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CRUX Investor is a new market insight channel for those interested in understanding the junior mining world and opportunities to invest. Its purpose is to cut through a lot of the jargon, bias and bluster that is prevalent in this sector and hone-in on the most important factors that can indicate wh…

CRUX Investor


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    Resolute Mining (LSE:RSG) - Targets 500,000oz Gold Output

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 24:02


    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

    Summit Royalties (TSXV:SUM) - Secures US$50M Credit Facility to Fund Cash-Flowing Deals Push

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 10:22


    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

    Axo Metals (TSXV:AXO) - Permit Win Accelerates Path to Production at San Antonio

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2026 15:54


    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

    Nickel's Next Chapter: Tight Supply, Steady Demand, and Higher Price Floors

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 36:31


    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

    Getchell Gold (CSE:GTCH) - Fondaway Canyon Gold Project PEA Delivers Billion-Dollar Valuation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2026 20:03


    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

    ICG Silver & Gold (CSE:ICG) - Drilling Programme Expands Tuscarora Resource Estimate by 60% More

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 23:51


    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

    Magna Terra Minerals (TSXV:MTT) - Advancing Atlantic Canada Discoveries Under Proven Track Team

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2026 31:23


    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

    Argentina Metals (TSXV:VLLC) - Takes First Mover Advantage at District-Scale Mendoza Copper Belt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2026 17:38


    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

    Prospera Energy (TSXV:PEI) - Executing On A Targeted 3000 BOE/d Heavy-Oil Reactivation Pipeline

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2026 42:29


    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

    Group Eleven Resources (TSXV:ZNG) - New High-Grade Lead & Zinc Discovery at Stonepark

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2026 18:59


    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

    Future Metals (ASX:FME) - Aus PGM Developer Targets 2029 Production Amid Supply Gap

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2026 38:25


    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

    West Red Lake Gold Mines (TSXV:WRLG) - Grade, Tonnage, Cash Flow All Climb After Strong Q2 Step-Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2026 15:55


    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

    Cobra Resources (LSE:COBR) - Deeper Drilling Points to Bigger Copper System

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 12:36


    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

    Mining Alpha with Michael Gentile - Buying While Everyone's Bearish

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2026 43:33


    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

    Marimaca Copper (TSX:MARI) - 'Undervalued?' Investment Series, with Hayden Locke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2026 27:36


    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

    Cartier Resources (TSXV:ECR) - New Discoveries Reshape Cadillac Gold Camp, PEA Update Underway

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2026 34:48


    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

    ATHA Energy (TSXV:SASK) - Building the Next Uranium Basin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2026 42:25


    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

    Cabral Gold (TSXV:CBR) - 85% Built, Q4 Production & District Growth Ahead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2026 10:02


    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

    Gold Lags but Mining Equities Outperform on Stock-Specific Catalysts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2026 23:50


    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

    Fox Tungsten (TSXV:FOXT) - High-Grade BC Project Targets 3Mt Resource in 20,000m Drill Push

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2026 33:09


    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

    Flagship Minerals (ASX:FLG) - Gold Growth Meets Tier-1 Copper Opportunity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2026 26:21


    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

    Gunnison Copper (TSX:GCU) - Advances $2B Arizona Project Toward 2028 Construction Decision

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2026 37:53


    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

    The Brazil Premium: What Investor Need to Know about Brazil's Mining Boom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2026 47:06


    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

    Mont Royal Resources (ASX:MRZ) - Ashram Rare Earths Project PEA Delivers C$2B NPV, 22% Post-Tax IRR

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2026 34:00


    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

    Atlas Salt (TSXV:SALT) - Streamlines Permitting as Financing Process Accelerates

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2026 18:36


    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

    Metals Exploration (LSE:MTL) Advances Nicaragua Build as Philippine Copper-Gold Optionality Emerges

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2026 32:15


    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

    Pacific Ridge Exploration (TSXV:PEX) Lands its Largest Investor on BC High-Grade Copper Assets

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2026 13:32


    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

    New Found Gold (TSX:NFG) - Construction Still on Track

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2026 8:33


    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

    Radisson Mining (TSXV:RDS) - O'Brien 82% Gold Resource Growth, Drilling Continues High Success Rate

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2026 35:23


    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

    First Mining Gold (TSX:FF) - Springpole Wins Federal Approval, Nears Final Permitting Milestone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2026 23:32


    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

    Summit Royalties (TSXV:SUM) - Targets $15M Revenue Run Rate with New Gold Streams by 2028

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2026 14:24


    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

    Carolina Rush (TSXV:RUSH) - First Drill Confirmation of Copper-Gold Porphyry System at Brewer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2026 28:08


    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

    IsoEnergy (TSX:ISO) - Toro Acquisition Adds 75 Mlbs of Uranium to Portfolio Growth Plan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 27:07


    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

    Selkirk Copper Mines (TSXV:SCMI) - Restart Developer Targets Mid-2028 Production

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 24:58


    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

    US Gold Corp (NASDAQ:USAU) - 'Undervalued?' Investment Series, with Luke Norman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2026 21:42


