Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/tudor-gold-corp-tsxvtud-all-known-questions-answered-february-2026-9352

Recording date: 24th April 2026

Tudor Gold is advancing one of North America's largest undeveloped gold deposits, the Treaty Creek project in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle. Hosting 24.9 million ounces of indicated gold and 4 million ounces of inferred gold, alongside significant copper and silver, the project features higher-grade zones perfectly suited for underground mining. Despite this massive resource base, Tudor Gold currently trades at a steep discount. At just $16.70 per ounce of measured and indicated gold, the company trails far behind peer valuations that range from $25 to $284 per ounce, signaling a substantial potential upside for investors.

A major obstacle to the project’s valuation was recently mitigated through a pivotal regulatory victory. The British Columbia government recently declined to grant neighboring Seabridge Gold permits to build twin access tunnels directly through Tudor's mineral claims. Authorities stipulated that Seabridge must first reach a commercial agreement with Tudor or obtain a definitive court decision. This ruling effectively forces a negotiated land-use settlement rather than prolonged litigation, eliminating a significant cloud of development uncertainty that had previously weighed on Tudor’s market position.

Guided by a management team that successfully developed the nearby Brucejack mine, Tudor Gold anticipates multiple near-term catalysts throughout 2026. The most significant milestone is a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) scheduled for this summer, which will model an underground mining operation targeting 200,000 to 300,000 ounces of annual gold production. To further expand its footprint, Tudor is launching a 10,000 to 15,000-meter exploration drill program to test new targets and establish multi-deposit potential. Additionally, the company is actively negotiating with joint venture partner Teuton Resources to consolidate the remaining 20% interest in the project, a move that would streamline future financing and development decisions.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/p2-gold-inc-tsxvpgld-30000m-drill-program-ahead-of-resource-update-ye-feasibility-study-9435

Recording date: 24th April 2026

P2 Gold Inc. is advancing its Gabbs gold-copper project in Nevada through a significant valuation disconnect that presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to near-term precious metals production. The company currently trades at a market capitalization of $147 million USD, representing a 50-80% discount to comparable Western U.S. developers despite project economics that match or exceed peer metrics.

The Gabbs project, located in west-central Nevada with established infrastructure including on-site power and pending water rights, hosts 3.5 million ounces of gold equivalent resources, the highest-grade indicated and inferred resources among P2's peer group. Management is targeting expansion to 5 million ounces through ongoing drilling programs that have exceeded expectations.

At current spot prices, the project delivers exceptional economics with a net present value exceeding $3 billion at a 5% discount rate and an internal rate of return surpassing 100%. The October 2025 preliminary economic assessment outlined production of 109,000 ounces of gold annually plus 33 million pounds of copper over a 14-year mine life. However, management is evaluating a 33% throughput increase that would boost output to over 200,000 gold-equivalent ounces annually.
A critical differentiator is P2's royalty-free structure, providing an estimated $250 million financing advantage unavailable to royalty-burdened competitors. This flexibility becomes particularly valuable as the company approaches construction financing decisions in 2027-2028.

Peer comparisons highlight the valuation gap. US Gold, a direct comparable gold-copper developer, trades at $282 million despite P2's NPV5 being approximately double at similar metal prices. Liberty Gold and Dakota Gold command valuations of $661 million and $820 million respectively, suggesting 4-5x upside potential if P2 achieves comparable market recognition.

With feasibility completion targeted for Q4 2026 and production timeline of late 2028 to early 2029, less than three years away, P2 Gold offers near-term production visibility at a significant valuation discount to established peers.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/highland-copper-tsxv-hi-fully-permitted-us-copper-developer-targets-2026-construction-decision-7322

Recording date: 23rd April 2026

Highland Copper Company is advancing its Copperwood project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula toward a construction decision in the second half of 2026, with copper production targeted for 2029. The company has committed significant capital to engineering work, partnering with DRA Global and other established firms to reach 40% engineering completion by Q4 2026. CEO Barry O'Shea emphasized that the company has restructured very well to make sure full funds are through to a final investment decision.

The financing strategy centers on a Letter of Intent from EXIM representing 60-70% of the $425 million capital requirement. While currently non-binding, management is actively working to convert this into a binding debt facility, supported by White House recognition of Copperwood as strategically important to US critical mineral production. The debt capacity has expanded from an estimated $250 million at $4 per pound copper to potentially $300-325 million at current price levels.

Highland recently sold its remaining one-third stake in the White Pine project for $30 million, providing immediate liquidity while allowing exclusive focus on Copperwood. The decision reflects the strategic advantages of Copperwood's $425 million capex and fully-permitted status compared to White Pine's $1+ billion requirement and unsubmitted permits.

The shift in long-term copper price consensus has fundamentally transformed Copperwood's economics. The project's NPV triples from $170 million at $4 per pound to $507 million at $5 per pound, with current spot prices near $6 delivering an $850 million valuation. Management strengthened its execution team by hiring Trace Arlaud as Project Director, bringing credentials from Rio Tinto's Resolution Copper project, and Peter Hemstead as interim CFO, a founding executive at Capstone Copper.

Highland trades at approximately $110 million market capitalization, supported by strong institutional shareholders including Orion Mines Finance (28%) and Condire (20%), positioning for a potential rerating as the EXIM commitment converts to binding debt.

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Agnico Eagle has completed a landmark $4 billion Canadian consolidation of Finland's Ikkari gold project through three simultaneous acquisitions, establishing new valuation benchmarks that signal a fundamental reset in mining sector M&A activity.

The transaction structure involved acquiring Rupert Resources for $2.9 billion Canadian, purchasing B2Gold's 70% interest in the Fingold joint venture for $325 million US, and buying Aurion Resources for $481 million. The complexity arose from overlapping land positions, with Ikkari's development requiring access to joint venture ground and Aurion-controlled areas for optimal infrastructure placement.

For Olive Resource Capital, the Aurion acquisition delivered approximately 300% returns from a 68-cent cost basis established in January 2022. The $2.60 per share all-cash offer represented 60-70% premiums to recent trading levels and valued the combined resource base at roughly $500 US per ounce—double historical M&A ranges of $100-200/oz, though maintaining the traditional relationship of approximately 10% of gold prices.

Samuel Pelaez and Derek Macpherson, leading Olive Resource Capital, emphasized that the transaction removes a "unicorn" asset from an increasingly scarce market. The Ikkari project's 4.2 million ounce high-grade resource can support 200,000-250,000 ounces annually at potentially first-quartile cash costs—exactly what major producers seek but rarely find available.

The managers identified fewer than five tier-one development-stage assets remaining as potential near-term acquisition targets, noting that projects must deliver minimum 250,000 ounces annually to attract serious buyer interest. This scarcity dynamic intensifies competitive pressure as producers with balance sheet capacity—including Kinross, Barrick Gold, and SSR Mining—seek growth opportunities.

Rather than scrambling to redeploy Aurion proceeds, Olive Resource Capital had spent two years building replacement positions in companies including Goldsky Resources (Sweden), Prospector Metals (Yukon), and Omai. The valuation reset suggests projects trading at historical enterprise values may be materially undervalued as $400-500/oz becomes the new normal for quality development assets.

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Recording date: 22nd April 2026

Eagle Nuclear Energy (NASDAQ:NUCL) is developing the Aurora Uranium project in southeastern Oregon, which the company describes as the largest minable measured and indicated uranium deposit in the United States. The resource stands at 32.75 million pounds indicated and approximately five million pounds inferred, established through more than 600 historical drill holes and formalised under both a JORC report and a subsequent SK-1300 technical report completed by Eagle.

The strategic context is unambiguous. The United States operates 94 nuclear reactors consuming approximately 50 million pounds of uranium annually, yet domestic production reached only two million pounds in 2025. That gap of nearly 48 million pounds is filled by imports, primarily from Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia. The US Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act and a series of 2025 executive orders have placed domestic uranium supply at the centre of American energy policy, creating a policy environment that did not exist for uranium developers even three years ago.

Eagle is fully funded to execute its near-term programme. With approximately $30 million in cash, the company prepares $4.7 million drill programme commencing by summer 2026 eyeing 47 holes, 27,000 feet, and a subsequent pre-feasibility study targeted for completion by end of 2027, without requiring additional capital raises. The drill programme is designed to deliver metallurgical data, hydrogeological information, rock mechanics results, and resource expansion potential, with several historical holes having terminated in mineralisation suggesting upside at depth.

The deposit itself presents a technically straightforward profile. Mineralisation is shallow, flat, and tabular, hosted in altered clays and volcanic tuffs within the McDermott Caldera. The high-grade zone at 400–500 ppm uranium sits above the lower-grade halo at a 100 ppm cut-off, which is favourable for early-stage economics and payback modelling. Management's internal estimates, preliminary and subject to PFS confirmation, indicate potential production of one to four million pounds per year over a 14-year mine life.

The company's intention is to process uranium independently, with a potential processing plant on private land in Nevada separate from the Oregon mine site. Eagle has held preliminary discussions with the Department of Energy and other federal agencies, and while no formal support mechanisms have been confirmed, management believes federal engagement will increase as the supply deficit widens.

Two secondary value drivers sit alongside the core uranium story. The deposit's overburden contains lithium at grades above 1,200 ppm though no formal resource has been defined. Eagle also holds early-stage proprietary SMR technology, currently in the concept validation phase, with a nuclear regulatory licensing specialist on staff to guide the R&D process.

For investors, the near-term catalysts are clear: drill results from summer 2026, PFS initiation by year-end, and any developments in federal uranium support mechanisms. The risk profile is that of an early-stage developer with no formal economics yet, permitting in early stages, and production still years away. The asset, however, is genuinely rare in the US context, and the macro backdrop for domestic uranium supply has seldom been more compelling.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/k2-gold-tsxvkto-high-grade-gold-project-nears-drilling-breakthrough-7843

Recording date: 22nd April 2026

K2 Gold (TSXV:KTO) has reached a meaningful inflection point. The company has received a Record of Decision on its Mojave Project in Inyo County, California completing a full Environmental Impact Statement process that typically applies to mine development, not exploration drilling. That distinction matters. K2 Gold navigated this regulatory gauntlet as an exploration-stage company, and in doing so has established a permitting position that competitors will find difficult and time-consuming to replicate.

The Mojave Project's east side gold trend is the primary near-term focus. Multiple parallel stacked oxide structures, dipping at approximately 70 degrees to the west, run across a 500-metre wide corridor along a 5 km trend. Mineralisation begins at surface, all material drilled to date is oxide, and the deepest planned holes average 220 to 250 metres without any previous operator having intersected the sulphide interface. Early shake-test metallurgical work has returned recoveries of 96–98%, a directionally positive early signal for processing simplicity, though systematic work remains ahead.

The Dragonfly target, where K2 Gold's 2020 highlight hole returned 86.9 metres at 4 g/t gold, anchors the east side programme. Eighteen drill pads are fully permitted across this zone, each accommodating four holes and positioned to be 43-101 resource compliant. Management's stated priority for 2026, however, is not resource definition but rather for target testing. The company has more high-priority undrilled ground than it can drill in a single season, which is a function of the project's scale rather than a limitation of capital or access.

The most significant undrilled target is located 1.5 kilometres north of Dragonfly, on the same structural system. Rock samples from this area have returned grades of up to 375 g/t gold with further samples of 142.5 g/t and numerous results above 30 g/t. This area carries no attributed resource value and has never seen a drill hole. The Stega and Flores targets add further depth to the undrilled queue, with channel samples grading 4–8 g/t and 4 g/t respectively over multi-metre intervals.

On the west side of the project, a 5 km copper trend supported by more than 200 many a century old historic workings and the polymetallic Morning Star area, adjacent to the historic Sarah Gorde silver mine, add optionality that has not yet been tested by modern drilling. Both areas sit on patented claims and are drill-accessible under existing permits.

The company's financial position reinforces its operational readiness. A C$25.25 million financing closed in January 2026, attracting K2 Gold's first institutional investor. All warrants have been exercised or expired, leaving a clean capital structure. Up to C$12 million has been allocated to exploration in 2026, and management has stated the company is funded beyond the year. The SI2 Nevada epithermal project provides additional near-term news flow, with assay results from a recently completed seven-hole programme expected imminently.

K2 Gold heads into 2026 with a funded exploration programme, a clean share structure, a fully permitted flagship project, and a drilling queue that spans multiple high-grade, undrilled targets. The geological and financial conditions are in place. The drill results will determine the outcome.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/northisle-copper-gold-tsxvncx-district-scale-vision-with-wheaton-institutional-backing-8233

Recording date: 21st April 2026

Northisle Copper & Gold is advancing one of British Columbia's largest undeveloped copper-gold districts at a critical juncture for Western critical minerals development. The company recently raised over $150 million to fast-track its flagship project through pre-feasibility study following designation as a top priority within BC's Critical Minerals Office, marking a fundamental validation of both the project's strategic importance and technical merits.

Despite this institutional endorsement, Northisle trades at just 0.3 times analyst consensus net asset value—within the typical range for preliminary economic assessment-stage projects but below the 0.4-0.7x band associated with pre-feasibility stage assets. This valuation gap presents a systematic re-rating opportunity as the company achieves de-risking milestones throughout 2025 and 2026.

The published economics demonstrate considerable upside sensitivity to current commodity prices. The February 2025 preliminary economic assessment showed $5 billion after-tax NPV using $2,900 gold and $4.60 copper, whereas current analyst consensus stands at $3,400 gold and $4.70 copper. This pricing differential alone suggests substantial NPV expansion beyond the published figures.

Management is executing three parallel initiatives to enhance project economics: incorporating the 1.2-kilometer West Goodspeed discovery (showing 0.7-1% copper equivalent at surface) into Q2 2026 resource estimates; optimizing metallurgical recoveries through potential CIL plant twinning to increase Phase 2 gold recovery from 63% to 80%; and accelerating permitting timelines through government and First Nations partnerships.

Beyond the flagship deposit, Northisle controls 40 kilometers of a 50-kilometer porphyry district with 70 years of inherited exploration data valued at over $40 million. CEO Sam Lee characterizes this as a "free call option" on world-class discovery potential that doesn't factor into current valuations.

The capital structure strategy emphasizes diversified, low-cost financing sources. Wheaton Precious Metals' cornerstone investment positions the company to access precious metals streaming at 0-4% cost of capital, while strategic off-take agreements would unlock sub-2% Exim Bank debt. Management maintains 12-13% ownership and requires 3-5x returns on any equity dilution, ensuring shareholder alignment through development.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/american-uranium-asxamu-strategic-rebrand-partnership-targets-growing-nuclear-demand-7878

Recording date: 20th April 2026

American Uranium is rapidly advancing its flagship Lo Herma project in Wyoming's Powder River Basin to help meet a looming U.S. energy supply shortage. The company recently announced a significant interim resource update, reaching 9.45 million pounds of uranium at an improved average grade of 720 parts per million. Having completed the first half of a 121-hole drilling program, the development team is actively targeting optimal mineralization zones and upgrading resource confidence levels.

With an upcoming scoping study slated for the third quarter of 2026, American Uranium aims to showcase robust project economics. Early internal modeling points to a highly favorable financial outlook, estimating all-in sustaining costs around $40 per pound alongside initial capital expenditures of $60 to $70 million. These figures stand out as long-term uranium contract prices push toward the $100 per pound mark. To further bolster its development options, the company recently secured 1,000 acres of private mineral rights adjacent to existing resource boundaries, unlocking fresh exploration targets and streamlining future mine planning.

The Lo Herma project benefits immensely from its location in a premier mining jurisdiction with a 50-year history of in-situ recovery operations. Surrounded by established infrastructure and successfully permitted facilities, the company enjoys a largely de-risked regulatory environment. A recent $2.64 million capital raise provides the necessary funding to finish drilling, conduct crucial hydrological testing, and install water monitoring wells. By strategically checking off these technical milestones, American Uranium is positioning itself to initiate production by 2029 or 2030. This timeline aligns perfectly with a projected U.S. supply deficit of up to 50 million pounds, driven by an expanding domestic reactor fleet and surging energy demands from new technology sectors.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cartier-resources-inc-tsxvecr-continuous-focused-drilling-resource-update-ahead-9429

Recording date: 21st April 2026

Cartier Resources Inc. occupies a rare piece of real estate in the global gold mining landscape. The Quebec-based junior explorer holds the only remaining significant exploration position on a 50-kilometre stretch of the Cadillac Fault in Abitibi — Canada's most prolific gold-producing structure — flanked on all sides by producing mines owned by majors including Agnico Eagle, Eldorado, and IAMGold.

With a market capitalisation of approximately $120 million and $7 million in cash, the company has quietly consolidated 15 kilometres of strike length along the fault, defining 3.2 million ounces of gold across four distinct mineralisation types. That variety of deposit styles is central to CEO Philippe Cloutier's investment thesis: this isn't a single-zone story, but a camp-scale system with multiple potential deposits that together could determine the optimal layout for a future mining operation.

The most immediate challenge facing Cartier is the disconnect between its current public economic assessment and reality. Its 2023 Preliminary Economic Assessment modelled a standalone mill at $1,750 per ounce gold — well below today's prices — producing capital cost figures that look punishing by current standards. An updated scoping study is in progress, expected to incorporate recent shallow high-grade discoveries, metallurgical results, and scenarios involving toll milling through neighbouring producers with excess capacity. No release date has been confirmed.

Agnico Eagle's major shareholding and the recent board appointment of industry veteran Glenn Mullan signal institutional confidence in the asset. The company is 50% through its current drill program, having already met all initial objectives, with new discoveries prompting a revised approach to the remaining work.

Near-term catalysts include updated economics at current gold prices, continued drill results, a planned OTC QB listing to reach U.S. retail investors, and growing M&A interest as senior producers seek permitted, development-ready projects.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/krakatoa-resources-asxkta-high-grade-antimony-project-targets-jorc-by-early-2026-7133

Recording date: 21st April 2026

Krakatoa Resources presents a uniquely undervalued opportunity in the critical minerals sector, advancing the high-grade Zopkhito antimony and gold project in Georgia to address Western supply shortages.

The company is currently valued at roughly $170 per ton of contained antimony, sitting at a steep discount to the $750 to $1,500 peer average. The Zopkhito deposit features an exceptional antimony grade of 11.6%, containing an estimated 26,000 tons of the critical metal alongside a significant upside of over 800,000 ounces of gold. This dual-commodity profile positions Krakatoa as a crucial future supplier for European markets, which currently face strategic antimony shortages and rely heavily on Chinese exports.

To minimize upfront capital risk and expedite cash flow, Krakatoa is executing a three-phased operational rollout. The initial phase focuses on near-term lump ore antimony production, benefiting from the site's active mining license which streamlines the permitting process. Later phases will introduce mechanized processing facilities and target the project's extensive gold mineralization. Additionally, the presence of historical Soviet-era underground tunnels enables cost-effective internal drilling, allowing the company to bypass expensive surface drilling and accelerate resource validation.

Krakatoa expects a series of value-driving catalysts throughout 2026 as it transitions into a development-stage company. The primary objective is delivering a formal JORC-compliant resource estimate by the end of the year, supported by recent drilling that validates over 20,000 historical sample points. The company is also advancing metallurgical studies, preliminary economic assessments, and offtake negotiations with European and global partners. By demonstrating extraction viability through its phased approach, Krakatoa aims to close its valuation gap and secure its role in the global critical minerals supply chain.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/pacific-ridge-exploration-tsxvpex-undervalued-bc-copper-explorer-reports-first-resource-estimate-8193

Recording date: 20th April 2026

Pacific Ridge Exploration is advancing two copper-gold porphyry projects in British Columbia's southern Toodoggone district during a period of elevated commodity prices. With copper trading around $6 per pound—triple the level when drilling commenced in 2021—the economics of the company's flagship Kliyul project have fundamentally improved.

The company has defined a maiden resource of 334 million tons grading 0.33% copper equivalent at Kliyul, representing 5.7 million ounces of gold equivalent. This resource was discovered for approximately $15 million across 20,000 meters of drilling, demonstrating capital efficiency that CEO Blaine Monaghan believes provides significant leverage for future exploration. The deposit is characterized as a gold-rich system with a 2:1 gold-to-copper value ratio, offering exposure to both commodities.

Management's explicit strategy is to build a resource large enough to attract merger and acquisition interest from major mining companies. The initial target of 500 million tons appears achievable through systematic step-out drilling at the Kliyul main zone, which remains open in multiple directions on 150-meter drill spacing. Beyond resource expansion, the company has identified three untested porphyry targets along a 6-kilometer mineralized trend—M39 and Klip being the highest priority—that offer discovery potential to enhance both resource size and grade profile.

The RDP project presents additional upside through a concealed porphyry center interpreted to lie between two mineralized magnetic lobes. Only 12 modern holes have tested this target, with the 2026 program allocating 1,500 to 2,000 meters specifically to this high-priority zone.

Despite resources comparable to peers trading 6-8 times higher, Pacific Ridge maintains a market capitalization of approximately $15 million. Management attributes this valuation discount to recent share dilution and limited news flow during winter months, factors they believe are now largely resolved. The company plans to drill a minimum of 4,000 meters at both projects during the 2026 field season, with results expected from late summer through year-end, providing multiple catalysts for market re-rating.

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Recent developments in the Guyana mining sector have dramatically reshaped valuations for junior gold companies. The spark came when G Mining acquired G2 Goldfields for roughly $3 billion CAD. This deal carried a massive 80% premium, valuing G2’s 3.2 million recoverable ounces at about $600 CAD per ounce. To put this in perspective, imagine a neighborhood where a house suddenly sells for nearly double the historical market rate; naturally, every other homeowner immediately reevaluates their own property's worth. This transaction established one of the highest valuation benchmarks seen in recent mining mergers and acquisitions.

Just three days after the G2 buyout, Omai Gold Mines capitalized on the shifting landscape by releasing a massive mineral resource update. Revealing nearly 8 million ounces, Omai boasts a resource base more than double that of G2. As the most advanced asset in the Guiana Shield not already owned by a producing company, Omai's scarcity value has skyrocketed. Investors quickly connected the dots: applying the $600-per-ounce metric to Omai suggests a potential valuation approaching $6 per share, a steep premium over its recent $2.50 trading price. Unsurprisingly, Omai shares surged 40% within a week as the broader market recognized this discrepancy.

Investment firms are actively maneuvering to capture this upside. Olive Resource Capital, holding Omai as its largest asset, navigated recent market turbulence with surgical precision by selling equities in February and aggressively buying during March volatility. As the broader gold sector shifts its focus toward operational efficiency and supply chain management rather than aggressive growth, advanced development assets like Omai stand out as prime targets for future industry consolidation.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/americas-gold-silver-tsxusa-undervalued-investment-series-with-oliver-turner-9605

Recording date: 20th April 2026

Americas Gold & Silver Corp. (TSX:USA) is one of the more straightforward turnaround-to-growth stories currently available in the silver sector. The company controls the Galena mine in Idaho's Silver Valley with 190 million ounces of silver in resource at 19% year-over-year increase in M&I mineral resources and 21% increase in M&I grades. After 14 months of operational restructuring under a new management team, the company has moved into active execution of a strategy it spent much of 2025 designing and capitalising.

The operational picture at Galena is improving on several fronts. The introduction of longwall stoping, a more productive mining method than the underhand cut-and-fill technique the mine had used for a century, has already delivered results. In 2025, Galena produced silver at 473 g/t, the highest grade in 20 years. Nine longwall panels have been completed, and the transition to 70% longwall stoping by late 2027 is projected to reduce per-tonne mining costs by 40–50%. At the same time, hoisting upgrades have doubled shaft capacity and are expected to triple skipping speeds by mid-May 2026, while a fibre optic network is being installed to automate mine operations and improve productivity further.

Alongside Galena, the company acquired the Crescent mine, located nine miles away, which produces the same ore type and will begin feeding the Galena mill in H2 2026. With the Galena mill currently running at roughly 55% of capacity, Crescent ore provides a near-term margin improvement by spreading fixed costs across a higher throughput base. Crescent has not seen an exploration drill hole since 2011, and the company plans to drill it aggressively as part of its 64,000-metre, $20 million 2026 exploration programme.

The antimony angle is one that distinguishes Americas Gold & Silver from most silver producers. Galena is the largest producing antimony mine in the Americas and has produced antimony continuously since World War II. Until recently, the company was contractually penalised for this production rather than paid for it. That changed on January 2026 when a renegotiated offtake agreement brought antimony and copper into the revenue column. A joint venture with US Antimony to construct an on-site leaching facility is expected operational within 16 months at a total cost of approximately $50 million which will further maximise the value of that production stream. Americas Gold & Silver's 51% share is fundable from operating cash flow, and US government financing discussions are underway.

From a valuation standpoint, the company currently trades at 0.6–0.7 times NAV based on eight-analyst consensus at spot prices. Comparable silver producers trade at 1.5–2 times NAV. Recent M&A in the silver sector has taken place at approximately 2 times NAV. That gap is the investment opportunity in its simplest form. Closing it requires execution and the first production report of 2026 was received positively by the market.

The risks are real. Underground silver mining ramp-ups are operationally complex, and the antimony leaching facility has not yet broken ground. Investors should treat 2026 quarterly production reports as the primary scorecard. But the resource quality, cost reduction trajectory, byproduct monetisation timeline, and valuation discount to peers combine to make Americas Gold & Silver one of the more compelling risk-reward propositions in the silver producer space today.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/trillion-energy-csetcf-presses-ahead-with-turnaround-strategy-to-double-monthly-cashflow-6192-47aa0

Recording date: 15th April 2026

Trillion Energy has executed a transformative strategic pivot, exiting its operationally challenging offshore operations to capitalize on a lucrative onshore light oil discovery in Southeast Turkey’s M47 block.

For years, Trillion faced bureaucratic delays and high costs at its offshore SASB gas field, where it operated as a minority partner. By divesting this asset, the company successfully eliminated over $20 million in accumulated liabilities and cleaned up its balance sheet. Simultaneously, Trillion retained a 7% production royalty that offers future financial upside without ongoing operational risks or burdens.

The company’s new primary focus is the M47 block, an area experiencing an exploration boom. Trillion’s C1 well on the North Lead encountered 38 meters of net pay, testing at high-quality 32.4 API light oil. Independent evaluators have confirmed over 27 million barrels of contingent resources net to Trillion based on its newly acquired 29% working interest, boasting an 81% chance of development and commerciality.

Transitioning onshore fundamentally streamlines Trillion’s operational efficiency. Unlike the complex logistics of offshore drilling, the M47 block benefits from abundant local infrastructure and active nearby rigs. With production costs estimated at a remarkably low $10 per barrel, the baseline economics are highly favorable. Trillion must complete a two-well work obligation requiring roughly $7 million. However, with analog wells producing strongly, management anticipates a rapid one-to-two-month capital payback, enabling the company to effectively self-fund future expansion.

Despite this massive underlying potential, Trillion remains significantly undervalued, trading at a market capitalization that implies less than $0.50 per barrel. In a Turkish market that heavily imports its oil, Trillion’s M47 project provides a secure, locally produced domestic supply. With aligned private partners and highly favorable project economics, the company is strongly positioned for rapid growth and long-term value creation.

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Recording date: 17th April 2026

Bayan Mining and Minerals is emerging as a rare earths and critical minerals story built around two themes: geological proximity to a proven U.S. rare earth district and technology that could improve downstream processing economics. Its Desert Star project in California sits just 4.5 km from Mountain Pass, the only producing rare earth mine in the United States, and early surface sampling has returned grades as high as 6.68% total rare earth oxides, giving the company a credible exploration target in a strategically important jurisdiction.

The near-term catalyst is a maiden 1,000-meter reverse circulation drilling program scheduled for June 2026, with results expected in July or August. Bayan says the program will test both shallow high-grade anomalies and deeper extensions, with the geological model suggesting a possible carbonatite system at depth and monazite mineralisation near surface. The company has framed success around meaningful intercepts and retains flexibility to expand drilling quickly if early holes are encouraging.

What differentiates Bayan from a standard junior explorer is its licensing of four rare earth processing patents from Colorado School of Mines. Those technologies include a single-stage leach approach and other separation and recovery methods designed for bastnaesite-dominant ores like those at Mountain Pass, where they were developed and tested. The strategic appeal is not only higher recoveries and lower processing complexity, but also a stronger position for U.S. government support as Washington pushes to rebuild domestic critical minerals supply chains.

Bayan also has portfolio depth. Its Bayan Springs gold-silver project in Nevada’s Carlin Trend provides additional upside and downside protection, while the company’s cash balance of $2.8 million gives it runway for multiple drill campaigns without immediate funding pressure. Overall, the investment case rests on a convergence of location, geology, technology licensing, and policy tailwinds that could make Bayan a notable participant in the U.S. rare earth buildout.

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Recording date: 15th April 2026

Super Copper is a small but increasingly well-defined copper explorer in Chile’s Atacama region, and its story is shifting from groundwork to drilling. The company’s Cordillera project now hosts a kilometre-scale anomaly that could become its first major discovery test, while the Castilla project offers a second pipeline of upside.

Founded by Zac Dolesky after years of direct investing in metals and technology, Super Copper listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and OTCQB in October 2024. Since then, it has assembled a technical team that includes experienced copper specialists and built a portfolio in one of the world’s premier mining belts.

Cordillera is the main focus. Recent IP work outlined an 800m-plus strike anomaly that remains open along strike and at depth, with the target beginning around 200m below surface and extending beyond 400m vertically. Historical core and surface sampling have strengthened the model, including copper grades reaching 10% at surface and broader mineralized intervals that support the geophysical interpretation.

That data is now feeding into an imminent drilling campaign. Super Copper plans about 5,000m across 8 to 10 holes, targeting roughly 500m depth, with drilling expected by the end of Q2 2026 and first assays in Q3 2026.

The company has also shown unusual capital discipline for a junior explorer. It raised only about $3.5 million over several years before closing a recent $9.75 million financing at $0.75 per share, and it has done so with only 54 million shares outstanding.

That combination of a tight share structure, a funded drill program, and a large target in Chile’s Atacama copper belt gives Super Copper near-term catalyst potential. The main risk is still exploration success, but the company has moved far enough along that the next round of drilling should provide a meaningful read on whether Cordillera is a genuine copper discovery.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsxvnfg-announces-75-million-loan-facility-agreement-for-queensway-9477

Recording date: 15th April 2026

New Found Gold Corporation is officially making the leap from an exploration company to an active gold producer. The company recently secured a robust new financing package that replaces a previous debt agreement, signaling strong institutional confidence. This unsolicited deal matches the original debt terms but adds a significant equity investment priced at the current market value with zero discount. This long-term partnership fully funds the CA$155 million capital cost for their flagship Queensway project in Newfoundland and includes a safety net for potential construction overruns.

The company's development timeline is moving aggressively to capitalize on this funding. Right now, New Found Gold is expanding its existing Pine Cove Mill processing capacity to handle upcoming production rather than building an entirely new facility. Their secondary Hammerdown project is already ramping up and is expected to hit commercial production in the second half of this year, generating steady interim cash flow. Meanwhile, construction at the primary Queensway site kicks off this summer. With engineering contractors already on site and permits expected shortly, Queensway remains perfectly on track to deliver its first gold by the end of 2027.

Financially, the Queensway project offers massive upside. The mine targets an initial annual output of roughly 100,000 ounces of gold. Thanks to an estimated all-in sustaining cost of just $1,300 per ounce, the project could generate over $300 million in free cash flow every year at current gold prices. By balancing debt and equity, CEO Keith Boyle and his team deliberately chose to limit financial strain, prioritizing guaranteed execution over avoiding minor shareholder dilution. Ultimately, this strategic funding ensures New Found Gold can comfortably build its operational future while leveraging strong margins in today's thriving market.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/us-gold-corp-nasdaqusau-fully-permitted-fs-imminent-2027-28-target-9430

Recording date: 15th April 2026

US Gold Corp (NASDAQ:USAU) has unveiled a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for its CK Gold project in Wyoming, confirming robust economics and a clear path toward production. At a base gold price of $3,250 per ounce, the study outlines an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of $635 million and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 27%, nearly triple the value from the previous prefeasibility analysis. At current spot prices near $4,500, the project’s potential soars to a $1.4 billion NPV with a 50% IRR, underscoring exceptional leverage to gold markets.

The 11-year open-pit mine will produce roughly 90,000 ounces of gold equivalent annually, supported by strong copper demand, simple near-surface mining conditions, and full permitting. All operational licenses including mine, industrial, and environmental permits are secured and non-revocable under Wyoming law, removing a major development risk.

