
December 19, 2023
Siren Gold Limited (ASX: SNG) (Siren or the Company) is pleased to update shareholders on policy changes announced by the new coalition government in New Zealand.
Change of Government
Siren Gold welcomes the new policy direction from the New Zealand government sworn in 27 November 2023, and their 100-day plan to rebuild the national and regional economies of New Zealand.
Christopher Luxon, New Zealand’s 42nd prime minister, is leading a centre-right government with the National Party, ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First, with clear policy plans to support regional development and the resource sectors.
Key Coalition Agreement Policies
- Update the Crown Minerals Act 1991 to clarify its role as promoting the use of Crown minerals.1
- Explore the potential for a critical minerals list, where such minerals would have a preferential pathway for development once identified.1
- The Parties commit to establishing a fast-track one-stop-shop consenting and permitting process for regional and national projects of significance (Amendment of Resource Management Act 1991).2
- Investigate the strategic opportunities in New Zealand's mineral resources, including vanadium, and develop a plan to develop these opportunities.2
Minister for Resources
The Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Resources, Regional Development, Oceans & Fisheries, recently delivered his first full speech (address in reply debate) with strong support for mining and rare earth mineral extraction, as well as mining on Department of Conservation (DoC) land, stating:
“We're going to have not only a plan but we're going to have some certainty for the providers of international capital who are going to help us develop our economy.
Fast track for aquaculture, fast track for mining, fast track for energy, fast track for infrastructure.
Mining is coming back.”
– The Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Resources
Siren Gold is looking forward to the government’s contribution and commitment to regional and resource development, as we continue to engage with local and regional councils on the West Coast of New Zealand.
Figure 1: Siren Gold Reefton Project
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Siren Gold, 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.
SNG:AU
The Conversation (0)
57m
Gary Savage: Gold, Silver — Next Price Targets and Long-term Calls
Gary Savage, president of the Smart Money Tracker newsletter, shares his long-term outlook for gold and silver prices, saying both metals could rise substantially higher.
He's calling for US$10,000 per ounce gold, while silver could hit US$500 per ounce in three to four years.
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.
Keep reading...Show less
1h
Major Gold Miners Shine in Q1, Buoyed by Strong Gold Price Performance
After a robust first quarter for the gold-mining sector, a slew of the world’s largest gold producers delivered standout financial and operational results driven by the soaring gold price.
The yellow metal's price averaged US$2,860 per ounce during the quarter, up 38 percent from a year earlier, allowing the industry to capitalize on favorable macroeconomic conditions while positioning for sustainable growth.
Below is a breakdown of how the major players fared in Q1 2025.
Gold-mining companies
Newmont books US$1.9 billion in profit, completes strategic divestitures
Major miner Newmont (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM) reported its results for the first quarter on April 23, outlining net income of US$1.9 billion and adjusted net income of US$1.25 per diluted share.
The company's adjusted EBITDA totaled US$2.6 billion, while free cashflow hit a Q1 record of US$1.2 billion.
Newmont produced 1.5 million attributable gold ounces and 35,000 metric tons of copper. It declared a US$0.25 per share dividend and returned US$1 billion to shareholders in Q1 through buybacks and dividend payments.
CEO Tom Palmer pointed to the successful conclusion of a major strategic reshaping.
“We also successfully completed our non-core divestiture program, generating up to US$4.3 billion in total gross proceeds including over US$2.5 billion of after-tax cash proceeds in the first half of 2025,” he said. “With these significant achievements and a solid start to the year, we remain firmly on track to meet our 2025 guidance."
The sales included divestments of the Musselwhite, Éléonore, Cripple Creek & Victor, Porcupine and Akyem mines — part of a broader strategy to streamline Newmont’s portfolio and enhance focus on its most productive assets.
Barrick’s strategic buildout pays off amid higher prices
Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B), reported strong year-on-year gains in revenue and earnings, thanks in part to strategic project advancements and improved copper output.
The company's Q1 results, released on May 7, show that its net earnings per share increased 59 percent to US$0.27, while adjusted net earnings per share jumped 84 percent to US$0.35. Barrick's operating cashflow rose to US$1.2 billion, supporting US$375 million in free cashflow and a 5 percent reduction in net debt.
