Tartana Minerals Limited (ASX: TAT) (the Company), is pleased to announce that it has completed the first shipment of Copper Sulphate Pentahydrate (Copper Sulphate) from Tartana’s newly recommissioned Copper Sulphate plant.
Highlights:
“Our first shipment of Copper Sulphate with our 100% offtake partner, Kanins International, is a significant step towards recommencing commercial steady-state production and reflects a coalescence of over two years of work in recommissioning this plant. We now look towards moving into a more regular rhythm of shipments being completed.
“Recent Copper price improvements directly increase the profitability of this project as Copper Sulphate is priced by reference to its Copper weight plus a premium.”
Above: First shipment preparing to leave the Tartana Mine Site on Friday, 3 May 2024
As agreed with the Company’s 100% offtake partner, Kanins International, the Company has been paid for the product immediately upon the product leaving mine site. Cash receipts from Kanins will be reflected in the Company’s quarterly cash flow reporting on and from this Q4 FY24.
Drilling Ongoing
Last week, Tartana announced that it would commence a diamond drill hole for metallurgical sampling, targeting PQ sizing. Tartana is pleased to advise that drilling commenced successfully last week and is expected to be completed next week.
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This article includes content from Tartana Minerals Limited, 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.
Tartana Minerals is a new copper producer generating strong cash flow, with a substantial exploration footprint in a tier 1 mining jurisdiction. Tartana Minerals is creating shareholder value through investment in increasing its existing copper, zinc and gold resources and accelerating exploration of key projects within its highly prospective exploration portfolio. Tartana Minerals presents a compelling investment against the backdrop of a strong macroeconomic environment for copper.
Tartana Minerals (ASX:TAT) is a copper, gold, silver and zinc, producer, explorer and developer in Far North Queensland. Its flagship project is the 100 percent owned Tartana copper and zinc project which comprises four mining leases located north of Chillagoe. The company’s business model has involved refurbishing an existing heap leach - solvent extraction – crystallisation plant which is located on the Tartana mining leases. The refurbishment and commissioning of this plant is now completed and the company is producing copper sulphate pentahydrate which is sold to offtaker, Kanins International. Copper sulphate is priced on a premium plus percentage of the LME copper price and provides investors with leverage to anticipate increasing copper prices.
The company, formerly known as R3D Resources, changed its name to Tartana Minerals in April 2024. Tartana Minerals is based in Sydney, Australia.
Tartana Minerals has reported the following resources:
These copper, zinc and gold resources remain open at depth and along strike and the company has designed drilling programs to expand these resources. In particular, the copper mineralisation and potentially the gold mineralisation have scope to be upgraded through ore sorting.
However, the refurbished heap leach – solvent extraction – crystallisation plant utilises existing copper in the ponds and the heaps and these copper sources will be replenished when we commence mining from the open pit.
The first and second shipments of copper sulphate were sold during the June 2024 quarter with further shipments are currently being prepared. The copper sulphate contains 25 percent copper metal and payment is based on the LME copper price for the preceding month plus a premium. It is one of the few forms of saleable copper where the copper content receives the full LME price.
Sprinklers operating on the lower heap. Note the presence of copper (blue).Chillagoe region of Far North Queensland is highly prospective with the discovery and development of a number of key projects over the last few decades including Red Dome (2.5 Moz gold), Mungana (1.2 Moz gold), and King Vol (250 kt zinc). These deposits occur along the Palmerville Fault in a similar location to the Tartana Mining leases.
The mining leases at Tartana contain copper, zinc and gold mineralisation but the company also has significant projects which are both east and west of the Palmerville Fault. In the west it has the Cardross and Mountain Maid copper-gold projects and further north it has the Beefwood project. Mountain Maid has gold resources mentioned above and which are open to the south and at depth while the company is finalising a maiden copper resource for the Cardross project. The Beefwood project comprises a buried geophysical target and surface sampling has recovered samples grading up to 180 g/t Au with no apparent source. Drilling is planned to test this target in the current dry season.
