Best Mining Companies to Invest In on the TSXV?

2017 is shaping up to be a good year for the mining industry, and as a result many investors are wondering how to find the best mining companies to invest in.
One place to consider looking is the TSX Venture Exchange’s TSX Venture 50 list. Released annually, it ranks the exchange’s strongest performers across five sectors: cleantech and life sciences, diversified industries, oil and gas, technology and, of course, mining. Companies are chosen based on three equally weighted criteria: market cap growth, share price appreciation and trading volume. According to the exchange, this year the top-ranked company across all sectors was cleantech-focused dynaCERT (TSXV:DYA).
For investors trying to find the best mining companies to invest in, these stocks may be a good place to start. Read on to learn which mining companies made it onto this year’s TSX Venture 50 list, and to get a brief overview of what they’re currently up to.

1. Lithium X Energy (TSXV:LIX)

52-week move: +400 percent
Demand for lithium-ion batteries is on the rise, and Lithium X Energy is focused on becoming a low-cost lithium supplier for the industry. Its main focus is its Argentina-based Sal de los Angeles project in the “lithium triangle.” It contains high-grade brine and has an indicated resource of 1,037,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and an inferred resource of 1,007,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent.
Lithium X is also exploring at the Arizaro project in Argentina, and has the largest land package in Nevada’s Clayton Valley. The 15,040 acres it holds in Clayton Valley are contiguous to North America’s only producing lithium operation.
The company has been busy in 2017, and most recently received permits for the construction of an initial ponding facility at Sal de los Angeles. It announced a $15-million bought-deal financing as well.

2. GoldMining (TSXV:GOLD)

52-week move: +349 percent
GoldMining was once known as Brazil Resources, but changed its name last December. According to Chairman Amir Adnani, the new name better reflects the company’s “diversified project portfolio and strategy to build a leading gold acquisition and development company throughout the Americas.”
The company’s two main projects are Sao Jorge and Cachoeira, both located in northeastern Brazil. Adnani said that GoldMining has over $21 million in cash on hand, and noted that moving forward it will be looking to acquire other low-cost, high-quality gold projects.

3. Wealth Minerals (TSXV:WML)

52-week move: +681 percent
Wealth Minerals is focused on lithium in South America, and holds lithium concessions that cover four salars in Chile. The Atacama project is its main focus, and is located in the Atacama salar; Wealth is planning a geophysical program there to identify potential drill targets. The company also holds the Trinity project, a consolidation of three separate salars, and the Laguna Verde project.

4. Pure Gold Mining (TSXV:PGM)

52-week move: +352 percent
Pure Gold Mining has an ambitious goal: to become Canada’s next iconic gold company. Its main asset is the Madsen property, which holds two past-producing mines, existing mine infrastructure, current mineral resources and multiple exploration targets. The company released a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for Madsen last year, and started an extensive exploration program at the project last month. The goal of the program is to grow resources at the project and bring it closer to operational readiness.

5. Golden Predator Mining (TSXV:GPY)

52-week move: +492 percent
Golden Predator Mining’s main assets are its 3 Aces and Brewery Creek projects, both located in the Yukon. The company believes 3 Aces has the potential to become a new high-grade orogenic gold district, and recently began a drill program at the project. Brewery Creek includes a past-producing heap-leach gold mine, and Golden Predator is currently updating a 2014 PEA for the project.

6. SilverCrest Metals (TSXV:SIL)

52-week move: +1,375 percent
SilverCrest Metals was formed after First Majestic Silver’s (TSX:FR,NYSE:AG) 2015 acquisition of SilverCrest Mines. It has a number of projects in Mexico, but its focus is Las Chispas, which is made up of 21 concessions covering 1,377.5 hectares. The company began a Phase 2 surface and underground drill program at the project in November 2016, and plans to put out a maiden resource estimate in the second quarter of 2017.

7. Victoria Gold (TSXV:VIT)

52-week move: +261 percent
The Yukon-based Eagle gold project is Victoria Gold’s core focus. Eagle is fully permitted, and according to a September 2016 feasibility study it has a NPV of $508 million at a 5-percent discount, an IRR of 29.5 percent and a payback period of 2.8 years. All of those figures are post-tax, and assume a gold price of $1,250 per ounce.
Victoria Gold is now looking to put together a financing package to fund Eagle through construction and into production. Last month, it appointed BNP Paribas (EPA:BNP) to arrange up to US$220 million of senior secured project debt. Eagle’s initial capital cost is estimated at $369.6 million.

