CruxCasts

Interview with Keith Henderson, President & CEO of Latin MetalsOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/latin-metals-tsxvlms-the-prospect-generator-model-few-juniors-follow-10250Recording date: 14th August 20206Latin Metals Inc. (TSXV:LMS) has added a third active partner-funded project to its portfolio with an ongoing agreement with Minsur, a private Peruvian mining company already in a 75/25 joint venture with Newmont on adjacent ground to cover the Lacsha copper-molybdenum porphyry project in southern Peru.Under the deal outlined by CEO Keith Henderson, Minsur can earn an initial 75% interest in Lacsha by completing 60,000 metres of drilling over six years and paying Latin Metals approximately $2.5 million in cash, a commitment Henderson estimated at roughly C$40 million in Minsur-funded exploration spending. Once that threshold is met, Minsur holds a time-limited option to acquire the remaining 25% for C$28 million which would leave Latin Metals with a 2% net smelter return royalty. Minsur separately holds a three-year option to buy 1% of that royalty for a further $20 million. Combined, Henderson said, the structure could deliver a little over $42 million in cash coming into the company.Latin Metals generated Lacsha internally, spending approximately $900,000 (CAD) on staking, mapping, geochemistry and geophysics before bringing in a partner - notably more than the company's typical $200,000-$300,000 generative budget per project, which Henderson attributed to years of incremental exploration work culminating in a stronger-than-usual technical package. Lacsha's location directly south of Minsur's existing Newmont joint venture ground gives the new partner a clear strategic rationale to test the structural and geochemical extension onto Latin Metals' claims.The Lacsha deal brings Latin Metals' total under-contract partner investment to approximately $120 million, spanning Lacsha, Cerro Bayo and La Flora (Daura Gold), and Zaha (Moxico Resources), all funded externally against a corporate budget Henderson described as flat at $3 million per year. Management is targeting further deals across the remaining pipeline including Organullo, Crosby and an Argentine sediment-hosted copper package during 2026, which it expects could push cumulative under-contract investment toward $150-180 million.Near-term catalysts sit with the Argentine silver-gold assets rather than Lacsha itself: Daura Gold's Phase II drill programme at Cerro Bayo is scheduled for Q3 2026, alongside the first drill test of the high-grade La Flora vein system, where surface sampling has returned grades as high as 82 g/t gold and 1,239 g/t silver historically. Combined partner-funded drilling across the portfolio is expected to reach approximately 18,000 metres in 2026.On financing, Henderson said Latin Metals expects roughly C$1.8 million from warrant exercises in September 2026, with warrants priced at 15 cents against a share price near 25 cents, a gap management is relying on to avoid raising additional equity capital through 2026 and 2027. As with all early-stage option structures, the eventual scale of Lacsha's payoff depends on drill results Latin Metals will not itself control, since the company does not intend to operate the project once Minsur's drilling begins.View Latin Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/latin-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Darrin Campbell, President & CEO of Namibia Critical Metals Inc.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/namibia-critical-metals-tsxvnmi-japan-backed-path-to-dfs-in-q2-2027-9891Recording date: 13th August 2026Namibia Critical Metals (TSXV:NMI) has reached a pivotal moment in the development of its Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth Project in Namibia. In July 2026, the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) and Toyota Tsusho Corporation completed a C$23 million earn-in commitment, roughly 18 months ahead of the original March 2028 schedule, securing a combined 50% participating interest in the project. The two partners formed TJ Namibia Rare Earths Corporation (TJNREC) to hold that interest, and JOGMEC has separately committed up to C$47.668 million (approximately ¥5.5 billion) to capitalise the new entity, funding Lofdal through Definitive Feasibility Study completion and toward a Final Investment Decision.Critically, all project funding from this point forward is structured as non-interest-bearing, non-dilutive Pre-FID Capital Funding - a mechanism CEO Darrin Campbell described as a temporary free carry that removes near-term financing risk without forcing Namibia Critical Metals to make a dilution decision until FID itself. The company retains the option to participate at up to 45% ownership or dilute to a carried floor of 21%, with management signalling a preference to retain maximum exposure given the project's economics.The economics, laid out in a December 2025 PFS, show a 13-year mine life producing 2,000 tonnes of total rare earth oxide annually, including significant dysprosium, terbium and yttrium output. A base case using moderate pricing generates a $275 million after-tax NPV and 19% IRR on $348 million of capex; a divergent case reflecting the elevated non-Chinese pricing seen over the past 18 months delivers a $748 million after-tax NPV and 35% IRR. Campbell noted current market conditions increasingly resemble the divergent scenario.Technical work continues in parallel. A 13,000-metre, 83-hole drill programme launched in June 2026 is targeting a maiden resource at the Area 5 xenotime system, the project's first deep test hole at Area 4 to approximately 800 metres for underground mining studies, and infill drilling at Area 2B. SGS has been awarded pilot-scale flotation and hydrometallurgical testwork contracts aimed at producing separated - rather than mixed - light and heavy rare earth products, which Campbell said better matches offtaker demand. A DFS completion target of Q3 2027 is intended to lead into an FID shortly after.Despite this de-risking and the depth of sovereign-industrial backing, Campbell argues the market continues to price Lofdal as an early-stage exploration story, at roughly 0.15-0.2x price-to-NAV versus 0.4-0.8x for comparable PFS/DFS-stage peers. He attributes the gap to thin liquidity, minimal institutional coverage as the company has not needed to raise meaningful capital in six years due to JOGMEC funding, and market confusion over the earn-in's dilution mechanics. Final offtake pricing terms with the Japanese consortium remain under negotiation, representing a further catalyst to watch as the project approaches FID.View Namibia Critical Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/namibia-critical-metals-incSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Mark Selby, CEO of Canada NickelOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/nickels-next-chapter-tight-supply-steady-demand-and-higher-price-floors-11311Recording date: 13th August 2026Canada Nickel Company Inc. (TSXV:CNC) has reached a milestone that few Canadian mining developers achieve: a positive federal decision statement for its 100%-owned Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project, the first project to complete Canada's Impact Assessment Act process from application through to decision since the legislation came into force in 2019. CEO Mark Selby frames the approval as a de-risking event on three fronts: it differentiates Crawford from peer projects still mid-permitting when courting strategic partners; it removes a major source of hesitation for larger institutional investors who had been waiting on permitting clarity; and it strengthens Canada Nickel's standing with government funding bodies already engaging with the company.That standing is reflected in Crawford's selection as one of five projects referred to the federal Major Projects Office, the earliest-stage project among that group, and as one of three projects named to Ontario's One Project, One Process fast-track framework, alongside a Thunder Bay lithium project and Kinross's Great Bear gold project.On financing, Selby laid out a capital stack in which government-linked sources do much of the heavy lifting. Of the approximately $1 billion in equity Canada Nickel needs to build Crawford, $600 million is covered by refundable investment tax credits, and a further $100 million comes from a Samsung commitment. The company is working with Scotiabank and Deutsche Bank on an additional $100-200 million through a further project stake sale or structured offtake financing. On the debt side, a letter of intent from Export Development Canada is progressing toward a term sheet, backed by four years of dialogue with global export credit agencies, and a roughly two-month-old mandate with Scandinavian bank SB1 Markets is intended to produce a bridge facility that draws on tax credits during construction rather than after.The company closed a $20 million financing overnight ahead of this interview, taken up entirely by a single family office, and separately upsized a non-brokered private placement on  from C$15.0 million to up to C$21 million in gross proceeds, scheduled to close around August 28, 2026. Selby flagged further financing initiatives expected in October and November 2026.With funding in hand, Canada Nickel is moving into detailed engineering and long-lead procurement, targeting a construction decision by mid-2027 and breaking ground by the end of that year, a schedule that has slipped from the year-end 2026 target in Crux's earlier coverage. Seasonal construction constraints in the Abitibi region mean any further delay risks pushing activity into the following year's window.Beyond Crawford, Selby pointed to the Reid Nickel Sulphide Project, roughly 39 kilometres northwest of Timmins, where August 2026 drilling returned the highest-grade intervals reported to date: 1.01% nickel over 4.5 metres within a broader 576.6-metre interval averaging 0.29% nickel. Reid's current resource stands at 0.87 billion Indicated tonnes and 1.45 billion Inferred tonnes, part of what Selby describes as a wider Timmins Nickel District pipeline behind Crawford.View Canada Nickel's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/canada-nickelSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Campbell Baird, CEO of Asante GoldRecording date: 13th August 2026Asante Gold Corporation is working through an operational and leadership reset four months into Campbell Baird's tenure as Acting CEO, following the retirement of predecessor Dave Anthony. The company's investment case for 2026 hinges less on new catalysts than on execution against an already-disclosed plan: converting roughly $50 million of deferred or cancelled capital expenditure, combined with a narrower project focus, into the guided 275,000-300,000 ounce production range at an AISC of $3,200-$3,600 per ounce for the full year.The two operating assets are pulling in different directions operationally. Chirano has provided stability throughout 2026, delivering a consistent 10,000-11,000 ounces monthly even as Bibiani absorbed the impact of a January wall slip and an extended, costly stripping campaign in its Main Pit. Bibiani's ore has also proven more sulfidic than originally modelled, prompting a shift toward roughly 50% flotation processing and a sulfide recovery plant now being tied into the wider circuit - a process Baird estimated was roughly two months from completion.The key catalyst for H2 2026 performance is grade: Bibiani's head grade is expected to move from approximately 1.3-1.4 g/t over the past six months toward a targeted 1.7-1.8 g/t as mining progresses deeper into the Main Pit, directly underpinning the guided cost reduction weighted to Q4.On the resource side, Asante's 5 August NI 43-101 update showed combined Measured and Indicated Resources of 4.6 million ounces across both operations - effectively flat against December 2023 levels despite more than 430,000 ounces of production in the interim. Chirano's resource base grew materially (+443,000 ounces M&I since December 2023), supporting a seven-year mine life, while Bibiani's declined 17% on constrained exploration spend and open-pit depletion, even as its Main Pit is interpreted as geologically open to roughly 1,400 metres against only ~600 metres of current definition. The company frames the broader 80-kilometre Chirano-Bibiani Corridor as structurally comparable to far larger, more extensively drilled greenstone belts (Lefroy-Boulder, Abitibi), with a $23.4 million exploration budget allocated for 2026.On costs, management's own framing is notably conservative: Baird explicitly ruled out sub-$2,000/oz AISC as a credible near-term outcome, targeting below $3,000/oz only as a longer-term objective. This tempers what might otherwise be an overly optimistic reading of the company's cost trajectory, and is worth weighing against the wider sector-level cost inflation (diesel, labour, supply chain) that Baird cited as affecting gold producers broadly, not just Asante.The clearest risk flag for investors is guidance continuity: Asante's prior annual production target of 400,000-500,000 ounces remains formally withdrawn, with management stating directly it is not planning to reinstate it. The 275,000-300,000 ounce 2026 range should be treated as the only current, company-sanctioned figure.View Asante Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/asante-goldSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Nick Appleyard, CEO, TriStar GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/tristar-gold-tsxvtsg-legal-resolution-could-unlock-100m-in-shareholder-value-8034Recording date: 13th August 2026TriStar Gold Inc. (TSXV: TSG) is a Brazil-focused gold developer whose sole asset, the Castelo de Sonhos project in Pará State, presents one of the more striking valuation disconnects among development-stage gold names in the Americas. The May 2025 pre-feasibility study update outlines 1.4 million ounces of probable reserves at 1.1 g/t gold, with total indicated and inferred resources of 2.5 million ounces inclusive of reserves. At the study's $2,200/oz gold base case, the project generates a post-tax internal rate of return of 40% and a post-tax net present value of $603 million against initial capital of approximately $296 million, rising to a 72% IRR and $1.35 billion NPV at $3,200/oz gold. Mining is shallow open pit with 98% recovery and no sulphides, and the deposit remains open along an approximately 19km strike of mineralised conglomerate reef.Despite those economics, TriStar's market capitalisation stood at just C$63.6 million as of end-July 2026, a valuation that puts the company at roughly $20 per ounce of measured and indicated resource against a peer median near $94/oz, and 0.02x price-to-net-asset-value against a 0.3x peer median, according to company-compiled comparables. Management attributes the gap almost entirely to a federal civil action, initiated by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) and Brazil's National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI), arguing that TriStar's state-level environmental permit should instead have gone through a federal process involving an Indigenous Component Study and formal consultation with Kayapó communities in the region. TriStar and the State of Pará dispute this, arguing the project never triggered the thresholds that would require federal-level permitting. Critically, the underlying Licença Prévia (LP) permit remains valid; courts have rejected every injunction request against it, and the case is currently in an evidentiary phase awaiting a judge's ruling.CEO Nick Appleyard has stated a target of reaching a negotiated resolution, under which TriStar would retain its permit while voluntarily completing indigenous studies ahead of construction, before the end of 2026, with the market potentially taking a further three to six months to fully reflect that outcome. In the interim, the company is planning a drill programme around the high-grade Esperança South zone, expected to mobilise around October 2026, intended to support an eventual feasibility study.Beyond a standalone build, TriStar maintains an active data room with what management describes as roughly half a dozen Brazil-based candidates plus international parties, positioning the asset as a plausible acquisition target once the legal overhang clears. The company holds approximately US$10 million in cash against 397.5 million shares issued.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/tristar-gold-incSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Christian Easterday, Managing Director and CEO, Hot Chili LimitedOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/hot-chili-tsxvhch-water-business-with-1b-npv-to-fund-copper-project-6917Recording date: 10th August 2026Hot Chili Limited (ASX/TSXV: HCH, OTCQX: HHLKF) is advancing the Costa Fuego Copper-Gold Project on Chile's Atacama coastline, positioning itself as one of only five independent (non-major-controlled) copper developers globally with a project capable of exceeding 100,000 tonnes of annual copper-equivalent production. Managing Director and CEO Christian Easterday, who has led the company since its 2010 ASX listing, argues the market has not yet caught up with the scale of the opportunity.The company's March 2025 Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) outlined a 20-year mine life (14 years at primary production rates), average annual production of roughly 116,000 tonnes of copper-equivalent, a post-tax NPV of US$1.2 billion, and a post-tax IRR of 19% at a long-term copper price of US$4.30/lb. Start-up capital was estimated at US$1.27 billion.The central near-term catalyst is La Verde, a copper-gold porphyry discovery acquired in November 2024 roughly 35km from Costa Fuego's planned processing hub. Extensive drilling (three rigs, with a fourth arriving) has defined a broad, high-grade mineralised footprint, and management expects a maiden resource estimate of approximately 500 million tonnes before the end of 2026. Folding La Verde into a restated Costa Fuego PFS is expected to lift post-tax NPV toward US$2 billion and post-tax IRR toward the mid-30s%, while shortening payback from roughly 4.5 years to 2.5 years and improving the project's position on the industry cost curve.On valuation, Hot Chili highlights two benchmarking metrics: an EV/lb-of-reserve multiple of roughly 3.8 cents against a peer average near 11 cents (implying a 2.9x re-rating opportunity), and a price-to-net-asset-value gap of roughly 2.3x versus recent comparable copper-sector transactions.Financing is addressed primarily through the company's Huasco Water asset — the only maritime licence with permitted seawater access in the Huasco Valley. Stage 1 (seawater supply to Costa Fuego, 500 L/s) is already funded within the existing PFS. A second maritime licence, which would unlock a larger multi-user desalination business (Stage 2: 1,300 L/s, ~US$977 million post-tax NPV) serving neighbouring major-miner projects, has been in Chile's approvals process for roughly five years and remains on track according to recent government contact, following an earlier delay tied to a change in administration. Management frames monetising this asset as a way to cover a substantial share of the project's equity requirement without heavy shareholder dilution. Additional untapped levers include uncommitted gold production (48,000-70,000 oz/year with La Verde) and roughly 40% of concentrate offtake left uncommitted outside the company's existing Glencore agreement.Glencore holds a 7.5% equity stake and an offtake agreement for up to 60% of concentrate for the first eight years of production, on benchmark terms. The company has also strengthened its board, adding Stuart Matthews (formerly EVP at Goldfields, with five major mine builds) as Independent Non-Executive Chair.Near-term catalysts include the maiden La Verde resource estimate (year-end target), a restated Costa Fuego PFS, EIA submission (targeted Q2 2027), progress on the second Huasco Water maritime licence, and an ongoing strategic partnering process. Final Investment Decision is targeted for 2029, with first production guided for 2031.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/hot-chili-limitedSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

