
October 23, 2024
Paves the Way for Lodgement of Substantial Damages Claim
Sarama Resources Ltd. (“Sarama” or the “Company”) (ASX:SRR, TSX- V:SWA) is pleased to advise that it has entered into a Litigation Funding Agreement (“LFA”) with Locke Capital II LLC, an arm’s length party that specializes in providing funding for dispute resolution (the “Funder”) to commence international arbitration proceedings in relation to its investment dispute (the “Dispute”) with the Government of Burkina Faso (the “Government”).
The Dispute pertains to the illegal withdrawal of the Company’s rights to the Tankoro 2 Exploration Permit (the “Permit”) (refer news release 5 September 2023). The Permit covered the Tankoro Deposit which was the focal point of the Company’s Sanutura Project (the “Project”) which featured a multi-million ounce gold resource.
Litigation Funding Agreement
The LFA provides a four-year non-recourse loan facility (“Facility”) of US$4.4 million to the Company to cover all fees and expenses related to its Claim to Arbitration (the “Claim”).
Security of the Facility is limited to the Claim, associated potential proceeds and all benefits arising from the property and assets of the subsidiary companies comprising the ownership chain (the “Chain”) pertaining to the Project (refer Annual Information Form, 2 April 2024). The Facility has been structured to enable the Company to continue to operate and consolidate its business outside the Chain without encumbrance or lien from the LFA.
All monies advanced through the Facility are non-recourse and repayable only in the event of a successful Claim or settlement of the Dispute that results in the receipt of Proceeds (“Proceeds”) by the Company or in the event of a default by Sarama under the LFA. In the event of the occurrence of a material adverse change under the LFA, the Funder shall be entitled to recover only those funds which were advanced but remain unspent. The Funder’s return is directly tied to the successful award and settlement of the Claim, with the total amount payable being a function of time and total Proceeds receipted. The priorities for distribution of receipted Proceeds are set out in the LFA and where commercially and legally sensitive, shall remain confidential.
If there is no settlement or award (or no default by Sarama under the LFA), the Company does not have an obligation to repay the loan. A detailed budget has been approved as part of the LFA, which covers all expected legal and ancillary costs associated with the arbitration process.
Plans for Arbitration
On 29 November 2023, the Company issued a Notice of Intent to Submit Claims to Arbitration under a bilateral investment treaty between Canada and Burkina Faso. The Government of Burkina Faso did not respond substantively to the Company’s efforts to reach an amicable resolution of the dispute. With funding to support legal costs secured, the Company is now preparing to lodge a Request for Arbitration with the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”). The Company will seek full compensation for the loss suffered which may include, but will not be limited to, the value of the Permit, the value of the Company’s historic investments in the Project, the value of the Project at the time the Permit was withdrawn and damages the Company has suffered as a direct result of the Government’s actions. The Project hosted a multi-million-ounce gold resource which was the subject of a substantially complete Preliminary Economic Assessment and fast-tracked development study at the time of the Government’s illegal actions.
The Company has engaged Boies Schiller Flexner (UK) LLP (“BSF”), a leading international law firm, to assist with legal matters pertaining to the dispute (refer news release 17 October 2023). BSF is an internationally recognised dispute resolution law firm with extensive experience representing investors in international investment arbitrations in the mining and natural resources sectors worldwide.
Background to Claim
On 31 August 2023, the Company received notification from the Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries of Burkina Faso (the “Minister”) that the Company’s application for the Permit, received in August 2021 and granted to Sarama in November 2021 had been purportedly “rejected”, even though the previous Minister had approved the Permit in accordance with the applicable laws nearly two years prior.
On 6 September 2023, during his public presentation at the Africa Down Under Mining Conference in Perth, the Minister, Simon-Pierre Boussim, stated that the Permit was available for purchase. Based on the notification from the Minister and his subsequent actions, the Company was forced to interpret the Minister’s letter of 25 August 2023 as withdrawing the Company’s rights to the Permit. The Minister did not respond to subsequent correspondence from the Company on the matter.
The unlawful withdrawal of the Permit by the Minister, resulting in the removal of the rights to the land conferred thereunder, has rendered the Project valueless to Sarama, consequently destroying the value of the Company’s investment in the Project.
Sarama’s President, CEO & MD, Andrew Dinning, commented:
“The establishment of a non-recourse funding facility to cover all expenses related to the Company’s arbitration case represents a major step forward in its pursuit of redress for the substantial damages suffered as a result of the Government of Burkina Faso’s illegal actions.
