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Key Mining Approval Received for Fountain Head Gold Project, NT
Patronus Resources Limited (ASX: PTN; “Patronus” or “the Company”) is pleased to advise that the Northern Territory Government has approved the amended Mining Management Plan (MMP) for its 100%-owned Fountain Head Gold Project, located in the Pine Creek region 170km by road from Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Highlights
- NT Government approves the amended Mining Management Plan (MMP) for Fountain Head
- Approval of the MMP marks a significant regulatory milestone, unlocking the potential to develop the project
- 2,000m of RC drilling is underway at Glencoe and 500m of diamond drilling is planned to commence at Fountain Head shortly, to test for high-grade extensions to the existing 234koz Resource base
- Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for Fountain Head planned for 2025
Approval was granted by the NT Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, the Honourable Joshua Burgoyne, for the amended MMP submitted on 13 December 2023. Environmental approval for the project was granted on 17 February 2023 under the NT Environment Protection Act 2019.
The approval of the MMP represents a key regulatory milestone, allowing the Fountain Head Gold Project to advance towards development.
As outlined in its recent activities update on 28 October (see Patronus ASX release 28 October 2024), Patronus has embarked on a 2,500m program of reverse circulation and diamond drilling to extend and upgrade the current 234koz Resource base at the Fountain Head Gold Project, which comprises the Fountain Head (96koz), Tally Ho (59koz) and Glencoe (79koz) gold deposits. Further drilling and an updated Mineral Resource Estimate are planned for 2025.
Patronus Resources’ CEO, John Ingram, said:
“We are delighted with the timely receipt of the MMP approval from Minister Burgoyne, and I would like to thank the NT Government for their efficient management and oversight of this process, which demonstrates their ongoing commitment to support the development of new resource projects in the Territory.
“This is an important regulatory approval which allows us to move the Fountain Head Project forward. We are looking forward to receiving assay results from the current RC drilling at Glencoe and the imminent commencement of diamond drilling at Fountain Head, as part of a new phase of work aimed at expanding and upgrading the current resources to inform future development scenarios.”
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Patronus Resources, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Brightstar Resources
Investor Insight
A gold-focused emerging gold producer with a clear pathway to production growth, Brightstar Resources presents a compelling investment case driven by its mining and development hubs strategy and a district-scale resource opportunity.
Overview
The price of gold stays strong. In April 2024, the yellow metal’s price passed US$2,400 per ounce for the first time. The reason is multifaceted. The world teeters on the brink of a severe recession while some markets attribute the increase to safe haven rush. Amidst ballooning interest rates, bank failures and falling bond yields, demand for gold continues to rise. At this precise moment, gold is simultaneously an excellent portfolio diversifier and a compelling hedge against ongoing inflation — particularly if one invests in the right company.
Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) aims to be that company. An emerging mining and development company, Brightstar occupies a strategic land position of roughly 1,200 square kilometers in the Sandstone Greenstone Belt, 300 square kilometers in the Laverton Tectonic Belt and 80 square kilometers of the Menzies Shear Zone.
The company also owns an existing processing facility that can potentially provide tremendous shareholder value in a low-capital cost restart scenario.
That plant, once fully refurbished and operational, could prove a key differentiator for the company, enabling fast gold production at a low capital cost. This is especially noteworthy given that many other gold companies trading on the ASX are largely focused on greenfield exploration and development. Even once those companies discover a promising resource, mining and processing facilities would still need to be built, undertakings which can incur significant upfront capital costs and take several years.
Brightstar's Laverton gold assets are all centered on a 100 percent-owned 300-square-kilometer tenure in the Laverton Tectonic Zone and all within 70 kilometers of the Laverton Processing Plant. Additionally, all resources within this zone are open along strike and at depth. Only minor drilling programs have been conducted in recent years, paving the way for significant exploration upside with the potential for further regional and greenfields discoveries.
Brightstar also owns 100 percent of the Menzies Gold Project, a contiguous land package of granted mining leases over a strike length of roughly 20 kilometers along the Menzies Shear Zone and adjacent to the Goldfields Highway.
In 2023 and 2024, the company announced a mineral resource upgrade to the Cork Tree Well deposit (Laverton gold project) and also delivered two maiden mineral resource estimates at the Link Zone and Aspacia deposits (Menzies gold project). This has grown the total group MRE by approximately 150 koz gold through organic exploration.
The company has also acquired 100 percent of the shares and options of Linden Gold Alliance, a gold producer, developer and explorer with existing mineral resources of 350 koz @ 2.1 g/t gold near Brightstar in the Laverton district. Brightstar’s MRE has reached 1.1 Moz gold across the Menzies and Laverton projects, with an additional 0.35 Moz gold in resources added after the successful acquisition of Linden Gold Alliance.
In August 2024, Brightstar entered into a scheme implementation deed to acquire 100 percent of Alto Metals (ASX:AME), which owns the Sandstone gold project located in East Murchison. The project has a current mineral resource of 1.05 Moz of gold at 1.5 g/t.
Brightstar also completed the acquisition of the gold rights at the Montague East gold project (MEGP) from Gateway Mining Limited (ASX:GML). The project is located 70 km from the Sandstone gold project. The acquisition adds a further 9.6 Mt @ 1.6 g/t gold for 0.5 Moz gold to Brightstar’s JORC Mineral Resource Estimate, giving the company a total mineral endowment of 38.3 Mt @ 1.6 g/t gold for 2.0 Moz gold.
