
Brightstar Resources Limited (ASX: BTR) (Brightstar) is pleased to announce the second round of priority assay results from the remaining two metallurgical diamond drillholes at Cork Tree Well (CTW) within the Laverton Gold Project (LGP). These two holes were part of a broader 20 hole diamond drilling program1 which has now been successfully completed.
HIGHLIGHTS
The drilling campaign represented the first diamond holes drilled at Cork Tree Well by Brightstar, with our understanding of the geology and mineralisation styles being strengthened by the knowledge being gained from this recently completed program.
Today’s results continue to reinforce our view that the gold mineralisation at Cork Tree Well is structurally hosted, with a mafic metadolerite host rock observed in CTWMET003 whilst gold mineralisation returned in CTWMET001 is positioned within the sedimentary package underneath the historically mined shallow open pit.
The four metallurgical drillholes (CTWMET001 – 004) were drilled into the known orebody locations that fall within the optimised $2,750/oz pit shells generated in the 2023 Scoping Study3, with CTWMET003 and CTWMET004 drilled down plunge to the orebody to deliver maximum rock mass for metallurgical testwork and CTWMET001 and CTWMET002 drilled perpendicular to the orebody and represent estimated true width.
Given the calibre of the assays received from the drilling to date, Brightstar continues to see strong potential to build on the existing 303koz @ 1.4g/t Au Mineral Resource4 both at depth with high-grade plunging shoots and strike extensions targeting the structurally-controlled mineralised trends. The high-grade results returned to date are significantly higher than the current 1.4g/t Au head grade of the Mineral Resource and 1.85g/t mine grade from the 2023 Scoping Study, representing significant upside.
We look forward to updating shareholders with more information on the diamond program, which forms the basis for metallurgical and geotechnical testwork workstreams within our ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study5.
Figure 1 - CTWMET003 at 54.05m, showing visible gold (VG, circled) with $2 coin (20.5mm diameter) for scale
Figure 2 - CTWMET001 at 138.75m, showing visible gold (VG, circled) with tape measure for scale
Table 1 - Significant Intercepts (>1g/t Au) for CTWMET001 & CTWMET003
Figure 3 - Q1/24 Diamond Drill Program – Cork Tree Well
Due to the nuggety and high-grade nature of the gold mineralisation observed in CTWMET001 and CTWMET003, multiple samples had repeat assays completed following from best QA/QC laboratory practice. The repeat fire-assays provided additional analytical insight into the nuggety nature of mineralisation in addition to the visible gold observed. Where multiple repeat assay runs occurred, an average of the results has been used in the reporting in Table 1 above and within this announcement. The full breakdown of the re-assayed samples are outlined below in Table 2-3.
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This article includes content from Brightstar 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.
With multiple catalysts ahead, including resource upgrades, expanded production, and further development of its Laverton, Menzies, and Sandstone hubs, Brightstar Resources presents a compelling investment case in a rising gold market.
Gold has continued to demonstrate its resilience as a store of value, with prices peaking at US$3,500.05 per ounce, its all-time high. Amid ongoing global economic uncertainty, including inflationary pressures, rising geopolitical tensions, and volatile interest rate environments, investors have turned to gold as both a safe haven asset and a hedge against macroeconomic instability.
Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) is strategically positioned to capitalize on this environment as a low-cost, multi-asset gold developer with near-term production potential. The company controls over 1,500 square kilometers of highly prospective ground across three of Western Australia’s most prolific gold belts: the Laverton Tectonic Zone, the Menzies Shear Zone, and the Sandstone Greenstone Belt.
Unlike many junior exploration companies, Brightstar has a key differentiator: it owns a fully permitted, strategically located processing facility near Laverton. This existing infrastructure offers the company a critical advantage, enabling a low-capex restart scenario and faster time to cash flow compared to peers who must first secure permits and fund costly plant construction. This plant is subject of a DFS due for announcement in June 2025.
Through a focused multi-hub strategy, Brightstar has built a robust pipeline of development-ready and resource-growth projects, supported by:
With global gold demand remaining strong, Brightstar is well-positioned to deliver material shareholder value through its integrated production plan, supported by scalable infrastructure, a growing resource base, and access to capital. The company’s strategic approach includes combining brownfields development, organic exploration, and corporate M&A, placing it at the forefront of a new generation of Australian gold producers.
Brightstar’s Laverton hub is comprised of the Cork Tree Well, Jasper Hills, Second Fortune, Beta and Alpha project areas.
The Menzies Hub comprises a tenement holding of a contiguous land package of granted mining leases over a strike length of more than 20 km. The majority of deposits hosted along the Menzies Shear Zone are located adjacent to the Goldfields Highway in Menzies (130km north of Kalgoorlie).
The consolidated Sandstone project is over 100 km from existing third-party milling operations in the Murchison. This third processing hub boasts Alto’s Sandstone project with a mineral resource of 1.05 Moz at 1.4 g/t gold and Gateway’s Montague gold project with a mineral resource of 0.5 Moz @ 1.6 g/t gold.
Growth Drivers:
Alex Rovira is a qualified geologist and an experienced investment banker having focused on the metals and mining sector since 2013. Rovira has experience in ASX equity capital markets activities, including capital raisings, IPOs and merger and acquisitions.
Richard Crookes has over 35 years’ experience in the resources and investments industries. He is a geologist by training having previously worked as the chief geologist and mining manager of Ernest Henry Mining in Australia.
Crookes is managing partner of Lionhead Resources, a critical minerals investment fund and formerly an investment director at EMR Capital. Prior to that he was an executive director in Macquarie Bank’s Metals Energy Capital (MEC) division where he managed all aspects of the bank’s principal investments in mining and metals companies.
Andrew Rich is a degree qualified mining engineer from the WA School of Mines and has obtained a WA First Class Mine Managers Certificate. Rich has a strong background in underground gold mining with experience predominantly in the development of underground mines at Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS) and Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX).