Sarama’s legal representatives, Boies Schiller Flexner, are highly experienced and have a very successful track record in international investment disputes, including an arbitration claim brought by Indiana Resources (ASX:IDA) against Tanzania which saw the company recently receive the first tranche of a US$90M settlement.
The Company will now proceed with filing a Request for Arbitration and intends to prosecute its case to the fullest extent possible.”
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Sarama 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.
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20 May
Sarama Resources
Investor Insight
Sarama Resources offers a compelling investment opportunity driven by a +US$120 million fully-funded arbitration claim and two new belt-scale gold projects encompassing 1,000 km2 of the Cosmo Newbery and Jutson Rocks Greenstone Belts in Western Australia’s prolific Eastern Goldfields.
Overview
Sarama Resources (TSXV:SWA, ASX:SRR) is an Australian gold exploration and development company with two key value drivers: a fully funded, multi-million-dollar arbitration claim and two highly prospective gold projects in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields. Each of these presents significant standalone value, while together they offer strong upside and optionality for investors.
Sarama recently secured the Cosmo Newbery and Mt Venn Gold Projects, covering 580km² and 420km² respectively. These projects encompass the majority of the greenstone belts they are located within - regions historically underexplored but geologically similar to the nearby Dorothy Hills belt, host to Gold Fields’ +8Moz Gruyere Gold Mine. Both projects offer a compelling exploration opportunity in one of Australia’s most prolific gold provinces.
In parallel, Sarama is advancing a fully funded arbitration claim against the Government of Burkina Faso, seeking no less than US$120 million in damages. The claim is backed by a non-recourse loan facility, with leading international law firm Boies Schiller Flexner - renowned for securing large settlements - engaged to lead proceedings.
The Company is led by a highly experienced board and management team with a strong track record in gold discovery and development, including the +25Moz Kibali Gold Mine and the +3Moz Sanutura Gold Project.
Sarama’s Regional Exploration Strategy
Sarama’s regional strategy is centred on unlocking value across 1,000km² of contiguous, underexplored greenstone terrane in one of Australia’s most productive gold provinces. With 100% control of the Cosmo Gold Belt and a majority stake in Mt Venn, Sarama is strategically positioned between two of the region’s most prolific gold belts - Yamarna/Dorothy Hills to the east and Laverton to the west.
Both projects share key geological signatures with nearby multi-million-ounce deposits and benefit from existing infrastructure and access. The Company’s exploration efforts will focus on high-priority targets across both belts, with systematic programs planned throughout 2025 to rapidly advance discovery.
Together, Cosmo Newbery and Mt Venn offer a rare opportunity to explore at scale in a region that has delivered some of the largest gold discoveries in recent decades - yet remains largely underexplored.
Company Highlights
- Sarama Resources is advancing two key value drivers: a fully funded, multi-million-dollar arbitration claim and two highly prospective belt-scale gold projects in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields.
- The flagship Cosmo Gold Project spans 580km², covering much of the underexplored Cosmo Newbery Greenstone Belt. Complementing this, Sarama holds an 80% interest in the 420km² Mt Venn Project, located just 40km from both its Cosmo Project and Goldfields +8Moz Gruyere Gold Mine. The region has remained largely under-explored due to historical access restrictions, leaving considerable untapped potential.
- The Company is also pursuing a fully funded arbitration claim seeking not less than US$120 million in damages from the Government of Burkina Faso. This claim, related to the Sanutura Project, is supported by a non-recourse funding facility covering all legal costs, with formal proceedings initiated in December 2024.
- Sarama is led by a seasoned team with all members having over 30 years’ experience each and a strong track record in gold discovery and development.
Key Projects
Cosmo Newbery Gold Project
The Cosmo Gold Project is a unique, underexplored, belt-scale gold opportunity in Western Australia's prolific Eastern Goldfields. Sarama holds the entire Cosmo Newbery Greenstone Belt under granted exploration licenses covering approximately 583km². The belt is one of the few remaining greenstone belts in Western Australia to have seen little to no modern exploration.