The acquisition of the MGEP from Gateway Mining and 100 percent of Alto’s shares creates a third district-scale resource base for the company called the Sandstone Hub. Upon consolidation of the Laverton, Menzies and Sandstone hubs, Brightstar’s mineral resources would reach 3 Moz at 1.5g/t gold.
Subsequent to the deal with Alto Metals, Brightstar entered into a $4 million drill-for-equity agreement with Topdrill to aggressively advance the consolidated Sandstone gold project. The deal strengthens Brightstar's financial capacity to fulfill its multi-hub exploration and development strategy, which includes the Menzies, Laverton and Sandstone hubs.
Company Highlights
- Brightstar Resources is an ASX-listed mining and development company with more than 3 million ounces of gold resources and an on-site processing infrastructure across its project locations in Laverton, Menzies and Sandstone in Western Australia.
- Brightstar's mineral assets are situated across roughly 300 square kilometers of 100-percent-owned land in the Laverton Tectonic Zone and ~80 square kilometers in the high-grade Menzies Shear Zone.
- The Laverton Gold project has a mineral resource of 9.7 Mt @ 1.6 g/t gold for 511 koz gold and the Menzies gold project has 13.8 Mt @ 1.3g/t gold for 595 koz gold.
- In 2023, the company completed a scoping study into the development of its Menzies and Laverton gold projects and the refurbishment and restart of its processing plant in Laverton.
- In 2023 and 2024, Brightstar completed a small-scale mining joint venture with BML Ventures which involved a 50/50 profit-sharing agreement to exploit the Selkirk deposit at Menzies. In April 2024, Brightstar announced that this joint venture delivered a net profit to Brightstar of $6.5 million.
- In June 2024, the company successfully acquired all of the issued ordinary shares and options in Linden Gold Alliance, a gold producer, developer and explorer with existing mineral resources of 350 koz @ 2.1 g/t gold near Brightstar in the Laverton district.
- As part of the merger with Linden Gold, Brightstar released a scoping study into Linden’s development-ready Jasper Hills gold project, which delivered key metrics including:
- 140 koz mined over 3.75 years (35 koz pa)
- Net present value of AU$99 million
- Internal rate of return of 736 percent
- Pre-production capital requirements of $12 million
- All-in sustaining costs of AU$1,972/oz
- Jasper Hills is located just 50 km SE of Brightstar’s processing plant in the Laverton gold project
- Brightstar has recently completed the acquisition of the gold rights at the Montague East gold project (MEGP) from Gateway Mining Limited (ASX:GML), and has entered into an agreement to acquire Alto Metals (ASX:AME) further creating the company’s third district-scale resource base known as the Sandstone Hub.
- Brightstar plans to continue generating shareholder value through a combination of development and strategic acquisitions along with some exploration.
Key Projects
Laverton Hub
Brightstar’s Laverton hub is comprised of the Cork Tree Well, Beta and Alpha project areas with the addition of the Second Fortune gold mine and the Jasper Hills projects.
Highlights:
- Cork Tree Well, Alpha and Beta have current total JORC mineral resource estimate of 9.7 Mt @ 1.6 g/t gold for 511 koz (52 percent measured and indicated category). All mineral resources are on granted mining leases
- Cork Tree Well (6.4 Mt at 1.4 g/t gold for 303 koz gold)
- Alpha (1.4 Mt at 2.3 g/t gold for 106 koz gold)
- Beta (1.9 Mt at 1.7 g/t gold for 102 koz gold)
- Main project area Cork Tree Well is open at depth and along strike with recent drilling results of 34.4 meters at 7.94 g/t gold from 43.5 meters (CTWMET004) and 27.6 meters at 17.8 g/t gold from 51 m (CTWMET003)
- Second Fortune has a mineral resource estimate head grade of ~11g/t gold with an average ore body width of ~0.6 meters.
- Jasper Hills is located 50 km from Brightstar’s existing processing facility along a wholly-owned private haul road, allowing unimpeded, direct access to both projects
- Permitted, previously mined and production-ready
- Last mined by current owners in 2020 with 23,000 oz gold mined
- Scoping Study outcomes include:
- Pre-production capex of $12 million required (maximum capital drawdown)
- Open pit mine at Lord Byron and underground mine at Fish
- Production of 141 koz over four years (35 koz per annum)
- LOM EBITDA of $135 million (@ AU$3,000/oz)
Menzies Hub
The Menzies Hub comprises a tenement holding of a contiguous land package of granted mining leases over a strike length of more than 20 km. The majority of deposits hosted along the Menzies Shear Zone are located adjacent to Goldfields Highway in Menzies (130km north of Kalgoorlie).
Highlights:
- Total Current Resource: 13.7 Mt at 1.3 g/t gold for 595 koz gold (36 percent measured and indicated)
- September 2023 scoping study showed the simultaneous development of open pit mining at Lady Shenton system and underground mining at Yunndaga:
- 1.9 Mt @ 1.63 g/t Au (100 koz) in open pit mining at Lady Shenton
- 650 kt @ 2.91 g/t (60 koz) in underground mining at Yunndaga
- Low capex of $22 million
- Significant opportunities to find virgin discoveries and brownfields mineral resource growth:
Sandstone Hub
The consolidated Sandstone project is over 100 km from existing third-party milling operations in the Murchison. This third processing hub boasts Alto’s Sandstone project with a mineral resource of 1.05 Moz at 1.4 g/t gold and Gateway’s Montague gold project with a mineral resource of 0.5 Moz @ 1.6 g/t gold.
