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New Age Exploration
Investor Insight
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.
Overview
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.
Company Highlights
- Pilbara and Otago Exposure: Strategic landholdings in two world-class gold regions – Pilbara (WA) and Otago (NZ) – offering dual discovery potential.
- Hemi-style Intrusion Targets: The Wagyu Gold Project shares geological features and proximity with De Grey Mining’s 11.7 Moz Hemi discovery, increasing the likelihood of a major find.
- High-grade Intercepts: Recent drilling at Wagyu returned standout intercepts including 11.2 g/t gold and 1m @ 15.6 g/t gold.
- Emerging New Zealand Gold Revival: Positioned at the forefront of a regional exploration resurgence in New Zealand’s South Island, supported by rising gold prices and favorable regulatory conditions.
- Strong Cash Position: Recently raised AU$1.96 million to fund ongoing drilling, with multiple near-term catalysts expected.
Key Projects
Wagyu Gold Project
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 Gold and Antimony Project
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.
Otago Pioneer Quartz Project
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.
Management Team
Alan Broome – Chairman
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.
Joshua Wellisch – Executive Director
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.
Peter Thompson – Chief Geologist
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 – Consulting Geologist (NZ)
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 – Consulting Geologist (NZ)
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.
High potential for large-scale discovery in prolific gold regions in Western Australia and New Zealand
1911 Gold
Investor Insight
1911 Gold Corporation offers a unique opportunity for investors seeking exposure to high-grade gold assets with near-term production potential, a fully permitted infrastructure, and significant exploration upside in a world-class mining jurisdiction.
Overview
1911 Gold Corporation (TSXV:AUMB,OTCQX:AUMBF) is a junior mining company focused on the exploration and development of gold resources in Manitoba, Canada. The company holds a dominant, 61,647-hectare land position in the Rice Lake greenstone belt in Manitoba, an underexplored western extension of the prolific Red Lake gold district.
The company’s strategy is focused on de-risking the existing underground mine geology, expanding its mineral resource base through exploration, and advancing towards production on an accelerated time line by leveraging the existing infrastructure in place.
Gold remains a resilient safe-haven, with demand fueled by economic uncertainty and geopolitical risk. 1911 Gold is positioned to capitalize on permitted infrastructure, a large land package, defined resources, and near-term production potential.
In July 2025, 1911 Gold closed a C$13.2 million bought-deal LIFE offering, with notable increased investment from renowned resource investor Eric Sprott. Through the financing, Sprott acquired over 9.2 million shares for C$1.86 million, increasing its stake in the company from approximately 16.7 percent to 17.2 percent. His continued backing underscores confidence in 1911 Gold’s assets and growth potential.
1911 Gold’s leadership team brings deep experience across exploration, mine development, corporate finance, and strategic planning. This collective expertise enables the company to navigate complex operational and financial challenges, positioning it as a strong contender in the junior mining sector.
Company Highlights
- Fully Permitted Mill Infrastructure: A 1,300 tpd gold processing plant, expandable to 2,250 tpd, with a replacement value exceeding US$300 million.
- 1.1M oz Gold Resource Open for Growth: Current resources total 1.1 million ounces alongside 2 million ounces of historic production, with strong potential for expansion within the existing mine footprint.
- Prospective Regional Land Package: The company holds 100 percent ownership of 62,000 hectares in a prolific greenstone belt, including three past-producing mines and nearby additional resources.
- Compelling Investment Opportunity: With no royalties or debt, the project offers significant upside, peer-leading value, and strong re-rating potential from near-term catalysts.
- Leadership: Seasoned management and board with a proven track record of advancing mining projects.
Key Projects
True North Project
The True North project is 1911 Gold's flagship asset, located in the Rice Lake greenstone belt of southeastern Manitoba, approximately 150 km northeast of Winnipeg. This historically significant mine has produced over 2 million ounces (Moz) of gold and continues to offer substantial exploration upside.
The current mineral resource estimate for True North includes:
- Indicated Resources: 3.52 million tonnes (Mt) at 4.41 grams per ton (g/t) gold, containing 499,000 ounces.