Ashley Fraser is an accomplished mining professional with over 30 years experience across gold and bulk commodities. Fraser was a founder of Orionstone (which merged with Emeco in a $660-million consolidation) and is a founder/owner of Blue Cap Mining and Blue Cap Equities.
Jonathan Downes has over 30 years’ experience in the minerals industry and has worked in various geological and corporate capacities. Experienced with gold and base metals, he has been intimately involved with the exploration process through to production. Downes is currently the managing director of Kaiser Reef, a high grade gold producer, and non-executive director of Cazaly Resources.
Dean Vallve holds technical qualifications in geology & mining engineering from the WA School of Mines, an MBA, and a WA First Class Mine Managers Certificate. Vallve was previously in senior mining and study roles at ASX listed mid-cap resources companies Hot Chili (ASX:HCH) and Calidus Resources (ASX:CAI).
Nicky Martin is an experienced finance and accounting professional holding tertiary qualifications in accounting and finance and is a qualified CPA. Martin was previously the Head of Finance at Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS) where she oversaw and was actively involved in a rapidly growing mining success story.
Emerging gold producer and district-scale resource developer in Western Australia
Kobo Resources Inc. (TSX.V: KRI):
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250708360290/en/
KOBO CUP SUPPORTER JERSEY
Building on the success of the inaugural Kobo Cup in 2024, Kobo Resources has proudly expanded this initiative in 2025 into a full multi-village tournament. This year also featured a dynamic art workshop where young artists from Kossou, Bocabo, and Angossé designed the official jerseys their teams will wear.
We are excited to take this celebration of local talent and meaningful community partnerships even further with the launch of the exclusive "2025 Kobo Cup Supporter Jersey" . This limited-edition jersey symbolizes more than just a game; it represents Kobo's ongoing commitment to social responsibility and direct support for the villages where they operate.
A JERSEY WITH PURPOSE
Designed with deep cultural significance, the "Supporter Jersey" proudly showcases six traditional Adinkra symbols, iconic motifs from West African heritage known for their powerful meanings and values. These symbols are thoughtfully repeated across the fabric, each representing qualities that inspire and reflect the spirit of the villages Kobo Resources supports.
Together, these symbols represent leadership, perseverance, adaptability, strength, wisdom, and community abundance. They embody the core values and spirit of the villages Kobo Resources supports, weaving a narrative of resilience, unity, and hope that investors can proudly wear as a symbol of their commitment to sustainable community development.
DIRECT IMPACT FOR VILLAGE NEEDS
All profits from the sale of the "2025 Kobo Cup Supporter Jersey" will be channeled directly into addressing urgent needs within the villages, including providing school supplies, everyday goods, and essential resources that help improve daily life. This initiative marks a direct, transparent way for investors to contribute to sustainable community development beyond traditional infrastructure projects.
KOBO'S COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY
The Kobo Cup has evolved from a single football match into an annual multi-village tournament celebrating local talent, culture, and youth empowerment. With in-country partners like African Boyz Club and Coast to Coast Entertainment, Kobo Resources continues to foster inclusion and cultural pride while ensuring fair play and equal opportunity on the field.
"As we deepen our community engagement through the Kobo Cup and beyond, the Supporter Jersey is a unique opportunity for investors to wear their commitment to social responsibility and to help fuel meaningful change for the villages we serve," said Edward Gosselin, CEO of Kobo Resources.
How to Get Your Jersey
The limited-edition "2025 Kobo Cup Supporter Jersey" is available exclusively on the Kobo Resources website.
About Kobo Resources Inc.
Kobo Resources is a growth-focused gold exploration company with a compelling new gold discovery in Côte d'Ivoire, one of West Africa's most prolific and developing gold districts, hosting several multi-million-ounce gold mines. The Company's 100%-owned Kossou Gold Project is located approximately 20 km northwest of the capital city of Yamoussoukro and is directly adjacent to one of the region's largest gold mines with established processing facilities.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250708360290/en/
For further information, please contact:
Edward Gosselin
Chief Executive Officer and Director
1-418-609-3587
ir@kobores.com
X: @KoboResources | LinkedIn: Kobo Resources Inc.
News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia
The gold price continued to surge to new record highs in the second quarter of the year, reaching an all-time high of C$4,663.85 per ounce, or US$3,433.47, on June 13.
The gains were primarily fueled by safe-haven investment as Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iranian nuclear sites and Iran retaliated against targets in Israel and a US base in Qatar. Although a ceasefire was announced, tensions in the region remain high.
Additional tailwinds come from the continuing uncertainty in global financial markets, stemming from shifting US trade policy and Donald Trump's ongoing, on-again-off-again tariff plans.
There is also additional uncertainty going into the second half of the year as the US government passed its “Big Beautiful Bill” on July 3. The bill has been criticized from both sides, including the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, for increasing deficit spending and exacerbating an already ballooning debt, which some investors believe is driving the US toward a debt crisis.
What does this mean for junior gold companies? While there was delay in translating high gold prices into share price gains for gold explorers, many are now up significantly this year. Below, we profile the five TSXV gold companies that are the best performers of 2025 by year-to-date share price gains.
Data for this article was retrieved on July 3, 2025, using TradingView's stock screener, and only companies with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included.
Year-to-date gain: 846.34 percent
Market cap: C$122.48 million
Share price: C$1.94
Onyx Gold is an exploration company advancing its Munro-Croesus project, located near Timmins in Ontario, Canada. The company has increased the size of the land package by 200 percent between 2020 and 2025, and the project now covers an area of 109 square kilometers.
Munro-Croesus hosts the historic Croesus mine, which produced 14,859 ounces of gold between 1915 and 1936 with an average grade of 95.3 grams per metric ton (g/t). Onyx is the first company to explore the property since the mine closed.
