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Kalgoorlie Gold Mining (ASX:KAL) (‘KalGold’ or ‘the Company’) has commenced aircore drilling at two new exploration target areas within the Pinjin Gold Project on 9 October 2024 (Figure 1).
Figure 1 – New drill areas (pink labels) that are the focus of the new drill program at Pinjin. Projection: MGA 94 Zone 51.
Testing Two New Gold Target Areas
The aircore drill program currently underway focuses on two new exploration target areas at Kirgella West and Kirgella East (Figure 1). The target areas are both located near to the Kirgella Gift and Providence deposits where the Company recently defined a JORC (2012) Inferred Mineral Resource of 2.34 Mt at 1.0 g/t Au for 76,400 oz (ASX: KAL 25 July 2024). Both target areas show promising structural and geological complexity that has potential to host gold mineralisation. These targets have not been previously drill-tested and so are undergoing first-pass, widely spaced drilling in this program.
The initial program is scheduled to run for two weeks, drilling up to 4,500 m across key target areas in priority order.
KalGold Targets Untapped Potential in Southern LTZ
This marks KalGold’s first systematic assessment of the gold potential of the greater Pinjin Project area. For the first time, we are moving beyond historic efforts at Kirgella Gift and Providence, and the Wessex prospect adjacent to the Anglo Saxon gold mine.
KalGold believes the southern part of the Laverton Tectonic Zone (LTZ) holds significant potential, comparable to its northern end, which hosts major gold deposits like Sunrise Dam, Granny Smith, Wallaby and the Laverton Goldfield (Figure 2). The southern LTZ, remains underexplored due to poor surface exposure and limited historic exploration efforts. However, recent discoveries like Rebecca in the LTZ and Breaker/Lake Roe in the adjacent Celia Tectonic Zone show the area’s potential. KalGold aims to make similar discoveries on its LTZ tenure.
Figure 2 – KalGold’s Pinjin Gold Project within the Laverton Tectonic Zone, showing current targets, work programs and other major deposits of the region. 50km grid. Projection: MGA 94 Zone 51.
KalGold believes that drilling is the only effective way to test the LTZ on our Pinjin Gold Project, given transported cover over much of the area. Typically this approach results in several misses, but it also has the potential for significant discoveries. By applying a scientifically rigorous approach, KalGold is increasing its chances of success, focusing on key target areas that display geological, geophysical and geochemical hallmarks of gold mineralisation.
Progress will be driven by results, as well as logistics. Currently, KalGold is working to secure a new heritage survey over the area, with a focus on E28/3134. Heritage clearance of the unexplored eastern areas is important for on-ground investigation where the high-grade metamorphic rocks of the Rebecca sequence are interpreted to be juxtaposed by the LTZ against the host sequence of the Pinjin Goldfield. Additionally, known palaeochannel distributions are considered, allowing for initial exploration of shallow targets before potentially pursuing targets at depth as the palaeochannels can be over 100m deep.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Kalgoorlie Gold Mining 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.
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Kalgoorlie Gold Mining
Investor Insight
Kalgoorlie Gold Mining offers investors a compelling proposition through its strategic focus on low-cost gold exploration in Western Australia's prolific Eastern Goldfields, highlighted by its Lighthorse high-grade gold discovery at the Pinjin project.
Overview
Kalgoorlie Gold Mining (ASX:KAL) is a technically driven explorer targeting multi-million-ounce gold systems in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through rigorous geophysical interpretation, structural targeting, and systematic drilling, the company is applying modern techniques to historically overlooked terranes. Its focus is on discovering concealed gold deposits beneath shallow cover by leveraging a proven methodology that includes geophysical analysis, geochemistry, aircore reconnaissance and RC follow-up drilling.