Gold production came in at 758,000 ounces, at the top end of guidance, while copper output reached 44,000 metric tons. The average realized gold price for the quarter was US$2,898 per ounce, a 40 percent increase from Q1 2024.
President and CEO Mark Bristow emphasized the company’s focus on long-term growth.
“At Reko Diq and Lumwana, owner teams have been mobilized, long-lead items secured, and Fluor and Hatch appointed as engineering partners, respectively. These projects will materially grow Barrick’s copper and gold production and support our goal to organically grow our gold-equivalent ounces by 30 percent by the end of the decade," he said.
Progress also continued at Pueblo Viejo and the Fourmile project in Nevada, while Canadian exploration teams pushed forward with promising new targets.
Agnico Eagle hits record earnings, gets closer to net-zero debt
Agnico Eagle Mines (TSX:AEM,NYSE:AEM) also delivered a standout quarter, reporting on April 24 that it produced 873,794 ounces of payable gold at all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$1,183 per ounce.
Net income reached US$815 million, while adjusted net income hit a record of US$770 million. The company generated US$594 million in free cashflow and strengthened its cash position by US$212 million to US$1.14 billion.
President and CEO Ammar Al-Joundi highlighted the company’s financial momentum: “We remain focused on execution and cost control to continue delivering expanding operating margins in a rising gold price environment. This enables us to reinvest in the business through exploration and the advancement of our five key pipeline projects.”
Key developments in the first quarter included further ramp-up progress at the East Gouldie deposit, infrastructure advances at Detour Lake and shaft development at Upper Beaver.
Agnico also repurchased nearly half a million shares and declared a US$0.40 per share dividend.
AngloGold's headline earnings surge 671 percent
AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU,JSE:ANG) posted the largest year-on-year percentage gains among its peers, with headline earnings soaring 671 percent to US$447 million and free cashflow surging 607 percent to US$403 million.
The company's gold production jumped 22 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, supported by strong output from Tropicana and Siguiri, as well as the newly acquired Sukari gold mine in Egypt.
AngloGold reported an average gold price received of US$2,874 per ounce, compared to US$2,063 in Q1 2024. The firm notes that this combination of higher realized prices and disciplined cost management — AISC rose only 1 percent — resulted in a dramatic uplift in profitability for the period.
“This is a very strong start to the year,” the company said in its quarterly statement. AngloGold reaffirmed its full-year guidance and continued to focus on optimizing its expanded asset base.
Royalty and streaming companies
Franco-Nevada posts strong performance without Cobre Panama
Franco-Nevada (TSX:FNV,NYSE:FNV) delivered the strongest quarterly financial performance in its history in Q1 2025, despite receiving no contributions from the suspended Cobre Panama mine.
According to CEO Paul Brink, the company’s exceptional results were powered by the elevated gold price, strong energy-related production and added leverage through its net profit interest holdings.
Franco-Nevada reported US$368.4 million in total revenue, a 43 percent increase compared to the same quarter last year. The company sold 126,585 gold equivalent ounces (GEOs), a modest increase of 3 percent year-on-year, while net GEOs — adjusted to reflect interest ownership and other factors — grew 6 percent to 113,138.
The company's May 8 press release notes that its performance was bolstered by both its energy interests and newer contributions such as those from the Porcupine Complex royalty.
Franco-Nevada’s revenue mix continues to reflect the firm’s strategic diversification: 79 percent came from precious metals, 16 percent from oil and gas and 5 percent from iron ore and other assets.
Wheaton Precious Metals sets revenue and earnings records
Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM) kicked off 2025 with a record performance, reporting US$470 million in revenue, US$254 million in net earnings and US$361 million in operating cashflow.
All three numbers are all-time quarterly highs for the company.
“Wheaton delivered a strong start to 2025, with our core assets exceeding production expectations and driving record quarterly revenue, adjusted net earnings, and operating cash flow,” said President and CEO Randy Smallwood.
“In times of economic uncertainty, gold is viewed as a reliable store of value, and these results demonstrate why we believe Wheaton offers one of the best low-risk opportunities for investors seeking exposure to precious metals.”
Attributable GEO production reached 151,000 ounces, a slight 4 percent decline year-om-year, though production exceeded internal expectations due to strong output at Salobo. The company highlighted progress at several key development projects — Platreef, Goose and Mineral Park — all expected to commence production in 2025.
