent 12 years as Colombia & Nicaragua's country manager for IAMGOLD, having devoted the previous 10 years with MINEROS SA as head of exploration & geology. Villegas played a pivotal role in major discoveries, including the first porphyry copper-gold deposit in the Colombian middle Cauca belt, known as Titiribi. a significantly rich gold-copper geological region. As a seasoned executive in gold exploration, Villegas holds a geology degree from Universidad de Caldas (Colombia), a Governance in Oil & Mining degree from Oxford University (UK) and he is a Qualified Person (QP).
Terence Ortslan - Advisor
Terence Ortslan is a seasoned resource executive with over 40 years of experience, having served in advisory capacities across the mining, metals, and fertilizer sectors. He provides guidance on investment and technical aspects of the industry, as well as strategic and policy advice tailored to mining companies. Additionally, Ortslan advises financial institutions on investment decisions, offers direction to international industry organizations, and consults with governments on fiscal and industrial regulations. He also supports universities in enhancing their educational standards and assists corporations with decision-making, boardroom leadership, shareholder value enhancement, and strengthening ES parameters. Ortslan holds a Bachelor of Engineering & Applied Geophysics and an MBA from McGill University.
Investor Insight
Sranan Gold offers early-stage exposure to a high-impact gold discovery in Suriname’s Guiana Shield, one of the world’s most underexplored gold belts. Backed by the same technical team behind some of the region’s largest gold discoveries, Sranan is a high-leverage discovery story in a mining-friendly jurisdiction.
Overview
Sranan Gold (CSE:SRAN,FSE:P84) is a junior explorer operating in Suriname, a South American nation producing more than 600,000 oz of gold per year. Sranan’s main asset is within Suriname’s prolific Guiana Shield, one of the world’s most underexplored gold belts.
Sample collected from the Tapanahony project’s Poeketi pit.
The company’s flagship asset, the 29,000-hectare Tapanahony gold project, overlays a historic mining belt with strong geochemical and structural indicators. Sranan’s objective is straightforward: convert local knowledge, legacy drill data and modern tools into an inaugural gold resource over a 4.5 km mineralized corridor.
Backed by one of the most credentialed gold discovery teams in Suriname, credited for the Merian, Rosebel and Saramacca deposits, the company is targeting hard-rock gold potential beneath proven saprolite zones with plans to fast-track drilling, build community partnerships and expand its concession footprint.
Company Highlights
- District-scale land position: The 29,000-hectare Tapanahony project covers one of Suriname’s oldest and most productive artisanal mining districts, offering untested hard-rock upside within the Guiana Shield, home to numerous multi-million-ounce gold deposits.
- Immediate drill targets: A 10,000-metre diamond drilling program is set to kick off in 2025 across the 4.5 km Poeketi-Randy trend, targeting high-grade shear zones validated by historic IAMGOLD drilling.
- World-class discovery pedigree: The technical team has led or co-led discoveries at Merian (7 Moz, Newmont), Rosebel (13.7 Moz, now Zijin) and Saramacca (1.5 Moz).
- Deep in-country knowledge: Geologists are locally trained at Anton de Kom University and have decades of experience in Suriname’s regolith-dominated terrain.
Key Project
Tapanahony Gold Project
The Tapanahony gold project is Sranan’s flagship asset, covering a 29,000-hectare land package in southeastern Suriname. The project lies within the Guiana Shield, a well-endowed Paleoproterozoic terrane that hosts multiple Tier-1 gold systems. The property sits at the intersection of regional NW-striking structures, the large NE-SW Tapanahony structure and older NE-SW fabric, forming a favorable setting for orogenic gold emplacement. These structural fabrics, crenulated by later deformation events, are visible in recent LiDAR and magnetic datasets and provide excellent ground preparation for high-grade shear-hosted deposits.
Local miners have long exploited the saprolite horizons here, especially around the Poeketi-Randy zone, and Sranan’s exploration strategy is to transition that surface gold production into a defined, hard-rock resource. The project has seen more than US$10 million in historical exploration, including geochemical soil surveys, auger and panning programs by the UN and Golden Star, and 4,000 metres of diamond drilling by IAMGOLD. They have confirmed the presence of extensive mineralization, including intercepts such as 4.2 grams per ton (g/t) gold over 13.5 m and 39.3 g/t gold over 2 m at the Randy pit. These results suggest steeply dipping, fault-controlled mineralization within a metavolcanic host package, drawing parallels to the structurally hosted gold at the Saramacca, Antino, Merian and Rosebel mines.
The 2025 Phase 1 program is targeting this trend with 10,000 metres of diamond drilling. It will infill and extend the 4.5 km mineralized corridor and test additional parallel shear zones revealed by LiDAR and soil geochemistry in the western lobe of the concession. Sranan plans to reprocess historical drill data, conduct soil/silt sampling, trenching and trench mapping, with field teams prioritizing locations where artisanal mining is ongoing but remains underexplored by modern methods.
Geophysical interpretation highlights a property-scale NW shear zone crosscutting a penetrative NE-SW fabric, which has led to localized folding and thickened mineralized zones. Commonly described by the team as the “double folded” system, they extend across eastern Suriname into Guyana and French Guiana. This orogenic system is thought to be analogous to the geology that underpins other major discoveries in the belt.