Capital expenditure is projected at $400 million, including a healthy contingency buffer. US Gold plans to lower costs through used equipment purchases and contractor negotiations, taking advantage of abundant local mining services. Debt financing proposals cover up to 80 percent of the required capital, with favorable terms reflecting the project’s de-risked status.

Further upside includes recovering 300,000 ounces of gold from tailings boosting recoveries from 70% to over 97% and monetizing waste rock valued at $800 million to $1 billion as construction aggregate. The company is also examining cyanide-free processing alternatives to improve sustainability.

With commodity prices near record highs and North American mining assets in short supply, Copper King stands out as a shovel-ready, financed, and fully permitted project. Executive Chairman Luke Norman calls it “a uniquely de-risked opportunity” poised to benefit from a mining sector hungry for secure, high-return developments.

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Recording date: 15th April 2026

Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV:SCZ) is a multi-asset, multi-metal producer operating across Mexico and Bolivia, with silver as its primary revenue metal. Having closed 2025 with revenues of $326 million and EBITDA of $104 million, the company's strongest financial results in recent years, the company is now entering what management believes will be a year of accelerating operational recovery and earnings growth.

The most significant near-term catalyst is the recovery of the Bolivar mine in Bolivia which suffered flooding of two key veins and resulting in a cumulative loss of approximately 600,000–660,000 silver equivalent ounces over the affected period. The dewatering programme is progressing on schedule, with Q4 2025 silver production at Bolivar already up 34% quarter-on-quarter. Full capacity restoration representing a quarterly run rate of 1.0–1.2 million silver equivalent ounces from Bolivar mine is targeted for Q4 2026. This recovery alone represents a material production and cash flow uplift for the group, requiring no new capital expenditure or exploration success.

Beyond Bolivar, management has guided for approximately 10% group production growth in 2026, supported by throughput and recovery improvements at Zimapan in Mexico, incremental output from the newly opened Esperanza area at Caballo Blanco, and the initial production contribution from Soracaya in Bolivia, which is expected to begin at approximately 200–250 tonnes per day in Q4 2026 ahead of a full ramp-up in 2027.

On the financial side, Santacruz ended 2025 with approximately $70 million in cash achieved after paying down $40 million in Glencore debt and settling $27 million in deferred taxes during the year. The balance sheet is clean, working capital has improved materially, and the company is generating cash at a growing rate. Management's approach to capital deployment is conservative, prioritising treasury strength while exploring accretive M&A opportunities across the Americas.

Two near-term transparency improvements are worth noting. First, the company is restructuring its AISC reporting to separate San Lucas from consolidated mine-level cost figures, which will give investors a significantly cleaner view of operating economics. Second, Santacruz is pursuing a graduation from the TSXV to the TSX main board, which management has identified as the trigger for launching a formal share buyback programme. Management has been explicit that it views the current share price as undervalued relative to fundamentals.

The silver macro backdrop adds further support with silver demand structurally expanding due to its role in solar photovoltaics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale storage, while supply growth remains constrained by long project development timelines and the predominantly by-product nature of silver mining. Santacruz, as a primary silver producer operating exclusively in the Americas, is well-positioned to benefit from both the commodity trend and the growing Western preference for supply chain diversification.

For investors, the combination of a defined operational recovery timeline, guided production growth, a strengthening balance sheet, and multiple identifiable re-rating catalysts makes Santacruz Silver a company worth following closely as 2026 progresses.

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Recording date: 14th April 2026

Syntholene Energy is pioneering a cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by integrating geothermal waste heat into its production process. This strategy aims to drastically reduce the cost of synthetic fuels, targeting price parity with fossil fuels within the next five years.

Syntholene reduces the electricity required for hydrogen production—which typically accounts for 70% of synthetic fuel costs—by utilizing high-temperature geothermal or nuclear waste heat. By co-locating with stranded energy assets, the company projects its first 20,000-ton commercial facility can produce fuel at $1.24 per liter, significantly narrowing the gap with the $0.80 to $0.90 fossil fuel average. The resulting product is a "drop-in" replacement fuel that seamlessly utilizes existing petroleum infrastructure without requiring airlines to upgrade their fleets.

The company is currently constructing a 250-kilowatt demonstration facility at a preserved geothermal power station in Húsavík, Iceland. Scheduled for operation in 2026, the site leverages Iceland's massive, unexportable geothermal resources to validate the lab-scale successes previously achieved at the Idaho National Lab in 2022. Following a brief commissioning period, a major petroleum engineering firm will conduct a third-party techno-economic validation in early 2027 to unlock project financing and strategic partnerships.

Recently listed on public exchanges and backed by multi-billion-dollar family offices, Syntholene is strategically targeting mandated SAF markets across the EU, the UK, and Asia. The company relies on a modular scaling strategy and patented supply chain integrations to protect its cost advantages as it shifts from demonstration to commercial scale. If successful, this thermal integration model could eventually provide low-cost synthetic fuels for marine shipping, long-haul trucking, and the broader liquid fuel market.

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Recording date: 14th April 2026

As Western nations seek independent critical mineral supply chains, Namibia Critical Metals’ Lofdal project has emerged as a globally significant heavy rare earth asset. Located in Namibia, a stable mining jurisdiction, the fully-permitted project is uniquely positioned to reduce global reliance on Chinese market dominance.

Lofdal is one of only two xenotime-type rare earth deposits currently under development worldwide. The shovel-ready site targets the annual production of 120 tons of dysprosium, 25 tons of terbium, and 800 tons of yttrium. Unlike light rare earth projects, this exceptional heavy rare earth concentration creates substantial value density, making its output essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Lofdal currently holds a 25-year mining license, effectively de-risking its operational timeline.

The project's January 2026 Prefeasibility Study outlines a highly profitable financial trajectory. With an estimated capital expenditure of $350 million, the base case yields a pre-tax net present value (NPV) of $390 million. However, the current bifurcated global market—where Western contracted prices far exceed Chinese spot rates—pushes the divergent scenario's after-tax NPV to $750 million. For instance, contracted North American yttrium prices have recently soared to $1,400 per kilogram, compared to roughly $10 to $20 in Chinese spot markets.

Lofdal's strategic importance was cemented in March 2026 when Toyota Tsusho joined the project alongside Japanese government agency JOGMEC. Selected through a public tender, Toyota Tsusho guarantees offtake and provides direct downstream integration into Japan's permanent magnet supply chains. This consortium fully funds the project through its Definitive Feasibility Study, which is expected to conclude in mid-2027. Because of this structure, Namibia Critical Metals benefits from interest-free, non-dilutive funding, allowing the company to securely retain up to a 44% ownership stake while advancing the critical global asset.

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Golden Cross Resources has successfully completed its inaugural drilling program at Aurora in Eastern Victoria, intersecting high-grade gold mineralisation up to 27 grams per ton. The results validate the company's structural geological model and confirm the presence of narrow high-grade orogenic gold deposits similar to the world-class Fosterville mine.

The exploration program represents a methodical approach to unlocking what could be a significant gold system. Technical Advisor Ian Nielson emphasized that all four drill holes intersected anticipated mineralised zones, demonstrating the accuracy of the company's geological hypothesis. The focus centers on the Welcome trend corridor, which extends through Aurora, Charlotte's, and Prince of Wales prospects.

A key advantage is Golden Cross's access to historical artisanal workings throughout the area. These underground excavations serve as "free 3D drill holes," providing invaluable three-dimensional geological information that would otherwise require expensive drilling. By mapping these historical sites and integrating surface data, the company is building a comprehensive structural model extending beyond where nineteenth-century miners worked.

The company is employing a multi-disciplinary strategy, integrating geochemistry, geophysics, lidar scanning, and detailed geological mapping to reduce uncertainty before committing significant capital to drilling. This approach leverages newly released Victorian government datasets, providing additional layers of information at no cost to the company.

Rather than pursuing aggressive drilling, Golden Cross will spend the next twelve months collecting geophysical data and refining its structural model. This systematic methodology aims to optimize future drilling efficiency by better understanding fault planes and shoot geometries—the architectural features controlling high-grade gold deposition.

Historical intercepts at nearby Reedy Creek, which returned approximately 11 meters at 10-12 g/t gold, demonstrate the district's potential. With experienced leadership, cost-effective de-risking strategies, and a disciplined exploration approach, Golden Cross offers investors early-stage exposure to potential high-grade gold discovery in an underexplored Victorian goldfield.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/amex-exploration-tsxvamx-undervalued-investment-series-with-victor-cantore-9724

Recording date: 14th April 2026

Amex Exploration has released a feasibility study for its Perron Gold Mine in Quebec's Abitibi greenstone belt, delivering some of the most compelling economics in the junior mining sector. At a base case gold price of $3,500 per ounce, the project generates a post-tax net present value of $1.1 billion, rising to $1.7 billion at current spot prices near $4,750. The internal rate of return stands at 114%, with a post-tax payback period of just 0.5 years — meaning initial capital is recovered within months of first production.

The project targets 774,000 ounces over five years from a 2.3 million ounce resource, mining at a high diluted grade of 12.1 grams per tonne — an improvement over the 10 g/t estimated in earlier assessments. Annual production is expected to average 147,000 ounces at all-in sustaining costs of $910 per ounce, generating $2.492 billion in pre-tax cash flow over the initial five-year period, or $3.7 billion at spot gold prices.

A key feature of the project is its phased development strategy. Rather than constructing the full operation at once, Amex will begin with a $50 million bulk sample in mid-2027, which is expected to produce at least 23,000 ounces and generate approximately $68 million in pre-production revenue. This self-funding mechanism significantly reduces the need for equity financing. Phase one production is targeted for 2028 — three to four years ahead of a conventional development timeline.

Initial capital expenditure of $193.9 million is kept lean through contract mining and toll milling arrangements, eliminating the need to build processing facilities or tailings infrastructure. This also simplifies permitting, as the early phases require only underground mining approvals. The bulk sample permit was secured within the expected six-month window, and community and First Nations support is well established.

The property spans over 600 square kilometres in the historically prolific Abitibi greenstone belt, yet all current resources sit within just 6 square kilometres — leaving considerable room for future exploration and resource expansion beyond the initial mine plan.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/g-mining-ventures-tsxgmin-fully-financed-path-towards-500kozpa-gold-production-by-2028-8221

Recording date: 10th April 2026

G Mining Ventures (TSX:GMIN) has announced the acquisition of G2 Goldfields, its neighbour in Guyana's Karouni gold district, consolidating two deposit systems that management describes as the same mineralised ore body divided only by a property boundary. The transaction is designed to transform Oko West on track for first gold in the second half of 2026 from a standalone project into a combined operation targeting up to 500,000 ounces of gold per year.

The core of the investment case is geological. The Oko West and G2's Oko-Ghani deposits sit within 3 km of each other and share the same mineralised system, meaning the integration is an expansion exercise rather than a hub-and-spoke consolidation. G Mining's existing plant footprint was already being designed with expansion capacity in mind. Reaching a 25–30% throughput increase requires adding an additional ball mill, pebble crushing, leach circuit tankage, and modest tailings and power infrastructure, not redesigning the facility from scratch.

Critically, none of this disrupts the existing build. Construction at Oko West proceeds on its current schedule, with first gold still targeted for H2 2026. The expansion planning and engineering work runs in parallel. An updated feasibility study for the combined project is expected in the first half of 2027, with expansion capital expenditure concentrated in 2028 and expanded production beginning in 2029.

The permitting pathway is similarly de-risked. G Mining holds a 25-year mining licence at Oko West, and its existing mineral agreement with the Guyanese government contains provisions that extend its terms to assets acquired within the Karouni basin. The G2 deposits are expected to be incorporated through an addendum to existing approvals rather than a full regulatory re-submission.

Financing is not a constraint. Following transaction close, G Mining will hold approximately $255 million in pro forma cash and a $350 million undrawn credit facility. Its producing Tocantinzinho (TZ) mine in Brazil generated over $250 million in free cash flow in 2025 and continues to contribute to the balance sheet through the construction phase and beyond. Management states the expanded project is fully funded without requiring additional equity issuance.

The transaction also adds 362 km² of land to G Mining's Guyana position, all within approximately 20 km of Oko West. G2's exploration team transitions into a new vehicle, G3, seeded with $45 million and structured with a contingent value right that would deliver an additional $200 million to G2 shareholders if new discoveries bring total ounces to between 3.5 and 7.5 million.

At a C$12 billion market capitalisation, G Mining is no longer a speculative junior. But management's contention is supported by a clear sequence of upcoming milestones: construction completion, first gold, a combined feasibility study, permitting, and eventually a 500,000-ounce operation in one of South America's more active emerging gold jurisdictions. For investors in the mid-tier gold space, the story is one of scale, execution track record, and a funded path to production growth.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atlas-salt-tsxvsalt-construction-begins-at-great-atlantic-project-9528

Recording date: 7th April 2026

Nolan Peterson, CEO of Atlas Salt, has presented a detailed case that his company trades at a substantial discount to its intrinsic value, currently at approximately 0.1 times net asset value (NAV). The Great Atlantic Salt Project in western Newfoundland aims to become the first new salt mine built in North America in 25 years, targeting the de-icing road salt market serving cities and governments.

Peterson's valuation argument centers on three key points. First, Atlas Salt has eliminated several major mining risks that typically justify valuation discounts. Salt deposits require no metallurgical processing, are straightforward to define geologically, and the project has secured environmental assessment approval, addressing permitting concerns. Only financing and execution risks remain.

Second, Peterson argues that traditional mining valuation frameworks systematically undervalue salt projects. Unlike gold mines with front-loaded cash flows and shorter lifespans, Atlas Salt offers a 25-year mine life with 50 years of defined resources, creating stable, annuity-like cash flows. Using alternative valuation methodologies more appropriate for stable cash flow assets—including free cash flow yield and EBITDA multiples—Peterson suggests potential valuations ranging from $1.9 billion to $3 billion, compared to conventional mining metrics suggesting $750 million at production.

Third, the customer base provides unusual stability. Municipal and state governments purchasing de-icing salt are often legally obligated to buy for road safety liability reasons, fundamentally different from discretionary commodity markets subject to price volatility.

Peterson acknowledges the valuation gap stems partly from investor unfamiliarity with the niche salt sector and lack of comparable investment options. The company's strategy to close this gap focuses on advancing development milestones, educating investors about the differentiated risk profile, and most critically, securing project financing that would independently validate the stable cash flow projections underlying the investment thesis. The success of this approach depends on demonstrating that lenders view salt projects as fundamentally less risky than conventional commodity mining operations.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/power-metallic-tsxvpnpn-95-recovery-rates-aggressive-plans-for-saudi-assets-9104

Recording date: 9th April 2026

Power Metallic (TSXV:PNPN) is advancing what CEO Terry Lynch characterizes as the world's highest-grade copper-PGE discovery at its Nisk project in Quebec, yet the company believes significant market undervaluation persists despite exceptional technical progress.

The Lion zone discovery has delivered remarkable drilling results, with 95+ intersections averaging over 11 meters at 4.25% copper equivalent. Several holes have returned spectacular grades, including 22 meters at approximately 11% copper equivalent—grades roughly 20-30 times higher than typical copper deposits currently in production.

Management has systematically addressed three key investor concerns that may have constrained valuation. First, metallurgical complexity—a critical risk for polymetallic projects—was de-risked through SGS lock cycle testing that demonstrated 80%+ recoveries on run-of-mine material. Second, perceptions about project size overlook the fundamental economics: high-grade deposits require substantially lower capital per unit of contained metal than low-grade tonnage plays. Third, the company's Quebec location provides infrastructure advantages and fiscal incentives that deliver nearly 2-for-1 exploration financing plus 55% combined development capital credits.

The deposit classification as an orthomagmatic system—only approximately 20 exist globally—suggests substantial growth potential. Comparable deposits including Russia's Norilsk and South Africa's Merensky Reef typically host multiple mines across district-scale footprints, with contained metal inventories often exceeding 10 million tons versus current analyst estimates of 600,000-800,000 tons at Nisk.

Power Metallic has accelerated its preliminary economic assessment timeline to fall 2026 from spring 2027, with an updated mineral resource estimate scheduled for September. The company maintains six active drill rigs and has expanded its land package sixfold to 330 square kilometers. A planned NYSE/Nasdaq listing in Q3 2026 aims to provide broader institutional access.

Despite underlying commodity prices increasing over 60% since the February 2025 financing, the stock has traded sideways—a disconnect management believes creates asymmetric opportunity for investors ahead of multiple near-term catalysts.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/banyan-gold-corp-tsxvbyn-pea-nears-as-franco-nevada-royalty-purchase-signals-value-9434

Recording date: 3rd April 2026

Banyan Gold (TSXV:BYN) is a Yukon-focused gold developer whose AurMac project hosts approximately 7.6 million ounces of gold resources across 2.2 million indicated and 5.4 million inferred ounces. The company trades at roughly US$43 per resource ounce, a level that President and CEO Tara Christie argues is a significant and narrowing discount relative to peers, and one that several external data points suggest does not reflect the underlying project value.

The most significant external reference is Franco-Nevada's recent acquisition of the underlying royalty on AurMac for US$52.2 million. The royalty carries a 6% gross rate that can be bought down to a 1% NSR for $10 million. Stripping out that likely buydown scenario implies Franco-Nevada paid approximately $42 million for a 1% royalty on a project whose current market capitalisation reflects a fraction of that implied valuation. Royalty companies of Franco-Nevada's standing do not deploy capital at that scale into junior projects without conviction in long-term production economics. That conviction is not visible in Banyan's current share price.

The primary reason for the valuation gap is well documented and, critically, now resolved. Victoria Gold entered receivership in 2024 holding a 25% interest in the AurMac property and an 8.6% equity position in Banyan. The resulting title uncertainty and forced selling suppressed Banyan's share price through an extended period in which gold rose substantially and peer companies rerated. By late September 2025, Banyan had received a court order confirming 100% property title. The equity overhang was subsequently cleared entirely. Despite this resolution, the share price has not yet converged with peers. Snowline Gold, for comparison, was trading near $260 per resource ounce before recent geopolitical pressure hit the sector broadly.

Two additional factors have compounded the discount. A jurisdiction-wide perception of Yukon permitting risk weighed on explorers across the region, though Christie argues the new Yukon government's stated focus on permitting reform and infrastructure investment has shifted that picture materially. A longstanding grade perception issue, the market's tendency to frame AurMac as a low-grade bulk tonnage deposit, is expected to be addressed directly by the maiden PEA, which will quantify the economic contribution of the deposit's high-grade core for the first time.

The 2026 programme is designed to deliver a sequence of de-risking events. Five drills are currently active with results expected from May. A Q2 resource update will incorporate nearly 43,000 metres of 2025 drilling. A maiden PEA targeting the second half of the year will establish the first published economic benchmark for AurMac. Regional drilling across ten targets, plus follow-up on a bonanza-grade silver discovery, adds exploration optionality that management believes carries early cash flow potential through direct shipping or toll milling.

For investors, the setup is unusually specific: a defined sequence of news flow, a freshly resolved technical overhang, an external royalty transaction that implies a higher valuation than the market currently assigns, and a gold price environment that makes large, infrastructure-advantaged deposits strategically attractive to major producers. The key risk, as with all pre-production developers, is that the PEA economics substantiate what management has been communicating. That question will be answered within this calendar year.

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Recording date: 8th April 2026

Formation Metals is a junior gold explorer advancing the N2 project in Quebec's Abitibi greenstone belt, a district historically responsible for over 200 million ounces of gold production. Despite sitting on an 870,000-ounce historical resource, the company currently trades at roughly $10 per ounce — a valuation gap that CEO Deepak Varshney, a geologist with deep capital markets experience, believes will close sharply once a modern resource estimate is delivered.

The existing resource was calculated in the 1990s using a $200 gold pit shell and a 0.5 g/t cutoff, making it technically historical and limiting market recognition. Previous operators — including Agnico Eagle, Cyprus Canada, and Minnova — treated N2 as an underground target, drilling for narrow, high-grade veins rather than the wide bulk-tonnage zones Formation Metals is now systematically proving. With gold now trading above $4,500/oz — more than five times the 2008 price when Agnico last drilled the site — the economic case has fundamentally changed.

The N2 project spans 8 kilometres of strike across 87 claims (~4,400 hectares) in northwestern Quebec. Formation Metals' drilling has consistently returned wide, shallow intercepts: 42.3 metres at 0.91 g/t starting just 12 metres from surface, and intercepts exceeding 150 metres of continuous mineralisation in some holes. The mineralisation begins as shallow as 9 metres vertical depth with minimal overburden, a rarity in the region. Grades of 1–2 g/t across 30-metre-thick zones are consistent across the A-zone, the primary focus, while a high-grade core delivers up to 4 g/t over 11 metres.

The company is executing a fully funded 30,000-metre drill program in 2026, backed by approximately $11 million in working capital. Rather than twinning historical holes drilled by majors, Formation Metals is targeting gaps in the geological model with infill and step-out drilling at 50–100 metre intervals — a capital-efficient approach that validates continuity without redundant work. With 39 holes awaiting assay results, the company expects a steady flow of news through the year.

The core 1.5-kilometre A-zone alone is internally modelled to support 1.5–2 million ounces using a lower 0.25 g/t cutoff, with a maiden NI 43-101-compliant resource targeted for Q3/Q4 2026. An additional 3 kilometres of drilled strike and 3 kilometres of untested extension to the west point toward a 3+ million ounce potential across the full property. Toll milling options at Matagami (20 km north) and Casa Berardi (50 km west) provide a low-capital path to production, while proximity to Maple Gold Mines — 20% owned by Agnico Eagle and holding a 3 million ounce resource — positions N2 as a natural acquisition candidate for regional consolidators.

The company's roadmap runs from a maiden resource in late 2026 to a Preliminary Economic Assessment in 2028, either as an independent developer or as an acquired asset. With estimated production costs below $2,000/oz at a 4:1 strip ratio against current gold prices, the project's margin profile is compelling. As Varshney put it, the shallow, near-surface nature of N2's gold makes it a genuine anomaly in the Abitibi: "There isn't a lot of gold this shallow available in the area".

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/central-asia-metals-lsecaml-kazakhstan-copper-producer-reports-solid-financial-performance-6938

Recording date: 31st March 2026

Central Asia Metals PLC, an AIM-listed base metals producer with a $400 million market capitalization, delivered robust 2025 financial results while navigating a critical transition from mature assets to new growth opportunities.

The company reported $230 million in revenue and $103 million in EBITDA, generating $56 million in free cash flow. This enabled a 12 pence per share dividend representing a 7% yield—paid at the maximum end of its 30-50% free cash flow distribution policy. The company also completed a $10 million share buyback before market weakness reduced valuations by 20-30% across the mining sector.

Central Asia Metals' financial backbone remains the Kounrad copper operation in Kazakhstan, which operates at exceptional 75% EBITDA margins. The facility processes 600 million tons of Soviet-era waste dumps through heap leaching, producing 13,300 tons of copper cathode in 2025. While production guidance moderates to 12,000-13,000 tons for 2026 as leach curves naturally decline after 14 years of operation, the site has consistently outperformed expectations with 13-14% higher copper recovery than forecast. This track record supports management's pursuit of license extension beyond the current 2034 expiration date.

The company's SASA lead-zinc mine in North Macedonia faced significant challenges in 2024 due to unexpected geological complexity at depth. Management implemented comprehensive restructuring including an 11% workforce reduction, enhanced geological monitoring, new mining methods, and strategic hedging of 50% of zinc production. Fourth quarter 2025 showed marked improvement, enabling raised guidance for 2026.

Looking forward, Central Asia Metals pursues dual-track growth through early-stage exploration across six Kazakhstan licenses and acquisition of pre-feasibility stage development assets trading at 0.25x net asset value. CEO Gavin Ferrar emphasized the company's proven construction and operational expertise as competitive advantages in advancing acquired projects while maintaining financial flexibility through a clean balance sheet and disciplined capital allocation.

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The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered significant disruptions across global energy markets, creating what Samuel Pelaez, President & CEO, and Derek Macpherson, Executive Chair at Olive Resource Capital, view as structural investment opportunities extending well beyond the immediate crisis.

While the Strait handles 20% of global crude oil, the more consequential impacts affect liquefied natural gas, petrochemicals, and fertilizers, where 20-50% of certain products originate from the Persian Gulf region. This supply shock is forcing countries like Japan and South Korea to fundamentally reassess their energy security strategies.

Glencore emerged as the primary beneficiary in thermal coal, as reduced Qatari LNG availability extends the operational life of existing coal-fired power plants. The company controls 30% of seaborne coal trade and recently expanded its portfolio by acquiring Teck Resources' coal assets in 2025. Coal represents 30% of Glencore's EBITDA, with additional upside from its commodity trading division, which profits from supply chain disruptions.

Woodside Energy and Santos offer compelling value propositions for Asian LNG markets. Australian producers sit 40% closer to key importers than Qatar, reducing shipping costs and insurance premiums, yet trade at half the valuation multiples of US peers like ExxonMobil and Chevron. Rolling spot contracts should reflect elevated pricing in second-half 2026 results.

The disruption of 20% of global ammonia supply coincides with Northern Hemisphere planting season, driving dramatic appreciation in fertilizer stocks. CF Industries has gained 40% since the Strait closure, while Woodside's recently acquired Texas ammonia facility enters production at opportune timing.

The team emphasizes discipline, separating conviction from entry points. They anticipate any diplomatic resolution could trigger profit-taking in names that have appreciated 40%+, providing better risk-adjusted entry opportunities. The core thesis rests on structural supply chain shifts prioritizing security over cost optimization—a behavioral change likely to persist for years regardless of near-term geopolitical developments.

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Recording date: 2nd April 2026

Canyon Resources (ASX:CAY) is rapidly advancing the Minim Martap bauxite deposit in Cameroon toward first production, targeting initial shipments in late September 2026. The project features 51% alumina and 2% silica content, which Chief Executive Officer Peter Secker believes represents the highest-grade undeveloped bauxite deposit globally. With over 1.1 billion tons of resource located 800 kilometers from the coast, the asset combines exceptional quality with significant scale.

The superior grade profile translates directly into economic advantage. Canyon expects to receive $76 to $78 per ton for its bauxite, representing a $10 to $12 premium above the Guinea standard GBIX price of $65 per ton. This premium reflects the reduced caustic soda consumption and lower energy requirements in alumina refining that the high-grade material enables. Against production costs of $36 per ton to port and $20 per ton freight, the company projects $200 million in annual free cash flow at 10 million tons per year production.

The project is 50% complete and fully funded through first production, with $40 million in cash and a $95 million undrawn debt facility covering the remaining sub-$100 million in development costs. Critical infrastructure components are progressing on schedule: road construction is 80% complete, the first seven locomotives are en route to Cameroon for May-June arrival, and trial mining commences within weeks.

Canyon has adopted a strategic approach to commercial negotiations, postponing offtake agreements until after demonstrating actual product quality with its first 50,000-ton trial shipment. This positions the company to negotiate stronger terms with North American, European, Middle Eastern, and Asian customers while seeking prepayment facilities to fund expansion.

The company is increasing its ownership stake in Camrail, the rail operator, from the current 9.1% to enhance logistics control. An $820 million World Bank-funded rail upgrade will enable production to scale from 2 million to over 10 million tons annually by decade's end, with expansion funded through operating cash flow rather than equity dilution.

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Recording date: 1st April 2026

ICG Silver and Gold Corp. is a newly listed exploration company that began trading on the CSE on March 31, 2026, after spinning out from American Pacific Mining. The company holds a single flagship asset, the Tuscarora District, a 10,000-acre contiguous land package in northeastern Nevada positioned at the intersection of the Independence and Carlin Trends. For investors evaluating the junior exploration space, ICG presents a clearly defined near-term catalyst, a funded treasury, and a geological thesis that differentiates it from prior operators at the same project.

The Tuscarora District is not a greenfield exploration play. Historical operators Novo Resources and American Pacific Mining conducted 25,000 metres of drilling, collected 5,000 samples, and completed 130 line-kilometres of geophysics across the property. Those programs generated high-grade results, including an intersection of just over 4 metres grading 127 g/t gold at the South Navajo target. Despite this work, the project was consistently treated as a gold-only system. ICG's management believes that interpretation left a significant dimension of the project unexplored: a spatially overlapping, silver-dominant epithermal system, supported by surface rock samples returning up to approximately 38,000 g/t silver at certain targets and near-surface geophysical anomalies.

The former Dexter open-pit mine, located just off the property boundary on trend with the South Navajo and Modoc targets, produced approximately 50,000 ounces of gold and 250,000 ounces of silver in the early 1990s and serves as a direct analogue for the style of mineralisation management is targeting.

The company enters the market with approximately C$6.2 million in the treasury and a Phase 1 RC drill program of 3,000 to 6,000 metres scheduled to commence in June 2026. RC costs in the region are currently estimated at approximately US$250 per metre, providing ICG with sufficient capital to complete the program without near-term financing pressure. Assay results are expected in August 2026, giving investors a defined newsflow window within the current calendar year.

The Phase 1 program targets two categories of drill holes. The first group focuses on South Navajo and Modoc to build toward an eventual mineral resource. The second and more exploration-oriented group targets East Pediment, Grand Prize, King's Vein, and North Navajo areas which are identified through sampling and geophysics but not yet systematically drilled. Hole depths are planned at 200 to 300 metres, consistent with the shallow, open-pittable mineralisation model the company is evaluating.

The management team brings relevant capital markets and technical depth. CEO Steven Sirbovan has 13 years of capital markets experience including work at Waterton Global Resource Management with a Nevada focus. The board includes Jeff Swinoga, formerly of Barrick Gold, and Gary Baschuk, who spent significant time at Barrick's Goldstrike operation in Nevada. VP of Exploration Korbon McCall provides direct technical continuity with the project through his prior work with American Pacific.

For investors, the near-term thesis is straightforward: a funded drill program, an August 2026 assay window, and a geological interpretation that has not previously been tested at district scale. The key risk, as with any early-stage exploration company, is that drilling results may not confirm the dual-system thesis. Investors should size positions accordingly and monitor Phase 1 results as the primary near-term value inflection point.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atex-resources-tsxvatx-chile-copper-giant-hits-2b-ton-target-secures-strategic-land-rights-8108

Recording date: 2nd April 2026

Atex Resources finds itself at a strategic inflection point as interim CEO Chris Beer steers the company through a leadership transition while maintaining aggressive exploration momentum at its Valeriano copper-gold project in Chile. Following the January departure of founding CEO Ben Pullinger for personal reasons, the board is conducting a comprehensive executive search targeting candidates with exploration expertise, engineering background, and proven ability to engage with major mining companies.

The company operates from a position of financial strength, holding $150 million in cash that funds approximately 2.5 to 3 years of drilling at current activity levels. This runway allows Atex to pursue an ambitious exploration strategy without near-term financing pressure, a significant advantage in the current market environment.

The Valeriano project has delineated 2 billion tons of copper mineralization at 0.8% copper equivalent, comprising 1.5 billion tons in the inferred category and 500 million tons in the indicated category. What distinguishes this discovery is the high-grade B2B breccia zone sitting above the massive porphyry system. This breccia currently measures 30 to 40 million tons, with the company targeting expansion to at least 50 million tons at grades exceeding 1.5% copper equivalent.

Recent Phase 6 drilling has exceeded expectations, extending beyond the original 25,000-meter target to more than 30,000 meters. A particularly significant intercept in Hole 34 discovered nearly one kilometer of continuous mineralization in rhyolite rather than the expected breccia, potentially expanding the B2B tonnage by 70% in a single hole. This finding opens new geological dimensions and questions whether the system represents discrete breccia clusters or a more continuous mineralized envelope.

The dual nature of the deposit creates unusual development optionality. The high-grade breccia presents a near-term development target accessible to mid-tier producers, while the underlying porphyry system compares favorably to world-class block cave operations like Red Chris in Canada and Carrapateena in Australia. Strategic backing from Agnico Eagle, which holds over 15% of outstanding shares, validates the district-scale potential that includes three to four additional Valeriano-like targets within six kilometers awaiting systematic testing.

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Recording date: 1st April 2026

Founders Metals is a gold exploration company operating in Suriname with a straightforward but high-conviction proposition: a district-scale land package in one of the world's most geologically prospective and underexplored orogenic gold terrains, backed by strong institutional capital, company-owned drilling infrastructure, and a growing portfolio of discoveries.