In the east of the Palmerville Fault, the company has the Bellevue/Dry River project, the OK South project and the Dimbulah Porphyry project, all copper projects with historic copper mines and prospects. Like many parts of Far North Queensland, historical exploration has not been systematic and thorough despite many promising expressions of surface mineralisation.
Tartana’s exploration team comprises of experienced exploration geologists with supporting cash flow from their copper production, they expect to be able drill the most promising targets in the short term.
Overall, the macroeconomic environment for copper remains strong. The LME three-month copper price hit US$5.24/lb on May 17, the highest since March 7, 2022, driven by a weaker US dollar, Chinese property stimulus measures, and a short squeeze on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange futures market.
In the near-to-mid term China’s demand for refined copper is expected to grow, due to better-than-expected performances from key consumer segments, including the power grid, solar installations and electric vehicle and air conditioning appliance sales. On the supply side the copper concentrate market is expected to remain in a significant deficit due to the estimated delay in the Cobre Panama mine restart but will be partially offset by the higher projected production from smelters in China. As a result, we see further demand growth and supply tightening for the copper market as positive for base metal equities who maintain significant leverage to increasing prices.
Jihad Malaeb is an experienced entrepreneur across a number of industries, including hospitality and construction, as well as having significant experience in mineral exploration and mining operations – both as an active investor and company director. He currently owns and operates a portfolio of hospitality businesses and real estate across Australia, which have been established over the past 30 years. Malaeb was previously a non-executive director of Critical Resources (ASX:CRR), where he helped steer CRR through the past few years as one of its largest shareholders and as a board member.
Steve Bartrop’s professional experience spans more than 30 years covering periods in both the mining industry and financial sector. With a geology background, Bartrop has worked in exploration, feasibility and evaluation studies and mining in a range of commodities and in different parts of the world. In the financial sector, he has been involved in research, corporate transactions and IPOs spanning more than 20 years, including senior roles at JPMorgan, Bankers Trust and Macquarie Equities.
Bartrop is also a director of Southwest Pacific Bauxite (HK), a company developing a bauxite project in the Solomon Islands and chairman of Breakaway Research.
Bruce Hills is an accountant and is currently an executive director of Breakaway Investment Group, which operates the Breakaway Private Equity Emerging Resources Fund. Hills is a director of a number of unlisted companies in the mining and financial services sectors including The Risk Board and Stibium Australia. Hills has 35 years’ experience in the financial sector including 20 years in the banking industry primarily in the areas of strategy, finance and risk.
Dr Alistair Lewis is a successful entrepreneur and highly experienced medical doctor with over 40 years’ experience. For the past 10 years Lewis has been involved in the management of mining and exploration companies. In 2017, Lewis established Oosen Lewis Mining in North Queensland. He financed the aggregation of a substantial portfolio of gold, tin, tungsten and antimony assets and instigated subsequent extensive exploration programs. These assets now form part of the QSM portfolio.
Michael Thirnbeck is an experienced geologist with over 25 years in managing numerous mineral development projects in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Australia. He has been a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy since 1989 and holds B.Sc (Hons.) degree from University of Queensland.
All amounts expressed in US dollars unless stated otherwise
Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) – Africa's largest gold mine, Kibali, continues to deliver growth as its strong record of replenishing reserves and resources, and further investment in technology and capacity, position it to sustain its 750,000 ounces annual production past the current 10-year horizon to 15 years and beyond.
Speaking to media and other stakeholders today, Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow said Kibali was not only Africa's largest gold mine but also its most automated and, thanks to its three hydropower stations, a leader in renewable energy. When its back-up solar power plant and battery storage system are commissioned next year, the renewable component of its energy mix will increase to 85%.
"When we started building Kibali 14 years ago, this was one of the DRC's most underdeveloped regions. The value we created and the infrastructure we built here have since transformed it into a new economic frontier and a flourishing commercial hub, with a community that has grown from 30,000 to over 500,000 people. We've promoted this growth through investment in community development and partnering with local businesses we have mentored. Our Azambi power station, for example, was built by an all-Congolese team. Since 2010, Kibali's payments to local contractors and suppliers have amounted to almost $2.7 billion (CDF 7.6 trillion)," Bristow said.
