
March 17, 2025
Sun Summit Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SMN) (OTCQB: SMREF) ("Sun Summit" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release of January 13, 2025, the Company has entered into an option agreement with Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSXV: EPL) ("Eagle Plains") (the "Theory Option Agreement") to earn up to a 100% interest in 10,000 hectares of mineral claims in the highly prospective Toodoggone Mining District, British Columbia (the "Theory Project").
Highlights
- Strategic acquisition: The acquisition of the Theory Project will increase Sun Summit's Toodoggone footprint by ~10,000 hectares, creating a combined district-scale project of ~25,000 hectares.
- Increased land position in prime location: The Theory Project borders Thesis Gold's Ranch Project to the north and is located within 10 km of Sun Summit's JD Project, presenting significant synergies and logistical advantages. The combined land package would effectively border the Ranch Project on its northern and eastern boundary and provide the Company with an attractive, district scale exploration and development opportunity.
- Significant exploration potential: Theory Project hosts highly prospective geology with both epithermal-related gold targets, and large bulk-mineable porphyry-related copper-gold targets, supported by historical exploration and recent geophysical surveys.
- Attractive option terms: The Theory Option Agreement includes the option to acquire a 75% interest over four years with aggregate exploration expenditures of CDN $3,000,000, cash payments of CDN $250,000, and the issuance of 750,000 shares, with the remaining 25% interest available for CDN $1,000,000.
- Ongoing exploration planning: Sun Summit in cooperation with Eagle Plains will complete an extensive data compilation and target generation exercise, which will inform future exploration planning at the Theory Project.
Niel Marotta, CEO of Sun Summit, commented: "We are pleased to finalize the Theory Option Agreement. This enlarged district scale Copper-gold project represents an exciting opportunity to revive exploration in the northern part of the Toodoggone mining district. We wish to thank Eagle Plains for having the business acumen to acquire an extensive land package with regional exploration targets. This deal, combined with the JD property, adds to the potential for a significant discovery and significantly enhances our strategic position in the Toodoggone Mining District. By combining the Theory and JD Projects, we create a district-scale opportunity with exceptional exploration potential and significant logistical synergies. The option terms are both manageable and structured, allowing us to maintain financial flexibility while advancing exploration efforts. This acquisition aligns with our goal of building a robust, diversified portfolio in this highly active mining district, and we look forward to unlocking the full potential of these assets."
Theory Project
The Theory Project comprises 23 mineral claims covering 9,676 hectares. The project is 100% owned by Eagle Plains, with 122 hectares of the property subject to an underlying 0.5% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR") held by a third party. The project is located in north-central B.C. within the Toodoggone Mining District, and is in close proximity with Sun Summit's JD Project. The project area shares similar geology to the JD Project and Thesis Gold's Ranch-Lawyers Projects.
The project is helicopter-accessible and recent road upgrades completed in 2023 by Thesis Gold has brought road access to within 8 kilometres of the southern boundary of the Theory Project.
Geology in the Theory region is primarily comprised of lower Jurassic Hazelton Group volcanics (Toodoggone Formation, same host rock as the JD Project) which unconformably overlie late Triassic Takla Group volcanics. The entire package of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks is intruded by late Triassic and early Jurassic stocks. The Jurassic-Triassic unconformity (~200 Ma), termed by the B.C. Geological Survey as the 'red-line', is observed throughout the Golden Triangle and Toodoggone regions to have a high spatial correlation to many known mineral deposits. The majority of the property encompasses this highly prospective contact.
Exploration by previous operators has been intermittent since the mid-1960's and regional government surveys are sparse, however encouraging mineralization and alteration commonly associated to both epithermal and porphyry systems has been documented. The most significant documented work was completed in 1988 in the north and west areas of the Theory project area. Work consisted primarily of alpine ridge and subalpine prospecting traverses as well as reconnaissance soil sample lines in areas where no outcrop was present. This work documented occurrences of low-sulphidation epithermal-related mineralization including quartz-barite veins with up to 8.2 g/t Au, 195 g/t Ag, and 6.2% Cu at the DM occurrence (BC Minfile 094E 231)*; and a quartz carbonate vein system with up to 6.8 g/t Au and 1,480 g/t Ag at the Fred-1 occurrence (BC Minfile 094E 402)*. The BEV occurrences (BC Minfile 094E 259)*, interpreted as a Cu-Au porphyry target, returned select historical rock results up to 0.47% Cu, 10.5 g/t Ag, and 0.13 g/t Au. Detailed soils revealed a 1.6 by 2 kilometre copper-in-soil anomaly with peak soil results to 920 ppm Cu. Very little work is documented in the south and eastern parts of the property.
Note: Grab samples by nature are selective and therefore may not be representative of the mineralization being evaluated.
Eagle Plains completed a 2024 property-wide airborne magnetic and radiometric survey at a nominal 100 metre line spacing to advance the property. The airborne geophysical survey highlighted a 13 by 13 kilometre area underlain by highly prospective Takla Group volcanics to the east and north, and Hazelton Group volcanics and sediments to the south and west. This data provides a solid foundation upon which to integrate historical local mapping and sampling results.
Figure 1: Toodoggone Property Map. Eagle Plain's Theory Project, north of Sun Summit's JD Project and Thesis Gold's Ranch Project.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6142/244756_f299bb5d14248ba0_001full.jpg
Next Steps
The terms and conditions of the Theory Option Agreement are subject to the approval of the Exchange.