 Interview with James Gurry, Managing Director & Jozef Story, Exploration Manager of Aureka GoldRecording date: 11th August 2026Aureka (ASX:AKA) is an ASX-listed gold explorer and near-term developer operating a cluster of projects across Victoria's Stawell Corridor and St Arnaud goldfield, all within a 45-minute to one-hour drive of one another. The company was reconstituted from a distressed tenement package that Managing Director James Gurry acquired for under $1 million in 2023, when gold prices were depressed, and relisted on the ASX at the end of 2024. Since the start of 2025, Aureka has drilled continuously and lifted its JORC resource base by 50%.The company's flagship asset is the 100%-owned Irvine Gold Project, which sits 16km from the Stawell Gold Mine, a roughly 5-million-ounce historical producer. Irvine currently hosts an inferred resource of 398,300 ounces at 2.59 g/t gold, following a 94,000-ounce, 36% increase to the Resolution lode announced on 18 June 2026. That increase was driven by a reinterpreted structural and geological model, led by Exploration Manager Jozef Story, that defined 11 new geological domains around the deposit. Beyond the current resource, Aureka carries Advanced and Conceptual Exploration Targets that, combined with the unchanged Adventure lode target, exceed 600,000 ounces. Recent drilling identified a high-grade structure the company calls the Tenacity Fault, which returned the project's best assay to date: 10m at 12.1 g/t gold from 413m, including 0.3m at 183 g/t gold.Rather than pursue Irvine's larger development in isolation, Aureka's near-term strategy centres on the brownfield Comstock project near St Arnaud, roughly 70km from Irvine, within a historic goldfield that produced approximately 400,000 ounces at 15 g/t. Comstock hosts a 56,500-ounce inferred resource at 1.21 g/t gold and 2.14 g/t silver, plus a 112,000 to 116,000-ounce exploration target. The company has signed a toll milling agreement with the nearby Wedderburn mill, described by management as project-agnostic and therefore usable for Irvine ore in future, and has submitted a production licence application for Comstock, targeting first ore movement within roughly 12 months. Management is guiding to first-year Comstock production of 3,000 to 7,000 ounces, an estimated A$30 million to A$50 million in revenue at current gold prices, and a targeted margin of around 50%.The stated strategy is to use Comstock's free cash flow to fund ongoing exploration at Irvine without relying primarily on dilutive capital raises, while pursuing Irvine toward a longer-term development decision that management estimates is roughly three years from a first mining licence. Aureka currently has no debt and two diamond rigs active, one on each project. Management points to valuation support from the tenement package's prior history: the same assets, under a previous owner, traded up to approximately $150 million in market capitalisation in 2020, at roughly half today's gold price, against Aureka's current market capitalisation of under $20 million. Key near-term catalysts include Comstock's production licence approval and further assay results from the Tenacity Fault and Walker zone drilling programmes.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/navarre-mineralsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com 

Interview with Blake Hylands, CEO of Lithium Ionic Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/lithium-ionic-tsxvlth-low-cost-developer-targets-construction-start-h2-2026-8741Recording date: 6th August 2026Lithium Ionic Corp has agreed to sell its non-core Baixa Grande lithium deposit in Brazil to PLS Group for up to US$70 million, a move that accelerates funding for the company's flagship Bandeira Lithium Project toward a construction decision.The transaction delivers US$37.5 million in cash consideration, split between US$30 million payable at closing (expected within months) and US$7.5 million due at the buyer's final investment decision or an earlier agreed date. Additionally, Lithium Ionic retains a 2% royalty on Baixa Grande, estimated at US$20-30 million in value. The sale caps a three-year hold on an asset Lithium Ionic always viewed as secondary to Bandeira, generating roughly eight times the company's original acquisition cost.Baixa Grande sits adjacent to ground PLS acquired through its 2025 purchase of Latin Resources, with geology representing a natural extension of the same lithium system. The deposit holds approximately 20 million tonnes of identified resource, work that helped drive the eventual sale price.Proceeds from the sale provide immediate flexibility to order long-lead items, including the processing mill, and fund early operational costs at Bandeira ahead of construction financing closure. This sequencing allows the company to advance procurement without waiting for separate debt or equity raises.Engineering work is nearly complete, and the underground portal contractor shortlist has been narrowed following a tender process.Lithium Ionic has secured binding five-year offtake terms with Chinese converter Yahua, covering 170,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate annually at a US$1,000 per tonne floor price with no ceiling. This structure provides lenders visibility that the project generates cash on every tonne sold, supporting debt serviceability discussions.With projected all-in sustaining costs near US$600 per tonne and spodumene pricing above US$2,000 per tonne, the project offers substantial margins. Brazil's open global trading position provides additional flexibility compared to projects tied to regional buyers.Management highlights a significant valuation disconnect, with Lithium Ionic trading below 0.1x P/NAV compared to producing peer Sigma Lithium's 1–1.1x multiple. CEO Blake Hylands frames this as a potential tenfold re-rating opportunity as the company progresses through permitting, financing, and construction milestones toward production targeted for late 2027 into 2028.View Lithium Ionic's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/lithium-ionic-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Alex Underwood, Managing Director, Beetaloo EnergyOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/empire-energy-asxeeg-racing-to-unlock-vast-australian-shale-gas-resource-4901Recording date: 7th August 2026Beetaloo Energy Australia, formerly Empire Energy Group, is moving toward a crucial milestone in the development of the Northern Territory's Beetaloo Basin, with first gas from its Carpentaria pilot now targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. The updated schedule is later than the company's previously indicated 2025 timeframe, reflecting construction and commissioning realities rather than a change in the project's resource base or contracted sales position.Three wells have been connected to a pilot pad located approximately five kilometres from the Carpentaria gas plant, whose construction and flowline installation are largely complete. The project is supported by a binding 10-year gas sales agreement with the Northern Territory Government. The contract provides fixed-price revenue with a consumer price index-linked escalator, giving Beetaloo visibility over near-term cash flows. Initial supply is expected to reach 10 terajoules per day, potentially increasing by another 15 terajoules per day once pipeline-flow infrastructure is upgraded.The company reports approximately A$125 million in available liquidity, divided roughly between cash and undrawn facilities, including Macquarie Bank funding for the gas plant. Management says this provides sufficient funding through first gas without an immediate need for further equity.However, well economics remain dependent on substantial cost reductions. Recent wells cost more than A$50 million each, partly because of Australia's remote logistics and high transport costs. Beetaloo expects year-round drilling and stimulation to eventually halve well costs, supporting targeted internal rates of return of 30% to 50%.A separate growth opportunity comes from a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Halliburton for Beetaloo Digital, a proposed AI data centre near Darwin. Halliburton would contribute power-generation expertise, while Beetaloo's role would remain focused on supplying gas rather than owning or operating the facility.Longer term, demand could come from Northern Territory industry, east-coast gas shortages and LNG exports. Nevertheless, the investment case remains exposed to first-gas delays, high initial well costs, third-party pipeline investment and the uncommitted status of the data-centre proposal.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/empire-energy-groupSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Chad Peters, President & CEO of Ridgeline Minerals Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/ridgeline-minerals-tsxvrdg-600m-free-carry-potential-on-partner-funded-crd-discovery-8609Recording date: 7th August 2026Ridgeline Minerals has completed the sale of four early-stage Nevada gold exploration projects to Nevada Gold Mines (NGM), generating US$23.15 million in cash and a return of more than 350% on its invested capital. The transaction, which closed on August 3, involved Ridgeline's interests in the Swift and Black Ridge earn-in agreements, as well as its Bell Creek and Atlas projects.The sale gives Ridgeline approximately C$33 million in cash and C$3 million in marketable securities. Together, those assets exceed the company's market capitalisation of about C$24.5 million, substantially reducing its near-term financing and dilution risk. Management says the strengthened treasury will support new project staking, exploration, potential acquisitions and, possibly, shareholder returns.Ridgeline retained its flagship Selena project, a 39-square-kilometre carbonate replacement deposit target being advanced through a US$20 million earn-in agreement with South32. South32 has committed US$4 million for drilling in 2026, fully funding the programme. The project gained importance after the 2025 discovery of high-grade massive sulphide mineralisation at the Chinchilla Sulphide zone. South32 has compared the early-stage discovery with its Taylor deposit in Arizona, although Selena does not yet have a formal mineral resource estimate.The company also continues to own Big Blue and Coyote outright. Big Blue is a copper-silver-tungsten exploration project with encouraging historical and recent drill and trench results. Coyote is an undrilled Carlin-type gold target located near NGM's Black Ridge project and approximately four kilometres from the Fallon gold resource, making it a potential partnership or transaction candidate.Ridgeline additionally holds a 17.3% stake in Spartan Metals and a 1% royalty on metals from Spartan's Eagle tungsten project. The company's next challenge is converting its financial strength and exploration portfolio into further discoveries, particularly through Selena's 2026 drilling and future work at its 100%-owned Nevada properties.View Ridgeline Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/ridgeline-mineralsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Robin Dunbar, President & CEO of Grid Metals Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/grid-metals-tsxvgrdm-positioning-for-near-term-production-in-the-ultra-rare-cesium-market-9448Recording date: 6th August 2026Grid Metals Corp. is advancing the Falcon West project in southeastern Manitoba toward a maiden mineral resource estimate for cesium and lithium. The company has commissioned SGS Canada Inc. to prepare a NI 43-101-compliant estimate for the Lucy South pegmatite, with results expected in fall 2026. The announcement represents a potentially important milestone because pollucite, the primary cesium-bearing mineral targeted at Lucy South, is exceptionally rare. Only three pollucite deposits worldwide have ever reached production.Lucy South is located approximately 130 kilometres east of Winnipeg, directly beside the Trans-Canada Highway. Its mineralisation is shallow, occurring from less than two metres to roughly 40 metres below surface. Drilling has outlined a cesium-rich zone measuring approximately 120 by 50 metres. Recent results included an intercept grading 5.44% cesium oxide and 1.52% lithium oxide over 2.75 metres, including 1.55 metres grading 8.49% cesium oxide.Grid believes the project could be developed using a relatively simple processing approach. The proposed flowsheet involves crushing and X-ray transmission ore sorting, without water, flotation, milling, or a tailings facility. Management has estimated total project capital costs at less than C$10 million, comparing the concept more closely to a quarry than a conventional mine.The project is supported by Avenir Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Agnico Eagle Mines. Avenir invested C$3.75 million for an initial 15% interest in Falcon West, while Grid retains 85% and operatorship. Avenir also holds options linked to the Lucy South resource, a future preliminary economic assessment, and mine-plan milestones.Beyond cesium, Grid offers exposure to a broader Manitoba portfolio. Teck Resources is funding work at the Makwa nickel project, Boliden can earn an interest in Thompson East, and Grid also holds the Mayville copper and Donner lithium projects.The Lucy South resource estimate is therefore both a technical milestone and a potential valuation catalyst, while the company's partner-funded portfolio provides diversification across several critical minerals.View Grid Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/grid-metals-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Recording date: 6th August 2026Olive Resource Capital posted a modest decline in July, with its portfolio down just over 1% for the month. Management characterizes the result as effectively flat, given the heightened volatility that defined the period and the fund's favorable performance relative to its internal peer benchmark.Oil and copper led commodity markets higher during July. Oil rebounded on renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, while copper climbed to fresh yearly highs as Chinese warehouse inventories drew down faster than anticipated and production disruptions hit major Chilean mines. Together, these factors created a constructive supply-demand backdrop that management expects to persist in the near term.Precious metals staged a late-month recovery, supported by a US dollar reversal tied to the Federal Open Market Committee's July meeting. Despite gains in gold and silver, precious metals equities broadly lagged, with some declining even as underlying metal prices rose. This divergence between commodity prices and related stocks has been a recurring theme through the first half of 2026.Olive Resource Capital used the month's volatility strategically. Management deployed capital during risk-off periods and leveraged thinner summer liquidity to add positions in energy, uranium, copper, and gold. Notable additions included new buying in CANEX Metals following its consolidation with Gold Basin Resources, and continued accumulation in Prospector Metals, which has moved into the fund's top ten holdings.Looking ahead, management is watching for early drill results from Prospector Metals in early September as a key near-term catalyst. The fund is also positioning for a seasonal pickup in news flow and financing activity through the autumn, consistent with its historical pattern of using the July-August window for accumulation ahead of stronger market conditions in the fall.The Strait of Hormuz situation remains the dominant macro driver, though management notes the market appears to be growing less sensitive to individual headlines as investors conclude the current level of aggression is unsustainable for all parties involved.