The project is located approximately 85 km northeast of Laverton and 95 km west of the +8Moz Gruyere Gold Mine, operated by Gold Fields and Gold Road. The surrounding region hosts several world-class gold systems, including the Yamarna and Dorothy Hills belts to the east (home to Gruyere, the 1Moz Golden Highway, and 300koz Gilmore deposits) and the Laverton Belt to the west, with over 35Moz in gold endowment and 12Moz of historic production.
Cosmo shares strong geological and structural similarities with these prolific belts. Key elements of orogenic gold systems are present, including:
- Archaean greenstone lithologies
- Crustal-scale shear zones
- Felsic intrusions
- Localised faulting and shearing
- Historic gold mineralisation and high-grade rock chips (up to 52 g/t Au)
Despite gold first being discovered here in the 1890s, the region has seen virtually no modern exploration or drilling, offering a unique opportunity to unlock value in a highly prospective setting.
Project Highlights
- Proven Gold Terrane: Located in a world-class gold province surrounded by major deposits
- Scale and Control: 100% control of the entire Cosmo-Newbery Belt, spanning +50 km of strike
- Underexplored: Minimal historical exploration; no modern drilling of merit
- Historic Potential: Early gold discoveries in the 1890s with artisanal workings still visible
- Strategic Location: Proximal to major gold operations including the Gruyere Gold Mine and multiple large scale mines in the Laverton gold belt
Mt Venn Gold Project
The Mt Venn Gold Project is a large-scale, underexplored gold exploration asset in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields, located approximately 40 km east of Sarama’s Cosmo Newbery Gold Project and 40 km west of the +8Moz Gruyere Gold Mine. Sarama holds an 80% interest in the project, which spans 420km² across a substantial portion of the Jutson Rocks Greenstone Belt - a geologically prospective system with gold first discovered in the 1890s.
Mt Venn shares many geological similarities with the Cosmo Project, and is viewed as a complementary, belt-scale exploration opportunity. The project comprises three contiguous exploration tenements and hosts a 35km gold corridor, defined by semi-continuous gold-in-soil anomalies, historic workings, and encouraging drill intercepts. Historic drilling has returned multiple results of merit, including intercepts up to 8.5 g/t Au, over a 4km trend at the Three Bears Prospect.
Geologically, Mt Venn is highly prospective, featuring:
- Archaean greenstone lithologies
- A major regional shear zone running the full 50km length of the belt (1–3 km wide)
- Favourable structural and lithological settings for orogenic gold mineralisation
Despite early discoveries, the project will benefit from a systematic, project-wide approach to exploration and offers substantial discovery potential in a proven gold district.
Project Highlights
- Proven Gold Terrane: Covers a significant part of the Jutson Rocks Greenstone Belt in a region known for major gold discoveries
- Contiguous Tenure: 420km² across three tenements, including a 35km anomalous gold corridor
- Geological Potential: Hosts a large regional shear zone with associated gold mineralisation and strong structural controls
- Historic Workings: Gold discovered in the 1890s; limited systematic follow-up exploration
- Drill-Ready Targets: Historical drilling includes intercepts up to 8.5 g/t Au at the Three Bears Prospect
- Strategic Location: Positioned 40 km from Gruyere (+8Moz), 20 km from the 1Moz Golden Highway deposit, and 40 km from Sarama’s Cosmo Gold Project
Management Team
Andrew Dinning – Executive Chairman
Andrew Dinning is a founder and the Executive Chairman of Sarama Resources. Dinning has over 35 years of experience in the international mining arena and has worked in Australia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, West Africa, the UK and Russia. He has extensive mine management, operations and capital markets experience and has spent most of his career in the gold sector.
Dinning was a Director and President of the Democratic Republic of Congo-based Moto Goldmines Ltd from 2005 to 2009. He oversaw the development of the company's Moto Gold Project (Kibali Gold) from two million to more than 22 million ounces of gold. Dinning took the project from exploration to pre-development. The Moto Gold project was later taken over by Randgold Resources and AngloGold Ashanti for $600 million in October 2009.
Dinning has an MBA, a First-Class Mine Managers Certificate in Western Australia and South Australia and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining degree.
John (Jack) Hamilton - Vice-president of Exploration
Jack Hamilton is a founder and the Vice President of Exploration at Sarama Resources. Hamilton has 35 years of experience as a professional geologist. Hamilton has worked around the world for international resource companies. Before Sarama, he was the exploration manager for Moto Goldmines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At Moto Goldmines, he led the team that discovered the main deposits and resource at the world-class Moto Gold Project (now Kibali Gold) which has a resource of more than 22 million ounces.