At the heart of this strategy is the flagship Pinjin project, located along the underexplored southern extension of the Laverton Tectonic Zone, a prolific gold-bearing structure responsible for over 30 Moz of historical production from mines such as Sunrise Dam, Granny Smith and Wallaby. Positioned just 20 km north of Ramelius Resources’ Rebecca gold project, Pinjin is ideally situated in a district that has seen limited modern exploration. Kalgoorlie Gold has already delivered a maiden JORC 2012 inferred resource of 76,400 oz (2.34 Mt @ 1.0 g/t gold) at the Kirgella Gift and Providence prospects. These results confirm the presence of shallow mineralization and validate the company’s targeting model. Numerous structural targets have been identified throughout the project area, the majority of which remain untested.
Within Pinjin, the Light Horse Discovery is the company's highest-impact target, where RC drilling has confirmed thick, high-grade mineralization in altered mafic volcanics. The discovery validates Kalgoorlie Gold’s undercover targeting model and is being advanced toward a maiden resource.
Complementing this is the Bulong Taurus project, 35 km east of Kalgoorlie, which hosts the La Mascotte deposit with a JORC inferred resource of 138,000 oz gold (3.61 Mt @ 1.19 g/t). The project includes historic workings and satellite prospects within a structurally favorable corridor. While a secondary focus, heritage approvals are underway to enable follow-up drilling and assess near-term development potential.
To date, Kalgoorlie Gold has tested only around 10 percent of its known targets but has already encountered mineralization in roughly half of them – an exceptional hit rate that underscores the strength of its approach. As the company ramps up its exploration programs, it is positioning itself as one of the most compelling early-stage gold discovery stories in the Australian market.
Company Highlights
- District-scale Positioning: Kalgoorlie Gold controls an expansive, underexplored land package in the Laverton Tectonic Zone, south of major operations like Sunrise Dam and Wallaby and just 20 km north of the planned Rebecca gold mine.
- Lighthorse Discovery: Thick, high-grade gold intercepts under shallow cover confirm a significant greenfields discovery, with potential for resource definition and scale.
- JORC Resource Established at Pinjin: An initial 76,400 oz gold resource at Kirgella Gift and Providence validates the company’s targeting strategy.
- Systematic Exploration Success: >10 targets tested, ~50 percent hit rate with anomalous high-grade gold. Over 90 percent of the company’s target inventory remains untested.
- Experienced Leadership: Matt Painter, managing director, brings deep structural geology expertise and a strong history of generating successful exploration targets globally.
- Favorable Market Tailwinds: With gold trading near all-time highs, Kalgoorlie Gold offers leveraged upside through discovery-driven valuation re-rates.
Key Projects
Pinjin Project
The Pinjin project covers more than 350 sq km and is situated within the southern extension of the Laverton Tectonic Zone, a crustal-scale shear corridor accounting for >30 Moz of historical production. Despite its proximity to major mines, this southern area has seen minimal modern exploration.
Kalgoorlie Gold’s initial focus has been the Kirgella Gift and Providence prospects, where the company defined a JORC 2012 inferred resource of 2.34 Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au for 76,400oz. This estimate was derived from near-surface RC drilling down to ~100 metres, with mineralization remaining open at depth and along strike.
The company has also acquired geophysical datasets and conducted interpretation work to identify additional structural corridors and dilation zones likely to host mineralization. These were validated by soil sampling, structural mapping and aircore drilling. Work completed to date includes more than 16,000 metres of drilling, extensive geological mapping, and data reinterpretation, while upcoming plans involve deeper drilling, geophysics to enhance target definition, and continued aircore programs to expand the exploration footprint.