The flagship Antino project now covers over 100,000 hectares of Guyana Shield greenstone belt, a fivefold expansion from just 20,000 hectares less than a year ago. That land growth reflects both the company's operational effectiveness in Suriname and the geological rationale for holding as much ground as possible in a terrain that draws consistent comparisons to West Africa's Birimian gold belt, the source of some of the world's most significant orogenic gold discoveries over the past three decades.

The project is not a single-target story. Upper Antino, the most advanced zone, has returned exceptional drill results including 50.5 metres at 31 g/t gold, and infill drilling has confirmed mineralisation continuity across sub-parallel shear structures and down-plunge gold shoots. Lower Antino, 3.5 kilometres away, offers a contrasting but complementary bulk tonnage profile with 80-90 metres averaging approximately 1 g/t from surface that points toward open-pit development potential. Having both styles on the same land package gives Founders Metals a level of future mine-design flexibility that is genuinely uncommon among companies at this stage of development.

Beyond those two advanced zones, five additional discoveries have been made in the past 18 months. The most significant new target is Antino North, approximately 100 square kilometres of undrilled ground, has now received its first drill rig. Management has flagged this as a top priority on the grassroots side, driven by structural indicators and geochemical results consistent with the broader camp-scale thesis.

The 2026 programme consists of up to 70,000 metres across four of the company's six owned drill rigs, split roughly equally between advancing known targets and testing new ones. The company holds approximately $50 million in cash and has indicated that both the technical capacity and the financial capacity exist to drill beyond the planned meterage if results justify it.

The shareholder register reflects the project's credibility among sophisticated capital allocators. BlackRock and Franklin Templeton are on the register, having been attracted by the project's scale potential and the technical depth of the team. Management retains approximately 7.5% ownership. Chris Taylor, the architect of the Great Bear Resources exit, widely regarded as one of the most successful resource-free acquisitions in recent Canadian mining history, sits on the board and brings a well-validated strategic perspective on exploration-stage value creation.

For investors, Founders Metals offers a rare combination in the junior gold space: genuine district-scale potential, a multi-discovery track record, institutional validation, full operational control, and a management team with both the geological credibility and the capital discipline to execute over a multi-year discovery cycle. The key catalysts to watch in 2026 are results from Antino North, ongoing infill drilling at Upper Antino, and any further additions to the concession package.

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Recording date: 2nd April 2026

West Wits Mining has crossed a pivotal threshold, delivering its first gold pour at the Qala Shallows project in South Africa's Witwatersrand Basin and beginning the operational ramp-up toward steady-state production of 70,000 ounces per annum. For investors tracking the company's progress, the milestone is meaningful not only symbolically but structurally: it confirms that West Wits has successfully built and commissioned an underground gold mine on schedule, within a disciplined capital framework, and with early performance metrics running ahead of the Definitive Feasibility Study.

The production model is built around toll treatment of ore at a Sibanye-Stillwater facility nearby, avoiding the capital burden of a standalone processing plant in the early stage and compressing the timeline to first revenue. Ore grades and gold recoveries from bottle roll tests are both tracking above DFS assumptions which is a positive early indicator for the unit economics that will define the ramp-up. The all-in sustaining cost target of approximately US$1,300/oz positions the operation with a material margin against current gold prices, and management has been explicit that cost control is central to the company's operating philosophy.

Funding is not a near-term concern. The company completed an unsolicited A$27.5 million equity raise in January, entered production fully funded, and is now preparing its first drawdown under the lending facility. Approximately 25% of total project funding is expected to come from early gold revenue, which means maintaining the production ramp-up profile is both an operational and financial imperative. Contingency has been built into both the equity and lending structures to absorb short-term variability.

Energy management is an area of active focus. Diesel currently accounts for around 8% of operating costs, already low relative to comparable operations, partly due to the closed-loop hydropower system that uses purified local groundwater. Grid power connection, expected in Q4 2026, will reduce diesel dependency further and improve operating margins without any requirement for additional production volume. This represents a near-term, largely de-risked cost improvement that investors can monitor against a defined timeline.

On the growth side, the company has launched a scoping study targeting an expansion pathway to 200,000 oz per annum, nearly three times the current steady-state target. The study commenced in February 2025 and is expected to conclude by June, at which point management will have defined the direction for a full feasibility study. This provides investors with a clear, time-bound catalyst to assess the long-term scale of the asset.

What distinguishes West Wits Mining's investment case from many of its junior gold peers is the board's stated philosophy: demonstrate profitability first, grow selectively second. In a sector where capital is frequently deployed in pursuit of market capitalisation rather than margin, that orientation carries weight. The coming twelve months will test whether the operational execution matches the framework management has built. The early signals are encouraging, the funding is in place, and the catalysts are defined.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/valore-metals-tsxvvo-pge-developer-with-novel-process-exclusive-ip-clear-path-to-pea-9497

Recording date: 31st March 2026

ValOre Metals is developing the Pedra Branca platinum-palladium project in northeast Brazil and is making a straightforward argument to the market: it is significantly undervalued relative to the small peer group of development-stage PGE companies, and it has a clear plan to close that gap in 2026.

The numbers support the premise. Pedra Branca hosts a 2.2 million ounce resource grading 1.08 g/t on a 2P+gold basis. Comparable peers: Stillwater Critical Minerals with its Stillwater West project in Montana, and Generation Mining advancing an Ontario project, carry resource bases of approximately 3 million ounces and trade at market capitalisations of $100–200 million. ValOre sits at approximately $26 million. That is a valuation gap that invites scrutiny, and CEO Nick Smart's explanation for it is credible.

The discount reflects two correctable problems. First, the company's prior ownership of uranium assets created market confusion about its identity as a PGE developer. That has been resolved: the Hatchet uranium properties have been sold to Future Fuels, and ValOre is now a single-asset, single-commodity company focused entirely on Pedra Branca. Second, without an economic study on file, investors cannot model the project's returns. That changes with the delivery of a Preliminary Economic Assessment, targeted for 2026 and representing the single most important near-term catalyst for the stock.

Smart brings unusual technical credibility to this mandate. His background is in chemical engineering and extractive metallurgy, with 21 years spent at Anglo American in platinum and palladium operations. His focus since joining in October 2024 has been on the metallurgical and engineering programme required to underpin the PEA and early results are positive.

Metallurgical test work conducted with the University of Cape Town is delivering palladium and platinum extractions of 73–74% from a hydrometallurgical leaching route designed for Pedra Branca's weathered near-surface ore. These are initial results from shake-flask testing that are expected to improve as the programme scales. An additional finding that UCT's hot caustic pre-treatment can unlock high-grade chromitite-hosted PGEs grading 6.5–8.5 g/t at surface creates optionality for high-grade feed in the early mine-life years, with potentially positive implications for early-year project economics and NPV.

The macro environment provides further support. Primary platinum supply has been in structural decline since 2021, falling from over 6 million ounces to a projected 5.12 million in 2026 despite a price that has roughly doubled. With 80% of global PGE production concentrated in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Russia, the geopolitical case for supply diversification into jurisdictions like Brazil is building. Pedra Branca's near-surface, open-cast profile, existing infrastructure access, and proximity to a deep-water port position it as a potentially low-capital-intensity development relative to peers.

For investors willing to act ahead of the PEA, the near-term news flow along with the interim metallurgical updates and early engineering outputs provide a series of checkpoints to monitor ahead of the binary catalyst. The valuation gap is large, the path to closing it is defined, and the macro tailwinds are in place.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/precipitate-gold-corp-tsxvprg-funding-secured-as-barrick-adjacent-drilling-starts-9454

Recording date: 2nd April 2026

Precipitate Gold Corp. (TSXV:PRG) is approaching what may be the most consequential period in its history. The Vancouver-based junior explorer holds three gold-copper projects in the Dominican Republic (all 100% owned) and is now executing on the phase of exploration that carries the highest potential for value creation: active discovery drilling.

The company's two flagship assets are strategically located. Juan de Herrera shares a border with Goldquest Mining's Romero deposit, a 3.5 million gold-equivalent ounce resource advancing through feasibility and environmental review. Pueblo Grande surrounds Barrick Gold's Pueblo Viejo mine, one of the largest gold-producing operations in Latin America. In both cases, the host geology is known, the mineralisation style of high-grade gold and copper is confirmed in adjacent ground, and the question now is whether Precipitate's targets contain comparable mineralisation at economic grades.

That question will be answered by the drill bit over the course of 2026. The company has planned up to 10,000 metres of drilling across multiple zones on both projects, with Pueblo Grande already in an active program and Juan de Herrera in final preparation for mobilisation. At Juan de Herrera, years of methodical exploration work of approximately 18,000 soil samples and subsequent induced polarisation geophysical surveys have identified multiple zones where elevated gold and copper at surface coincide with strong chargeability anomalies at depth. This is precisely the geochemical and geophysical signature that defines the Romero and Cachimbo mineralised zones on neighbouring Goldquest ground, lending the targeting approach a credible, data-driven foundation.

The financial position supports the program without immediate dilution risk. A $6.5 million financing completed in January 2026, led by Dominican institutional investors, brought the total working capital to approximately $9 million. Those same investors hold approximately $5 million in in-the-money warrants, providing an additional funding lever should the drill program warrant expansion. The participation of locally connected Dominican capital is significant not only financially but as a signal: investors with direct knowledge of the political and regulatory environment have chosen to back the company at scale.

The jurisdictional backdrop has improved meaningfully. The Dominican government has moved toward a more pro-mining stance, with faster permitting and demonstrated willingness to support projects through the development pipeline. Goldquest's advancement of Romero toward feasibility is providing the sector's first real proof of concept that the country can host a project from discovery through to production-ready status.

From a valuation standpoint, Precipitate has historically traded in close ratio to Goldquest, despite Goldquest holding the established resource. That relationship has diverged over the past two years as Goldquest re-rated on the back of jurisdictional improvements and project advancement. Management believes the gap represents an opportunity, with exploration success at Juan de Herrera or Pueblo Grande the most direct mechanism to close it.

Assay results from both projects, expected progressively across 2026, will define the investment outcome. For investors with the risk tolerance appropriate to early-stage exploration, the current setup in terms of geological, financial, and jurisdictional is as well-structured as Precipitate has ever presented.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/troilus-gold-tsxtlg-build-team-arrives-to-prepare-for-production-7076

Recording date: 31st March 2026

Troilus Mining Corp. is one of the most advanced development-stage copper-gold companies in Canada, and it is approaching the finish line on the work required to make a construction decision on its central Quebec project. For investors assessing the risk-reward profile of the company today, the picture is materially different from where it stood twelve or even six months ago.

The engineering work is substantially complete. Basic engineering, a phase costing approximately $15 million and involving 100,000 man-hours, has been finished, producing a control budget with plus-or-minus 10% variance. Detailed engineering is now underway at an $80 million budget scope, with over 100 engineers working full-time. The company expects to be near 100% detailed engineering complete by the time construction begins, which is an unusually high level of execution certainty for a project of this scale and complexity.

The financing structure is almost entirely in place. A $1 billion USD debt facility has been assembled through eleven institutional counterparties, backstopped by European export credit agencies, a structure that provides both competitive pricing and flexibility. Due diligence is substantially complete. A $172.5 million equity raise, completed without warrants, is in the bank and funding all current activity. The final element is a streaming arrangement, which CEO Justin Reid has described as imminent and increasingly favourable in its terms given current commodity prices.

The permitting process is orderly and on track. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment was submitted to federal regulators in mid-2024. The first round of questions has been answered and resubmitted. Because Troilus's engineering is so far advanced, the company can respond to technical regulatory queries in weeks rather than months, a meaningful advantage that reduces the risk of delays. The construction permit is expected by end of 2026, with full construction mobilisation targeted for Q1 2027.

Commodity prices have transformed the project's economic profile. The feasibility study was modelled at $1,975 gold. With gold above $4,500 and copper near $5 per pound, the project's internal economics are substantially stronger than at any prior point in its development. Debt providers are modelling conservatively at $3,000 gold — and the project is still robust at that level. Investors gaining exposure today are doing so with significant commodity price upside already embedded in the asset.

The company is also actively compressing the path to first cash flow. Pre-construction site work is underway under existing permits, including camp expansion, road relocations, deforestation, mobile crusher deployment, and early earthworks using local contractors. The 40,000-metre drill programme announced for 2026 targets grade optimisation in the early years of mine life, which could accelerate the pace of capital payback without affecting the existing mine plan or permit timeline.

For investors with a two-to-three-year horizon, the catalysts ahead — streaming announcement, credit committee approval, construction permit, and ground-breaking — represent a sequential series of de-risking events that have historically driven significant re-ratings in developer valuations. Troilus is approaching all of them simultaneously.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/first-mining-gold-tsxff-major-ea-catalyst-due-q2-2026-as-springpole-advances-toward-development-9452

Recording date: 30th March 2026

First Mining Gold Corp. (TSX:FF) is approaching what CEO Dan Wilton describes as the most consequential moment in the company's history. After eight years navigating Canada's federal environmental assessment process for its flagship Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, a permitting decision is expected within months. Management believes this single event will be the catalyst that forces the market to reprice assets it has consistently undervalued.

Springpole is not a marginal project. The deposit holds a 5 million ounce resource and is designed to produce more than 300,000 ounces of gold per year, placing it among Canada's ten largest gold mines when built. The operation runs at a sub-3:1 strip ratio with manageable metallurgy, and the feasibility study was built on a conservative $3,100/oz gold base case. At $4,000/oz, The after-tax NPV is approximately $3 billion. The project remains economically viable at $2,500/oz, which provides meaningful downside protection in any scenario of gold price weakness.

Despite these attributes, First Mining's shares were trading at roughly $0.47, a level management estimates at approximately 0.1x net asset value. Wilton puts the fundamental per-share value at over $5, implying the current share price represents a discount of roughly 90% to intrinsic value. That gap, as Wilton argues, is a product of a broader structural failure in the gold developer segment: for the better part of a decade, capital simply was not available to advance projects through permitting and feasibility, and many developers stalled or gave up. First Mining kept moving by monetising secondary assets, generating close to $100 million in cash over five years to fund continued progress. The result is a company that now holds two of the ten largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada at a moment when shovel-ready opportunities are genuinely scarce.

The second project, Duparquet, located in Quebec's Abitibi gold belt, adds a layer of optionality the market appears to be pricing at zero. At current gold prices, management estimates Duparquet's NPV at approximately $3 billion. The geology team believes the deposit is on a trajectory toward 10 million ounces. Yet for practical purposes, investors are currently acquiring both projects at a price that reflects neither.

The strategic context matters too. Major gold producers are now trading at mid-cycle NAV multiples, their reserve pipelines are thinning, and exploration cannot solve the problem on any relevant timeline. A discovery made today is fifteen or more years from production. That dynamic points to intensifying M&A pressure around advanced developers, of which there are very few, with the combination of scale, jurisdiction quality, and near-term permitting visibility that First Mining offers. The company has indicated openness to partnership structures that would preserve meaningful shareholder participation.

The near-term risk is binary: the environmental assessment outcome matters enormously. But for investors who believe the permitting decision will go the right way as the management does, the current entry point offers exposure to a potential multi-hundred percent re-rating driven by catalysts that are already in motion.

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Recording date: 26th March 2026

Veteran resource investor Michael Gentile, the largest individual shareholder in over 30 junior mining companies and co-founder of Bastion Asset Management, argues that recent market turbulence masks improving fundamentals across the gold mining sector. Despite gold retreating from $5,500 to approximately $4,500, Gentile maintains this pullback represents healthy consolidation within an early-stage bull market rather than a warning sign of exhaustion.
The violent selloff—marked by $11 billion in ETF outflows during March and collapsing investor sentiment—actually reinforces Gentile's bullish thesis. Unlike mature bull markets where every dip attracts eager buyers, precious metals continue exhibiting "wall of worry" characteristics where negative catalysts trigger aggressive selling. This suggests limited speculative excess and substantial room for broader market participation.
Gentile's conviction rests on structural fiscal dynamics he believes will necessitate currency debasement. With $40 trillion in US debt generating $2 trillion in annual interest expense, and bond yields rising despite geopolitical tensions, the Federal Reserve faces mounting pressure to intervene. Yield curve control or quantitative easing would suppress rates while inflation accelerates, creating negative real rates historically favorable for gold.
Meanwhile, gold producers have achieved unprecedented financial strength. Industry margins expanded from $100 per ounce post-COVID to approximately $2,000 currently, generating free cash flow yields of 10-25% compared to 3% for the S&P 500. Virtually every major producer now operates debt-free while initiating buybacks and dividends—a stark contrast to the empire-building mentality that destroyed value during the 2008-2012 cycle.
For junior mining investors, Gentile emphasizes disciplined diversification across 30-35 positions focused on assets with existing resources, infrastructure proximity, favorable jurisdiction, and realistic paths to production. With quality ounces trading at 1-2% of spot gold prices in strategic acquisitions, current valuations offer compelling entry points for patient capital willing to accept that most juniors will never reach production while concentrated winners generate outsized returns.

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Recording date: 26th March 2026

Cabral Gold is approaching one of the most consequential transitions in a junior mining company's lifecycle: the move from developer to producer. With its Phase One oxide heap leach project at Cuiú Cuiú in northern Brazil now 60% complete, on budget, and on schedule for commercial gold production in Q4 2026, the company is within striking distance of generating meaningful cash flow from one of the lowest-cost gold mining methods available.

The Phase One project was prefeasibility-studied at a gold price of $2,500 per ounce. Gold is currently trading around $4,500 per ounce. That gap matters enormously to the investment case. The company expects to produce approximately 25,000 ounces in its first 12 months at an all-in sustaining cost of $1,200–$1,300 per ounce, generating an estimated $60–$65 million in annual cash flow. Against a current market capitalisation of approximately $200 million, Cabral is trading at roughly 3x anticipated cash flow, well below the 7x multiple at which junior gold producers are typically valued once in production. The implied re-rating potential on Phase One alone is substantial.

The permitting picture has also improved materially. Cabral recently received its Licença Prévia (LP) for a full mining license . This removes the 1,500 tonnes per day ceiling imposed by trial mining licenses, clears the path to operating at the full Phase One design capacity of 3,000 tonnes per day, and provides regulatory line-of-sight for the larger Phase Two hard rock operation that sits behind it.

Beyond Phase One, the exploration upside at Cuiú Cuiú is significant and largely unpriced. The district's soil anomaly spans 7 kilometres and remains open, seven times the size of the equivalent anomaly at the adjacent of the third-largest gold mine in Brazil which produced just under 180,000 ounces in 2025. Cuiú Cuiú's historical placer gold production of approximately 2 million ounces dwarfs Tocantinzinho's 200,000-ounce placer endowment, providing a geological proxy for the scale of the hard rock system below. The global resource last updated in September 2022 at 1.2 million ounces has not captured 35,000 metres of subsequent drilling or four new discoveries, including the Jerimum Cima intercept of 9.5 metres at 87.4 g/t gold which is the best result in the project's history.

A $20 million bought deal financing has been announced to fund an accelerated exploration program. CEO Alan Carter, who has invested $2 million of his own capital in the company, is direct about the strategic logic: getting more rigs on site now, ahead of Phase One cash flow, allows the company to grow its resource base and advance the Phase Two economic case faster than a more conservative approach would allow.

For investors focused on the junior gold development sector, Cabral presents a defined production timeline, a widening cash flow margin driven by gold prices, significant resource growth optionality, and a management team with a track record of discovering and building mines in the same district. The re-rating catalysts are multiple, sequential, and near-term.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/western-nickel-projects-gain-momentum-as-supply-dynamics-improve-9150

Recording date: 30th March 2026

Ardea Resources (ASX:ARL) has made meaningful progress in advancing the Goongarrie Hub, its flagship asset within the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project in Western Australia. The company recently secured approximately A$1 billion in indicative funding support from Export Finance Australia and the US Export-Import Bank, representing a significant external endorsement of the project ahead of the completion of its Definitive Feasibility Study, due in the June 2026 quarter.

The Goongarrie Hub is one of the largest nickel-cobalt resources in the world and is being developed through an incorporated joint venture with Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation. The Japanese partners hold 75% of the project's offtake and bring integrated downstream processing expertise, established export credit agency relationships, and a track record of delivering large-scale resource projects globally. This partnership structure is central to Ardea's ability to access competitive project financing and provides a level of commercial credibility that distinguishes the company from peers still in search of strategic partners.

The EFA letter of support is for up to A$500 million and can be structured across debt, equity, or other instruments. The US EXIM indicative support is for US$350 million, or approximately A$500 million. Both are conditional on DFS completion, environmental approvals, and a Final Investment Decision, and should be understood as indicative rather than committed capital. That said, management described the receipt of this support ahead of DFS completion as an industry first, and the involvement of two major Western government-backed institutions adds credibility to the project's strategic positioning within broader Australia-Japan-US critical mineral cooperation frameworks.

Total project capex is expected to exceed the A$3.1 billion estimated in the 2023 Prefeasibility Study, driven by flowsheet changes and inflationary pressures. The financing gap between current indicative support and total capex is material, and investors should expect additional equity raises as the project progresses. The company is pursuing a multi-layered capital stack that includes further export credit agency engagement, potential government grants, and the possible monetisation of Ardea's retained 25% offtake entitlement.

The DFS is the central near-term focus. Completion in the June 2026 quarter will trigger a Mini Investment Decision to commit to the FEED phase, advancing engineering from approximately 30% to 60% completion and substantially derisking the path to a Final Investment Decision. The FEED phase is planned to run in parallel with the environmental approvals process, which is traditionally 18 to 24 months. Major Project Status from the Australian federal government and a pending Lead Agency Status application in Western Australia are expected to assist in streamlining this process.

On the market side, Ardea's management points to tightening Indonesian permitting standards and growing defence-driven demand for high-quality stainless steel as structural tailwinds for nickel prices. The project sits at the intersection of a potential cyclical recovery in nickel and an accelerating geopolitical shift toward Western-aligned critical mineral supply chains.

For investors, the June 2026 DFS completion represents the most actionable near-term catalyst. Ardea is advancing through a well-defined development pathway with credible partners, institutional backing, and growing government support — but the path to production remains multi-year, capital-intensive, and conditional on milestones yet to be achieved.

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Olive Resource Capital is responding to a sharp, volatility-driven sell-off in mining equities by repositioning its portfolio toward higher-quality, more liquid gold producers — a strategy grounded in the view that institutional forced selling, rather than fundamental deterioration, is responsible for the bulk of recent price declines.

Speaking on their investment podcast, Samuel Pelaez, President, CEO, and CIO, and Derek McPherson, Executive Chairman, outlined a deliberate spring-clean of the firm's holdings. The core thesis is straightforward: when risk managers at leveraged funds are forced to de-risk portfolios rapidly, mining stocks — categorised as high-risk assets — are sold indiscriminately, regardless of underlying asset quality. The result is a repricing event that creates entry points disconnected from fundamentals, with valuations across junior and mid-tier gold names down 20–60% from recent highs.

Rather than chasing the steepest discounts at the riskiest end of the market, Olive is moving up the market capitalisation and liquidity spectrum. The two names at the centre of their repositioning are Northern Star Resources (ASX:NST) and Goldsky (TSXV:GSKR). Northern Star is Australia's largest gold producer and operator of the Super Pit, the country's largest gold mine. The company has delivered consistently against guidance for most of its fifteen-year history. Temporary operational setbacks over the past six months, compounded by broad gold price weakness, have pushed the stock to what Pelaez describes as the most attractive entry point since the company was founded. The operational issues are characterised as temporary; the asset quality and management track record are not in question. Olive is treating it as a multi-quarter accumulation, with scope to add further on any near-term earnings disappointment.

Goldsky presents a different but complementary opportunity. The company is consolidating 100% of the Barsele project through an ongoing acquisition process. McPherson notes the stock is trading in an unusual manner relative to its fundamental position, likely as a result of transaction mechanics rather than any change in underlying value. The completion of the Barsele acquisition is expected to serve as a near-term re-rating catalyst. Across both names and their broader portfolio, Olive's non-negotiable filter is balance sheet strength. Financing conditions have deteriorated sharply. Companies requiring capital raises are now doing so on materially worse terms — warrants and sweeteners that were unnecessary two months ago are now standard — while cashed-up operators can continue executing, maintaining momentum and avoiding dilution.

Looking ahead, the pair flag two key dynamics for investors to monitor. First, Q2 margins face a potential double squeeze: gold's average price is expected to be lower than Q1's exceptional levels above $5,000 per ounce, while rising energy costs — energy represents approximately 30% of open-pit mining costs — flow through from higher oil prices. Margins remain healthy, but the rate of expansion will slow. Second, M&A conditions are ripening. Compressed valuations, record producer free cash flow, and the psychological ease of offering premiums to depressed share prices create the conditions for an active deal calendar in the months ahead.

For investors willing to apply discipline and maintain a medium-term horizon, the current environment offers access to some of the highest-quality gold producer equities at valuations not seen in over a decade.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/vista-gold-corp-nysevgz-39m-oversubscribed-raise-funds-development-push-9478

Recording date: 28th March 2026

Vista Gold Corp. (NYSE: VGZ) is advancing its Mt Todd Gold project in Australia's Northern Territory with a strategic rightsizing that management believes positions the asset for independent development while addressing a significant market valuation disconnect.

The company completed a 2025 feasibility study that reduced the project from 50,000 tons per day to 15,000 tons per day, cutting initial capital requirements by 59% from approximately $1 billion to $425 million. This restructuring targets annual production of 153,000 ounces over the first 15 years of a 30-year mine life, with the company raising its design cutoff grade from 0.35 to 0.5 grams per ton to prioritize higher-quality ore.

At a conservative $2,500 per ounce gold price, the feasibility study projects an after-tax NPV of $1.1 billion and a 27.8% IRR, with all-in sustaining costs near $1,500 per ounce. At $3,300 gold, the NPV increases to $2.2 billion with an IRR approaching 45%. With current gold prices around $4,500 per ounce, the project demonstrates substantial leverage to prevailing market conditions.

Despite holding 5.2 million ounces of proven and probable reserves and 10.6 million total ounces, Vista Gold trades at a significant discount to peers on enterprise value per ounce metrics. CEO Frederick Ernest attributes this partly to legacy perceptions from the project's 1990s operational history, though he emphasized that past failures stemmed from poor equipment selection rather than fundamental project flaws. Modern HPGR crusher technology is expected to achieve 90% metallurgical recovery versus historical 70% rates, while the frequently cited "hard ore" issue translates to only $50 per ounce in additional energy costs.

Near-term catalysts include permitting approvals expected through mid-2027, building an experienced Australian mine development team, and securing project financing through multiple pathways including traditional banks, government infrastructure funding, and potential streaming arrangements. The company closed a $44.85 million financing in March 2026, providing over $50 million in cash to fund development activities.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/amex-exploration-tsxvamx-high-grade-quebec-gold-project-targets-q3-2027-production-9500

Recording date: 26th March 2026

Amex Exploration Inc. (TSXV:AMX) has positioned itself as a potentially undervalued opportunity in the gold development sector, with management arguing the company's $470 million market capitalisation fails to reflect the project's underlying economics compared to similarly staged peers.
The Quebec-based developer's investment thesis rests on three fundamental pillars: exceptional ore grades, capital-efficient phased development, and strategic infrastructure positioning. At the project's core lies a grade differential that management characterizes as transformative. While comparable development projects report grades between 1.9 and 3.6 grams per tonne, AMX's deposit averages 5.1 grams per tonne on a diluted basis. The flagship Champagne zone grades 16 grams per tonne before dilution, with practical mining grades expected between 10 and 12 grams per tonne.

This grade advantage translates directly into capital efficiency. Phase 1 development requires $146 million in capital expenditure to achieve production exceeding 100,000 ounces annually from a 2.3 million ounce resource base. The company's phased approach—bulk sample followed by Phase 1 and Phase 2—creates a self-funding pathway designed to minimize equity dilution, with each stage generating revenue to finance subsequent expansion.

Near-term catalysts include imminent bulk sample permit approval, currently at the six-month review threshold following submission in mid-September. Upon approval, construction mobilization follows within 45 days, positioning the project for mid-2027 initial production of 20,000 to 23,000 ounces. Phase 1 commercial production targets early-to-mid 2028.

Infrastructure access provides additional operational advantages. Proximity to an established town delivers immediate workforce availability, while electrical grid connectivity eliminates diesel generation requirements and associated fuel price exposure. Water supply exists through municipal connections, collectively differentiating the project's capital intensity from remote deposits requiring greenfield infrastructure construction.

Management contends that peers with similar production timelines trade at market capitalisations between $1.2 billion and double AMX's current valuation, despite what the company characterises as inferior grade economics and higher capital requirements.

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Recording date: 23rd March 2026

Tier One Silver (TSXV:TSLV) is advancing an early-stage precious metals discovery in southern Peru that has delivered some of the highest-grade rock sampling results seen in the region. The company's 100%-owned Curibaya project has returned silver grades up to 300,000 grams per ton and gold grades approaching one kilogram, with over 80 samples exceeding one kilogram per ton silver distributed across a five-square-kilometer footprint.

Led by President and CEO Peter Dembicki, a former Canaccord Genuity investment adviser, the company benefits from world-class technical expertise. Christian Rios, formerly with Bear Creek Mining and integral to the Santana Corani discovery, serves as Senior Vice President of Exploration, while Antonio Arribas, former global head of geosciences for BHP and Newmont, provides additional technical guidance.

The property emerged from the 2021 spin-out of Auryn Resources and was consolidated through opportunistic acquisitions when base metal prices declined. Located in southern Peru's copper belt near the city of Tacna, the approximately 14,000-hectare property had never been systematically explored despite being surrounded by major global copper-silver producers.

Following an initial 5,000-meter reconnaissance drilling program, the company engaged independent consultants who identified a key insight: higher-elevation areas within the property should preserve a more intact precious metals system due to less erosion over geological time. The current 1,200-meter drilling program is testing this thesis in the Cambaya corridor, where rock samples have returned eight kilograms per ton silver and four grams per ton gold.

An unexpected discovery during initial drilling revealed indicators of a potential large porphyry copper system at depth, attracting attention from major mining companies seeking the next significant discovery in Peru's porphyry belt.

After operating through five years of challenging silver prices ranging from $17-22 per ounce, the company raised approximately $6.5 million in late 2025 as silver strengthened above $70. Management estimates requiring another 10,000 meters of drilling before resource definition, with six kilometers of identified vein corridors providing multiple targets. The company's strategy focuses entirely on discovery and resource definition rather than development, positioning for an eventual strategic transaction.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/greenheart-gold-tsxvghrt-proven-discovery-team-advances-3-suriname-projects-with-35m-runway-8542

Recording date: 25th March 2026

Greenheart Gold (TSXV:GHRT) is executing a comprehensive exploration strategy across the Guyana Shield, with President and CEO Justin van der Toorn advancing multiple high-potential gold projects in Suriname and Guyana. The company's disciplined approach to early-stage exploration, combined with an experienced management team and strategic portfolio management, positions it to make discoveries in one of the world's most underexplored yet geologically prospective gold regions.

The company currently operates three advanced projects in Suriname—Majorodam, Igab, and Tosso Creek—each at different stages of development. At Majorodam, a 10,000-meter reverse circulation drilling program is underway testing a 15-kilometer gold-in-soil anomaly. The cost-effective RC approach allows rapid coverage of the entire trend at approximately 50-60% of diamond drilling expenses, with holes targeting near-surface mineralization before following higher-grade zones to depth.

The Igab project has emerged as a high-priority target following exceptional trenching results of 12 meters at 4.82 g/t and 11 meters at 9 g/t gold. Diamond drilling commences in April 2026 to establish detailed structural understanding of these high-grade shear zones. Located 30 kilometers south of Newmont's Merian operation, Igab benefits from proximity to established infrastructure and geological context.

Tosso Creek represents bulk tonnage potential with 86 meters at 0.6 g/t gold in trenching. Additional trenching is underway to refine targets before drilling in Q2 2026.

Greenheart's management team brings proven credentials from Reunion Gold's Oko discovery in Guyana, which ultimately attracted a takeover. The company maintains capital discipline through its willingness to drop non-performing projects while preserving treasury strength for aggressive multi-project exploration. "We're explorers, that's what we think we're good at," Justin emphasized.