Sranan’s Phase 1 campaign also aims to generate new targets through high-resolution LiDAR imaging, which has already revealed three parallel mineralized corridors and topographic inversions associated with lateritic terraces, a common concealment mechanism for mineralization in this region. Pending early success, the company plans to expand drilling into the western lobe, pursue adjoining concessions, and delineate a resource.
Management Team
Oscar Louzada – CEO and Director
Fluent in Dutch and active in Suriname for over a decade, Oscar Louzada has taken two Suriname-based exploration companies to IPO (Sela Kriki and Nassau, now Miata Metals). With 25+ years’ experience in natural resources finance (Canaccord, Investec), he brings capital markets depth and local execution credibility.
John Williamson – Chairman
Geologist and co-founder of Founders Metals, John Williamson is credited with >10 Moz in gold discoveries and nearly $1 billion raised. He was an early believer in Tapanahony’s potential and a key seed investor.
Dennis LaPoint – EVP, Exploration and Corporate Development
Dennis LaPoint is a veteran geologist with 35+ years’ experience. LaPoint discovered Merian (Newmont, 7 Moz) and oversaw major exploration programs at Rosebel and Omai. He leads strategy and resource targeting, and sits on multiple boards, including ASBOG. He also teaches geology at Anton de Kom University in Paramaribo in Suriname.
Rayiez Bhoelan – VP, Exploration
A Surinamese national and key member of the Saramacca discovery team (IAMGOLD, 1.5 Moz), Rayiez Bhoelan specializes in regolith geology and shear zone mapping. He has worked across the Guiana Shield at Omai and Founders Metals, and lectures locally on geochemistry.
Mario Stifano – Director and Audit Chair
Mario Stifano is a CPA and seasoned mining executive with prior leadership roles at Cordoba Minerals, Lake Shore Gold and Galantas Gold. He led the 2020 acquisition and re-listing of Omai Gold Mines in Guyana.
Investor Insights
Rapidly emerging as Southeast Asia’s premier base and battery metals developer, Blackstone Minerals now holds two globally significant projects: the Ta Khoa nickel-cobalt project in Vietnam and the Mankayan copper-gold porphyry project in the Philippines. Both projects are critical to the company’s strategy to become a vertically integrated, low-cost, low-carbon producer of critical battery and base metals.
Overview
As the global economy accelerates toward net-zero emissions, the demand for critical minerals continues to rise, with nickel and copper positioned at the forefront of the energy transition. Historically used in stainless steel, nickel is now a core component in lithium-ion batteries; while copper, vital for electrification infrastructure, is similarly facing a looming supply crunch.
Blackstone Minerals (ASX:BSX,OTC:BLSTF,FRA:B9S) recognizes this strategic imperative and has positioned itself as a diversified, vertically integrated producer of low-cost, low-carbon battery and base metals.
Following its transformational merger with IDM International, Blackstone now controls two globally significant assets: the Ta Khoa nickel project in Vietnam and the Mankayan copper-gold project in the Philippines. Together, they represent a rare combination of scale, grade and strategic location in Southeast Asia, an increasingly vital region in the global clean energy supply chain.
The Mankayan copper-gold project is located in Northern Luzon, Philippines
The recently acquired Mankayan project adds substantial scale and diversification to Blackstone’s portfolio. One of the largest undeveloped copper-gold porphyry systems in Asia, Mankayan features over 56,000 meters of historical drilling and a resource of 793 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.756 percent copper equivalent (CuEq), including a high-grade core of 170 Mt at 1.049 percent CuEq. The project benefits from proximity to existing infrastructure and its location just 2.5 km from the operating Lepanto gold mine, owned and operated by Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, and Far Southeast Gold Resources’ Far Southeast project.
The Ta Khoa project, meanwhile, includes both a past-producing underground nickel sulphide mine (Ban Phuc) and an advanced-stage refinery designed to produce battery-grade precursor cathode active material (pCAM). Vietnam’s low labor and energy costs, coupled with regulated power pricing and surging foreign direct investment, make it an ideal base for Blackstone’s vertically integrated strategy.
Blackstone is uniquely positioned to benefit from geopolitical tailwinds. Vietnam’s Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and the US Inflation Reduction Act are drawing significant interest from global partners and battery manufacturers. Meanwhile, the Philippines is undergoing a mining renaissance, with the government promoting foreign investment in responsible resource development. Mankayan has already been identified as a priority project by the Philippines’ Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
The company’s development strategy is underpinned by a commitment to ESG leadership. Blackstone is advancing renewable energy solutions for Ta Khoa via a direct power purchase agreement with Limes Renewables and is collaborating with Arca Climate Technologies to explore carbon capture through mineralization. At Mankayan, the company is focused on sustainable development in partnership with local communities.
Financially, Blackstone is well-capitalized to deliver on its dual-track growth plan. Following the merger with IDM, the company raised AU$22.6 million and holds AU$24.36 million in cash as of June 2025. The company’s experienced leadership team and strong partnerships provide a clear path to near-term value creation, as both projects progress toward definitive feasibility studies and long-term production.
Blackstone Minerals is now one of Southeast Asia’s leading battery and base metals developers, with a clear vision to supply responsibly sourced nickel and copper for the global energy transition.
Company Highlights
- Nickel Supply Deficit: The global nickel market is projected to enter a structural deficit with battery-grade nickel demand expected to grow 950 percent by 2040.