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Hugh Agro, President & CEO of Revival Gold Inc.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/made-in-america-revival-gold-tsxvrvg-the-case-for-us-based-gold-development-10516Recording date: 6th August 2026Revival Gold Inc. (TSXV:RVG) is a Toronto-headquartered gold developer advancing two brownfield, pure-gold assets in the western United States: the Mercur Gold Project in Utah and the Beartrack-Arnett Gold Project in Idaho. Both sit on historically productive ground with existing infrastructure, which the company argues reduces development risk and capital intensity relative to greenfield alternatives.Mercur, at the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) stage, is the company's near-term production driver. The May 2025 PEA outlined a 66 Mt resource grading 0.60 g/t gold for 1.275 million ounces contained, average annual production of 95,600 ounces over a 10-year mine life, initial capex of $208 million, a 56% after-tax internal rate of return, and an after-tax NPV of $741 million at a 5% discount rate and $3,000 gold (rising to $1,270 million at $4,000 gold). The company is roughly halfway through an 18,000-metre drilling programme aimed at converting inferred resources to measured and indicated categories, with a Preliminary Feasibility Study targeted for completion by the end of Q1 2027 and construction decision expected in 2028.Beartrack-Arnett is further along, at Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) stage for its first-phase open-pit heap leach restart, with a 2023 PFS outlining 65,300 oz gold per year over eight years at $1,248/oz all-in sustaining cost, $109 million pre-production capex, and an after-tax NPV of $484 million (80% after-tax IRR) at $3,000 gold. Behind that sits a second-phase, higher-grade underground opportunity at the Joss zone, currently an inferred resource of 877,000 ounces at 4.05 g/t. A 5,500-metre 2026 drilling programme targeting expansion of that underground resource recently returned one of the project's strongest intercepts to date: 3.43 g/t gold over 131.7 metres, including 6.56 g/t gold over 42.5 metres, at hole BT26-255D, extending known continuity to roughly 850 metres of vertical extent. The zone remains open along strike and at depth.Combined, the two projects represent an after-tax NAV of $1.225 billion at a 5% discount rate and $3,000 gold price, against a basic market capitalisation of approximately C$211 million, a 0.11x price-to-NAV ratio that the company positions against a 0.35x average for US developer peers, citing S&P Global Market Intelligence data. Estimated cash of C$27.8 million is stated to fund both projects through to Mercur's construction decision.Ownership is institutionally weighted, with institutions and corporates representing 59% of the capital structure, including EMR Capital, Konwave, and Dundee Corporation among named holders. Basic shares outstanding stand at 319.4 million, with 359.6 million fully diluted.Key near-term catalysts include the Mercur PFS (end of Q1 2027), pending Joss wedge-hole assay results, initial Mercur metallurgical column test results (expected before the end of August 2026), and continued Mercur infill and expansion drilling results through the remainder of 2026.View Revival Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/revival-gold-incSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Aaron Revelle, MD & CEO of Pursuit MineralsRecording date: 5th August 2026Pursuit Minerals is advancing a small-scale lithium development strategy in Argentina while preparing to test a newly defined gold-silver exploration system. The company's flagship Rio Grande Sur project, located on the Rio Grande Salar in Salta province, is supported by a completed Pre-Feasibility Study for an initial 5,000-tonne-per-year lithium carbonate operation.The study outlines a net present value of approximately $364 million, estimated capital costs of $120 million to $157 million and an internal rate of return of about 22%. With forecast operating costs of roughly $6,500 per tonne, the project is positioned in the lower quartile of the global cost curve. Pursuit has also produced technical-grade lithium carbonate with 99.5% purity from its pilot plant, providing practical validation of the proposed processing flowsheet.The company is relocating the pilot plant to Rio Grande Sur to test the process using site brine and local operating conditions. It has also expanded its landholding by 1,362 hectares through an acquisition from REMSA, bringing the project's total tenement area to approximately 10,595 hectares. Diamond drilling is now underway at the Mito target, where geophysical surveys identified a deep, basin-scale conductive anomaly.Pursuit is assessing larger production scenarios through Stage 2 Pre-Feasibility Study addendums, including lithium carbonate and lithium chloride options. Its proposed development model is to secure an offtake partner, use project debt to fund the initial operation and expand production after the base plant generates cash flow.The company's second asset, the Sascha Marcelina gold-silver project in Santa Cruz province, has advanced following geological mapping that identified five priority targets. An induced polarisation survey is underway, with maiden drilling expected to begin from September 2026.Pursuit held $3.068 million in cash at 30 June 2026 and owned a $4.82 million stake in Kendrick Resources. While its modest market capitalisation and low-capex strategy may offer leverage to improving lithium demand, securing construction finance remains the critical challenge.View Pursuit Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/pursuit-minerals-limitedSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Philip Williams. Director & CEO of IsoEnergy Ltd.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/isoenergy-tsxiso-toro-acquisition-adds-75-mlbs-of-uranium-to-portfolio-growth-plan-10865Recording date: 5th August 2026IsoEnergy Ltd. (NYSE American: ISOU; TSX: ISO) has entered into a definitive agreement with DISA Technologies to form DISA Uranium Corporation, a new technology-enabled uranium company combining IsoEnergy's Utah mine portfolio with DISA's proprietary ore-processing and remediation businesses. Under the agreement, IsoEnergy will contribute its Utah Portfolio, comprising the Tony M Mine, Daneros Mine, Rim Mine, Sage Plain Project, and Flatiron Project, in exchange for 1,677,350 shares of common stock in the new entity.DISA Uranium has secured commitments for a US$105 million private placement led by Tembo Capital, with strategic participation from BHP Ventures, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Valor Equity Partners, Evok Innovations, Halliburton Labs, and Veriten. IsoEnergy is contributing US$33 million to that round and will emerge as DISA Uranium's largest shareholder, holding approximately 33% on a fully diluted basis alongside two board seats. The financing implies a pro forma fully diluted equity value of roughly US$505 million for the new company.At the core of the platform is DISA's High-Pressure Slurry Ablation technology, which preliminary testing at Tony M suggests can reduce feedstock volumes by around 78% while recovering approximately 88% of contained uranium, materially improving the economics of trucking and processing. DISA Uranium also holds the only US Nuclear Regulatory Commission license authorising uranium recovery from legacy mine waste across multiple sites, giving it access to more than 15,000 identified abandoned uranium mine locations across the western United States.For IsoEnergy shareholders, the transaction crystallises value from a previously standalone asset base while preserving meaningful upside through continued ownership and governance influence. Management has also flagged early-stage plans to explore a new domestic uranium processing mill, the first of its kind built in the US in more than four decades, subject to feedstock consolidation. The transaction is expected to close in August 2026.—Learn more: https://cruxinvestor.com/companies/isoenergySign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Recording date: 3rd August 2026The royalty and streaming sector rarely moves this fast, yet seven structurally distinct transactions closed or were announced in barely two months—ranging from a US$1.9 billion uranium-and-land merger to a $132.5 million iron ore royalty tied to America's critical minerals push. The pace signals a sector adapting to a new reality: capital is increasingly pricing time-to-production risk, not just geological risk.Uranium Royalty Corp's combination with Sweetwater Royalties dominates by headline value, implying a US$1.9 billion enterprise value for the Orion- and Ontario Teachers'-backed platform. Unlike conventional single-commodity deals, Sweetwater bundles uranium royalties with substantial land and trona-royalty positions in Wyoming. At the opposite end of the risk spectrum sits LunR Royalties' all-equity silver stream on Lundin Gold's Fruta del Norte mine in Ecuador—a deal with a payback period stretching into decades, reflecting how buyers must reach to compete with Silver Wheaton for scarce, high-quality silver assets.Between these extremes lie diverse structures: Triple Flag Precious Metals' US$440 million gold stream on Queensland's newly restarted Ravenswood mine; Elemental Royalty Corp's C$327 million acquisition of Vizsla Royalties' district-scale Panuco NSR in Mexico; a zero-cost reserve expansion on Elemental's Karlawinda royalty expected to lift annual payments toward $12.3 million; The Metals Royalty Company's $132.5 million Mesabi iron ore royalty in Minnesota; and Canadian Copper Inc's $44 million project-finance package with OR Royalties.Electric Royalties CEO Brendan Yurik warns that headline percentages mask critical buried terms. Automatic thresholds can halve or zero out payments once milestones are hit; net profits interests (NPIs) pay nothing if operators aren't profitable; and buyback clauses create asymmetric risks. Yurik's own firm holds 43 royalties across eight or nine metals in safe jurisdictions—a diversification strategy deliberately avoiding the single-asset concentration of $300 million-plus deals.Underpinning the activity is a demand picture investors are only beginning to model. Five years ago, copper forecasts assumed linear EV adoption; today, AI-driven demand alone could add roughly 50% to consumption over coming decades, with robotics poised to rival that impact. Supply remains equally constrained: ore deposits take millions of years to form, permitting runs a decade or more, and many producing mines are in their final years. The royalty surge reflects capital positioning for a structural gap between demand nobody has fully modelled and supply that cannot expand on anything but a multi-decade timeline.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Rodrigo Roso, Director & CEO of Scotia MetalsRecording date: 30th July 2026Scotia Metals Corp has emerged as a significant new player in Canada's lithium sector, positioning itself as the largest lithium landholder in Nova Scotia with 37,268 hectares across 43 licences. Formed through a July 2026 business combination, the company controls a land package extending more than 80 kilometres along a प्रमुख geological corridor, directly adjacent to the Brazil Lake spodumene deposit, which hosts an estimated 10 million tonnes grading 1.20% Li₂O.Early exploration at Scotia's flagship Green Wolf target has produced encouraging results, including more than 30 spodumene-bearing boulder samples grading between 1% and 3.40% Li₂O. The size, distribution, and angular nature of these boulders suggest multiple nearby pegmatite sources, indicating strong potential for bedrock mineralisation within the company's claims.Scotia Metals is led by CEO Rodrigo Roso and a management team with experience in building and exiting resource companies, including roles at Galaxy Resources, Allkem, and K92 Mining. The company raised approximately $5.8 million alongside its listing and maintains a tightly held share structure, with about 50% owned by insiders and 40% by long-term backers, aligning interests toward sustained project development.The company plans to begin scout drilling in the third quarter of 2026, followed by more extensive resource-definition drilling aimed at supporting a maiden resource estimate. However, timelines for this milestone remain unclear, with guidance ranging from late 2026 to 2027.Scotia benefits from strong infrastructure, including proximity to ports, highways, and power, as well as supportive provincial policies for critical minerals. With lithium prices rebounding sharply after a recent downturn and long-term demand driven by electric vehicles and energy storage, Scotia Metals is positioning itself to capitalize on a strengthening market while advancing one of Atlantic Canada's most prospective new lithium districts.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Chris Eger, CEO & Managing Director of Resolute Mining.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/resolute-mining-lsersg-gold-turnaround-reaches-inflection-point-5324Recording date: 30th July 2026Resolute Mining is executing a multi-year transformation from a single-jurisdiction Mali gold producer into a diversified, four-country West African miner, and CEO Chris Eger's message to investors is that the market hasn't yet caught up with the progress made in 2026.The near-term production base remains Syama (Mali) and Mako (Senegal), guided to a combined 250,000-275,000oz in 2026 at an AISC of $2,000-2,200/oz. Syama is completing a sulphide conversion project this year that lifts processing capacity to 4.0Mtpa, while Mako is bridging toward its next production phase via satellite deposits at Tomboronkoto and Bantaco, expected to extend that operation's life to 2033.The growth story sits in Côte d'Ivoire. Doropo, acquired from AngloGold Ashanti in 2025, is now under construction and tracking toward first gold in H2 2028. At a US$4,000/oz gold price, the project's post-tax NPV is US$2,543 million with a 72% IRR and a 1.1-year payback — economics that look, on paper, difficult to ignore. Construction is well underway: 74 hectares cleared, 20km of access roads built, and key long-lead equipment packages awarded. Reserves of 2.5 million ounces sit within a 4.4 million ounce resource base that Eger expects to grow toward 3.5-4 million ounces of reserves over time.A second Côte d'Ivoire asset, the ABC project, saw its inferred resource expanded to over 3.0 million ounces in July 2026, up from 2.2 million ounces, following an aggressive 31,000m drill programme. Management is positioning ABC as Resolute's potential fourth mine, targeting feasibility study completion by the end of 2027.Financially, the company is in a strong position to fund this pipeline without near-term equity dilution: $317 million in net cash, $426 million in available liquidity, and freshly secured local bank facilities of $155 million (with $105 million more expected) to supplement Doropo's construction financing.The key risk factor, and the one Eger addressed most directly, is Mali's evolving fiscal and security environment. Royalty rates have risen materially since 2024, shifting the government-operator cash split from roughly 50/50 toward 60-65% in the government's favour, a trend Eger frames as a broader African pattern rather than Mali-specific resource nationalism. Security incidents in late 2025 and April 2026 disrupted operations temporarily, though Eger describes the situation as improving as of his most recent site visit.Valuation-wise, Resolute trades at the bottom of its West African peer group: 0.4x P/NAV, US$172/oz on reserves and US$63/oz on resources, all below the peer averages and, in several cases, the lowest in the comparable set. Management's thesis is straightforward: as Doropo comes online and the portfolio's geographic concentration in Mali falls from its current ~60% share of value, the valuation discount should narrow. For investors, the catalysts to watch over the next 12-18 months are Doropo construction milestones, ABC's feasibility progression, and any further developments in Mali's fiscal or security environment.