    Interview with Luke Norman, Executive Chairman of US Gold Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/us-gold-corp-nasdaqusau-14b-npv-at-spot-fully-permitted-major-upside-9904Recording date: 29th June 2026U.S. Gold Corp (NASDAQ:USAU) presents a case that is relatively uncommon in the junior mining sector: a fully permitted, feasibility study-backed gold-copper project with a share structure that limits near-term dilution risk. The company's CK Gold Project, located roughly 20 miles from Cheyenne, Wyoming, benefits from established infrastructure including road, rail, and power that Executive Chairman Luke Norman argues meaningfully reduces both construction cost and timeline risk relative to more remote developments.The project's permitting status is central to the investment case. Wyoming's state-level permitting framework includes a defined objection window that closes once permits are issued, reducing the risk of legal challenges arising mid-construction which is a risk that has affected other North American projects situated on federal land or in jurisdictions with less defined objection timelines. Norman has described CK Gold as one of very few hard-rock mining developments to achieve full permitting in Wyoming in close to a century.On economics, the definitive feasibility study uses a base-case gold price of $3,250 per ounce, below the consensus estimate of roughly $3,800 per ounce cited at the time of the interview, and still produces an after-tax net present value of approximately $630 million, alongside an internal rate of return just under 30%. Copper, which contributes around 30% of the project's economics, was modelled using a price assumption that has since been exceeded by the market, suggesting the study may understate current project value.Central to management's undervaluation argument is the company's share count. With approximately 16.5 million shares outstanding which is low relative to typical junior developers, the resulting market capitalisation of roughly $260 million appears modest set against the feasibility study's NPV. Norman has attributed part of this gap to the company's Nasdaq listing, suggesting that comparable projects may be priced differently on Canadian exchanges where specialist mining investors are more concentrated.Beyond the current reserve, management points to several sources of unquantified upside: approximately 80% of drill holes extending past the existing reserve boundary showed continued mineralisation, gold remains recoverable from tailings material, and waste rock carries commercial resale value comparable to that of a neighbouring quarry operator. None of these factors is currently reflected in the feasibility study's economics.The company's financing strategy also differs from many peers. Rather than raising further equity, management has expressed a preference for debt-heavy project financing, citing the project's relatively short payback period as support for this approach as a structural distinction from junior developers whose valuations are often discounted by anticipated shareholder dilution.For investors, the opportunity rests on several dependencies: successful and timely project financing, continued permitting stability, and commodity prices holding near or above the levels used in the feasibility study. As with any development-stage mining investment, prospective investors should review the company's public filings and feasibility study documentation directly, and weigh these factors against their own risk tolerance before making investment decisions.View U.S. Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/us-gold-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Leading Edge Materials (TSXV:LEM) - Secures 25Yr Concession on Europe's Top Heavy Rare Earth Asset

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2026 21:39


    Interview with Kurt Budge, CEO of Leading Edge Materials Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/leading-edge-materials-tsxvlem-heavy-rare-earth-asset-sets-production-timeline-8642Recording date: 30th June 2026Leading Edge Materials Corp. (TSXV:LEM) has secured a 25-year Exploitation Concession from the Swedish government for its Norra Kärr heavy rare earth elements project, an outcome the company frames as the most consequential regulatory milestone in its history. The decision follows 15 years of technical work and formal endorsements from Sweden's Mining Inspectorate, the Geological Survey of Sweden, and county administrative boards, and it fundamentally changes the nature of the investment case: Norra Kärr moves from a project defined by permitting uncertainty to one defined by financing and offtake execution.The core of the opportunity lies in the composition of the resource. Norra Kärr holds a high concentration of dysprosium, terbium and yttrium, heavy rare earths essential to permanent magnets used in electric motors, wind turbines and defence equipment, at a time when the European Union has no domestic rare earth production of its own. Independent research from Edison Group has ranked Norra Kärr third globally among comparable deposits on a dysprosium-equivalent basis and assigned the project a risked NPV10 of approximately $900 million. Investors should note this valuation is based on 2026 analysis and predates some of the more recent shifts in ex-China pricing for heavy rare earths, which have widened materially relative to Chinese domestic prices as buyers seek supply independent of Beijing's export licensing controls. Management has an updated prefeasibility study underway that is expected to incorporate current pricing.CEO Kurt Budge has been explicit about how the lease changes commercial conversations. Where prior discussions with prospective offtake partners and lenders were consistently constrained by the absence of confirmed mining rights, the company can now present Norra Kärr as a de-risked, strategically important asset. This distinction is particularly relevant given that offtake certainty has become an increasingly central requirement for both lenders and equity investors evaluating rare earth projects.The near-term catalyst path is reasonably well defined. Environmental permit preparation, including baseline data collection, is expected to take six to nine months before an application can be submitted, running in parallel with the prefeasibility study update. Management continues to target production within four years and has identified binding offtake agreements as the next material milestone, both for their direct commercial value and for the signal they send to potential financiers.The broader context is one of policy support outpacing available risk capital in Europe, in contrast to more assertive state-backed capital deployment in the United States, illustrated by transactions such as Energy Fuels' acquisition of Germany's Vacuumschmelze. This dynamic underscores both the strategic scarcity value of Norra Kärr and the execution risk that remains: no binding offtake has yet been signed, and the prefeasibility study is not yet complete. For investors, the lease represents a genuine de-risking event, but the pace at which Leading Edge converts this milestone into confirmed financing and offtake agreements will be the key variable to monitor over the coming months.View Leading Edge Materials' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/leading-edge-materialsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Integra Resources (TSXV:ITR) - Florida Canyon Unlocks $800M Cash Flow, Fuels Self-Funded Growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2026 17:12