"In addition, Kibali has written a new chapter in Barrick's long support for Africa's biodiversity by partnering with African Parks and the DRC Government to re-introduce a sustainable population of white rhino to the DRC's Garamba National Park, which the mine also supports in other ways. This means that, together with the Barrick coffee project in the Haut-Uele region aimed at revitalising the once vibrant Robusta coffee industry which Isiro was once renowned for, we are not only looking after our host countries in the present but also to their national heritage in the future."
Bristow said Kibali was built on partnerships with its stakeholders, notably the government and its host communities. Based on its success, Barrick was ready to invest in new gold and copper opportunities in the DRC, provided the government continued to build alongside it.
Enquiries:
DRC country manager
Cyrille Mutombo
+243 812 532 441
Investor and Media Relations
Kathy du Plessis
+44 20 7557 7738
Email: barrick@dpapr.com
Website: www.barrick.com
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:
Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating performance, constitutes "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "on track", "value-creating", "perform", "transform', "expect", "continue", "increase", "commitment", "grow", "will", and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to: the anticipated benefits from Kibali's local procurement initiatives and investment in local partnerships and communities; Barrick's investment in community programs and projects; and Barrick's commitment to the DRC and potential further growth opportunities.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/ or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices; expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in the DRC and other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; disruption of supply routes which may cause delays in construction and mining activities, including disruptions in the supply of key mining inputs due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; uncertainty whether some or all of Barrick's targeted investments and projects will meet the Company's capital allocation objectives and internal hurdle rate; damage to the Company's reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Company's handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical and transition risks related to climate change, including extreme weather events, resource shortages, emerging policies and increased regulations to related to greenhouse gas emission levels, energy efficiency and reporting of risks; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks).
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barrick's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.
Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
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Prospector Metals Corp. ("Prospector" or the "Company") (TSXV: PPP) (OTCQB: PMCOF) (FSE: 1ET) is pleased to announce that B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO) (NYSE American: BTG) (NSX: B2G) ("B2Gold") has agreed to complete a strategic investment into the Company. Pursuant to the transaction B2Gold has agreed to subscribe for an aggregate of 5,578,720 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a price of C$0.163 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of $909,311.36 (the "Offering").
Rob Carpenter CEO and Director of Prospector said "We are excited to have B2Gold as a keystone shareholder in Prospector Metals and our team is looking forward to their technical input on our flagship ML Project, Yukon. B2Gold is a major global gold producer with a strong commitment to communities, sustainable mining and employee safety. This investment and technical partnership will allow Prospector to advance the ML project more efficiently and it represents an endorsement of our exploration philosophy and targeting methods."
The gross proceeds from the issue and sale of the Shares will be used exclusively for exploration and development purposes on the Company's ML Project in the Yukon (the "ML Project").
The Shares will represent a total position of approximately 9.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company upon completion of the Offering.
In connection with the strategic investment the Company and B2Gold have entered into an Investor Rights Agreement dated June 28, 2024 (the "Investor Rights Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company will form a four person Technical Committee, of which will one person nominated by B2Gold, that will advise on and oversee exploration and development of the Company's ML Project.
In addition, pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement:
In the event that B2Gold's aggregate shareholdings are reduced to less than 5% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on an undiluted basis, the Investor Rights Agreement will terminate.
In addition, pursuant to the terms of a property purchase agreement dated December 29, 2023, Troilus Gold Corp. ("Troilus"), who currently holds 9,222,164 common shares in the capital of the Company representing approximately 18.16% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares, holds a participation right to maintain an ownership percentage of up to 19.9% of the Company's outstanding share capital (the "Troilus Participation Right"). Pursuant to the Troilus Participation Right, as a result of the Offering, Troilus has the right, for a period of up to ten (10) business days from the date hereof to subscribe for up to an additional 4,777,574 common shares at a price of $0.163 per common share (the "Participation Right Offering"). Assuming the Troilus elects to exercise its entire Troilus Participation Right, on closing of the Participation Rights Offering, Troilus will hold an aggregate of 13,999,738 common shares, representing 19.9% of the then issued and outstanding common shares of the Company.