With multiple drilling programs advancing simultaneously throughout 2026, Greenheart is positioned to deliver continuous newsflow while targeting tier-one discoveries in the underexplored Guyana Shield. The company's strategy focuses on demonstrating meaningful intercepts with both grade and volume to establish mineable potential across its portfolio.

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Recording date: 24th March 2026

Atomic Eagle (ASX:AEU) is advancing the Muntanga uranium project in Zambia with an aggressive resource expansion strategy designed to unlock economies of scale. Led by CEO Phil Hoskins and backed by the founders of Boss Energy and Lotus Resources - both now uranium producers - the company has assembled experienced uranium development expertise to grow a technically proven asset in a tier-one African jurisdiction.

The Muntanga project stands on solid ground with a completed NI 43-101 feasibility study and a recently expanded resource of 58.8 million pounds at 309 ppm. What distinguishes this deposit is exceptional metallurgical characteristics: over 90% recoveries, 21-day leach kinetics, and remarkably low acid consumption of just 20 kilograms per ton. These parameters signal favorable economics to experienced developers, though the previous operator's study at 2.2 million pounds per annum production showed insufficient scale to generate attractive returns.

Atomic Eagle's solution centers on resource growth. The largest drill program at Muntanga since 2007 launches in April 2026, targeting over 50,000 meters across 10 discrete targets using cost-effective gamma-probe technology at $45 per meter. The company aims to grow resources toward 100+ million pounds to support 4-5 million pounds per annum production by circa 2030, comparable to Bannerman Resources' development model. Current resources, if fully incorporated into a revised mine plan, could already support 3.9 million pounds annually for 12 years.

With $19 million in treasury, Atomic Eagle is well-funded to execute its 2026 exploration program and 2027 updated feasibility study. Zambia offers significant jurisdictional advantages: no free carried government interest, established mining infrastructure as the world's seventh-largest copper producer, and Fraser Institute-validated regulatory stability.

Additional upside exists through a 116 million pound Niger asset (1,300 ppm grade) currently assigned zero market value. Active negotiations are progressing to return this asset under new terms, with an update expected in the first half of 2026. Recent roadshow feedback confirmed that investors view Atomic Eagle as undervalued based solely on the Zambian asset, positioning the company as a focused development play rather than a speculative exploration play in an increasingly strategic uranium market.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/hycroft-mining-nasdaqhymc-more-high-grade-silver-as-resource-grows-by-over-50-9321

Recording date: 22nd March 2026

Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: HYMC) has executed a dramatic transformation from debt-burdened developer to well-capitalised exploration story, driven by high-grade silver discoveries that are redefining one of the world's largest precious metals deposits in Nevada.

The company's turnaround centres on a comprehensive balance sheet restructuring that eliminated all debt and secured $200 million in cash through institutional investment. The debt, which was accruing at $1 million monthly with 2027 maturity, had prevented institutional participation despite growing asset interest. Combined with earlier investments from Eric Sprott and Tribeca, the restructuring delivered a shareholder base that is now 85% institutional, providing a minimum three-year funding runway.

What attracted this institutional capital was the discovery of high-grade mineralisation at the Vortex and Brimstone zones. Recent drilling returned intercepts exceeding 500 grams per tonne silver over 35 metres, fundamentally changing perceptions of an asset historically characterised as low-grade bulk tonnage. In February 2026, Hycroft announced a 55% resource increase, incorporating these discoveries alongside improved metallurgical recoveries. The deposit now totals approximately 16.5 million ounces of gold and 600 million ounces of silver.

Management is prioritising development of these high-grade underground systems over the large low-grade deposit, aiming for a smaller 3,500-5,000 tonne per day operation that offers superior margins and faster production. The 2026 exploration program has tripled to 24,000 metres across four rigs, targeting system expansion and a preliminary economic assessment by early 2027.
The Brimstone system remains open in all directions and at depth, with geological indicators including deep magmatic sources suggesting substantial expansion potential. Hycroft is applying this geological model across its largely unexplored land package, seeking additional high-grade discoveries.

Despite possessing over $1 billion in existing infrastructure, established permits, and Nevada's premier jurisdiction advantages, Hycroft trades at an estimated 40-50% discount to greenfield peers, presenting potential rerating opportunity as high-grade scale is demonstrated through continued drilling and economic studies.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/toogood-gold-tsxvtgc-expanding-high-grade-discovery-in-newfoundland-8643

Recording date: 19th March 2026

Toogood Gold Corporation (TSXV:TGC) has emerged as a compelling discovery-focused explorer following exceptional drill results at its Quinlan target in Newfoundland and the strategic acquisition of Nevada's Table Mountain epithermal project. The company's recent operational updates reveal a systematic approach to advancing high-quality targets across two of North America's premier gold jurisdictions.

At Quinlan, Toogood achieved a perfect 30-for-30 drill success rate, with every hole intersecting both the gold-bearing felsic dyke and mineralization. The discovery has doubled in strike length from 200 meters to over 400 meters while remaining open in both directions. The standout intercept of 29 meters at 2.3 grams per tonne gold near surface, with higher-grade zones approaching half an ounce, establishes the target's economic potential despite averaging 3-5 meters in true thickness.

The company's breakthrough deployment of ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology successfully mapped dyke structures under cover, enabling a step-out discovery 150-200 meters along strike. This proven methodology now provides a systematic tool to test 45 identified felsic dyke occurrences across the southwestern block.

Perhaps most significantly, Toogood validated the Melange contact as a new discovery vector. Three inaugural holes at this previously undrilled 10-kilometer geological boundary all intersected gram-to-multi-gram gold, confirming historical surface sampling. The southwestern Quinlan holes—delivering the program's best results—are vectoring toward where the Quinlan trend and Melange contact converge, creating a high-priority structural intersection target.

Simultaneously, the company secured a binding letter of intent for Nevada's Table Mountain project, featuring a 4-kilometer by 2-kilometer alteration cell matching the footprint of the 16-million-ounce Silicon-Merlin system. Outcropping epithermal quartz veins with textbook characteristics show no evidence of previous drilling despite anomalous to multi-gram gold values.

With $3.2 million in treasury plus $600,000 in flow-through financing, Toogood maintains adequate capital to advance systematic exploration programs at both projects without immediate dilution, targeting Q3 2026 for Nevada drilling while expanding Newfoundland's geological understanding through regional geochemistry.

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Recording date: 2nd March 2026

Headline: Thunder Gold's Tower Mountain: A Large-Scale Ontario Gold Project With a Clear Re-Rating Path

Thunder Gold Corp (TSXV:TGOL) is developing the Tower Mountain gold project in northwestern Ontario, 40 kilometres from Thunder Bay. The company recently published a maiden resource estimate of 3.5 million ounces comprising 3 million inferred and 500,000 indicated ounces, and is targeting 5 million ounces alongside a preliminary economic assessment by the end of the current year. For investors evaluating junior gold equities, Tower Mountain offers an unusual combination of geological consistency, infrastructure accessibility, exploration upside, and a management team with direct open-pit development experience.

The deposit's defining characteristic is the predictability of its drill results. Of 190 holes drilled across 47,000 metres of total drilling, 180 returned average grades of 0.33 to 0.37 g/t across full hole lengths, from surface to the bottom of each hole, regardless of depth or rock type. This is the hallmark of a large, disseminated intrusion-related gold system where gold is distributed evenly through a wide pyrite cloud rather than concentrated in narrow, unpredictable shear zones. That consistency translates directly into lower operational risk in a future mining scenario and a more straightforward path through the economic study process.

The project's infrastructure position is equally compelling. Paved highway, rail access, and existing utilities sit within 3 kilometres of the resource pit. The site is accessible year-round, and a 40-minute drive away from Thunder Bay city with an established mining services sector. These factors significantly reduce the capital intensity of any future development compared to remote northern projects where road and power construction alone can consume hundreds of millions of dollars before a shovel enters the ground.

The near-term investment case centres on resource category conversion. At current per-ounce market valuations of $10–20 for inferred ounces, Thunder Gold trades at a meaningful discount to more advanced peers. The company's stated priority to infill drilling to convert inferred ounces to indicated status has historically produced three-to-four-times increases in per-ounce valuations without requiring new discovery. With approximately $5 million in treasury and 66 cents of every dollar directed into drilling, management has the capital to execute that program and deliver a credible PEA.

The longer-term case rests on the three unexplored contacts of the intrusive body, each carrying geophysical signatures consistent with the known western resource. If those contacts host comparable mineralization, the total resource could approach 12 million ounces, a scale that places Tower Mountain firmly in the range of acquisition targets for mid-tier producers facing reserve depletion at current gold prices.

At a gold price that has fundamentally re-rated the economics of large-tonnage, lower-grade deposits, Tower Mountain sits in a strategically attractive position: sufficient scale to matter to a mid-tier acquirer, infrastructure to support competitive capital costs, and enough drilling upside to justify continued exploration investment. The key near-term variables are drill results and PEA delivery. Investors willing to accept early-stage resource and liquidity risk may find the current valuation offers meaningful upside relative to those catalysts.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/investigator-resources-asxivr-paris-silver-project-advancing-towards-dfs-4726

Recording date: 19th March 2026

Investigator Resources (ASX:IVR) is advancing the Paris Silver Project in South Australia, positioning itself as Australia's only pure play silver mining operation at a time when global silver markets face persistent supply deficits. The company's recently completed definitive feasibility study demonstrates compelling project economics with a pre-tax net present value of $1.2 billion at $80 per ounce silver, a 93% internal rate of return, and an 11-month payback period.

Managing Director Lachlan Wallace, who previously delivered the Kanmantoo underground mine on-time and on-budget during his tenure at Hillgrove Resources, brings proven mine-building credentials to the project. Under his leadership, Investigator has deliberately designed Paris for financeability rather than maximizing headline economics, using conservative silver price assumptions of $48 US per ounce—materially below current spot levels—to ensure the project remains robust under various stress scenarios.

The Paris deposit offers significant geological advantages for low-cost production. The shallow, flat, tabular ore body starts just 10 meters below surface and measures 400 meters wide by one kilometer long, ideal for efficient bulk open pit mining. The company's mining strategy front-loads higher-grade zones in the first two years, delivering average head grades of 130 grams per ton compared to the 90 grams per ton life-of-mine average, driving rapid cash generation and early debt repayment.

With $65 million recently raised and a total capital requirement of approximately $260 million Australian, Investigator is well-funded to advance detailed engineering, infill drilling, and permitting activities. The company is targeting debt financing for the remaining capital, with Wallace reporting positive reception from US-based institutional funds and debt providers.

At a current market capitalization of approximately $170 million, Investigator trades at a significant discount to its project value. As Australia's only pure play silver producer, the company offers direct leverage to silver price movements, with every $1 US movement translating to $42 million in life-of-mine project value—positioning shareholders to benefit from structurally supported silver markets facing ongoing supply-demand imbalances.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/pacific-lime-cement-asxpla-pngs-first-lime-producer-targets-50m-import-replacement-market-7827

Recording date: 18th March 2026

Pacific Lime & Cement (ASX:PLA) is advancing toward February 2027 production as Papua New Guinea's first domestically-based lime and cement manufacturer. In a recent interview, managing director Paul Mulder outlined the company's progress on a project that will eliminate PNG's complete reliance on Chinese and Japanese imports while establishing a vertically integrated building materials platform with substantial government backing.

The project's competitive foundation rests on geographic advantages that significantly undercut existing supply chains. The coastal limestone deposit requires zero stripping and sits just 700 meters from the company's private wharf facility within a special economic zone. Current suppliers operate mines 100 to 200 kilometers inland in Southeast Asia, requiring land transport to public ports before international shipping. This positioning, combined with 10-year tax exemptions covering corporate tax and import-export duties, creates meaningful cost advantages for serving PNG's protected domestic market.

Financial structure represents another differentiating element. Pacific Lime & Cement funded initial development entirely through equity rather than debt, eliminating covenant restrictions and interest obligations that would reduce cash conversion. The PNG government's direct equity participation of 18% to 30% in both lime and cement special purpose vehicles values the company at approximately $700 million AUD, nearly triple the current $250 million market capitalization. This investment, formalized through a March 2018 project development agreement, signals government commitment while providing expansion capital for additional lime kilns.

Near-term revenue visibility comes from Newmont, PNG's largest gold producer, which has committed to purchasing approximately one-third of initial production capacity. The two-kiln phase one targets domestic mining operations, water treatment facilities, and road stabilization projects currently served by imports from distant sources including Israel. Surplus production will flow to Western Australian markets where the company already demonstrates supply chain capabilities.

Expansion plans encompass additional lime capacity, cement production facilities with International Finance Corporation partnership, and downstream concrete products including batch plants and cast construction materials. Management is simultaneously monetizing non-core assets, with Power China fully funding iron sands development and advisors pursuing value realization for a copper-gold exploration asset adjacent to the Frieda River operation.

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Olive Resource Capital used the March 18, 2026 market selloff to add positions across their high-conviction portfolio, as resource sector equities declined 5-7% and gold fell below $5,000 for the first time in six months. President Samuel Pelaez and Executive Chair Derek Macpherson outlined their strategic response during their weekly investor update, emphasizing that current volatility represents a buying opportunity rather than a structural market breakdown.

The firm had strategically raised cash to approximately 10% of portfolio value in January and February, anticipating seasonal weakness around the PDAC conference period. This liquidity position enabled opportunistic deployment as Middle East tensions coincided with expected seasonal softness. Olive added to an unnamed Yukon exploration company, Arizona Sonoran Copper during its M&A transaction, energy sector holdings, and Goldsky as it consolidates 100% ownership of the Barsele project.

Management emphasized their evolution toward concentrated, high-conviction positions over the past two years. This "high grading" process prioritizes companies with strong balance sheets, capable management teams, and no leverage exposure. Pelaez noted the portfolio consists of companies with "the ability to survive" market stress without facing imminent financial liabilities, recognizing that resource companies already carry inherent leverage through commodity price exposure.

Technical indicators provided reassurance that systemic breakdown had not occurred. The VIX remained subdued, the S&P 500 stayed within 5-10% of highs, and global liquidity metrics functioned normally. Most portfolio positions had simply returned to year-end levels after strong early-year gains.

Pelaez offered nuanced geopolitical analysis from the SMI conference, characterizing targeted U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure as calibrated negotiating tactics rather than full escalation. He views current tensions as transitory events unlikely to derail long-term commodity demand drivers. Strong conference attendance and well-funded companies executing substantial drill programs reinforced management's conviction that underlying sector fundamentals remain healthy despite near-term price volatility.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cassiar-gold-corp-tsxvgldc-whoever-comes-in-on-cassiar-is-going-to-make-a-lot-of-money-9480

Recording date: 17th March 2026

Cassiar Gold Corp. (TSXV:GLDC) operates an advanced exploration project in northern British Columbia with a resource base and infrastructure profile that management believes the market has significantly mispriced. The company controls 2.3 million ounces at its Taurus deposit, comprising 1.9 million inferred ounces at 0.95 grams per tonne and 410,000 indicated ounces at 1.43 grams per tonne. With 91% of these ounces within 150 meters of surface and the deposit remaining open in all directions, the geological foundation provides both near-term development potential and longer-term expansion opportunity.

What distinguishes Cassiar from typical exploration companies is its existing infrastructure position. The property holds valid mine permits, a permitted 300 ton-per-day mill, paved road access, grid power, 25 kilometers of underground workings, and 160 kilometers of access roads. President and CEO Marco Roque emphasizes that these pre-existing assets represent hundreds of millions in sunk capital that competing projects would need to spend and years of permitting timeline already completed.

Despite these advantages, Cassiar trades at approximately $32 Canadian per ounce of enterprise value with an $80 million market capitalization, well below the $50-900 per ounce range management cites for comparable peers. The company's strategic positioning centers on dual development optionality: high-grade underground veins averaging 10-20 grams per tonne capable of generating 30,000-60,000 ounces annually with minimal capital requirements estimated at $3 million Canadian, alongside longer-term open-pit development of the bulk tonnage deposit.

The critical path to production involves re-permitting tailings facilities to current British Columbia standards, estimated at 1.5-2 years, though direct shipping ore arrangements could compress this timeline by 25-33%. With current gold prices creating potential margins exceeding $5,000 per ounce on high-grade material versus $200-300 margins in previous years, management believes the risk-reward profile for near-term development has fundamentally improved, driving increasing strategic interest and supporting the company's transition from exploration toward production.

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Recording date: 17th March 2026

Trifecta Gold is positioning itself as the next potential discovery story in Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt, where exploration companies have identified over 20 million ounces of new gold resources since 2020. Led by CEO Richard Drechsler, a 20-year Yukon exploration veteran, the company is systematically exploring reduced intrusion-related gold systems in a geological corridor that has transformed Snowline Gold from a penny stock into a multi-billion dollar company.

The company's corporate structure reflects strong institutional backing. Three cornerstone investors control 40% of outstanding shares: Condire Investors holds 20%, Crescat Capital 10%, and an HNW investor group another 10%. Management owns approximately 11% with no seed stock dilution, ensuring alignment with shareholders. All positions were acquired through private placements or market purchases, with the initial 2024 round priced at 15 cents.

Trifecta's inaugural 2025 drilling program at the Rye project delivered encouraging results. Six holes systematically tested different geological environments around a target intrusion located 14 kilometers from the North Canol Road. The first hole intersected 37 meters of over one gram per ton gold, while another hole encountered 1,400 grams per ton silver over two meters. Core samples showed vein densities comparable to or exceeding those at Banyan Gold's successful project, with the correct gold-bismuth-tellurium metal signature present in over 90% of samples.

The technical team brings targeted expertise. Moira Smith, who co-authored papers on intrusion-related systems and worked at Alaska's Pogo deposit, joined the advisory committee alongside Fred Graybeal, former ASARCO chief geologist. The company benefits from logistical support through Archer, Cathro & Associates, which has explored Yukon since 1965.

With $3 million in treasury, including $2 million in flow-through funds, Trifecta plans to mobilize in June for a July-September drilling campaign at Rye. Results are expected from September through year-end. Beyond Rye, the company controls nine additional untested properties in the belt, providing multiple discovery opportunities as it pursues what Drechsler describes as "front end of that LAN curve" value creation.

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Recording date: 16th March 2026

Marvel Biosciences is advancing MB-204, a first-in-class treatment for social withdrawal conditions across autism spectrum disorder, depression, and Alzheimer's disease. The clinical-stage biotechnology company targets an underserved therapeutic area affecting millions globally, with autism prevalence reaching one in 36 children in the United States and depression impacting one in eight adults currently on antidepressants. The addressable market spans hundreds of billions of dollars in healthcare costs and lost productivity.

The compound is based on a modified version of an approved Parkinson's medication, providing an established safety foundation for clinical development. Preclinical data demonstrates rapid symptom reversal within one hour of oral dosing in animal models. In head-to-head comparisons, MB-204 outperformed trofinetide, the only FDA-approved Rett syndrome treatment, across all measured behavioral endpoints. Critically, animals treated with MB-204 maintained improvements for two to three weeks after treatment cessation, suggesting semi-permanent neurological changes, while trofinetide benefits disappeared immediately upon stopping.

Marvel's clinical strategy prioritizes orphan disease indications, specifically Rett syndrome and Fragile X syndrome, where Phase 3 success rates exceed 50% due to genetically homogeneous patient populations and validated regulatory pathways. The company has completed manufacturing of clinical-grade material and toxicology studies, positioning MB-204 for immediate Phase 1 entry in Australia within six to twelve months. The Australian regulatory environment offers efficient processes and a 43% research tax credit that significantly reduces development costs.

Marvel holds composition of matter patents in China and Japan, with additional jurisdictions pending. The company has engaged in preliminary partnership discussions, aligning with neuroscience sector dynamics where approximately 70% of companies complete licensing or acquisition deals before Phase 2. Historical precedents show neuroscience acquisitions typically occur at valuations exceeding $80 million at this stage. Trading at $9 million CAD market capitalization, Marvel represents a significant discount to comparable Phase 1 neuroscience firms, with several peers valued between $100-400 million.

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Recording date: 13th March 2026

Gunnison Copper has released an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment for its flagship Arizona copper project, demonstrating $2 billion in after-tax net present value and positioning the asset as a prime acquisition target in North America's critical minerals sector. The study shows a 22.7% internal rate of return with $1.5 billion in capital requirements, representing a $700 million improvement in NPV over the company's previous assessment completed just 12 months earlier.

The project is designed to produce 80,000 metric tons of copper cathode annually over a 21-year mine life, generating $6-7 billion in cumulative free cash flow. The substantial NPV improvement stems primarily from operational and technical enhancements rather than commodity price assumptions, including the strategic integration of the high-grade Strong & Harris satellite deposit and incorporation of innovative mineral sorting technology.

Strong & Harris, located 3 kilometers from the main Gunnison pit, grades 0.8% copper—nearly three times typical Arizona operating grades—and added $190 million to NPV by leveraging shared infrastructure rather than operating as a standalone development. The company has also incorporated an on-site acid plant to eliminate dependency on volatile Mexican imports, contributing an additional $200-250 million to project value while providing competitive advantage.

CEO Stephen Twyerould was direct about the company's strategic path forward, stating the firm is "unlikely to build this thing" independently. Instead, management is focused on delivering a fully-permitted Preliminary Feasibility Study with reserves within 18-24 months to maximize shareholder value through a potential transaction. The company benefits from a streamlined state-level permitting process without federal nexus, leveraging existing permits that require only amendment.

Currently trading at a $220 million market capitalization—approximately one-third the valuation multiples of comparable Arizona copper developers—Gunnison represents what Twyerould describes as exceptionally rare: a mid-tier scale project approaching fully-permitted status in a tier-one jurisdiction with proven management execution capability.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/americas-gold-silver-tsxusa-new-usa-critical-minerals-hub-to-be-built-9246

Recording date: 13th March 2026

Americas Gold & Silver is executing an ambitious expansion strategy at its flagship Galena mine in Idaho, backed by what management argues is a significant valuation disconnect in the market. Trading at 0.7-0.85 times net asset value according to consensus analyst models, the company sits well below the peer group average of 1.5x NAV despite operating the world's third highest-grade primary silver mine.

The company recently announced its largest exploration program in history, comprising 64,000 meters of drilling primarily focused at Galena. Recent results have delivered impressive intercepts approaching 5 kilograms per ton of silver, accompanied by substantial copper and antimony byproducts. The program builds on two major 2025 discoveries, including the 34 vein which has expanded to a target of 6-7 million ounces.

Management's production goal centers on returning Galena to 5 million ounces annually, matching historical 2002 output levels. This target underpins a three-year operational transformation plan focused on modernization, equipment upgrades, and transitioning to more efficient mining methods. The strategy emphasizes dual objectives: increasing throughput while simultaneously improving grades through targeted drilling of high-grade zones.

Executive Vice President Oliver Turner emphasized the management team's proven track record, having previously scaled production from near-zero to 200,000 gold ounces annually at both Coeur Mining and Klondex using identical operational strategies. The team's execution capability represents a key differentiator as the company navigates its growth phase.

Strategic initiatives include a joint venture with US Antimony to construct an antimony processing facility at Galena, maximizing payability for critical mineral byproducts, and the acquisition of the nearby Crescent mine to generate operational synergies.

With $130 million in cash and a $50 million undrawn credit facility, all planned growth initiatives are fully funded without requiring additional capital raises. At current silver prices above $84 per ounce, the company generates robust operating cash flow while investing in production expansion.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cabral-gold-tsxvcbr-advancing-towards-q4-2026-production-8738

Recording date: 13th March 2026

Cabral Gold (TSXV:CBR) is developing a district-scale gold project in northern Brazil's Tapajós region through a strategic two-stage approach designed to fund exploration from operational cash flow rather than shareholder dilution. The company's Phase 1 heap leach operation, currently 54% complete with a capital cost of $37.7 million, targets gold production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

President and CEO Alan Carter emphasizes the project's economic advantages, with all-in production costs expected near $1,000 per ounce. At current gold prices above $5,000 per ounce, the modest 25,000-ounce annual production from Phase 1 should generate approximately $100 million in pre-tax cash flow—funding that will support aggressive district exploration without requiring additional equity raises.

The project benefits from unique geological characteristics, featuring 60 to 70 meters of weathered oxide material that requires no drilling, blasting, or conventional milling. This free-digging saprolite needs only cement addition for processing, dramatically reducing both capital and operating costs compared to traditional hard rock mining.

Recent developments have catalyzed investor interest. On March 10, 2026, Cabral secured the LP (preliminary mining license), representing Brazil's most critical permitting milestone after a process initiated in 2018. Two days later, the company announced exceptional drill results from the Jerimum Cima discovery: 9.5 meters at 87.4 grams per ton gold, including 2.9 meters at 285 grams per ton.

Jerimum Cima represents one of four new discoveries since 2022, expanding the deposit count from three to at least six within the district. The company's current 1.2 million ounce resource awaits updating later in 2026, while 50 additional untested targets remain across a 7-kilometer soil anomaly—seven times larger than nearby Tocantinzinho, Brazil's third-largest open-pit gold mine.

Carter notes the district's historical context: during the 1980s Tapajós gold rush, approximately 2 million ounces were extracted from placer workings at Cuiú Cuiú, with "the vast majority of that placer gold" remaining unexplained by current hard-rock discoveries.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/lafleur-minerals-cselflr-from-pea-to-production-a-12-month-gold-timeline-8402

Recording date: 10th March 2026

Lafleur Minerals (CSE: LFLR) is positioning itself as a near-term gold producer in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, targeting production by the end of 2026 through its Swanson deposit and Beacon Mill. The company's recently released Preliminary Economic Assessment demonstrates robust economics with a $101 million NPV and 65% internal rate of return at a conservative $2,750 per ounce gold price, while maintaining all-in sustaining costs of $1,569 per ounce over a seven-year mine life.

The project's accelerated timeline stems from significant existing infrastructure advantages. The Beacon Mill, recently refurbished and currently being recommissioned, has a nameplate capacity of 750 tonnes per day with near-term expansion potential to 1,250 tonnes per day. The Swanson deposit sits on an existing mining lease, substantially reducing permitting timelines that typically plague greenfield projects. With initial capital requirements of approximately $30 million Canadian, the company is evaluating multiple financing pathways including offtake agreements, equity raises, and potential merger scenarios.

Lafleur currently reports just over 200,000 ounces in combined indicated and inferred categories, representing a 30% increase from previous estimates. Management targets reaching one million ounces through depth extensions beyond the historical 350-meter drilling limit and advancement of satellite deposits including Bartec and Jolin. The company's drilling programs have identified continued mineralization between 350 and 500 meters depth, consistent with typical Abitibi geology.

Beyond standalone production, Lafleur is pursuing a hub-and-spoke model with Beacon serving as a regional processing center. As major producers have shifted focus toward feeding their own mills, third-party processing capacity has tightened across the district. This creates opportunity for mid-tier processors like Lafleur to capture value through custom milling while justifying future mill expansions to 3,000-4,000 tonnes per day. The strategy positions the company as both a producer and regional infrastructure provider in one of Canada's most prolific gold districts.

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Samuel Pelaez and Derek Macpherson of Olive Resource Capital recently discussed their strategic response to significant changes in the Arizona Sonoran Copper acquisition by Hudbay Minerals. The all-share transaction, announced at a $9.35 per share equivalent value, has declined to approximately $7.56 following broader market volatility triggered by Middle East geopolitical tensions.

The sharp decline stems from systematic deleveraging across financial markets. Macro hedge funds operating on leverage faced forced position reductions as volatility increased, creating indiscriminate selling pressure across asset classes regardless of individual company fundamentals. This market-wide movement particularly affected industrial sectors and copper producers, driving down Hudbay's stock price and consequently reducing the value of their offer to Arizona Sonoran shareholders by nearly 20%.

Rather than exiting the position as conventional wisdom might suggest following a merger announcement, Olive Resource Capital made the counterintuitive decision to increase their holdings. Their rationale centers on dual benefits: continued copper market exposure through the Hudbay share ratio, combined with a low but notable probability of a superior competing bid emerging. The firm estimates less than 10% odds of an alternative offer, which Pelaez characterizes as surprisingly high for friendly transactions.

The unusually tight merger arbitrage spread, trading within 1% of transaction value, provides key supporting evidence. This tight spread suggests market participants are pricing some probability of alternative bids rather than treating the Hudbay transaction as certain. The deteriorated deal economics create plausible scenarios where cash bids previously deemed insufficient could now represent superior value. A hypothetical $8.50 cash offer that appeared unattractive compared to the original $9.35 consideration now looks competitive against the current $7.56 equivalent.

This decision also reflects broader portfolio constraints. Olive Resource Capital seeks increased copper developer exposure as the next commodity bull market leg following gold, but faces limited high-conviction opportunities. The scarcity of quality copper development projects makes maintaining strategic sector allocation through Arizona Sonoran sensible despite the changed investment thesis post-announcement.

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Olive Resource Capital is off to a strong start in 2026, with the fund up approximately 25% year-to-date following an exceptional 160% return in 2025. The gains have been driven primarily by precious metals holdings, including positions in Omai, Arizona Sonoran, and West Point Gold. Two major portfolio exits have recently validated the fund's investment approach, even as geopolitical tensions introduce near-term volatility.

The fund's most significant development was the acquisition of Arizona Sonoran by Hudbay, announced during PDAC week in an all-stock deal valuing Arizona Sonoran at approximately $9.35 per share. Olive had followed the company since its private-stage days, building its position opportunistically over time. Management at Arizona Sonoran executed on every stated objective — maximising the resource and resolving the complex Nuton joint venture — ultimately clearing the path for Hudbay's offer and delivering a substantial multiple on the fund's cost basis.

The second exit involved Sailfish Royalties, where Olive realised approximately 4x returns after the company sold its Spring Valley royalty asset. With initial purchases around $1.00 per share and the stock trading near $4.40 following the announcement, the position generated roughly 400% returns over two years — a strong outcome for a lower-risk royalty investment.

The annual PDAC mining conference in Toronto drew approximately 42,000 registrants, an all-time high well above the historical range of 20,000–30,000. Beyond the headline numbers, fund managers Samuel Pelaez and Derek Macpherson noted the quality of emerging deal flow: genuinely new companies, freshly acquired projects, and existing stories advanced meaningfully by new exploration results — not simply recycled ideas repackaged for a stronger market.

Recent military actions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, combined with softer economic data from China and the U.S., have triggered a flight to liquidity that pulled mining equities down 10–15% across some positions. The fund had proactively raised cash ahead of the weakness using seasonal trading models and currently holds approximately 10% in cash, which it plans to deploy opportunistically into pullbacks.

Despite near-term uncertainty, Olive maintains a positive full-year outlook, anticipating a potential rotation into copper later in 2026 as commodity leadership evolves and actively searching for a replacement copper name following Arizona Sonoran's sale.

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Recording date: 5th of March 2026

Atlas Salt has commenced construction activities at its Great Atlantic Salt project in western Newfoundland, marking a significant milestone for what could become North America's first new salt mine in over 25 years. CEO Nolan Peterson outlined the company's development progress during the 2026 PDAC conference in Toronto, emphasizing both the advancement of physical construction and an aggressive financing campaign to capitalize on favorable market conditions.

The company has initiated a $100 million early works package approved by the Newfoundland government, with current activities including site clearing, ground preparation, and infrastructure development optimized for winter ground conditions. The roadmap for 2026 encompasses establishing site pads, road access, power infrastructure, and preparatory work for underground drift development. This early phase represents the first component of a $600 million CAD total capital program.

Atlas Salt is pursuing a financing structure targeting 60% debt from infrastructure banks, sovereign wealth funds, and export credit agencies, with the remaining 40% from equity investors. The company has engaged Endeavour Financial to structure the project financing package, while market interest has created opportunities to accelerate capital raising beyond original timelines. Peterson noted that heightened awareness of salt shortages has prompted earlier engagement from potential financial partners.

The project addresses documented supply constraints in North American deicing markets, where no new mine construction has occurred in a quarter-century. The Great Atlantic operation will shorten supply chains to key northeastern markets while offering stable, recession-proof cash flows over a projected 25-year mine life based on current reserves, with potential for an additional 50 years from identified resources.