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/resolute-miningSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Drew Clark, President and CEO, Summit RoyaltiesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/summit-royalties-tsxvsum-targets-15m-revenue-run-rate-with-new-gold-streams-by-2028-10897Recording date: 28th July 2026Summit Royalties has added a new financing tool to a growth strategy that, until now, has relied almost entirely on equity. On July 27, the company announced a credit agreement with National Bank of Canada for a revolving facility with an initial US$25 million commitment, alongside an accordion feature providing for an additional US$25 million on the same terms — for total potential availability of US$50 million. The facility carries a three-year initial tenor, interest priced off SOFR or CORRA plus a leverage-dependent spread of 2.50% to 4.00%, and standard covenants including net leverage, interest coverage, and minimum liquidity requirements.Speaking to Crux Investor's Matt Gordon the day after the announcement, President and CEO Drew Clark was direct about what the debt is for and, just as importantly, what it isn't for. Summit's stated discipline is to use debt only against assets that will generate cash flow within three to five years — a narrower standard than the one that has applied to some of Summit's equity-funded acquisitions, including its recently closed purchase of Star Royalties, which added the Copperstone gold stream in Arizona to Summit's portfolio.Clark also used the interview to correct an earlier public framing of Summit's acquisition discipline. He clarified that roughly $250 million worth of transactions were rejected because Summit's own bids came in below sellers' clearing prices — for example, bidding $65 million on an asset that ultimately cleared at $80 million — rather than Summit walking away from opportunities that met its criteria. It's a useful clarification for investors trying to gauge how aggressively management is actually competing for assets versus how selectively it is declining them.On current market conditions, Clark described deal-making as comparatively easier than during the recent gold price peak, since the gap between long-term and spot pricing has narrowed. He flagged tungsten streams as a specific area of emerging opportunity alongside Summit's core precious metals focus, and noted that Summit is evaluating opportunities as both an acquirer and a potential acquisition target within the sector's ongoing consolidation.The most concrete disclosure for investors may be management's own valuation framework. Clark said the internal belief is that once Summit's revenue reaches somewhere between $20 million and $30 million annually, the company should re-rate toward 1 to 1.2 times NAV — in line with royalty peers — and toward 15-20 times revenue, versus a current multiple he characterised as below 10 times and a NAV multiple around 0.6 times. Management continues to target a production run rate of roughly 4,000 gold-equivalent ounces by the end of 2028 as the operational catalyst behind that thesis.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/summit-royaltiesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Jonathan Egilo, CEO, Axo MetalsOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/axo-metals-tsxvaxo-brownfield-gold-restart-in-mexico-gains-momentum-ahead-of-september-pea-10759Recording date: 28th July 2026Axo Metals Corp. (TSXV:AXO) has removed the largest single risk on its San Antonio gold project's development timeline. On 27 July, Mexico's SEMARNAT approved the project's Environmental Impact Statement (MIA) - the primary permit required to build and operate the mine - roughly six months after Axo filed the application in January. That is well inside the one-year timeline management had originally guided investors to expect, and covers all of San Antonio's deposits (Sapuchi, Golfo de Oro and California) and existing infrastructure in a single approval.One administrative step remains: the Change of Use of Soils (CUS), a tree-clearing authorisation submitted earlier this year and expected to clear by year-end. It only affects mining at the three pits themselves - the project's existing carbon-in-column plant, crusher, stockpiles and camp are already fully permitted, meaning Axo can move toward stockpile reprocessing without waiting on it.With the MIA in hand, management has reallocated its drilling programme. Two of Axo's three active rigs - running a combined 3,000 metres a month - are now testing ground roughly 500 metres outside the current resource boundary, up from a programme previously weighted toward infill. That infill work is itself producing encouraging results: several holes have converted material previously modelled as waste into ore-grade intercepts, including 27.9 metres at 0.43 g/t gold roughly 100 metres from the nearest modelled ore domain.The company is also pushing back its Preliminary Economic Assessment by roughly two months from its original September target. Rather than publish a study anchored to San Antonio's pre-acquisition 2021 resource, management wants to fold in an updated estimate built on a full year of new drilling - meaning the PEA that eventually lands should reflect a materially different resource than the one the company inherited. A dedicated step-out and expansion drilling update is planned for September, separate from ongoing Sapuchi infill news flow, and will include first results from the high-grade El Tigre target, where channel sampling has already returned intercepts including 68.6 metres at 1.11 g/t gold.On capital allocation, Axo's $40 million February financing was earmarked specifically for San Antonio, and management has confirmed it is deliberately deprioritising near-term spending at La Huerta, its copper discovery in Jalisco, in favour of pushing San Antonio toward a construction decision. The company is also beginning to add Mexican open-pit, heap-leach construction personnel ahead of an expected full build phase at Sapuchi next year - a staffing transition modelled on sister company Silver Tiger's own shift from exploration to construction.As of the company's most recent investor materials (June 2026, pre-dating the permit approval), Axo carried roughly C$36.6 million in cash against a C$183.8 million market capitalisation and C$147.5 million enterprise value. For investors, the two nearest-term catalysts are the September drilling update and the revised PEA - both of which should offer the clearest test yet of whether San Antonio's resource is as substantially larger than its current 1.1 million ounces as management believes.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/axo-metals-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

With Mark Selby, CEO of Canada NickelIngo Hofmaier, CFO of LIfezone MetalsRecording date: 30th July 2026Indonesia has fundamentally shifted its nickel strategy—from flooding global markets to actively managing supply through royalties, quotas, and pricing formulas since late 2025. Executives from Canada Nickel and Lifezone Metals describe this as a structural change, not a temporary adjustment. They argue that the era of nickel priced under $15,000 per tonne is over, with $18,000–$19,000 now representing Indonesia's break-even and preferred operating range.Physical supply constraints are compounding policy-driven discipline. Indonesian ore grades fell about 8% last year and are expected to drop another 4–5% this year. Meanwhile, mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) production has slumped roughly 37% from its September 2025 peak, largely due to sulphur import bottlenecks tied to geopolitical tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.On the demand side, the market continues to overemphasize electric vehicle batteries while underestimating stainless steel, which accounts for the bulk of nickel consumption and is growing steadily at 4.6–4.8% annually. Both executives contend that consensus forecasts around 3% annual demand growth lag real trends, which have averaged nearly 7% since 2019.Canada Nickel's Crawford project in Ontario recently secured a federal Decision Statement, clearing its final major regulatory hurdle. The company now focuses on closing the last 10–20% of its financing package, with a construction decision targeted for 2027. Strategic investors include Anglo American, Agnico Eagle, Samsung SDI, and the Taykwa Tagamou Nation.Lifezone Metals is advancing its high-grade Kabanga project in Tanzania, where nickel grades exceed 2%, supported by copper, cobalt, and silver byproducts. With over $800 million of its $930 million capex already tendered and $37 million in cash on hand, Lifezone seeks to finalize equity financing ahead of a Final Investment Decision. Construction could begin within two to three years thereafter.Together, these developments signal a tighter, more disciplined nickel market—one where Western sulphide projects may finally find viable economic footing.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Mike Sieb, President & Director of Getchell Gold Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/getchell-gold-csegtch-low-cost-117000-oz-pa-with-105-year-life-of-mine-7731Recording date: 30th July 2026Getchell Gold Corp (CSE:GTCH) released a 2026 Preliminary Economic Assessment on its flagship Fondaway Canyon Gold Project in Nevada, marking the company's advancement toward a prefeasibility study. The PEA, prepared by SLR Consulting, is limited to the open-pit mineral resources in the project's Central Area.The updated 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate shows 999,000 ounces indicated (22.1 million tonnes at 1.40 g/t Au) and 1.812 million ounces inferred (45.6 million tonnes at 1.24 g/t Au) - a 21% global increase over the 2024 estimate, driven by a targeted ten-hole 2025 drill programme. Indicated resources grew 54% and inferred resources grew 8%. Mineralisation remains open for expansion along strike and dip across multiple sections of the roughly four-kilometre-long Fondaway Canyon gold corridor.The PEA contemplates a conventional open-pit mine feeding a 12,000 tonne-per-day mill - up from an earlier 8,000 tpd concept - over an initial 10.1-year mine life, producing 1.52 million ounces of gold (150,000 oz/year average) via a flotation concentrate sold to a third-party refinery. At a base-case gold price of $3,200/oz, which management describes as conservative relative to current spot, the project shows a pre-tax NPV8% of $1,004 million and after-tax NPV8% of $905 million, a pre-tax IRR of 58.8% (53.1% after-tax), and payback of 1.5 years pre-tax (2.0 years after-tax). Total initial capital cost is $265.3 million including a 20% contingency and life-of-mine cash costs are estimated at $1,740/oz.Despite these economics, Getchell's market capitalisation sits at roughly CA$46 million on 202.6 million shares outstanding. President Mike Sieb attributed a significant portion of that gap to an unresolved third-party claims dispute, in which an outside party has challenged Getchell's title to certain claims despite the company's position that its core claims have been valid and in good standing for 70-75 years, making it the senior claim holder. Management declined to discuss case specifics given ongoing litigation.To fund continued drilling and prefeasibility work - which will focus on converting inferred resources to indicated, along with metallurgical, hydrogeological, and geotechnical studies - management pointed to roughly 50.9 million in-the-money warrants (weighted average exercise price $0.19) that could deliver $2.5-10 million over the next 12 months, alongside 20% insider ownership on a partially diluted basis.Near-term catalysts include a Plan of Operations filing with the Bureau of Land Management targeted for year-end 2026, continued drill results, and progress toward a prefeasibility study expected within approximately two years. The company's low relative capital intensity gives it flexibility to either self-fund toward development or entertain a strategic partner.Learn more: https://cruxinvestor.com/companies/getchell-gold-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Steven Sirbovan, CEO, ICG Silver & GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/icg-silver-gold-cseicg-newly-listed-district-scale-play-fully-funded-for-drilling-9778Recording date: 27th July 2026ICG Silver & Gold Ltd. is a Nevada-focused precious metals explorer advancing the Tuscarora District, a roughly 10,000-acre, 100%-owned land package sitting at the intersection of the Carlin and Independence Trends in Elko County. Since listing on the CSE on 31 March 2026, the company's central task has been converting a large but fragmented historical dataset into a coherent, drill-ready district-scale thesis - and the latest update from CEO Steven Sirbovan suggests meaningful progress on that front.The headline development is data, not drilling: ICG's historical drilling database has grown from 25,000 to 40,000 metres, pulled from lab archives and physical records dating back to the 1960s. Critically, a third-party mineral resource geologist has assessed that database - combined with the company's current 3,000-metre Phase 1 RC programme - as sufficient to support a maiden inferred resource without any additional core drilling. That's a meaningful capital-efficiency win for a company with a tight, roughly 43-million-share basic capitalisation (54.5 million fully diluted).The Phase 1 programme itself, which commenced 2 July 2026 with Major Drilling International, budgeted at approximately $1.5 million, is sequencing six priority targets: Silica, Battle Mountain, and King's Vein in the Central Zone (roughly 80% of metres), followed by Grand Prize and East Pediment in the more silver-prospective East Zone, before returning to Modoc. Notably, South Navajo - the target with the deepest historical drilling and the district's best-known intercept (4.57m at 127.08 g/t gold, including 1.52m at 368.31 g/t gold, drilled by Novo Resources in 2016) - is being held back from Phase 1 entirely, with management confident in roughly 80% of the historical data there without further verification.Sirbovan has framed the programme's real objective as testing continuity rather than chasing standalone high-grade hits: understanding whether a lower-grade halo exists between known veins, and whether targets like Modoc, Silica, and Battle Mountain - previously treated as one system - are structurally connected at depth. QA/QC on both historical and current drilling is being led by VP Exploration Korbon McCall, who has been re-verifying historical assay certificates directly against lab records.Assay results are expected between August and October 2026, with a first mineral resource estimate targeted for Q1 2027 - management has cited an internal ambition of at least 500,000 gold-equivalent ounces as an initial baseline. Management, insiders, and significant shareholders hold over 25% of the tight capital structure. At an approximate C$18 million market capitalisation, ICG trades at a discount to profiled Nevada peers (C$24-160 million), several of which remain pre-resource themselves - leaving the upcoming assay and resource news flow as the key catalysts that could close that valuation gap, assuming results confirm the continuity thesis management has laid out.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/icg-silver-goldSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Lewis Lawrick, President & CEO of Magna Terra MineralsRecording date: 23rd July 2026Magna Terra Minerals (TSXV:MTT) is a Toronto-headquartered exploration company advancing a diversified portfolio of precious and critical metals projects across two jurisdictions: Atlantic Canada and Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. The investment case centres on a management team with a specific, verifiable prior success in the same geological setting, a capital-efficient funding model built on partner-funded option agreements, and a first-mover copper-cobalt discovery that remains largely unexplored by outside analysts.President and CEO Lewis Lawrick previously founded Anaconda Mining, which became Signal Gold and grew the Goldboro deposit in Nova Scotia from an inferred 700,000 ounces to more than 3 million ounces before merging with NexGold. Chief geologist David Copeland and senior geologist Tanya Tettelaar who are both part of that earlier success now apply the same systematic, data-driven targeting approach at Magna Terra, and management frames this continuity of team as the primary reason significant shareholder Michael Gentile who holds roughly 17% of the company took his position.The portfolio's most technically distinctive asset is Humber, a 50,000-hectare, 100%-owned copper-cobalt project in western Newfoundland staked entirely on the company's own regional geochemical analysis, with no underlying royalty. A new discovery, the Birch Zone, now extends over 4.2 kilometres of strike with grab samples up to 1.26% copper, and management is targeting a first-pass drill programme by fall 2026 pending further geophysics. In New Brunswick's historic Bathurst Mining Camp, Rocky Brook has returned high-grade copper and gold values from trenching and surface sampling across a 30-kilometre land position, while the newly staked Prospect Or's Dream project has identified an epithermal gold vein system over a 7.2-kilometre strike length.Rather than fund every project through dilutive equity raises, Magna Terra has optioned two assets to partners who are independently drilling them. Gold Hunter Resources holds an option on the Great Northern and Viking projects for total consideration of $10.075 million and began a 10,000-metre drill programme there in June 2026; Magna Terra's resulting approximately 19% equity stake in Gold Hunter (roughly 55 million shares) gives it leveraged exposure to that drilling without further capital outlay. In Argentina, Lunex Metals Corp. holds a $2.375 million option on the Luna Roja project and reported encouraging initial drill results in July 2026, including a new mineralised centre north of the historic discovery zone.Financially, Magna Terra held just over $1 million in cash at the time of the underlying interview, with total working capital near $3.5 million once its marketable securities positions are included. Additional financing will likely be required to advance Humber past target generation. For investors, the near-term catalysts to watch are continued drill results from Gold Hunter and Lunex which are both funded independently of Magna Terra, alongside progress toward a maiden drill programme at Humber, represents the company's most differentiated, wholly-owned exploration target.View Magna