    Interview with George Salamis, President and CEO, Integra ResourcesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/integra-resources-tsxvitr-strategic-investment-year-unlocks-80-90k-oz-production-in-2027-2028-9377Recording date: 29th June 2026Integra Resources has released a feasibility study for its Florida Canyon gold mine in Nevada, positioning the operation as the financial cornerstone of the company's growth strategy. The study outlines a strong economic profile, including an after-tax net present value of $601 million at a 5% discount rate and approximately $800 million in cumulative free cash flow over an eight-year mine life. Notably, the project requires no upfront capital, as the mine is already built, permitted, and operating.A key highlight is the substantial increase in the mine's scale, with reserves rising by 78% and resources by 128%. This growth stems from 18 months of geological reinterpretation, infill drilling, improved mine planning, steeper pit slope designs, and increased use of ore crushing to enhance recovery. These changes have reshaped the understanding of the deposit, moving beyond simple grade-based models to incorporate structural and lithological controls.In the near term, operations will focus on an intensive waste-stripping campaign to access higher-grade ore zones in the Main C pits. While this phase will keep costs elevated, the company expects all-in sustaining costs to decline toward an average of about $2,300 per ounce over the life of the mine once higher-grade material is reached.Florida Canyon's cash flow is expected to fund ongoing operations and support Integra's broader development pipeline, including the DeLamar project, targeted for construction in roughly two years with partial debt financing, and the Nevada North project. This self-funding model reduces reliance on equity financing and potential shareholder dilution.Additionally, a 42,500-metre drilling program is underway to expand resources further, including exploration of previously underexplored areas and the historical Standard Mine target, marking the first drilling there in 15 years.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/integra-resourcesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Empire Metals (LON:EEE) - Grades Keep Rising at Pitfield: What's Next for This Titanium Giant?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 29:05


    Interview with Shaun Bunn, Managing Director, Empire MetalsOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/empire-metals-loneee-australian-giant-targets-supply-gap-in-restructuring-titanium-market-8489Recording date: 26th June 2026Empire Metals is advancing its wholly owned Pitfield titanium project in Western Australia, positioning it as one of the largest and potentially lowest-cost titanium ore systems globally. Discovered around three years ago, Pitfield has rapidly progressed from exploration to development planning, supported by a large, shallow, and high-grade ore body. Recent drilling has further improved average grades—now estimated at roughly seven times typical mineral sands deposits—with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate expected in the third quarter of 2026.A major milestone came in June 2026 with the release of an integrated process flow sheet outlining how ore will be converted into high-purity titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment at a single site. The process combines conventional and novel steps, beginning with scrubbing, screening, and flotation to remove up to 90% of waste material before leaching. The remaining concentrate undergoes a low-temperature sulfuric acid leach, achieving high titanium recovery rates of around 98%. The process also enables recovery of alumina from kaolin as a co-product, improving overall project economics while allowing partial recycling of reagents.Engineering and cost studies are now underway, with key decisions pending on power supply, acid sourcing, and plant design. The company aims to deliver clear capital and operating cost guidance by early 2027. Rather than competing with low-cost Chinese producers, which dominate about 60% of global TiO2 supply, Empire Metals is targeting premium pigment markets in paints and coatings, where customers pay higher prices for quality and supply security.The broader market backdrop supports this strategy. Global TiO2 demand stands at 8–9 million tonnes annually and continues to grow steadily, while Western producers face rising costs and financial pressure. With strong infrastructure access, a scalable resource, and a focus on high-margin markets, Pitfield is positioned as a potential new entrant in a tightening global titanium supply chain.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/empire-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    F3 Uranium (TSXV:FUU) - The Discovery That Rewrote Uranium Exploration Rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 42:16