- Diversified Portfolio: With Ta Khoa in Vietnam and Mankayan in the Philippines, Blackstone offers exposure to two critical and high-demand metal classes: nickel and copper-gold.
- Strategic Southeast Asia Presence: Vietnam and the Philippines are emerging hubs for EV and mineral resource development, with robust government support and increasing foreign direct investment.
- Infrastructure Advantage: Both projects benefit from existing infrastructure, including hydroelectric power, trained workforces, and government collaboration.
- Sustainability Leadership: Blackstone is pursuing low-emission mining solutions through partnerships in renewable energy and carbon capture technologies.
- Financially Strong: Blackstone raised AU$22.6 million post-merger, supporting an aggressive exploration and development strategy across both assets.
Key Project
Mankayan Copper-Gold Project – Philippines
Following its merger with IDM International, Blackstone now owns a 64 percent effective interest in the world-class Mankayan copper-gold project through Crescent Mining Development. Located in the prolific mineral belt of Northern Luzon, Philippines, Mankayan is one of Asia’s largest undeveloped copper-gold porphyry systems. It lies approximately 340 km from Manila by road, and just 2.5 kilometers from the operating Lepanto gold mine, which includes a 900 ktpa underutilized milling facility.
The Mankayan deposit spans roughly 1,100 meters of strike and 600 meters in width, with mineralization open to the north, south and at depth. Over 56,000 meters of diamond drilling has been completed to date, and the deposit hosts a JORC 2012-compliant mineral resource estimate of 793 Mt at 0.37 percent copper and 0.40 grams per ton (g/t) gold, equating to 0.756 percent CuEq. This includes a high-grade core of 170 Mt at 0.48 percent copper and 0.59 g/t gold (1.049 percent CuEq), offering valuable optionality.
Drilling results support Mankayan’s classification as a globally significant resource. Notable historic intercepts include:
- 911 meters at 1 percent CuEq, including 253 meters at 1.43 percent CuEq
- 543 meters at 1.08 percent CuEq, including 277 meters at 1.43 percent CuEq
- 1,119 meters at 0.86 percent CuEq, including 352 meters at 1.15 percent CuEq
- 754 meters at 1.03 percent CuEq, including 430 meters at 1.21 percent CuEq
In July 2025, Blackstone confirmed significant new surface mineralization through historical rock chip samples returning grades up to 6 g/t gold and 1.9 percent copper, and a standout recent drill hole – 432 meters at 1.25 percent CuEq (including 210 meters at 1.60 percent) – further underscoring the project's scale and growth potential.
A key strategic advantage of Mankayan is its dual development pathway. The high-grade core supports a low-capex startup via selective mining methods, while the bulk of the deposit can be exploited through larger-scale mining scenarios that benefit from lower operating costs and economies of scale. This tiered approach allows Blackstone to balance capital efficiency with long-term growth.
Regulatory and community engagement milestones have also been achieved. The project’s 25-year mineral production sharing agreement was renewed in 2022, and a memorandum of agreement with local Indigenous Peoples was signed in 2024, making Blackstone the first mining company to obtain IP consent in the area. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Philippines has since designated Mankayan as a priority development project.
Mankayan stands out globally when benchmarked against peer porphyry systems. A comparative analysis of undeveloped copper-gold projects ranks it near the top in terms of grade and copper equivalent tonnage, reaffirming its strategic and economic potential on the world stage.
In 2025 and beyond, Blackstone will continue metallurgical testwork, geophysics (including magnetics, IP and electromagnetics), environmental baseline studies, and further drilling to refine and expand the resource. These efforts will support upcoming mining studies and a targeted prefeasibility study.
Ta Khoa
Ta Khoa nickel project in Vietnam
Blackstone Minerals holds a 90 percent interest in the Ta Khoa nickel project, located in the Son La Province of northern Vietnam, about 160 km west of Hanoi. The project comprises the Ban Phuc underground nickel sulphide mine – a modern operation built to Australian standards that operated between 2013 and 2016 – and the adjacent Ta Khoa refinery, currently being developed to produce battery-grade precursor cathode active material (pCAM).
The Ban Phuc mine is currently under care and maintenance but is poised for recommissioning alongside the construction of a concentrator and refinery. The broader Ta Khoa asset base contains probable reserves of 48.7 million tonnes (Mt) at 0.43 percent nickel, equivalent to 210 kilotonnes (kt) of contained nickel. The mining inventory totals 64.5 Mt at 0.41 percent nickel, containing 265 kt of nickel. This figure excludes additional developing prospects such as Ban Khoa.
Over the planned 10-year mine life, Ta Khoa is expected to produce an average of 18 kt of nickel concentrate annually, with the potential to extend well beyond this horizon through integrated refining. The existing infrastructure onsite, including a 450 ktpa mill and a mining camp, provides significant capital efficiency and accelerates time to production.
A recent 12-month pilot program, conducted in partnership with ALS and Wood, successfully demonstrated that Ta Khoa’s hydrometallurgical flowsheet can convert concentrate into nickel sulphate at 99.95 percent purity and 97 percent recovery. This success positions the refinery as a credible supplier to the Asia-Pacific battery supply chain.