Hamilton specializes in precious metal exploration in Birimian, Archean and Proterozoic greenstone belts. He has worked and consulted in West, Central and East Africa for the past 30 years with various companies, including Barrick Gold Corporation, Echo Bay Mines, Etruscan Resources Inc, Anglo American, Geo Services International and Moto Goldmines. Whilst at Moto Goldmines, he led the exploration team that took the Moto gold deposit from discovery to bankable feasibility. The Moto gold deposit was later sold to Randgold Resources and AngloGold Ashanti in October 2009.
Paul Schmiede - Vice-president of Corporate Development
Paul Schmiede is a major shareholder and the Vice President of Corporate Development at Sarama Resources. He is a mining engineer with over 30 years of experience in mining and exploration. Before joining Sarama Resources in 2010, Schmiede was Vice President of Operations and Project Development at Moto Goldmines. At Moto Goldmines, he managed the pre-feasibility, bankable and definitive feasibility study for the more than 22 million-ounce Democratic Republic of Congo-based Moto Gold Project (now Kibali Gold). Whilst at Moto Goldmines, he also managed the in-country environment, community studies and pre-construction activities. Before joining Moto Goldmines, he held senior operational and management positions with Goldfields and WMC Resources. At these companies, Schmiede was responsible for underground and open-pit operations as well as project development and planning.
Schmiede holds a first-class mine managers certificate in Western Australia and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining degree. He is also a fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Lui Evangelista - Chief Financial Officer
Lui Evangelista is Sarama's chief financial officer with 35 years of experience in accounting, finance and corporate governance with public companies. He has more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry - 10 years of which have been at the operational and corporate level with companies operating in Francophone Africa.
Evangelista held the positions of group financial controller and acting CFO at Anvil Mining which operated 3 mines in the DRC. He was an integral part of the senior management team that saw Anvil's market capitalization grow from C$100 million in 2005 to C$1.3 billion upon takeover by Minmetals in 2012.
Evangelista holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting degree, a graduate diploma in business administration and a graduate diploma in applied corporate governance.
Simon Jackson - Non-executive Director
Simon Jackson is a founder, shareholder and non-executive chairman of Sarama Resources. Jackson is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in the mining sector. He is the Chairman of Predictive Discovery and Non-Executive Director of African gold producer Resolute Mining. He has previously held senior management positions at Red Back Mining, Orca Gold and Beadell Resources.
Jackson specializes in M&A, public equity capital markets, management and corporate finance. His career has included corporate transactions in Canada, Australia, Africa and Indonesia. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.
Adrian Byass - Non-executive Director
Adrian Byass has more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry. He has focused his career on the economic development of mineral resources. He is skilled in economic and resource geology. Byass has experience ranging from production in gold and nickel mines to the evaluation and development of mining projects with listed and unlisted entities in multiple countries. He has also held executive and non-executive board roles on both ASX and AIM-listed companies.
Byass presently operates in a corporate and market-focused capacity on a national and international basis. He has board-level experience in mine development, capital raising and M&A in Australia and on overseas stock exchanges. Byass has played key roles in a range of exploration and mining projects in Australia, Africa, North America and Europe. These projects were based on a suite of commodities including gold, base and specialty metals.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Bachelor of Economics. Byass is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, a fellow of the Society of Economic Geology and a competent person for the reporting of mineral resources (JORC 2012).
Michael Bohm - Non-executive Director
Michael Bohm is a seasoned director and mining engineer in the resources industry. His career spans roles as a mining engineer, mine manager, study manager, project manager, project director, and managing director.
He has been directly involved in the development of multiple mines in the gold, nickel, and diamond industries, and made significant contributions to Ramelius Resources during its formative years. This experience is particularly important as Sarama is currently in the process of rebuilding its operations in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia.
He is a current director of ASX-listed Riedel Resources and has previously been a director of ASX listed Perseus Mining, Ramelius Resources, Mincor Resources NL and Cygnus Metals.
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Promising new gold projects in Western Australia, plus a large fully funded arbitration claim.
09 June
Sarama Outlines Extensive Gold Trends at Cosmo Gold Project
13 May
Q1 2025 Management's Discussion and Analysis
28 April
Initial Exploration Program Completed at Cosmo Gold Project
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Randy Smallwood: Silver Set for Bull Run, Gold Wakeup in the West
Randy Smallwood, president and CEO of Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM), shares his updated thoughts on the gold and silver markets.