An extensive compilation of historical exploration data is underway with emphasis on the extensive prospecting, mapping and geochemical surveys completed in 1988. Detailed georeferencing of historical geochemical anomalies and geological structures of interest against the new 2024 geophysical dataset will assist with identification of follow-up field targets for the 2025 season.
Following the target identification exercise, an exploration plan and budget will be defined for the 2025 season. Minimum expenditures in 2025 are $200,000 with work expected to be conducted from the JD camp. The Company intends to secure a new mineral exploration permit for any future diamond drilling. The application process will be initiated by Sun Summit.
Theory Option Agreement Terms
Under the terms of the Theory Option Agreement, Sun Summit has the option to acquire a 75% interest in the Theory Project ("Option 1") over a 4-year period in exchange for the issuance of 750,000 common shares, the payment of $250,000 cash and incurring total exploration expenditures on the Theory Project of $3,000,000.
Sun Summit may exercise Option 1 by:
(a) incurring exploration expenditures of $3,000,000 on the Theory Project according to the following schedule:
- $200,000 ($200,000 total) on or before December 31, 2025
- $400,000 ($600,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2026
- $1,000,000 ($1,600,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2027, including a minimum of 1,000 metres of drilling
- $1,400,000 ($3,000,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2028, including a minimum of 1,500 metres of drilling
(b) paying to Eagle Plains a total cash consideration of $250,000 according to the following schedule:
- $20,000 cash payment on signing of the Theory Option Agreement
- $30,000 ($50,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2025
- $50,000 ($100,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2026
- $75,000 ($175,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2027
- $75,000 ($250,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2028
(c) issuing to Eagle Plains 750,000 common shares of the Company according to the following schedule:
- 50,000 shares following the receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange")
- 100,000 shares (150,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2025
- 150,000 shares (300,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2026
- 200,000 shares (500,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2027
- 250,000 shares (750,000 total) on or before December 31st, 2028
Upon completion and notice of exercise of Option 1, Sun Summit will obtain a 75% interest in the Theory Project and Eagle Plains will retain a total 2.0% NSR on all areas underlain by the project, which may be bought down to 1.0% through a cash payment of $1,000,000 to Eagle Plains. Two of the claims are subject to a separate preexisting agreement which includes a 0.5% net smelter returns royalty payable to an arm's length third party, which may be repurchased in its entirety for $1,000,000. For greater clarity, none of the Theory Project claims are encumbered in excess of an aggregate of 2.5% NSR.
Following the completion and notice of exercise of Option 1, Sun Summit shall have the right to earn an additional 25% interest in the Theory Project (for a total 100% interest) ("Option 2"). In order to exercise Option 2, Sun Summit shall notify Eagle Plains of its intent to increase its interest to 100%, no later than 180 days from the notice of exercise of Option 1, and make an additional one-time payment of $1,000,000 cash to Eagle Plains; of which half can be settled in Sun Summit shares, subject to the approval of the Exchange, with an issue price equal to the greater of (a) the 10-day volume-weighted average trading price of Sunn Summit's shares prior to the notice of exercise, and (b) the lowest price permitted by the Exchange.
Following the exercise of Option 1, and in the event of failure to exercise Option 2, Sun Summit and Eagle Plains shall then form a 75/25 joint venture ("JV") to further explore and develop the project, with Sun Summit holding a 75% interest and Eagle Plains holding a 25% interest in the JV on formation. The JV will hold and operate the Theory Project, and each party will proportionately fund their share of expenditures.
References
*BC Mineral Occurrence Database, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves data sourced from corporate websites.
Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby projects is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on Sun Summit's projects.
National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure
This news release has been reviewed and approved by Sun Summit's Vice President Exploration, Ken MacDonald, P. Geo., a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has not been able to verify the historical exploration data disclosed, including sampling, analytical and test data, underlying the technical information in this news release since such data is historical and the original samples are not available. Some technical information contained in this release is historical in nature and has been compiled from public sources believed to be accurate. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby projects is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on Sun Summit's projects
Community Engagement
Sun Summit is engaging with First Nations on whose territory our projects are located and is discussing their interests and identifying contract and work opportunities, as well as opportunities to support community initiatives. The Company looks forward to continuing to work with local and regional First Nations with ongoing exploration.
About the JD Project
The JD Project is located in the Toodoggone mining district in north-central British Columbia, a highly prospective deposit-rich mineral trend. The project covers an area of over 15,000 hectares and is in close proximity to active exploration and development projects, such as Thesis Gold's Lawyers and Ranch projects, TDG Gold's Baker-Shasta projects, Amarc Resource's AuRORA project, Centerra's Gold's Kemess East and Underground projects, as well as the past-producing Kemess open pit copper-gold mine.
The project is 450 kilometres northwest of the city of Prince George, and 25 kilometres north of the Sturdee airstrip. It is proximal to existing infrastructure in place to support the past-producing Kemess mine, including roads and a hydroelectric power line.
The JD Project is in a favourable geological environment characterized by both high-grade epithermal gold and silver mineralization, as well as porphyry-related copper and gold mineralization. Some historical exploration, including drilling, geochemistry and geophysics, has been carried out on the property, however the project area is largely underexplored.