The project is further distinguished by its low emissions profile. Independent assessments by Digbee, Minviro, Circulor and an audit by the Nickel Institute have confirmed Ta Khoa as the lowest-emitting pCAM flowsheet in the industry, with carbon intensity of just 9.8 kg CO₂ per kg of pCAM, with opportunities for further reduction.
Blackstone’s development strategy includes flexible feedstock acceptance – from nickel concentrate to black mass – and is strengthened by partnerships with Cavico Laos for third-party supply, Arca Climate Technologies for carbon capture via mineralization, and Limes Renewables to supply clean wind energy. Additionally, the company has secured byproduct offtake arrangements for manganese sulphate and sodium sulphate with VinaChem, PVChem and Nam Phong Green, reinforcing its commitment to full-cycle resource utilization and ESG leadership.
Management Team
Hamish Halliday - Non-executive Chairman
Hamish Halliday is a geologist with over 20 years of corporate and technical experience. He is also the founder of Adamus Resources Limited, an AU$3 million float that became a multimillion-ounce emerging gold producer.
Scott Williamson - Managing Director
Scott Williamson is a mining engineer with a commerce degree from the West Australian School of Mines and Curtin University. He has over 10 years of experience in technical and corporate roles in the mining and finance sectors.
Geoff Gilmour – Non-executive Director
Appointed following Blackstone’s merger with IDM, Geoff Gilmour brings deep experience in Southeast Asian mining ventures. He has held senior roles in exploration and development across copper and gold projects in the Philippines and broader Asia-Pacific.
Tessa Kutscher - Executive
Tessa Kutscher is an executive with more than 20 years of experience in working with C-Level executive teams in the fields of business strategy, business planning/optimisation and change management. After starting her career in Germany, she has worked internationally across different industries, such as mining, finance, tourism and tertiary education.
Lon Taranaki - Executive
Lon Taranaki is an international mining professional with over 25 years of extensive experience in all aspects of resources and mining, feasibility, development and operations. Taranaki is a qualified process engineer from the University of Queensland Australia. He holds a Master of Business Administration, and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Taranaki has established his career in Asia where he has successfully worked (and lived) across multiple jurisdictions and commodities ranging from technical, mine management and executive management roles.
Investor Insight
With a strategic asset base in the prolific Abitibi Gold Belt near Val d’Or, and a fully permitted gold mill facility, LaFleur Minerals is well-positioned for near-term production and long-term growth.
Overview
LaFleur Minerals (CSE:LFLR,OTCQB:LFLRF) is a growth-focused gold exploration and development company with assets in Québec’s Abitibi Gold Belt, one of the most prolific gold regions globally. The company is focused on the production restart at Beacon Mill in parallel to advancing key exploration programs at its Swanson gold project, a well-located, resource-rich deposit with strong growth potential.
LaFleur Minerals boasts a favourable entry point with a market cap yet to reflect the company’s asset base, as well as solid fundamentals with strong growth catalysts and significant upside potential from a near-term producing gold mill with low restart cost.
Company Highlights
- Focused on developing high-potential gold projects in the Abitibi Gold Belt in Québec, a top-tier mining jurisdiction with strong government support and flow-through financing incentives, and Canada’s largest gold producing region.
- Successfully assembled over 150 square kilometers of mineral claims and a mining lease, anchored by the Swanson gold deposit and complemented by recent acquisitions from Abcourt Mines.
- The Swanson gold project hosts an NI 43-101-compliant mineral resource of 123 koz indicated and 64 koz inferred, with significant exploration upside.
- LaFleur owns the fully permitted and refurbished 750 tpd Beacon Gold Mill, which previously underwent ~$20 million in upgrades, providing a clear pathway to near-term gold production from Swanson and other potential regional sources.
- The company has launched an extensive exploration program, including geophysics, geochemistry and a planned 10,000-meter drill campaign for 2025, targeting a resource expansion to over 1 Moz.
- LaFleur Minerals has commenced its diamond drilling program at its Swanson Gold Project after receiving all the necessary permits, including the Authorization to Intervene (ATI) and the Forestry Intervention permits.
- Led by CEO Paul Ténière, a highly experienced geologist and mining executive, supported by a team with extensive expertise in gold exploration, project development and corporate finance.
Key Projects
Swanson Gold Project - Flagship Asset
The Swanson gold project is located in Québec, Canada, rated as the fifth top jurisdiction in the world for mining investment (Fraser Institute’s 2023 annual survey), offering a stable and supportive environment for resource development with easy access to flow through capital. The Swanson gold project has had in excess of 36,000 metres of historical drilling, which underscores the advanced exploration and development potential of the project, which includes several favourable gold bearing regional structures and deformation corridors extending across the property.
Project Highlights:
- +16,600 hectares (166 sq km) and rich in gold and critical metals, hosts the Swanson, Bartec and Jolin gold deposits
- Previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines and Globex
- Accessible by road/rail, 66 km north of Val-d’Or on the Southend Abitibi gold belt, close proximity to established producers such as Agnico Eagle and Eldorado, as well as developers like Probe Gold and O3 Mining, with direct access to several nearby gold mills
- Mineral resource estimate reinforces status as flagship project:
- Indicated mineral resource estimate of 2,113,000 t with avg grade of 1.8 g/t gold, containing 123,400 oz of gold.