- Inferred Resources: 5.49 Mt at 3.65 g/t gold, containing 644,000 ounces.
These resources remain open for expansion, with multiple high-priority exploration targets identified near existing underground workings.
Geology and Mineralization
The True North deposit is characterized by high-grade, structurally controlled gold mineralization hosted within the Archean Rice Lake greenstone belt. Gold occurs within quartz-carbonate vein systems associated with major regional structures and secondary shear zones. The mineralization extends to significant depths, providing long-term exploration potential.
History
Gold was first discovered at True North in 1911, leading to decades of intermittent mining under various operators. The mine has undergone multiple phases of development, with extensive underground infrastructure, including a shaft extending to a depth of over 1,200 meters. Previous owners, including San Gold Corporation and Klondex Mines, operated the mine until 2017, after which it was acquired by 1911 Gold in mid-2018.
Infrastructure and Geographic Advantages
- A fully permitted 1,300-ton-per-day (tpd) mill, which can be expanded to 2,250 tpd
- A permitted tailings management facility, reducing environmental and permitting risks
- Year-round road access throughout the property with proximity to hydroelectric power
- A 200-person camp and operational support facilities for efficient workforce deployment
Exploration and Development Plans
1911 Gold is focused on expanding the True North resource through an aggressive exploration program. The company has completed 62 surface drill holes (60 to target depth) totaling 14,974.4 metres within the True North Mine footprint. The program, which began in October 2024, is focused on new targets in prospective host rocks and mineralized structural settings, supported by significant historical results. Two rigs are currently drilling at the SAM SE and San Antonio West (SAM W) zones to test depth extensions of mineralization. Planning is also underway for underground exploration drilling, expected to commence by the end of Q3 2025.
The company will leverage True North’s existing infrastructure to restart mining operations efficiently while continuing to explore the vast untapped potential of the surrounding district.
Regional Exploration Projects
In addition to the True North mine, 1911 Gold controls a large-scale land package within the Rice Lake greenstone belt. The company has identified multiple high-potential targets within this district, including:
- Ogama-Rockland: A past-producing high-grade deposit with significant exploration upside
- Central Manitoba: An area with historical production featuring multiple high-grade vein structures with strong exploration potential
- Gunnar: A historic mine representing an additional potential source of mill feed.
The company aims to leverage its central milling facility as part of a "hub-and-spoke" development model, bringing additional satellite deposits into production.
Management Team
Shaun Heinrichs - President and CEO
With over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, strategic planning, and capital markets, Shaun Heinrichs has held key leadership roles in the mining sector. Before joining 1911 Gold, he served as CFO on various companies, including Group Eleven Resources and Veris Gold, which owned the Jerritt Canyon operation, where he played a pivotal role in corporate development and mergers and acquisitions.
Carmen Amezquita - Chief Financial Officer
A finance professional with over a decade of experience in the resource sector, Carmen has extensive expertise in financial reporting, capital management, and corporate governance for both exploration-stage and producing mining companies.
Michele Della Libera - Vice-president, Exploration
A geologist with over 30 years of experience in mineral exploration, Michele has worked extensively on gold and base metal projects across Canada and internationally and has been closely involved in the development of several mines through to production. He oversees 1911 Gold’s exploration programs, with a focus on expanding the company’s resource base and identifying new discoveries.
Gary O’Connor - Executive Chair
A veteran mining executive with decades of experience in project development and exploration, Gary has held leadership positions at major mining companies, guiding strategic growth initiatives.
Mike Hoffman - Director
A professional engineer with extensive experience in mine development, operations, and corporate strategy. He has played key roles in advancing multiple mining projects from early-stage exploration to production.
Blair Schultz - Director
A finance and investment specialist with a background in institutional asset management and corporate governance. Blair has been instrumental in providing financial oversight and strategic direction for mining companies.
Anna Ladd-Kruger - Director
A highly regarded financial executive in the mining industry, Anna has held senior leadership roles in several resource companies, focusing on financial strategy and corporate growth.