Lighthorse Discovery
The Lighthorse prospect, situated within the greater Pinjin project area, represents Kalgoorlie Gold’s most promising greenfields discovery to date. Discovered beneath shallow cover using the company's rigorous targeting methodology, Light Horse has yielded multiple thick, high-grade intercepts, confirming the presence of a significant mineralized system. RC drilling has returned standout results such as 2.2 g/t gold over 23 metres, 3.1 g/t gold over 14 metres, and 6.5 g/t gold over 7 metres. These intercepts occur in altered mafic volcanics and are interpreted to represent a robust gold system with potential for lateral and vertical continuity. The discovery validates Kalgoorlie Gold’s structural targeting model and supports the thesis that the region may host not just a single deposit, but a larger gold field. Currently, Lighthorse is the highest-priority drill target in the company’s pipeline. Near-term plans include further RC step-out and infill drilling to define mineralized zones, downhole geophysics to guide targeting of high-grade shoots, and eventual metallurgical sampling. A maiden resource is anticipated following the next phase of drilling, with the potential to rapidly advance toward scoping studies in 2026.
Bulong Taurus Project
Located just 35 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the Bulong Taurus project offers near-term optionality and brownfields upside. The project hosts the La Mascotte deposit, which contains a JORC 2012 inferred mineral resource of 138,000 oz at 1.19 g/t gold. This outcropping resource is located within the historical Taurus Goldfield and is surrounded by a suite of satellite targets, historical workings and underexplored geophysical anomalies. The geology is characterized by a mix of felsic and mafic volcaniclastic units, cut by northeast-trending structures favorable for gold deposition. Kalgoorlie Gold has undertaken mapping, sampling and historical data reprocessing to refine targeting, and is currently working with Traditional Owners to secure heritage clearances for further exploration. Planned future activities at Bulong Taurus include RC drilling to test extensions of La Mascotte, soil and geophysical surveys across adjacent prospects, and evaluation of development or joint venture options depending on resource scale and continuity. While not the company’s primary focus, Bulong Taurus offers strategic exposure to additional ounces near existing infrastructure.
Management Team
Dr. Matt Painter – Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Matt Painter is a geologist with over 25 years of experience in mineral exploration and project development. He holds a BSc (Hons) and a PhD in geology. Before joining Kalgoorlie Gold Mining, Painter served as general manager of exploration at Ardea Resources Limited, where he played a pivotal role in advancing the company's gold and nickel projects. His expertise lies in structural geology and the discovery of concealed mineral systems, which is instrumental in driving Kalgoorlie Gold Mining's exploration strategy.
Graeme Smith – Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary
Graeme Smith brings more than 30 years of financial and corporate governance experience to Kalgoorlie Gold Mining. He holds a Bachelor of Economics and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, a Fellow of CPA Australia, and a Fellow of the Chartered Secretaries Australia. Smith has held senior financial roles across various ASX-listed companies, providing strategic financial oversight and ensuring compliance with corporate regulations.
Pauline Gately – Non-executive Chair
Pauline Gately is an accomplished non-executive director with over a decade of board experience across the mining, financial technology and consumer goods sectors. Her board contributions are underpinned by 20 years in investment banking, encompassing senior roles in investment strategy, economics and funds management. Gately is a graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a BA (Hons) in Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting. She also serves as a non-executive director of Ardiden Limited.
Andrew Penkethman – Non-executive Director
Andrew Penkethman is a geologist with more than 25 years of technical and corporate experience in the resources sector. He has worked across exploration, feasibility studies, and operations within Australia and internationally. Penkethman is currently the managing director and CEO of Ardea Resources, bringing valuable insights into project development and strategic planning to the board of Kalgoorlie Gold Mining.
Scott Herrmann – Exploration Manager
Scott Herrmann oversees Kalgoorlie Gold’s exploration programs across its project portfolio. With a strong background in geology and mineral exploration, Herrmann plays a critical role in target generation and drill program execution, contributing to the company's discovery success.
Unlocking gold deposits hidden under shallow cover in the heart of Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields
Gold Price Hits Another New All-time High, US$3,600 in Reach
Gold price chart, August 29, 2025, to September 5, 2025.
Chart via the Investing News Network.
Expectations that the US Federal Reserve will lower interest rates when it meets later this month are part of what's driving gold's move. The central bank hasn't made a cut since December 2024, but comments made by Fed Chair Jerome Powell in a recent Jackson Hole, Wyoming, speech stoked anticipation among market participants.