- Inf. Mineral Resource Estimate of 872,000 t with avg grade of 2.3 g/t gold, containing 64,500 oz of gold
- The project’s current MRE was optimized with a price of gold at US$1,850/oz, current gold market price has hit above US$3,000/oz
- $3 million in flow-through to deploy with immediate plans to increase gold resources through diamond drilling at Swanson, Bartec, Jolin, and other gold deposits, and up to 10,000 metres of drilling expected to commence by mid-2025
- Other key developments include a decline portal and ramp extending to a depth of 80 metres; well positioned for advanced exploration with over $5 million invested by the previous owner between 2021 and 2023
- Since acquiring the Swanson deposit and consolidating the large claims package, the company has deployed in excess of $1 million in flow-through funds, completed detailed soil geochemistry and prospecting across several gold targets, completed a very-high resolution airborne magnetic and VLF-EM geophysical survey, and is currently in the process of completing a ground IP survey over the Swanson, Jolin, and Bartec gold deposits
- Several new promising gold targets have been identified from the recent surface exploration and geophysics programs, highlighting the potential for mineral resource growth and new discoveries at Swanson
2025 Drill Program:
LaFleur Minerals has commenced its diamond drilling program at the Swanson Gold Project following receipt of all necessary permits, including the Authorization to Intervene (ATI) and Forestry Intervention permits.
The company also completed an independent valuation of its Beacon Gold Mill by Bumigeme Inc., confirming the mill is in excellent condition, with rehabilitation costs estimated at C$4.1 million and a full replacement value exceeding C$71.5 million—underscoring its strategic importance.
LaFleur has expanded its Swanson land package to over 18,300 hectares across 445 claims and one mining lease, reinforcing its district-scale potential.
With advanced assets and infrastructure in place, LaFleur Minerals is well-positioned as a leading gold development company in Québec.
Beacon Gold Mill - Near-term Production
The Beacon Gold Mill is a strategically positioned, fully permitted 750 tpd processing facility located less than 50 km from Swanson. Originally acquired through the Monarch Mining CCAA process, the mill underwent a $20 million refurbishment in 2022 and remains in excellent condition. LaFleur’s strategic location on the mineral rich Abitibi Greenstone Belt is key to its plans to restart gold production as its positioned in a prime area with over 100 historical and operational mines, allowing for rapid monetization of ore from nearby gold deposits.
Project Highlights:
- Low restart cost with processing capacity of over 750 tonnes per day, targeting production of up to 30,000 oz of gold per year. At US$2900/oz, the projected potential revenue is ~$100 million
- Capable of custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects
- Currently being evaluated for processing mineralized material from Swanson as part of a high-level preliminary mining and economic study
- Past-producing Beacon Mine is located on the site of the Beacon Mill: the property consists of a mining lease, a mining concession, and 11 mining claims
- Beacon I and II mines include mineralized zones where limited historical gold production was achieved during the period of 1984 to 1988 and again in 2005
- The advancement of operations at the Beacon Mill has transformational qualities for the company, evolving it from explorer to a near term gold producer in a Tier 1 jurisdiction with significant upside potential
- The restart of production at the Beacon Mill to process bulk samples and/or for custom milling purposes is targeted for before 2025 year end, or once all required restart work has been completed and final approvals have been received by the Québec government, meanwhile equipment inspections, parts inventory, and maintenance work continues on a full-time basis at the company's Beacon Gold Mill as part of its restart program including a final plan and budget to restart the mill to be completed by ABF Mines by late April once final inspections are complete
Management Team
Kal Malhi – Chairman
A successful entrepreneur and the founder of Bullrun Capital, Kal Malhi has raised over $300 million for various public and private companies across multiple industries, including mining, biotechnology and technology.
Paul Ténière – CEO
Paul Ténière has more than 20 years of experience in mine development, geology and project management. He has held senior leadership roles across multiple mining companies and is a recognized expert in NI 43-101 compliance and technical reporting.
Harry Nijjar – CFO and Corporate Secretary
Harry Nijjar is currently a managing director with Malaspina Consultants and provides CFO and strategic financial advisory services to his clients across many industries. This experience has allowed him to help his clients successfully navigate regulatory and financial environments within which they operate. Harry holds a CPA CMA designation from the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and a BComm from the University of British Columbia
Louis Martin – Technical Advisor and Exploration Manager
Louis Martin is a professional geoscientist. and has been a major contributor to the discovery of several gold and base metal deposits during his more than 40-year career. Martin has been fortunate to be part of the exploration teams that were awarded the Discovery of the Year by the AEMQ for the West Ansil Deposit (2005) and the Louvicourt Deposit (1989). He has worked on several advanced exploration projects that included bringing four of these projects into production. For the last eight years, Martin has worked as a technical advisor and geological consultant for numerous junior and major mining companies.
Preet Gill – Director
Preet Gill is a business professional offering leading development and implementation of superior business strategy. Gill has a proven track record of identifying and creating profitable business opportunities, qualifying authentic prospects, and cultivating strong partnerships. She has over 28 years of experience in leadership roles within Home Depot Canada and has an MBA from Royal Roads University and certificates in business leadership from Queen’s University.
Harveer Sidhu – Director
Harveer Sidhu is the founder of BuildSmartr.com and has served as a director, officer and audit committee member for publicly listed companies. Sidhu is experienced in manufacturing, import and exporting, information technology systems, e-commerce and construction project management. He is also the president and director of Beyond Medical Technologies. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University and has been a licensed builder with BC Housing since 2014.