Éric Vinet - Advisor
An expert in mining operations and project development, Éric provides strategic insights on optimizing production, cost management, and operational efficiencies.
Kobo Resources
Investor Insight
With promising early drill results, favourable jurisdictional dynamics and strong institutional backing, Kobo Resources presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to high-value gold exploration in West Africa’s world-class mining frontier.
Overview
Kobo Resources (TSXV:KRI) is a gold exploration company focused on unlocking the untapped mineral potential of West Africa, with its primary operations based in Côte d’Ivoire. The company’s flagship Kossou Gold Project (KGP) is strategically positioned adjacent to Perseus Mining’s (TSX:PRU) Yaouré Gold Mine, a major producing operation, giving Kobo a competitive advantage through shared infrastructure, skilled local labor and logistical accessibility.
Kobo Resources is at the centre of Côte d’Ivoire’s rapidly expanding mining sector.
Côte d’Ivoire offers a mining-friendly jurisdiction with growing geopolitical stability and a supportive regulatory framework. Kobo is capitalizing on the country’s strong gold production momentum, as West Africa continues to lead globally in gold discoveries. The region stands out for its rapid exploration-to-production timelines, averaging just 10 years – significantly shorter than the global average of 16. The Kossou Gold Project benefits from geological characteristics similar to those of the adjacent Yaouré deposit, enhancing the credibility of its resource base and future economic potential.
Kobo’s investment value proposition is supported by a strong leadership team with decades of technical, financial and in-country experience. Backed by strategic partner Luso Global Mining, a subsidiary of engineering and mining giant Mota-Engil, Kobo has secured not only capital during its previous equity raise but also access to the strengths of an end-to-end mining development services giant. The team’s phased exploration strategy and disciplined execution reflect Kobo’s commitment to delivering shareholder value through near-term catalysts such as updated technical reports, metallurgical studies and an aggressive 2025 drill campaign targeting a maiden resource estimate in 2026.
Kobo Leadership team from L-R: Chris Picken, exploration manager; Paul Sarjeant, director, president and COO; and Édouard Gosselin, CEO, director and corporate secretary
Financially, Kobo maintains a lean capital structure with no debt, strategic backers and significant insider ownership, aligning management interests with those of investors. The company raised $7.4 million in 2024 to fund ongoing exploration efforts and has positioned itself to benefit from potential consolidation in Côte d’Ivoire’s rapidly maturing gold sector.
Company Highlights
- Mining-friendly and Underexplored Location – Côte d’Ivoire’s gold production has grown significantly but still trails neighboring countries.
- Prime Location with Infrastructure Advantage – The Kossou Gold Project (KGP) is 40 km from Yamoussoukro and 9.5 km from a major operating gold mine.
- Proven Gold Discoveries with Strike Continuity – 24,471 m drilled at KGP with multiple mineralized zones that remain open along strike and depth.
- Promising Secondary Project – Kotobi gold project offers early-stage exploration upside in a highly prospective greenstone belt.
- Aggressive Growth and Near-term Milestones – +/- 20,000 m 2025 drill program targeting priority zones and advancing toward a potential MRE in 2026 with a strong project pipeline.
- Strong Team and Strategic Backing – Decades of exploration success combined with a strategic partnership with Luso Global Mining (Mota-Engil).
Key Projects
Kossou Gold Project
Aerial view of the Kossou gold project in proximity to nearby infrastructure and operators
The Kossou gold project (KGP) is Kobo Resources’ flagship asset and the cornerstone of its exploration strategy in Côte d’Ivoire. Situated just 40 km from the capital city of Yamoussoukro and adjacent to Perseus Mining’s (TSX:PRU) producing Yaouré Gold Mine, the Kossou gold project offers exceptional geographic advantages. Its proximity to key infrastructure, including roads, power and mining services, significantly reduces barriers to development. Covering a 110-sq-km permit area, the project is nestled within the Birimian greenstone belt, a prolific geological zone renowned for hosting major gold deposits across West Africa. This strategic location provides Kobo with logistical efficiencies and exploration potential in a rapidly growing mining jurisdiction.