Closing of the Offering and the Participation Right Offering are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including receipt of approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering and the Participation Right Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of closing, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
ML Project Overview
The ML Project located approximately 80 km from Dawson City, Yukon Territory, and 25 km northeast of the former Brewery Creek Gold Mine. The ML Project geology is extensively metal endowed with numerous instances of high-grade gold, silver and copper in drill holes, trenches and surface rock samples.
ML hosts one of the few remaining Tombstone-style intrusions in the Yukon that has not been systematically explored with no significant work completed since 2008 and as such, no modern Intrusion Related Gold (IRGS) exploration models have been applied to ML despite the presence of a diagnostic Au-As-Bi-Te-W geochemical signature.
Previous exploration focused on well exposed Au-Cu-W skarn mineralization proximal to syenite intrusions, however little work was completed within the intrusions. Nonetheless, the presence of skarn Au-Cu mineralization provides key evidence of an active, metal-rich intrusive system with over 24 known high grade Au surface occurrences that have never been drill tested and numerous high-grade Au drill and trench results remain open-ended.
About B2Gold:
B2Gold is a low-cost international senior gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Founded in 2007, today, B2Gold has operating gold mines in Mali, Namibia and the Philippines, the Goose Project under construction in northern Canada and numerous development and exploration projects in various countries including Mali, Colombia and Finland.
About Prospector Metals Corp.
Prospector Metals Corp. is a Discovery Group Company focused on district scale, early-stage exploration of gold and base metal prospects. Creating shareholder value through new discoveries, the Company identifies underexplored or overlooked mineral districts displaying important structural and mineralogical occurrences similar to more established mining operations. The majority of acquisition activity occurs in Ontario, Canada - a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction with an abundance of overlooked geological regions possessing high mineral potential. Prospector establishes and maintains relationships with local and Indigenous rightsholders, and seeking to develop partnerships and agreements that are mutually beneficial to all stakeholders.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Prospector Metals Corp.
Dr. Rob Carpenter, Ph.D., P.Geo.
President & CEO
For further information about Prospector Metals Corp. or this news release, please visit our website at prospectormetalscorp.com or contact Dr. Rob Carpenter at 604-354-6415 or by email at Rob-carpenter@rogers.com.
Prospector Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: discoverygroup.ca
Forward-Looking Statement Cautions:
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's plans with respect to the Company's projects and the timing related thereto, the merits of the Company's projects, the Company's objectives, plans and strategies, and other project opportunities. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective,", "strategy", "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other agency or governmental clearances, necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects.
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.
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This new discovery (refer Figure 1) is located approximately 300m east of the 1.3Moz Ternera Gold Deposit (Ternera) within Tesoro’s broader El Zorro Gold Project (El Zorro) in Chile.
HIGHLIGHTS
Tesoro Managing Director, Zeff Reeves, commented:
“This discovery at Ternera East is one of the most significant results from El Zorro and has the potential to materially change its scale. The identification of this well-mineralised EZT represents a potential uplifted extension or offset of the main Ternera Deposit, which could rapidly add substantial ounces to our existing 1.3Moz Mineral Resource.
“It is an exciting outcome that further validates the targeting model being employed by the Tesoro team at El Zorro. We are now focused on completing additional drilling of the area as quickly as possible to better understand what we have identified at Ternera East.”
Figure 1: El Zorro Gold Project – Ternera area drill locations in current program, location of hole ZDDH0341 within the Ternera East target, and significant results showing areas of open gold mineralisation close to Ternera (refer ASX Announcements 23 March 2021, 25 June 2021, 3 November 2021, 8 November 2022, 18 September 2023, and 13 June 2024). Section location for Figure 2 shown at A-A’ - Datum PSAD56 19S
El Zorro Diamond Drilling Program Delivers Significant New Discovery at Ternera East
An initial diamond drilling program at key target areas within a 1.5 km radius of the existing 1.3 Moz Ternera Deposit is ongoing (refer Figure 1). The program is designed as a first-pass drill assessment of high-priority targets proximate to Ternera, providing the potential for future rapid and shallow additions to the existing Mineral Resource at El Zorro.