The company benefits from an exceptionally supportive regulatory environment, having secured environmental assessment approval in just two months. With 100% battery-electric operations planned, the project positions as both an infrastructure solution and an environmental showcase. Peterson's focus on strategic partnerships and project de-risking suggests multiple near-term catalysts as the company advances toward production.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/astra-exploration-tsxvastr-high-grade-argentine-discovery-opens-in-multiple-dimensions-9016

Recording date: 5th March 2026

Astra Exploration (TSXV: ASTR) is a junior precious metals company with a focused two-country portfolio in Chile and Argentina, and a clear near-term strategy centred on its La Manchuria gold-silver project in Santa Cruz province. Following a strong PDAC 2026, the company is well positioned heading into what could be a transformational period of exploration.

La Manchuria is a low sulphidation epithermal system with a dual-target structure. Near surface, the company has confirmed an expanding bulk disseminated gold-silver system — one that has grown with every drill programme conducted to date. Deeper in the system lies the primary prize: a potential high-grade feeder zone, the kind of structure that drives the most significant epithermal discoveries in Patagonia. Astra has been methodically building toward testing that target, beginning with near-surface drilling to establish scale and validate the geological model before committing capital to deeper holes.

Two programmes have now been completed, totalling 7,500 metres across 36 holes. Of the 25 holes drilled in the second programme, 13 have been released with results. Twelve remain pending from the laboratory and are expected to be published by the end of March 2026. These represent a near-term, defined news pipeline that does not require the company to raise capital or commence new fieldwork to deliver.

The third programme — another 5,000 metres — is set to begin within approximately one month. Astra holds roughly $4 million in cash, sufficient to fund this programme in full. The budget was structured at the time of the company's $6.2 million raise to ensure exactly this kind of operational continuity. The third programme will begin to shift focus toward deeper targets, moving the company closer to the high-grade feeder discovery scenario that underpins its long-term investment case.

Argentina's operating environment has also improved significantly. Under President Milei's administration, permitting has accelerated and foreign investment capital is flowing into the country at a pace not seen in recent years. Santa Cruz province permits year-round drilling, removing the seasonal constraints that limit many other jurisdictions and enabling a consistent cadence of results throughout 2026.

Beyond Argentina, Astra holds two Chilean projects — Pampa Paciencia, adjacent to two operating copper mines, and a high sulphidation target in the active Maricunga belt — that provide strategic optionality without requiring meaningful near-term capital. Pre-drill work is planned at Cerobio in Chile in the coming weeks, with the potential to unlock value through partnership or joint venture as the belt attracts renewed attention following Chile's improved political backdrop.

For investors, the proposition is straightforward: a funded explorer with an expanding near-surface discovery, a high-grade feeder thesis yet to be tested at depth, a defined catalyst schedule across the next 60 to 90 days, and a macro tailwind from both gold prices and an improving Argentine investment climate. Astra enters the next phase of its programme with momentum, capital, and a story that is only beginning to register with the wider market.

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Recording date: 5th of March 2025

Prince Silver Corp is advancing a historic Nevada silver mine toward a maiden resource estimate, with new leadership targeting a substantial 100 million ounce silver equivalent milestone within months. The company represents an early-stage exploration opportunity in one of North America's premier mining jurisdictions, underpinned by a significant historical dataset and recent unexpected discoveries.

Derek Iwanaka, who assumed the CEO role three months ago, brings a proven track record from BeMetals, First Mining Gold, and Uranerz Energy. His previous companies have grown to substantial valuations, with First Mining approaching a billion-dollar market cap and Energy Fuels now worth approximately $5 billion following its acquisition of Uranerz.

The Prince project operated as a producing mine from 1912 to 1949 before shutting down when silver prices fell to $0.79 per ounce. Prince Silver acquired the asset in 2025 and immediately commenced drilling below the historical workings. The results have revealed significant gold mineralization that was neither previously mined nor documented in exploration records, adding an unexpected value component beyond the silver-focused thesis.

Management is pursuing an aggressive timeline, targeting a resource estimate by July 2026 with a fallback to Q4. The strategy leverages 130 historical drill holes from previous operators, allowing the company to accelerate development by several years compared to typical greenfield exploration. With $8 million in cash, Prince Silver has adequate capital to complete its current 9,000-meter drilling program plus an additional phase if required.

The company currently trades at a market capitalization below $40 million, representing a significant discount to peers with similar resource sizes that typically command valuations exceeding $100 million. This valuation gap suggests potential for substantial rerating upon successful delivery of the resource estimate.

The Nevada location provides critical advantages, including streamlined permitting processes and potential fast-track treatment due to the presence of federally designated critical minerals. Nine drill holes are expected to be announced within weeks, providing near-term validation of the investment thesis ahead of the formal resource calculation.

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Recording date: 5th of March 2026

Globex Mining Enterprises is executing a distinctive strategy in the resource sector, operating as a royalty generator that creates its own revenue streams through counter-cyclical property acquisitions. With 107 royalties across 270 mineral assets, the company is transitioning from opportunistic project generator to established royalty company as multiple properties advance toward production.

President and COO David Christie articulates the company's approach: acquiring undervalued properties during commodity downturns, developing them through exploration, and selling to operators while retaining royalty interests. The antimony properties in New Brunswick exemplify this strategy—acquired when the metal received minimal investor attention, these assets now benefit from heightened strategic interest as they advance toward production.

Globex's financial position distinguishes it from typical junior resource companies. The firm holds over $40 million in cash and securities, split evenly between liquid cash and equity positions in senior producers including Eldorado Gold, Pan American Silver, and Alamos Gold. This balance sheet strength, combined with approximately $5 million in annual revenue from option payments and advance royalties, eliminates dilution pressure and provides strategic flexibility.

The company maintains a commodity-agnostic portfolio spanning precious metals (50%), base metals (25%), and specialty commodities (25%) including manganese, fluorspar, and rare earths. Over 300,000 meters of drilling are planned across Globex properties this year, primarily funded by option partners, including 140,000 meters at the O'Brien project and 250,000 meters at Cadillac.

Multiple production catalysts are emerging within a 1-5 year timeframe. Bell Mountain heap leach gold operation targets late 2026 production, while Mont Sorcier iron ore project advances toward feasibility study completion in summer 2026. New Brunswick antimony-gold and manganese projects are progressing rapidly toward development.

With only 56 million shares outstanding and no rollbacks since its 1987 founding, Globex has demonstrated disciplined capital management. As royalty cash flows materialize, the company maintains optionality for acquisitions, asset spin-outs, or potential acquisition by larger royalty consolidators seeking growth and commodity diversification.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/capitan-silver-tsxvcapt-60000m-drill-blitz-targets-20km-mexican-silver-system-in-2026-9013

Recording date: 5th of March 2026

Capitan Silver Corp is executing an aggressive exploration strategy at its Cruz de Plata project in Durango, Mexico, following a transformative 2025 that repositioned the company from dormancy to active development with institutional backing and expanded geological understanding.

The company's resurgence began when Jupiter Gold and Silver Fund led a financing round at a 30% premium to market—a rare achievement for junior miners—providing capital to restart operations. CEO Alberto Orozco explained that management deliberately waited for favorable market conditions and the right institutional partner rather than advancing exploration during a weak silver market.

The second critical catalyst was acquiring surrounding land from Fresnillo, which fundamentally changed the project's geological interpretation. What initially appeared to be a silver vein evolved into a complete mineral system, tripling high-grade silver structure targets from 7 kilometers to over 21 kilometers of cumulative strike length. The expanded land package revealed consistent surface expressions of mineralization around an intrusive body, supported by early geophysical data.

Capitan Silver employed a strategic drilling approach focused on capital efficiency, using shallow reverse circulation drilling to maximize drill holes and data density rather than expensive deep holes. This methodology delivered high-resolution geological understanding, identified continuity along strike, and discovered new high-grade zones while maintaining budget discipline.

For 2026, the company launched a 60,000-meter drill program, ramping from one rig to four with continuous operation. The expanded campaign will test depth extensions of known zones and evaluate new targets across the consolidated property, aiming to demonstrate the scale potential of what management describes as a rare, high-grade silver system.

A distinguishing factor is management's operational pedigree. The core team previously built and operated three mines on time and on budget at Argonaut Gold in the same Mexican region, bringing mine-building expertise to an exploration-stage company. This experience informs their evaluation of Cruz de Plata's development feasibility, considering the project's easy access, nearby infrastructure, and favorable topography alongside its geological merit.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mogotes-metals-tsxvmog-26m-treasury-funds-drilling-in-one-of-worlds-largest-copper-discoveries-7941

Recording date: 4th March 2026

Mogotes Metals entered 2026 as an exploration company ready to drill. After three years and approximately C$25 million spent building geochemical, geophysical, and geological datasets across its Filo Sur project in Argentina's Vicuña district, the company now has three rigs operating along the same structural corridor that hosts Filo del Sol — the deposit that its joint venture owners describe as the largest copper discovery in 30 years.

The drilling programme targets 6,000–8,000 metres this austral summer season across multiple ranked and permitted targets, with approximately 3,000 metres already completed. The season budget is approximately C$20 million, funded from a C$55 million treasury. That treasury was built with the participation of two strategically significant investors: CD Capital, a London-based fund that previously made approximately 15 times its money investing in Filo del Sol, and the Braun family of Argentina, a family office with direct regional knowledge. CD Capital's Carmel Daniele has joined the Mogotes board — the same role she held at Filo del Sol.

The geological case rests on the north-south structural belt that connects Filo del Sol, Altar, Valeriano, and now Filo Sur. Mogotes holds the full strike projection of Filo del Sol's known mineralisation. The geophysical programme identified multiple high-chargeability, low-resistivity anomalies consistent with the subsurface signatures that defined the early drilling success at Filo del Sol and Valeriano. These are the targets now being drilled. CEO Alan Sabet has been measured in framing expectations — proximity to a tier-one discovery does not guarantee replication — but the technical approach mirrors the methodology that worked at comparable deposits across the Andes.

The company's second announcement at PDAC 2026 was the option agreement on a copper-gold asset in Kazakhstan. The asset hosts an historic resource of approximately six million gold-equivalent ounces, with mineralisation beginning at approximately 40 metres depth and remaining open at depth and laterally. Drilling costs run at approximately US$80 per metre — a fraction of typical Andean costs — and the permitting environment supports a mining licence application within six months.

For Mogotes, the strategic logic is clear. Filo Sur is a seasonal operation confined to the austral summer. Kazakhstan can be drilled year-round and provides continuous news flow during the months when Andean operations are dormant. It also provides a second value creation pathway: integrating existing unincorporated drilling data into a new resource estimate, step-out and depth drilling, and testing a separate porphyry target with potential high-grade gold.

For investors, the near-term calendar is defined. Filo Sur drill results are expected in May and June 2026, representing the first direct geological test of the project's multi-year dataset. Kazakhstan work will begin in parallel, providing additional news flow through the second half of the year. The company enters this period with a well-funded treasury, institutional validation from directly comparable capital, and a disciplined deployment plan that preserves follow-up capacity regardless of what the first drill holes return.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/chesapeake-gold-tsxvckg-proprietary-oxidation-process-could-help-unlock-15t-in-stranded-gold-6963

Recording date: 4th March 2026

Chesapeake Gold Corp. is advancing Metates, one of the world's largest undeveloped precious metals deposits, through a proprietary oxidative leach technology that has solved a four-decade metallurgical challenge while slashing capital requirements by 90%.

The Metates deposit in Mexico hosts over 500 million ounces of silver (ranked first globally) and 19 million ounces of gold (18th globally). Discovered in 1980, the project's refractory ore—where precious metals are locked within sulfide minerals resistant to conventional processing—prevented successful development by multiple major mining companies despite decades of attempts.

Chesapeake's breakthrough came through acquiring and advancing oxidative leach technology originally developed at Hycroft over nearly a decade with $50 million in combined investment. The technology operates at ambient temperature in heap leach pads, eliminating the need for expensive autoclaves, extensive water infrastructure, and on-site power generation.

The economic transformation is dramatic. Chesapeake's initial 2016 prefeasibility study using conventional pressure oxidation envisioned a $3.5 billion capital expenditure for a 90,000 ton-per-day operation requiring a desalination plant, water pipelines, and power plant. The oxidative leach approach reduces capex to $360 million for a 15,000 ton-per-day starter operation while improving gold recovery from 33% to 74% and silver recovery from 35% to 50%. Phase 3 testing shows further improvements, with results expected in Q1-Q2 2026.

Beyond Metates, Chesapeake is pursuing a technology licensing strategy targeting 200+ identified refractory deposits globally. Three companies are currently conducting amenability testing, with results expected within two months. These third-party implementations serve dual purposes: validating the technology at operating sites ahead of Metates development while creating revenue potential through royalties or equity positions.

Mexico's regulatory environment has improved significantly under President Sheinbaum, with two-thirds of 170 backlogged permits resolved. The prefeasibility study for Metates is underway, with completion dependent on regulatory progress rather than remaining technical uncertainties.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cobra-resources-lsecobr-targeting-low-cost-rare-earths-through-isr-extraction-9181

Recording date: 6th March 2026
Cobra Resources has reported a strong start to drilling at the Manahill Copper Project in South Australia, delivering wide, high-grade copper intersections that materially strengthen the exploration case for a potentially significant porphyry-related system. For investors, the early results suggest the project could host both near-surface economic mineralisation and the potential for a larger copper system at depth.

The drilling program followed Cobra’s option agreement over the Manahill project signed in mid-2025. Initial exploration began with geophysical work, including induced polarisation (IP) surveys designed to identify sulphide-rich zones associated with porphyry copper systems. Based on these targets, the company completed an 18-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program, with the first four holes now reported.

Two standout intersections were returned from the same drilling transect. The first hole intersected 74 metres grading just over 1% copper with approximately 0.25 g/t gold, while another returned 84 metres of copper mineralisation with associated gold. Importantly, these are thick mineralised zones interpreted to represent a true mineralised width of roughly 70 metres. Such broad intercepts are considered highly encouraging at this stage of exploration because they suggest the presence of a substantial mineralised body rather than narrow vein systems.

The mineralisation occurs from shallow depths, beginning only tens of metres below surface. This is significant from a potential development perspective, as shallow mineralisation can support lower strip ratios and improve the economics of future open-pit mining scenarios. Historical drilling in the area had already identified oxide copper mineralisation, including intersections such as 48 metres grading 2.2% copper with gold credits, but the latest drilling confirms that the mineralisation continues into the deeper primary sulphide zone.

This distinction is important because oxide copper can often be processed using relatively low-cost heap leaching, while deeper sulphide mineralisation is typically processed through conventional flotation circuits. A project containing both zones can benefit from a phased development approach—starting with lower-capex oxide production before transitioning to sulphide processing as the operation expands.

Geologically, Cobra believes the mineralisation may represent a skarn-style system linked to a larger porphyry copper intrusion. Evidence supporting this model includes the presence of intrusive rocks such as quartz monzonite and diorite dykes intersected in drilling. In addition, the company has identified molybdenum mineralisation, with standalone intersections up to 10–12 metres grading around 0.1% molybdenum. Molybdenum is commonly associated with fertile porphyry systems and may act as a vector toward the core of a larger copper deposit.

The broader exploration footprint also supports the potential scale of the system. Cobra has already identified approximately 1.6 kilometres of mineralised strike length and mineralisation extending 300–400 metres vertically. Based on the mineralised widths and grades encountered so far, management estimates that the currently intersected zone alone could host around 500,000 tonnes of contained copper metal if continuity is confirmed.

Importantly, Manahill appears to be part of a larger porphyry province, and Cobra has several additional targets across the project area. These include Netley Hill, where a previous drill hole intersected 350 metres grading 0.1% copper from surface, suggesting the possibility of large-scale bulk-tonnage mineralisation. Another target, Annabella, also shows promising geological indicators.

Cobra still has results pending from the remaining 14 holes in the current drilling program, which will help refine the geological model and guide the next phase of drilling. The company already holds permits for 29 additional RC holes and three diamond holes, allowing it to quickly follow up on the discovery and test deeper targets.

For investors, the key next steps will be confirming the scale and continuity of the mineralised system. If drilling continues to deliver similar widths and grades, Manahill could evolve into a multi-million-tonne copper system within a highly favourable mining jurisdiction.
—

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Recording date: 4th March 2026

Visionary Copper & Gold is focused on unlocking the value of Point Leamington, a polymetallic VMS deposit in Newfoundland, Canada, that holds over 20 million tonnes of gold, silver, copper, and zinc mineralisation and has seen no modern exploration since 2004. The company's current Phase 1 drilling programme is delivering early results that management believes confirm the deposit's potential to grow significantly from its existing resource base.

The deposit's existing pit-constrained resource contains approximately 500,000 ounces of gold, 8 million ounces of silver, 170 million pounds of copper, and 700 million pounds of zinc. Gold currently accounts for approximately 55% of contained metal value. However, the most consequential development from recent drilling is not within the known resource but within the footwall beneath it.

Visionary has confirmed a new copper zone, named Kraken, in the footwall to Point Leamington's main massive sulphide lens. This type of structure is a defining characteristic of the world's largest VMS deposits. At Ming in Newfoundland, a copper stringer zone sits below the main lens. At Flin Flon Bay in Manitoba, the copper-rich footwall accompanies a zinc-dominant main horizon. The first Kraken hole returned a 76-metre interval at 0.45% copper and a second intersection of 23 metres at 1.5% copper which are consistent with the early-stage definition of footwall zones that have materially expanded comparable systems.

Alongside the Kraken results, the company has extended the confirmed strike length of Point Leamington to over one kilometre. This is an important structural distinction. Most large VMS systems — including Ming, Lalor, and 777 in Manitoba — have strike extents of 200 to 250 metres, with their tonnage coming primarily from depth. The small number of VMS systems with significantly longer strike extents, such as Kidd Creek and Flin Flon, have produced some of the largest total resource outcomes globally. Point Leamington's confirmed kilometre-plus strike places it in this rarer category.

The development plan for 2026 is clear and sequenced. Phase 1 drilling will continue stepping out around the Kraken intersection. Phase 2 will follow after ground conditions improve, targeting resource upgrades and further Kraken delineation. A two-phase metallurgical programme will collect data to support economic studies, and the company is targeting an updated resource estimate and a preliminary economic assessment within the year.

Beyond Newfoundland, Visionary holds the Rainbow/Pine Bay copper asset in Manitoba. An advanced exploration permit application is currently under review, and an Environmental Act licence for full-scale production is being prepared. The asset sits within trucking distance of three concentrators and approximately 30 minutes from a rail line linked to Canada's proposed Churchill port export corridor — a route that has attracted attention from federal and provincial governments in the context of critical mineral supply chain security.

The entire Eastern Canada portfolio was assembled in 2016 for $1.1 million. With gold above $3,000 per ounce and structural copper deficits widening, Visionary is positioned at an early stage of what could be a significant resource expansion cycle at one of Canada's most overlooked large-scale VMS systems.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/geiger-energy-tsxvbeep-strategic-merger-positions-dual-basin-uranium-explorer-across-canada-8116

Recording date: 4th of March 2026

Geiger Energy is positioning itself for potential district-scale uranium discovery in Canada's underexplored Thelon Basin, executing a focused exploration strategy under CEO Dr. Rebecca Hunter's experienced leadership. Following a merger of Forum Energy Metals and Baselode Energy backed by the Ore Group, the company has consolidated its efforts on two flagship projects: the Aberdeen property in the Thelon Basin and the Hook project in Saskatchewan.

Dr. Hunter brings significant credibility to the venture, having worked on Cameco's exploration team during the previous uranium boom and examined multiple world-class deposits including McArthur, Cigar, Dawn Lake, and Fox Lake. Her geological expertise centers on recognizing subtle alteration signatures in blind uranium deposits—a critical skill in frontier exploration where deposits lack surface expression.

The company is currently deploying its $7 million treasury across both projects. At Hook in Saskatchewan, two drill rigs are operating with a $2.5 million budget, testing for resource expansion near existing mineralization. The flagship Aberdeen program will commence in June with a planned 10,000+ meter drilling campaign focused on the Loki target, where recent drilling intersected intense alteration across the entire sandstone column—similar to signatures seen above world-class Athabasca Basin deposits.

Geiger achieved a significant technical milestone by intersecting uranium at the unconformity for the first time in the northeast Thelon Basin. While grades of 100-200 ppm remain sub-economic, this validates the geological model and confirms uranium-bearing hydrothermal systems are present. The next critical step is discovering high-grade mineralization over significant widths, which would fundamentally alter perceptions of the Thelon's potential.

The investment thesis rests on first-mover positioning in an underexplored district with geological similarities to the Athabasca Basin, experienced technical leadership, and significant upside leverage. As Dr. Hunter noted, "The big deposits will be found there new ones big ones shallow ones." With sustained newsflow expected throughout 2026 and backing from the Ore Group, Geiger represents exposure to frontier uranium discovery during a favorable macro environment driven by energy security and emerging nuclear demand from AI infrastructure.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/valore-metals-tsxvvo-platinum-palladium-project-advances-to-economic-study-9203

Recording date: 4th March 2026

ValOre Metals is at a defining moment in its evolution from exploration company to project developer. The company's flagship asset, the Pedra Branca PGE project in Ceará state, Brazil, hosts a 2.2 million ounce inferred resource at 1.08 grams per tonne, a resource of genuine scale in a metal category that faces structural supply constraints and growing strategic demand. For the first time, ValOre is now putting the economic framework around that resource through a comprehensive PEA programme targeted for publication by year-end 2025.

The project's most distinctive feature is its development approach to the shallow, weathered upper ore body. Rather than applying conventional flotation which performs poorly on oxidised material, ValOre is developing a bioleaching process in partnership with the University of Cape Town's Department of Chemical Engineering. This technique, in which microorganisms are used to extract metals from ore, is industrially proven in copper and increasingly used in refractory gold, but has not previously been applied to a PGE deposit. Phase 1 lab-scale trials have delivered metal recoveries consistently in the high 70s percentage range, and the company has secured exclusive global rights to the jointly developed intellectual property.

The implications are significant. The weathered zone accounts for roughly one-third of the total resource ounce count and sits at surface, meaning it can be mined simply and cheaply. A low-cost processing route applied to near-surface material creates the possibility of a viable early-stage operation that generates revenue and validates the process without requiring the capital commitment of a full-scale mine build. Under Brazilian mining law, a trial mining permit enables exactly this kind of phased approach, allowing the company to construct a demonstration plant targeting 10,000 to 15,000 ounces of platinum and palladium per year as a precursor to industrial-scale production of 150,000 to 200,000 ounces annually.

The PEA, with a budget of approximately $4 million, is the bridge between the current exploration narrative and an investment-grade development story. It will address mining method, processing economics, capital and operating costs, and route to market for both the weathered and fresh sulphide ore bodies. Engineering consultancy Lycopodium is leading the technical work. Until the PEA is published, investors have lacked a valuation framework for Pedra Branca. Publication changes that and represents a credible re-rating catalyst.

Management has taken additional steps to sharpen the investment case. The divestiture of legacy Hatchet uranium properties to Future Fuels removes a non-core distraction and concentrates the company entirely on PGE development. CEO Nick Smart brings direct in-country experience, having spent approximately six years building the Barro Alto nickel mine in Brazil for Anglo American. Brazil itself is actively positioning as a destination for critical minerals investment, with strong government and industry representation at PDAC 2026 underscoring the macro tailwind.

The near-term catalysts are clear: bioleaching column test results, PEA publication, and trial mining permit application progress. For investors willing to engage with early-stage development risk, ValOre offers a large resource, proprietary technology, and a credible pathway to production in a jurisdiction that is increasingly attractive to Western capital.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/i-80-gold-tsxiau-500m-secured-to-advance-development-plan-9289

Recording date: 4th March 2026

i-80 Gold Corp. has reached the most consequential milestone in its development history. After an extended period during which the scale and complexity of the company's Nevada asset package generated uncertainty in parts of the investment community, i-80 has closed a major financing round with institutional participation including royalty major Franco-Nevada and issued a full notice to proceed to Hatch Engineering on the $430 million Lone Tree autoclave refurbishment. The company is now in execution mode.

The Lone Tree facility is a formerly operating autoclave plant, originally developed by Newmont, that requires refurbishment rather than construction from scratch. That distinction matters. i-80 is working with established infrastructure, proven technology, and a team that includes personnel who have previously operated this specific autoclave. The feasibility study underpinning the project is classified at Level 2/3, one of the most detailed engineering standards available, providing a high degree of confidence in both the capital estimate and the construction schedule. First gold pour is targeted for end of December 2027, with a production ramp-up to 150,000–160,000 ounces per year in Q1 2028.

At $3,000 per ounce gold, i-80 estimates net annual cash flow from Lone Tree of $150–200 million. With spot gold prices currently trading above that modelling assumption, the economics are materially stronger than the base case and the margin advantage compounds as gold prices rise, given the largely fixed cost structure of autoclave processing.

Beyond Lone Tree, i-80 is deploying approximately $80 million in drilling across its Nevada portfolio in 2026. At Ruby Underground, infill drilling is advancing resources toward measured and indicated status ahead of a future feasibility study. At Granite Creek, a drilling campaign has recently concluded — extended due to continued mineralisation discovery — with feasibility results expected in Q2 2026. At Mineral Point, the programme targets conversion of a resource base that already contains 3 million ounces measured and indicated and 2 million ounces inferred, supporting a prefeasibility study in early 2027 and eventual open pit production currently estimated for 2032.

The company's three-phase production roadmap — Lone Tree, followed by Mineral Point and Granite Creek open pits — targets aggregate annual output of 500,000–600,000 ounces, firmly within mid-tier producer territory. Each phase carries its own timeline and permitting requirements, but the financing now in place is specifically structured to accelerate the Mineral Point schedule by one to two years through earlier drilling and EIS process initiation.

Franco-Nevada's participation in the financing, following a competitive due diligence process, provides third-party institutional validation of the asset quality. For investors assessing i-80 at this stage, the primary investment question has shifted. The debate is no longer whether the company can raise the capital — it has. The focus now is on execution: construction progress at Lone Tree, resource conversion milestones, and the pace at which the subsequent phases can be advanced toward production.

For investors seeking leveraged exposure to gold through a Nevada-based developer with a funded near-term production catalyst and a credible multi-phase growth plan, i-80 Gold presents a materially different risk profile today than it did twelve months ago.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/alkane-resources-asxalk-cash-rich-debt-free-and-positioned-for-major-growth-8556

Recording date: 4th of March 2025

Alkane Resources has emerged as a compelling mid-tier gold producer following its successful merger with Mandalay, operating three producing mines across Australia and Sweden with a market capitalisation of A$2.2 billion. The company is currently generating approximately A$200 million in annual net cash flow after all capital expenditures, creating what management views as a significant valuation disconnect relative to peers with similar cash flow profiles.

The flagship Tomingley operation in Australia produces around 80,000 ounces annually, supported by a seven-year reserve base with substantial extension potential. The McLeans deposit contains several hundred thousand ounces, while the Roswell Western Monzodiorite lens offers potential for more than 100,000 additional ounces. Management is targeting reserve life extension beyond ten years through systematic exploration along the mineralised corridor.

The company's most significant growth asset is the Boda-Kaiser copper-gold project, containing 15 million equivalent ounces with 10 million in the indicated category. The project would produce approximately 160,000 ounces of gold and 35,000 tons of copper annually, equivalent to a 250,000-300,000 ounce gold producer. Management has outlined a pragmatic permitting timeline extending through 2030 for a final investment decision, with first production targeted for the early-to-mid 2030s.

Beyond organic growth, Alkane actively pursues acquisitions in the 80,000-120,000 ounce production range, targeting assets trading at lower price-to-net asset value multiples. The management team applies rigorous due diligence reflecting their combined 25-30+ years of industry experience, scrutinising water supply, geotechnical conditions, permitting pathways, and execution risks that are often inadequately addressed in promotional project studies.

Near-term catalysts include potential ASX 200 index inclusion, market education on the combined entity's consistent cash generation, and valuation re-rating as institutional investors recognise the sustainability of current cash flows. The board continues evaluating capital return options if gold prices remain elevated and acquisition opportunities prove expensive, though disciplined M&A remains the preferred growth pathway.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/amex-exploration-tsxvamx-dual-track-growth-near-term-gold-output-big-exploration-8677

Recording date: 4th of March 2026

Amex Exploration is executing a strategic transition from exploration to commercial gold production at its extensive land package in Quebec's Abitibi Greenstone belt. President and CEO Victor Cantore outlined an accelerated development timeline centered on an imminent bulk sample permit expected in March 2026, which will trigger immediate construction activities and position the company for first gold production in the third quarter of 2027.

The company has structured its advancement through three distinct development phases designed to mitigate both financial and technical risk. This phased approach leverages the project's high-grade mineralization of approximately 10 grams per ton on a fully diluted basis, combined with its strategic location within established mining infrastructure. The bulk sample phase will yield an estimated 20,000 to 23,000 ounces before transitioning seamlessly into phase one commercial production targeting over 100,000 ounces annually by 2028.

Amex maintains a strong financial position with approximately $30 million in treasury following a $37.4 million financing. The bulk sample carries an estimated cost of $40 million, though $20 to $25 million represents infrastructure directly applicable to phase one production. Cantore emphasized that pre-production revenue of $68 million combined with bulk sample proceeds will substantially cover the phase one capital requirement of $146 million, creating a capital-efficient development pathway.

The preliminary assessment demonstrates compelling economics with all-in sustaining costs projected at $1,165 per ounce against current gold prices exceeding $5,000 per ounce. Processing optionality through multiple mill operators strengthens the company's negotiating position while high grades ensure favorable transportation economics.

Beyond production development, Amex secured an exploration agreement with First Nations on the Ontario side of its land package in early March 2026, unlocking additional prospective terrain. Mining engineers have identified what Cantore described as a "mirror image" of the Quebec mineralization, suggesting significant expansion potential. Management maintains a dual-track strategy advancing both production and exploration while remaining positioned for strategic alternatives that maximize shareholder value in an active merger and acquisition environment.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/kuya-silver-kuya-buy-cheap-sell-high-silver-developer-717

Recording date: 3rd March 2026

Kuya Silver (TSXV:KUYA) is a silver producer operating the Bethania Silver Mine in central Peru, and it is approaching one of the most consequential periods in its short history. The company has production underway, a mill acquisition closing imminently, a fully funded balance sheet, and an exploration programme just getting started. 

Kuya began processing silver concentrate through the Camila toll mill in late 2024. In January 2026, the company announced it would acquire Camila outright for approximately $9 million including planned improvements, closing expected before the end of March. Owning the facility eliminates third-party processing fees, reduces operational risk, provides access to lower-cost hydro-grid power, and creates an opportunity to generate third-party processing revenue from smaller regional miners. The logistics are already in place as Camila sits on the route between the mine and the export port, meaning nothing about the physical operation changes at closing, only the economics.

Following the acquisition and approximately $3 million in additional near-term capital expenditure  covering underground drilling and a new mine ramp, Kuya expects to hold roughly $12–15 million on its balance sheet. With production scaling and costs now more firmly under the company's control, management does not anticipate requiring further equity financing in the near term. That is a meaningful statement for a company of this size.

The growth optionality behind the production story is substantial. Kuya has expanded its land position from the original 45-hectare Bethania mine property to approximately 4,500 hectares. Surface prospecting has already identified six additional silver vein systems within a five-kilometre radius of the mine. Underground drilling is targeting a 50-metre-at-a-time extension of the existing resource, with an estimated one million ounces of silver potentially added per 10 metres drilled. A surface drill rig is expected to be mobilised in Q3 2026, with a second potentially following before year-end. The stated three-year target is 100 million ounces of silver would represent a transformation of the company's resource base and market profile.

Longer term, Kuya's vision is to operate two 350-tonne-per-day processing facilities (Camila and a future permitted plant at Bethania) producing approximately three million ounces of silver per year by 2028. Both facilities are either owned or permitted. The capital to build the Bethania plant is expected to come from operating cash flow rather than equity markets.

The re-rating catalyst is the first profitable quarter, which management expects within one to two reporting periods. At current silver prices, that quarter may land with more force than many investors currently anticipate. Companies of Kuya's profile, once they demonstrate sustained cash generation, have historically attracted a different class of investor and a different valuation framework. That transition appears imminent.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/abcourt-mines-tsxvabi-cash-flow-in-sight-with-sleeping-giant-ramp-flordin-drills-8693

Recording date: 4th March 2026

Abcourt Mines (TSXV:ABI) is one of the few junior mining companies to have made the full transition from developer to profitable gold producer in the current cycle. Operating the 100%-owned Sleeping Giant mine and mill in Quebec's Abitibi region, the company recorded its first gold sales in September 2025 and delivered 837 ounces in Q4 2025 which enough to generate a profit from operations. That alone sets Abcourt apart from the majority of junior miners at a comparable stage.