He also discusses Wheaton's project pipeline and the company's hunt for more assets.
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.
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Chris Temple: Gold, Uranium the Best Stories Now; Plus Silver Outlook
Chris Temple, founder, editor and publisher of the National Investor, discusses the factors moving gold and the gold stock gains still to come.
Temple also shares his outlook for uranium and silver.
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.
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NevGold: Portfolio of Gold, Antimony and Copper Projects in Tier 1 jurisdictions in the US
NevGold (TSXV:NAU,OTCQX:NAUFF,FSE:5E50) is advancing a portfolio of high-quality oxide and porphyry gold projects in Nevada and Idaho, targeting the discovery and growth of a multi-million-ounce gold-equivalent resource. With a market capitalization of under C$50 million, the company offers substantial upside potential. As NevGold continues to expand resources and de-risk its assets, it is well-positioned for a meaningful valuation re-rating over the next 12 to 18 months.
NevGold is actively advancing three projects with fully funded drill programs, metallurgical studies, and resource updates following its recent capital raise. The company is well-positioned to capitalize on rising gold and copper prices, surging strategic demand for antimony, and heightened interest from major mining companies seeking high-quality, undervalued juniors. Backed by a proven team with deep expertise in mine development and M&A, NevGold offers a compelling growth opportunity in the current commodity cycle.
The Limo Butte Project is NevGold’s cornerstone development asset, located in eastern Nevada within a highly prospective Carlin-style gold district.
Company Highlights
- Multi-million-ounce Target: NevGold is on track to define 5+ Moz gold equivalent in combined resources at Limo Butte and Nutmeg Mountain by Q4 2025.
- Gold+Antimony Critical Metals Advantage: Limo Butte is emerging as a significant near-surface oxide gold-antimony system – one of only two of its kind in the United States.
- Substantial Resource Base: Nutmeg Mountain contains a 2023 NI 43-101 compliant oxide gold resource of 1.28 Moz (indicated + inferred), with strong exploration upside and favorable heap-leach characteristics.
- District-scale Copper Exposure: Zeus offers early-stage copper-gold-molybdenum potential in a highly active porphyry belt, adjacent to a Barrick-backed discovery.
- Strategic Location, Strategic Commodities: All projects are located in mining-friendly jurisdictions with excellent infrastructure, low geopolitical risk, and growing US demand for domestic gold and critical mineral supply.
- Fully Funded Growth: Recent C$6 million financing supports 2025 drill campaigns, metallurgical testwork, and updated NI 43-101 estimates across the portfolio.
- Tight Capital Structure & Strong Support: Backed by strategic shareholders including GoldMining and McEwen Mining.
- Significant Valuation Gap: Trading at a fraction of peers such as Perpetua Resources (~C$1.7 billion), despite similar resource and jurisdictional advantages.
This NevGold profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*
Click here to connect with NevGold (TSXV:NAU) to receive an Investor Presentation
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24 June
Germany, Italy Face Pressure to Repatriate US$245 Billion in Gold as Trust in US Custody Wavers
Germany and Italy are facing mounting domestic pressure to repatriate more than a third of their gold reserves — worth an estimated US$245 billion — currently held in New York by the US Federal Reserve.
Germany and Italy hold the world’s second and third largest gold reserves, trailing only the US. A substantial portion of this metal is stored overseas, primarily in Manhattan’s Federal Reserve Bank.
This longstanding arrangement, based largely on postwar financial realities and New York’s role as a major global gold-trading hub, is now being questioned by officials and commentators across Europe’s political spectrum.
Fabio De Masi, a former member of European Parliament now affiliated with Germany’s new left-wing populist BSW party, told the Financial Times there are “strong arguments” to bring more of Germany’s bullion back home.
Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE) President Michael Jäger echoed the same sentiments last month: "Trump wants to control the Fed, which would also mean controlling the German gold reserves in the US," he told Reuters.
"It's our money, it should be brought back."
Similar calls are being echoed in Italy, where economic commentator Enrico Grazzini recently warned that “leaving 43 per cent of Italy’s gold reserves in America under the unreliable Trump administration is very dangerous for the national interest." He was writing in Il Fatto Quotidiano ahead of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Washington.