Wheaton also celebrated the commercial startup of Artemis Gold’s (TSXV:ARTG,OTC Pink:ARGTF) Blackwater mine on May 2, which is expected to be a significant new contributor to its portfolio.
The company closed the quarter with US$1.1 billion in cash and no debt.
Sector outlook: Cautious optimism amid a bull market
The first quarter of 2025 was bolstered by historic highs in the gold price, driven by inflationary fears, geopolitical instability and growing skepticism toward traditional financial systems.
However, as the sector rides a wave of bullish sentiment, the possibility of volatility looms.
Some analysts are warning that the current rally may be forming the contours of a gold bubble, fueled by speculative fervor, central bank hoarding and investor FOMO. Historical precedent shows that rapid surges in the gold price can be followed by abrupt corrections. As such, the durability of this cycle will depend not only on macroeconomic forces, but also on the temptation to overextend in response to short-term market euphoria.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Keep reading...Show less
1h
Scientists at CERN Successfully Turn Lead into Gold — But Only for a Nanosecond
Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN have successfully transmuted lead into gold — not by alchemy, but by smashing heavy ions together at nearly the speed of light.
The process, confirmed by the ALICE collaboration and published in "Physical Review Journals," reveals that during Run 2 of the LHC (2015 to 2018), some 86 billion gold nuclei were produced via high-energy collisions between lead atoms.
While that amounts to just 29 trillionths of a gram, the feat marks the first time this rare transmutation process has been systematically measured and analyzed in a laboratory setting.
“Thanks to the unique capabilities of the ALICE zero degree calorimeters (ZDCs), the present analysis is the first to systematically detect and analyze the signature of gold production at the LHC experimentally,” said Uliana Dmitrieva, a physicist with the ALICE collaboration, which studies quark-gluon plasma and includes nearly 2,000 scientists.
The feat is a striking, if fleeting, vindication of chrysopoeia — the alchemical dream of converting base metals into gold.
For centuries, alchemists believed lead’s similar density to gold suggested a latent transformation was possible, if only they could find the right process or Philosopher’s Stone. In modern physics, the solution turned out to be neither mystical nor practical: an ultra-powerful particle accelerator and atomic violence on an unthinkable scale.
At the LHC, which lies beneath the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva, lead nuclei are accelerated to 99.999993 percent the speed of light and made to collide inside ALICE. Most of these interactions are violent enough to recreate quark-gluon plasma, the exotic state of matter thought to have existed moments after the Big Bang.
But some collisions — described as ultraperipheral — involve near misses, where the lead atoms don’t directly touch, but instead interact via their extremely powerful electromagnetic fields.
Those interactions, known as electromagnetic dissociation, can strip protons and neutrons from lead nuclei. Since lead has 82 protons and gold has 79, it takes only a loss of three protons to transmute one into the other.
“It is impressive to see that our detectors can handle head-on collisions producing thousands of particles, while also being sensitive to collisions where only a few particles are produced at a time, enabling the study of rare electromagnetic 'nuclear transmutation' processes,” said ALICE spokesperson Marco van Leeuwen in a statement.
ALICE scientists used specialized ZDCs to track the transmutations, detecting emissions of zero, one, two or three protons — corresponding respectively to the continued presence of lead, or its conversion into thallium, mercury or gold.
The gold produced in these experiments doesn’t last long. The nuclei fly out of the collision zone at high energies and slam into the LHC’s beam pipe or other material downstream, instantly shattering into subatomic debris.
Still, the volume of gold created is increasing. During Run 3 of the LHC, which is ongoing, the accelerator is producing gold at nearly 89,000 nuclei per second, almost double the rate of the previous run due to improved collision energy.
From a commercial perspective, the process remains wildly inefficient.
To produce even a gram of gold would require over 30 quadrillion (30,000,000,000,000,000) such nuclear conversions, along with enormous amounts of energy and infrastructure. The entire gold yield from years of operation remains microscopic — far short of what would be needed to make even a flake of jewelry.