Michael Kelly – Director
Michael Kelly is a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces Military Police and a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Kelly currently serves as a Partner at BullRun Capital Inc. and is a respected businessman based in Kelowna, British Columbia. He is also a director and member of the audit committee of Beyond Medical Technologies, an industrial/technology company with a manufacturing facility located in Delta, British Columbia.
Jean Lafleur – Senior Advisor
A highly respected geologist with over 40 years of experience in the mining sector, Jean Lafleur has led multiple exploration programs and mining projects, contributing to major gold discoveries worldwide.
Investor Insight
Pacgold is one of Australia’s most compelling gold exploration opportunities, backed by a strong technical team, offering investors exposure to a large-scale, underexplored gold system with significant resource growth potential.
Overview
Pacgold (ASX:PGO) is an Australian gold exploration company focused on the systematic advancement of the Alice River gold project in Northern Queensland. The company is led by a technically driven and highly experienced team of geologists and mining professionals, with demonstrated success in exploration, resource development and capital markets.
Pacgold team on site at Alice River gold project
With a dominant land position in the region, Pacgold holds 377 sq km of exploration permits and eight mining leases across the prospective Alice River Fault Zone (ARFZ). This structure is interpreted as part of a large-scale intrusion-related gold system, with characteristics analogous to major global deposits such as Fort Knox (USA) and Hemi (Western Australia).
The company has validated its model through drilling success at the Central Zone, culminating in a maiden mineral resource of 474,000 oz of gold. This comprises both open pit and underground components, with resource grades averaging 1.2 grams per ton (g/t) gold, and zones open in all directions. Less than five percent of the strike length has been tested, and much of the prospective corridor is obscured by thin sand cover, highlighting strong potential for blind discoveries.
With extensive infrastructure already in place, including an airstrip, accommodation camp and road access within 100 km, Pacgold is positioned to rapidly scale exploration and accelerate resource growth. The 2025 campaign, which includes more than 10,000 metres of RC drilling and new IP surveys, aims to unlock the full regional potential of the ARFZ.
Company Highlights
- District-scale Discovery Potential: Pacgold controls more than 377 sq km of tenure and more than 30 km of strike length across the Alice River Fault Zone (ARFZ), a fertile, underexplored structural corridor in Northern Queensland.
- Maiden Resource: In May 2025, the company published a 474,000 oz gold mineral resource estimate (MRE), covering just five percent of the total strike, confirming high-grade mineralization and strong potential for expansion.
- Aggressive Exploration Strategy: More than 10,000 metres of RC drilling campaign is underway, complemented by air-core and diamond programs, aimed at growing the Central Zone resource and testing multiple regional targets.
- Attractive Valuation Entry: With a market capitalization of just ~AU$10 million and an EV of AU$8.5 million (as of Q1 2025), Pacgold provides a low-cost entry into a potentially Tier 1 gold system.
- Experienced Leadership: The board includes proven mine developers and discovery geologists with prior success at Chalice, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP and Sibanye-Stillwater.
Key Project
Alice River Gold Project
The Alice River gold project is a large-scale, greenstone-hosted gold system centred on the regional ARFZ, located in Northern Queensland. The project area comprises 377 sq km of contiguous tenure, including eight granted mining leases. Pacgold controls over 30 km of strike length along the ARFZ, a major crustal-scale structure that has only recently been systematically explored with modern techniques.
The deposit style is interpreted as an intrusion-related gold system, a highly attractive deposit type known for hosting long-life, large-tonnage gold mines. Examples include the Fort Knox gold mine in Alaska and the Hemi gold project in Western Australia. The Alice River system features sheeted quartz-sulfide veining, extensive sericite-altered zones, and strong IP chargeability responses coincident with surface gold anomalism.
Pacgold’s 2024 and 2025 drilling campaigns have focused on the Central Zone, which yielded the maiden MRE totaling 474,000 oz gold across both open pit and underground resources. The pit-constrained resource includes 10.6 Mt at 1.2 g/t gold (404,000 oz), with a further 1.5 Mt at 1.4 g/t gold (71,000 oz) defined for underground potential. High-grade zones remain open at depth and laterally, with drill spacing still relatively broad (~80 x 80 metres), leaving significant scope for resource expansion.
Beyond the Central Zone, the company has delineated multiple high-priority regional targets along the ARFZ. These include:
- White Lion: A compelling target with surface gold anomalism and a coincident IP chargeability anomaly. A gradient and dipole-dipole IP survey is being extended in Q2 2025, with drilling expected in Q4.
- Victoria and The Shadows: Emerging prospects to the south with limited historical drilling but strong geophysical responses.
- Posie and Southern Target Area: Additional areas along the southern ARFZ strike that exhibit strong structural preparation, geochemical responses and potential for concealed mineralization.
Drilling recommenced in April 2025, with RC drilling underway and air-core and diamond drilling scheduled through Q3 2025. The program aims to increase drill density in resource zones and test underexplored regional anomalies. Pacgold expects up to 15,000 metres of total drilling during the 2025 campaign, coupled with ongoing geophysical targeting, including IP and drone magnetics.
The project is fully permitted, with strong access and logistics, and is located in a low-risk jurisdiction with significant precedent for gold development. With limited historical exploration and clear mineralizing controls now defined, Alice River represents a transformative opportunity to uncover a Tier 1 discovery in an overlooked Australian belt.