About Sun Summit
Sun Summit Minerals (TSXV: SMN) (OTCQB: SMREF) is a mineral exploration company focused on expansion and discovery of district scale gold and copper assets in British Columbia. The Company's diverse portfolio includes the JD Project in the Toodoggone region of north-central B.C., and the Buck Project in central B.C.
Further details are available at www.sunsummitminerals.com.
On behalf of the board of directors
Brian Lock
Chairman of the Board
For further information, contact:
Niel Marotta
Chief Executive Officer & Director
info@sunsummitminerals.com
Matthew Benedetto
Simone Capital
mbenedetto@simonecapital.ca
Tel. 416-817-1226
Forward-Looking Information
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements require management to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is significant risk that the forward-looking statements will not prove to be accurate, that the management's assumptions may not be correct and that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Generally forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "anticipate", "will", "expect", "may", "continue", "could", "estimate", "forecast", "plan", "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include, but are not limited to, obtaining regulatory approval for the Theory Option Agreement, exercising Option 1 and Option 2 and acquiring an interest in the Theory Project, obtaining permits for exploration, potential mineralization on the Company's mineral properties, exploration plans, and engagement with First Nations communities. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect which, without limiting the generality of the following, include: risks inherent in exploration activities; the impact of exploration competition; unexpected geological or hydrological conditions; changes in government regulations and policies, including trade laws and policies; failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; volatility and sensitivity to market prices; volatility and sensitivity to capital market fluctuations; the ability to raise funds through private or public equity financings; environmental and safety risks including increased regulatory burdens; weather and other natural phenomena; and other exploration, development, operating, financial market and regulatory risks. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof or the dates specifically referenced in this press release, where applicable. Except as required by applicable securities laws and regulation, Sun Summit disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SMN:CA
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8h
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He also discusses seven gold and "special situations" companies that are on his radar.
Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
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Athena Gold Corporation (CSE:ATHA) (OTCQB:AHNR) ("Athena Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that due to strong demand, the Company has increased the size of the non-brokered flow-through private placement previously announced on April 7, 2025, from $500,000 to $700,000 (the "FT Offering"). The FT Offering, as amended, will now consist of up to 14,000,000 flow-through common shares (the "FT Shares") (increased from 10,000,000 FT Shares) at a price of $0.05 per FT Share. All other terms of the FT Offering remain unchanged.
Non-Flow-Through Unit Private Placement
The Company further announces a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $200,000 comprised of up to 4,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.05 per Unit (the "NFT Offering").
Each Unit consists of one non-flow-through common share in the capital of the Company (a "NFT Common Share") and one-half of a common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant is exercisable into one NFT Common Share at a price of $0.12 per Warrant for a period of thirty-six months from the date of issuance, subject to the following acceleration provision. If, at any time after the date that is 4 months and one day after the date of issuance of the Warrants, the average volume weighted trading price of the Company's Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is at or above $0.20 per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days (the "Triggering Event"), the Company may at any time, after the Triggering Event, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving ten calendar days notice to the holders of the Warrants, by way of news release, and in such case the Warrants will expire on the first day that is 30 calendar days after the date on which such notice is given by the Company announcing the Triggering Event.
The securities to be issued under the NFT Offering will be offered pursuant to Section 2.3 of National Instrument 45-106 (the "accredited investor" exemption). All securities issued in connection with the NFT Offering will be subject to a hold period which will expire four months and one day from the date of closing of the NFT Offering.
A finder's fee may be paid in connection with the NFT Offering to eligible arm's length finders in accordance with CSE policies and applicable securities laws. The NFT Offering is subject to several conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including that of the Board and the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE").
Insiders may participate in the NFT Offering and will be considered a related party transaction subject to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that participation in the NFT Offering by insiders will not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization.
Proceeds of the NFT Offering will be used to fund exploration work on the Company's various properties.
None of the foregoing securities have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
About Athena Gold Corporation
Athena Gold is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on its projects across North America. Athena Gold's Excelsior Springs Au-Ag project is located in the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada. Excelsior Springs spans 1,675 ha and covers at least three historic mines along the Palmetto Mountain trend, where the Company is following up on a recent shallow oxide gold discovery, with drill results including 5.35 g/t Au over 33.5 m. Meanwhile, the Company's new Laird Lake project is situated in the Red Lake Gold District of Ontario, covering 4,158 hectares along more than 10 km of the Balmer-Confederation Assemblage contact, where recent surface sampling results returned up to 373 g/t Au. This underexplored area is road-accessible, located about 10 km west of West Red Lake Gold's Madsen mine and 34 km northwest of Kinross Gold's Great Bear project.
For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Koby Kushner
President and Chief Executive Officer, Athena Gold Corporation
For further information, please contact:
Athena Gold Corporation
Koby Kushner, President and Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 416-846-6164
Email: kobykushner@athenagoldcorp.com
CHF Capital Markets
Cathy Hume, CEO
Phone: 416-868-1079 x 251
Email: cathy@chfir.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", ''plans", "may", "should", ''potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner.
The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors as disclosed in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated August 31, 2021.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise stated.
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20 April
Analyst Spotlight: Castle Minerals' Path to Significant Gold Discovery in Ghana
A recent research report by Terra Studio highlights Castle Minerals’ (ASX:CDT) investment value proposition as a gold exploration company with significant potential in Ghana's gold-rich region. With an enterprise value of just AU$3.4 million, Terra Studio considers Castle Minerals significantly undervalued given its promising drill results, strong government support for its graphite project, and potential for continued discoveries amid record-high gold prices.