Shares in Onyx have had significant gains in the second quarter of 2025. The momentum came as the company announced option agreements to enlarge its land package at Munro-Croesus.
The first announcement came on April 10, when it stated that it had agreed with private vendors to acquire a 21 hectare patented claim near the Argus North zone. Under the terms of the agreement, Onyx has the option to acquire a 100 percent interest in the property, which has never been drilled, in exchange for cash consideration of C$1.5 million and 3.3 million Onyx shares over a three-year period.
The second acquisition was announced on June 24, when Onyx reported that it signed a mineral property purchase and sale agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in the Munro and Hewitt properties, both located near the existing Munro-Croesus project. The acquisition will expand the company’s land package from 95 to 109 square kilometers.
Alongside its land consolidations, Onyx has also spent the second quarter advancing exploration at the property.
Most recently, on June 26, the company reported the first drill results from its 10,000 meter spring drill program at the Argus North zone at Munro-Croesus. One highlighted assay contained 1.8 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold over 91 meters, including 4 g/t over 32 meters and 5.3 g/t over 17 meters.
The company said the results demonstrate the continuity of broad zones of high-grade gold mineralization.
Shares in Onyx reached a year-to-date high of C$2.09 on June 27.
Year-to-date gain: 500 percent
Market cap: C$217.34 million
Share price: C$0.99
Goldgroup Mining is a gold production, development and exploration company working to advance its Cerro Prieto heap-leach gold mine. The 4,335 hectare property, located in Sonora, Mexico, produces an annual average of 11,500 ounces of gold and has produced more than 120,000 ounces since its beginning in March 2013.
Goldgroup is currently working to double the capacity of the mine to more than 25,000 ounces per year. The last update on progress came in October 2024, when it announced that it had installed the primary crusher with a 2,200 metric ton per day throughput. It also said it had expanded pumping and irrigation capacity.
The most recent update on Cerro Prieto came on March 26, when Goldgroup announced high-impact exploration near the mine. The program will include 6,000 meters of diamond drilling focused on the Nuevo Esperanza and Reyna zones, which are next to the main Esperanza production zone.
The company also announced plans for an induced polarization geophysical survey and surface trenching 1 kilometer south of the mine to further investigate newly discovered mineralized zones.
In addition to activities at Cerro Prieto, the company announced on March 7 that it had entered an agreement to acquire Minera Apolo and its Pinos gold project from Candeleria Mining in exchange for settling a US$2.7 million loan facility. Goldgroup previously secured rights to the facility with Candeleria from a creditor group in a maneuver to acquire the project.
Pinos is a fully permitted gold project situated in the Zacatecas mining belt of Northern Mexico and comprises 29 concessions over 3,816 hectares. A 2018 PEA revealed an after-tax net present value of US$12 million, with a 25 percent internal rate of return at a gold price of US$1,250 per ounce.
Shares in Goldgroup reached a year-to-date high of C$1.08 on May 9.
Year-to-date gain: 400 percent
Market cap: C$19.62 million
Share price: C$0.75
Trident Resources, formerly Eros Resources, is a gold and copper exploration company focused on projects in Saskatchewan, Canada.
A three-way merger in early 2025 between Eros Resources, MAS Gold and Rockridge Resources, allowed the companies to consolidate a portfolio of assets in Saskatchewan, including the Contact Lake and Greywacke gold projects in the La Ronge gold belt as well as the Knife Lake copper project.
Before this year, Eros was focused on the Bell Mountain gold-silver project in Nevada, US, but on January 6, the company announced it had sold the property to Lincoln Gold Mining (TSXV:LMG) in exchange for up to 4.5 million common shares and a net profits interest of 7.5 percent of net returns from gold and silver produced at the project to a maximum of US$2 million.
The company announced its rebranding from Eros to Trident on April 23, with its new name chosen in part to represent the three companies joining together. In the release, the company stated that the rebrand marked the beginning of a new chapter for the company, underscoring its focus on the gold and copper markets.
On May 6, Trident announced it received drill permits for the Contact Lake project, marking the first project news following the rebrand.
Trident stated the drill program would be conducted over the summer and consist of approximately 5,000 meters, with 3,800 meters to be carried out at the Contact Lake deposit and 1,200 meters at the Preview SW deposit.
Shares in Trident reached a year-to-date high of C$0.75 on July 3.
Year-to-date gain: 333 percent
Market cap: C$15.28 million
Share price: C$0.065
Solstice Gold is an exploration company focused on advancing its flagship Strathy gold project in Ontario, which it acquired in June 2024.
The project consists of 45 claims covering an area of 45 square kilometers in the Temagami Greenstone belt. Historical documents report six gold showings in the central portion of the project areas, with documented mineralization at the Leckie prospect.
On January 15, Solstice announced results from an induced polarization survey of the property. It identified 50 new targets, with the highest priority targets being along strike on the Leckie Fault. The company stated that the results support the existence of an extensive, largely unexplored system, with potential for multiple discoveries.
Solstice said it had also been selected to receive a grant under the Ontario Junior Exploration Program from the provincial government. The grant will provide 50 percent of the exploration funding, up to a maximum of C$194,000.
Shares in Solstice gained early in the year following its January 20 announcement that Michael Gentile had increased his stake in Solstice to 16.76 percent, making him the single largest shareholder.
In its latest project update on July 2, Solstice announced it had wrapped up its spring drill program, which focused on four target areas. In total, the company completed 3,125 meters of drilling across 14 holes, and results are expected in July.
The company reported that it had entered into an agreement to acquire 17 additional claims, which would increase the project area by 50 percent. It added that targets identified from its IP program may extend along strike into these claims.
Shares in Solstice reached a year-to-date high of C$0.065 on June 27.
Year-to-date gain: 300 percent
Market cap: C$28.49 million
Share price: C$0.10
Lahontan Gold is a development and exploration company dedicated to advancing a portfolio of properties in Nevada, United States.