Terra Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/magna-terra-mineralsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Raymond D. Harari, Director & CEO, and Enrique Reichhard, VP Exploration of Argentina MetalsRecording date: 23rd July 2026Argentina Metals Corp (TSXV:VLLC) is a Canadian-domiciled copper exploration company built around a single macro thesis: Argentina shares the same Andean geological belt that makes Chile the world's largest copper producer, yet contributes almost nothing to global supply, and that gap is starting to close now that Mendoza Province has reopened to mineral exploration. CEO and co-founder Raymond D. Harari, working alongside Chairman Dr. Titus Gebel, co-founder of Frankfurt-listed Deutsche Rohstoff AG, has spent the past year assembling one of the first district-scale, clean-title land positions in the province: 26 projects totalling approximately 146,700 hectares, free of private royalties, NSRs, back-in rights or earn-in obligations beyond what is owed to the Province of Mendoza itself.The flagship Las Estrellas Project sits within the Malargue District, roughly 1.5 kilometres from a neighbouring advanced target being drilled by Kobrea Exploration Corp's El Perdido project, and shows geological characteristics consistent with both the manto-style Río Damas Formation and the porphyry-style Huincán Formation. A December 2025 field programme returned rock chip samples as high as 9,978 ppm copper, and a January 2026 ground magnetic survey identified anomalies consistent with buried intrusive bodies and structural corridors favourable for Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold or porphyry mineralisation. Importantly, no resource has yet been defined, and the project remains at an early, reconnaissance stage.Corporately, the company has moved quickly since raising over C$5 million and listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in mid-June 2026. A Frankfurt Stock Exchange listing followed within weeks, aimed at reaching Europe's deeper mining investor base, and by early July the company had added Chris Paul (CEO, Hercules Metals) and Joaquin Marias (CEO, Argenta Silver) as technical advisors, joining VP Exploration Enrique Reichhard, a 45-year veteran of Codelco, Billiton and Teck across Latin America. The capital structure remains tight: insiders hold roughly 47% of shares outstanding under multi-year escrow, the top ten shareholders control over 70% of the register, and warrants and options represent less than 0.5% of shares outstanding.The near-term roadmap is one of triage rather than blanket drilling. Of the 26 projects, eight to ten have been ranked as priority targets using public geochemical, magnetic and spectral data combined with the December sampling programme, and these are slated for ground geophysics starting October 2026 field season. The remaining properties will move through permitting for follow-up work the following season. Harari has been candid that the company is still deciding between an aggressive, well-funded single campaign and a more gradual, multi-season approach to preserve its cap table - a decision that will shape both the pace of news flow and dilution risk for shareholders.View Argentina Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/argentina-metals-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Shubham Garg, Executive Chairman & CEO of Prospera EnergyRecording date: 21st July 2026Prospera Energy Inc. (TSXV:PEI) is a Calgary-headquartered heavy-oil producer executing a well-reactivation strategy across its Cuthbert, Luseland, Hearts Hill, and Brooks properties in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Since a board and management transition in October 2024, led by CEO and Executive Chairman Shubham Garg, the company has shifted away from new drilling toward reactivating wells that were shut in due to prior operators' lack of capital and technical focus rather than poor underlying geology.The model is capital-light: each reactivation costs approximately $150,000, with typical payback in 6-8 months and a second payback cycle following within 12-14 months, as production continues to climb rather than decline in the manner of a shale well. Management has completed at least 17 reactivations to date against an inventory of more than 140 candidates, of which 42 have now been screened as "Tier One" and is expected to pay back in under nine months.Financially, the company is mid-close on a $12 million non-brokered private placement at $0.04 per unit with proceeds split between the reactivation programme ($10 million) and working capital ($2 million). The balance sheet currently carries approximately $21 million of senior debt and $7 million of subordinated debt, both largely held by board members and large shareholders, alongside roughly $75.8 million in accumulated tax pools that management expects will shelter cash income tax for several years. The company has stated an intention to retire approximately $30 million in combined debt and royalty obligations within 24 months of the financing's close.Production stood at approximately 800 boe/d gross up from a first-quarter average of 720 boe/d. Realized netbacks improved sharply through Q1 2026, from $4.78/BOE in January to $27.70/BOE in March, tracking a broader strengthening in Western Canada Select pricing tied to the Strait of Hormuz supply disruption. Management expects Q2 2026, due to be reported around mid-August, to be the company's strongest quarter to date, with a netback approaching $30/BOE.On reserves, Prospera's 2025 year-end report shows 1P before-tax NPV10 of $130.6 million and 2P of $202.0 million, with proved developed producing value guided to grow from $27 million to approximately $65 million by year-end 2026 as newly reactivated wells are recognized. Management also anticipates a further positive technical revision once more production history accumulates on wells already outperforming initial decline assumptions, expected to show up in the April 2027 reserve report.Risks include commodity price sensitivity (a stated pause threshold near $55/barrel WTI), execution risk around sand management in reactivated wells, and an unreconciled gap between the board-ownership figure cited by management (52%) and the insider-ownership figure shown in company materials (36%).Learn more: https://cruxinvestor.comSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Bart Jaworski, CEO of Group Eleven Resources Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/group-eleven-resources-tsxvzng-drilling-irelands-best-zinc-silver-copper-discovery-in-decades-10810Recording date: 21st July 2026Group Eleven Resources has reported a significant new zinc-lead discovery at its Stonepark project in Ireland, highlighting fresh exploration potential beyond its existing resource base. The company intersected 2.8 metres grading 8.3% zinc and lead, including a high-grade section of 1 metre at 22%, within a broader 15-metre zone of altered and brecciated rock. Notably, this intercept lies approximately 550 metres from the current resource, marking the most encouraging step-out result since the company acquired the project in 2017.Stonepark currently hosts an estimated 5 million tonnes grading around 11% zinc and lead, based on a 2018 NI 43-101 resource. The new intercept suggests the possible presence of an additional mineralised zone, which could expand the overall scale of the deposit. Management emphasized that this is the first meaningful hit at such a distance, reinforcing the idea that the system remains open for growth.The project's location further strengthens its potential. Stonepark sits just 1 kilometre from Glencore's much larger Pallas Green deposit, which contains approximately 45 million tonnes of zinc-lead mineralisation. Both deposits are believed to be part of the same geological system, underscoring the broader exploration opportunity in the region.In addition to zinc-lead exploration, the drill hole also tested a deeper copper-silver target for the first time, with assay results still pending. This adds another layer of potential upside.Financially, Group Eleven is well-positioned, with C$18 million in cash following a recent financing. This supports a 70,000-metre drill program over two years, including 15,000 metres allocated to Stonepark. While the project remains in the exploration stage, the latest results point to meaningful expansion potential in one of Europe's most established zinc-producing regions.View Group Eleven Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/group-eleven-resources-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Keith Bowes, Managing Director & CEO of Future MetalsRecording date: 16th July 2026Future Metals is advancing a revised development strategy for its Panton platinum group metals (PGM) project in Western Australia, driven by stronger platinum and palladium prices and a potential infrastructure-sharing deal that could significantly reduce capital costs. Instead of building a new processing facility, the company is evaluating the acquisition and refurbishment of the nearby Savannah nickel plant, located about 70 km from Panton. This approach could cut upfront capital expenditure from an estimated A$270 million to under A$200 million, improving the project's economic viability.Panton hosts a substantial resource of 93 million tonnes at 1.4 grams per tonne palladium-equivalent, with a profile notably richer in platinum than most Australian PGM deposits. This platinum-heavy mix aligns more closely with high-value South African deposits and benefits from broader demand drivers, including industrial use, jewellery, and investment demand, rather than relying primarily on autocatalysts like palladium.Market conditions have improved since the project's 2023 scoping study. Platinum prices have risen to around $1,600 per ounce and palladium to $1,200–$1,300, supported by slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption and sustained demand from hybrid vehicles. At the same time, supply risks in major producing regions such as South Africa and Russia are creating opportunities for new projects in stable jurisdictions like Australia.Future Metals is working with major shareholder Zeta Resources on a non-binding framework that could facilitate the Savannah plant acquisition. To manage transaction risk, the company plans to present both the Savannah-integrated option and a standalone development scenario in an updated scoping study due in late 2026.Meanwhile, native title negotiations, environmental baseline studies, and early offtake discussions including interest from Trafigura and a Middle Eastern refinery are underway. If successful, the project could begin production by 2029, positioning Panton as a new, lower-cost source of PGMs in a tightening global market.Learn More: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/future-metals-nlSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Shane Williams, President & CEO of West Red Lake Gold MinesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/growth-stories-winning-teams-that-know-how-to-find-gold-get-it-out-of-the-ground-9290Recording date: 16th July 2026West Red Lake Gold Mines' second-quarter 2026 operational update provides the clearest evidence yet that the ramp-up strategy at its Madsen Mine, in Ontario's Red Lake district, is translating into measurable production gains. Gold output rose 51% quarter-on-quarter to 8,576 ounces, while mined ounces climbed 73% to 10,459, reflecting improvements in both mining rate and average grade. Mined tonnage increased 46% to 75,524 tonnes, and average mined grade rose 23% to 4.3 g/t from 3.5 g/t in Q1.Perhaps most notable for investors focused on operational leverage: mining rates in the back half of Q2 consistently exceeded the mill's currently permitted 800 tpd capacity, a reversal from the mine's history under prior operator Pure Gold, which struggled to achieve comparable throughput. The excess mining rate allowed West Red Lake Gold to build a surface stockpile of roughly 10,768 tonnes, representing about half a month of mill feed, providing operational flexibility heading into the second half of the year.CEO Shane Williams was direct in confirming the company is now generating cash rather than simply breaking even, and that debt taken on during the Madsen restart is beginning to be repaid. This is a meaningful signal for a company only recently transitioned from distressed-asset restart to commercial producer.Grade improvement is expected to continue as mining advances into non-remnant areas of the deposit, including the 4447 zone and the 904 Complex, both of which sit in previously unmined portions of Madsen and are expected to lift average grade toward 6-8 g/t by year-end. Management also highlighted a meaningful reduction in mining dilution, attributing this to the discovery that historic survey inaccuracies had overstated the proximity of new mining areas to old workings, enabling a shift toward more efficient long-hole open stoping.Full-year 2026 guidance of 35,000 to 45,000 ounces remains unchanged, with management targeting roughly 25,000-30,000 ounces in the second half of the year. Combined with year-to-date production of approximately 14,243 ounces across Q1 and Q2, this guidance range appears achievable based on the trajectory reported to date, though the company still has one further quarter of ramp-up expected before reaching steady-state operations.For investors, the key watch items are whether Q3 delivers a comparable step-up to Q2, whether the promised fuller operational disclosure (including drill-model reconciliation from over 200,000 metres of underground drilling) supports management's confidence in the resource model, and progress on longer-dated catalysts including the Austin 904 Complex's advancement toward the 2027 mine plan and the combined Madsen-Rowan Pre-Feasibility Study expected in the second half of 2026. The company's ability to demonstrate sustained, rather than one-off, improvement will likely be the key determinant of how the market re-rates the stock from restart risk toward reliable producer status.View West Red Lake Gold Mines' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/west-red-lake-gold-mines-incSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Rupert Verco, CEO & Managing Director of Cobra Resources PLCOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cobra-resources-lsecobr-scale-and-heavy-rare-earth-quality-set-this-isr-project-apart-10761Recording date: 17th July 2026Cobra Resources has reported encouraging early-stage results from its Manna Hill copper project in South Australia, pointing to the potential presence of a larger porphyry system beyond the previously identified shallow skarn mineralisation. The company adjusted its drilling programme from a planned 1,800 metres to 1,500 metres, reallocating effort toward deeper and more promising drill holes rather than continuing at the Black Rock target, where initial results suggested distance from the main mineralising source.A key technical development is the transition in copper mineralisation from chalcopyrite to bornite observed in diamond drilling. This shift is significant because bornite contains a higher copper content and is typically associated with the potassic core of porphyry systems, suggesting proximity to a larger and potentially more economically viable mineral source. Supporting this interpretation, drilling has extended sulphide mineralisation continuity to depths of around 300 metres, beneath earlier shallow reverse circulation intercepts that already showed notable copper and gold grades.In addition, a step-out hole drilled south of the known skarn unexpectedly intersected shallow copper oxide mineralisation outside the previously defined footprint, indicating a new and untested extension zone. Cobra also identified anhydrite breccia, a feature often linked to fluid pathways in large porphyry systems, further strengthening the geological model.While these findings are based on visual core observations and remain subject to laboratory assay confirmation expected around August, they collectively suggest growing scale potential at Manna Hill. The company is planning further drilling in September to test the extent of the southern zone and refine its geological understanding. Alongside this, Cobra continues to advance its Boland rare earth project, providing a parallel development pathway.View Cobra Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/cobra-resourcesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Michael Gentile, Strategic investorPrevious interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mining-alpha-with-michael-gentile-junior-miners-repriced-as-ma-sets-new-gold-benchmarks-10184Recording date: 16th July 2026Strategic investor Michael Gentile argues that gold's flat price since October 2025 masks a powerful divergence between market sentiment and underlying fundamentals. While gold still trades near $4,000 per ounce - the same level that previously triggered euphoria - investor mood has shifted to extreme pessimism. Gentile views this disconnect as an opportunity rather than a warning sign.His thesis centers on the growing strain of US government debt. With interest rates rising, servicing roughly $40 trillion in debt at around 5% could push annual interest costs toward $2 trillion, compounding an already large fiscal deficit. Gentile questions whether such high rates are sustainable, suggesting that policymakers may ultimately be forced toward monetary easing or yield curve control—both historically supportive of gold prices.At the same time, central banks continue to accumulate gold aggressively, driving much of its long-term rally. However, financial investors remain largely absent, with gold representing only a small fraction of global portfolios and sentiment indicators near record lows. Gentile believes even a modest shift in institutional allocation could significantly accelerate demand.In equities, he focuses on junior mining companies with large resources and existing infrastructure, which reduce development costs and increase takeover appeal. He highlights companies like McFarlane Lake, Radisson Mining, and Big Ridge Gold as examples where market valuations remain far below the prices typically paid in acquisitions. This gap, he argues, creates substantial upside as consolidation continues.Gentile has also made a rare move into royalties through Silver Crown, a company targeting overlooked silver by-products from other mining operations. This niche strategy avoids direct competition with major royalty firms and could offer scalable growth.Overall, Gentile maintains that gold's long-term outlook remains intact, driven by structural debt pressures, steady central bank demand, and the potential return of financial investors.