Brightstar aims to fast-track the development timetable through:
- A focused, multi-rig infill drill out to take the inferred mineralisation into measured and indicated status to underpin mining studies and project advancement
- The application of Brightstar’s dedicated in-house geological and mining engineering team to retain crucial project IP and fast-tracked mining studies;
Brightstar Processing Facility
Situated close to Brightstar's existing mineral assets at Laverton, the Brightstar Processing Plant provides the company with a considerable operational head start over its peers.
Highlights:
- Extensive Infrastructure: Current facilities at the plant include two ball mills, a power station and gravity and elution circuits. Other infrastructure includes:
- A tailings storage dam
- An on-site process water pond
- A 60-person accommodation camp
- An airstrip at the Cork Tree Well Project
- Vehicles and equipment include a forklift, bobcat, two loaders, multiple light vehicles and a 30-tonne crane.
- A Leg Up Over Competitors: The presence of pre-existing processing infrastructure represents significant time savings compared to greenfields development. Brightstar had an independent valuation completed which valued the processing plant at AU$60 million in replacement value.
- Low Upfront Capital Cost: As part of the scoping study released in September 2023, GR Engineering estimated a capital cost requirement to refurbish and expand the milling capacity would cost just AU$18.5 million.
- Close to Existing Assets: Brightstar's major development projects — Cork Tree Well, Jasper Hills, Beta and Alpha — are all close to the plant.
Gold doré bars (BTR005 – BTR016) poured on 9 March 2024
Management Team
Alex Rovira - Managing Director
Alex Rovira is a qualified geologist and an experienced investment banker having focused on the metals and mining sector since 2013. Rovira has experience in ASX equity capital markets activities, including capital raisings, IPOs and merger and acquisitions.
Richard Crookes - Non-executive Chairman
Richard Crookes has over 35 years’ experience in the resources and investments industries. He is a geologist by training having previously worked as the chief geologist and mining manager of Ernest Henry Mining in Australia.
Crookes is managing partner of Lionhead Resources, a critical minerals investment fund and formerly an investment director at EMR Capital. Prior to that he was an executive director in Macquarie Bank’s Metals Energy Capital (MEC) division where he managed all aspects of the bank’s principal investments in mining and metals companies.
Andrew Rich - Executive Director
Andrew Rich is a degree qualified mining engineer from the WA School of Mines and has obtained a WA First Class Mine Managers Certificate. Rich has a strong background in underground gold mining with experience predominantly in the development of underground mines at Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS) and Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX).
Ashley Fraser - Non-executive Director
Ashley Fraser is an accomplished mining professional with over 30 years experience across gold and bulk commodities. Fraser was a founder of Orionstone (which merged with Emeco in a $660-million consolidation) and is a founder/owner of Blue Cap Mining and Blue Cap Equities.
Jonathan Downes - Non-executive Director
Jonathan Downes has over 30 years’ experience in the minerals industry and has worked in various geological and corporate capacities. Experienced with gold and base metals, he has been intimately involved with the exploration process through to production. Downes is currently the managing director of Kaiser Reef, a high grade gold producer, and non-executive director of Cazaly Resources.
Dean Vallve – Chief Operating Officer
Dean Vallve holds technical qualifications in geology & mining engineering from the WA School of Mines, an MBA, and a WA First Class Mine Managers Certificate. Vallve was previously in senior mining and study roles at ASX listed mid-cap resources companies Hot Chili (ASX:HCH) and Calidus Resources (ASX:CAI).
Shallow, High-Grade Gold Mineralisation Intersected at Barimaia Gold Project
Results from Phase 2 drilling confirm McNabs East as a high-priority target for follow-up exploration, with diamond drilling to commence in November
Ordell Minerals Limited (ASX Code: “ORD”) (“Ordell” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce significant drill results from recent, shallow, wide-spaced Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling at its Barimaia Gold Project (“Barimaia”), located near Mount Magnet in the Murchison region of Western Australia.
Key Points:
- Significant results received from the second phase of shallow Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling at the McNabs East Prospect at the Barimaia Gold Project in Western Australia, including:
- 2Gm @ 2.52g/t Au from 81m 24BARC083
- Including 1m @ 47.5g/t Au from 107m (visible gold present)
- 4m @ G.62g/t Au from 5Gm 24BARC102
- Including 1m @ 32.7g/t Au from 60m
- 25m @ 1.50g/t Au from 56m 24BARC087
- 5m @ 4.61g/t Au from 61m 24BARC104
- Including 1m @ 1G.6g/t Au from 64m
- 16m @ 1.23g/t Au from 5m 24BARC103
- 15m @ 1.24g/t Au from 30m 24BARC07G
- 2m @ 6.62g/t Au from 42m 24BARC0G7
- 7m @ 1.6Gg/t Au from 73m 24BARC07G
- 2Gm @ 2.52g/t Au from 81m 24BARC083
- Extensive zone of gold mineralisation now defined at McNabs East at shallow depths (typically <80m vertical) over a strike length of +1,000m and remains open along strike and untested at depth.
- The recent shallow drilling at McNabs East was completed on ~100m-spaced sections to continue the first-pass test of the Barimaia felsic intrusion.
- Primary mineralisation in the McNabs East area is associated with an interpreted granodiorite intrusion, strongly supporting the potential for Eridanus-style deposits at Barimaia.
- Diamond drilling planned for November to obtain structural and lithological data at McNabs East, which will be followed by extensional and in-fill RC drilling in the March 2025 Ǫuarter.