Its primary focus is on its flagship Santa Fe gold-silver project in Walker Lane. The property consists of 291 unpatented lode mining claims, 67 unpatented mill site claims, and 24 patented lode mining claims, covering a land package of 26.4 square kilometers.
On January 24, the company released a PEA for the project that demonstrated an after-tax net present value of US$56.5 million with an internal rate of return of 17.4 percent over a payback period of 4.24 years based on a gold price of US$2,025 per ounce.
The included MRE for the site reports an indicated resource of 1.44 million ounces of gold and 11.2 million ounces of silver from 48.39 million metric tons of ore at an average grade of 0.92 g/t gold and 7.18 g/t silver. It also hosts an inferred resource of 401,000 ounces of gold and 1.75 million ounces of silver from 16.76 million metric tons at a grade of 0.74 g/t gold and 3.25 g/t silver.
The most recent news from Lahontan was on March 18, when it provided an update on its Exploration Plan of Operation submitted to the Bureau of Land Management in November 2024. In the release, the company stated it expects the Bureau to approve the plan, allowing permitting to proceed to the National Environmental Policy Act phase. According to Lahontan, final approval is on track for late 2025.
In the meantime, Lahontan stated that it would be able to continue exploration drilling at its patented mining claims under a Notice of Intent (NOI). On May 6, the company filed a new NOI for additional drilling at the site that would target extensions in the Slab and York areas of the project, and the BLM approved it on June 9.
Additionally, the company announced on June 24 that it had started metallurgical test work at Santa Fe with the goal of substantially improving CN leach gold recoveries for transition materials compared to the 49 percent recovery in the PEA.
Shares in Lahontan reached a year-to-date high of C$0.105 on June 25.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Lahontan Gold is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
As it advances its portfolio of gold assets in Western Australia’s prolific Pilbara gold province and New Zealand’s Otago Schist Belt, New Age Exploration presents a compelling investor value proposition, supported by a lean, discovery-driven strategy and an experienced technical team.
New Age Exploration (ASX:NAE) is building a pure-play gold exploration story centered on high-quality assets in tier-one jurisdictions in Western Australia and New Zealand. The company’s clear strategy is to operate in geological corridors already proven by major discoveries, while applying modern, cost-effective exploration techniques to define new zones of mineralization.
In Western Australia, the company’s Wagyu gold project is directly along strike from De Grey Mining’s Hemi discovery – now owned by Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST). In New Zealand, its projects - Lammerlaw and Otago Pioneer Quartz – lie within the same regional structure that hosts OceanaGold’s (TSE:OGC) 5 Moz Macraes deposit and Santana Minerals’ (ASX:SMI) rapidly growing Rise & Shine system.
With gold prices hovering at all-time highs, NAE’s approach favours technology-led targeting, rather than brute-force drilling campaigns, by using geophysics, geochemistry and passive seismic to zero in on structurally controlled gold systems with potential for scale.
All its projects are supported by local technical teams and seasoned exploration leadership, allowing concurrent progress and capital-efficient deployment. Recent programs at Wagyu and Lammerlaw have confirmed early-stage discoveries, and both assets are advancing through their next stages of drilling and target definition.
The Wagyu gold project is New Age Exploration’s flagship asset located in the highly prospective Central Pilbara region of Western Australia. The project is strategically situated between two major gold systems – Northern Star’s Hemi Gold Deposit (11.7 Moz gold resource) and the Withnell deposit – within the Mallina Basin, which hosts a similar intrusive-style orogenic gold mineralizing system. NAE holds exploration license E47/2974, which covers 136 sq km. Since acquiring the project, NAE has conducted extensive early-stage exploration, beginning with the reinterpretation of geophysical datasets, including airborne magnetics, radiometrics and satellite imagery, to delineate potential Hemi-style intrusions and structurally hosted gold targets.
Wagyu gold project location map
The company-initiated fieldwork in April 2024, completing soil sampling, gravity surveys and passive seismic geophysical surveys to refine drill targets. These efforts culminated in an extensive aircore drilling campaign (257 holes, over 7,000 m drilled), which identified a broad, crescent-shaped gold anomaly approximately 1.5 km in strike length. Notable results included intercepts such as 5.3 grams per ton (g/t) gold over 4 m (including 15.6 g/t gold over 1 m) and 2.7 g/t gold over 2 m. Encouraged by these results, the company completed its maiden RC program in March-April 2025, drilling 3,023 m across 33 holes targeting two high-priority gravity anomalies. Assays released in May 2025 confirmed a shallow oxide gold system and evidence of underlying mineralized structures, including 1.26 g/t gold over 5 m from 31 m (WRC029), 1.32 g/t gold over 3 m from 43 m (WRC031), and 1.44 g/t gold over 2 m from 83 m (WRC009). Numerous other holes returned mineralized intervals of 0.5 to 0.8 g/t over broad zones.
Importantly, geological logging and geophysical modeling support the presence of vertical feeder structures, interpreted as potential gold-bearing intrusions and fault-hosted "pipes," similar to Hemi’s discovery model. The Wagyu system remains open in all directions, with multiple untested gravity targets and deeper feeder zones yet to be explored. A follow-up RC campaign is planned for Q3/2025, focused on extending mineralization and chasing those deeper pipe-like structures beneath the supergene blanket.
Lammerlaw permit occurs in the southern limb of a regional fold feature characterised by a change in metamorphic grade from upper greenschist (purple) to lower greenschist (green).
The Lammerlaw gold and antimony project is located in the Otago Schist Belt, a prolific gold-bearing region in the South Island of New Zealand. The project spans 265 sq km and is held under Exploration Permit EP60807. The area is renowned for its historic gold production and geological similarity to OceanaGold’s Macraes Mine, New Zealand’s largest active gold mine with more than 5 Moz in resources. NAE acquired the project through a competitive acreage release and has since completed desktop studies, field mapping and geochemical sampling, which identified multiple 2 to 4 km-long gold-antimony soil anomalies aligned with historical workings.