Kossou is defined by a trio of high-priority mineralized zones: the Jagger, Road Cut and Kadie Zones, which together represent five kilometers of combined strike length and more than 24,000 meters of drilling to date. These zones have shown consistent gold mineralization, with notable intercepts such as 38.2 m at 1.55 g/t gold (Jagger Zone), 11 m at 6.77 g/t gold (Road Cut Zone), and 9 m at 23.89 g/t gold (Kadie Zone), including an exceptional 1 m section grading 210 g/t gold. These results affirm the continuity of mineralization and point to the potential for an open-pit mining operation with scalable upside. Kobo’s exploration methodology, which combines soil geochemistry, trenching and phased drilling, are both cost-effective and technically sound.
The geology at the Kossou gold project is closely tied to the Bouaflé greenstone belt and features a mix of mafic volcanics and volcano-sedimentary rocks characteristic of the Paleoproterozoic Birimian Group. Mineralization occurs within a 500-m wide and +3-km long north-northwest trending shear corridor known as the Contact Zone Fault.
Beyond its technical merits, the Kossou gold project represents a compelling value proposition due to its combination of scale, grade and development readiness. Kobo has already completed 24,000+ m of drilling so far, with an additional 20,000-m program planned for H2 2025 aimed at delivering a maiden mineral resource estimate in 2026.Yakassé Gold Project – Opportunity
The Yakassé project is located approximately 100 km northeast of Abidjan and is easily accessible by paved and gravel roads. The 74.06 sq km permit application lies within a highly prospective region characterized by NE-SW trending Birimian metavolcanic and metasedimentary units intruded by granitoids. Gold mineralization in the area is structurally controlled, associated with shear zones and quartz veining, and has been the focus of significant historic artisanal and small-scale mining activity.
Previous exploration by reputable operators, including, most recently, Newmont (2007–2010), outlined widespread gold anomalies and confirmed the potential for mineralized systems at the Yakassé Project. Newmont’s work included extensive soil geochemistry, auger drilling, and over 3,500 m of RC drilling. Several broad, near-surface gold intercepts were reported, including 44.0 m at 2.32 g/t gold, 48.0 m at 1.20 g/t gold, and 20.0 m at 1.69 g/t gold, highlighting the strong mineral potential associated with NE-SW trending shear zones. Importantly, Kobo believes the structural trends observed at Yakassé may represent parallel systems to those present at its nearby Nesdave permit and Kuniboa application, underscoring the broader regional opportunity to consolidate and explore an underexplored but prospective gold corridor in southeastern Côte d’Ivoire.
The Yakassé gold project is supported by historical exploration work from major operators on prospective ground.
Kotobi Project
The Kotobi gold project (302 sq km) is Kobo Resources’ secondary exploration asset, located in the Moronou region of central-eastern Côte d’Ivoire. Exploration efforts at Kotobi have included a UAV magnetic survey covering the entire property, totaling 1,565 line-kms, a geophysical analysis, soil geochemical sampling, geological mapping and rock sampling. These activities aim to refine exploration as trenching is now underway targets with the goal of identifying drilling targets in the near future. The project benefits from excellent infrastructure, including well-established roads, water and power access, as well as proximity to major cities and established processing facilities.
Growth Opportunities: Earn-in Agreements & Permit Applications
In addition to its 100-percent-owned permits covering a total of 412 sq km(KGP and Kotobi), Kobo Resources has significantly expanded its regional exploration footprint in Côte d’Ivoire through strategic earn-in agreements and permit applications, totalling over 700 sq km of additional exploration opportunity. These pending applications and permits are largely underexplored, offering Kobo a unique opportunity to unlock new gold discoveries in proximity to its existing Kossou and Kotobi projects.
Pending research permit applications:
- Bocanda South – 341.6 sq km
- Kuniboa North- 163.2 sq km
- Kuniboa South - 18.3 sq km
- Yakassé Gold Project - 74.06 sq km
Nesdave Mining earn-in opportunities:
- PR0970 - 93.3 sq km
- PR0973 - 73.5 sq km
Management Team
Edouard Gosselin – CEO, Director and Corporate Secretary
Edouard Gosselin, co-founder of Kobo Resources, is a seasoned attorney and member of the Quebec Bar since 1984. He has privately represented financial institutions, corporations and individuals in commercial law, banking, bankruptcy, reorganizations and startups across tech and industrial sectors and is a seasoned entrepreneur. He has been involved in Côte d’Ivoire since 2012.