The RC drilling program was completed in September and October 2024 as the second phase of a larger, ongoing program to systematically test at shallow depths (typically < 80m vertical) the currently defined 2.5km strike extent of gold mineralisation at Barimaia.
Results from the program continue to confirm shallow, open pit potential, with coherent zones of gold mineralisation starting to be defined within an extensive gold system that remains untested at depth and remains open along strike.
Drilling completed on section 585,640E (see Figures 1 and 2) returned significant high-grade gold mineralisation in 24BARC083 (2Gm @ 2.52g/t Au from 81m) to the end of the hole (EOH) at 110m.
Visible gold was panned in the interval from 107m to 108m, which returned an intercept of 1m @ 47.5g/t Au.
Strong gold mineralisation was also returned from 24BARC087 (25m @ 1.50g/t Au from 56m) on section 585,550E (see Figures 1 and 3), adjacent to where a robust zone of gold mineralisation was intersected in drilling completed in August 2024 in 24BARC056 (21m @ 1.60g/t Au from 62m) and 24BARC057 (36m @ 0.85g/t Au from 50m). This interpreted flat-lying zone of gold mineralisation is over 80m wide on section.
Drilling completed on the eastern limit of the Phase 2 program on section 586,300E (see Figures 1 and 5) returned high-grade gold mineralisation in two separate zones, including 4m @ G.62g/t Au from 5Gm in 24BARC102 including 1m @ 32.7g/t Au from 60m; and 5m @ 4.61g/t Au from 61m in 24BARC104 including 1m @ 1G.6g/t Au from 64m. Importantly, no RC drilling has been completed east of this line along the interpreted strike of the mineralisation.
Management Comment
Commenting on the results, Ordell’s Managing Director, Michael Fowler, said:
“Our second drill program at Barimaia has delivered some great results, with wide zones of shallow gold mineralisation intersected within the targeted felsic intrusion host rock. Importantly, a number of high- grade gold results were returned from the program which are open at depth and along strike.
“This shows the potential of the mineralised system, which is beginning to take shape, pointing to significant future growth opportunities as our drilling programs advance.
“We have now completed over 5,000m since we listed on the ASX in July, with the results from this drilling showing clear potential for shallow open pits at Barimaia.
“Our next step is to complete a diamond drilling program in November to help confirm the orientation, lithologies and geometry of the significant mineralisation centred on section 585,550E. This drilling will be followed up by further extensional and in-fill drilling in the coming months.”
Figure 1. Results from RC drilling at the McNabs East Prospect at Barimaia. September to October 2024 intercepts are highlighted in dark yellow boxes. The location of section lines for Figures 2 to 5 are shown in blue.
Ordell’s exploration at Barimaia is targeting new discoveries of a similar style to the Eridanus deposit, which forms part of Ramelius Resources’ (ASX: RMS) Mount Magnet gold mining operations (Figure 6).
Eridanus lies approximately 6km north-west of Barimaia and hosts a current Mineral Resource Estimate of 21Mt @ 1.7g/t Au for 1,200,000oz of contained gold1, with an additional +300,000 ounces of gold already mined from the open pit.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Ordell 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.
Riverside Resources
Investor Insight
Despite its extensive portfolio and numerous exploration successes, Riverside Resources remains significantly undervalued compared to its peers. With a market capitalization of approximately C$10 million and no debt, the company offers a compelling investment opportunity for those looking to gain exposure to the mining sector.
Overview
Riverside Resources (TSXV:RRI) is a Vancouver-based exploration and project generation company focused on precious and base metals, with a unique business model designed to minimize financial risk while maximizing exploration opportunities.
Founded in 2007, the company has established a strong portfolio of properties across North America, particularly in Canada and Mexico. With more than 17 years in the industry, Riverside Resources leverages its "Data First" strategy, which uses data analytics and historical mining information to identify and acquire high-potential mineral properties. This methodical approach is complemented by a business model that relies heavily on joint ventures and partnerships, allowing the company to explore multiple projects simultaneously with minimal shareholder dilution. Riverside Resources has successfully advanced over 80 projects using more than $85 million in partner-funded exploration, showcasing its expertise in exploration and project development.
One of Riverside's key strengths is its diversified portfolio, which spans different geographies and commodities, including gold, silver, copper and rare earth elements (REE). The company's projects are located in Ontario and British Columbia in Canada, and across Mexico, focusing on areas with known mineralization and existing infrastructure. Riverside is well-capitalized, with over $5 million in cash on hand, no debt, and a well-established royalty portfolio. This strong financial position allows the company to continue exploring new opportunities while reducing operational risks.
Riverside has a proven track record of creating value for its shareholders through spin-outs and royalty transactions, having completed seven such deals since its inception. The company continues to seek out new opportunities for joint ventures, partnerships and royalty agreements, which will help to unlock further value from its portfolio. With several key exploration programs underway in 2024, Riverside is poised for a breakout year.
Company Highlights
- Riverside Resources has successfully advanced over 80 exploration projects using more than $85 million in partner-funded exploration.
- Riverside’s Ontario gold projects are strategically located near Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Mine, offering significant potential for future development or acquisition.
- The Cecilia gold-silver project in Sonora, Mexico, is advancing through a partner-funded drilling program with Fortuna Silver Mines, offering significant discovery potential.
- With over C$5 million in cash and no debt, Riverside Resources is financially strong, ensuring sustained exploration activity.
- The company has completed seven successful spinouts and royalty transactions over its 17 year history, creating substantial value for shareholders.