US jobs data for August, released on Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), has essentially locked in a downward move in rates. Nonfarm payrolls were up by 22,000, significantly lower than the 75,000 expected by economists.
Meanwhile, the country's unemployment rate came in at 4.3 percent.
The report is the first to be released since US President Donald Trump fired Erika McEntarfer, former commissioner at the BLS. She was ousted after July jobs data came in lower than expected, and after major downward revisions to May and June jobs numbers. The latest BLS report also brought revisions — the July number was boosted by 6,000 to come in at 79,000, but June stands at a net loss of 13,000 after a downward revision of 27,000.
CME Group's (NASDAQ:CME) FedWatch tool now shows a 90.2 percent probability of a 25 basis point rate cut in September, with a 9.8 percent probability of a 50 basis point reduction.
Target rate probabilities for September 17, 2025, Fed meeting.
Chart via CME Group.
Bond market turmoil also helped move the gold price this week.
Yields for 30 year US bonds rose to nearly 5 percent midway through the period, their highest level since mid-July, on the back of a variety of concerns, including tariffs, inflation and Fed independence.
Globally the situation was even more tumultuous, with 30 year UK bond yields reaching their highest point since 1998; meanwhile, 30 year bond yields for German, French and Dutch bonds rose to levels not seen since 2011.
In Japan, 30 year bond yields hit a record high.
Looking at gold's path forward, experts agree that its prospects are bright, although what kicks off its next leg and how high it could go during this cycle remain to be seen. While rates are in focus as a key price mover right now, other potential drivers include a stock market correction and the return of western investors.
Watch six experts share their thoughts on gold's next price trigger.
Elsewhere in the precious metals space, silver was trading at the US$41 per ounce level, down from its peak of around US$41.30 seen earlier in the week, but still at highs not seen since 2011.
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.
What Was the Highest Price for Gold?
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 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?
The gold price peaked at US$3,599.61, its all-time high, during trading on September 5, 2025.
What drove it to set this new ATH? Gold reached its new highest price following the release of unexpectedly weak US job data. Following the release, FedWatch's odds for a 25 basis point rate cut at the upcoming US Federal Reserve meeting dropped from 99 to 90.2 percent, while odds of a 50 point drop jumped to 9.8 percent. The meeting will take place from September 16 to 17.
Gold set new highs several times in the preceding week amid significant uncertainty in the US and global economies and surging gold ETF purchases.
One significant driver came on August 29, when a US federal appeals court ruled that US President Donald Trump's "liberation day" tariffs, announced in April, are illegal, stating that only Congress has the power to enact widespread tariffs. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling, which will go into effect on October 14.
Stock markets fell during trading September 2, while treasury yields in the US and abroad rose significantly, providing tailwinds to the gold price. Gold was also boosted by the expectation of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve at the September meeting.
News surrounding the tariffs had previously led gold to reach multiple new highs back in April, as we dive into below.
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 blanket tariffs on longtime US allies Canada and Mexico and tariffs on the European Union. Trump has also implemented 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.
The gold price set a string of new highs in the month of April amid high market volatility as markets reacted to tariff decisions from Trump and the escalating trade war between the US and China. By April 11, Trump had raised US tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 percent and China has raised its tariffs on US products to 125 percent.
As for the effect of these widespread 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. Falling markets and a declining US dollar support gold, as did increased gold purchasing in China in response to US tariffs on the country. 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?
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.
Gold price chart, August 31, 2020, to September 1, 2025.
Chart via the Investing News Network.
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 fighting intensified, gold reached a then-new high of US$2,152.30 in intraday trading on December 3.
That robust momentum in the spot gold price 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 kept on coming.
The global macro environment was 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 Powell, the gold spot price hit a then new all-time high on July 16 at US$2,469.30. One week later, news that then-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, 2024.
However, the bullish factors supporting gold remained in play, and the spot price for gold went on to breach US$2,500 on August 2 that year 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 2024 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 September 20, it moved above US$2,600 and held above US$2,620.