The Terra Studio report from April 14, 2025, outlines several compelling reasons why Castle Minerals presents an attractive investment opportunity.
Key Highlights from the Report:
Strategic Location and Recent Discoveries
Castle's projects are located in northern Ghana, which hosts several major gold deposits including Cardinal Resources' 5.1 Moz Namdini deposit. The company's Kpali gold project has confirmed robust mineralization with impressive drill results including 12 m at 8.29 grams per ton (g/t) gold and 9 m at 4.81 g/t gold, while the Kandia gold project has demonstrated promising continuity with results like 7 m at 3.36 g/t gold.
Geological Advantage
The report emphasizes that Castle's Kpali area sits at the convergence of two major fertile greenstone belts and three regional-scale structures that host multi-million-ounce deposits in the region – a geological setting similar to higher-valued projects in West Africa.
Strong Leadership and Financial Position
The company is led by Stephen Stone, who previously grew the nearby Black Volta gold project to 2.80 million ounces of mineral resources. Following a recent AU$3 million placement, Castle Minerals is well-funded to continue its exploration activities.
Castle also owns the Kambale graphite project, one of the highest-grade graphite projects in Africa with a mineral resource of 22.4 million tonnes at 8.6 percent total graphitic carbon. The Ghanaian government has expressed strong support, with the country's sovereign fund signing a term sheet to invest approximately US$2 million to advance the project.
For the full analyst report, click here.
This content is intended only for persons who reside or access the website in jurisdictions with securities and other applicable laws which permit the distribution and consumption of this content and whose local law recognizes the scope and effect of this Disclaimer, its limitation of liability, and the legal effect of its exclusive jurisdiction and governing law provisions [link to Governing Law section of the Disclaimer page].
Any investment information contained on this website, including third party research reports, are provided strictly for informational purposes, are general in nature and not tailored for the specific needs of any person, and are not a solicitation or recommendation to purchase or sell a security or intended to provide investment advice. Readers are cautioned to seek the advice of a registered investment advisor regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies mentioned on this website.
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17 April
Gold Price Hits New Record, Breaking US$3,300 for First Time
The gold price reached yet another record high on Wednesday (April 16), breaking US$3,300 per ounce.
The precious metal has gained significant momentum since the beginning of the year. In trading on Wednesday it surged past the US$3,200 mark, climbing as high as US$3,354.10 per ounce. The price retreated below the US$3,300 mark on Thursday (April 17).
The rise comes after statements from US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell made at the Economic Club of Chicago on Wednesday. In his remarks, he said that he expects US President Donald Trump's tariff policy to negatively impact US economic growth and further fuel inflation.
In addition to gold climbing to record highs, the US dollar sank to its lowest point in three years with the DXY dollar index falling to 99.3 points on Thursday.
Gold price chart, April 10, 2025, to April 17, 2025.
Gold price chart via the Investing News Network.
Gold prices have soared in recent weeks amidst the chaos caused by Donald Trump's tariff announcements on April 2.
Those measures included a 10 percent tariff on all but a handful of countries, including Canada and Mexico, with more severe reciprocal tariffs to come into effect this week. However, on April 9, Trump announced he would pause the additional tariffs for 90 days, saying more than 70 countries had contacted him to make deals.
Trump may have also been feeling pressure from economic advisors as a surge in treasury yields signaled a potential economic crisis brewing in the US bond market. Normally a safe haven during market volatility, the bond market saw a significant selloff this week as US tariffs and worries about the US economy's stability spooked traders.
Although the pause gave most countries some breathing room, tariffs against China were left on the table. After much back and forth, US tariffs levied against China have now increased to 145 percent.
The net effect of Trump's actions has been political and financial turmoil, sparking selloffs in major stock markets and pushing prices for safe-haven assets like gold to fresh records.
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Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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17 April
What Was the Highest Price for Gold?
Gold has long been considered a store of wealth, and the price of gold often makes its biggest gains during turbulent times as investors look for cover in this safe-haven asset.
The 21st century has so far been heavily marked by episodes of economic and sociopolitical upheaval. Uncertainty has pushed the precious metal to record highs as market participants seek its perceived security. And each time the gold price rises, there are calls for even higher record-breaking levels.
Gold market gurus from Lynette Zang to Chris Blasi to Jordan Roy-Byrne have shared eye-popping predictions on the gold price that would intrigue any investor — gold bug or not.
Some have posited that the gold price may rise as high as US$4,000 or US$5,000 per ounce, and there are even those who believe that US$10,000 gold or even US$40,000 gold could become a reality.
These impressive price predictions have investors wondering, what is gold's all-time high (ATH)?
In the past year, gold has reached a new all-time high dozens of times. Find out what has driven it to these levels, plus how the gold price has moved historically and what has driven its performance in recent years.
In this article
How is gold traded?
Before discovering what the highest gold price ever was, it’s worth looking at how the precious metal is traded. Knowing the mechanics behind gold's historical moves can help illuminate why and how its price changes.
Gold bullion is traded in dollars and cents per ounce, with activity taking place worldwide at all hours, resulting in a live price for the metal. Investors trade gold in major commodities markets such as New York, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. London is seen as the center of physical precious metals trading, including for silver. The COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange is home to most paper trading.