- The company’s business model minimizes financial risk by partnering with larger companies, enabling multiple simultaneous exploration projects.
Key Projects
Ontario Gold Projects
Riverside Resources operates its Ontario-based gold projects through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blue Jay Resources. These projects are located in the Western Abitibi region, one of Canada's most prolific gold-producing areas. The company's assets are situated near Equinox Gold's Greenstone gold mine, one of the country's largest open-pit gold mines. This strategic location provides significant potential for future development or acquisition, as the Greenstone mine is expected to produce more than 390,000 ounces of gold annually for the first five years of its 15+-year mine life. As this mine nears the end of its life, Riverside's nearby properties could provide valuable ore, potentially making them attractive targets for acquisition by Equinox or other major players in the region.
The Ontario portfolio includes three significant gold assets: the Pichette, Oakes and Duc projects. The Pichette project, located near the Greenstone gold mine, has similar geological units and structures to the Hardrock deposit at Geraldton, one of the most significant gold deposits in the region. Pichette has already seen historical drilling that intercepted gold mineralization, with additional targets identified through recent drone magnetics surveys and field prospecting.
The Oakes gold project lies in the Archean Greenstone Belt of the eastern Wabigoon terrane that hosts several large-scale gold deposits. The project has yielded promising results from recent drilling, with gold assays up to 8 grams per tonne (g/t) and surface samples showing greater than 30 g/t gold. This project also benefits from significant past exploration, with over $5 million invested to date.
The Duc gold and critical metals project rounds out Riverside's Ontario portfolio. Situated in a highly prospective area which has been previously explored for nickel and PGM’s, this project has excellent infrastructure, with road access from the Trans-Canada Highway and proximity to past-producing mines. The Duc project offers both gold and critical metals potential, making it a valuable asset in Riverside's growing portfolio.
Mexico Gold and Silver Projects
Riverside Resources also has a strong presence in Mexico, particularly in the state of Sonora, where it operates several gold and silver projects. The Cecilia project is a district-scale gold and silver low-sulfidation epithermal system, located near the town of Agua Prieta. This project is one of Riverside's flagship assets, featuring over 60 square kilometers of exploration territory with multiple high-priority targets. Riverside has partnered with Fortuna Silver Mines to advance exploration at Cecilia, with a drilling campaign which began in the fall of 2024. Fortuna's option agreement with Riverside includes a significant work commitment, with planned expenditures of $3.75 million to earn a 51 percent interest in the project, and the potential to earn up to 80 percent by spending $6 million. This partnership represents a significant catalyst for Riverside, as a major discovery at Cecilia could add further value to the company’s shareholders.
The Union project, also in Sonora, is another promising gold and silver asset. Situated in close proximity to several major mines, including Noche Buena, La Herradura and Cerro Colorado, the Union project has already yielded high-grade rock chip samples, with results as high as 59.8 g/t gold and 833 g/t silver. Historical production from the area averaged between 7 and 20 g/t gold and 300 g/t silver, highlighting the project's potential for future exploration success. Riverside continues to explore joint-venture and partnership opportunities to advance this project, making it a key component of the company's Mexican portfolio.
Rare Earth Element and Copper Projects
In addition to its gold and silver assets, Riverside Resources has expanded into rare earth elements (REE) and copper exploration. The company holds several REE projects in British Columbia, Canada, including the Revel and Taft projects, both of which are located in highly prospective carbonatite belts. These projects are part of Canada's Critical Minerals Strategy, which aims to secure the supply of minerals essential to the country's energy transition. REEs are crucial for the production of renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines and solar panels, as well as advanced batteries and semiconductors. Riverside's exploration programs at Revel and Taft are ongoing, with results expected in the near future.
Riverside is also pursuing copper exploration in Mexico, with the Ariel copper-gold project being one of the most promising assets. This project is located in a highly prospective porphyry copper district, within sight of Mexico's second-largest copper mine, La Caridad. The Ariel project spans over 16 square kilometers and is fully permitted for drilling, making it a turnkey exploration opportunity. Copper is a key metal in the global energy transition, with demand expected to rise significantly in the coming years due to its use in electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and power transmission.
Undervalued and Well-positioned for Growth
Riverside Resources remains significantly undervalued compared to its peers, given its extensive portfolio and exploration successes. With a market capitalization of approximately C$10 million and no debt, the company offers a compelling investment opportunity for those looking to gain exposure to the mining sector. Riverside's Project generator model, which minimizes financial risk by partnering with larger companies to fund exploration, provides shareholders with significant upside potential. The company's strong balance sheet, combined with its diversified portfolio of assets in stable mining jurisdictions, makes it well-positioned for future growth.
Board and Management
John-Mark Staude – President and CEO
John-Mark Staude holds a PhD in economic geology and has over 20 years of diverse mining and exploration experience in precious and base metals. He earned a Masters of Science from Harvard University in 1989 and a PhD in Economic Geology from the University of Arizona in 1995. Held positions at Kennecott, BHP-Billiton, and most recently Teck Cominco. His technical and managerial experience spans more than 30 countries in diverse geologic environments. John-Mark is also a director and chairman of Capitan Mining.
Freeman Smith – Vice President, Exploration
Freeman Smith has 18 years of experience in the minerals industry focused on generating and evaluating exploration properties primarily in the Americas. Freeman has worked primarily with prospect generators and worked in Mexico with the prospect generator (Oro Gold). Freeman brings experience in Latin America, Northern Canada and Ontario-Quebec (Integra).