In October 2024, gold first breached the US$2,700 level and continued to higher 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.
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 to consider, 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 (MT) each year between 2018 and 2020 to around 3,000 to 3,100 MT 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 MT in 2022.
World Gold Council data shows 2024 central bank gold purchases came to 1,044.6 MT, marking the third year in a row above 1,000 MT. In H1 2025, the organization says gold purchases from central banks reached 415.1 MT.
“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, told the Investing News Network (INN) at the start of Q4 2024.
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. Smallwood is seeing an influx of fund managers wanting to learn about precious metals.
Joe Cavatoni, senior market strategist, Americas, at the World Gold Council, believes that market risk and uncertainty surrounding tariffs and continued demand from central banks are the main drivers of gold.
"Market risk in particular is a key strategic driver for the gold price and performance," Cavatoni told INN in a July 2025 interview. "Think strategically when you think about gold, and keep that allocation in mind."
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?
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 (TSX:BNS,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 Chase & Co. (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.
Aurum Resources
Investor Insights
Aurum Resources offers a compelling value proposition through its highly prospective gold assets in Côte d'Ivoire, a fast-emerging gold region in West Africa. Its cost-effective exploration strategy of drill rig ownership also distinguishes it from its peers.
Overview
Aurum Resources (ASX:AUE) is a mineral exploration company primarily focused on gold through its Boundiali and Napié gold projects in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.
Côte d'Ivoire's gold mining sector is experiencing significant growth and development, with several key projects contributing to the country's economic expansion. The overall gold mining sector in Côte d'Ivoire is supported by substantial investments in infrastructure and exploration.
Geopolitically, Côte d'Ivoire outperforms most developing countries in the world in political, legal, tax and operational risk metrics. Additionally, Côte d'Ivoire continues to make notable strides in its political stability and Absence of Violence and Terrorism Index.
Boundiali Gold Project – BD Target 1 Artisanal Working
In March 2025, Aurum completed the acquisition of 100 percent of Mako Gold, bringing together its strong balance sheet and industry-leading drilling efficiencies to accelerate resource growth across northern Côte d’Ivoire. The company now holds a 90 percent interest in the highly prospective Napié Project, a 224 sq km land package with a 30 km strike near Korhogo.
Aurum has delivered a major milestone in 2025 with a +50 percent increase in the JORC Mineral Resource Estimate at its Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, adding 820koz for a total of 2.41Moz. This lifts the company’s group resources to 3.28Moz, including Napié, highlighting the scale and growth potential of Aurum’s portfolio.
Supported by a seasoned board and management team with deep gold sector expertise—and strengthened by its recent capital raising—Aurum is well-funded to expand resources and advance development plans that drive long-term shareholder value.
Company Highlights
- 3.28Moz and Growing in Côte d’Ivoire: Two cornerstone gold projects — Boundiali (2.41Moz) and Napié (0.87Moz) — positioned for rapid growth with multiple resource updates and development milestones in 2025–2026.
- Outstanding Metallurgy = Simple, Profitable Processing: Boundiali delivers free milling ore with 95 percent recoveries and a straightforward flowsheet, while Napié achieves +94 percent recoveries in tests, showcasing strong economics and low technical risk.
- Aggressive, Cost-Effective Growth Strategy: In-house drill fleet drives efficiency and scale: 100,000m at Boundiali and 30,000m at Napié planned in 2025.
- Premier Mining Jurisdiction: Located in Côte d’Ivoire’s prolific Birimian Greenstone Belt, backed by a stable, supportive government and excellent infrastructure—creating the right conditions for mine development success.
- Strategic Placement: Aurum has completed a AU$35.6 million private placement of 100 million shares at AU$0.356 per share. Key participants in the placement included:
- Lundin Family and Associates, with an AU$11.71 million cash investment, securing a 9.9 percent post-placement interest.