During 2023-2024, the company identified nine high-priority drill targets based on soil geochemistry (gold, antimony, arsenic, tungsten), historic production data and structural mapping. NAE mobilized a Phase 1 RC drill program in early 2025, designed to test structurally hosted vein systems within both brittle and ductile deformation zones. This work confirmed the presence of gold and antimony mineralization in several targets, though results are still under review. Access to some targets is subject to Department of Conservation approvals, which the company is pursuing concurrently. A Phase 2 drill campaign is planned for Q1/2026, pending access approvals and final interpretation of current results.
Overview of prospects locations within the OPQ Gold Exploration Project.
The Otago Pioneer Quartz (OPQ) project is in Central Otago within the historic Gabriel’s Gully gold district, the epicenter of the 1860s Otago gold rush. The project lies within the same regional schist belt that hosts OceanaGold’s Macraes operation. NAE acquired the OPQ tenement to secure additional exposure to high-grade shear-hosted and orogenic gold systems in the Otago region. The area is characterized by low-sulphide gold quartz veins associated with greenschist facies metamorphic rocks and late-stage brittle faulting.
While still early-stage, the company has conducted preliminary soil sampling and mapping across the tenement to delineate mineralized structures. Historical records suggest significant past production from alluvial and hard-rock sources, though modern exploration has been minimal. Given its proximity to known gold-bearing shear zones and favourable host rocks, OPQ remains a high-priority, low-cost exploration asset for future campaigns.
Going forward, NAE intends to conduct detailed geochemical and structural mapping, followed by scout drilling at known historical workings. The project remains a capital-light optionality play with future drill programs dependent on results from Lammerlaw and Wagyu.
Alan Broome is a highly respected figure in the Australian mining industry with more than 40 years of experience across mining, metals and mining technology. A metallurgist by training, Broome has served as chairman and director of numerous ASX-listed and private companies, contributing to significant exploration and development successes. His leadership brings deep strategic insight and a proven track record in guiding discovery-stage companies through to project advancement.
A capital markets executive with deep ASX and venture experience, Joshua Wellisch leads strategic and operational execution for NAE’s projects. Wellisch is also currently a director of NRG Capital, specialising in capital raisings, corporate structuring and the facilitation of ASX listings and was formerly managing director of Kairos Minerals Limited.
Appointed in 2025, Peter Thompson brings 35+ years of exploration leadership including stints at Western Mining, Anaconda Nickel, and as CEO of St Barbara. He led redevelopment of Beaconsfield Gold Mine, spearheaded the acquisition, listing and development of the Karlawinda gold deposit and was instrumental in the discovery and advancement of large volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits in Mongolia.
James Pope is a highly experienced minerals sector professional with nearly 30 years in exploration, consulting and research across a broad range of commodities including gold, PGE, diamonds, base metals, coal and coal seam gas. He currently leads Strata Geoscience, a specialised geoscience consultancy based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Throughout his career, Pope has progressed from hands-on geological mapping and drill site supervision to leading multidisciplinary teams of up to 50 professionals delivering exploration, resource assessment, engineering and environmental services.
Kerry Gordon is a seasoned minerals sector professional with nearly 25 years of experience spanning exploration, resource development and operations. He is currently a principal at Strata Geoscience, and has worked across New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Mongolia on projects involving gold, critical metals (antimony, tungsten), coal, coal seam gas, and conventional petroleum. Gordon is an expert at managing exploration programs in remote and technically demanding environments, with a strong focus on field-based geological techniques, complex drilling and downhole logging operations, and logistical coordination.
With a proven management team and a high-impact flagship asset, Asara Resources is spearheading a new era of gold discovery in West Africa, leveraging the same team that established Robex’s 3.5 Moz Kiniero project. The company holds 923,000 oz of gold in mineral resources with significant upside, delivering a compelling investment opportunity for savvy investors.
Asara Resources (ASX:AS1,FSE:ALM) is spearheading the next West African gold rush from a strategic foothold in Guinea’s underexplored Siguiri Basin, an emerging gold district with over 30 million ounces (Moz) of historical and current gold production.
The company’s flagship Kada gold project hosts a 923,000 oz, oxide-dominant gold resource located just 35 km south of AngloGold Ashanti’s 6.2 Moz Siguiri mine. Asara is methodically applying the proven “string-of-pits” development model that has driven success across the region, supported by an experienced team responsible for establishing the Kiniero project, now a cornerstone asset for Robex (TSX:RBX). Guinea offers a favorable jurisdiction for mining investment, with more than US$15 billion in resource-sector inflows since 2020 and a planned return to civilian governance, positioning it as one of the more stable West African jurisdictions relative to its neighbours in the Sahel region.
Asara’s near-term strategy includes: rapidly growing its resource base through 33,600 meters of RC and diamond drilling planned for 2025; advancing a low-CAPEX, oxide-first development strategy leveraging free-dig saprolite, high gold recoveries and conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) flowsheet; and maintaining upside exposure to copper and silver-zinc through its Loreto JV with Teck and the optional Paguanta asset in Chile.
With strong in-country infrastructure, a focused and proven leadership team, and robust gold pricing tailwinds, Asara is advancing the Kada project toward a construction-ready decision on a compressed and capital-efficient timeline.The Kada gold project, located in the heart of Guinea’s prolific Siguiri Basin, is Asara’s flagship asset and the primary focus of its development strategy. The project currently hosts a JORC 2012-compliant mineral resource estimate of 30.3 million tons (Mt) grading at 0.95 grams per ton (g/t) gold for 923,000 oz of contained gold, comprising 391,000 oz oxide, 145,000 oz transitional, and 387,000 oz fresh mineralization. Approximately 59 percent of the resource lies within the oxide-transitional profile, with 24 percent of the total resource already classified as indicated.