There are many popular ways to invest in gold. The first is through purchasing gold bullion products such as bullion bars, bullion coins and rounds. Physical gold is sold on the spot market, meaning that buyers pay a specific price per ounce for the metal and then have it delivered. In some parts of the world, such as India, buying gold in the form of jewelry is the largest and most traditional route to investing in gold.
Another path to gold investment is paper trading, which is done through the gold futures market. Participants enter into gold futures contracts for the delivery of gold in the future at an agreed-upon price.
In such contracts, two positions can be taken: a long position under which delivery of the metal is accepted or a short position to provide delivery of the metal. Paper trading as a means to invest in gold can provide investors with the flexibility to liquidate assets that aren’t available to those who possess physical gold bullion.
One significant long-term advantage of trading in the paper market is that investors can benefit from gold’s safe-haven status without needing to store it. Furthermore, gold futures trading can offer more financial leverage in that it requires less capital than trading in the physical market.
Interestingly, investors can also purchase physical gold via the futures market, but the process is complicated and lengthy and comes with a large investment and additional costs.
Aside from those options, market participants can invest in gold through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Investing in a gold ETF is similar to trading a gold stock on an exchange, and there are numerous gold ETF options to choose from. For instance, some ETFs focus solely on physical gold bullion, while others focus on gold futures contracts. Other gold ETFs center on gold-mining stocks or follow the gold spot price.
It is important to understand that you will not own any physical gold when investing in an ETF — in general, even a gold ETF that tracks physical gold cannot be redeemed for tangible metal.
With regards to the performance of gold versus trading stocks, gold has an interesting relationship with the stock market. The two often move in sync during “risk-on periods” when investors are bullish. On the flip side, they tend to become inversely correlated in times of volatility. There are a variety of options for investing in stocks, including gold mining stocks on the TSX and ASX, gold juniors, precious metals royalty companies and gold stocks that pay dividends.
According to the World Gold Council, gold's ability to decouple from the stock market during periods of stress makes it “unique amongst most hedges in the marketplace.” It is often during these times that gold outperforms the stock market. For that reason, it is often used as a portfolio diversifier to hedge against uncertainty.
What was the highest gold price ever?
Gold price chart, December 31, 2024, to April 14, 2025.
Chart via the Investing News Network.
The gold price peaked at US$3,354.10 per ounce, its all-time high, during trading on April 16, 2025.
What drove it to set this new ATH? Gold set its latest high price of 2025 on April 16 as markets and the US dollar fell and gold purchasing in China continued to ramp up significantly in response to US tariffs on the country.
The gold price has set a string of new highs this month alone amid high market volatility as markets react to the latest tariff decisions from US President Donald Trump and the escalating trade war between the US and China. As of April 11, Trump has now raised US tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 percent and China has raised its tariffs on US products to 125 percent.
Two days earlier, Trump paused his higher "Liberation Day" tariffs on any countries that did not reciprocate in response. However, the blanket 10 percent tariffs still stand, as do the 25 percent tariffs on the automotive sector.
Why is the gold price setting new highs in 2025?
This string of record-breaking highs this year are caused by several factors.
Increased economic and geopolitical turmoil caused by the new Trump administration has been a tailwind for gold this year, as well as a weakening US dollar, sticky inflation in the country and increased safe haven gold demand.
Since coming into office in late January, Trump has threatened or enacted tariffs on many countries, including currently paused blanket tariffs on long-time US allies Canada and Mexico and tariffs on the European Union. Trump has also implemented 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.
As for the effect of these wide-spread tariffs raising prices for the American populace, Trump has reiterated his sentiment that the US may need to go through a period of economic pain to enter a new "golden age" of economic prosperity. Elon Musk's call to audit the gold holdings in Fort Knox has also brought attention to the yellow metal.
What factors have driven the gold price in the last five years?
Five year gold price chart, April 13, 2020, to April 14, 2025.
Chart via the Investing News Network.
Despite these recent runs, gold has seen its share of both peaks and troughs over the last decade. After remaining rangebound between US$1,100 and US$1,300 from 2014 to early 2019, gold pushed above US$1,500 in the second half of 2019 on a softer US dollar, rising geopolitical issues and a slowdown in economic growth.
Gold’s first breach of the significant US$2,000 price level in mid-2020 was due in large part to economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To break through that barrier and reach what was then a record high, the yellow metal added more than US$500, or 32 percent, to its value in the first eight months of 2020.
The gold price surpassed that level again in early 2022 as Russia's invasion of Ukraine collided with rising inflation around the world, increasing the allure of safe-haven assets and pulling the yellow metal up to a price of US$2,074.60 on March 8, 2022. However, it fell throughout the rest of 2022, dropping below US$1,650 in October.
Although it didn't quite reach the level of volatility as the previous year, the gold price experienced drastic price changes in 2023 on the back of banking instability, high interest rates and the breakout of war in the Middle East.
After central bank buying pushed the gold price up to the US$1,950.17 mark by the end of January, the US Federal Reserve’s 0.25 percent rate hike on February 1 sparked a retreat as the dollar and Treasury yields saw gains. The precious metal went on to fall to its lowest price level of the year at US$1,809.87 on February 23.
The banking crisis that hit the US in early March caused a domino effect through the global financial system and led to the mid-March collapse of Credit Suisse, Switzerland’s second-largest bank. The gold price jumped to US$1,989.13 by March 15. The continued fallout in the global banking system throughout the second quarter of the year allowed gold to break above US$2,000 on April 3, and go on to flirt with a near-record high of US$2,049.92 on May 3.