Rob Scott – CFO
Rob Scott is an accomplished professional with more than 20 years of experience In accounting and corporate compliance, corporate finance, and merchant and commercial banking. He is a CPA, CA and a CFA charterholder and has spent the last 15 years as a senior officer and director of a number of issuers listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. In that time he has helped raise in excess of $200 million in equity and has gained extensive experience in initial public offerings, reverse takeovers, corporate restructuring and mergers, and acquisitions, as well as cost-effective management of operations.
Ben Connor – COO and Data Strategist
Ben Connor received an honors degree in geographic science from the University of Western Ontario, followed by an advanced diploma in Geographic Information Systems from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. Connor further developed his technical and managerial expertise at companies such as BHP Billiton and Golder Associates before joining Riverside as a consultant in 2007. Connor has kept Riverside at the forefront of technology and data compilation; and has played an integral role in assisting and advising senior management on asset acquisitions, strategic partnering and asset divestments that have contributed to the company’s overall success.
Cruz Paez – Chief Geoscientist
Cruz Paez has more than 17 years’ experience in exploration and mining geology in Mexico and has been involved with the discovery and delineation of several mineral deposits that were developed into operating mines. Paez held the position of vice-president of exploration for Azure Minerals and more recently exploration manager at Gold Candle.
Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Sabre Gold Surges on Minera Alamos Acquisition
Welcome to the Investing News Network's weekly look at the best-performing Canadian mining stocks on the TSX and TSXV, starting with a round-up of Canadian and US data impacting the resource sector.
The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) fell 2.87 percent on the week to close at 603.95 on Friday (November 1). Meanwhile, the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) was down 0.82 percent to 24,255.16.
Statistics Canada released its August GDP figures on Thursday (October 31). The data indicated GDP remained flat following a 0.1 percent increase in July. Headline data suggests finance, insurance and public administration sectors were up 0.1 percent while goods-producing sectors fell by 0.4 percent to their lowest since December 2021.
On a more granular level, the resource sector saw a 0.6 percent gain in August, led by 1.5 percent increase in oil and gas. Meanwhile, mining and quarrying posted a 0.7 percent increase, marking a fifth month in a row of gains. Iron ore mining increased 4.7 percent, while there was a 2.8 percent increase in copper, nickel, lead and zinc mining.
South of the border, three key releases this week painted a mixed picture of the US economy before a divisive presidential election on November 5, and the US Federal Open Market Committee's meeting on November 6 and 7.
First, on Wednesday (October 30), the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released advanced GDP estimates for Q3. The data shows the pace of economic growth in the US may be slowing, posting a 2.8 percent increase, down from the 3.0 registered in the second quarter of the year. The numbers fell short of analysts’ expectations of 3.1 percent.
This was followed by the BEA’s release of September’s personal consumption expenditures price index data on Thursday. The index is the favored indicator of inflation by the US Federal Reserve in making its rate policy decisions. Data for the month showed a 0.2 percent month-on-month increase and was in line with analysts’ expectations. On a yearly basis the data indicated 2.1 percent growth to inflation, down from 2.6 percent just six months ago.
Lastly, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its October employment situation summary on Friday. The data indicates nonfarm payrolls remained virtually unchanged, with just 12,000 jobs added during the month — that's well short of the 110,000 expected by analysts. Unemployment remained at 4.1 percent, with 7 million people unemployed.
The agency notes that while disappointing, the lower figures are likely temporary as it’s the first labor force survey conducted since the dual impacts of hurricanes Helene and Milton. The bureau also said the collection period for October was toward the shorter end of the usual 10 to 16 days and likely had a larger influence on its data.
Gold continued to set new highs, climbing to US$2,787.04 per ounce on Wednesday before falling to US$2,733.88 on Friday at 4:00 p.m. EDT. Silver also remained elevated, trading as high as US$34.41 per ounce on Wednesday before regressing to US$32.44 on Friday. Copper was largely flat, closing at US$4.39 per pound on the COMEX.
More broadly, the S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) fell 1.27 percent to close at 534.79.
Markets were in decline this week, with the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) shedding 1.8 percent to finish at 5,728.81, and the Nasdaq-100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) declining 2.06 percent to close Friday at 20,033.14. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) fell 0.5 percent to reach 42,052.18.
Find out how the five best-performing Canadian mining stocks performed against that backdrop.
1. Wolfden Resources (TSXV:WLF)
Weekly gain: 166.67 percent
Market cap: C$14.83
Share price: C$0.08
Explorer and developer Wolfden Resources is focused on base and precious metals projects in North America.
Up until February of this year, the company was working to advance its Pickett Mountain property in Maine, US. The site hosts a high-grade polymetallic massive sulfide deposit and sits within the Gander Terrane.
However, the company announced on February 15 that its rezoning application for the property was denied by commissioners for the Maine Land Use Planning Commission, despite evidence that weighed in favor of the approval.
While the company has not provided an update on Pickett Mountain, it said on Tuesday (October 29) that it has entered into an option agreement to earn a 75 percent stake in the Rockland Property in the Walker Lane Trend in Nevada, US.
The terms of Wolfden's agreement with Evergold (TSXV:EVER,OTC Pink:EVGUF) state that to earn an initial 51 percent interest it must complete US$1.18 million in exploration expenditures, including a minimum of 1,500 meters of drilling, and make cash payments totaling US$600,000 over three years by March 2028.