The investment case is centred on a single, clearly quantifiable opportunity: the Sleeping Giant mill is running at less than 20% of its nameplate capacity of 800 tonnes per day. The infrastructure is built, commissioned, and performing at over 96% gold recovery. The constraint is not technology or capital, it is underground mining capacity, which is a workforce and development challenge the company is actively and systematically addressing.

CEO Pascal Hamelin has set a near-term target of 10,000 tonnes per month by autumn 2026, representing approximately 2,500 ounces monthly and the threshold for strong free cash flow generation. Phase 1 of the production plan targets 30,000 ounces per year by late 2026 or early 2027. The ultimate vision is 800 tonnes per day and 50,000 ounces per year — achievable without any major new capital expenditure, given the mill is already sized for that output.

To unlock that capacity, Abcourt is building an on-site sleep camp to resolve a longstanding workforce retention problem caused by long commutes in northern Quebec winters. Phase 2 of the camp (36 rooms) arrives by end of March 2026 and Phase 3 (37 rooms) is due by June 2026. Alongside this, a formal training programme with Val-d'Or's mining school is bringing new miners into the operation on a weekly basis. These are not peripheral initiatives — they are the direct operational enablers of the throughput ramp.

The financial structure is also worth noting. Glencore refinanced Abcourt's start-up debt from 16% to 7%, providing a $30 million facility with interest-only payments in year one and principal repayments beginning February 2027. Glencore also holds the offtake on gold and silver production and a right of first participation in future financings. For a junior producer, this level of institutional backing is unusual and meaningful.

Management credibility is underscored by insider ownership of approximately 37% — built through years of equity participation alongside external shareholders, not through compensation schemes. Officers and directors have genuine skin in the game.

Beyond Sleeping Giant, the company holds 14 additional projects including a zinc-silver polymetallic asset at Abcourt-Barvue, a 5 g/t gold resource at Discovery, and multiple tailings assets being assessed for critical mineral content. These are not currently priced into the market's valuation of the company.

For investors evaluating junior gold producers, Abcourt offers a rare combination: proven profitability, a clear and executable growth pathway, institutional validation, and a portfolio of assets that provide upside optionality without requiring additional capital deployment in the near term.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/purepoint-uranium-tsxvptu-6m-premium-raise-isoenergy-backing-boosts-dorado-expansion-8234

Recording date: 4th of March 2026

Purepoint Uranium has established a distinctive position in uranium exploration through strategic partnerships with industry majors, enabling systematic discovery work across Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin while minimizing shareholder dilution. The company operates 9-10 projects primarily through joint ventures with Cameco, Orano, and IsoEnergy, earning operator fees while maintaining meaningful equity participation.

The partnership model allows Purepoint to deploy significantly more capital than traditional junior explorers. CEO Chris Frostad explained the company can "put $5, $10, $15 million in the ground" while paying only its proportionate share and earning fees for project management. This structure proved critical during uranium's downturn, providing capital continuity when many peers struggled to maintain operations.

Purepoint's portfolio includes three principal holdings: 27% of Smart Lake alongside Cameco, 21% of Hook Lake with Cameco and Orano, and a 50-50 partnership with IsoEnergy covering consolidated mine trend properties. The Hook Lake project hosts the Spitfire discovery, a 15-20 million pound deposit that remains below major producer development thresholds but validates the geological potential.

Recent success centers on the Nova Discovery at the Dorado project with IsoEnergy. Summer 2025 drilling intersected high-grade mineralisation across four holes testing five-six distinct targets. A 4,500-meter winter program resumed in January 2026, with results expected throughout the year as the company systematically expands understanding of the mineralized system.

Capital deployment is accelerating as major partners demonstrate increased urgency. Purepoint expects to deploy approximately $8 million in 2026, potentially doubling to $16 million in 2027. This reflects broader industry dynamics as producers respond to tightening supply fundamentals, highlighted by Cameco's 22 million pound contract to India while western utilities remain passive in securing long-term supply.

Frostad characterized the investment opportunity succinctly: "Uranium is not a cycle anymore. This is a get-rich slow thing now, which is fine as part of your portfolio." The methodical, partner-aligned approach prioritizes systematic value creation over headline-driven drilling campaigns.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/energy-fuels-nyseuuuu-advancing-rare-earth-integration-with-asm-acquisition-9151

Recording date: 4th March 2026

Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE:UUUU) is one of the most strategically distinctive companies in the critical minerals space. While most Western rare earth ventures address a fragment of the supply chain, Energy Fuels has spent five years assembling a vertically integrated operation that spans the full value chain: from heavy mineral sands in Australia and Madagascar, monazite processing at its White Mesa Mill in Utah, to separated rare earth oxides, and following the acquisition of Australian Strategic Materials. No other Western company has assembled this complete a picture.

The relevance of that distinction has never been greater. China controls an estimated 85–90% of global rare earth processing capacity, and Western governments, particularly the United States and Australia, have identified this dependency as a critical strategic vulnerability. Policy support, government financing programmes, and demand from original equipment manufacturers seeking non-Chinese supply are all converging to create the market that Energy Fuels has been building toward.

The company's rare earth strategy is technically differentiated in an important way. By processing monazite rather than bastnäsite, Energy Fuels produces both light and heavy rare earth elements. Heavy rare earths, particularly dysprosium and terbium, are essential for the high-performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defence systems. This positions Energy Fuels in a part of the market where supply scarcity is most acute and strategic urgency is highest.

Near-term, uranium is the business. Energy Fuels is guiding for up to 2.5 million pounds of uranium production (the highest of any US-based producer) at competitive costs, against a backdrop of firming uranium prices driven by a structural global supply deficit. This uranium revenue stream funds the rare earth build-out without requiring the company to dilute aggressively or rely entirely on external capital markets.

On the financing front, the picture has changed materially. A Goldman Sachs-arranged convertible note, completed at just 0.75% interest in under one week, has pushed deployable capital to nearly $1 billion. The company's total build-out requirement is estimated at $2 billion, a figure that seemed ambitious 18 months ago but is now regarded by management, and increasingly by investors, as achievable through a combination of capital markets access, offtake agreements with floor price structures, and potential government support from the US and Australian governments.

The two flagship projects: the Phase Two rare earth expansion at White Mesa, and the Vera heavy mineral sands project in Madagascar to carry a combined NPV of close to $4 billion and a combined EBITDA potential of $800–$900 million per year at steady-state. Full rare earth revenues are targeted from 2028–2030, making this a medium-to-long-term investment thesis.

For investors with a 3–5 year horizon and conviction in the structural ex-China critical minerals demand story, Energy Fuels offers a rare combination: a producing uranium business generating real revenues today, and a rare earth platform with genuine scale, technical depth, and improving financial visibility. The build-out is complex and multi-year, but the pieces finally are falling into place.

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Recording date: 3rd of March 2026

Carolina Rush Corporation is exploring the historic Brewer gold mine in South Carolina through a strategic partnership with Oceana Gold, positioning itself at the forefront of renewed interest in America's original gold rush region. The company has established a maiden resource of 500,000 ounces of gold through 36 drill holes at the past-producing Brewer property, which operated as an oxide heap leach operation before being abandoned in the 1990s.

The partnership with Oceana Gold, a $12 billion mining company operating the adjacent Haile mine just 15 minutes away, provides Carolina Rush with a free-carried path to testing the property's deep porphyry copper-gold potential. Under the earn-in agreement, Oceana can acquire 80% of the project by spending $20 million over five years, with $8 million required in the first two years to earn 50%. Carolina Rush serves as operator during the initial phase, earning management fees while preserving its 20% interest without capital requirements.

CEO Layton Croft, who previously worked on the world-class Oyu Tolgoi project with Robert Friedland and Ivanhoe Mines, believes the near-surface resource could expand to one or two million ounces with additional drilling. However, the primary target is the deep porphyry system, which the US Geological Survey identified as early as the 1970s. "If we can prove that this is a porphyry and it's proven to be mineralised and economic, I think what we've done is we've cracked the code on the southeast," Croft stated.

The company commenced drilling three commitment holes in January 2026, with assay results expected in the coming months. Whether Oceana continues funding beyond the minimum commitment will serve as a key catalyst for investors. Beyond Brewer, Carolina Rush maintains a proprietary database of southeastern US prospects and is pursuing additional projects through partnerships, leveraging its regional expertise in an underexplored, pro-mining jurisdiction.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mtm-critical-metals-asxmtm-pioneering-us-domestic-metal-recovery-breakthrough-nears-production-7146

Recording date: 3rd of March 2026

Metallium Ltd is advancing from technology development to commercial operations with a proprietary flash thermal heating process designed to recover high-value metals from electronic waste. The company's Houston demonstration facility represents a critical transition point, with over 25 personnel currently commissioning the site for commercial-scale operations on printed circuit boards.

The facility strategy centres on direct conversion from demonstration to cash-generating commercial business, targeting initial capacity of 8,000 tons per annum with plans to double to 16,000 tons within twelve months. This approach distinguishes Metallium from development-stage projects requiring extended capital cycles before revenue generation. The company has secured binding feed stock agreements with Glencore covering one-third of initial capacity, with similar agreements pending for two additional suppliers to ensure full supply security.

Metallium's competitive advantage lies in feed stock economics. Targeting approximately 200 grams per ton gold equivalent from printed circuit boards—orders of magnitude higher than conventional mining operations—the company projects operating margins between 25-35% at commercial scale. Current operations process pre-shredded PCB material containing gold, silver, palladium, tin, and copper, with approximately 50% of US-origin material currently exported to China for processing.

The expansion strategy encompasses four sites across Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Florida, targeting combined capacity of 80,000 tons annually. This translates to approximately 320,000 gold equivalent ounces, positioning Metallium as a potential top-ten gold producer on the Australian Securities Exchange through recycling operations rather than traditional mining.

Beyond PCB processing, the company develops parallel revenue streams including gallium and germanium recovery through partnership with Indium Corporation, rare earth applications, and licensing arrangements for mining sector applications. Strategic alignment with US critical minerals priorities positions Metallium for government grant support, with applications pending at the Department of Defense and Department of Energy. Management targets a NASDAQ listing in Q3/Q4 2026 to access institutional capital and improve market positioning.

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Recording date: 3rd of March 2026

Summit Royalties has emerged as a new entrant in the precious metals royalty sector, building a 47-asset portfolio in just four months while achieving cash flow positivity from inception. The company executed three major transactions between May and September 2025, acquiring portfolios from IAMGold for $17.5 million, completing a reverse takeover with Eagle Royalties, and purchasing the Madsen royalty from Sprott. In total, Summit raised approximately $23 million USD while maintaining a disciplined capital structure that has never issued warrants, a rarity among junior resource companies.

The company currently generates revenue from three producing assets. The Madsen mine in Ontario holds a 1% net smelter return royalty yielding approximately 500 ounces of gold annually from a high-grade operation guiding for 50,000 ounces in 2025. Summit also holds a 50% silver stream on Orezone at no ongoing cost, receiving a minimum of 37,500 ounces annually as the mine expands from 120,000 to 250,000 ounces of gold production. The third asset, Zancudo, is installing a mill in Q3 2026 to increase production capacity. Notably, all three producing assets are currently expanding operations and reserves.

Summit operates with only two full-time employees who have collectively completed $2 billion in royalty transactions over the past decade. CEO Drew Clark previously executed 27 of 32 deals at Metalla Royalty, while VP Connor Pugliese comes from Triple Flag where he executed half a billion dollars in streaming transactions. Management and directors own 15% of the company, aligning incentives with shareholders.

Trading at approximately $85 million USD market capitalisation and 0.75-0.8x net asset value, Summit represents a significant discount to peers trading above 1.2x NAV. The stock has appreciated from $0.90 to $1.60 per share in less than four months. Management targets scaling to $10 million in annual revenue and $200-300 million market capitalisation through accretive portfolio acquisitions, positioning Summit to unlock institutional investor access and valuation re-rating as the company crosses critical size thresholds in the consolidating precious metals royalty sector.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/f3-uranium-tsxvfuu-tetra-zone-discovery-advances-with-20m-financing-8639

Recording date: 3rd March 2026

F3 Uranium Corp. (TSXV:FUU) is a focused Athabasca Basin uranium explorer with a credible asset base, a fully funded exploration program, and a management team actively working to resolve the structural issue limiting its share price: it is too small to attract the institutional capital its asset quality arguably deserves.

The company's JR Zone maiden resource of approximately 11 million pounds of uranium at 12% U₃O₈ is a material achievement. Grades at that level are exceptional by any standard in the Athabasca Basin, which already hosts the world's highest-grade uranium mines. The JR Zone also sits 25 kilometres from established milling infrastructure, meaning any future development pathway would not require construction of standalone processing facilities. A major operator has already approached F3 about applying a selective extraction method to the deposit, which underscores the project's practical viability even at its current modest scale.

The 2025 exploration focus has shifted to the Tetra target, a newly identified conductor system on the same property. F3's team identified this system after prior operators walked away, having missed a large conductor obscured by a mudstone flare. Early drilling has confirmed two high-grade uranium intersections 15 metres apart, and the conductor extends at least 1.4 kilometres with room to grow. With 90% of the $12 million drill budget directed at Tetra and only one hole completed to date, investors are essentially looking at an early-stage discovery in progress. The Athabasca-style mineralisation is notoriously difficult to follow, and misses are common but so is the upside if the system proves to be large.

F3's financial position reduces one of the more common risks for small-cap exploration companies. With $22 million in cash and no requirement to raise additional capital in 2026, the company can execute its program on its own terms. In a market where junior uranium equities have struggled to attract financing, this is a meaningful competitive advantage.

The more pressing strategic challenge is scale. Several uranium-focused ETFs have set minimum market capitalisation thresholds that exclude F3, and the resulting selling pressure was visible in the sector in late 2025. CEO Dev Randhawa acknowledged this directly and is actively pursuing consolidation options, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and dual-listing in jurisdictions such as Australia, where comparable assets may trade at higher valuations. Three separate M&A discussions were underway at PDAC 2026.

The macro environment provides a supportive backdrop. Big technology companies are now direct participants in the nuclear energy market, securing power purchase agreements for reactor output to fuel AI data centre infrastructure. This adds a demand vector for uranium that sits outside traditional utility procurement cycles and is largely insensitive to short-term spot price volatility.
For investors, F3 presents a combination of a defined, high-grade asset, an active early-stage discovery drill program, and a management team with both the technical credentials and the strategic intent to grow. The near-term catalysts are Tetra drill results and any announced corporate transaction. Both warrant close attention in 2026.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mining-royalty-sector-explodes-with-massive-consolidation-fresh-capital-7469

Recording date: 3rd March 2026

Electric Royalties Ltd. is a clean energy metals royalty company with a portfolio of 43 royalties across copper, graphite, lithium, tin, manganese, zinc, and nickel. At a current market capitalisation of under C$20 million, the company is valued at a significant discount to the royalty sector — both relative to early-stage peers with one or two royalties trading above $200 million, and to mid-tier royalty platforms trading well above $1 billion. For investors with a multi-year time horizon, this disconnect between current pricing and the underlying portfolio's development trajectory is the central element of the investment case.

The company operates with a deliberately lean cost structure with annual G&A is approximately $1 million. One producing royalty at the Punitaqui copper-gold mine in Chile, backed by the Yorktown Group's $3.2 billion private equity platform, is expected to generate over $500,000 in revenue this year, with a near-term target of $1 million. This means the company is approaching cash flow self-sufficiency from a single asset, leaving the remaining 42 royalties to contribute upside without the overhead burden that would typically accompany a portfolio of this scale.

The next two to five years represent the key inflection window. Four royalties in particular stand out as near-term production candidates. Mont Sorcier, an iron-vanadium project in Quebec partnered with Glencore and backed by $500 million in UK Export and Import Bank financing, has a feasibility study due in Q2 2026 and a projected 40-plus-year mine life. Management estimates it could add US $1 million to $1.5 million annually in royalties alone. Bissett Creek, a graphite project operated by Northern Graphite with Canadian government funding, is targeting production at four times its original scale, with 70 years of resources at the prior production rate. The Zonia copper project in Arizona, now the sole focus of Edge Copper, has doubled its resource to one billion pounds of copper and is moving toward a feasibility study. Seymour Lake, a lithium project, has secured a $100 million Canadian government letter of intent and is targeting production within two to three years. Each of these royalties entering production would individually add eight times or more of current annual revenue.

A structural advantage underpins the company's acquisition strategy. Private equity funds dedicated to clean energy metals typically require deal sizes above $15 million, leaving the majority of royalty opportunities accessible only to smaller, more flexible platforms like Electric Royalties. This has allowed the company to build its portfolio at entry costs that are now difficult to replicate, with some royalties acquired for $150,000 to $200,000 on projects that have since had $50 million to $100 million invested by operators.

Strategic M&A is under active consideration as a complementary growth path. Combining portfolios with another royalty company would diversify revenues and spread fixed costs across a broader asset base. With over 50% of shares held by management and their families, the company is protected from hostile approaches while remaining a willing participant in value-accretive consolidation. For investors, the combination of a deeply discounted entry valuation, a near-term production catalyst funnel, government capital backing key assets, and M&A optionality represents an unusual convergence of risk-adjusted return potential in the critical minerals sector.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/quebec-gold-explorers-target-resource-growth-in-infrastructure-rich-mining-district-8326

Recording date: 3rd March 2026

Radisson Mining Resources is one of the more straightforward stories in junior gold right now: a deposit that is growing materially, in a world-class jurisdiction, with a management team that has built mines before and knows what it is doing. The company's O'Brien Gold Project in Quebec's Abitibi region delivered an 82% increase in inferred resources at PDAC 2026, lifting combined indicated and inferred resources from 1.5 million to 2.3 million ounces. That headline number is significant on its own. What makes it more significant is the context: Radisson has completed only 25% of its current 140,000-metre drill program.

The strategy behind that number is deliberate. Rather than incrementally converting existing inferred resources to indicated through infill drilling, management opted 15 months ago to test the full scale of the system through large stepouts drilling hundreds of metres beyond the known resource boundary and below the historic O'Brien mine for the first time. The 84% drill hole success rate on those stepouts, well above the 50–75% industry norm for infill work, tells investors that this is not a speculative land position. It is a geologically predictable system that keeps delivering where the model says it should.

CEO Matt Manson has guided consistently toward a 3 to 4 million ounce deposit. With 75% of the program still ahead, that target appears increasingly credible. More importantly, Manson has been clear that the company is not fairly valued at current prices and is not in the market for a premature transaction. The current program is about establishing what O'Brien is worth before any corporate conversation takes a deliberate and disciplined approach that is relatively rare at the junior end of the market.

From a development perspective, the project carries structural advantages that most junior gold assets do not. O'Brien sits directly on Highway 117 in the Abitibi region, surrounded by active mines with operating mills and available processing capacity. The economics of building a standalone mill in this environment simply do not make sense when third-party processing options exist nearby. This reduces the capital burden significantly and shortens the path from deposit to cash flow.

There is additional optionality in the historic O'Brien shaft, which extends to one kilometre depth on the property. The shaft is currently flooded and carries no formal liability for Radisson, but the company is quietly conducting engineering and environmental work to assess whether it can be rehabilitated. A functioning shaft would enable a more capital-efficient bottom-up mine construction approach and could support production rates of up to 2,000 tonnes per day.

The board brings nine combined mine builds across three directors, which is meaningful at this stage of a project's life. The team understands the development pathway and has been through it multiple times. For investors, Radisson in 2026 offers a clear value trajectory: a growing resource, staged catalysts through sequential resource updates, infrastructure-rich jurisdiction, and a management team with the track record and patience to realize full value.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/revival-gold-tsxvrgv-undervalued-investment-series-with-hugh-agro-9318

Recording date: 3rd of March 2026

Revival Gold has announced significant drill results from the South Mercur area of its Utah-based Mercur project, intersecting over 4 grams per ton gold across 25 meters with favorable leachability characteristics. The results mark the first holes from this newly consolidated portion of the 7,200-hectare property, which includes ground previously operated separately by Homestake and never coordinated with adjacent historic Mercur operations.

The discovery comes as Revival Gold executes a detailed development timeline targeting 2029 production of approximately 100,000 ounces annually from its heap leach operation. The company has outlined a comprehensive 2026 work program including 16,000 meters of drilling, baseline studies across biological, cultural, and hydrological domains, and engineering work advancing toward pre-feasibility study (PFS) completion in early 2027.

Mercur's current economic assessment demonstrates compelling returns, with $750 million in after-tax net present value at $3,000 gold, rising to $1.2 billion at $4,000 gold. At a 57% internal rate of return, the project would generate approximately $350 million in annual free cash flow at current gold prices above $5,000 per ounce, establishing it as Utah's largest gold producer.

The project benefits from rare brownfield advantages including location entirely on private land, existing power and water infrastructure, and extensive historical data from previous operations. These factors reduce both capital intensity and permitting risks compared to typical greenfield developments or projects on public lands.

Despite these attributes, Revival Gold trades at approximately 0.15x net asset value, with analyst price targets two to three times current levels. CEO Hugh Agro attributes the discount to development-stage risk perception, expecting multiple re-rating as the company demonstrates execution through 2026-2027 milestones.

Beyond Mercur, the company's 4.6 million ounce Beartrack-Arnett project in Idaho provides additional portfolio value, with two drill rigs currently testing high-grade underground potential. The dual-asset strategy offers exploration upside while maintaining focus on Mercur's path to production, backed by institutional support from EMR Capital, Konwave, and Dundee.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsxvnfg-getting-to-revenue-quickly-efficiently-9431

Recording date: 2nd of March 2026

New Found Gold has announced a major financing milestone with the signing of a term sheet for up to $75 million USD in debt financing, positioning the company to fast-track development of its flagship Queensway Gold project in Newfoundland, Canada. The financing addresses a critical component of the company's strategy to reach commercial production by the end of 2027.

The debt facility covers approximately two-thirds of the estimated $155 million Canadian Phase 1 capital expenditure for Queensway. CEO Keith Boyle emphasized the favorable terms secured through a competitive process, noting the two-year duration with an optional six-month extension aligns perfectly with the company's accelerated development timeline. The financing will fund long-lead equipment orders, early construction works, and detailed engineering activities essential to maintaining project momentum.

Queensway's economic proposition centers on robust production targets and competitive cost structures. The preliminary economic assessment projects average annual production of 69,000 ounces over four years, with potential for 100,000 ounces annually during initial high-grade production years. With all-in sustaining costs estimated at $1,300 per ounce, the project could generate approximately $400 million Canadian in free cash flow at current gold prices.

The company benefits significantly from existing regional infrastructure, particularly the permitted Pine Cove Mill that will process Queensway material. This infrastructure advantage substantially reduces capital requirements and permitting complexity compared to greenfield developments. Additionally, New Found Gold's Hammerdown operation is ramping to steady-state production in the first half of 2026, providing near-term cash generation and operational validation during Queensway construction.

Environmental permitting represents the next critical milestone, with the company expecting to submit its assessment application in April 2026. Management anticipates an expedited approval process similar to recent regional precedents, where environmental assessments have been completed in as little as 45 days. The convergence of secured financing, advancing permitting, and operational readiness positions New Found Gold to execute its development strategy and transition into a significant gold producer with substantial cash generation capacity.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/vista-gold-nysevgz-mt-todd-redesign-cuts-capex-59-to-425m-unlocks-22b-npv-8050

Recording date: 2nd March 2026

Vista Gold Corp (NYSE:VGZ) is one of the most straightforward re-rating stories in the junior gold sector. The company owns the Mount Todd Gold Project in Australia's Northern Territory — one of the country's largest undeveloped gold deposits — and is executing a structured plan to reach detailed engineering commencement in 2027 and first gold production approximately 27 months thereafter.

The investment case begins with a valuation gap that is both large and quantifiable. Vista Gold currently trades at approximately US$350 million. By comparison, the lowest-valued junior Australian gold producer — a company generating less than 150,000 ounces per year, which is the same production rate Mount Todd targets — carries a market capitalisation of approximately $1 billion. Higher-performing peers such as Capricorn Metals, producing 120,000 to 150,000 ounces annually, trade at valuations approaching $8 billion. The re-rating that accompanies the transition from developer to producer is the primary mechanism through which Vista Gold expects to create shareholder value.

The feasibility study, completed in 2025, rightsized the project from its previous 50,000 tonne-per-day design to 15,000 tonnes per day, cutting capital costs by 59% and meaningfully reducing financing risk. Crucially, the study was modelled on a conservative $2,500 per ounce gold price. With spot gold now well above that assumption, the project's economics — and the payback period on construction debt, estimated at approximately 18 months at current prices — have improved materially without any change to the base case.

The company is currently executing three parallel workstreams to advance the project toward a construction decision: modifying permits to reflect the updated project design, building an eight-to-ten person executive team in Perth to manage development and operations, and completing supplementary metallurgical and geotechnical studies. A geotechnical program, set to begin within weeks, could support steepening of the west pit wall, further improving economics by reducing the strip ratio.

Financing momentum is building. A $39 million raise, upsized to approximately $44.8 million via overallotment, was oversubscribed approximately 2-to-1 by institutional investors across the US and Canada. The construction financing stack is expected to combine conventional bank debt, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund, a potential streaming arrangement with Wheaton Precious Metals, and an equity component. The project is estimated to support a debt ratio of 60–65% of total capital, and the company is also evaluating an ASX listing to broaden its investor base.

Expansion optionality adds a further dimension. Mount Todd has been designed to allow scaling to 22,500, 30,000, or 45,000 tonnes per day, making it a credible strategic target for mid-tier and senior producers seeking large ounce additions. That optionality, combined with the project's location in a tier-one Australian jurisdiction, underpins M&A interest alongside the organic development pathway.

For investors, the near-term catalysts are clear: Northern Territory permit grants, geotechnical results, federal authorisation, and a construction financing mandate. Each represents a discrete milestone with the potential to narrow the gap between Vista Gold's current developer valuation and the producer multiples it is targeting.

View Vista Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/vista-gold-corporation

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cassiar-gold-tsxvgldc-updated-23m-oz-project-fast-tracked-by-existing-infrastructure-8018

Recording date: 2nd March 2026

Cassiar Gold (TSXV:GLDC) is a pre-production junior gold company with a materially different risk profile to most of its peers at an equivalent stage of development. The project, located in northeastern British Columbia, benefits from over $100 million in pre-existing infrastructure including an operating mill, a camp, a core shack, an active tailings pond, and 170 kilometres of road acquired by the company for approximately $1 million worth of Cassiar shares. That infrastructure advantage has allowed the company to direct capital toward resource development, producing a current mineral resource of approximately 2.5 million ounces across two distinct geological zones.

The project's chairman is Steve Letwin, who served as president and CEO of IAMGOLD from 2010 to 2020 and oversaw the development of the Côté Gold mine in Ontario, including securing a $450 million strategic investment from Japan's Sumitomo Corporation. Letwin holds over 7 million shares and has not sold a single one, representing meaningful alignment with retail and institutional investors. He is now applying the same development logic to Cassiar that he used at Côté: build the case, demonstrate the path to cash flow, and bring in a strategic partner with the balance sheet to accelerate development.

The near-term strategy centres on Cassiar South, a high-grade narrow-vein system that historically produced at grades of 15–20 g/t. The existing mill is currently being refurbished by an engaged specialist firm, with metallurgical work running in parallel and completion expected within the current quarter. The mill is being optimised for Cassiar South feed at approximately 200 tonnes per day which is a scale Letwin argues generates compelling economics at current gold prices near $5,300 per ounce, with the refurbishment cost characterised as a rounding error relative to projected revenue.

A Preliminary Economic Assessment targeting August 2025 will formalise the economics across three project components: Cassiar South high-grade mining, tailings reprocessing, and the longer-dated Cassiar North bulk tonnage open-pit scenario approximately one kilometre from the mill. Together, these represent a staged, self-funding development model in which early cash flow from Cassiar South finances further vein drilling and eventually supports the capital case for Cassiar North reducing ongoing dilution for shareholders.

Key de-risking factors already in place include a live operating permit, direct highway access, settled First Nations agreements including a 0.8% NSR impact benefit agreement, a friendly BC jurisdiction, and a 59,000-hectare permitted land package with comprehensive road coverage. These are the same boxes Letwin ticked at Côté before Sumitomo committed capital, and they are the attributes he is now presenting to prospective strategic partners at Cassiar.

The principal risks are execution-related: mill refurbishment timeline, metallurgical outcomes, PEA results, and the terms and timing of any strategic deal. Investors should treat the August 2026 PEA as the next material de-risking milestone and monitor the strategic partnership process as the potential step-change catalyst for the company's valuation.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/kodiak-copper-tsxvkdk-maiden-resource-hits-24b-lbs-to-show-potential-8750

Recording date: 2nd of March 2026

Kodiak Copper Corp. is positioning for significant growth after releasing its maiden resource estimate at the MPD copper-gold project in southern British Columbia in December 2025. Speaking at the PDAC conference in Toronto, President and CEO Claudia Tornquist and Founder and Chairman Christopher Taylor outlined an aggressive expansion strategy designed to double the resource base while maintaining capital discipline.

The initial resource estimate totals 440 million tons of mineralisation containing 2.4 billion pounds of copper and 1.7 million ounces of gold across indicated and inferred categories. This follows seven years of district consolidation and over 90,000 meters of drilling, incorporating significant historical data from previous operators.

Management characterised the resource as "a starting point not a finish line," emphasising substantial expansion potential. The company plans a sizable drill program in 2026 focused on systematic infill drilling and testing high-priority extensions. With 70,000 meters of historical exploration drilling creating defined gaps in the resource, management expressed confidence in substantially growing tonnage within 12 months, with an updated resource estimate expected in Q1 2027.

The strategy comes as copper sector consolidation accelerates. Hudbay Minerals' recent acquisition of Arizona Sonoran Copper at a 30% premium represents the first material transaction involving a non-producing copper company, validating strategic interest in earlier-stage assets as majors seek to secure future supply amid electrification-driven demand growth.

Tornquist explained that demonstrating the project can reach approximately 880 million tons would bring Kodiak into the size range of more advanced peers such as Faraday Copper, Cisco Metals, and Northisle, which trade at multiples of Kodiak's current valuation. Beyond resource expansion at known zones, the company has identified over 20 additional exploration targets across the MPD property, offering substantial discovery upside.

With $56 million raised to date and only 96 million shares outstanding, Kodiak has maintained relatively low dilution while advancing the project, positioning the company for increased institutional participation as it transitions from explorer to developer status.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/kodiak-copper-corp

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/grid-metals-tsxvgrdm-fast-tracking-potential-on-lithium-nickel-copper-projects-5444

Recording date: 2nd of March 2026

Grid Metals Corp is advancing one of the world's rarest mineral opportunities—a cesium deposit in Manitoba, Canada, targeting production by 2027 in a market dominated by Chinese suppliers and constrained by extreme geological scarcity.

The company has identified what CEO Robin Dunbar describes as one of only six cesium deposits ever discovered globally. With just three historically reaching production and only three new discoveries emerging despite intensive lithium exploration over the past five years, cesium's rarity drives premium pricing in a concentrated $400 million annual market where Chinese entities control 85% of supply.

Grid Metals' development strategy diverges sharply from conventional mining economics. The shallow deposit, located 20-40 meters below surface, enables low-cost open-pit extraction of 50,000-100,000 tons of material. Processing relies on simple crush-and-sort technology using XRT optical sorting—eliminating the need for complex milling, tailings facilities, and environmental infrastructure that typically delay projects for years and require hundreds of millions in capital.

The company has drilled approximately 100 holes with grades reaching 20-30% cesium oxide content. Based on prior discussions with nearby processor Tanco, concentrate could fetch $6,000-$9,000 per ton, potentially generating $30-100 million from an initial pit—representing 3-4 times Grid Metals' current $30 million market capitalization.

Cesium applications span high-value sectors including drilling fluids for oil and gas wells, atomic clocks for military guidance systems, medical imaging, and emerging perovskite solar technology that increases photovoltaic efficiency by 25%. Supply constraints have historically limited adoption, creating latent demand that new supply could unlock.