    Interview with Raymond Ashley, President and COO, F3 Uranium Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/f3-uranium-corp-tsxvfuu-resource-milestone-growth-drilling-ma-discussions-9473Recording date: 27th June 2026F3 Uranium is advancing exploration at its Patterson Lake North (PLN) project in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, combining an established high-grade resource with a discovery that could reshape regional exploration models. The company's JR Zone, discovered in 2022, hosts an estimated 11.8 million pounds of uranium at 4.41% U3O8, with a particularly rich core of 10.8 million pounds grading 12.23%. This places it among the higher-grade uranium resources globally and confirms PLN as a meaningful asset in a district known for world-class deposits.More recently, the Tetra Zone discovery has challenged a long-standing assumption in Athabasca exploration—that economic uranium deposits require graphite- and sulfide-bearing conductive structures. Tetra contains high-grade uranium despite lacking these features, demonstrating that mineralization can occur in previously overlooked geological settings. This finding significantly expands the exploration potential of PLN, particularly within the Clearwater domain, an area historically ignored due to the absence of electromagnetic conductors.Scientific analysis shows that both JR and Tetra share identical uranium ages, mineralogy, and alteration signatures, indicating they formed from the same large-scale hydrothermal system despite being 13 kilometres apart. This suggests the mineralizing system extends across a much broader area than previously recognized.To adapt, F3 is testing resistivity surveying as an alternative targeting method, supported by geochemical and gravity data. A 4,000-metre drill program beginning in July 2026 will test multiple new targets across the property. Backed by approximately $23 million in funding through 2027, the company is positioned to sustain aggressive exploration.Strategically, PLN lies about 25 kilometres from planned milling infrastructure at Arrow and Triple R, potentially allowing future deposits to serve as satellite feed. This proximity lowers development thresholds and enhances the project's attractiveness to potential partners amid growing global demand for nuclear energy.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/f3-uranium-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Group Eleven Resources (TSXV:ZNG) - Drilling Ireland's Best Zinc-Silver-Copper Discovery in Decades

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2026 32:17


    Interview with Bart Jaworski, CEO, Group Eleven ResourcesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/group-eleven-resources-tsxvzng-18m-funds-70000m-drill-program-10059Recording date: 27th June 2025Group Eleven Resources is advancing one of Ireland's most significant recent mineral discoveries at its Ballywire project in County Limerick, where an intensive 70,000-metre drilling campaign is underway using five rigs. Four rigs are focused on Ballywire, while a fifth is testing the nearby Stonepark property. The company has outlined a rapidly expanding zinc-lead-silver system extending over 3.2 kilometres, alongside a newly confirmed, deeper copper-silver zone that adds both scale and complexity to the deposit.Drilling has identified a steeply dipping copper-silver “feeder” system beneath the flat-lying zinc horizon, consistent with Mississippi Valley Type deposit models. This deeper zone has now been traced across 430 metres and remains open, suggesting further expansion potential. In addition, a secondary southwest-trending massive sulphide zone has emerged, indicating the possibility of greater overall tonnage than initially expected.Ballywire stands out for its exceptional grades, particularly in silver. Assays commonly range from 50 to 150 grams per tonne, with peak values reaching as high as 4,200 grams per tonne. A standout intercept reported in early 2026 included 52 metres of mineralisation with exceptionally high silver content, alongside notable copper values. These results position the project among the most high-grade discoveries of its type globally.The company estimates a potential 24-fold exploration upside based on multiple untested gravity anomalies along a 6-kilometre trend, as well as additional parallel structures and depth extensions. With approximately C$18 million in funding, Group Eleven is well-positioned to continue drilling through 2027 and aims to deliver a maiden mineral resource estimate within 12 to 18 months.Situated in a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction, Ballywire benefits from growing industry interest in Ireland's mineral sector, driven by strong demand for zinc, copper, and silver in electrification and energy transition technologies.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/group-eleven-resources-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Atlas Salt (TSXV:SALT) - No Competitors, Lowest-Cost Producer: A Mining Story Built for Certainty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2026 37:30


    Interview with Nolan Peterson, CEO, Atlas SaltOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atlas-salt-tsxvsalt-undervalued-investment-series-with-nolan-peterson-9831Recording date: 25th June 2026Atlas Salt is advancing its Great Atlantic Salt Project in Newfoundland from planning into execution after raising $25 million in equity over the past year, including a $15 million round completed in June 2026. The funding is being used to accelerate early-stage development such as site preparation, engineering work, and infrastructure setup, allowing the company to reduce project risk ahead of full-scale financing. The project, with an estimated total cost of $590 million, is positioned to address a well-documented shortage of de-icing salt across the northeastern United States, Midwest, and eastern Canada.The company is structuring a diversified financing package, targeting roughly 60% of capital from senior secured debt, supplemented by subordinate loans, export credit agency support, and equity contributions. Strategic backing includes an $80 million-plus equipment commitment from Sandvik, alongside potential support from Canadian and Swedish export credit agencies. This layered approach reduces reliance on any single funding source while improving financing flexibility.Atlas operates in a stable, infrastructure-like market. Road salt demand is driven by public safety needs and government procurement, with approximately 10,000 municipal and state buyers purchasing through annual contracts. This structure enables pricing flexibility and avoids dependence on long-term off-take agreements. Unlike many mining projects, the salt deposit offers long-term production without the need for continual resource replacement, supporting predictable cash flows.Notably, Atlas is currently the only new salt mine in development in North America, giving it a unique competitive advantage amid declining supply from aging operations. Its anticipated low-cost position, supported by access to regulated electricity and favorable labor conditions, further strengthens its market outlook. The project has already attracted Canadian pension funds, reflecting its long-duration, stable return profile.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/atlas-saltSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Electric Metals (TSXV:EML) - America's Answer to Chinese Manganese Import Reliance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2026 47:01