Wolfden can boost its stake to 75 percent by completing a prefeasibility study within five to eight years. It also holds first rights of refusal on the final 25 percent interest and royalties that can be purchased.
The 1,054 hectare property hosts a large epithermal gold-silver system with similar characteristics to Hecla Mining’s (NYSE:HL) neighboring Aurora project and has drill permits in place. The company said through due diligence it retrieved four rock and core assay reject samples containing between 1 gram per metric ton (g/t) gold and 10.4 g/t gold.
2. Argenta Silver (TSXV:AGAG)
Weekly gain: 151.61 percent
Market cap: C$62.572
Share price: C$0.39
Formerly Butte Energy, Argenta announced on October 24 that it was changing its name, and would commence trading under the new symbol AGAG. The change comes after the completion of its acquisition of the El Quevar silver project following the takeover of Silex Argentina for total consideration of US$3.5 million.
The 56,709 hectare site hosts the Yaxtche deposit, which holds an indicated resource of 45.3 million ounces of silver with an average grade of 482 g/t from 2.93 million metric tons of ore. Yaxtche also has an inferred resource of 4.1 million ounces of silver with an average grade of 417 g/t from 310,000 metric tons of ore.
The project has seen more than 100,000 meters of historic drilling and comes with permitting in place. The company says the site is home to a 100 worker camp, with power and transportation already in place.
Additionally, the company announced the appointment of Joaquin Marias as vice president of exploration and development. Marias is a geologist and has been active at El Quevar for more than 10 years.
In the announcement, Argenta also said it had completed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$15.27 million, as well as an additional C$925,000 in the form of unsecured, non-interest bearing one year term loans.
3. Sabre Gold Mines (TSX:SGLD)
Weekly gain: 76 percent
Market cap: C$18.32
Share price: C$0.22
Sabre Gold Mines is working to advance its Copperstone gold project located in Western Arizona, US. The site consists of 546 unpatented federal mining claims and two state mineral leases across a total area of 13.8 square miles.
According to the company, historic mining at the property between 1987 and 1993 produced 514,000 ounces of gold from 5.6 million metric tons of ore with grades of 2.8 g/t. Further operations between 2012 and 2013 produced an additional 16,900 ounces of gold from 163,000 metric tons of ore with grades of 3.2 g/t.
A resource estimate from February 2023 demonstrates 300,000 ounces of gold in the measured and indicated categories from 1.21 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 7.74 g/t gold. Additional inferred values stand at 197,000 ounces of gold from 970,000 metric tons with a grade of 6.3 g/t gold.
An August 2023 preliminary economic assessment presents a base-case scenario with after-tax net present value of US$61.8 million, an internal rate of return of 50.5 percent and a payback period of 1.8 years.
Shares of Sabre surged this week after it announced on Monday (October 28) that it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Minera Alamos (TSXV:MAI,OTCQX:MAIFF).
4. Compass Gold (TSXV:CVB)
Weekly gain: 77.27 percent
Market cap: C$17.83
Share price: C$0.195
Compass Gold is an exploration and development company working to advance its Sikasso property in Mali into a small-scale mining operation. The site consists of a 1,176 square kilometer land package, which the company says makes it the largest ground position in Southern Mali, and hosts four primary gold trends.
To date, the company has completed 44,206 meters of drilling, confirming bedrock mineralization and identifying four areas with open-pit mining potential: Tarabala, Massala West, Farabakoura and Samagouela.
Compass' most recent news came on Monday, when it entered into a joint production agreement to process ore from the Massala prospect at Sikasso at the nearby small mining facility owned by Malian business group SMAT.
The company said it will allow Compass to advance near-term objectives and expedite near-surface gold production with minimal capital investment. The company still needs to apply for a small mining license from the Malian government; this will allow it to produce 160,000 ounces over a four year period. Funds generated from production will allow the company to repay debts and pursue opportunities to expand production at Sikasso.
5. East Africa Metals (TSXV:EAM)
Weekly gain: 31.03 percent
Market cap: C$35.01
Share price: C$0.19
East Africa Metals is a gold explorer and developer focused on its Adyabo and Harvest projects in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Its principal asset is Adyabo, in which it holds a 30 percent net profit interest; Tibet Huayu Mining (SHA:601020) owns the remaining 70 percent. The 195.2 square kilometer site hosts two mining licenses, Mato Bula and Da Tambuk, that are located in an area known for high-grade gold and copper mineralization.
East Africa Metals also owns a 70 percent share of the Harvest polymetallic project, which hosts the Terakimti mining license, as well as a 30 percent streaming interest in the Magambazi gold mine in the Tanga region of Tanzania.
The company saw gains this week alongside a surging gold price, but did not release news.
FAQs for Canadian mining stocks
What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?
The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.
How many companies are listed on the TSXV?
As of June 2024, there were 1,630 companies listed on the TSXV, 925 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,806 companies, with 188 of those being mining companies.
Together the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.
How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?
There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.
The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.
These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.
How do you trade on the TSXV?
Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange's trading hours.
Data for this 5 Top Canadian Mining Stocks article was retrieved at 12:00 p.m. EDT on November 1, 2024, using TradingView's stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX and TSXVwith market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Companies within the non-energy minerals and energy minerals sectors were considered.
Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Top Stories This Week: Gold Futures Break US$2,800, 3 Experts Talk US Election Price Impact
The gold price was on the move once again this week, with December COMEX futures briefly passing US$2,800 per ounce on Wednesday (October 30), another new record for the yellow metal.
