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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
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.