    Interview with Brian Savage, CEO, Electric Metals USARecording date: 25th June 2026Electric Metals USA is advancing the North Star Manganese Project in Minnesota, anchored by the Emily deposit—the highest-grade manganese resource in North America. The company aims to build a fully integrated domestic supply chain producing high-purity manganese sulfate (HPMS) for electric vehicle batteries, electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) for defense-grade steel, and electrolytic manganese dioxide for alkaline batteries. This strategy targets a critical gap: the United States currently relies entirely on imports, largely from China, for all manganese-related materials.Rather than selling raw ore, Electric Metals is focused on downstream processing, capturing higher-value chemical outputs. A preliminary economic assessment estimates initial mine development costs at approximately $150 million, with HPMS production costs projected to be competitive with Chinese suppliers even without tariff support. A more detailed study, including a 10,000-tonne-per-year EMM circuit, is expected soon and represents a key milestone.The Emily deposit grades 17.5% manganese and benefits from oxide mineralogy, which simplifies permitting compared to sulfide-based projects. Historical exploration data and recent test work support its development potential, though additional drilling is required to upgrade resource classifications.The project is also strategically aligned with U.S. national security and industrial policy. Manganese is essential for both emerging battery chemistries and military-grade steel, yet domestic production is nonexistent. Government interest, combined with rising demand from EV manufacturers, strengthens the investment case.While technical risks remain—particularly scaling HPMS production from laboratory to commercial levels—the company plans to mitigate these through pilot testing and flexible processing options, including third-party ore sourcing if needed.With a relatively small market capitalization and strong exposure to critical mineral supply chains, Electric Metals USA represents an early-stage but potentially significant player in reshaping U.S. manganese independence.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/nevada-silverSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Visionary Copper & Gold (TSXV:VCG) - 20,000m Drill Program Targets Resource Growth in Newfoundland

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2026 23:25


    Interview with Max Porterfield, President and CEO, Visionary Copper & GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/visionary-copper-gold-tsxvvcg-2026-resource-growth-confidence-plan-at-point-leamington-9535Recording date: 25th June 2026Visionary Copper & Gold is advancing its flagship Point Leamington project in Newfoundland, a 43-101 compliant volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit containing approximately 20 million tonnes of mineralized material. The near-surface resource hosts an estimated 500,000 ounces of gold and 170 million pounds of copper within 400 metres, providing a substantial foundation for future growth in a mining-friendly Canadian jurisdiction.A key recent development is the discovery of the “Kraken” zone, a copper-rich footwall stringer system located adjacent to the existing deposit. Initial drilling has returned broad copper intersections, including 75 metres grading 0.45% copper, with continuity confirmed across a 275-metre strike length. In comparable VMS systems, such footwall zones can represent a significant portion of total resources, suggesting Kraken could materially expand the project's scale.To advance this potential, the company plans a 20,000-metre Phase Two drilling campaign beginning in the second half of 2026. Most of the drilling will focus on upgrading the current resource to higher confidence categories and defining the extent of the Kraken discovery, while a smaller portion will test five additional regional targets across an expanded 30,000-hectare land package.The project benefits from strong infrastructure, including road access, hydroelectric power, and proximity to a deep-water port, which may help reduce future development costs. Investor confidence is reflected in a significant stake held by Ross Jennings of the Quaternary Group, who has accumulated over 11% ownership.Amid rising global demand for copper driven by electrification and energy transition trends, Visionary Copper & Gold is positioning Point Leamington as a potentially scalable, lower-cost development opportunity with meaningful exploration upside.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/visionary-copper-gold-minesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Omai Gold Mines (TSXV:OMG) – 'Undervalued?' Investment Series, with Elaine Ellingham

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2026 16:39


    Interview with Elaine Ellingham, President & CEO of Omai Gold Mines Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/omai-gold-mines-tsxvomg-8moz-gold-project-advancing-rapidly-10058Recording date: 25th June 2026Omai Gold Mines has rapidly emerged as a significant player in the global gold development sector after doubling its resource base to 8 million ounces across two deposits in Guyana within a year. This growth places the company among a small group of large, undeveloped gold projects worldwide. Despite this scale, Omai trades at roughly $150 per ounce of enterprise value—well below comparable peers valued between $180 and $226 per ounce, and far beneath recent acquisition benchmarks of $425 to $600 per ounce. This valuation gap is partly attributed to the speed of the resource expansion, which analysts have yet to fully incorporate into updated models.A key near-term catalyst is the company's forthcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), expected to provide the first comprehensive evaluation of both deposits at their current scale. The PEA is likely to increase the project's net asset value and clarify production potential, which may exceed earlier expectations of 250,000–300,000 ounces annually. It may also challenge current assumptions around mining costs, particularly the strip ratio, where management anticipates more favorable outcomes than analysts predict.Omai benefits from several structural advantages that reduce development risk. As a past-producing site, it already has established infrastructure, including an airstrip, tailings facilities, and cleared land. It is also located near a paved highway and within reach of planned hydropower and LNG energy sources. Additionally, Guyana offers a supportive regulatory environment, streamlined permitting through a single government-issued license, and a growing reputation as a stable mining jurisdiction.Further upside lies in the project's geological potential, with drilling indicating mineralization extending well below current resource limits. Combined with its scale, infrastructure, and jurisdictional advantages, Omai represents both a compelling development opportunity and a potential acquisition target in a market increasingly focused on large, de-risked gold assets.View Omai Gold Mines' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/omai-gold-minesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    New Found Gold (TSXV:NFG) - Expanded 90,000-Metre Drill Program Backs Growth Case