- Zhaojin Capital (subsidiary of Zhaojin Mining), with an AU$8.19 million cash investment, increasing its holding to 8.5 percent.
- Montage Gold with 2.9 million shares, resulting in a 9.9 percent post-placement interest.
- Leadership with a Proven Track Record: A seasoned management team with a history of value creation, supported by committed shareholders who back the company’s long-term growth vision.
Key Projects
Boundali Gold Project
The Boundiali gold project in Cote d’Ivoire is located within the Boundiali Greenstone Belt, which hosts Resolute’s Syama gold operation (11.5 Moz) and the Tabakoroni deposit (1 Moz) in Mali. Neighbouring assets also include Barrick’s Tongon mine (5 Moz) and Montage Gold’s Kone project (4.5 Moz).
The Boundiali project area covers the underexplored southern extension of the Boundiali belt, where a highly deformed synclinal greenstone horizon traverses finer-grained basin sediments, and to the west, Tarkwaian clastic rocks lie in contact with a granitic margin. The project benefits from year-round road access and excellent infrastructure.
The first stage of drilling at Boundiali occurred from late October 2023 to end of November 2024 for both the BM and BD tenements (BM1 and BM2; BD1, BD2 and BD3 targets) and was designed to test below-gold-in-soil anomalies oriented along NE trending structures, define new gold prospects and define maiden JORC resources. With over 63,000m diamond holes drilled during this period, Maiden JORC gold resources estimate was delivered in late December 2024.
Drilling costs are estimated at US$45 per metre, as Aurum owns all of its eight drilling rigs and employs its operators, representing a significant value proposition relative to peers who use commercial drilling companies that charge upwards of $200 per meter. The company believes there is potential for multi-million ounce gold resources to be defined with hundreds thousands meters of drilling over years within the Boundiali Gold Project’s land holding areas.
The Boundiali gold project comprises four contiguous granted licenses: PR0808 (80 percent interest), PR0893 (80 percent and earning to 88 percent interest), PR414 (100 percent interest), and PR283 (earning to 70 percent interest). Historic exploration at PR0893 includes 93 AC drill holes and four RC holes. Airborne geophysical surveying, geological mapping and extensive soil sampling have also been performed at PR0893, while PR0808 has had 91 RC holes drilled for 6,229 metres along with geochemical analysis and modeling. Detailed geochemical sampling and drilling at PR414 revealed three strong gold anomalies and returned impressive high-grade results.
In May 2024, Aurum entered a strategic partnership agreement to earn up to a 70 percent interest in exploration tenement PR283, to be renamed Boundiali North (BN). Aurum, through subsidiary Plusor Global Pty Ltd, has partnered with Ivorian company Geb & Nut Resources Sarl and related party (GNRR) to explore and develop the Boundiali North (BN) tenement which covers 208.87sq km immediately north of Aurum’s BD tenement. Further to this agreement,
Aurum announced it has earned 80 percent project interest after completing more than 20,000 m of diamond core drilling.
Boundiali Project JORC Mineral Resource Estimate
Aurum has announced a maiden independent JORC mineral resource estimate of 1.59 Moz gold for its 1,037 sq. km. The Boundiali Gold Project comprises the BST, BDT1 & BDT2, BMT1 and BMT3 deposits. Drilling is ongoing on these deposits, and Aurum has identified other prospects at Boundiali which have yet to be drilled. Since October 2023, the company has completed an extensive 63,927-metre diamond drilling program. This aggressive exploration campaign has rapidly defined a significant gold resource of 50.9 Mt @ 1.0 g/t gold for 1.6 million ounces.
In August 2025, Aurum announced a 50 percent increase in the JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). The update adds 820koz, lifting Boundiali’s resource to 2.41Moz and boosting total group resources to 3.28Moz, including Napié. The 2025 MRE covers six deposits, including BST1, BDT1, BDT2, BDT3, BMT1, and BMT3, with drilling ongoing and additional untested targets offering strong growth potential.