Management Team
Matthew Boyes – Managing Director and CEO
Matthew Boyes is a geologist with over 28 years of international experience across mine geology, exploration, corporate leadership and capital markets. He has managed exploration teams and development projects across Western Australia, the Americas and Europe. His technical oversight and commercial strategy guide Pacgold’s resource growth and investor engagement.
Caoilin Chestnutt – Non-executive Chair
A former head of business development at BHP and currently head of technical services at Thiess, Caoilin Chestnutt brings nearly 30 years of experience in global exploration strategy, M&A and deal structuring across multiple commodities. She is also deputy chair of Critical Minerals at the Queensland Exploration Council.
Michael Pitt – Non-executive Director
Michael Pitt is the co-founder of New Century Resources (ASX:NCZ), and former VP of business development at Sibanye-Stillwater (JSE:SSW). He currently leads development at Broken Hill Mines. His expertise in mine redevelopment and business strategy supports Pacgold’s long-term operational execution.
Richard Hacker – Non-executive Director
Former CFO and GM commercial at Chalice Mining (ASX:CHN), Richard Hacker played a key role in the Julimar discovery. He has held leadership roles at Liontown Resources and DevEx. Hacker contributes deep experience in financial oversight and strategic planning for discovery-stage companies.
Bruce Kendall – Non-executive Director
Bruce Kendall is an award-winning exploration geologist with over 30 years in exploration management at AngloGold Ashanti, Chalice Mining, Jabiru Metals and IGO. He was a key contributor to the Tropicana, Julimar and Coyote discoveries, and brings essential geological insight to Pacgold’s targeting and evaluation.
Geoff Lowe – Exploration Manager
As a Competent Person and seasoned exploration geologist, Geoff Lowe is responsible for executing Pacgold’s field campaigns. He has played a central role in resource modeling, target generation and drill program design for the Alice River project.
Investor Insight
CuFe Limited’s multi-commodity exposure offers a compelling diversified investment opportunity into high-growth markets.
Overview
CuFe Limited (ASX:CUF) is a multi-commodity exploration and development company with interest in a number of projects situated throughout mature mining jurisdictions in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The company's value proposition is predicated on its high-grade mature copper/gold project at Tennant Creek as well as its exposure to iron ore, gold and niobium. Its exploration portfolio includes mature copper targets at Tennant Creek and greenfield exploration ground near WA1 Resources' (ASX:WA1) recent niobium discovery.
CuFe’s Tennant Creek project hosts a mineral resource estimate of 10.35 million tons (Mt) at 1.53 percent copper and 0.92 grams per ton (g/t) gold for 159 kt copper and 302 koz gold. CuFe currently owns a 55 percent interest in over 240 kilometres of highly-prospective tenure in the Northern Territory.
The company is progressing a scoping study in collaboration with Emmerson Resources and Tennant Minerals through a strategic alliance focused on establishing a multi-user processing facility and exploring operational synergies in the Tennant Creek region.
CuFe is also evaluating the Yarram project and nearby Camp Creek tenement, both of which benefit from proximity to the Darwin port, enhancing their potential for low OPEX operations.
Company Highlights
- CuFe Limited is an ASX-listed, copper, gold, iron ore and niobium exploration and development company with a multi-commodity portfolio of assets.
- The company's assets are in mature mining regions in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, with access to extensive pre-existing infrastructure.
- CuFe's projects are highly prospective for copper (Tennant Creek, Bryah Basin), iron ore (Yarram, Camp Creek, Robertson Range), gold (North Dam, Tambourah, Nullagine) and niobium (West Arunta).
- Two of these projects have existing JORC resources: Tennant Creek (55 percent CuFe owned) and Yarram (50 percent CuFe owned).
- The company is led by a proven and experienced in-house team with expertise in identification, discovery, evaluation, deployment and operations.
Key Projects
Copper
Tennant Creek
CuFe’s Tennant Creek project is located in the highly prospective Gecko-Goanna copper-gold corridor of the Northern Territory. A mature project comprising three high-grade copper and gold mineral resources, it contains a combined JORC 2012 mineral resource of 10.35 Mt at 1.53 percent copper and 0.92 g/t gold for 159 kt copper and 302 koz gold.
The project benefits from nearby infrastructure including grid power, a gas pipeline, the Stuart highway and rail line to Darwin. The Orlando deposit was recently re-estimated, showing a significant increase of 89 percent in contained copper and 120 percent in gold.
The strategic alliance with Emmerson Resources and Tennant Minerals is currently progressing a scoping study on shared plant options, with further workstreams including mine scheduling, metallurgy, logistics and cost modelling.
Gecko and Goanna deposits are also undergoing re-evaluation to identify resource growth opportunities, with further drilling planned during the 2025 field season.
Bryah Basin JV Projects
JV tenements within Bryah Basin
Through wholly owned subsidiary Jackson Minerals, CuFe holds a 20 percent interest in approximately 800 square kilometres of highly-prospective tenements near the former DeGrussa mine and Doolgunna project. These tenements are under joint ventures and farm-ins with several partners, notably the Morck Well and Peak Hill projects. CuFe is free-carried to a decision to mine.