Nonetheless, the implications of the discovery go far beyond ancient mythology. The ability to measure such rare transmutations improves scientists' understanding of nuclear interactions and helps refine the theoretical models used to predict beam behavior and energy losses in the LHC — a key factor in the design of future particle accelerators.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Keep reading...Show less
14h
Second LiDAR interpretation identifies additional compelling targets at GDM’s Devils Mountain Gold Project
Emerging gold producer and exploration companyGreat Divide Mining Ltd (the Company or GDM) (ASX:GDM), is pleased to announce the completion of a second LiDAR interpretation over EPM 26135 Kilkivan, Devil’s Mountain Gold Project, SE Queensland.
Highlights:
- GDM purchased the Gympie 2023 LiDAR dataset from the QLD Government, totalling 80 km2, covering EPM 26135, which lies directly SE of the historical gold mining town of Kilkivan.
- A comprehensive LiDAR interpretation was undertaken by specialists GeoCloud Analytics. The interpretation indicated a total of 486 potential historical mine workings, including 40 adits, 16 shafts and 430 other prospecting pits. Many of the old workings were not previously known to GDM.
- The new LiDAR results, combined with previous exploration data has significantly enhanced GDM's dataset, used to identify and prioritise gold bearing targets for further follow-up exploration work.
Chief Executive Officer, Justin Haines, commented:
“This second LiDAR dataset for Devils Mountain has allowed GDM to get a more accurate picture of all of the historical gold mining at Kilkivan prospects area. Shafts and adits are good indicators of the presence of significant gold and base metal mineralisation, because of the effort invested in producing those old excavations. The LiDAR results confirm GDM’s strategy of targeting areas of abundant historical workings and applying modern exploration technologies to those targets”.
Devils Mountain Project
GDM’s Devils Mountain Project comprises 5 x EPMs (17685, 26062, 26135, 26709, 28438) located ~30 km northwest of Gympie (see Figure 1). The Project lies in the Palaeozoic Gympie and Wandilla Provinces of the New England Orogen in southeast Queensland.
Devils Mountain is highly prospective for gold and is host to an abundance of mineral occurrences. In addition to gold, the area contains occurrences of copper, silver, lead, zinc, tungsten and mercury, as well as a number of manganese deposits (see Figure 2). It’s geological setting has many similarities to the nearby Gympie goldfield.
Figure 1: Devils Mountain Gold Project Location Map
Figure 2: Devils Mountain Project Geology and known historical mining prospects
LiDAR Survey Data
LiDAR specialists GeoCloud Analytics purchased part of the Gympie 2023 LiDAR dataset from the QLD Government on behalf of GDM, over an 80 km2 area in the western part of the Devils Mountain Project, covering EPM 26135. The resolution of the raw data is 1 m. GeoCloud Analytics reprocessed the point cloud data to yield a 50cm resolution bare earth Digital Terrain Model (DTM).
The LiDAR survey was flown in 2023 with a minimum average density of 10.5 points per square metre with an average flying height of 1933m above ground level. Details of the survey are provided in the JORC Table 1, see Appendix 1.
A number of new LiDAR images were generated by GeoCloud Analytics in order to extract more information about the project. The enhanced 3D datasets and 2D images produced have facilitated detailed interpretations, allowing the identification of historical mine workings, prospecting pits, geological structures, access tracks and other surface features such as drill pads.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Great Divide Mining, 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.
Keep reading...Show less
15h
Gidji Drilling Delivers More Gold Results
Miramar Resources Limited (ASX:M2R, “Miramar” or “the Company”) advises that initial assays from the current aircore drilling campaign at the Gidji JV Project include several significant gold results.
Miramar’s 80%-owned Gidji JV Project (“Gidji” or “the Project) is located approximately 15 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie and surrounded by multiple gold mining and processing operations, including Northern Star Resources Limited’s Kalgoorlie gold operations (Figure 1).
Miramar’s Executive Chairman, Mr Allan Kelly, said the first results from the current programme confirmed and extended the extensive supergene gold footprint discovered in previous drilling.
“The new results increase the footprint of the high-priority Blackfriars target, which shares several similarities to the multi-million-ounce Paddington gold deposit along strike to the north, including its location at the contact between the Boorara Shear Zone and the Black Flag Beds,” he added.