Fueling this renewed concern are statements made by US President Donald Trump, who earlier this month warned that he may have to “force something” if the US Federal Reserve does not lower interest rates.
Trump has also made direct appeals to the Department of Energy to stimulate oil production, signaling what critics interpret as increasing politicization of independent institutions like the Fed.
The TAE has urged both Germany and Italy to reconsider their reliance on the Fed. “We are very concerned about Trump tampering with the Federal Reserve Bank’s independence,” Jäger said. “Our recommendation is to bring the (German and Italian) gold home to ensure European central banks have unlimited control over it at any given point in time.”
Public skepticism over the safety of foreign gold holdings is not new.
In Germany, a grassroots movement that began in 2010 eventually prompted the Bundesbank to repatriate 674 metric tons of gold from New York and Paris between 2013 and 2017. The operation, which cost 7 million euros, resulted in half of Germany’s reserves being stored domestically by 2020. Nevertheless, 37 percent of its gold remains in the US.
Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party once echoed similar sentiments while in opposition, pledging in 2019 to bring Italy’s gold back home. But since assuming power in 2022, Meloni has largely gone silent on the issue.
Skepticism about US stewardship is not limited to political rhetoric.
According to the World Gold Council's latest survey on central bank gold reserves, 43 percent of the central banks surveyed plan to increase their gold holdings in the coming year — a record high.
The overwhelming majority of respondents (95 percent) expect global central bank gold reserves to keep rising, citing gold’s performance during crises, its inflation-hedging capabilities and its role as a diversifier. Notably, 59 percent of central banks surveyed reported holding at least part of their gold reserves domestically, up from 41 percent in 2024.
Although the Bank of England remains the most popular vaulting location, the World Gold Council's survey reveals growing caution over US custodianship: only 7 percent of respondents said they planned to increase domestic storage last year, but the figure jumped significantly in 2025.
New bill calls for US gold audit
Adding another layer of complexity is the push in Washington for greater transparency about America’s gold reserves. House Bill 3795, introduced by Representative Thomas Massie and backed by three co-sponsors, calls for the first comprehensive audit of US gold holdings in over six decades.
The bill would mandate a full inventory and assay of gold stored at Fort Knox, West Point and the Denver Mint, as well as a forensic accounting of all transactions involving US gold over the last 50 years.
“There are a lot of legitimate questions surrounding America’s gold holdings,” said Jp Cortez, executive director of the Sound Money Defense League, in a recent interview with the Investing News Network. He added:
“The question as to who actually owns the bars outright is really the most crucial question. And if it is shown that America does not actually own the gold, if the gold is there, but America does not own it, (or) if it has been pledged or leased or swapped or otherwise encumbered in any way … this would be a huge, huge detriment to the US and the global economy.”
Cortez emphasized that prior audits of US gold reserves have been insufficient.
“These aren't audits that have been done on the metal itself, but rather the storage containers that the metal is supposedly stored in," he said. “Owners or operators of a depository who functioned like this would go to jail.”
He also pointed out that much of the gold held by the US government is impure by modern market standards, having been melted down from older coinage. That means even if the bars are there, refinement questions will remain.
While Trump has not explicitly endorsed HB 3795, he has expressed interest in the issue, stating, "We're actually going to Fort Knox to see if the gold is there. Because maybe somebody stole the gold. Tons of gold."
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, 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.
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24 June
LaFleur Minerals Targets 2026 Production with Funded Drilling and Mill Restart Planning Underway
LaFleur Minerals (CSE:LFLR,OTCQB:LFLRF,FWB:3WK0) CEO Paul Ténière has outlined his company’s plans to complete at least 5,000 meters of diamond drilling at the Swanson gold project while planning for the restart of its 100 percent owned Beacon gold mill in Val-d'Or, Québec.
“We had the idea of looking at the Swanson project, in general, more on a district scale. And so as a result of all the work we've done, including recent IP surveys, we've generated several drilling targets,” Ténière said.
One of the goals of the drill program is to increase the resource, he added.
“(Drilling) will be focused on not just the Swanson deposit itself, but also on other targets … And our aim for that is to actually increase our existing resource to a million ounces.”
The chief executive also shared the financing strategy for the restart of the Beacon mill.
“We're getting a lot of (funding) interest,” Ténière said. “They do see a great opportunity with Beacon as there’s not a lot of mills that are available at the moment in the Abitibi.”