Gold
North Dam
Located 50 kilometres south-southeast of Coolgardie and near major gold deposits like Wattle Dam and Spargos Reward, the North Dam project is transitioning focus back to gold. Future fieldwork will include geophysical surveys and auger drilling to test gold-bearing east-west structures.
Tambourah
The 100 percent owned Tambourah Tenure contains historic gold workings and known gold-bearing quartz reefs. CuFe’s 2024 review identified potential for high-grade mineralisation, supported by historical drill data and recent sampling results up to 11.9 g/t Au. A field campaign and subsequent drilling are planned in 2025.
Niobium
West Arunta
The 100 percent owned West Arunta project consists of four tenements (E80/5925, E80/5950, E80/5990 and E80/6052) located in the highly-prospective region of the same name. The tenure is known to be prospective for carbonatite-hosted niobium and rare earth element mineralization and has IOCG potential. Spanning roughly 250 square kilometres, it is located approximately 70 kilometres north of several prominent recent discoveries by WA1 and Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR).
Total magnetic intensity (TMI) and location of target areas within E80/6052
CuFe has completed native title arrangements to commence work on the ground and this is expected to occur during the 2025 field work season for the region (April to November). In the meantime Southern Geoscience Consulting has undertaken a geophysical review of publicly available airborne magnetic data for the tenements including re-processing of said data and 3D unconstrained inversion modeling. Analysis of the total magnetic imagery revealed three anomalous areas across the package, resulting in nine target anomalies for further investigation and exploration.
Iron
Yarram
Yarram is a mature iron ore project located just 110 kilometres from Darwin Port. It hosts a high-grade DSO resource of 5.6 Mt at over 60 percent Fe, plus an additional 7.1 Mt of lower-grade ore with beneficiation potential.
Geotechnical and metallurgical studies support its suitability for lump product blast furnace feed. CuFe is investigating near-term production strategies, including low-cost strip mining of the Captain Morgan deposit.
Camp Creek
Recently granted, Camp Creek lies 5 km southwest of Yarram and shares similar logistical advantages. Exploration is planned to follow up on magnetic anomalies and historic iron ore assays that suggest potential for Yarram-style mineralisation.
Robertson Range
Located within the Bryah Basin region, this project is undergoing staged field exploration. Initial rock chip samples showed over 60 percent Fe, and the next phase includes drilling to test continuity at depth.
Management Team
Tony Sage - Executive Chairman
Tony Sage is an entrepreneur with over 36 years of experience in corporate advisory services, funds management and capital raising, predominantly within the resource sector. He is based in Western Australia and has continued to be involved in managing and financing listed mining and exploration companies with a diverse commodity base.
Sage has developed global operational experience within Europe, North and South America, Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Middle East. He is currently non-executive chairman of ASX-listed Cyclone Metals (ASX:CLE) and Executive Chairman of European Lithium (ASX:EUR) and NASDAQ listed Critical Metals (NAS:CRML).
Mark Hancock - Executive Director
Mark Hancock has over 30 years’ experience in key financial, commercial and marketing roles across a variety of industries with a strong focus on natural resources. During his 13 years at Atlas Iron Ltd, Hancock served in numerous roles including CCO, CFO, executive director and company secretary. He has also served as a director on a number of ASX listed entities and is currently a director of Centaurus Metals Ltd and Strandline Resources Ltd.
Hancock holds a Bachelor of Business (B.Bus) degree, is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia (F FIN).
David Palmer - Non-executive Director
David Palmer is a geologist and company director with more than 38 years’ experience in the global exploration industry, the majority of his career has been with Rio Tinto Exploration, focused on copper/gold, base metals, industrial minerals, uranium, iron ore,and diamonds throughout Australia and the Asia/Pacific.
Amongst other senior positions, Palmer led the business development, mineral title and indigenous engagement functions and was part of the management team that discovered the world-class Winu Cu-Au deposit. He holds a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) from the University of Newcastle.
Scott Meacock - Non-executive Director
Scott Meacock has a wealth of experience as external counsel acting in, and advising on, complex corporate and commercial law transactions and disputes for clients in a wide range of industry sectors including natural resources and financial services.
Meacock currently serves as the chief executive officer and general counsel of the Gold Valley Group. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) degree from the University of Western Australia.
Matthew Ramsden - GM Development
Matthew Ramsden is an experienced geologist and project developer commencing his career in Tasmania before stints in the Pilbara with Rio Tinto and Atlas Iron, where he played a key role in the development and ramp-up of six iron ore mines.
He joined CuFe in 2021 to commence the JWD iron ore mine and now has oversight over the company’s exploration and development projects.
Ramsden is a member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists.
Siobhán Sweeney - Geology Manager
Siobhán Sweeney brings over 13 years’ geology experience to the CuFe team, from greenfields exploration to resource development with a strong focus on target generation and development of iron ore projects. During her eight years at Atlas Iron, Sweeney was instrumental in developing critical iron ore projects in the Pilbara such as Miralga Creek and Corunna Downs. Her background in managing complex and challenging exploration programs has been key to delivering successful projects.
Since joining CuFe in July 2021, Sweeney has been tasked with developing and implementing mine geology processes during the start-up phase of the JWD mine. Most recently she has delivered a successful exploration drill campaign to further define the Yarram iron ore deposit.
Sweeney is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and holds a Bachelor of Science degree (hons) in geology from the National University of Ireland Galway.