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Hayden Locke, President & CEO of Marimaca Copper Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/marimaca-copper-tsxmari-pampa-medina-shows-tier-one-potential-with-57-copper-hits-10588Recording date: 13th July 2026Marimaca Copper Corp. (TSX:MARI) is a Chile-focused copper developer whose flagship asset, the Marimaca Oxide Deposit (MOD), has reached Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) completion and holds its key environmental approval (the RCA, received November 2025). Located in the Antofagasta region, the heart of the world's largest copper-producing jurisdiction, the MOD benefits from low-altitude, low-execution-risk positioning within 25 kilometres of the Port of Mejillones. The DFS outlines a 13-year mine life on 179 million tonnes of Proved and Probable reserves at 0.42% CuT, supporting roughly 50,000 tonnes per annum of copper cathode production via conventional heap leach and SX-EW processing. At a three-month average copper price of US$5.05/lb, the project delivers a post-tax NPV (8%) of US$1.1 billion and a 39% IRR with a 2.2-year payback; at the DFS's more conservative long-term price assumption of US$4.30/lb, post-tax NPV is US$709 million at a 31% IRR. Initial capital intensity of approximately US$11,700 per tonne of annual production ranks among the most capital-efficient greenfield copper developments globally.President and CEO Hayden Locke argued that Marimaca's current share price roughly reflects the standalone value of the MOD alone as the market is attaching little value to the Company's second asset, Pampa Medina. Located approximately 28 kilometres from the MOD, Pampa Medina is a sediment-hosted copper-silver system that Locke compares directly to the Kakula selective mining zone within the world-class Kamoa-Kakula complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Six drill rigs are currently active at Pampa Medina, running step-out and infill programmes. The company's most recent results extended the central high-grade bornite-chalcocite zone 300 metres south with hole SPRD-07 (including 6 metres at 6.11% copper and 24.0 g/t silver), while SPRD-08B intersected mineralisation in basement metasediments for the first time, reaching a total depth of 1,052 metres. Locke separately estimates that identified oxide extensions at Pampa Medina could add 20,000-25,000 tonnes a year of additional cathode production without further exploration success, complementing the existing MOD plant.Execution risk is a key focus for management. The board was recently strengthened with the addition of Chairman Giancarlo Bruno, former CEO of Mantos Copper, and non-executive director Zenon Wozniak, who spent 23 years as First Quantum Minerals' director of projects. Project Director Josh Watson leads an in-country execution team based in Santiago.Key near-term catalysts include: Sectorial Permit approvals expected in Q4 2026 following an on-schedule April 2026 submission; a project financing announcement, led by advisor Endeavour Financial, also expected by Q4 2026; continued Pampa Medina step-out drilling results; and a maiden Pampa Medina sulphide mineral resource estimate targeted for early 2027. Construction is targeted to begin in 2027, with first copper cathode guided for 2029. Investors should weigh the permitting, financing and execution risks inherent to any pre-production developer against a de-risked flagship asset and a exploration program that management believes offers substantial, currently unpriced upside.View Marimaca Copper's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/marimaca-copperSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Philippe Cloutier, President and CEO, Cartier ResourcesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cartier-resources-tsxvecr-undervalued-investment-series-with-philippe-cloutier-9970Recording date: 15th July 2026Cartier Resources is reshaping its strategy at the Cadillac gold project in Quebec's Abitibi Greenstone Belt after early 2026 drilling confirmed that mineralization extends well beyond the historic Chimo mine. New discoveries at the Contact Zone, the Portal area, and a դեռ largely untested southern target indicate the presence of multiple mineralized systems across the company's 15–20 kilometre land package, supporting the idea of a broader “mining camp” rather than a single-deposit project.The results have prompted a redesign of Cartier's exploration program. Instead of evenly distributed drilling across numerous targets, the company is prioritizing high-impact areas: infill drilling at Chimo, focused shallow drilling at the high-grade Contact and Portal zones, and a potentially large, multi-year campaign at the southern target. With about one-third of its 100,000-metre program completed, Cartier believes it has already demonstrated significant expansion potential.An updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), expected in September 2026, will reflect materially improved fundamentals compared with the 2023 study. The resource base has grown to 3.2 million ounces from 2.3 million, metallurgical recoveries have increased to roughly 97%, and gold prices have more than doubled, now exceeding $4,000 per ounce. The company is also evaluating toll milling at nearby facilities to reduce capital costs and accelerate permitting timelines.Strategically, Cartier is signaling a preference for partnership or acquisition rather than self-funded development, citing capital intensity and permitting complexity. Agnico Eagle, which already owns 27% of Cartier, remains a key stakeholder, though management is actively engaging a broader pool of potential partners amid rising global interest in Quebec gold assets.With over $5 million in treasury and expanded investor outreach across North America, Europe, and Asia, Cartier is positioning its updated PEA as a key catalyst in advancing the project toward a strategic transaction.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/cartier-resources-incSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Troy Boisjoli, CEO of ATHA Energy.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atha-energy-tsxvsask-63m-funded-explorer-scales-up-2026-drill-program-10101Recording date: 13th July 2026ATHA Energy's 2026 exploration program at the Angilak Uranium Project in Nunavut is delivering early evidence that its uranium system extends well beyond the boundaries of its currently defined deposit. With three drill rigs active across two priority areas, the company has reported an 11.5 metre composite uranium mineralization intersection at Lac 50 West, located four kilometres from the known Lac 50 deposit, and a 37 metre composite intersection at RIB North, the widest result recorded at that target to date. Both results support CEO Troy Boisjoli's description of a district-scale opportunity spanning a 21-kilometre corridor at Lac 50 and an 18-kilometre corridor at RIB, rather than a series of isolated deposits.Management has been clear that 2026 is not a delineation year. Drilling is deliberately spaced between 150 and 500 metres apart, designed to establish continuity of mineralization across the wider system before committing to tighter, resource-defining infill drilling, which the company expects could begin in 2027 if results continue to track as planned. This sequencing is a meaningful signal for investors: near-term news flow is likely to focus on scale and continuity rather than resource ounces, and grade or thickness data should be read in that context.The program is well funded, following a $63 million raise in the first quarter of 2026 led by Queens Road Capital, giving the company a stated 24-month runway. ATHA also holds a broader Nunavut and Athabasca Basin land package that management has flagged as a source of potential future value.For investors, the key consideration is that current figures, including the conceptual 60.8 to 98.2 million pound exploration target at Lac 50, are not a defined mineral resource, and the eventual scale of the opportunity depends on whether this year's step-out drilling can be tied into continuous, economically relevant mineralized zones.—Learn more: https://cruxinvestor.com/companies/atha-energySign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Alan Carter, President and CEO, Cabral GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cabral-gold-tsxvcbr-phase-one-heap-leach-on-schedule-q4-production-targeted-10682Recording date: 14th July 2026Cabral Gold is nearing a key milestone as it transitions from an exploration-focused company to a gold producer, with mining and ore stacking now underway at its Cuiú Cuiú gold-in-oxide project in Brazil. The activity forms part of the commissioning process for the Phase 1 heap leach operation, which is approximately 85% complete. Commercial gold production remains on track for the fourth quarter of 2026.The project is designed to process oxidized surface material using a low-cost heap leach method that avoids drilling, blasting, and complex milling. Ore from the MG deposit is currently being mined, sized, agglomerated, and stacked on leach pads, marking significant progress toward initial gold output. The remaining step before full production is commissioning the wet circuit, which will recover gold from solution.A key component of this process is the adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR) plant, recently shipped from Australia and expected to arrive on site in late July 2026. Once installed, it will enable final commissioning stages through the third quarter. While initial gold production may begin earlier, Cabral has emphasized that commercial production will be declared only once steady-state output is achieved.Financially, the project remains aligned with the 2025 pre-feasibility study, including an estimated all-in sustaining cost of around $1,200 per ounce, offering strong margins even amid softer gold prices. The company is also evaluating a potential expansion of Phase 1, with further details expected soon.Meanwhile, exploration continues across the district, where Cabral is now modeling six deposits, double the previous estimate. With six drill rigs active and an updated resource estimate expected by year-end 2026, the company is positioning itself for both near-term cash flow and long-term growth.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/cabral-goldSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Recording date: 11th July 2026Olive Resource Capital delivered an approximate 15% return in the first half of 2026, outperforming many peers in a more moderate market environment compared to the strong gains of 2025. Returns were further supported by three portfolio company acquisitions, two of which closed the period, highlighting the role of opportunistic corporate activity in performance. The firm emphasized that such events are beneficial but not a reliable foundation for long-term strategy.The commodity landscape in H1 2026 was marked by a clear rotation. Lithium and oil emerged as the strongest performers, with oil remaining resilient despite price volatility and lithium rebounding after years of underinvestment. In contrast, gold, silver, and platinum group metals lagged after leading the previous year, undergoing what management described as a necessary consolidation phase.Despite weak underlying commodity prices, Olive's strongest gains came from precious metals equities. This divergence reflects the firm's focus on company-specific catalysts—such as mergers and acquisitions, resource updates, and technical studies—rather than direct exposure to commodity price movements. Holdings like K92 Mining exemplify this strategy, with growth-driven revaluation potential independent of gold price trends.Macroeconomic conditions remained broadly supportive, with strong global manufacturing activity and continued monetary stimulus, although reduced liquidity support from China is being monitored. Geopolitical tensions, including those involving Iran, influenced energy markets but were viewed as temporary disruptions with longer-term implications for supply chains and energy demand.Heading into the second half of 2026, the firm is cautiously deploying elevated cash reserves into energy and uranium, driven by themes such as AI-related power demand, electrification, and favorable seasonal trends. It continues to avoid West African development projects due to rising jurisdictional risks, instead favoring opportunities in North and South America where regulatory conditions are more stable and investment visibility is stronger.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Stephen Gray, President & CEO of Fox TungstenRecording date: 11th July 2026Fox Tungsten is advancing its high-grade Fox project in southern British Columbia, aiming to position it as a rare North American source of tungsten amid tightening global supply. The deposit averages roughly 1% tungsten, which management equates to about 20 grams per tonne gold or 25% copper at current prices, placing it among the higher-grade tungsten projects globally. However, its current resource of just over 1 million tonnes is considered too small to support economic development, prompting an aggressive 20,000-metre drilling campaign in 2026.The ongoing program, supported by two active rigs, focuses primarily on infill drilling between three known zones to expand the resource toward a target of approximately 3 million tonnes—seen as the minimum scale required for a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). A smaller portion of drilling will test deeper extensions of the deposit for potential underground development, marking the first step toward longer-term growth.Metallurgical testing indicates a relatively simple processing route, with gravity separation achieving about 75% recovery into a high-grade tungsten concentrate exceeding 60%. The ore is also considered environmentally favorable, lacking harmful elements and unlikely to generate acid. Additional flotation testing is planned to potentially improve recovery further.Infrastructure advantages strengthen the project's outlook, including road access, proximity to regional services, and an existing power line. The company is well-funded, with approximately C$15 million in working capital following a recent financing, sufficient to complete drilling and advance toward a PEA expected in 2027.Fox Tungsten's strategy is supported by strong market dynamics. Tungsten prices have risen sharply due to both geopolitical pressures—particularly Chinese export constraints—and a broader structural supply deficit. With no active tungsten mines in North America, the Fox project could play a key role in diversifying supply if development progresses as planned.