These areas include Drone Hill, Buzzard, Ternera East and a direct extension to Ternera. To date, ten holes have been completed in the current program for 2,305m. Hole details are presented in Appendix 1.
At Ternera East, assay results have been returned for hole ZDDH0341(refer Figure 2), which was fast-tracked through the laboratory due to the wide zone of prospective EZT observed in drill core. Significant intercepts for hole ZDDH0341 are presented in Table 1, with full drill hole details in Appendix 1.
Figure 2: El Zorro Gold Project – Ternera East drilling, ZDDH0341 showing significant mineralised zones and location relative to the Ternea Gold Deposit MRE Block Model and USD1800 optimised Pit Shell., looking north. Hole ZDDH0341 was drilled toward 000 and is projected onto section. Previous drilling shown as pale grey drill traces. Refer ASX announcement 6 December 2021 for hole ZDDH0223 results.
ZDDH0341 was drilled to a final downhole depth of 400.15m and intercepted several small EZT dykes from near surface to 178.70m downhole. These dykes returned zones of sporadic gold mineralisation. Between 178.70m to 390.85m downhole, a thick body of EZT was intercepted containing two main zones of gold mineralisation.
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This article includes content from Tesoro Gold Ltd, 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.
The biggest story for gold in Q2 was its price activity. As mentioned, strong momentum carried over from March, allowing the yellow metal to break through US$2,400 in mid-April. Its price gains were influenced by various factors, including continued buying from central banks, strong demand from Chinese retail investors and better sentiment from western investors, which helped to stem flows out of gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
In a May interview with the Investing News Network (INN), Jeff Clark, editor of Paydirt Prospector, noted several other market dynamics that caused the price of gold to rise so dramatically. He said the real starting point was the end of February, when the Fed indicated it was expecting three or four rate cuts in 2024.
“All of a sudden, gold was off to the races. It jumped so high that all of a sudden you had some short covering that needed to happen then as well. So you had short covering, which means they’re buying. And then you had momentum chasers and traders jumping all in. That was a pretty good spike ... I think's what kind of started all of this,” Clark said.
Gold price, Q2 2024.
Chart via Trading Economics.
Gold's rise in the second quarter also coincided with an improving economic situation in the US. The country's consumer price index cooled slightly in April, buoying expectations for a rate cut from the Fed.
Ultimately a June cut wasn’t in the cards, and since then better personal consumption expenditures and consumer price index data in May and June, along with a strong May jobs report, have sent mixed messages. CME Group's (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool now shows about a 60 percent chance of a cut in September.
This uncertainty has created resistance for gold, which finished Q2 at the US$2,325 level.
Central banks were strong buyers of gold in Q1, purchasing 289.7 metric tons (MT), in line with numbers from 2022 and 2023. Turkey, China and India led the way, with acquisitions of 30.12 MT, 27.06 MT and 18.51 MT, respectively.
This buying trend continued into the start of the second quarter, with central banks adding 33 MT to their collective reserves in April. Turkey made purchases for the 11th consecutive month, adding 8 MT to its coffers in April, while China saw a drastic reduction, buying just 2 MT, well below its 18 MT average over the past 17 months.
Though complete data for May isn’t available at this time, reports indicate that the People’s Bank of China halted purchases of gold for the first time in 18 months. At the same time, analysts have noted that the Chinese central bank has been making unreported acquisitions of the precious metal for some time now.
There is also speculation that China's central bank will resume buying once gold has eased off of recent highs. As of April, China’s gold reserves stood at 2,265 MT, accounting for 4.9 percent of its foreign exchange holdings.
Looking forward, a central bank survey from the World Gold Council indicates that as a whole the buying spree isn't over, with 29 percent of the 70 respondents saying they plan to continue adding gold to their reserves over the next year.
Gold ETFs continued to see outflows in the second quarter, albeit at a reduced pace. Outflows from western funds have declined, while funds elsewhere in the world have seen higher inflows.