The resource is hosted within the Massan and Bereko deposits, both of which remain open along strike and at depth and sit along a regional-scale 15 km gold-bearing corridor. The Massan deposit alone accounts for 906,000 oz of the total resource and is characterized by shallow, broad zones of saprolitic mineralization ideal for low-strip, open-pit mining. Gold mineralization is associated with quartz-sulphide-tourmaline stockworks hosted in metasediments with deep saprolite (>100 m) and is amenable to simple processing.
The mineralized zones are free-milling, with metallurgical testwork confirming cyanide leach recoveries of 95 to 97 percent for oxide and 88 percent for transition/fresh ore. Conventional CIL processing is suitable, with rapid leach kinetics (less than 24 hours for oxide) and no need for gravity recovery or oxygen injection. The ore has medium hardness, with a grind size optimized at 80 percent passing 75 microns. Geotechnically, the project exhibits a low strip ratio (<3.5:1), and the saprolite is potentially free digging, minimizing mining costs.
The project is within 60 km of the mining centre of Siguiri and benefits from existing infrastructure, including paved roads and ready access to water. Asara plans to carry out 33,600 metres of drilling in 2025, including 24,000 m RC and 9,600 m diamond drilling, to upgrade confidence in the core of the resource and test extensions at depth and along strike. These campaigns will target mineralization north, south and west of Massan. Auger drilling will be used to define and explore kilometre-scale gold-in-soil anomalies on the Talico, Banan and Syli license application. If granted, these licenses will expand Asara’s landholding to 348 sq km and provide a 35 km contiguous footprint along the Siguiri gold trend, where artisanal workings have already been mapped along key lithologic contacts.
The Bereko deposit, situated 10 km north of Massan, currently hosts an inferred resource of 18,000 oz gold grading at 0.94 g/t from shallow oxide, transitional and fresh material.
Importantly, this MRE only covers 400 metres of a >5.5 km strike length with confirmed bedrock gold anomalies. Historical drilling at Bereko includes notable intercepts such as 1.2 g/t gold over 27 m, 3.3 g/t gold over 9.3 m, and 8.8 g/t gold over 3.3 m. Mineralization remains open in all directions, providing significant upside potential with further drilling.
Asara envisions a low-CAPEX, staged development, anchored by starter pits at Massan and Bereko, followed by centralized processing infrastructure capable of supporting future satellite deposits. This approach mirrors the multi-pit strategy successfully deployed at Kiniero and Siguiri.
The 100 percent owned Loreto project is a large-scale porphyry copper exploration project in northern Chile, located between tenements held by mining majors BHP and Codelco. Under a joint venture with Teck Resources, Teck can earn a 75 percent interest in the project by making US$0.6 million in staged payments and spending US$17 million on exploration. The project hosts a 2.3 km x 1.0 km alteration footprint with evidence of a deeper porphyry system, supported by mapping, geochemistry and ZTEM geophysics. Teck is currently advancing social license and environmental studies to enable drilling. Asara is fully carried under the JV structure and maintains strategic exposure to a world-class copper opportunity with no capital obligations.
Asara holds a 75 percent interest in the Paguanta project in Chile. The asset is an advanced silver-zinc-lead-gold project with a defined JORC 2012 mineral resource totaling 2.4 Mt grading at 5 percent zinc, 1.4 percent lead, 88 g/t silver, and 0.3 g/t gold. The Patricia deposit contains a silver-equivalent resource of 18.2 Moz (236 g/t silver equivalent) and a zinc-equivalent resource of 514 Mlb (9.7 percent zinc equivalent). Mineralization is hosted within epithermal veins with potential for porphyry copper at depth, including the newly identified La Rosa porphyry target. More than 46,700 metres of drilling has been completed at the site, and a partial feasibility study was previously conducted by Golder Associates. Asara is actively evaluating strategic options to realize value from this asset.
Formerly with Robex, Matthew Sharples was instrumental in growing Kiniero into a multi-million-ounce project. He brings deep expertise in capital markets, stakeholder engagement, and West African permitting.
Tim Strong is a seasoned exploration geologist and JORC Competent Person with significant experience across West Africa. Strong leads Asara’s technical strategy and resource development.
Brett Montgomery is a respected corporate leader with a history of guiding early-stage exploration companies through critical growth phases.
A geologist with decades of African exploration experience, Dr. Doug Jones provides technical oversight and strategic direction.
A key architect behind the Kiniero development strategy, Dan Tucker contributes deeply to geological targeting and land consolidation strategy.
Australian Mines (ASX:AUZ) has entered into a legally binding term sheet with Cabral Resources, a subsidiary of GoldMining (TSX:GOLD,NYSE:GLDG) to earn up to an 80 percent interest in the Boa Vista gold project.
As per the terms of the agreement, Australian Mines’ acquisition will follow a staged earn-in structure. This includes three payments of C$250,000 each year over three years, totaling C$750,000.
Boa Vista is located in Brazil's Tapajós province, which is recorded to have a historical production of over 30 million ounces of gold and is recognised for high-grade, structurally focused gold systems.
“Boa Vista offers compelling near-surface mineralisation with district-scale exploration upside, supported by existing datasets and strong historic drilling results,” said Australian Mines CEO Andrew Nesbitt.
Among Boa Vista’s prospects is VG1, which holds a historic inferred resource of 8.47 million tonnes at 1.23 grams per tonne (g/t) gold for 336,000 ounces. Drill intercepts at the project were described by the company as “robust,” with 104.5 metres at 1.59 grams per tonne gold, including 23.5 metres at 4.51 g/t gold.
Boa Vista is also located 80 kilometres away from GoldMining’s São Jorge project, which has indicated resources of 0.62 million gold ounces and inferred resources of 0.13 million gold equivalent ounces.