Paul Sarjeant, P.Geo., – Director, President and COO
Paul Sarjeant is a professional geoscientist and co-founder of Kobo Resources. He is a mining professional with over 35 years of experience in exploration, development and mining, including 15 years as senior geologist at Echo Bay Mines (Kinross), evaluating international projects. More recently, he was manager of geology at Largo.
Carmelo Marelli – CFO
Carmelo Marrelli is the principal of the Marrelli Group, which includes Marrelli Support Services, DSA Corporate Services and other related entities. A chartered professional accountant (CPA, CA, CGA) and member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, he serves as CFO for several TSX, TSX Venture Exchange and CSE-listed companies, as well as non-listed companies, and is a director of select issuers.
Chris Picken – Exploration Manager
Chris Picken has over 35 years of experience in the mineral exploration industry, working as a geologist, exploration manager and COO. He has worked with major, mid-tier and junior exploration companies across Africa and South America. For the past decade, he has focused on Archaean and Birimian gold terrains in West Africa, including Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. He led the Yaouré gold deposit feasibility studies from 2014 to 2018.
Frank Ricciuti – Director and Chairman of the Board
Frank Ricciuti was president of Efjay Consulting, providing management and financial services, including organizational structuring and corporate finance. He served as a director for Novik (2006-2014) and Petrolympic (2008-2019) and was Kobo’s vice-president, corporate development from 2015 to 2021.
Brian Scott – Independent Director
Brian Scott, a geologist with over 35 years of global experience, has worked on diverse deposit types including porphyries in the Andes and orogenic gold deposits in West Africa, Canada and beyond. He spent 30 years with Bema Gold (later acquired by Kinross) and B2Gold, where he served as VP geology and technical services.
Vivek Dharni – Director
Vivek Dharni is a business leader with over 20 years of experience in corporate development and finance, focusing on resources, infrastructure and renewable energy. He drives transformational change through sustainable growth strategies that benefit society and elevate stakeholder value. He has held roles at HDFC, Mota-Engil and Rio Tinto, and currently serves as head of mergers & acquisitions for Mota-Engil in Africa and the Middle East.
Jeff Hussey – Independent Director
Jeff Hussey, a professional geologist with 36 years of experience, and holds a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of New Brunswick (1985). He serves on the boards of Brunswick Exploration and Osisko Metals, where he is president and COO. Previously, he was president and CEO of Osisko (2017-2020). With experience in both open pit and underground operations, he also consulted for major mining companies, including Champion Iron Mines, helping raise over $70 million for corporate development. He is currently CEO of PinePoint Mining Ltd.
Patrick Gagnon – Independent Director
Patrick Gagnon is a retired executive with over 25 years in the financial and brokerage industry. He is an active private investor in technology, resources and consumer products. He began his career as a research assistant, later becoming a research analyst, trader and institutional sales professional. From 1995 to 2015, he was a partner at GMP Securities and served as managing director of its Montreal office.
OPINION — Goldenomics 103: Gold Protects and Performs
By Darren Brady Nelson
US President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs certainly caused quite the stir in the markets on April 2.
Gold dropped about 6 percent, and silver 12 percent. A week later, a pause was announced, which ended on August 1. Gold and silver have since risen approximately 11 percent and 24 percent, respectively.
Six month gold and silver price performance.
Source: Trading Economics (gold) and (silver).
Unless you are a professional, or even amateur, trader, it is best to look at gold and silver investment with a perspective of years or decades, rather than just days, weeks or even months. Since the start of the COVID-19 panic in March 2020, gold and silver have exploded 123 percent and 192 percent.
10 year gold and silver price performance.
Source: Trading Economics (gold) and (silver).