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2026 8:59


    Interview with Keith Boyle, Director & CEO of New Found GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsxvnfg-hammerdown-the-path-to-production-10604Recording date: 23rd June 2026New Found Gold (TSXV:NFG) is advancing through a critical transition period, moving from an exploration-focused company toward one with near-term production cash flow and a fully funded development plan for its flagship Queensway project. Director and CEO Keith Boyle outlined a clear set of operational milestones, regulatory updates, and a funding position that together describe a company actively de-risking its path from discovery to production.The company's Hammerdown project represents the nearest-term catalyst. Boyle confirmed the company expects to declare commercial production in the second half of 2026, targeting steady-state annual output of 20,000 to 25,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of approximately $2,500 per ounce, figures consistent with the project's published Preliminary Economic Assessment. This represents New Found Gold's first source of internally generated cash flow, a meaningful shift for a company that has historically relied on equity markets to fund its activities.Queensway, the company's flagship high-grade project, remains subject to an Environmental Assessment decision that Boyle expects by early July 2026, following a routine two-week extension to the standard 45-day review period. Boyle characterised the extension as a function of higher application volumes at the regulatory body rather than any project-specific concern. Once the EA is approved, the company anticipates progressing to an early works permit, clearing the way for construction activity to accelerate.A central element of the investment case is the operational continuity between Hammerdown and Queensway. By acquiring the Hammerdown mine and the Pine Cove mill through its earlier Corvus acquisition, New Found Gold gained an already-operating production team and processing facility. Boyle explained that this team's experience bringing a 700-ton-per-day mine into production at Hammerdown is now being applied directly to Queensway, which is being developed at a similar scale. Rather than constructing new milling infrastructure, the company is expanding an existing, operating facility, a structural advantage relative to many development-stage peers building from a standing start.Boyle also detailed the company's funding position, confirming a $220 million capital raise dedicated specifically to the Queensway development plan. This leaves the company fully funded for early works currently underway at Pine Cove, including the ordering of long-lead-time equipment, while it awaits regulatory clearance. Boyle noted that acquiring existing infrastructure brought Queensway's production timeline forward by approximately three years compared with developing the project independently, while also reducing reliance on further equity issuance and associated shareholder dilution.Exploration remains an active component of the story alongside development. The company has expanded its 2026 drilling program to 90,000 metres, with 45% allocated to new discoveries and resource growth rather than confirmation drilling. Boyle outlined a longer-term production growth profile targeting more than 100,000 ounces per year in the near-to-medium term, scaling toward approximately 200,000 ounces per year by around 2031 following the planned Queensway expansion.Taken together, New Found Gold presents a defined near-term catalysts, a funded development plan, and continued exploration upside to weigh against standard regulatory and execution risks inherent to development-stage mining equities.View New Found Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/new-found-goldSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    The Commodity Bull Market Is Still On: Olive Resource Capital's Macro Playbook | Compass

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 29:04


    Recording date: 19th June 2026Samuel Pelaez and Derek Macpherson of Olive Resource Capital make the case that the commodity bull market remains intact despite near-term volatility — and explain exactly how they are positioning for it.The pair cover the latest developments in the Strait of Hormuz, where a US-Iran term sheet has eased but not eliminated geopolitical risk, and assess what a structurally different Federal Reserve under new Chair Kevin Warsh means for industrial commodity demand. With crude pulling back toward $80 a barrel, Olive Resource Capital has been adding to oil and gas exposure. Takeover proceeds are being redeployed into small and mid-cap copper producers and explorers, with AI-driven data centre construction cited as a durable demand driver the market is underappreciating. Gold fundamentals remain intact, supported by expected central bank net buying and persistent global fiscal deficits.The discussion closes with a candid look at portfolio discipline - why entry points matter as much as stock selection, and why the firm is carrying above-average cash while waiting for risk to reprice.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Nine Mile Metals (CSE:NINE) - 234m of Visual Copper and a Horizon Never Seen in Historic Records