Australian Mines said that they intend to update Boa Vista’s historical resource to JORC 2012 standards, alongside advancing metallurgical, environmental and baseline studies.
Plans for an initial 3,000 metre diamond drill program to test expansion potential and refine targets are also in place.
The company is also currently developing its flagship Sconi project in Queensland, which is expected to deliver nickel and cobalt over a 30 year mine life.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Trailbreaker Resources Ltd. (TBK.V) (“Trailbreaker” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Wheaton Gold property, an orogenic gold prospect located 60 km east of the Village of Dease Lake, British Columbia (BC). The property covers the headwaters of multiple placer gold-bearing creeks, including Alice Shea Creek, source of the famous 52 troy oz ‘Turnagain nugget’.
Highlights of the Wheaton Gold Property
Daithi Mac Gearailt, CEO of Trailbreaker, commented: “We are excited to add the Wheaton Gold property to our portfolio of gold and copper exploration projects. Now that the claims have been consolidated, this is a great opportunity to explore the area of a historic discovery hole that has yet to receive follow-up exploration. This is one of the few placer districts left in BC where a hardrock source of the placer gold has yet to be found. We are currently designing a robust exploration program and will be providing updates as soon as they are available.”
Location and Access
The 2,223-hectare Wheaton Gold property is located approximately 60 kilometers east-southeast of the Village of Dease Lake in northwestern British Columbia and can be accessed by all-terrain vehicles utilizing the Boulder Mine Road. The property can also be accessed by float plane chartered from Dease Lake to Boulder City Lake. Historic placer mining trails provide good vehicle access to much of the property.
Giga Metals Corporation has proposed a major road and transmission line to its advance-stage Turnagain nickel-cobalt deposit, located 10 km to the east. This would bisect the northern end of the Wheaton Gold property, further bolstering the potential economic viability of the area.
Figure 1: Location of the Wheaton Gold property with historic exploration highlights.
Placer Mining History
Placer gold was first discovered at the mouth of Wheaton Creek (formerly Boulder Creek) in 1932 and shortly afterwards on Alice Shea Creek, a small tributary of Wheaton Creek. The Wheaton-Shea placer camp marked the last major placer gold discovery in BC, with a total of 7,756 oz of placer gold mined from Wheaton Creek between 1932 and 1945, and a total of 331 oz Au mined from Alice Shea between 1936 and 1940. Alice Shea Creek produced the coarsest placer gold in the drainage, with one nugget weighing over 52 oz (the Turnagain nugget, Figure 2) and numerous nuggets weighing from 1 to 16 oz. Modern-day placer mining continues to this day at the mouth of Wheaton Creek, with over 20,000 oz of placer gold estimated to be recovered to date.
Figure 2: The 52 oz Turnagain nugget, discovered in Alice Shea Creek in 19371.
Hardrock Exploration History
Wheaton Zone
The northern portion of the property, covering the present-day placer operations near the mouth of Wheaton Creek, has seen the least amount of hardrock exploration within the property, having undergone only one documented significant program, completed in 1986 by Supreme Resources (Supreme). That year, Supreme conducted a soil geochemical survey followed by a mechanical trenching program which returned very encouraging results, and identified strongly anomalous gold-in-soil values up to 32,300 ppb Au. Trenching within these soil anomalies returned rock gab samples up to 11.25 g/t Au. During the same year, Supreme tested this zone with 3 shallow diamond drill holes totaling 304.7 meters (Figure 3). However, only limited follow-up work in the last 39 years has been documented.
Hole DDH-86-01, the first of the 1986 program, encountered several gold-enriched intervals associated with fault-controlled quartz-carbonate breccia, including:
The other two holes underwent very limited sampling, with only two samples taken from DDH-86-02 and one from DDH-86-03, all returning trace gold values.
This work by Supreme resulted in the first and only discovery of hardrock gold mineralization that could be linked to the source of the rich placer gold deposits along the lower portion of Wheaton Creek.
Figure 3: Location of the 1986 diamond drill program above Wheaton Creek.
Pacific Bay Minerals, a junior mining company, held the ground from 2015 to 2024 but conducted very limited exploration. Much of Pacific Bay’s efforts were focused on mining jade boulders rather than on hardrock gold exploration. Their most significant work included a 2021 property-wide airborne magnetic survey that defined an open-ended NW-SE trending linear magnetic low feature that correlates with the 1986 discovery hole by Supreme. This is interpreted to potentially represent a listwanite-altered fault zone (Figure 4). Listwanite and listwanitic alteration is extensively documented around Alice Shea Creek (expanded upon below).
This survey provided several new exploration targets which have not been tested to date. Several east-west trending offsets occurring near the Wheaton zone may represent potential structures associated with gold mineralization.
Figure 4: The 2021 airborne magnetic survey completed by Pacific Bay Minerals displays a significant NW-SE trending magnetic low which is interpreted to be a listwanite-altered fault zone. The 1986 drilling is located on the margin of this zone.
Shea Zone
The Shea zone is located along the headwaters of Alice Shea creek, close to the discovery area of the 52 oz Turnagain gold nugget. The nugget was discovered in the upper extent of the drainage, narrowing the search for the hardrock source.
The majority of the exploration work done at the Shea zone was done from 1985 to 1996, with several junior mining companies conducting small-scale exploration surveys. This includes companies such as Powder Ridge Resources, Imperial Metals, Goldbank Ventures, and Loumic Resources.
Loumic Resources’ 1996 exploration program was the most robust, comprising 196 soil samples and 191 meters of mechanized trenching4. Reconnaissance soil sampling identified several anomalous gold-arsenic (As) zones (up to 161 ppb Au & 112 ppm As) that have yet to receive follow-up exploration (Figure 5). Furthermore, trenching, targeting gossanous float immediately upslope from the location of the 52 oz gold nugget, revealed a listwanite outcrop containing intense quartz stockwork and disseminated pyrite. Only trace gold values were returned; however, the mineralization and alteration are textbook markers for orogenic gold deposits. This marked the last significant gold exploration program occurring on the Shea zone.