Gold had pulled back substantially by Friday (November 1), sitting at the US$2,735 level as of 12:00 p.m. PDT. The decline came despite a weak October US jobs report, which has boosted expectations for an interest rate cut next week.
With many undeniably influencing gold right now, arguably the most immediate is the US election.
As voting day approaches, the Investing News Network (INN) team has been asking experts whether the outcome matters for gold, and the responses have been interesting. Overall the consensus seems to be that while voting day turmoil may boost the yellow metal in the short term, larger forces are at play further ahead.
One point that was repeated many times is that neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris seems concerned about the growing level of debt in the US, which is an overarching driver for gold both now and in the future.
Here's how Chris Blasi of Neptune Global explained it:
Up until about eight years ago, maybe it was 10, you'd hear politicians talk about balancing the budget, getting the fiscal and financial house in order. No one even says it anymore — you'd look silly, right?
Gold is driven by the growth in debt and creation of money. They won't even give lip service to it anymore because it seems so outlandish. Now it's just about — the reality is debt will always grow, money will keep being created. That's why inflation is with us. So again, it just goes to in my opinion prove that those drivers that will continue to support the price of gold and continue to propel it are firmly in place, and not only is there no political will, but it's really past the point it could even be done. The economy could not survive with balanced budgets and reducing and paying down debt.
Craig Hemke of TFMetalsReport.com made a similar comment, saying that no matter which party ends up in power, the debt situation makes it key to own gold. This is what he said:
(The debt) is not going to change. It doesn't matter who's president, it doesn't matter which party is in charge of either side of the US Congress. This is going to continue.
And if we are in fact heading into a recession — which I have no doubt that we are, if it hasn't already begun — then your tax revenues are going to plummet, the spending is only going to increase. And that deficit and the total debt you're adding is only going to widen out on an annual basis.
So anyway, I have no idea who's going to win the election, but I think for people that are trying to plan for their financial security, to maintain their purchasing power, to see their way through this storm — whoever wins, you still want to keep buying your gold and buying your silver.
Joe Cavatoni of the World Gold Council took a different approach to the question, saying that investors should look six months down the line to see the election's impact on gold. Here are his comments:
Where the election will have impact (for gold) is on how policies will develop. That tends to show itself up six months or so post an election outcome when policies can be discussed, clarified and potentially start to be implemented. And that's why we think that six months into the election outcome is when you're going to start to see more of an effect on the gold price.
There might be, with the emotion that comes along with this election, there might be some increased levels of volatility, there may be some reaction, people looking to position around things. We might even see that globally in terms of some of the central bank behavior, the investors offshore who are looking at the US — looking at what's going to happen and how they're going to be impacted by the fiscal challenges that the US is facing. But overall you're going to need time to tell exactly how that'll play out as a policy — that'll lead to overall impact on the gold price.
The World Gold Council does make an interesting point in a recent report, noting that on average, US gold bar and coin demand seems to increase during Democratic presidencies, possibly because buyers may be Republican-leaning.
INN's US election coverage
The US election is only a few days out, so it won't be long before we see gold's immediate reaction.
Check out the links below for more on how the election could affect gold, as well as other markets:
- Trump vs. Harris: How Could the US Election Affect the Gold Price?
- Trump Presidency: A Threat to EV Growth and Battery Supply Chain Expansion?
- What Does the US Election Mean for the Future of Cleantech?
- How Will the US Election Affect the Crypto Industry?
- Harris vs. Trump: The 2024 US Election, Drug Prices and Healthcare
Want more YouTube content? Check out our expert market commentary playlist, which features interviews with key figures in the resource space. If there's someone you'd like to see us interview, please send an email to cmcleod@investingnews.com.
And 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: 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.
Pinnacle Silver and Gold: District-Scale Silver-Gold Exploration and Development in the Americas
Pinnacle Silver and Gold (TSXV:PINN) stands out as a promising precious metals explorer with its strategic focus on high-potential projects in North and South America. The company presents a compelling investment opportunity in the precious metals sector as it continues to advance its existing projects and pursue new opportunities, offering investors an attractive entry point into the dynamic world of silver and gold exploration.
The company is strategically positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for these valuable resources driven by several key factors including a robust pipeline of projects at various stages of exploration and development and effective capital management practices.
El Potrero lies within 35 km of four operating mines, including the 4,000 tons-per-day (tpd) Ciénega mine by Fresnillo, Luca Mining’s 1,000 tpd Tahuehueto mine, and the 250 tpd Topia mine owned by Guanajuato Silver. The El Potrero property had undergone small-scale production from 1989 to 1990 and contains a 100 tpd plant that can be refurbished/rebuilt at relatively low cost.
Company Highlights
- Pinnacle Silver and Gold is a Canada-based exploration and development company dedicated to building long-term shareholder value with its silver- and gold-focused assets in North and South America.
- The company has built an asset portfolio entirely within mining-friendly jurisdictions with clear legal requirements and regulations that provide confidence in the future of each project.
- Both the Argosy Gold Mine and North Birch Project are located in the Red Lake District in Northwestern Ontario, a region famous for gold production.
- The company's expansion to Mexico, through a recent agreement, gives it access to the prolific and resource-rich Sierra Madre Trend and further diversifies its portfolio of high-grade assets.
- The company is led by an impressive management team with decades of experience managing mining companies that operate in the Americas.
This Pinnacle Silver and Gold profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*
Click here to connect with Pinnacle Silver and Gold (TSXV:PINN) to receive an Investor Presentation
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