8. IMPACT Silver (TSXV:IPT)

52-week move: +442 percent
IMPACT Silver has been producing silver since 2006, and currently operates two silver production centers in Mexico. The company achieved a production record in 2015, and is now carrying out a continuous three-part program of exploration, development and mine production. IMPACT most recently announced high-grade drill results from the Deeps zone at its San Ramon mine.

9. Golden Arrow Resources (TSXV:GRG)

52-week move:+265 percent
Golden Arrow Resources’ core project is the Argentina-based Chinchillas silver project. Work at the project has moved forward quickly since the company acquired it in 2011, and is now being funded by Silver Standard Resources (TSX:SSO,NASDAQ:SSRI). Under an October 2015 agreement, Silver Standard will invest up to US$12.6 million in advancing Chinchillas and evaluating the feasibility of combining the project with its existing Pirquitas operation.
As of the end of 2016, Silver Standard had invested about US$11 million at Chinchillas, and two drills were on the go at the project.

10. Cordoba Minerals (TSXV:CDB)

52-week move: +356 percent
Finally, Cordoba Minerals is focused on its San Matias copper-gold project in Colombia’s Mid Cauca Gold Belt. The company formed a partnership in May 2015 with High Power Exploration, a company indirectly controlled by Robert Friedland; under the partnership, High Power can earn up to a 65-percent interest in San Matias by funding it and completing a feasibility study.
So far this year the company has restarted drilling at San Matias. Its goal is to expand the size and scope of mineralization at the Alacran system, as well as to test other high-priority targets.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: dynaCERT, Golden Predator Mining and Wealth Minerals are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
Related reading: 
2015 TSX Venture 50: Gold Companies Dominate
2015 TSX Venture 50: Ikkuma Resources Tops All Sectors
2014 TSX Venture 50: Highlighting Opportunity in Mining

This article is updated periodically. Please scroll to the top for the most recent information.

This article was originally published by the Investing News Network in August 2016.
So far, 2016 has been kind to the TSX Venture Exchange (INDEXTSI:JX). The index has increased 58.92 percent year-to-date, which is a rise of 309.74 points to 835.50. 
In data released by the TMX, at the halfway point of the year, the venture was the top performing global index. With that in mind, a number of companies on the TSX Venture 50 have made gains. The list, which is released annually, chooses companies based on market cap growth, share price and trading volume.
For investors, the TSX Venture Exchange is a good place to start when looking to find companies to invest in. Here’s a look at the top 10 best mining companies to invest in according to the list, what they’re up to and how their share price is performing this year.

Pure Energy Minerals (TSXV:PE)

Currently, Pure Energy Minerals is focused on developing its lithium brine project in Nevada. In 2015, the company entered into a conditional deal to supply Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) with lithium for its lithium-ion battery gigafactory. On August 9, Pure Energy provided an update on the mini-pilot plant work for lithium recovery process. The release notes that brine pre-treatment testing exceeded the company’s expectations for lithium recovery.
Year-to-date, the company’s shares have increased 57.14 percent to $0.88. Over a one-year period, Pure Energy has risen 131.58 percent overall.

Nemaska Lithium (TSX:NMX)

Nemaska Lithium made the TSX Venture 50 list earlier this year, but has since moved to a listing on the TSX. The company intends to become a lithium hydroxide supplier as well as a lithium carbonate supplier to the lithium battery market. The company is currently focused on its Quebec-based Whabouchi lithium project. In July, the company released an update on the lithium drilling program at its Whabouchi Lithium Project wherein they reported that the drilling was progressing at a faster than expected rate. Up to that point, 22 holes had been drilled, totalling 5,935 meters.
Looking to the company’s share price performance, Nemaska Lithium saw an increase of 181.82 percent to $1.24 From January 1st to July 11th, when it moved to the bigger exchange. Nemaska is currently trading at $1.17 per share on the TSX.

Integra Gold (TSXV:ICG)

Integra Gold is focused on the exploration of its high-grade Lamaque Project in the gold producing district, the “Valley of Gold,” in Quebec. On August 9, the company announced assay results from its fall 2015/winter 2016 drill program on the Lamaque South Gold project, which they report highlight the continuity and resource growth potential at Triangle.
The company’s shares have also had relative success this year, rising 164.71 percent to $0.90, and have steadily risen 239.62 percent over a one-year period.

Arena Minerals (TSXV:AN)

Arena Minerals has a number of properties in  Chile’s copper and gold mining districts and once held two projects under operation: the Atacama Copper Project and Pampas El Penon Project. However, in August, the company announced the closing of a transaction with Rouge Resources for the disposition of the Pampas el Penon gold project.
Although the company has had a busy year, its shares are down 28.57 percent to $0.20. Despite the year-to-date loss, Arena’s shares are still up 11.11 percent over a one-year period.