According to the World Gold Council, the first quarter of the year saw North American and European gold funds lose a combined 122.4 MT from their holdings, while Asian funds added 9.9 MT. So far in the second quarter, combined outflows from North America and Europe have fallen to 47.7 MT, while gains in Asian funds accelerated to 24.2 MT.
As of May 24, the top 10 fund inflows were dominated by Chinese ETFs, which captured four spots, including the top three, and accounted for 18.6 MT of Asian demand. The lead spot went to Huaan Yifu Gold ETF (SHA:518880), whose holdings increased by 7.4 MT. Other Asian funds on the list came from Japan and India, which accounted for 4.3 MT.
US and European funds weren’t left out. Switzerland’s UBS ETF Gold (SWX:AUUSI), the US-based SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:GLD), the Sprott Physical Gold Trust (NYSE:PHYS) and Ireland's Royal Mint Responsibly Sourced Physical Gold ETC (LSE:RMAU) all recorded inflows during the quarter.
On the flip side, the worst-performing ETFs for the quarter in terms of flows were primarily from Europe, with German and UK funds holding six of the slots, with two Swiss, one French and one American fund rounding out the bottom 10.
For the most part, gold stocks haven’t yet reacted to the elevated gold price.
In a June interview with INN, Rick Rule, proprietor at Rule Investment Media, suggested that the disconnect is related to the fact that central banks have been such strong buyers of gold.
"The central banks have been buyers of gold, but they aren't buyers of gold shares. So it makes perfect sense that because the audience for gold, at least temporarily, has changed, that this dichotomy exists," he said.
Newmont (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM), the world’s largest gold producer, has seen a modest gain of about 5 percent since the start of the year, while rival Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX,NYSE:GOLD) has fallen by around 4 percent.
That's not to say there haven’t been winners. On the TSX, Galiano Gold (TSX:GAU,NYSEAMERICAN:GAU) is up 88.71 percent gain year-to-date, and G2 Goldfields (TSX:GTWO,OTCQX:GUYGF) has surged 78.67 percent.
When it comes to the juniors, Clark thinks they are ready to take off. He pointed out that the VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (ARCA:GDXJ) has outperformed gold since the precious metal took off at the end of February.
Clark also noted that the juniors that aren’t in the GDXJ have been underperforming, but given how well gold has performed it’s just a matter of time. “I think the fuse has been lit, because once gold starts to move the money will move down into the producers, then developers and then juniors,” he said.
Small-cap winners on the TSXV include Adyton Resources (TSXV:ADY,OTC Pink:ADYRF) which has seen an 1,100 percent increase year-to-date, and Black Mammoth Metals (TSXV:BMM,OTC Pink:LQRCF), up 959 percent in that time.
Rob McEwen, founder of Goldcorp and current chairman and chief owner of McEwen Mining (TSX:MUX,NYSE:MUX), told INN in June that he thinks gold stocks are poised for a breakout.
“With the price of gold above US$2,000 an ounce, people are looking at junior explorers and saying, 'What have they found and could that really grow?' You’re watching the high-cost producers suddenly start performing because now they’re moving into the positive territory in their earnings, and there are some M&As still going around as people say it’s faster and possibly cheaper to buy the ounces than to drill and wait for the results,” he said.
With the price of gold changing so fast, Clark has had to make some adjustments to his forecast for the rest of the year. For him, the next level to watch is US$2,500, and he is confident it will get there this year.
“We had a 38 percent rise in the gold price, in this upcycle, but the average upcycle is much higher, and if this upcycle were to end today it would be the lowest in history,” Clark said.
David Morgan, publisher of the Morgan Report, also sees gold reaching US$2,500 before the end of 2024.
These predictions are in line with prices from major financial institutions. The Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) sees gold climbing to US$3,000 over the next 12 to 18 months, while JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) sees US$2,500 by the year's end.
Overall, experts believe a great deal of potential has yet to be unlocked in the gold price as well as gold companies. The current market may provide opportunities for investors who have been waiting on the sidelines to invest in producers or ETFs, and — depending on risk appetite — chances to get exposure to well-positioned juniors.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.