In the shorter term, the gold price is driven by what economist John Maynard Keynes called “animal spirits.” In the longer term, it is driven by “monetary spirits.” And not just as protection, but also for performance. The Presidential Gold Guide highlights both in chapters four and five.
Source: Fisher Liberty Gold.
Gold unsurprisingly protects
Economist and investor Mark Skousen has wisely noted that: “Since we left the gold standard in 1971, both gold and silver have become superior inflation hedges.” Gold has more than countered the results of inflation, as measured by CPI, and the drivers of inflation, as measured by M3.
And the numbers back that up. The Gold Protects chart below compares the gold price, CPI and M3 in terms of cumulative growth of each from 1971 to 2025. That is throughout the whole era of gold as an investment, which officially started in 1974 once private ownership was restored.
During this era, gold grew by 541 percent, CPI by 214 percent and M3 by 384 percent. Annual average growth for gold was 10 percent, CPI at 4 percent and M3 at 7 percent. Maximums were 92 percent, 14 percent and 29 percent, respectively. CPI only failed to grow twice, ie. 0 percent in 2009 and 2015. M3 decreased twice, by -4 percent in 2023 and -6 percent in 2024.
Gold surprisingly performs
The highly respected In Gold We Trust (IGWT) report states: “When dealing with the specific level of gold allocation, it is advisable to differentiate between safe-haven gold and performance gold. The Big Long strategy emphasizes the potential of performance gold in the coming years.”
IGWT thus recommends an investment portfolio "rule of thumb" that includes 15 percent in “safe-haven gold” and 10 percent in “performance gold.” The Gold Performs chart below compares gold price, S&P 500 and nominal GDP in terms of cumulative growth of each from 1971 to 2025.
Gold grew by 541 percent, the S&P 500 by 484 percent and GDP by 339 percent. Annual average growth for gold was 10 percent, with the S&P 500 at 9 percent and GDP at 6 percent. Maximums were 92 percent, 45 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Gold did have a higher standard deviation of 27 percent, compared to 17 percent for the S&P 500 and 3 percent for GDP.
Animal and monetary spirits
Gold protects as a hedge or safe haven, not just from inflation, but from the flip side of that same coin of the boom-bust cycle. Both are driven, in the longer term, not by “animal spirits,” but by “monetary spirits.”
Inflation is when money inflation has a widespread impact as price inflation. A bubble is when money increases have a more concentrated impact such as in certain asset values. The bubble eventually bursts when “monetary spirits” are finally reined in by monetary realities.
I say “monetary spirits” because of the role of fiat money, as indicated by, say, M3. When money supply outstrips money demand in a localized way, then that is a bubble, and when in a general way, that is inflation.
The former shows up in certain asset, wholesale and/or producer prices, whilst the latter shows up in CPI. Asset prices include the S&P 500. But nominal GDP is also "ginned up" as it is ultimately a price times quantity measure as well. Price is expressed in money terms.
Conclusion
Gold can have ups and downs, as standard deviation indicates, due to the “animal spirits” of fear and uncertainty, that tend to be daily, weekly or monthly. Yet gold both protects and performs due to the “monetary spirits” of inflation and boom-bust, which tend to be decennially.
In particular, gold performs when the S&P 500 does not, like in the aftermaths of the 2001/2002 dot-com collapse, the 2008/2009 global financial crisis and 2020/2021 COVID-19 lockdowns.
Therefore, when it comes to gold, “follow the money” of central bank “money printing” and fractional reserve bank “fountain pen money,” for both superior inflation protection and boom-bust performance.
And besides, Skousen rightly "begged the question" as follows: “Gold and Silver have always had value, never gone to zero. Can you say the same for stocks and bonds?”
About Darren Brady Nelson
Darren Brady Nelson is chief economist with Fisher Liberty Gold and policy advisor to The Heartland Institute. He previously was economic advisor to Australian Senator Malcolm Roberts. He authored the Ten Principles of Regulation and Reform, and the CPI-X approach to budget cuts.
Click here to read Goldenomics 101: Follow the Money, and here to read Goldenomics 102: The Shadow Price of Gold.
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