In 2011, First Point Minerals Corp was the last junior mining company to work the property; however, they focused on nickel mineralization rather than gold. Gold analysis for rock grab samples during the 2011 program utilized a 4 g/t detection limit, much higher than fire assay detection limits commonly used.
Figure 5: Historic hardrock exploration along Alice Shea Creek, with the approximate location of the discovery of the 52 oz Turnagain nugget.
Geology, Deposit Model, and Mineralization
The Wheaton Gold property is underlain by northwest-trending, complexly folded and faulted ultramafic rocks of the oceanic Cache Creek terrane, and by metasedimentary rocks of the Kedahda Formation (Figure 6).
The northern portion of the Wheaton Gold property covers fault-bounded metasedimentary rocks of the Mississippian to Triassic Kedahda formation which include heterolithic argillite with wispy silt laminae, thinly bedded sandstone, and rare discontinuous limestone beds. This Kedahda sedimentary package is separated from the ultramafic rocks (peridotite, dunite, pyroxenite) of the Cache Creek terrane by a northwest-southeast trending thrust fault.
Figure 6: Regional geology and neighbouring projects of the Wheaton Gold property.
The Wheaton Gold property demonstrates potential for orogenic “motherlode-style” Au-bearing quartz vein deposits, such as the past-producing 4.2 Moz Bralorne-Pioneer mine in the Bridge Lake Gold Camp, southwestern British Columbia, and the world-famous Sierra Nevada mining district in California which produced over 100 Moz of placer and hardrock ‘lode’ gold (Figure 7). The Wheaton Gold property is analogous to these deposits, as all are hosted by oceanic crust accreted onto ancestral North America and spatially associated with significant coarse placer gold deposits. Furthermore, the lode gold deposits at both the Bridge Lake and Sierra Nevada gold districts are associated with listwanitic alteration of peridotites, quartz veining, and major fault structures, all of which have also been mapped in the Wheaton property area.
Figure 7: Orogenic lode gold camps along the Cordillera (modified from Nelson et al., 20135).
There have been no major orogenic lode gold deposits delineated to date within the northern Cache Creek terrane. However, several large placer gold camps have been established, commonly accompanied by hardrock showings and small gold deposits indicating potential sources of the rich surficial placers. Nearby examples of orogenic gold showings within the oceanic Cache Creek terrane include the Yellowjacket deposit (130,000 tonnes grading 5.8 g/t Au) situated in the Atlin Goldfields, and the Keystone Showing (historic drill intercepts include 9.1 g/t Au over 12.2 m within a quartz porphyry setting) in the Thibert placer district. Both of these are associated with quartz veining and listwanitic alteration.
The Erickson gold camp, ~100 km to the north-northwest, is not hosted by the Cache Creek terrane, but is surrounded by the McDame Creek coarse surficial placer gold deposits, where the second-largest placer gold nugget ever recorded in BC, weighing 72 oz, was discovered. At Erickson, which comprises several past-producing gold mines, lode gold is characterised by quartz veins hosted by listwanite. Average grades ranged from 10-20 g/t Au for a total of 315,000 oz Au mined historically. The Erickson camp includes the Taurus deposit, currently owned and being advanced by Cassiar Gold Corp., which has delineated an indicated resource of 0.4 Moz Au and an additional inferred resource of 1.9 Moz Au6.
Placer miners have reported that many of the placer gold nuggets recovered from the Peacock workings of Wheaton Creek, which directly drains the area of drill hole DDH-86-01, contain inclusions of altered pyroxene and serpentine, and that some gold nuggets are still fused to quartz fragments. These observations by the placer miners further suggest the placer gold in Wheaton Creek has a nearby source.
Terms of the Option Agreement
On July 1st, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), Trailbreaker signed an option agreement (the “Agreement”) with Cordilleran Properties (the “Optionee”) of Kamloops, BC. Subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, Trailbreaker has the option to acquire a 100% interest in the Wheaton Gold property by completing the following:
Upon completion of the Agreement, Trailbreaker will obtain a 100% interest in the property and the Optionee will retain a total 2.0% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty, which may be brought down to 0.5% through a cash payment of $1,500,000 to the Optionee.
References
https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=104I%20%20005
https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Detail/16332
https://www.pacificbayminerals.com/news/wheaton-creek-property
https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Detail/24891
https://cassiargold.com/projects/cassiar-gold-project/cassiar-gold-project/
About Trailbreaker Resources
Trailbreaker Resources is a mining exploration company focused primarily on mining-friendly British Columbia and Yukon Territory, Canada. Trailbreaker is committed to continuous exploration and research, allowing maintenance of a portfolio of quality mineral properties which in turn provides value for shareholders. The company has an experienced management team with a proven track record as explorers and developers throughout the Yukon Territory, British Columbia, Alaska and Nevada.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Daithi Mac Gearailt
President and Chief Executive Officer
Carl Schulze, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist with Aurora Geosciences Ltd, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Trailbreaker's BC and Yukon exploration projects, and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.
Other
For new information about the Company’s projects, please visit Trailbreaker’s website at TrailbreakerResources.com and sign up to receive news. For further information, follow Trailbreaker’s tweets at Twitter.com/TrailbreakerLtd, use the ‘Contact’ section of our website, or contact us at (604) 681-1820 or at info@trailbreakerresources.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; expectations regarding future exploration and drilling programs and receipt of related permitting. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipates", "expects", "understanding", "has agreed to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "would", "occur" or "be achieved". Although Trailbreaker has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Trailbreaker and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, Trailbreaker has applied several material assumptions, including the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Trailbreaker does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.