Elcora Advanced Materials (TSXV:ERA)

Elcora Advanced Materials mines, processes and refines graphite in addition to targeting graphite markets, such as lithium-ion batteries and graphene R&D. The company is currently producing graphite at its Ragedara mine in Sri Lanka and is working towards finalizing mining and processing rights in other locations.
In July, the company announced successful graphite nano-platelet tests.
Unfortunately, like Arena Minerals, the company’s shares are also down this year by 11.59 percent to $0.305. Still, over a one-year period the company has seen an increase of 79.41 percent.

Gold Standard Ventures (TSXV:GSV)

Shares of Gold Standard Ventures have seen a significant increase year-to-date, rising 266.32 percent so far to $3.48. Over one-year, its increase is considerably higher at 596 percent overall.
Gold Standard is an advanced stage gold exploration company with a focus on its Railroad Pinion gold project. This particular project now hosts NI 43-101 compliant near-surface oxide gold resources at the Pinion Deposit and Dark Star deposit. On August 9, Gold Standard reported assay results from the first three step out core holes at its North Dark Star oxide gold deposit on the Railroad-Pinion project.

Canada Carbon (TSXV:CCB)

Canada Carbon holds 100 percent interest in three graphite properties in Quebec: the Miller graphite project, the Asbury graphite project and the Dun Raven graphite mine project. Most recently, the company announced they had achieved almost 100 percent graphite purity for West Block samples following nuclear graphite thermal upgrading.
However, the company’s shares are down 21.13 percent year-to-date to $0.28, but are still up slightly over a one-year period by 9.8 percent.

Viscount Mining (TSXV:VML)

Viscount Mining is a company exploring silver and gold deposits, with a 100 percent interest in the Cherry Creek Project in Nevada and the Silver Cliff project in Colorado.  On August 10, Viscount Mining announced an update on its recently completed Phase 4 soil sampling program that included highly anomalous gold at the Cherry Creek project.
Year-to-date, the company’s shares have increased slightly by 28 percent, however they have steadily risen 166.67 percent over a one-year period.

Roxgold (TSXV:ROG)

Shares of Roxgold have risen comfortably by 130 percent to $1.61 year-to-date, and 123.61 percent over a one-year period.
Roxgold’s key asset is the Yaramoko Gold mine in West Africa, with expectations to reach commercial production by the third quarter in 2016.  In July, the company released its production results for the period ending June 30, 2016, announcing 14,482 ounces of gold poured in the first six weeks of production.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates.
Securities Disclosure: I, Jocelyn Aspa, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article. 
Editorial Disclosure: Canada Carbon and Nemaska Lithium are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content. 

This article is updated periodically. Please scroll to the top for the most recent information.

This article was originally published by the Investing News Network in February 2016.
2015 was a tough year for the mining space, and while 2016 is shaping up to be at least a little better, many investors are still wondering how to find the best mining companies to invest in.
One place to consider looking is the TSX Venture Exchange’s TSX Venture 50 list. Released annually, it ranks the exchange’s strongest performers across five sectors: cleantech, diversified industries, oil and gas, technology and life sciences and, of course, mining. Companies are chosen based on three equally weighted criteria: market cap growth, share price appreciation and trading volume. According to the exchange, the companies on this year’s list collectively delivered a return of 72 percent in 2015.
For investors trying to find the best mining companies to invest in, these stocks may be a good place to start. Read on to learn which mining companies made it onto this year’s TSX Venture 50 list, and to get a brief overview of what they’re currently up to.

1. Pure Energy Minerals (TSXV:PE)

Pure Energy Minerals is focused on its Nevada-based Clayton Valley lithium brine project, and is best known for its conditional deal to supply Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) with lithium for its lithium-ion battery gigafactory. Aside from joint venture partners Bacanora Minerals (TSXV:BCN,LSE:BCN) and Rare Earth Minerals (LSE:REM), Pure Energy is the only lithium company to have secured such an agreement.
The company signed its deal with Tesla in September 2015, and since then has continued to work hard at Clayton Valley. Most recently, it completed the fifth well at the project, exceeding the target depth.

2. Nemaska Lithium (TSXV:NMX)

As its name suggests, Nemaska Lithium is also a lithium company. And like Pure Energy, Nemaska has its sights set on the lithium-ion battery market. It’s currently developing its Quebec-based Whabouchi lithium project, and ultimately plans to produce spodumene concentrate there, then transform that material into high-purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate that it can sell to lithium-ion battery producers.
Earlier this month, the company released an update on the construction of its Phase 1 lithium hydroxide plant. Construction is expected to start this quarter and finish in Q4 2016; the plant is slated to produce 500 tonnes per year of high-purity lithium hydroxide.