Grid Metals benefits from a critical timing advantage. Major competitor Power Metals' billion-dollar lithium-cesium project won't reach final investment decision until 2027, providing a 5-7 year market window. The company also maintains portfolio optionality through a 7-million-ton lithium deposit and a base metals joint venture with Teck Resources containing over $2 billion in ground metal value, providing diversified pathways to value realization.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/dryden-gold-tsxvdry-11m-exploration-budget-funds-32000m-program-in-high-grade-gold-district-9261

Recording date: 2nd March 2026

Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV:DRY) is one of the more technically coherent high-grade gold exploration stories in the Canadian junior sector. The company holds an 80,000-hectare land package in northwestern Ontario, hosts mineralisation grading up to 53,700 grams per tonne gold, and is advancing a fully funded 32,000-metre drill programme in 2026 aimed at building the discovery footprint toward a future multi-million ounce resource.

The company's primary focus is the Gold Rock target area, which has undergone a material transformation in the two years since systematic exploration began. At the outset, geologists had mapped three mineralised structures within the target. That count has now reached 15 parallel structures, with two separate drill holes separated by 500 metres of strike confirming the same structural inventory at each intersection. That spatial consistency is a meaningful geological signal: it suggests the system is not a series of isolated occurrences but a laterally continuous mineralised corridor with repeating, predictable architecture.

The most recent drilling also extended the Big Master system, a secondary gold structure within Gold Rock, to a true depth of 460 metres, more than four times its previously drilled vertical extent. This depth extension effectively doubles the size of that target and introduces a meaningful question about the system's behaviour at depth, which the 2026 programme is well-positioned to begin answering.

The company's broader geological model, the "string of pearls" thesis, holds that the 20-kilometre Gold Rock trend will ultimately host multiple discrete deposits, each analogous to the individual mines that define the Red Lake gold camp. The Mud Lake discovery last summer, which displays a geological footprint consistent with the Gold Rock target area, provides early validation of this model. Two further anomalies on the same trend remain untested and will be drilled in 2026.

A property-wide soil geochemistry programme has added a further dimension to the targeting picture. The results align with the structural model, with the most pronounced anomalies occurring at the intersections the geological team had already identified as highest priority. The Hyndman target on the eastern side of the property is an emerging area of interest, with soil data indicating that initial drill holes tested only a fraction of the anomalous system.

From a capital structure perspective, Dryden Gold is differentiated by its lean operating model. There is no corporate office; management and technical staff are based on-site in Dryden. Approximately 80% of all capital raised has been deployed directly into exploration. Centerra Gold holds a 9.9% strategic stake, providing third-party validation of the geological thesis without creating near-term dilution pressure.

Management has been explicit about deferring a resource estimate until sufficient discovery footprint has been established to support a resource at institutional scale. The 2026 field season with 32,000 metres of funded drilling across multiple high-priority targets represents the most significant exploration period in the company's history to date, and the results will be the primary driver of value through the year.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/heliostar-metals-tsxvhstr-self-funding-path-from-40k-to-300k-ounces-by-2030-8846

Recording date: 2nd March 2026

Heliostar Metals is one of the more clearly defined growth stories in the emerging mid-tier gold space. The company is producing approximately 50,000 ounces of gold per year from its La Colorada mine in Mexico and is on a stated path to 300,000 ounces annually by the end of the decade. That growth is to be funded through internal cash flow, without reliance on the equity markets — a commitment management describes with increasing conviction as gold prices remain elevated.

The investment case centers on Ana Paula, the company's flagship development asset. A PEA outlined a project capable of producing 100,000 ounces per year over a nine-year mine life at an all-in sustaining cost of approximately $1,000 per ounce. At that cost profile, Ana Paula would rank in the lowest decile of the global gold cost curve, generating substantial free cash flow across a wide range of gold price scenarios. The company is now progressing directly to a full feasibility study, expected in H1 2026, which will serve as the basis for a construction decision. First production is targeted for H2 2028.

The geometry of the Ana Paula orebody underpins its economics. Rather than a series of narrow veins requiring extensive underground development, the deposit hosts a wide mineralised breccia flooded with high-grade gold, allowing meaningful ore access with relatively limited lateral development. The high-grade zone grades approximately 5,000 ounces per vertical metre — one of the highest density metrics of any underground gold project globally. Drilling has also confirmed that high-grade mineralisation continues at depth, opening the possibility of expanding Ana Paula beyond its current mine plan toward a potential tier-one scale asset.

Beyond Ana Paula, the growth roadmap layers in Cerro del Gallo as a third mine, funded by Ana Paula cash flow and targeted to add another 100,000 ounces per year before the end of the decade. La Colorada continues to provide near-term production stability, with the Veta Madre open pit cutback and subsequent Creston pit extending mine life and sustaining cash generation through the Ana Paula development period.

The company has also been tidying its portfolio, recently divesting a package of non-core early-stage exploration assets that did not fit the growth pipeline. Underground decline development at Ana Paula is being restarted in H2 2026, providing tangible operational momentum well ahead of the feasibility study and construction decision.

On the capital structure side, Heliostar's share register is now approximately 50% institutional. Generalist funds are beginning to participate, viewing the company as a preferred vehicle for gold growth exposure. The re-rating from developer to producer multiple — which management expects to begin as Ana Paula advances through feasibility — is the key valuation catalyst for current investors.

Heliostar's Q1 2026 cash flow results, Ana Paula's feasibility study release, and the progress of project finance conversations in mid-2026 are the primary milestones investors should monitor in the near term. The company has built a credible platform. Execution is now the determining factor.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/maple-gold-mines-tsxvmgm-undervalued-investment-series-with-kiran-patankar-9201

Recording date: 1st March 2026

Maple Gold Mines enters 2026 at an operational and financial inflection point. The company is executing a 30,000-metre drill program, more than double its 2025 output, across two Quebec gold projects, Douay and Joutel, with three rigs turning around the clock in the Abitibi greenstone belt. The program is fully funded by a $30 million treasury, built through a disciplined series of financings at progressively higher share prices. There is no near-term capital requirement, which removes a significant source of uncertainty for investors assessing a junior explorer in a volatile market.

The central investment argument for Maple Gold rests on a gap that is both quantifiable and actionable. Douay's existing NI 43-101 resource of approximately 3 million ounces was last updated in 2022 at a US$1,800 gold price and was constructed from drilling across just 6 of 55 kilometres of strike length the company controls. Douay has seen approximately 275,000 metres in total. The exploration upside that implies is not speculative; it is a function of metres drilled relative to geological scale.

Agnico Eagle's presence as a joint venture partner and strategic shareholder matters beyond its symbolic value. It reflects the assessment of a major producer with direct operating experience in the Abitibi that Douay is a district-scale asset worth a long-term commitment. That endorsement supports both the geological thesis and the eventual range of commercial outcomes, from standalone development to strategic consolidation.

The 2026 agenda is structured around converting exploration momentum into economic credibility. A resource update incorporating all post-2022 drilling and built on a geologically driven block model will provide a restated ounce count at current gold prices, giving the market a fresh basis on which to assess the per-ounce valuation gap relative to peers. That update will be followed by a preliminary economic study, the first formal analysis of what an operation at Douay-Joutel might look like. CEO Kieran Patankar has been explicit that the study will present a realistic starter scenario such as a 5,000-tonne-per-day operation rather than an optimal but unfinanceable mega-project, keeping the analysis credible and actionable for Maple Gold's current market capitalisation of approximately C$200 million.

Joutel, the past-producing high-grade component of the portfolio, adds a blending and grade-optionality dimension that the economics study will need to address. Early drilling results already indicate that mineralisation extends well beyond historical mine workings, and 32 of 39 completed holes are yet to be released, providing a near-term catalyst pipeline throughout the year.
For investors, the combination of a funded multi-year drill program, a deeply under-explored Tier 1 asset, institutional backing from one of the world's leading gold producers, and a clear 2026 de-risking roadmap makes Maple Gold one of the more compelling risk-reward propositions currently available in the junior gold exploration space. The resource update and economic study are the milestones to watch.

View Maple Gold Mines' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/maple-gold-mines-ltd

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/first-mining-gold-tsxff-5moz-springpole-targets-q1q2-2026-federal-ea-decision-in-canada-8689

Recording date: 2nd of March 2026

First Mining Gold is advancing two of Canada's largest undeveloped gold projects toward production at a time when unprecedented commodity prices are transforming development economics across the mining sector. CEO Dan Wilton, speaking at the 2026 PDAC convention, outlined how the company's flagship Springpole project in Ontario is approaching a critical inflection point with environmental assessment approval expected in Q2 2026.

At current gold prices of $5,400 per ounce, Springpole's economics are exceptional. The project, which holds over 5 million ounces and is designed to produce 300,000 ounces annually for eight years, would generate margins of $4,000-4,500 per ounce—levels never before seen in the gold industry. With upfront capital estimated at $1.1 billion and an NPV of $2.1 billion at conservative $3,100 gold assumptions, the project's returns are substantially higher at current spot prices.

The company's market capitalization has surged from $150 million to nearly $1 billion CAD over the past year, yet at $45 per ounce of resources, First Mining trades at an 82% discount to the $250 per ounce average for peer advanced developers. Management attributes this gap to institutional investors waiting for EA approval to validate the project's viability, particularly given Springpole's location in Attwood Lake. Institutional ownership has already doubled from 10% to 22% over eighteen months and is expected to accelerate post-approval.

Rather than pursuing independent construction, Wilton openly discusses seeking a partnership model similar to successful precedents like Osisko's Windfall and Gold Road in Australia, where experienced operators provide construction expertise while the developer retains significant equity. This approach aims to mitigate execution risk while maintaining upside exposure.

Beyond Springpole, the company's Duparquet project in Quebec receives minimal market valuation despite an estimated $3 billion NPV at $4,000 gold. With environmental baseline work underway and potential EA submission in 2027, Duparquet represents substantial hidden value that management believes could be "worth multiples of our current market cap" once Springpole advances.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/myriad-uranium-csem-86m-raise-funds-drilling-across-wyoming-uranium-endowment-8578

Recording date: 3rd of March 2026

Myriad Uranium Corp is advancing what could become America's largest uranium project, leveraging a substantial historical foundation combined with new geological discoveries that have expanded the resource potential at its flagship Copper Mountain project in central Wyoming.

The project carries exceptional historical credentials. Union Pacific invested approximately $100 million in the late 1970s, drilling 2,000 boreholes and identifying seven uranium deposits before the Three Mile Island incident halted a planned 1983 mine start. More significantly, a 1982 Department of Energy assessment estimated the uranium endowment at 655 million pounds across the broader area, with 245 million pounds in the central zone. Myriad controls approximately 60% of the larger area's acreage and 80-85% of the central zone.

Recent high-resolution radiometric and magnetic surveys have identified more than 100 new anomalies east of a major geological structure, potentially doubling the exploration footprint beyond the original western deposits. These eastern anomalies display geophysical signatures matching the known deposits, suggesting similar mineralization styles and grades.

Perhaps most significantly, modern assay techniques are revealing 50-60% more uranium than historical gamma probe data indicated, with extended mineralized intervals at depths ranging from surface to 1,495 feet. The original mine plan only considered uranium to 600 feet depth.

With $8.4 million Canadian in treasury and permits for 222 drill holes, Myriad plans to commence a 7,000-10,000 meter drill program within two months. The program will target both historical resource confirmation and new eastern anomalies, with an initial budget of approximately $4 million.

Strategic positioning enhances the project's value proposition. Located five miles from rail and power infrastructure and 113 miles from the Sweetwater Mill processing facility, Copper Mountain benefits from exceptional logistics. More critically, recent US government mandates requiring technology companies to secure independent energy sources for AI data centers have created new uranium demand from buyers prioritizing supply security over current pricing. At a market capitalization of $60-70 million Canadian, Myriad trades at a significant discount to analyst-estimated in-ground valuations of $3 per pound.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/precipitate-gold-tsxvprg-positions-for-discovery-in-de-risked-dominican-republic-9049

Recording date: 1st March 2026

Precipitate Gold Corp. (TSXV:PRG) is a junior gold and copper explorer focused on two projects in the Dominican Republic. Entering 2026, the company is better capitalised, better connected, and closer to meaningful exploration results than at any point in recent years. For investors evaluating the junior gold space, the setup warrants attention.

The company closed a $6.5 million financing in January 2026, distinguishing itself not by the amount raised but by the source. Dominican Republic generational-wealth families with diversified business interests and decades of in-country influence anchored the round. They now hold more than 20% of the share registry. These are not speculative mining investors. They have also backed neighbouring Goldquest at successively higher price points, and they have expressed willingness to support future capital requirements if the exploration programmes deliver results. That kind of aligned, long-term, in-country capital is rare for a company at Precipitate's stage, and it materially changes the company's operational and regulatory posture in the Dominican Republic.

The first drill programme begins at Pueblo Grande in March 2026. The project sits immediately adjacent to Barrick Gold's Pueblo Viejo open-pit mine, one of the largest gold operations on the planet. Barrick previously spent approximately $7 million exploring this ground before returning it to Precipitate. In reviewing that dataset, Precipitate's geologists identified a chargeability anomaly of geophysical indicator of potential sulphide mineralisation that appears to have been overlooked or deprioritised. The anomaly is substantial: approximately 800 by 400 metres, beginning at around 100 metres depth and extending to 350 metres, sitting roughly half a kilometre from the pit edge. Precipitate confirmed it with independent geophysical surveying. An initial programme of approximately 2,000 metres across four to five holes will determine whether the target contains meaningful mineralisation. Management has been clear: this is a binary event. Positive results will expand the programme; negative results shift focus entirely to Juan de Herrera.

Juan de Herrera is the company's flagship project and sits adjacent to Goldquest's Romero deposit, a reported resource of approximately 3.5 million gold-equivalent ounces. Precipitate has assembled an extensive exploration database there over several years—surface geochemistry, geological mapping, and multiple rounds of ground geophysics—on ground that has never been drilled by any prior operator. A 10,000-metre campaign across four to five targets is planned to run from Q2 through year-end 2026. Goldquest's own 2026 drilling activity at and around Romero will independently generate news flow that draws attention to the belt, functioning as an additional catalyst that costs Precipitate nothing.

The broader context matters. The Dominican Republic's regulatory environment has shifted. Community opposition that stalled permits for years has been addressed through structured engagement. Permits are being issued. Institutional interest in the jurisdiction is growing. And gold's macroeconomic backdrop—sustained elevated prices, constrained supply from ageing deposits, and continued central bank demand—provides the most supportive exploration environment in nearly a decade.

Precipitate enters 2026 with a funded balance sheet, strategic assets, quality backers, and two imminent drill programmes. The risk profile is that of a junior explorer: binary outcomes are possible at Pueblo Grande, and first-pass drilling at Juan de Herrera carries inherent uncertainty. But the conditions supporting a positive outcome—geological, financial, jurisdictional, and macroeconomic—are as well aligned as they have been in the company's history. Investors with appropriate risk tolerance should be watching closely as results begin to flow from March onward.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/western-nickel-projects-gain-momentum-as-supply-dynamics-improve-9150

Recording date: 1st March 2026

After several years of volatility in nickel markets driven largely by Indonesian oversupply, signs of structural recalibration are emerging. Canada Nickel Company is advancing the Crawford nickel sulfide project in Ontario at a time when improving supply discipline and supportive Western industrial policy may reshape the investment case for the metal.

CEO Mark Selby points to Indonesia’s evolving fiscal framework as a central catalyst. Tiered royalty systems and ore quota management now align government revenue incentives with higher realized nickel prices. Year-to-date, nickel prices have risen approximately 30%, while ore, nickel pig iron, and stainless steel prices have increased up to 40%. These indicators suggest that tightening supply dynamics are beginning to support price stabilization.

Crawford represents one of the largest undeveloped nickel sulfide resources in North America. The project is progressing through permitting and engineering, with federal permits expected mid-year and provincial coordination under Ontario’s “One Project, One Process” framework. Detailed engineering has commenced, and long-lead procurement planning is underway. The project has a projected mine life of approximately 40 years and expected annual production approaching 50,000 tonnes of nickel in its initial phase.

Financing visibility has improved materially. The company estimates roughly C$600 million in refundable tax credits across two Canadian critical minerals programs. In addition, Samsung SDI has committed US$100 million for a 10% stake in the project, validating its strategic importance within battery supply chains. Remaining equity requirements are estimated at approximately US$300 million, with potential access to Ontario’s Critical Minerals Processing Fund, Canada’s C$2 billion Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund, infrastructure programs, and G7-aligned financing relationships in Europe.

Beyond Crawford, Canada Nickel controls additional assets within the Timmins Nickel District, including Midlothian and Reid. Reid’s footprint exceeds that of Crawford and may support higher annual production rates. Over time, the district could potentially support multiple production lines and significantly expand output, subject to sequencing and partnership decisions.

Currently trading at a discount to net asset value relative to comparable advanced-stage projects in other commodities, Canada Nickel may benefit from valuation re-rating as nickel fundamentals stabilize and project milestones are achieved. While development risks remain inherent in large-scale mining projects, the alignment of improving commodity dynamics, government-backed funding frameworks, and project readiness positions the company within a differentiated segment of the nickel development space.

For investors seeking exposure to critical minerals within a stable jurisdiction, Canada Nickel offers participation in both near-term construction catalysts and long-term district-scale growth.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/koryx-copper-tsxvkry-seasoned-executives-aim-to-unlock-value-in-huge-namibian-copper-project-6281

Recording date: 1st March 2026

Koryx Copper Inc. is developing the Haib copper project in Namibia, one of sub-Saharan Africa's most stable and established mining jurisdictions. Under the leadership of CEO Heye Daun, a Namibian citizen, mining engineer, and serial dealmaker, the company has transformed a previously mismanaged junior mining asset into a credible large-scale copper development opportunity in under two years.

The Haib project was drilled originally by Rio Tinto in the 1970s but was left undeveloped as copper prices at the time did not support a low-grade sulfide deposit. It eventually passed to Deep South Resources, which proposed bio-heap-leach processing, a method not proven at commercial scale for sulfide material, and subsequently lost its operating licenses. When Daun's team assumed control, they reinstated conventional milling and flotation, the standard and bankable processing route for sulfide copper, and rebuilt both the technical and financial credibility of the asset from the ground up.

The resulting PEA published in 2025 modelled just under 100,000 tonnes of annual copper production at a capital cost of approximately $1.5 billion, using a copper price of $4.30 per pound which roughly 30% below spot at the time of the PDAC 2026 interview. The middle-of-the-cost-curve economics hold up at conservative assumptions, and management's stated approach to study assumptions has historically been validated: on both prior Namibian transactions, the step from PEA to PFS maintained or improved the project scope rather than contracting it.

The next milestone is the PFS, expected by end of 2026. This study will sharpen engineering and cost estimates, providing a more bankable document for potential financing discussions and strategic partner conversations. Alongside the PFS, Koryx is expanding its mineral resource and adding exploration ground around the Haib project, with a new, larger resource estimate expected in the near term.

Financially, the company has moved from a $10 million market capitalisation to raising over $100 million, including a $51 million institutional placement that attracted Middle Eastern and Chinese financial groups as strategic participants. The company states it is sufficiently capitalised to reach an investment decision without further dilutive financing in the near term.

The long-term construction path is expected to involve a major mining company or capital partner given the scale of investment required. Daun has been explicit about this: a $1.5 to $2 billion project is beyond the appropriate scope for a junior developer to build independently. Whether that takes the form of a joint venture, acquisition, or offtake-led financing arrangement will be determined in part by prevailing market conditions and the company's share price at the time of the investment decision.

For investors, the near-term investment case rests on two catalysts: the mineral resource expansion and the PFS delivery. Both are well-defined, time-bounded events that, if executed credibly, represent meaningful de-risking steps for an asset that already has institutional and strategic interest at the door.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cartier-resources-tsxvecr-market-economics-fuel-250000m-drilling-campaign-9002

Recording date: 1st of March 2026

Cartier Resources (TSXV: ECR) has emerged as a unique investment opportunity in Quebec's Abitibi Greenstone belt, positioned as the only remaining independent junior explorer in the 50-kilometer corridor between Val-d'Or and Malartic. The company finds itself surrounded by major producers—Agnico Eagle, Wesdome, El Dorado, and Fresnillo—whose combined market capitalization of $200 billion dwarfs Cartier's $130 million valuation.

CEO Philippe Cloutier outlined a disciplined exploration strategy that prioritizes building per-share value over responding to retail investor pressure for aggressive drilling expansion. The company is systematically evaluating 10 targets representing four mineralization types along a single fault corridor, leveraging over 100,000 meters of historical drilling data from 600+ diamond drill holes spanning 15 kilometers. Rather than prospecting randomly, Cartier is developing a comprehensive camp-scale geological model by reassessing 80 years of historical discoveries around a past-producing gold mine.

Cartier's 2026 program includes continuous drilling with two rigs, metallurgical testing integration, an updated resource estimate, and a refreshed preliminary economic assessment using current gold prices rather than the $1,750 assumption from the 2023 study. The company is evaluating multiple development pathways including toll milling, proprietary mill construction, bulk sampling, and direct shipping ore scenarios, with the Portal target's proximity to infrastructure offering near-term monetization potential.

Significantly, senior producers are already reviewing Cartier's data room, seeking assets with 20-30 year mine lives. Recent M&A consolidation—including Fresnillo's acquisition of Probe Gold and IAMGold's purchase of Northern Superior—demonstrates the thinning pool of quality Canadian junior assets. The company has recently acquired ground enabling exploration of Canadian Malartic-type mineralization similar to discoveries that led to Agnico Eagle's Odyssey program.

With 85% of budget directed to ground-based exploration and expanded marketing efforts in Europe and Asia, Cartier maintains strategic focus on controllable factors while positioning for potential acquisition by neighboring majors seeking to extend mine life in this proven tier-one jurisdiction.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/cartier-resources-inc

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/us-gold-corp-nasdaqusau-meet-the-team-luke-norman-9353

Recording date: 1st March 2026

US Gold Corp sits in a position that very few junior mining companies can claim in the current market cycle: a fully permitted, fully engineered gold-copper project in a stable North American jurisdiction, backed by $30 million in cash, with a Feasibility Study on the immediate horizon and active financing discussions already underway. For investors trying to identify companies with a credible, near-term path to cash flow, that combination of attributes is difficult to find.

The flagship CK Gold Project in Wyoming is the core of the investment case. Located adjacent to the I-80 interstate corridor with a power substation just 16 miles away, the project benefits from infrastructure access that meaningfully reduces capital requirements relative to more remote peers. The operation is designed to be straightforward: a low strip-ratio open pit feeding a concentrator to produce a copper-gold concentrate, with a minor silver credit. That concentrate is currently in high demand from smelters facing feedstock shortages — a market dynamic that adds commercial relevance to the project's timing.

The reserve and resource base supports a mine life of 10 to 11 years producing approximately 110,000 gold-equivalent ounces per year, with mineralization open at depth. Management has stated that a modest follow-on exploration program could potentially double the mine life, adding further value without requiring a wholesale redesign of the operation. The prefeasibility study outlined initial capital of $277 million — a figure that has moved higher due to inflation and evolving tariff conditions, but one that management believes is more than counterbalanced by the dramatic improvement in gold and copper prices over the same period.

The Feasibility Study, described by CEO George Bee as imminent, is the next major catalyst. Its release will formalize the financing process, and with an 18-to-24-month construction timeline, production by end-2027 or 2028 is a realistic target. The company enters that financing process from a position of strength: $30 million in cash, a tight share structure with approximately 16 million shares outstanding, and strong management alignment through meaningful insider ownership.

Jurisdictional quality is not an afterthought here — it is a structural advantage. Wyoming is a resource-friendly state with regulatory agencies that understand mining, a secure legal framework, and no history of the retroactive fiscal changes that have introduced risk premiums into projects across Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. At a time when supply chain security has become a policy priority for Western governments, a NASDAQ-listed, US-domiciled asset with near-term production credentials is a genuinely differentiated proposition.

Looking further out, the Keystone Project in Nevada — 20 square miles of ground situated 11 miles from Nevada Gold Mines' Cortez complex — provides the kind of blue-sky exploration upside that can redefine a company's scale. AI-assisted target generation is now underway across the property. The Challis deposit in Idaho adds a third exploration asset to the portfolio. Together, these positions mean that CK Gold's cash flow, once generated, funds the pursuit of a potentially company-defining discovery rather than simply servicing debt.

US Gold Corp is not a speculative exploration story. It is a pre-production company with a defined asset, a clear financing pathway, a management team with real operating credentials, and exploration upside that the market has not yet priced in. For investors seeking leveraged exposure to gold and copper with a credible near-term production timeline, it warrants serious consideration.

View U.S. Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/us-gold-corp

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsxvnfg-permitted-infrastructure-accelerates-path-to-gold-production-9383

Recording date: 2nd of March 2026

New Found Gold is executing a calculated transformation from exploration company to near-term producer under CEO Keith Boyle, who joined the company one year ago with a clear mandate: convert five years of exploration work into cash flow generation.

The cornerstone of this strategy was the acquisition of Maritime Resources, which delivered two critical assets—the producing Hammerdown mine and the permitted Pine Cove Mill. Hammerdown achieved first pour in November 2025 and is ramping to steady-state production, generating immediate cash flow at current gold prices. Meanwhile, the Pine Cove Mill, which restarted in March 2025, will be expanded from 700 to 1,400 tons per day capacity to process material from both Hammerdown and the flagship Queensway project.

This acquisition-driven approach solves a fundamental challenge: accelerating Queensway production by 2-3 years. Building an on-site mill would require in-pit tailings deposition, significantly extending permitting timelines and forcing continuous dilutive financing. Instead, New Found Gold plans to ship Queensway material 270 kilometers along the Trans-Canada Highway to Pine Cove by the end of 2027.

The economics prove compelling. Queensway's Phase 1 targets 700 tons per day at grades of 9-10 grams per ton gold, with all-in sustaining costs of $1,300 per ounce. Combined trucking and processing costs approximately one gram per ton, leaving substantial margins at current gold prices above $5,000 per ounce. The company projects over $250 million in free cash flow during the first four years, which will fund construction of an on-site mill for Phase 2 expansion.

Recent grade control drilling on 5x5 meter centers addresses previous concerns about "nuggety" mineralization, revealing instead consistent gold distribution as fine flakes throughout high-grade shoots. This systematic de-risking, combined with visible gold at surface in the Iceberg zone, positions Queensway for low-capital-intensity production start-up while the company continues district-scale exploration with 100,000 meters of drilling planned for 2026.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/new-found-gold

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/isoenergy-tsxiso-production-advancement-with-exploration-upside-commencing-winter-drill-program-8967

Recording date: 1st of March 2026

IsoEnergy is a diversified uranium developer and near-term producer operating across Canada, the United States, and Australia — three jurisdictions deliberately chosen for their strong regulatory and mining track records. The company is gaining significant attention from institutional investors as the uranium sector enters what many believe is a sustained structural bull market.

Earlier in 2026, IsoEnergy raised $50 million in a capital round that attracted over $300 million in demand — more than six times oversubscribed — from 45 global institutional investors, roughly half of whom were new to the company. CEO Philip Williams, speaking at PDAC 2026, described it as a signal of a meaningful shift: where uranium investing was once the domain of a handful of specialists, generalist funds and large institutions are now actively deploying capital into quality names. IsoEnergy's scale and track record position it to capture that wave.

IsoEnergy's flagship asset, the Hurricane deposit in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, holds 48.6 million pounds of U₃O₈ at an average grade of 34.5% — the highest-grade uranium resource on earth. The deposit sits adjacent to Cameco and Orano's Dawn Lake project, whose operators have publicly confirmed high-grade mineralisation comparable to Cigar Lake and McArthur River, the two largest uranium mines in the world. IsoEnergy is currently running an expanded winter drill program and believes significant additional pounds remain to be discovered.

The Tony M Mine in Utah is the company's most advanced production asset. A bulk sample program is currently underway underground, generating the data needed for a final restart decision. With approximately $150 million in cash, the company is fully funded for that decision without needing new equity or debt.

IsoEnergy stages its portfolio deliberately — advancing Tony M first, then Daneros and Rim in Utah, then its Australian assets — allowing a core technical team to transfer expertise sequentially rather than spreading it thin. This matters because experienced uranium mine builders are globally scarce. The company is also well-positioned to access US government capital, with agencies including the Department of Energy and the Export-Import Bank actively advertising critical minerals funding at industry events.

With multiple catalysts converging in 2026 — Hurricane drill results, a Tony M production decision, and broad institutional tailwinds — IsoEnergy is structurally positioned as one of the uranium sector's most compelling development stories.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/isoenergy

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Recording date: 1st March 2026

Inventus Mining is doing something most junior gold companies cannot: generating cash from its asset before it has a formal resource estimate, and using that cash to fund its own growth. At its Pardo Paleoplacer project in Ontario, Canada, the company extracts gold-bearing conglomerate from surface, crushes it on-site, and trucks it to McEwen Mining's nearby mill under a pre-sale arrangement. The first bulk sample returned approximately two dollars for every dollar invested. That single data point separates Inventus from the majority of its peers, who depend entirely on shareholder capital to advance their projects.

The geology underpinning this model is straightforward and well-understood. The Pardo Paleoplacer project targets a conglomerate reef averaging 2 metres thick and grading 2.5 to 3.5 grams per tonne gold, sitting at or near surface. Drilling costs are low — a single rig can complete two to three holes per day at the current target depths of 0 to 50 metres. Gold recoveries at McEwen's mill are running in the mid-90% range, with 70% of gold captured in the gravity concentrate alone. The metallurgy is not a question mark here. It has been tested at scale through the bulk sampling program itself.

The company has now completed 30,000 of its permitted 50,000 tonnes of bulk sample. With 20,000 tonnes remaining, management is prioritising grid drilling to define a maiden mineral resource estimate, targeted for Q3 2026. That resource estimate is the most important near-term event for investors. It will be the first time the market has a formal, independently verified number to attach to the asset, and it will form the basis of the subsequent production permit application targeting 200,000 tonnes of material. Ontario's permitting framework is efficient — once a third-party environmental report is submitted, Ministry approval can come within 45 days. A permit submission is targeted for late 2026, with production potentially commencing in early 2027.

The shareholder base adds a further layer of conviction. Eric Sprott holds 16%. McEwen's founder personally holds 17%. McEwen Inc. holds approximately 10%. Together, these three positions account for roughly 43% of the company. These are not passive holders — McEwen's mill is the processing partner, and Sprott has been involved since approximately 2013. Their continued presence signals that those closest to the asset continue to believe in its scale and economic potential.

Ore sorting represents the most significant unpriced optionality in the story. A 2018 scoping study showed XRF particle sorting could recover 93% of the gold from just 40% of the mined material — a 160% uplift in mill feed grade and a meaningful reduction in trucking and processing costs. Modern XRF sorters can now process 40 to 120 tonnes per hour, making commercial-scale deployment viable in a way it was not when the study was first conducted. Bulk-scale testing is planned, and the results will be a key secondary catalyst.

The risks are real but manageable. McEwen's mill pace has been slower than hoped. The resource remains undefined. Modest additional capital may be needed. But for investors looking for gold exposure through a near-production junior that funds itself, operates in a top-ranked jurisdiction, and carries endorsement from two of the resource sector's most credible names, Inventus Mining presents a case worth examining closely.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/banyan-gold-tsxvbyn-76moz-gold-project-advances-toward-2026-pea-8866

Recording date: 1st March 2026

Banyan Gold Corp. (TSXV:BYN) enters 2026 as one of the more substantive junior gold development stories in Canada's Yukon Territory. With a 7.7-million-ounce gold resource at its AurMac project, a fully funded 40,000-metre drill program underway, and a maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment scheduled for the second half of the year, the company has a clear and near-term catalyst pipeline.

The 2025 drill program of approximately 43,000 metres targeted two high-grade zones—Airstrip and Powerline—which are expected to anchor the starter pit economics in the upcoming PEA. Intercepts of 16 metres at 9 g/t and 40 metres at 4 g/t at Airstrip, and multiple 2–3 metre intervals at 16 g/t at Powerline, represent above-average grades relative to the broader deposit. Assay results from the full 2025 campaign remain pending, with a resource update to follow. Step-out drilling has extended the deposit's surface expression by approximately one kilometre in both directions along Airstrip, reinforcing management's view that AurMac is a substantially larger system than legacy models indicated.