“This is the first systematic drilling at Gidji after a break of almost 3 years whilst, at the same time, the Australian dollar gold price has risen from $2,500/oz to well over $5,000/oz,” Mr Kelly said.
Current and previous drilling has outlined an extensive area of flat-lying supergene gold across multiple targets at Gidji, despite the stripped weathering profile under the Gidji Paleochannel.
The current drilling programme consists of approximately 180 aircore holes and aims to further refine bedrock drill targets under the younger transported paleochannel sediments.
Drilling commenced before Easter, was suspended due to heavy rainfall and recommenced on 6 May.
Figure 1. Gidji JV Project (yellow outline) and Boorara Shear Zone(white) in relation to Kalgoorlie.
Figure 2. New aircore drilling results (squares) in relation to previous drilling (circles).
Table 1. Significant drill results from the first 34 aircore holes at Gidji JV.Note: results reported above 0.25g/t Au lower cutoff
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Miramar Resources 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.
Keep reading...Show less
17h
Asra to Secure 100% Ownership of Mt Cutmore at Leonora North Gold Project
Asra Minerals Limited (ASX: ASR; “Asra” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce it has executed a binding Term Sheet (“the Agreement”) to acquire the remaining 49% interest in the Mt Cutmore prospects located at the Mt Stirling Leonora North Project (“the Project”) from its joint venture partners (Ross Crew, Russell McKnight and Christopher Crew) (“the Sellers”), subject to conditions precedent (“the Acquisition”).
Highlights
- Binding Term Sheet executed to acquire the remaining 49% of the Mt Cutmore prospects located at the Mt Stirling Leonora North Project subject to conditions, delivering 100% ownership upon completion.
- Consolidation of ownership aligns with Asra’s strategic focus to unlock further value within the Leonora Gold Project.
- Acquisition will strengthen Asra’s position in the renowned Leonora gold district, proximal to major operating mines and infrastructure.
The Project is situated in the Eastern Goldfields Super terrane of the Yilgarn Craton, where the area is known for orogenic gold deposits. The Project has a JORC (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate totalling 152,000 oz at 1.7g/t Au and is located within close proximity to significant gold mines, including Vault Minerals' 6Mtpa Au King of the Hills mine and Genesis Minerals' 2Moz Leonora and Kookynie operations.1
Asra Minerals Chief Executive Officer, Paul Stephen:
“Securing 100% of the Mt Cutmore prospects within the Project will be a pivotal step for Asra. This consolidation will enhance our strategic footprint in a highly prospective and active gold region.
Following the recently announced raise and with drilling permits in hand, we will be well placed to commence drilling the compelling, high-priority targets. This transaction will streamline our portfolio and provide a clear pathway to unlock value for our shareholders through focused exploration in one of WA’s premier gold districts.”
The Transaction consideration comprises of $200,000 cash and the issue of 75,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares in Asra at a deemed issue price of $0.002 per share (“Shares”) upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent of the Agreement (refer to the summary of the Agreement below for further details). The issue of the Shares is subject to shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 7.1, which Asra intends to seek at its upcoming annual general meeting, scheduled to be held in late May 2025.
Figure 1. Mt Stirling Leonora North
Mt Stirling Leonora North Project
The Mt Stirling Leonora North Project is strategically located approximately 40km northeast of Leonora within Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields. This region is renowned for hosting numerous multi-million-ounce orogenic gold deposits and significant mining operations.
The Project is situated just 5km from Vault Minerals’ (ASX:VAU) major 6Moz King of the Hills mine and its recently expanded processing hub, which is the largest in the Leonora district. It is also proximal to Genesis Minerals’ (ASX:GMD) extensive 2Moz Leonora operations. The Project currently hosts a JORC (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate totalling 152,000 oz at 1.7g/t Au. This Mineral Resource Estimate provides a valuable foundation for the Project and future exploration efforts aimed at expansion.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Asra 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.
Keep reading...Show less
Latest News
Latest Press Releases
Related News
TOP STOCKS
American Battery4.030.24
Aion Therapeutic0.10-0.01
Cybin Corp2.140.00
Investing News Network websites or approved third-party tools use cookies. Please refer to the cookie policy for collected data, privacy and GDPR compliance. By continuing to browse the site, you agree to our use of cookies.