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Paul Lock, Chairman & MD of Flagship MineralsOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/flagship-minerals-asxflg-fast-tracks-isidora-project-to-21m-oz-gold-milestone-10307Recording date: 9th July 2026Flagship Minerals has repositioned itself as a focused gold and copper explorer, combining advancement of its flagship Isidora Gold Project in Chile with the acquisition of the Whipsaw Copper Project in British Columbia. The strategic shift is reinforced by the divestment of its RK Lithium Project for US$4 million, providing non-dilutive funding while simplifying the company's commodity exposure.At the core of Flagship's portfolio is the 2.1 million ounce Isidora project, where recent metallurgical drilling and trenching have been completed. The company is now progressing infill and extension drilling aimed at upgrading and expanding the resource, with an updated estimate targeted for late 2026 or early 2027. Parallel workstreams—including metallurgical testing, environmental studies, and water solution assessments, are feeding into a prefeasibility study expected in early 2027. Management believes Isidora remains significantly undervalued compared to peers, attributing the gap primarily to investor concerns around potential equity dilution rather than asset quality.The newly acquired Whipsaw Copper Project introduces large-scale copper optionality in a Tier-1 jurisdiction. Located near an operating mine in British Columbia, Whipsaw hosts a substantial exploration target of up to 1.02 billion tonnes at 0.2–0.4% copper equivalent. Importantly, the deal is structured with deferred payments and no minimum exploration spend, allowing Flagship to manage capital efficiently. The company is evaluating whether to advance drilling or spin out the asset into a separate listed vehicle, offering flexibility in how value is realized.Flagship's broader strategy reflects a shift among junior miners toward multi-asset, multi-commodity portfolios that reduce reliance on a single project. With near-term catalysts at Isidora and strategic options at Whipsaw, the company aims to deliver growth, diversification, and a clearer pathway toward development without excessive shareholder dilution.View Flagship Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/flagship-mineralsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Craig Hallworth, President & CEO of Gunnison CopperOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/gunnison-copper-tsxgcu-new-pea-with-18-24-month-pfs-timeline-9611Recording date: 8th July 2026Gunnison Copper is positioning itself as a rising U.S. copper producer under new CEO Craig Hallworth, who recently stepped up from CFO following a leadership transition. The company has rapidly advanced its operations, bringing the Johnson Camp mine in Arizona into production within 18 months and using that momentum to progress its much larger flagship Gunnison project, which could supply up to 10% of current U.S. refined copper demand.A major priority has been financial restructuring. Gunnison successfully eliminated legacy secured debt in early 2026 and settled convertible debentures at a significant discount, strengthening its balance sheet and improving investor confidence. Institutional ownership has grown substantially, reflecting increased market credibility.Operationally, Johnson Camp is already producing copper cathode using Rio Tinto's Nuton leaching technology, with output sold domestically, including to Amazon Web Services. The project has also qualified for U.S. federal tax credits and may benefit from additional state-level incentives.The flagship Gunnison project presents compelling economics, with an estimated after-tax value of nearly $2 billion and a 22.5% internal rate of return. Despite this, the company trades at a steep discount to peers. Management attributes this gap to its earlier-stage development status and sees significant upside as permitting, drilling, and feasibility work advance.A key differentiator is Gunnison's integrated acid plant strategy, designed to mitigate supply chain risks and reduce reliance on imported sulfuric acid. Combined with an already-permitted site and low litigation risk, this supports a streamlined development pathway.With a large-scale drilling program underway and ongoing metallurgical testing, Gunnison aims to expand its resource base and attract a strategic partner ahead of a targeted construction decision by mid-2028, aligning with growing U.S. demand for domestically sourced critical minerals.View Gunnison Copper's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/gunnison-copperSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Panel Interview withMichael Hodgson, CEO of Serabi Gold PLCAlan Carter, President & CEO of Cabral Gold Inc.Thiago Diniz, VP Exploration of ValOre MetalsRecording date: 7th July 2026Brazil is emerging as an increasingly attractive mining jurisdiction, according to executives from Serabi Gold, Cabral Gold, and ValOre Metals, who discussed the country's regulatory environment, infrastructure, and investment climate. While Brazil's federal mining framework is widely viewed as stable and predictable, challenges persist at the state level, particularly in newer mining regions such as Pará. There, under-resourced agencies often delay permitting, leading companies to rely on temporary “guia” licenses to maintain project timelines.Despite these bottlenecks, investor sentiment toward Brazil has improved significantly. What was once considered a “Brazil discount” in mining valuations has, according to industry leaders, shifted to a “Brazil premium.” This change is driven by strong gold prices, increased participation from major global miners such as Vale, BHP, and Anglo American, and growing access to both institutional and retail capital. Brazil's mining sector also plays a major economic role, contributing billions in revenue and exports.Infrastructure development has further strengthened the investment case. In the Tapajós region, new highways have reduced costs, connected mine sites, and improved community relations by generating local economic benefits. However, success in Brazil depends heavily on early and sustained engagement with state regulators and local stakeholders, as these relationships often determine permitting outcomes more than federal involvement.Operationally, companies report a generally capable domestic workforce, though specialized skills and imported equipment can present constraints. Meanwhile, Brazil's geological potential remains underexplored, with only about 30% of the country mapped in detail.Looking ahead, Serabi aims to double gold production, Cabral is advancing toward first production in 2026 with active drilling, and ValOre is progressing toward a preliminary economic assessment while pursuing acquisitions. Overall, Brazil is increasingly viewed as a competitive and promising destination for mining investment.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Nicholas Holthouse, MD of Mont Royal ResourcesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mont-royal-resources-asxmrz-ashram-pea-nears-as-capex-slashed-50-and-fluorspar-upside-emerges-10160Recording date: 8th July 2026Mont Royal Resources Limited (ASX:MRZ, TSXV:MRZL) has used the past month to substantiate its case as a scale rare earths developer positioned to help address Western critical minerals supply gaps. The centrepiece is an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment for the company's 100%-owned Ashram Rare Earths and Fluorspar Project in Nunavik, Québec, released and followed by the formal NI 43-101 Technical Report required under Canadian disclosure rules.The updated PEA confirms Ashram as a 30-year, large-scale development. On a post-tax basis, the project delivers an NPV8 of C$2.03 billion, an IRR of 22.0%, and payback of 3.9 years from the start of production; pre-tax figures are stronger, at C$3.44 billion NPV8 and 25.6% IRR. Life-of-mine revenue is forecast at C$24.6 billion, with EBITDA of C$15.5 billion (a 62.7% margin), driven by average annual production of approximately 17,466 tonnes of saleable rare earth oxide, including roughly 4,035 tonnes of NdPr oxide. Initial capital expenditure is estimated at C$1.23 billion, including a 30% contingency, with the Company also anticipating C$342 million in refundable Clean Technology Manufacturing tax credits.The updated Mineral Resource Estimate totals 204.3Mt (73.2Mt Indicated at 1.89% TREO and 131.1Mt Inferred at 1.91% TREO), with the mine plan drawing on only around 25% of that base over its 30-year life leaving room for future expansion, including the currently excluded BD-Zone. NdPr, the primary magnet metal pairing, represents approximately 21% of the resource's total rare earth oxide content, a distribution that positions Ashram to supply the higher-value end of the rare earth basket into markets forecast to grow at 8-12% annually through 2050.Beyond the economic study, Mont Royal is managing two other active workstreams. First, the company acknowledged an independent, Nation-led initiative from the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach to evaluate potential regional access corridor options, a process Mont Royal says it respects but does not control, running in parallel to its own engagement with Inuit, Naskapi and Innu communities on Ashram-related infrastructure. Second, the company's 75%-owned Northern Lights Minerals project is undergoing a helicopter-supported gold till-sampling survey across the Chateaufort Property, targeting ground directly along strike from Benz Mining's 1,005,000oz Eastmain gold deposit, with preliminary data expected in August 2026 and a full report in Q3.For investors, the key considerations are straightforward. On the positive side: a resource base and NdPr distribution that stack up well against global peers, PEA economics that clear the bar for progression to Pre-Feasibility Study, and access to Canadian government funding support, including the anticipated tax credit allocation. On the risk side: the PEA carries a ±50% accuracy range typical of scoping-level studies, no off-take agreements or committed financing are yet in place against the roughly C$1.23 billion initial capital requirement, and the assumed third-party access-road cost model has not yet been formalised into an infrastructure agreement. Permitting is expected to take several years given the project's location within federally and provincially regulated territory under the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement.The Company has targeted the second half of 2026 for the start of Pre-Feasibility Study work, alongside continued permitting, environmental baseline studies, and strategic partnership discussions as the next set of milestones to track.View Mont Royal Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/mont-royal-resources Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Nolan Peterson, CEO of Atlas SaltOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atlas-salt-tsxvsalt-no-competitors-lowest-cost-producer-a-mining-story-built-for-certainty-10812Recording date: 8th July 2026Atlas Salt has advanced its Great Atlantic Salt Project in Newfoundland from pre-development into active construction, marking a key milestone for the company. Since construction began in February, work has shifted to feasibility-study-funded capital expenditures, meaning current activities are part of the permanent mine infrastructure rather than preparatory steps. Backed by recent financing, the company has maintained steady progress through the 2026 construction season.Early-stage work has focused on site clearing, overburden removal and storage, subgrade preparation, and initial road and drainage infrastructure. These efforts are designed as long-term assets for the project. The next major milestone, excavation of the box cut and development of a 1.5-kilometre underground drift, is still several months away and will be critical in determining the project's technical performance.Initial geotechnical observations have been encouraging, with ground conditions appearing drier and more stable than expected. If confirmed, these conditions could reduce both construction time and capital costs, though further testing during drift development will be necessary to validate these early findings.On the regulatory side, Atlas Salt has secured permits covering over $150 million in early works. In addition, local authorities have shifted to a streamlined permitting approach aligned with provincial approvals, reducing administrative complexity and signaling strong regional support.The project aims to produce 4 million tonnes of de-icing road salt annually, targeting undersupplied markets in the northeastern United States, eastern Canada, and Atlantic Canada. Execution is supported by an experienced in-house team and engineering partner Hatch, with a phased staffing strategy intended to reduce risk during peak construction.Overall, Atlas Salt's transition into active construction, combined with favorable early conditions and improved permitting, positions the project for continued advancement toward full-scale production.View Atlas Salt's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/atlas-saltSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Darren Bowden, CEO of Metals Exploration PLCOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/metals-exploration-lsemtl-doubling-gold-output-as-build-on-track-on-budget-9180Recording date: 8th July 2026Metals Exploration (LSE:MTL) presents a self-funded gold development story entering its most consequential phase, with a newly acquired copper optionality layered on top. The company's flagship growth asset, La India in Nicaragua, is roughly 50% built and remains on schedule for first gold production in December 2026. CEO Darren Bowden confirmed that a previously flagged risk, the power transmission to the construction site, has now been substantially resolved through a revised delivery arrangement with the Nicaraguan government, under which the state handles design and the company handles construction.Construction progress is tangible: front-end processing infrastructure is complete, the CIL tanks are half-erected, and both mills are currently being installed. Some equipment deliveries such as an elution circuit from Australia and high-voltage cabling have slipped by a few weeks, but management maintains that the December 2026 target is intact, aided by a stockpiling strategy designed to bank four to five months of processing feed ahead of commissioning.The build is being funded entirely from Runruno's operating cashflow. The Philippines-based mine delivered record FY2025 results - $208.4 million in revenue and $115.3 million in free cashflow - leaving the company debt-free. FY2026 Runruno guidance of 40,000-48,000oz represents a step down from FY2025's 65,287oz, reflecting the mine's advancing age rather than any operational issue, as La India is designed to take over as the group's primary cashflow generator from late 2026.La India's underlying economics remain strong: a pre-tax NPV6 of $882 million at $2,500/oz gold (rising to $1,378 million at $4,000/oz), targeting 145,000oz of annual production over a mine life of 12-plus years, at an initial capital intensity of $1,138/oz - the lowest among the development-stage peer group Crux tracks for comparison.Layered on top of this near-term gold catalyst is a newly signed set of agreements over the Batong Buhay copper-gold porphyry project in the Philippines, announced 15 June 2026. The 440-hectare licence hosts two historically drill-tested porphyry systems and a high-sulphidation gold vein system, with a historical (non-JORC) resource at the Dickson porphyry of 86.9 million tonnes at 0.60% copper and 0.25 g/t gold. Crucially, the licence sits with the state-owned Philippine Mining Development Corporation, which satisfies local ownership requirements automatically and gives the project government backing that makes it a very different prospect. Initial exploration is underway, with a drill programme targeted for H2 2026.For investors, the near-term case rests on execution through La India's remaining construction and commissioning phases - watch particularly for confirmation of the final capital figure, which has moved slightly across recent company materials - alongside early drill results from Batong Buhay and the company's existing Abra and Cacao exploration targets, both expected in H2 2026.View Metals Exploration's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/metals-exploration-plcSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Blaine Monaghan, President & CEO of Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/pacific-ridge-exploration-tsxvpex-2026-drilling-campaign-eyes-500-mt-resource-expansion-9972Recording date: 8th July 2026Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (TSXV:PEX) closed the final tranche of an C$8.5 million financing and in doing so secured its largest corporate strategic shareholder: Peruvian mining group Minsur S.A., which through its subsidiary Cumbres del Sur now holds approximately 13.8% of the company. For a junior explorer that has spent recent years working to close a persistent valuation gap with peers, this is a meaningful development heading into the 2026 field season.The financing directly funds Pacific Ridge's 2026 exploration programme: approximately 2,500 metres of drilling each at the flagship Kliyul copper-gold project and the RDP copper-gold project, both located in British Columbia's Toodoggone district. Mobilisation is underway, with drilling expected to begin by late July and a second rig arriving mid-August to accelerate the Kliyul programme.At Kliyul, Pacific Ridge already holds a maiden resource of 334 million tonnes at 0.33% copper equivalent - roughly 2.42 billion pounds of copper equivalent, or 5.7 million ounces of gold equivalent. Rather than simply expanding this resource, management is directing drilling toward three untested porphyry targets along a 6-kilometre mineralised trend, starting with the M39 target in the property's southeast corner. Only three of the roughly 36 holes drilled at Kliyul to date have tested ground outside the existing main zone, leaving significant untested potential. Management's rationale is straightforward: nearby discoveries at Amarc Resources' Freeport-backed JOY district and Kingfisher Metals' HWY 37 project in the Golden Triangle have both driven multi-fold share price re-ratings, and a fresh discovery is seen as more likely to move Pacific Ridge's valuation than incremental tonnage growth.At RDP, the 2026 programme is concentrated on testing an interpreted porphyry centre nestled between two known mineralised magnetic lobes, the same zone that Minsur specifically negotiated technical access rights to as part of its investment. CEO Blaine Monaghan has described RDP's grades as among the highest-grade porphyry copper-gold mineralisation seen in the province, distinguishing it from the larger but lower-grade Kliyul resource.Minsur's investment carries structural significance beyond the capital itself. The company has been granted an investor rights agreement covering participation and top-up rights in future financings, along with a nine-month right of first refusal to acquire the RDP project and an agreement to negotiate a potential strategic transaction in good faith. This creates a defined, time-bound window in which Minsur can act on this season's drilling results - a specific catalyst investors can track rather than an open-ended thesis.With more than C$9 million now in treasury and a share count that has grown from roughly 63 million to approximately 97 million following the raise, management argues the company's dilution overhang is largely behind it, pointing to roughly 160 million shares traded since September 2025 as evidence that legacy sellers have been substantially absorbed. Separately, Pacific Ridge's Yukon gold properties, Mariposa and Eureka Dome, remain under a non-dilutive option to Labrador Gold Corp, adding optionality without competing for Pacific Ridge's own exploration capital this season.View Pacific Ridge Exploration's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/pacific-ridge-explorationSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Keith Boyle, Director & CEO of New Found GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsx-graduates-to-the-tsx-10811Recording date: 7th July 2026New Found Gold Corp (TSX: NFG | NYSE American: NFGC) has confirmed that its flagship Queensway Gold Project will undergo an additional environmental review step, while construction at its Pine Cove mill continues uninterrupted. Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change notified the company on July 3, 2026 that an Environmental Preview Report is required for Queensway Phase 1, a standard requirement for a greenfield project sited near the communities of Appleton and Gander. CEO Keith Boyle has described the request as an expected part of advancing a project of this nature so close to populated areas, and has emphasized a collaborative working relationship with the provincial government throughout the process.On the regulatory timeline, New Found Gold will receive EPR completion guidelines within 60 days of the Minister's letter. Once the EPR is submitted, a 35-day public review and the Minister's 45-day decision period run concurrently, with the decision period carrying a possible two-week extension that has already been exercised once during this project's review. Taken together with however long the company needs to prepare and submit the EPR itself, a realistic overall timeline to a final decision is six to nine months.Importantly, Boyle has stated that none of the current engineering, procurement, or construction work has been affected by the review. The company has received the permit amendment needed to convert its 100%-owned Pine Cove mill from a 700 tonne-per-day flotation circuit to a 1,400 tonne-per-day gravity-carbon-in-leach circuit, and construction on that conversion is already underway. New Found Gold continues to target sending first Queensway Phase 1 material to the mill in the fourth quarter of 2027, with Phase 1 commercial production targeted for the second half of 2028.The company is also using its Hammerdown Gold Project, targeted for commercial production in the second half of 2026, as an operational rehearsal for Queensway, with lessons on drilling, blasting, and mine start-up expected to transfer directly across. An updated NI 43-101 Technical Report covering all three planned phases of Queensway is expected in the second half of 2026, which should give investors a clearer picture of updated resource, design, and cost estimates.—Learn more: https://cruxinvestor.comSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Matt Manson, President & CEO of Radisson Mining Resources Inc.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/radisson-mining-tsxvrds-delivers-82-gold-resource-jump-from-just-25-of-140000m-drill-program-9475Recording date: 2nd July 2026Radisson Mining Resources is rapidly advancing its O'Brien Gold Project in Quebec's Abitibi region, one of the world's most established gold camps, as it transitions from exploration toward potential development. Since 2023, the project's resource has grown from 900,000 ounces to approximately 2.3 million ounces by March 2026, with particularly strong expansion in inferred resources. Management now targets a significantly larger deposit of 3 to 4 million ounces or more, supported by ongoing drilling success.This growth is driven by an extensive 140,000-metre drill program launched in October 2025, with eight rigs operating continuously through the first half of 2027. The program focuses both on extending known mineralized zones at depth and testing previously unexamined gaps between them. Results so far suggest strong geological continuity, with an 80–85% success rate in the core resource area and encouraging deep intercepts that reinforce confidence in the deposit's scale.A key strategic advantage is the project's proximity to major mining infrastructure, including Agnico Eagle's LaRonde and Iamgold's Westwood-Doyon Complex. This allows Radisson to consider either building a standalone mine or leveraging existing mills, shafts, and tailings facilities, potentially reducing capital costs and development timelines. Recent financing of C$25 million has strengthened the company's balance sheet to over C$50 million, fully funding exploration through at least late 2027 and enabling drilling to extend deeper, now targeting up to 2.5 kilometres.Despite these advances, Radisson's valuation has declined amid a broader pullback in gold equities, with its implied value falling to roughly US$110–120 per ounce—well below recent regional acquisition benchmarks of US$500–600 per ounce. This gap highlights potential upside if the company continues to expand resources and de-risk development. Overall, O'Brien is emerging as a fast-growing, infrastructure-advantaged gold project with increasing strategic flexibility.View Radisson Mining's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/radisson-resourcesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Dan Wilton, CEO of First Mining Gold Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/first-mining-gold-tsxff-undervalued-investment-series-with-dan-wilton-9757Recording date: 2nd July 2026First Mining Gold has secured federal environmental assessment approval for its Springpole gold project in Ontario, marking a major milestone after an eight-and-a-half-year regulatory process that began in 2018. The approval removes a key uncertainty that had weighed on the project and the company's valuation, positioning Springpole as one of the more advanced undeveloped gold assets in Canada.The company has also made progress on securing social license, announcing term sheets and clear paths to agreements with three First Nations communities: Cat Lake, Lac Seul, and Slate Falls. Finalizing these agreements is a near-term priority and is expected to proceed alongside the remaining regulatory steps. The Ontario provincial environmental assessment is still underway, with a decision anticipated by the end of summer 2026 following a public comment period.Economically, the project appears robust. A November 2025 pre-feasibility study estimated a 40 percent after-tax internal rate of return and a net present value of $2.1 billion (US) at a gold price of $3,100 per ounce. The project could produce more than 300,000 ounces of gold annually, with a payback period of under two years. Management expects to reach a final investment decision within approximately 18 months, following a feasibility study targeted for mid-2027 and subsequent financing discussions.Despite these developments, CEO Dan Wilton argues the company remains significantly undervalued. First Mining trades at roughly $50–60 per ounce of resource, compared to $120–150 for early-stage projects and $300–400 for advanced-stage developers. He attributes this gap partly to historical permitting risk and suggests a re-rating could follow as approvals are completed.Springpole's scale, location in a tier-one jurisdiction, and advanced permitting status also make it strategically attractive in a gold sector facing declining reserves and limited large-project pipelines.View First Mining Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/first-mining-goldSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Drew Clark, CEO, Summit RoyaltiesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/summit-royalties-tsxvsum-new-royalty-player-fills-sub-1b-market-gap-with-accretive-ma-9472Recording date: 29th June 2026Summit Royalties, a newly listed precious metals royalty company led by CEO Drew Clark, has taken a significant step in scaling its business with the acquisition of Star Royalties for approximately CAD $50 million. The transaction adds a high-grade, permitted, and currently under-construction gold stream at the Copperstone project in Arizona, strengthening the company's near-term production profile and shifting its portfolio toward more advanced assets.Following the deal, Summit has doubled its projected cash flow to roughly USD $20 million once all assets reach full production, up from an earlier estimate of $10 million. The company is targeting a production run rate of about 4,000 gold ounces by 2028, which could generate more than USD $15 million in annual revenue at current gold prices. These projections are anchored by two key assets: the Copperstone stream and a royalty linked to a Jaguar Mining project, both operated by well-capitalized, established mining companies. This reduces reliance on speculative development and lowers execution risk compared to early-stage projects.Summit is also evolving its funding strategy. While early growth relied on equity financing, the company is now pursuing a revolving credit facility with a major bank, enabling it to use debt alongside equity to fund future acquisitions and potentially limit shareholder dilution.Management emphasizes disciplined growth, noting that over USD $250 million in potential deals have been reviewed and rejected to maintain quality and value. Insider ownership stands at approximately 12%, aligning management with shareholders.Overall, Summit Royalties is positioning itself as a rapidly growing but selective player in the royalty sector, focusing on low-risk, near-term production assets while expanding its financial flexibility to support continued portfolio growth.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/summit-royaltiesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Layton Croft, President & CEO, Carolina RushOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/carolina-rush-tsxvrush-testing-deep-porphyry-potential-in-americas-first-gold-district-9470Recording date: 1st July 2026Carolina Rush has completed the first deep drilling program at its Brewer Gold-Copper project in South Carolina, confirming the presence of a copper-gold porphyry system beneath its historic near-surface gold mine. The program, consisting of three deep holes totaling 3,500 metres, marks a significant shift in the company's exploration focus from shallow gold mineralisation to a larger, deeper target.Results from hole 37 provided early indications of a porphyry system, including elevated copper levels, the presence of chalcopyrite, and characteristic quartz veining. More importantly, hole 38 delivered a breakthrough by intersecting copper-gold mineralisation beneath the lithocap for the first time. The hole returned multiple mineralised intervals, including 60 metres grading 681 ppm copper and 0.24 g/t gold within potassic alteration, a zone typically associated with the core of porphyry deposits.A revised geological model, developed with porphyry expert Dr. Richard Sillitoe, suggests the system is tilted 20–30 degrees to the northwest rather than vertical. This interpretation implies that the mineralised core may lie at a shallower and more economically accessible depth than previously assumed.The project is being advanced through an earn-in agreement with OceanaGold, which must invest US$8 million by the end of 2027 to earn a 50% stake. Carolina Rush remains the operator, while OceanaGold brings funding and regional infrastructure, including its nearby Haile gold mine.With a defined near-surface resource of approximately 500,000 ounces of gold and growing evidence of deeper porphyry potential, Brewer represents a dual-opportunity asset. Assay results from the third hole are pending, and further drilling is planned to test the system along its interpreted northwest extension.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/carolina-rushSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Philip Williams. Director & CEO of IsoEnergy Ltd.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/isoenergy-ltd-tsxiso-sequential-build-out-anchored-by-us-uranium-restart-9432Recording date: 1st July 2026IsoEnergy has moved through a period of significant portfolio development, anchored by the completed acquisition of Toro Energy, encouraging exploration results in Saskatchewan, and continued technical work toward a potential production restart in Utah. Together, these developments position the company across three of the jurisdictions most favoured by uranium investors: Canada, the United States, and Australia.The Toro acquisition brought the Wiluna project into IsoEnergy's portfolio, adding three near-surface deposits containing an estimated 75 million pounds of uranium. The project's shallow depth, from surface to approximately 10 metres, and its history of federal and state permitting make it a comparatively advanced addition. Management has outlined a six-to-twelve-month plan to update Wiluna's resource estimate and economic study to current Canadian reporting standards, alongside additional infill drilling intended to improve confidence in the resource.In Saskatchewan, drilling at the Hurricane deposit's "south trend" produced results that exceeded internal expectations. An area previously modelled to contain grades of 1–1.5% uranium instead returned intersections above 10%, including a best result of 11.6%, with a follow-up hole grading 2.75% roughly 550 metres from the existing resource. Hurricane already ranks among the highest-grade uranium deposits globally, with an indicated resource of 48.6 million pounds at 34.5% uranium. The south trend results suggest that high-grade mineralisation may extend beyond the boundaries of the current resource model, and the company plans to continue testing this trend as its 20-hole summer drilling programme resumes.In Utah, IsoEnergy is evaluating a restart of the Tony M mine. A 2,000-tonne bulk sample is being processed through a beneficiation technology that has shown it can remove 75% of material volume while retaining over 90% of contained uranium in initial testing. These results will feed into an updated economic study, expected before the end of 2026, which management has indicated will inform the ultimate restart decision.Financially, IsoEnergy reports approximately $130 million in cash, providing flexibility to fund study work and exploration across all three jurisdictions without near-term reliance on external capital. NexGen Energy, an early investor in the company, holds approximately 28% of shares outstanding following dilution from the Toro transaction.Management has characterised its overall approach as sequencing three potential mines according to their individual stages of readiness: Tony M as the nearest-term production candidate, Wiluna as a three-to-five-year development project, and Hurricane as a longer-dated asset dependent on further exploration and potential collaboration with neighbouring operators. This framing reflects a broader intent to reduce the binary risk associated with single-asset uranium developers by diversifying across geography and development stage.For investors, the near-term catalysts to monitor include the Tony M economic study due by year-end 2026, further assay results from Hurricane's south trend as the summer programme continues, and progress toward updated resource and economic disclosures for Wiluna over the coming months.View IsoEnergy's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/isoenergySign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Colin Joudrie, President and CEO, Selkirk Copper Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/selkirk-copper-tsxvscmi-high-grade-yukon-copper-restart-targets-mid-2028-production-10230Recording date: 1st July 2026Selkirk Copper Mines Inc. is advancing the restart of a previously producing copper-gold-silver operation, targeting first production by mid-2028. Positioned as a “restart story,” the project benefits from existing infrastructure, including a processing mill, camp facilities, and established site systems, significantly reducing the capital intensity and technical risks typically associated with new mine development. The company is focusing on incremental upgrades rather than rebuilding core infrastructure, while leveraging a substantial historical database to streamline engineering and planning.Initial drilling results have reinforced confidence in the asset. A 175-hole Phase 1 program intersected economic-grade mineralisation in 87% of holes and identified two new mineral lenses near existing workings. These findings support the company's broader strategy to develop an integrated mining operation combining open-pit and underground sources, with a roughly equal contribution in the early years and a gradual shift toward underground production over a projected 12-to-15-year mine life.Selkirk is now progressing a 50,000-metre Phase 2 drill campaign focused on upgrading resources and advancing geotechnical studies. The program is ahead of schedule and will inform a feasibility study expected to begin in late 2026 and conclude by mid-2027. Updated economic and resource estimates are anticipated in July 2026.Production planning targets approximately 30,000 tonnes of copper-equivalent output annually, supported by by-product gold and silver credits. To fund development, the company is pursuing non-dilutive options such as offtake agreements, project financing, and a potential silver stream, while avoiding the over-leveraging and permitting missteps that affected the previous operator.With strong drilling results, existing infrastructure, and favorable metal price conditions, Selkirk aims to position the project as a lower-risk path to near-term copper production.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/selkirk-copperSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com