LaFleur is anticipating the Beacon mill restart will cost between C$5 million and C$6 million to complete all the necessary repairs and maintenance at the site. The company expects the mill will be in full production by early 2026.
Watch the full interview with LaFleur Minerals CEO Paul Ténière above.
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24 June
NevGold
Investor Insight
With a sharp focus on discovery and resource growth, NevGold presents a compelling investment opportunity as an undervalued gold and critical metals explorer with projects in Nevada and Idaho—two of the world’s top mining jurisdictions.
Overview
NevGold (TSXV:NAU,OTCQX:NAUFF,FSE:5E50) is focused on discovering and growing a multi-million-ounce gold-equivalent resource base across Nevada and Idaho in the US. With a lean market capitalization of under C$50 million and a pipeline of highly prospective oxide and porphyry assets, the company is positioned for a significant valuation re-rate over the next 12 to 18 months as it executes on its resource growth and de-risking strategy.
The company is rapidly advancing toward its goal of defining a 5 Moz+ gold-equivalent resource base by Q4 2025, anchored by its flagship Limo Butte project – one of North America’s rare oxide gold-antimony systems – and its gold resource at Nutmeg Mountain, along with early-stage copper potential at Zeus.
The Limo Butte project is a high-grade oxide gold-antimony system in Nevada with strong analogues to Carlin-style mineralization and excellent near-surface drill results. Nutmeg Mountain in Idaho is an advanced-stage, heap-leach gold project with 1.3 Moz in defined resources and favorable metallurgy. Zeus, an early-stage copper project staked in 2023, provides blue-sky porphyry exploration potential in a district that has already attracted major interest, including a C$30 million investment by Barrick Gold in a neighboring property.
NevGold is actively executing on drill programs, metallurgical studies, and resource updates across all three projects, fully funded through its recent capital raise. The company is well positioned to benefit from rising gold and copper prices, increasing strategic demand for antimony, and a growing appetite among major mining companies for high-quality, undervalued juniors – all under the leadership of a proven team with deep expertise in mine development and M&A.
Company Highlights
- Multi-million-ounce Target: NevGold is on track to define 5+ Moz gold equivalent in combined resources at Limo Butte and Nutmeg Mountain by Q4 2025.
- Gold+Antimony Critical Metals Advantage: Limo Butte is emerging as a significant near-surface oxide gold-antimony system – one of only two of its kind in the United States.
- Substantial Resource Base: Nutmeg Mountain contains a 2023 NI 43-101 compliant oxide gold resource of 1.28 Moz (indicated + inferred), with strong exploration upside and favorable heap-leach characteristics.
- District-scale Copper Exposure: Zeus offers early-stage copper-gold-molybdenum potential in a highly active porphyry belt, adjacent to a Barrick-backed discovery.
- Strategic Location, Strategic Commodities: All projects are located in mining-friendly jurisdictions with excellent infrastructure, low geopolitical risk, and growing US demand for domestic gold and critical mineral supply.
- Fully Funded Growth: Recent C$6 million financing supports 2025 drill campaigns, metallurgical testwork, and updated NI 43-101 estimates across the portfolio.
- Tight Capital Structure & Strong Support: Backed by strategic shareholders including GoldMining and McEwen Mining.
- Significant Valuation Gap: Trading at a fraction of peers such as Perpetua Resources (~C$1.7 billion), despite similar resource and jurisdictional advantages.
Key Projects
Limo Butte Project
The Limo Butte Project is NevGold’s cornerstone development asset, located in eastern Nevada within a prolific Carlin-style geological setting. The project encompasses 1,724 hectares consisting of 210 unpatented claims, 12 patented claims and private land leases. Historically explored in the 2000s, a 2009 non-43-101-compliant resource estimate outlined 241 koz of gold in the measured and indicated category (0.78 g/t gold) and 51 koz in the inferred category (0.70 g/t gold).
In 2025, NevGold re-assayed approximately 50 legacy drillholes and completed more than 5,000 meters of new RC drilling across the Resurrection Ridge and Cadillac Valley zones, revealing a substantial near-surface gold-antimony mineralized footprint.