Those gains were tempered by the Fed’s ongoing rate hikes and improvements in the banking sector, resulting in a downward trend in the gold price throughout the remainder of the second quarter and throughout Q3. By October 4, gold had fallen to a low of US$1,820.01 and analysts expected the precious metal to drop below US$1,800.
That was before the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel ignited legitimate fears of a much larger conflict erupting in the Middle East. Reacting to those fears, and to rising expectations that the Fed would begin to reverse course on interest rates, gold broke through the important psychological level of US$2,000 and closed at US$2,007.08 on October 27. As the Israel-Hamas fighting intensified, gold reached a then new high of US$2,152.30 during intraday trading on December 3.
That robust momentum in the spot gold price has continued into 2024, chasing new highs on fears of a looming US recession, the promise of Fed rate cuts on the horizon, the worsening conflict in the Middle East and the tumultuous US presidential election year. By mid-March, gold was pushing up against the US$2,200 level.
That record-setting momentum continued into the second quarter of 2024 when gold broke through US$2,400 in mid-April on strong central bank buying, sovereign debt concerns in China and investors expecting the Fed to start cutting interest rates. The precious metal went on to hit US$2,450.05 on May 20.
Throughout the summer, the hits have just kept on coming.
The global macro environment is highly bullish for gold in the lead up to the US election. Following the failed assassination attempt on Trump and a statement about coming interest rate cuts by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, the gold spot price hit a new all-time high on July 16 at US$2,469.30. One week later, news that President Joe Biden would not seek re-election and would instead pass the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris eased some of the tension in the stock markets and strengthened the US dollar. This also pushed the price of gold down to US$2,387.99 on July 22.
However, the bullish factors supporting gold over the past year remain in play, and the spot price for gold went on to breach US$2,500 on August 2 on a less than stellar US jobs report; it closed just above the US$2,440 level. A few weeks later, gold pushed past US$2,500 once again on August 16, closing above that level for the first time ever after the US Department of Commerce released data showing a fifth consecutive monthly decrease in a row for homebuilding.
The news that the Chinese government issued new gold import quotas to banks in the country following a two month pause also helped fuel the gold price rally. Central bank gold buying has been a significant tailwind for the gold price this year, and China's central bank has been one of the strongest buyers.
Market watchers expected the Fed to cut interest rates by a quarter point at their September meeting, but news on September 12 that the regulators were still deciding between the expected cut or a larger half-point cut led gold prices on a rally that carried through into the next day, bringing gold prices near US$2,600.
At the September 18 Fed meeting, the committee ultimately made the decision to cut rates by half a point, news that sent gold even higher. By Friday, September 20, it moved above US$2,600 and held above US$2,620.
In October, gold breached the US$2,700 level and continued to set new highs on a variety of factors, including further rate cuts and economic data anticipation, the escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hezbollah, and economic stimulus in China — not to mention the very close race between the US presidential candidates.
While the gold price fell following Trump's win in early November and largely held under US$2,700 through the end of the year, it began trending upwards in 2025 to the new all-time high discussed earlier in the article.
Gold has seen upward momentum in the last year on a variety of factors.
In 2025, the gold price was on the rise early in the new year as Trump and his team began to talk seriously about a wide-ranging set of tariffs on several countries in the run up and following his inauguration on January 20.
On January 29, the Bank of Canada shaved 25 basis points off its policy interest rate, marking its sixth consecutive decrease, and announced plans to end quantitative tightening.
On the same day, the Fed opted to leave interest rates unchanged. The following day, Trump said he would very likely be placing 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada as of February 1, alongside tariffs on the EU and China.
Gold price set new highs in all currencies alongside a weakening US dollar, the Fed leaving interest rates unchanged, a rush to safe haven assets and the looming threat of Trump's tariffs on February 1.
Additionally, new US economic data showed inflation-adjusted gross domestic product in the country increased an annualized 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024 after rising 3.1 percent in the third quarter.
Some other factors supporting gold to new highs include Trump threatening to annex Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal, Trump's proposed resettlement of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip to develop it into "the Riviera of the Middle East," a suggestion that has been condemned globally, and him appearing to side with Putin against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
What's next for the gold price?
What's next for the gold price is never an easy call to make. There are many factors that affect the gold price, but some of the most prevalent long-term drivers include economic expansion, market risk, opportunity cost and momentum.
Economic expansion is one of the primary gold price contributors as it facilitates demand growth in several categories, including jewelry, technology and investment. As the World Gold Council explains, “This is particularly true in developing economies where gold is often used as a luxury item and a means to preserve wealth.”
Market risk is also a prime catalyst for gold values as investors view the precious metal as the “ultimate safe haven,” and a hedge against currency depreciation, inflation and other systemic risks.
Going forward, in addition to the Fed, inflation and geopolitical events, experts will be looking for cues from factors like supply and demand. In terms of supply, the world’s five top gold producers are China, Australia, Russia, Canada and the US. The consensus in the gold market is that major miners have not spent enough on gold exploration in recent years. Gold mine production has fallen from around 3,200 to 3,300 metric tons each year between 2018 and 2020 to around 3,000 to 3,100 metric tons each year between 2021 and 2023.