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 16:40


    Interview with Patrick Cruickshank, Director & CEO of Nine Mile MetalsOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/nine-miles-metals-csenine-record-copper-gold-grades-drive-2026-expansion-drilling-9179Recording date: 24th June 2026Nine Mile Metals Ltd. (CSE:NINE) is in an active phase of exploration at its Wedge project in the Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick, a region with a substantial mining history but, in the company's view, considerable untested potential. The Wedge deposit was partially mined decades ago before falling commodity prices and operational constraints brought work to a halt, and historic records suggest only a fraction of the deposit was ever extracted. Nine Mile's current strategy is built on testing the ground that was left behind, both laterally and at depth.The company is midway through its largest drill programme to date, a 10,000-metre campaign that follows smaller efforts in the falls of 2024 and 2025. The current phase targets the eastern extension of the deposit, the western flank beyond a fault structure that disrupted earlier drilling, and the system's depth potential, alongside two additional target areas known as West Wedge and TriBag. Two completed holes have already returned long intervals of visible copper-bearing mineralisation, at 234 metres and 130 metres respectively, including a horizon at depth that does not appear in any historic record for the property. This is a meaningful distinction for investors: the company is exploring genuinely new ground rather than reinterpreting previously known mineralisation.Beyond these results, Nine Mile has identified three separate mineralised lenses within the Wedge system, including a high-grade copper zone that returned grades between 5% and 8% copper before a fault structure interrupted the original hole. The current programme is designed to re-approach that zone from the opposite side of the fault, with deeper holes planned to test both its lateral extent and how far the broader system continues at depth. The deposit's mineralogy varies across these lenses, with the company reporting a lead-zinc-rich zone, a high-grade copper zone, and intervals of elevated silver and gold, along with reported occurrences of antimony and indium. This polymetallic character is typical of VMS systems generally, though it also adds complexity to eventual resource estimation, since grade and metal mix differ from lens to lens.On the resource question, historic operators are understood to have extracted around two million tonnes from Wedge, with approximately half a million tonnes believed to remain. Nine Mile's own geophysical and 3D modelling work suggests the true figure may be larger, particularly given that current drilling sits outside historic mining areas entirely. Apex Geoscience, the company's technical advisor, is expected to deliver an updated NI 43-101 technical report by autumn 2026, incorporating the 2024 through 2026 drill programmes and potentially including indicated and inferred resource categories for the first time.On funding, the company states that its 2025 programme, which produced several of the high-grade intercepts referenced above, was completed on a modest budget, and that it does not currently require additional capital to execute the 2026 campaign, while remaining open to strategic investment. For investors, the combination of new discovery zones, a forthcoming resource update, and a stated funded position offers several catalysts to monitor over the coming months with all current results remain preliminary pending certified assay confirmation.View Nine Mile Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/nine-mile-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Axo Metals (TSXV:AXO) - Brownfield Gold Restart in Mexico Gains Momentum Ahead of September PEA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 18:35


    Interview with Jonathan Egilo, CEO of Axo MetalsRecording date: 24th June 2026Axo Metals is advancing its San Antonio gold project in Sonora, Mexico toward a potential production decision, combining ongoing drilling, engineering work, and permitting with a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) expected in September. Acquired earlier this year, San Antonio is a brownfield asset with a history of heap leach gold production, most recently operated in 2021. Existing infrastructure, including a 12,000-tonne-per-day crusher and maintained processing facilities, significantly reduces development risk and upfront capital requirements.The company's near-term focus is the Sapuchi deposit starter pit, a near-surface oxide deposit with a low strip ratio that allows mining to begin immediately in ore. Infill drilling at Sapuchi has delivered encouraging results, including gold mineralisation in areas previously classified as waste. These findings could improve project economics by lowering effective stripping requirements and increasing recoverable material within the planned pit.San Antonio currently hosts a resource of approximately 1.1 million ounces of gold based on a 2021 estimate at lower gold prices. Axo Metals believes this could grow to 1.5–2 million ounces through updated pricing assumptions and ongoing expansion drilling. Over a projected mine life of 10 to 12 years, the project could support annual production of 100,000 to 150,000 ounces, with additional upside from a future sulphide milling operation.Financially, the company has raised $40 million, with additional warrant potential, and estimates that only tens of millions more are needed to reach initial production due to the project's partially built status. With permitting underway and a clear development plan, Axo Metals is positioning San Antonio as a near-term, capital-efficient gold production opportunity, particularly attractive in a strong gold price environment.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/axo-metals-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Resolution Minerals (ASX:RML) - $47M Raised and NASDAQ Bound: A US Critical Minerals Pure-Play