Notably, recent drill intercepts returned thick oxide intervals, including:
- 1.11 g/t gold and 0.30 percent antimony (2.46 g/t gold equivalent) over 86.9 m, including 1.83 g/t gold and 0.87 percent antimony (5.75 g/t gold equivalent) over 12.8 m
- 2.26 g/t gold and 0.32 percent antimony (3.69 g/t gold equivalent) over 22.3 m
- 1.20 g/t gold and 0.64 percent antimony (4.07 g/t gold equivalent) over 54.9 m
These results confirm strong grade continuity and a positive spatial correlation between gold and antimony mineralization. Importantly, historical assays had a detection limit of 1 percent antimony, meaning actual antimony content in several zones is likely underreported.
Mineralization begins within 20 meters of surface, supporting low-strip, open-pit mining scenarios.
Metallurgical test work is underway, evaluating flowsheet options for gold and antimony recovery. A conceptual flowsheet includes gravity concentration, flotation and leaching stages to produce marketable gold and antimony products, including potential for antimony metal recovery via roasting.
NevGold aims to complete a maiden NI 43-101 compliant gold-antimony resource estimate by Q4 2025, setting the foundation for future economic studies.
Nutmeg Mountain Project
Nutmeg Mountain is an advanced oxide gold project located 80 km northwest of Boise, Idaho. The project benefits from exceptional infrastructure, road access and proximity to water and power. NevGold’s 2023 NI 43-101-compliant mineral resource estimate defined 1.01 Moz of gold in the indicated category (51.7 Mt @ 0.61 g/t gold) and 275 koz inferred (17.9 Mt @ 0.48 g/t gold), using a 0.30 g/t cut-off.
Mineralization starts at surface and exhibits strong lateral and vertical continuity. The deposit is hosted in volcanic and sedimentary units, with mineralization controlled by both lithological and structural features. The pit-constrained resource has a strip ratio of less than 1:1, highlighting the project’s potential for low-cost, bulk tonnage heap leach development. Additional drilling has confirmed the presence of higher-grade core zones (1 to 2 g/t gold), as well as potential feeder structures below the 2023 pit shell.
Current work comprises approximately 2,500 meters of RC drilling, metallurgical test work and an updated MRE planned for late 2025. Exploration targets include untested lateral extensions and high-grade feeder structures at depth. Nutmeg Mountain compares favorably to peer heap-leach projects across the Western US in terms of grade and strip ratio. It offers near-term development optionality in a mining-friendly jurisdiction and is a key contributor to NevGold’s goal of surpassing 5 Moz in gold-equivalent resources.
Zeus Copper Project
Zeus is an early-stage copper-gold-molybdenum exploration asset located on the Hercules Copper Trend in western Idaho. The project spans 29 sq km and shares similar geologic features with Hercules Metals’ Hercules Project (TSXV:BIG), which received a C$30 million strategic investment from Barrick Gold in 2023.Zeus sits at the structural intersection of the Olds Ferry and Izee terranes, and hosts Triassic to Jurassic intrusives associated with porphyry-style mineralization. Geological mapping and surface sampling have revealed two priority targets:
- Poseidon: 2.4+ km copper-gold-molybdenum soil anomaly with coincident structural and rock chip indicators
- Thorn Springs: 1+ km copper-gold-molybdenum soil anomaly with interpreted intrusive-hosted alteration
Soil surveys were completed in early 2025, and geophysical work is ongoing to refine drill targeting. Initial drilling is anticipated by late 2025. With no prior modern exploration, Zeus offers blue-sky potential for a significant copper discovery in a highly prospective but underexplored belt. Zeus enhances NevGold’s exposure to critical minerals and provides optionality in the copper sector – particularly relevant given tightening global copper supply and increasing US strategic interest in domestic copper sources.
Management Team
Brandon Bonifacio – President, CEO and Director
Brandon Bonifacio is a mining executive with over a decade of experience in project development and M&A. Previously served as finance director of the Norte Abierto JV (Cerro Casale/Caspiche) for Goldcorp (now Newmont), and a senior member of Goldcorp’s Corporate Development group. He holds an MASc in mining engineering and MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Greg French – VP Exploration and Director
Greg French is a professional geologist with over 35 years of exploration and development experience in the US and Canada. He has held leadership roles in Nevada Copper, Homestake and Atlas Precious Metals, and has guided multiple projects through feasibility and into production.
Bob McKnight – EVP, CFO and Corporate Development
Bob Knight is a professional engineer with an MBA and more than 40 years of mining experience. He was involved in over $1.5 billion in debt, equity and M&A deals. Knight brings strategic and financial depth to NevGold’s growth trajectory.
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