On the demand side, China and India are the biggest buyers of physical gold, and are in a perpetual fight for the title of world’s largest gold consumer. That said, it's worth noting that the last few years have brought a big rebound in central bank gold buying, which dropped to a record low in 2020, but reached a 55 year high of 1,136 metric tons in 2022.
The World Gold Council has reported that central bank gold purchases in 2023 came to 1,037 metric tons, marking the second year in a row above 1,000 MT. In the first half of 2024, the organization says gold purchases from central banks reached a record 483 metric tons.
“I expect the Fed’s rate-cutting cycle to be good for gold, but central bank buying has been and remains a major factor," Lobo Tiggre, CEO of IndependentSpeculator.com, said in an email to the Investing News Network (INN) at the beginning of Q4.
David Barrett, CEO of the UK division of global brokerage firm EBC Financial Group, is also keeping an eye on central bank purchases of gold.
“I still see the global central bank buying as the main driver — as it has been over the last 15 years,” he said in an email to INN. "This demand removes supply from the market. They are the ultimate buy-and-hold participants and they have been buying massive amounts."
In addition to central bank moves, analysts are also watching for escalating tensions in the Middle East, a weakening US dollar, declining bond yields, and further interest rate cuts as factors that could push gold higher as investors look to secure their portfolios.
“When it comes to outside factors that affect the market, it’s just tailwind after tailwind after tailwind. So I don’t really see the trend changing,” Coffin said.
Randy Smallwood of Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM,NYSE:WPM) told INN in March 2025 that gold is seeing support from many factors, including central bank buying, nervousness around the US dollar and stronger institutional interest. According to Smallwood, he is seeing an influx of fund managers wanting to learn about precious metals.
Check out more of INN's interviews to find out what experts have said about the gold price during its 2025 bull run and where it could go next.
Should you beware of gold price manipulation?
As a final note on the price of gold and buying gold bullion, it’s important for investors to be aware that gold price manipulation is a hot topic in the industry.
In 2011, when gold hit what was then a record high, it dropped swiftly in just a few short years. This decline after three years of impressive gains led many in the gold sector to cry foul and point to manipulation.
Early in 2015, 10 banks were hit in a US probe on precious metals manipulation. Evidence provided by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) showed “smoking gun” proof that UBS Group (NYSE:UBS), HSBC Holdings (NYSE:HSBC), the Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) and other firms were involved in rigging gold and silver rates in the market from 2007 to 2013.
Not long after, the long-running London gold fix was replaced by the LBMA gold price in a bid to increase gold price transparency. The twice-a-day process, operated by the ICE Benchmark Administration, still involves a variety of banks collaborating to set the gold price, but the system is now electronic.
Still, manipulation has by no means been eradicated, as a 2020 fine on JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) shows. The next year, chat logs were released in a spoofing trial for two former precious metals traders from the Bank of America’s (NYSE:BAC) Merrill Lynch unit. They show a trader bragging about how easy it is to manipulate the gold price.
Gold market participants have consistently spoken out about manipulation. In mid-2020, Chris Marcus, founder of Arcadia Economics and author of the book “The Big Silver Short,” said that when gold fell back below the US$2,000 mark after hitting close to US$2,070, he saw similarities to what happened with the gold price in 2011.
Marcus has been following the gold and silver markets with a focus specifically on price manipulation for nearly a decade. His advice? “Trust your gut. I believe we’re witnessing the ultimate ’emperor’s really naked’ moment. This isn’t complex financial analysis. Sometimes I think of it as the greatest hypnotic thought experiment in history.”
Investor takeaway
While we have the answer to what the highest gold price ever is as of now, it remains to be seen how high gold can climb, and if the precious metal can reach as high as US$5,000, US$10,000 or even US$40,000.
Even so, many market participants believe gold is a must have in any investment profile, and there is little doubt investors will continue to see gold price action making headlines this year and beyond.
This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2020.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, 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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17 April
US Capital Gains Tax Guide for Gold and Silver Investors
As gold and silver continue to prove their worth as sound investments, market participants should know how precious metals investments are taxed in the US.
While the majority of gold and silver investing comes with a certain degree of taxation, there are different levels of tax based on how market participants decide to invest in these precious metals, how long the investments are held for and the investors individual tax bracket.
Read on for a breakdown of the taxes associated with investing in gold and silver bullion, ETFs and stocks, as well as the forms involved with reporting precious metals investments.
In this article
How are physical gold and silver taxed?
Gold and silver bullion, coins and bars are seen as collectibles by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US. Thus, physical gold and silver, no matter the form, are subject to a higher rate of capital gains tax when they are sold. The same is true for fellow precious metals platinum and palladium.
While long-term capital gains would typically carry a top bracket of 20 percent, collectibles can be taxed at a higher 28 percent.
The total an investor will owe in capital gains tax when selling physical gold and silver is based both on their income bracket and the length of time they held the asset.
The long-term capital gains tax on physical gold and silver is equal to an investor’s marginal tax rate, up to a maximum of 28 percent due to their status as a collectible, meaning those in higher tax brackets still only have to pay 28 percent on long-term gains from physical precious metals sales.
It is worth noting that the 28 percent maximum is only for long-term capital gains, which applies to metals that an investor has held for more than one year. Short-term capital gains on precious metals held for less than one year are taxed at ordinary income rates.