3. NexGen Energy (TSXV:NXE)

Uranium exploration and development company NexGen Energy has a portfolio of projects across Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin. Its key focus is the Arrow zone, located at its Rook 1 project. Rook 1 also hosts the Bow discovery, which is 3.7 kilometers northeast of Arrow.
NexGen completed a lot of work at Arrow in 2014 and 2015, and so far has kept it up into 2016. Its most recent results from the zone came this week — the company reported that it’s extended Arrow’s strike length to 670 meters. Earlier in February, NexGen drilled its most intense mineralization to date at Arrow.

4. Integra Gold (TSXV:ICG)

Integra Gold’s main asset is its Quebec-based Lamaque South project, which has two primary targets: the Parallel zone and the Triangle zone. In addition to Lamaque South, the company holds the fully permitted Sigma mill and tailings facility, located just 1 kilometer from Parallel and 3 kilometers from Triangle. At the moment, Integra is in the midst of releasing assay results from fall 2015/winter 2016 drilling at Triangle.

5. Arena Minerals (TSXV:AN)

Arena Minerals describes itself as a prospect generator, and at the moment it has two properties under option in Chile. Its flagship project is the Atacama copper project, and its other project is Pampas El Penon. Commenting on Arena’s inclusion on this year’s TSX Venture 50 list, President and CEO William Randall said that among other things, the company’s 2015 achievements include signing three joint venture agreements.

6. Elcora Advanced Materials (TSXV:ERA)

Elcora Advanced Materials, formerly Elcora Resources, is looking to become a vertically integrated graphite and graphene company that mines, processes and refines graphite, and produces both graphene and applications for graphene. The company is currently producing graphite at the Ragedara mine in Sri Lanka, and recently completed its processing facility.
In recent weeks, Elcora has begun construction of its graphene production facility, and, along with its joint venture partner Sakura Graphite, has entered into a 10-year exclusive distribution agreement with Thyssenkrupp Metallurgical Products.

7. Gold Standard Ventures (TSXV:GSV,NYSEMKT:GSV)

Advanced-stage gold exploration company Gold Standard Ventures is focused on district-scale discoveries at the Railroad-Pinion gold project, located in the Nevada-based Carlin Trend. According to the company, Railroad-Pinion is adjacent to Newmont Mining’s (NYSE:NEM) Rain and Emigrant mines, and “encompasses a unique target-rich district which still remains predominantly untested.”
This week, Gold Standard announced 2016 exploration plans for Railroad-Pinion, commenting that a US$13.4-million exploration program is in the works. It will cover about 43,000 meters across 100 holes, with the majority of work being completed at the Dark Star and Pinion oxide gold deposits.

8. Canada Carbon (TSXV:CCB)

Canada Carbon is a graphite exploration company whose current focus is its Quebec-based Miller hydrothermal lump/vein graphite project. The graphite at the project is very high in carbon content, and requires only limited upgrading to reach carbon purity levels of 99 percent and above. As the company has explained, a key benefit of having very high-purity graphite is that “there are numerous potential applications because the product is lower cost than synthetic graphite.”
In December, the company said a preliminary economic assessment for Miller is in the works, among other things.

9. Viscount Mining (TSXV:VML)

Like Arena Minerals, Viscount Mining bills itself as a prospect generator, though instead of Chile it’s looking to build a portfolio of high-quality exploration projects in the US. Its flagship project is the Nevada-based Cherry Creek project, which is made up of over 400 unpatented and patented claims, as well as mill rights. It also holds the Silver Cliff project, which consists of 96 lode claims.
The company has been fairly quiet so far in 2016, but did announce assay results from Phase 1 drilling at Cherry Creek earlier this month. According to the company, “[m]oderate to high grade silver mineralization was intercepted in many of the holes.” Work at Cherry Creek is being conducted by Summit Mining Exploration, a subsidiary of Sumitomo (TSE:8053).

10. Roxgold (TSXV:ROG)

Roxgold is a gold exploration and development company whose key asset is the Burkina Faso-based Yaramoko gold project. The company is advancing the 55 zone at the project through construction and expects to start production there in Q2 2016. Roxgold’s most recent news came earlier this month, when it announced a $20-million bought-deal financing.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article. 
Editorial Disclosure: Canada Carbon and Nemaska Lithium are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.