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 26:17


    Interview with Craig Lindsay, CEO, US Operations of Resolution MineralsRecording date: 24th June 2026Resolution Minerals Limited (ASX:RML) is advancing its Horse Heaven project in Idaho at a moment when US policymakers are actively prioritising domestic supply chains for antimony and tungsten which are of limited substitutes and outsized exposure to Chinese supply concentration. China currently processes approximately 80% of global antimony supply and mines around 60% of it, a dynamic that has previously resulted in export restrictions to North America and has elevated supply security to a national policy concern.Horse Heaven sits directly adjacent to Perpetua Resources' Stibnite project, a permitted Idaho gold mine valued at ~$4 billion that has drawn US government and military attention partly due to its antimony content. Resolution's differentiation lies in grade: its antimony veins, ranging from a few inches to a couple of feet thick, average approximately 40%, against Stibnite's sub-1% grade. Because Stibnite's antimony will be recovered only as a byproduct of gold production, Resolution's near-surface, standalone veins may offer a more direct and capital-efficient route to extraction.Craig Lindseay, CEO of US Operations, has overseen approximately $47 million raised over the past six months, predominantly from Australian investors, and the company is now progressing toward a NASDAQ listing intended to broaden access to deeper US capital markets. Resolution is also engaging directly with federal policymakers and the Department of War, and is a member of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium, a channel for accessing critical minerals supply chain funding. Grant applications have been submitted, though outcomes remain undisclosed.Notably, management has been explicit that government capital is not treated as a precondition for project viability. Lindsay stated that the project's high grades and near-surface mineralisation should allow it to function as a standalone development, with government support sought primarily through permitting assistance rather than direct funding dependency. This is reflected in the company's recent award of Fast-41 status, a federal designation that subjects the US Forest Service's permitting process to defined timelines via the Permitting Council, addressing what is widely regarded as the principal bottleneck across the mining sector.On infrastructure, Resolution has acquired a 25-acre private parcel containing the historic Johnson Creek Tungsten Mill, offering more permitting flexibility than public land. The company is pursuing a phased strategy toward early revenue: existing tungsten stockpiles would be sold to third-party processors in the near term, while a bulk sample extraction permit application for a minimum of 500 tons of high-grade antimony material which is roughly equivalent to two years of US military demand is also in progress.A 45,000-foot drill programme is underway, with results expected from late July through year-end and a maiden resource estimate targeted for Q1 2027. The project remains pre-resource and pre-permit for full-scale production, and funding, listing, and permitting outcomes remain pending.View Resolution Minerals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/resolution-minerals-ltdSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Cobra Resources (LSE:COBR) - Scale and Heavy Rare Earth Quality Set This ISR Project Apart

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 26:31


    Interview with Rupert Verco, CEO, Cobra ResourcesOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cobra-resources-lsecobr-discovers-high-grade-copper-gold-over-74m-9534Recording date: 24th June 2026Cobra Resources is advancing what it describes as Australia's only rare earth project suited to in situ recovery (ISR), a mining method that offers lower capital costs, reduced environmental impact, and faster development timelines compared to conventional techniques. Located in South Australia, the project has recently confirmed mineralisation across two prospects through sonic core drilling, supporting progress toward a maiden mineral resource estimate.A defining feature of the project is its high-value rare earth composition. Approximately 43% of the mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) basket consists of heavy rare earths, including nearly 5% dysprosium and terbium—elements critical for electric vehicles and wind turbines and typically more valuable than light rare earths. This positions Cobra competitively among global ionic clay projects.Technical results further support ISR viability. Permeability testing has demonstrated strong hydraulic connectivity, with transmissivity rates of around 8 metres per day and 80% tracer recovery within two days. These metrics suggest efficient leach cycles of 30–60 days and support well-field spacing that enhances operational efficiency. Importantly, high tracer recovery also indicates effective containment, a key requirement for regulatory approval.The project may also benefit from natural sulfide oxidation within the orebody, which can generate sulfuric acid in situ. This could offset a significant portion of reagent costs, typically around 30% of operating expenses in ISR projects, improving overall economics.Cobra plans a low-cost pilot study using existing infrastructure and ANSTO's facilities to validate the ISR process, followed by a scoping study. With supportive regulatory conditions in South Australia and proven ISR analogues in similar geological settings, the project presents a differentiated, capital-efficient pathway to rare earth production amid rising global demand for critical minerals.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/cobra-resourcesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

    Millennial Potash (TSXV:MLP) - US DFC-Backed Giant Gabon Project Targets 2027 Construction

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2026 31:41


    Interview with Farhad Abasov, Chairman, Millennial PotashOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/millennial-potash-tsx-vmlp-the-worlds-next-low-cost-potash-producer-6383Recording date: 15th June 2026Millennial Potash is advancing a large-scale potash project in Gabon that it positions among the world's largest undeveloped deposits. The company has defined an estimated 6 billion tonnes of measured, indicated, and inferred resources from drilling across just 4% of its 1,500 square kilometer licence area, leaving significant potential for further expansion. This scale, combined with a relatively low projected cost structure and proximity to key agricultural markets, underpins the project's investment appeal.A central component of the project's development is support from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which has provided a $3 million grant for feasibility work and may offer construction debt financing, subject to project milestones. Additional backing from US government entities reflects growing strategic interest in diversifying global potash supply, which is currently concentrated among a small number of countries. Millennial aims to complete feasibility and environmental studies by early 2027, secure full financing by mid-2027, and begin construction later that year using solution mining, a lower-capex method than traditional underground mining.The company is targeting a capital structure with 60–65% debt to limit equity dilution and is seeking off-take agreements tied to upfront financial participation rather than simple purchase contracts. At the same time, management is exploring strategic partnerships or acquisition opportunities, drawing on its track record of selling previous potash projects to major industry players.Infrastructure development, including access to an existing port and a proposed deepwater facility, could support scaling production from an initial 800,000 tonnes annually to as much as 4–5 million tonnes over time. Positioned near underserved African markets and major importers like Brazil, the project aligns with broader trends toward supply diversification in the global fertilizer sector.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/millennial-potash-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

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