Aurum is working towards completing an open pit PFS for the Boundiali Gold Project by the end of 2025. This will provide an evaluation of the project's economics and technical feasibility.
Napié Gold Project
Aurum holds a 90 percent interest in the Napié Project in north-central Côte d’Ivoire, acquired through its takeover of Mako Gold. Located approximately 30 km southeast of Korhogo, the project covers a 224 sq km land package with a 30 km strike length along the highly prospective Napié Shear Zone.
As of June 2022, Napié hosts a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource Estimate of 868,000 ounces of gold (22.5 Mt at 1.20 g/t Au), based on the Tchaga and Gogbala deposits—two of four known prospects along the shear. To date, only 13 percent of the Napié Shear has been explored, leaving substantial potential for further discoveries.
Napié Project – Previous results with detailed mapping area on Komboro Prospect shown in black rectangle
Project Highlights:
- Gold Resource: Shallow open pit 0.87Moz JORC Resource at 1.20g/t Au, with mineralisation open along strike and at depth. Maximum resource depth between 160 m – 195m across the two deposits
- Exploration Upside: Less than 13 percent of the 30 km Napié Shear has been explored, offering significant potential for resource growth.
- Drilling Commenced in June 2025: 30,000 m of diamond drilling has commenced to expand the project's resource.
- Preliminary Recovery Test Work: Returned more than 94 percent average gold recoveries.
- Resource Growth Target: First MRE update planned end of 2025, to significantly expand the resource base.
- Infrastructure: Excellent access to hydroelectricity, roads, and water, supporting future development.
Management Team
Troy Flannery – Non-executive Chairman
Troy Flannery has more than 25 years’ experience in the mining industry, including nine years in corporate and 17 years in senior mining engineering and project development roles. He has a degree in mining engineering, masters in finance, and first-class mine managers certificate of competency. Flannery has performed non-executive director roles with numerous ASX listed companies and was the CEO of Abra Mining until October 2021. He has worked at numerous mining companies, mining consultancy and contractors, including BHP, Newcrest, Xstrata, St Barbara Mines and AMC Consultants.
Dr. Caigen Wang – Managing Director
Dr. Caigen Wang founded Tietto Minerals (ASX:TIE), where he led the company as managing director for 13 years through private exploration, ASX listing, gold resource definition, project study and mine building to become one of Africa’s newest gold producers at its Abujar gold mine in Côte d’Ivoire. He holds a bachelor, masters and PhD in mining engineering. He is a fellow of AusIMM and a chartered professional engineer of Institution of Engineer, Australia. Wang has 13 years of mining academic experience in China University of Mining and Technology, Western Australia School of Mine and University of Alberta, and over 20 years of practical experience in mining engineering and mineral exploration in Australia, China and Africa. Other professional experience includes senior technical and management roles in mining houses, including St. Barbara, Sons of Gwalia, BHP Billiton, China Goldmines PLC and others.
Mark Strizek – Executive Director
Mark Strizek has nearly 30 years’ experience in the resource industry, having worked as a geologist on various gold, base metal and technology metal projects. He brings invaluable geological, technical and development expertise to Aurum, most recently as an executive director at Tietto Minerals’, which progressed from an IPO to gold production at the Abujar gold project in West Africa. Strizek has worked as an executive with management and board responsibilities in exploration, feasibility, finance, and development-ready assets across Australia, West Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Steve Zaninovich - Non-Executive Director
Ateve Zaninovich is a qualified engineer with over 25 years of experience in mining project development, business development, maintenance, and operational readiness, with a focus on gold, base metals, and lithium. He is currently director of operations at Kodal Minerals, where he is responsible for advancing the Bougouni Lithium Project. His previous roles include project director at Lycopodium Minerals for the Akyem Gold Project in Ghana and chief operating officer at Gryphon Minerals. Following Gryphon’s acquisition by Teranga Gold Corporation, he became vice-president of major projects and a member of Teranga’s executive management team.
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