For example, a person in the highest tax bracket purchased 100 ounces of physical gold at US$1,800 per ounce and two years later sold their holdings for US$2,000 per ounce. While they are in the 37 percent tax bracket, they would pay 28 percent tax on the capital gains made from these sales. As they earned US$20,000 in capital gains, that would translate to US$5,600 in income tax.
However, if the investor sold the gold at the same gain just 11 months after they purchased it, it would count as short-term capital gains, and the investor would be taxed at 37 percent and owe US$7,400.
Investors who are in one of the tax brackets below 28 percent are taxed at the standard rate of their bracket when selling their solid gold and silver assets, whether they are held short- or long-term.
Similarly to other investments, precious metals sold at a loss can be used to offset capital gains.
How are gold and silver ETFs taxed?
Like all other exchange-traded funds (ETFs), gold ETFs and silver ETFs act in the same manner as individual stocks, meaning that investing in these ETFs is similar to trading a stock on an exchange. There are two main types of gold and silver ETFs: those that track the prices of those metals and those that track gold or silver stocks.
ETFs that follow metals prices provide exposure to either physical gold or silver, or gold or silver futures contracts. It is important to keep in mind that investing in these ETF platforms does not allow investors to own any physical gold or silver — in general, even an investment in an ETF that tracks physical gold or silver cannot be redeemed for the tangible metal.
ETFs that invest in gold or silver companies provide exposure to gold- and silver-mining stocks, as well as gold- or silver-streaming stocks.
In terms of taxation, capital gain taxes from selling gold and silver ETFs is determined by the ETF's holdings, the investors tax bracket and how long they held the asset for.
Funds will often supply investors with tax forms that they can use to fill out their income tax. The webpage for a fund should have a document describing how income tax is handled for that fund, which is worth reading before investing in it.
Long-term capital gains from selling shares of gold and silver ETFs are subject to a 28 percent maximum federal income tax rate if they hold physical precious metals and 20 percent if they hold stocks. While long-term capital gains would typically be capped at 20 percent maximum rate. This is because the holdings are considered collectibles, as described in the section above. Short-term gains made from selling gold or silver ETFs are subject to a maximum federal rate of 37 percent.
Additionally, these gains could get slapped with a 3.8 percent net investment income tax for high net-worth investors, and a state income tax may also apply.
Futures-based commodity ETFs can come with their own set of rules that you can learn about here. Briefly, they are often taxed in a 60/40 hybrid, with 60 percent treated as long-term gains and 40 percent treated as short-term gains. Additionally, this is calculated at the end of each tax year, whether a sale is made or not.
ETFs that hold stocks are taxed in the same way as traditional securities, which you can read more about below.
Kevin McElligott, managing director for Franco-Nevada Australia, part of gold-focused royalty and streaming company Franco-Nevada (TSX:FNV,NYSE:FNV), has warned that these taxes, alongside management fees, can become bothersome. “ETFs actually cost you money in annual management fees,” he told the Investing News Network via email.
How are gold and silver stocks taxed?
In terms of tax on gold and silver stocks, long-term gains from selling are subject to the standard 20 percent maximum federal rate, while short-term gains will face a maximum federal rate of 37 percent. For investors in higher income brackets, there is the potential for gold and silver stock investments to also be hit with the 3.8 percent net investment income tax as well as state income tax.
Unlike physical precious metals and ETFs that hold them, precious metals stocks are not classified as collectibles, which is why the long-term capital gains tax is capped at 20 percent instead of 28 percent.
Stocks sold at a loss are important as well as they can be used to offset capital gains when filing income tax.
How to report taxes on physical gold and silver investments
Market participants who sell precious metals in the US for a profit are required to report that profit on their income tax return, regardless of whether or not the dealer has any reporting obligation.
When selling gold and silver investments in the US, there are two different sets of reporting guidelines — one applies to the dealer through which a person sells and the other applies to the investor who is selling the asset.
It is important to note that taxes on the sale of gold and silver will not be due the moment that the sale is made, and the tax bill for all of these sales is due at the same time as a standard income tax bill.
For investors selling precious metals, capital gains or losses need to be reported on Schedule D of Form 1040 when making a tax return.
Investors will first need to detail their precious metals transactions on Form 8949, including the length of time the investments were held. This form must be filed alongside Schedule D. Investors then use this information alongside the 28% Rate Gain Worksheet included in the Schedule D instructions.
Depending on the type of metal being sold, Form 1099-B may have to be submitted to the IRS by the broker when the sale closes, as such transactions are considered income. As for when a broker will need to file Form 1099-B, there are specific rules that determine which sales of precious metals require the dealer to file this form that apply to transactions over a 24 hours period.
For gold sales, reportable items include specific gold coins, including the 1 ounce Canadian Gold Maple Leaf and Gold Kruggerand, and gold bars and rounds of at least 0.995 fineness. As for quantity, only sales of more than 25 gold coins and or more than 1 kilogram in gold bars and rounds will require the form.
Sales of 0.999 fine silver bars and rounds totaling over 1,000 ounces qualify. For silver coins, US coins with above 90 percent silver are reportable, but Silver American Eagle coins are not. Sales of silver coins exceeding US$1,000 will require a form.
When it comes to selling gold and silver overseas, market participants must follow the laws as they apply to the sale of gold and silver investments in that particular country.
The information in this article does not constitute tax advice, and investors should work with a tax professional or program to help them make sure everything is reported accurately.
This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2019.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, currently 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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