1. Emerita Resources (TSXV:EMO)

Emerita Resources comes in at the top of the list. The company is exploring and developing the Iberian Belt West gold-silver-copper-zinc-lead project. Emerita holds additional exploration properties in Spain, including the Plaza Norte zinc project in the Reocin mining district in Northern Spain alongside its 50/50 joint venture partner Grupo Aldesa, a major Spanish construction and infrastructure firm with international operations.

In November 2021, investment guru Eric Sprott said he owns a 10.7 percent stake in Emerita. More recently, the company shared positive drill results from its ongoing campaign at the Iberian Belt West project.

2. Arizona Metals (TSXV:AMC)

Number two on the Venture 50 list this year is Arizona Metals, which has two wholly owned projects in its namesake state. The 1,300 acre Kay mine property in Yavapai County hosts a steeply dipping gold-copper-zinc volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit. For its part, the 4,400 acre Sugarloaf Peak property in La Paz County is a heap-leach, open-pit target with a historic gold resource.

The company kicked off the new year with the release of positive drill results from a Phase 2 campaign at the Kay mine project. Highlights from the results include an intersect of 28.2 meters at grades of 3.8 percent copper, 0.5 grams per tonne gold, 0.3 percent zinc and 13 grams per tonne silver.

3. Gratomic (TSXV:GRAT)

Graphite exploration and development company Gratomic has three projects: the Aukam project located in Namibia, which covers a historical vein graphite mine; the Buckingham project in Quebec, Canada; and the Capim Grosso exploration project in Brazil.

The company has two offtake deals for Aukam and expects it to be fully operational in 2022. “The Gratomic team continues to demonstrate its ability to maintain the highest level of focus and dedication imaginable. Despite all the hurdles encountered by a global pandemic, and all the struggles that entails, the Company has remained on-track to bring its Aukam Graphite Project online in Q1 of this year,” said President and CEO Arno Brand in a recent press release. “That is a feat few could achieve, particularly under these circumstances.”

4. Standard Lithium (TSXV:SLI)

Standard Lithium’s flagship project is the Smackover project, which covers more than 150,000 acres of permitted brine operations located in Southern Arkansas. The company is working to prove up the commercial viability of lithium extraction from its brine operations using proprietary direct lithium extraction technology.

In early 2022, Standard Lithium made a big leap forward in its goal to become a commercial producer of lithium by finalizing plans with its strategic partner Lanxess.

5. American Lithium (TSXV:LI)

Taking the number five spot is American Lithium, an exploration and development company with lithium projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions in the Americas. The company’s assets include the TLC lithium claystone project in Nevada, as well as the Falchani lithium and Macusani uranium development projects in Southeastern Peru.

In March 2022, American Lithium announced the launch of the final phase in completing its maiden preliminary economic assessment on the TLC lithium project. That report, as well as preliminary economic modeling, is expected to be ready by the end of the second quarter.

Other mining stocks on the Venture 50 list

The five other mining companies to make the Venture 50 list are Discovery Metals (TSXV:DSV), Kootenay Silver (TSXV:KTN), Compass Gold (TSXV:CVB), Silver One Resources (TSXV:SVE) and Mineral Mountain Resources (TSXV:MMV). What do you think are the best mining stocks right now?