A separate high-grade silver discovery—18 drill hits across six shallow veins, with grades exceeding 13,000 g/t at depths as shallow as 65 metres—adds a layer of optionality not yet captured in any economic study. The most significant external data point for valuing AurMac is Franco-Nevada's February 2026 acquisition of the project royalty for $52.2 million. The royalty carries a buydown provision reducing it to 1% for $10 million—meaning Franco-Nevada effectively paid approximately $42 million for a 1% net smelter royalty. At Banyan's current market capitalisation, this implies the equity market is ascribing a fraction of the value to the full project that a leading royalty company paid for just one percent of it. That gap is the central valuation argument for the stock.

Despite a share price increase of approximately 350% in 2025, Banyan trades at under US$50 per ounce of resource. Yukon development peers trade at US$60 to US$300 per ounce. Christie noted that comparable companies were achieving the US$50/oz valuation at US$1,800 gold—implying the current per-ounce value has not kept pace with the commodity. Three investor misconceptions resolved in October 2025—heap leach versus mill, legacy shareholding overhang, and partial property ownership—had suppressed the stock relative to peers and have now been corrected.
Execution risk is reduced by full funding secured in October 2025, an early season start with five drills operating by mid-March, and contracts with senior field personnel signed ahead of competitors. The company is not seeking additional capital and is focused on delivering value from existing resources.

The PEA in H2 2026 is the defining event. It will establish the first public economic framework for AurMac and provide the foundation for any subsequent corporate transaction, partnership, or development financing discussion. For investors positioned ahead of that catalyst, the combination of resource scale, jurisdictional quality, external royalty validation, and a measurable per-ounce discount to peers represents a specific and trackable investment case.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/p2-gold-tsxvpgld-all-known-questions-answered-february-2026-9351

Recording date: 1st March 2026

P2 Gold Inc. is entering a milestone-driven phase as it advances its Gabbs Project in Nevada through drilling, feasibility work, and permitting. The company’s stated objective is to complete a feasibility study by the end of 2026 and position the project for potential construction in 2027.

Gabbs is located in Nevada, one of the most established gold-producing jurisdictions globally. The state offers regulatory predictability, developed infrastructure, and a long history of mine development. For investors, jurisdictional stability remains a central consideration, particularly at a time when permitting delays and regulatory changes have affected projects in other regions.

Operationally, 2026 is expected to deliver several key catalysts. The company has expanded its drill program to approximately 25,000–30,000 metres, supporting both infill and step-out objectives. Results to date have been reported as consistent with expectations, and the data will feed into an updated mineral resource estimate anticipated by the end of summer 2026. This updated resource will underpin the feasibility study.

The 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment outlined a 9 million tonne per year operation producing roughly 110,000 ounces of gold and 33 million pounds of copper annually over a 14-year mine life. Management is currently evaluating increasing throughput to 12 million tonnes per year. If supported by resource growth and economic analysis, this could lift annual gold production toward 150,000 ounces, with copper output potentially rising to 45–50 million pounds per year.

Permitting is recognized as the project’s critical path. The company has filed its Mining Plan of Operations with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and has initiated baseline environmental studies in advance of final requirements. This proactive approach is intended to reduce schedule risk and align permitting timelines with feasibility completion.

From a valuation perspective, P2 Gold’s market capitalization of approximately C$225–250 million reflects its status as a mid-stage developer. Successful delivery of a feasibility study, continued de-risking, and measurable permitting progress may support valuation reassessment, particularly given the limited number of advanced-stage development projects of comparable scale in Nevada.

Investors evaluating P2 Gold should monitor the delivery of the updated resource estimate, feasibility cost assumptions relative to prevailing gold and copper prices, and permitting progress. As the project transitions from development toward construction readiness, execution against stated milestones will be central to investment performance.

Overall, P2 Gold’s investment case rests on advancing a scalable Nevada gold-copper project through defined technical and regulatory milestones within a supportive commodity environment.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/premier-american-uranium-tsxvpur-advances-towards-pea-studies-for-235-mlbs-uranium-resource-7900

Recording date: 1st March 2026

Premier American Uranium enters 2026 in a structurally improved position relative to the prior year, with financing secured, ETF-driven selling pressure resolved, and a clearly articulated operational roadmap. For investors evaluating junior uranium developers, the company now presents a more defined catalyst calendar and capital structure than it did through most of 2025.

The company’s flagship Cebolleta project in New Mexico anchors the investment case. A 2025 preliminary economic assessment outlined a single-source uranium operation producing approximately 1.4 million pounds per year over a 13-year mine life. The base-case after-tax net present value (NPV) was estimated at $84 million, based on an 80% uranium recovery assumption. That recovery rate now represents the central lever for potential value creation in 2026.

Management has initiated a metallurgical test work program designed to determine whether recovery can be increased to 90%. The projected economic impact is significant: at 90% recovery, after-tax NPV is estimated at $159 million, implying a $75 million increase relative to the base case. The cost of this metallurgical program is approximately $1 million, including drilling and laboratory analysis. If results confirm the higher recovery rate, a revised PEA is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

From a capital markets perspective, the resolution of the URNM ETF rebalancing is equally important. In 2025, a change in minimum free float requirements triggered forced selling across several uranium equities, including Premier American Uranium. That selling was completed by December 2025. The company subsequently closed an upsized $15 million bought deal financing, providing sufficient capital to execute its planned 2026 programs without near-term dilution risk.

In addition to Cebolleta, the Kaycee project in Wyoming provides an in-situ recovery (ISR) exploration pipeline. A substantial drill program was conducted in 2025, and further drilling is expected in 2026. While earlier results were not optimally disseminated due to concurrent corporate transactions, management anticipates more consistent news flow this year.

Strategically, the company remains focused exclusively on U.S.-based assets. This geographic concentration aligns with broader federal efforts to reduce reliance on imported uranium, as the United States currently produces less than 5% of the uranium required for its civil nuclear fleet. While direct upstream subsidies remain limited, regulatory reforms aimed at streamlining permitting could benefit domestic developers over time.

At a market capitalization of approximately C$90 million, the company trades at a level that does not fully reflect the potential NPV uplift at Cebolleta, nor does it attribute material value to the Kaycee exploration pipeline. The central investment question for 2026 is therefore execution: whether metallurgical testing confirms improved recovery and whether operational milestones are met on schedule.

For investors comfortable with commodity price volatility, permitting timelines, and development-stage technical risk, Premier American Uranium offers a clearly defined catalyst framework and a capital-efficient pathway to potential valuation expansion over the next 12 to 18 months.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/eagle-plains-resources-tsxvepl-cashed-up-explorer-jvs-on-uranium-asset-4898

Recording date: 26th February 2026

Eagle Plains Resources (TSXV:EPL) offers investors something relatively rare in the junior mining sector: a business model designed to generate and return value across multiple market cycles, not just in a single commodity bull run.

The company has been operating for over 30 years and holds the distinction of being the oldest company on the TSX Venture Exchange never to have undergone a share consolidation. That record reflects a management philosophy centred on capital discipline, operational self-sufficiency, and long-term value compounding — qualities that stand in contrast to the dilution-heavy practices common among exploration-stage peers.

Eagle Plains' five-pillar model encompasses mineral exploration, project generation, corporate incubation, geological contracting, and royalty generation. Each pillar contributes independently to the company's financial position. TerraLogic Exploration, the company's wholly owned geological contracting subsidiary, generates between $1 million and $2 million annually in third-party revenue. Option deals on Eagle Plains' 100-plus project portfolio provide ongoing cash and share payments from partners advancing exploration programmes at their own cost. Royalty interests retained across optioned and sold properties are building into a portfolio with long-term monetisation potential.

The most powerful element of the model, however, is the spinout mechanism. Eagle Plains has completed four spinouts over its history, three of which have been sold to larger acquirers — generating approximately $115 million in total shareholder returns. In each case, existing shareholders received shares in the new entity while retaining their original Eagle Plains position. The most recent example, Eagle Royalties, was sold to Summit Royalties for approximately $13 million, with assets that had previously been carried on Eagle Plains' books at zero value.

For 2026, the company has outlined its most ambitious exploration programme to date. Eagle Plains is targeting 29 projects with approximately $13 million in combined expenditures and seven planned drill programmes — up from 22 projects and approximately $1.3 million in expenditures in the prior year. Critically, the vast majority of that capital is being deployed by option partners rather than the company itself, giving Eagle Plains broad exploration exposure with limited treasury risk.
The company's balance sheet entering 2026 includes just over $8 million in cash and approximately $2.1 million in equity holdings, with only 12 million shares issued over the last six years. 

Management has stated no intention to access equity markets in the near term, relying instead on contracting income, option payments, and portfolio events to sustain and grow the business.
Uranium exposure adds a further dimension. Through two partner-funded programmes in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, Eagle Plains holds leverage to one of the world's most significant uranium jurisdictions at a time when renewed nuclear energy interest is driving increased exploration activity in the region.

Eagle Plains is not a near-term discovery story. It is a long-duration compounding vehicle with a demonstrated track record of returning capital, a self-funding operational model, and a growing pipeline of optioned projects that could generate further spinout and royalty monetisation events. In a market where junior mining capital is beginning to flow again, that combination warrants serious investor attention.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/encore-energy-tsxveu-isr-leader-secures-115m-funding-and-tripling-production-rates-7869

Recording date: 1st March 2026

enCore Energy (TSXV: EU) is one of a small number of operating in-situ recovery uranium producers in the United States. That alone puts it in a select category at a time when domestic uranium supply has become a policy priority for the US federal government. But the company's investment case currently rests on three distinct elements — and investors would benefit from understanding each one separately before assessing them together.

The first is the existing production business. enCore operates ISR uranium mines in Texas and Wyoming. These are producing assets generating revenue, which distinguishes enCore from the large majority of uranium-focused companies listed on North American exchanges. ISR is a low-footprint, relatively low-cost extraction method with an established regulatory track record in the US. For investors seeking uranium exposure with operational substance behind it, enCore's production base provides that foundation.

The second element is Verdera Energy and the spinoff. Verdera holds approximately 80 million pounds of uranium resources across four deposits in New Mexico's Grants Mineral Belt — a region that accounts for more than half of the seventh-largest uranium district in the world. All mineral rights are private, which simplifies the permitting process relative to federal land. The assets are underworked: resource estimates are historic rather than NI 43-101 compliant, and the geological models were built using grade cutoffs of 0.06% — substantially higher than the 0.25–0.30% cutoffs applied under current industry practice. Remodelling under modern parameters is likely to expand the stated resource base. Verdera completed a $20 million capital raise to fund this work.

The mechanism for investor participation requires no action. Once Verdera files its US registration statement, enCore shareholders will receive Verdera shares on record date. Investors who hold enCore today are effectively acquiring an option on the New Mexico resource package at no additional cost.

The third element is the consolidation thesis. William Sheriff, who built enCore from exploration stage to producer, has been direct about what the US ISR sector needs: scale. Individual producers generating one million pounds per year cannot access the institutional capital required to trade at premium valuations. His argument is structural — larger producers carry better credit ratings, negotiate more favourable off-take terms with utilities, and qualify for investment by major funds that have minimum market capitalisation thresholds. Sheriff has indicated that unsolicited tender offers, rather than negotiated mergers, may be the mechanism through which consolidation is pursued. His M&A advisory role at enCore means this work continues under the same corporate umbrella.

Taken together, the investment case for enCore is built on assets that are operating today, a resource package being unlocked at no cost to current shareholders, and a strategic agenda that could materially increase the company's scale and institutional profile over the next several years. The near-term catalysts to monitor are the Verdera registration statement filing, quarterly production updates from the Texas and Wyoming operations, and any M&A announcements involving the broader US ISR sector.

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The gold mining sector stands at a critical juncture as major producers generate unprecedented free cash flow while consolidation activity remains notably absent. Samuel Pelaez, President & CEO, and Derek Macpherson, Executive Chair at Olive Resource Capital, discussed this disconnect during their February 25, 2026 industry commentary.

The BMO Capital Markets conference in Hollywood, Florida concluded without the major corporate announcements typically expected at such gatherings, bringing only B2 Gold's leadership transition instead of the anticipated mega mergers or strategic acquisitions. This surprised both executives given the industry's exceptionally strong financial position.

Major producers are now generating extraordinary cash flow. Agnico Eagle reported approximately $11 million in daily free cash flow during Q4 2025, while AngloGold Ashanti posted similar figures. With gold prices having climbed to above $5,000 per ounce, these companies could potentially generate an additional $7-8 million daily. Pelaez characterized the industry as becoming "over capitalized," with substantial cash accumulating on producer balance sheets faster than it can be deployed through dividends and buybacks alone.

The executives emphasized that M&A activity must eventually materialize, noting that producer stocks have appreciated approximately 5x since the Great Bear Resources acquisition. This suggests $10 billion takeouts are now mathematically feasible, compared to the $2 billion Great Bear precedent. However, both acknowledged being wrong about timing, with developer valuations remaining "long overdue" to catch up with producers.

The key signal they're monitoring is competitive bidding situations with multiple parties pursuing single assets. Once this dynamic emerges, a "herd mentality" should drive rapid consolidation as companies move quickly to secure remaining quality targets.

Looking ahead to the PDAC conference in Toronto, both executives plan to identify new opportunities, particularly in copper development assets and Argentina's emerging mining sector. The conference represents a key test of whether the industry will finally deploy its substantial cash reserves toward strategic acquisitions.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mineros-sa-tsxmsa-record-earnings-fund-aggressive-expansion-across-latin-america-8048

Recording date: 25th February 2026

Mineros SA (TSX:MSA), a Colombian gold producer with over 100 years of operational history, is executing a fundamental transformation that positions the company as a compelling growth opportunity in the current $5,000 per ounce gold environment.

The company delivered exceptional 2025 results, producing 227,000 ounces of gold equivalent and generating $800 million in revenues—a 50% increase year-over-year. With $360 million in adjusted EBITDA generated at an average realized price of $3,500 per ounce, the company now operates in a significantly more favorable pricing environment that provides immediate margin expansion.

Mineros operates two producing assets with distinct characteristics. Hemco in Nicaragua produces approximately 140,000 ounces annually from the historic Bonanza mining district, while Colombia contributes 90,000 ounces through an unusual century-old alluvial operation that employs flooded-pit methodology, gravity separation without chemicals, and hydroelectric power.

The company's near-term growth strategy centers on Nicaragua, where processing capacity represents the primary constraint despite abundant mineral resources. Mineros is investing in a 40% throughput expansion at Hemco, increasing capacity from 1,800 to 2,500 tons per day by year-end 2026. Simultaneously, gold recoveries have improved from 87% to 90%, representing pure margin enhancement from already-mined material.

On the exploration front, Mineros is launching its largest-ever drilling program of 100 kilometers across its 450,000-hectare Nicaragua land package. The district has produced nearly 10 million ounces historically yet remains substantially underexplored by modern methods. The company is targeting both brownfield expansion near existing operations and greenfield discoveries under the leadership of Carlos Rios, who joined from Collective Mining in December 2025.

Despite 1,000% stock appreciation over two years, management argues the company remains undervalued at 2x revenues and 4x EBITDA—multiples based on $3,500 gold rather than current prices. The company has returned $145 million to shareholders over five years while maintaining its ability to fund growth initiatives, dividends, and explore selective M&A opportunities from strong operating cash flow.

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Our previous interview:  https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsxvnfg-meet-the-team-hashim-ahmed-9202

Recording date: 26th February 2026

New Found Gold Corporation (TSXV: NFG) is executing a calculated strategy to fast-track its high-grade Queensway project into production through a infrastructure-focused acquisition approach. CEO Keith Bole recently detailed how the company's acquisition of the Hammerdown gold project and Pine Cove mill facility serves as the catalyst for bringing Queensway online by the end of 2027—approximately three years ahead of traditional greenfield development timelines.

The acquisition rationale centers on accessing permitted milling infrastructure rather than resource ounces. "We wanted the mill and tailings for Queensway. That's what we were shooting for," Bole explained. By leveraging the existing Pine Cove facility, New Found Gold avoids the lengthy permitting process and construction delays associated with building new processing capacity from scratch.

The company is currently ramping up 700 tons-per-day production at Hammerdown while simultaneously expanding the Pine Cove mill from 700 to 1,400 tons per day. This expanded capacity will process high-grade material from Queensway—approximately 700 tons daily grading between 9 and 10 grams per ton—trucked 270 kilometers to the Pine Cove facility.

Queensway Phase 1 economics are compelling: 69,000 ounces annually at all-in sustaining costs around $1,300 per ounce translates to over $200 million in annual cash generation at current gold prices. The phased development approach addresses a critical constraint that would have faced a traditional large-scale build. As Bole noted, "The capex on a large plant that we had in the PEA was somewhere close to $900 million. Our market cap at the time was only $350-400 million." Raising nearly three times market capitalization would have required massive shareholder dilution and delayed first production until at least 2031.

The two-asset strategy provides additional advantages beyond timeline acceleration. Operational experience gained ramping up Hammerdown's 700-ton-per-day open pit operation transfers directly to Queensway's identical-scale mining operation, significantly de-risking execution. Current production at Hammerdown also strengthens the company's position in project financing discussions, with lenders viewing existing cash flow favorably when evaluating facility terms for the Pine Cove expansion and Queensway development.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/verdera-energy-listing-high-grade-usa-focused-isr-projects-9038

Recording date: 24th February 2026

Verdera Energy has completed its listing on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'V', raising $20 million at $1 per subscription receipt to fund uranium development across New Mexico. The company controls 400 square miles of patented private mineral rights hosting approximately 88 million pounds of known and historic uranium resources, positioning itself at the intersection of U.S. energy security priorities and the nuclear energy renaissance.

The company's asset portfolio comprises three primary in-situ recovery projects at varying development stages. Crownpoint represents the most advanced asset with a completed 43-101 technical report, while West Largo contains 16 million pounds of historic resources and is characterized as the highest-grade ISR project in the portfolio. Ambrosia Lake rounds out the primary holdings. Management plans to launch Phase 1 at Crownpoint, apply for drill permits at West Largo, and initiate baseline water sampling at Ambrosia Lake.

Beyond its mineral resources, Verdera possesses a strategic differentiator in its proprietary database containing 120,000 drill hole logs from Kerr McGee and comprehensive URI data from enCore. This historical information represents millions of dollars in previous exploration work and significantly reduces the cost of modernizing technical reports while creating potential data licensing opportunities as other companies enter New Mexico's uranium sector.

CEO Janet Lee Sheriff provides realistic development guidance, estimating five years from the current stage to production—a timeline reflecting the comprehensive environmental review requirements of U.S. uranium permitting. The company has initiated scoping work on a central processing plant that could serve multiple projects, generating operational efficiencies across the portfolio.

With approximately two years of operational runway from its capital raise, Verdera combines advanced-stage projects, unique data assets, and a partnership-focused strategy in New Mexico's historically seventh-largest uranium-producing district. The company's approach balances near-term development catalysts with the patient capital requirements inherent in uranium sector participation.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/evergold-ever-technical-analysis-due-diligence-2083

Recording date: 24th February 2026

Evergold Corp. (TSXV:EVER) is entering 2026 as a leaner, more focused company than it has been in years. Under new President and CEO Alex Walcott — a practising geophysicist who has spent his career working across northern British Columbia's most active exploration corridors — the company has narrowed its attention to a single asset: the Golden Lion gold-silver project in the Toodoggone district. It is a deliberate reset, and the setup that has emerged from it is arguably the most investable configuration Evergold has presented to the market in some time.

The Toodoggone context is important. This is a district in active re-rating mode. TDG Gold's Aurora discovery anchored the district's geological credibility. Thesis Gold followed with a positive preliminary economic assessment. And most recently, Anglo American acquired a 5% stake in Thesis Gold — a development announced just days before this interview — confirming that the region has moved onto the radar of the global mining majors. Evergold's Golden Lion property sits directly adjacent to Thesis Gold's ground. That proximity is not incidental; it reflects the same Toodoggone Formation geology that is drawing institutional attention across the district.

Golden Lion itself has a meaningful drill history. The 2021 campaign — the most recent work on the property — returned down-dip continuity of approximately 175 metres and demonstrated hole-to-hole consistency for the first time. Historical intercepts include 66 metres at 1.36 g/t gold equivalent, and silver hits of up to approximately 900 g/t. Under current silver prices, the gold-equivalent economics of these intercepts are considerably stronger than they appeared when the work was done. That is a straightforward recalculation that many investors have not yet made.

Previous drilling work also revealed a systematic problem with prior drilling: holes had been oriented roughly parallel to the steeply dipping mineralised fault structure, meaning the drill was tracking the body rather than intersecting it cleanly. The team has now corrected this through a 3D geological model, and the 2026 programme is designed around fan-pattern drilling from consolidated pads — an approach that maximises data return per dollar spent and suits the structural geometry of the deposit.

The corporate structure is tight. Approximately 13 million shares are outstanding following a consolidation completed in 2025. The market capitalisation is approximately C$8 million — a meaningful discount to comparable-stage district peers Finlay Minerals and Sun Summit Minerals, which trade at approximately C$20 million and C$25 million respectively. A C$5 million financing is expected within approximately one month, which will fund approximately 4,000 metres of drilling alongside property-wide geophysics, including magnetic and passive EM surveys conducted in-house by Walcott's team.

The board has been reinforced with Alvin Jackson of EuroZinc and FreeGold Ventures, Brian Butterworth of Hy-Tech Drilling, and Charlie Greg, a respected BC geologist who holds approximately 15% of the company. Taylor Quinn, whose master's thesis focuses specifically on Golden Lion's geology, joins as exploration manager — providing an unusual depth of project-specific technical knowledge.

Evergold is a speculative, pre-resource junior explorer. The risks are real and investors should size positions accordingly. But the combination of a district re-rating, a data-informed drill programme, experienced in-terrain management, underappreciated silver credits, and a compressed valuation relative to peers makes this a story worth following closely as 2026 unfolds.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/integra-resources-tsxvitr-55m-financing-explained-9184

Recording date: 23rd February 2026

Integra Resources Corp. (TSXV: ITR) has unveiled its 2026 guidance and three-year production outlook, signaling a transformative period for its Florida Canyon gold mine in Nevada. The company expects to produce 70,000-75,000 ounces in 2026 at elevated all-in sustaining costs of $2,750-$2,950 per ounce, representing a deliberate investment phase designed to unlock substantially higher production in subsequent years.

President and CEO George Salamis positioned 2026 as a "setup year" focused on building capacity for future growth. The company is deploying $62-68 million in sustaining capital, primarily for intensive waste stripping campaigns to access the higher-grade Central Pit ore body and fleet renewal programs. This strategic investment is expected to deliver 80,000-90,000 ounces annually in both 2027 and 2028 at significantly reduced costs as stripping intensity declines.

The production outlook surprised analysts who had modeled Florida Canyon at 70,000-75,000 ounces in perpetuity. Management emphasized that the capital program carries minimal execution risk, with ore-waste boundaries well-defined through extensive geological modeling. An updated feasibility study expected in coming months will extend Florida Canyon's mine life beyond the current five-year estimate to seven-plus years, incorporating approximately 50 million tons of low-grade stockpiled material being reclassified as ore.

Beyond Florida Canyon, Integra is advancing its DeLamar project in Idaho through a recent $60 million equity raise that added 12 new institutional investors. The proceeds will fund early works programs and long-lead equipment purchases ahead of planned 2028 development. A strategic $12.5 million ranch acquisition provides critical water rights and environmental mitigation opportunities, de-risking the $1.8 billion NPV project.

With over $110 million in treasury and strong projected cash flow generation from 2027-2028, management expects to self-fund DeLamar's equity portion without major dilution, offering investors a clear pathway to multi-asset value creation in a favorable gold price environment.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/metal-energy-tsxvmerg-unlocking-ontarios-massive-lithium-potential-drilling-dec-2023-4221

Recording date: 19th February 2026

Metal Energy Corp (TSXV: MERG) is preparing to drill its first holes on the NIV copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry project in British Columbia's Toodoggone district, one of the province's more active mineral exploration corridors. The company is led by Charlie Greig, a veteran exploration geologist whose prior work contributed to the assembly of the GT Gold Saddle discovery — a porphyry deposit sold for approximately $450 million in 2021. Greig and his technical partner, geophysicist Alex Walcott, have been building a dataset on the NIV property since 2010, funding much of the early work themselves before bringing in outside capital.

The NIV property covers roughly 5 kilometres of strike length and sits in the same volcanic and intrusive rock package that hosts established porphyry deposits elsewhere in the Toodoggone. Soil geochemistry shows elevated copper, gold, and molybdenum values running continuously along the trend, while induced polarisation surveys have identified chargeability anomalies at depth consistent with a sulphide-bearing system. Porphyry-style sheeted veining visible at surface adds further geological weight to the target. Critically, all three datasets — geochemistry, geology, and geophysics -align spatially, giving the team a well-defined set of drill targets ahead of its first program.

The project has drawn strategic investment from two significant industry names. Centerra Gold, which operates a mine approximately 40 kilometres to the north, and Teck Resources have each taken a 9.9% equity stake following independent technical review. Their involvement provides both financial support and meaningful third-party validation of the project's geological merits.

The 2026 drill program is expected to total between 5,000 and 6,000 metres across 10 to 12 holes. Nearby, Amarc Resources' AuRORA copper-gold discovery in the same district serves as a direct geological analogue, while an adjacent Northwest Copper drill intercept confirms porphyry-style mineralisation within 1–2 kilometres of NIV ground.

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Gold mining companies are generating unprecedented levels of free cash flow, with major producers like Agnico Eagle reporting more than $11 million per day in Q4 2024 at an average realized gold price near $4,200 per ounce. With gold prices running approximately $800 per ounce higher in the current quarter, that figure is tracking toward $15 million or more per day - a level that is fundamentally reshaping how companies think about capital allocation.

Speaking on the Compass podcast, Samuel Pelaez and Derek Macpherson of Olive Resource Capital argued that this cash flow environment gives producers the rare ability to pursue multiple priorities simultaneously: debt reduction, dividend increases, share buybacks, and acquisitions. That flexibility, they noted, sets the current cycle apart from previous periods in the sector.

The discussion comes as the mining industry enters its most active conference season of the year. An institutional-focused gathering in Miami is followed shortly by PDAC in Toronto - the world's largest mining conference - beginning around March 1st. Both events are expected to accelerate M&A discussions, as corporate development teams from major miners hold direct meetings with junior company management. Pelaez and Macpherson suggested that transaction announcements could coincide with or immediately follow PDAC.

In the near term, Chinese New Year - which began February 17th - introduces a period of thin liquidity across commodity markets as Chinese exchanges close for the week. The hosts characterized any resulting price volatility as mechanical rather than fundamental, and suggested investors treat sell-offs in stocks they already favor as potential entry points.

On the macro side, four factors continue to underpin the commodity bull market: expanding US manufacturing PMIs, resilient employment data, continued global liquidity growth, and a US fiscal deficit of approximately $800 billion - the third largest on record - reinforcing the case for hard assets even as the economy grows.

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Recording date: 13th February 2026

Rio2 Limited and West Red Lake Gold Mines have successfully transitioned from developers to producers, achieving commercial production after years of navigating construction challenges and capital constraints. In a mid-February 2026 discussion, executives Alex Black of Rio2 and Shane Williams of West Red Lake shared the operational realities facing newly producing mining companies in a favorable commodity price environment.

Both executives emphasized the importance of slow, measured ramp-ups rather than rushing to full capacity. This approach allows proper development of operational systems, procedures, safety protocols, and team training alongside physical production increases. Rio2 targets 60,000 to 70,000 ounces in 2026 at its Fenix Gold Project in Chile, with expansion potential to 300,000 ounces annually pending water infrastructure development. West Red Lake sees a pathway to 150,000 ounces annually with relatively modest capital investment for mill expansion.

The discussion highlighted significant operational challenges often underappreciated by retail investors. West Red Lake battles extreme cold conditions with January temperatures reaching minus 45 degrees Celsius, where any plant stoppage results in complete mill freezing. Rio2's Fenix Gold operation faces high-altitude cold at nearly 5,000 meters elevation, space constraints in open-pit operations, and the complexity of mining an extinct volcano with three separate peaks.

Labor shortages emerged as a critical industry-wide issue. Williams noted that decades of industry struggles have depleted skilled workforces in Canada, Chile, and Australia, with skill levels materially lower than 20 years ago. Both executives stressed that operational success depends primarily on building, empowering, and retaining talented teams willing to work through challenges methodically.

The conversation revealed frustration with market dynamics, as development-stage companies with impressive feasibility studies often receive higher valuations than cash-flowing producers. Both executives expect re-rating as they demonstrate consistent quarterly execution. Black predicted significant M&A activity in 2026, with both companies actively pursuing strategic acquisitions while positioning themselves as potential takeover targets within three to five years.

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Recording date: 6th February 2026

As gold prices surge past $5,000 per ounce, retail investors increasingly question whether opportunities remain in junior mining stocks or if valuations have run too hot. Kiran Patankar, President and CEO of Maple Gold Mines, makes a compelling case that his company represents a significant exception to this concern.

Despite delivering 252% returns since completing its corporate reset in August 2025, outperforming peers by more than double, Maple trades at just $29 per ounce of resource. This stands well below the peer group average of $50 per ounce and recent Quebec transaction multiples of $80 per ounce. The discount translates to concrete upside potential, with fair value estimates ranging from $3.56 to $5.43 per share compared to the recent $2.29 trading price.

The company's market capitalization of $153 million sits roughly where it stood four years ago, despite gold prices tripling over that period. Patankar argues this reflects value restoration rather than speculative gains, with the company having systematically addressed legacy execution issues while gold appreciation creates additional upside yet to be recognized by the market.

A restructured partnership with Agnico Eagle demonstrates the company's strategic positioning. Maple reacquired 100% of its Douay project for zero cost, compared to Agnico's original $10 per ounce acquisition price, while securing $36 million in exploration funding through 2027. This capital supports 100,000 meters of drilling over two years, enabling year-round operations designed to expand the current 3 million ounce resource.

Near-term catalysts include imminent drill results and an updated resource estimate expected in the first half of 2026, which management anticipates will show material expansion. Combined with advancing economic studies and strong insider participation in recent financings, Maple presents what Patankar characterizes as a rare undervalued opportunity in an otherwise fully valued sector.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/ur-energy-amexurg-new-leadership-takes-helm-at-active-us-uranium-producer-7904

Recording date: 7th February 2026

Ur-Energy is positioning itself as a leading domestic uranium producer at a critical juncture for American nuclear fuel security. The Wyoming-based company operates in a market where the United States consumes approximately 50 million pounds of U308 annually but produces only 2-3 million pounds domestically, creating a substantial supply-demand imbalance that favors existing producers.

Under new leadership from Matthew D. Gili, who joined in June 2025 with operational experience from Rio Tinto, Barrick Gold, and i-80 Gold, the company is executing a three-tiered growth strategy. The Lost Creek facility, Ur-Energy's primary production hub, is ramping toward record fourth-quarter output with demonstrated recovery rates exceeding 80%. The in-situ recovery (ISR) operation benefits from favorable geology and straightforward chemistry, utilizing oxygen, carbon dioxide, and bicarbonate as reagents.

The near-term catalyst is Shirley Basin, a satellite facility currently under construction that will commission in the first quarter of 2026. The operation will load uranium onto resin in the wellfield before transporting it to Lost Creek for processing, leveraging existing infrastructure to minimize capital requirements. With a resource base of approximately 9 million pounds, Shirley Basin is expected to commence yellowcake production in the second quarter.

Looking further ahead, the Lost Soldier project represents medium-term expansion optionality. With 4,000 historical drill holes establishing geological confidence, the company is conducting hydrological testing through 18 test wells to determine ISR viability. Management targets publication of a preliminary economic assessment in the third or fourth quarter of 2026, with Lost Soldier envisioned as an even more streamlined satellite requiring only resin capture facilities.

The $120 million convertible financing completed in December 2025 provides capital to complete Shirley Basin while maintaining flexibility for a Lost Soldier construction decision and potential portfolio acquisitions. Ur-Energy's contracting strategy balances revenue certainty—with 100% of 2026 production contracted and approximately 70% for 2027—against exposure to uranium price appreciation in a market where policy support for domestic production continues strengthening.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/kincora-copper-tsxvkcc-100m-partner-funding-drives-multi-target-porphyry-exploration-in-nsw-8371

Recording date: 10th February 2026

Kincora Copper is executing a prospect generator strategy that has delivered significant operational scale in its first full year while maintaining capital efficiency through partner-funded drilling. The company operates eight copper-porphyry assets across Australia and Mongolia, having secured $7 million in partner funding and completed 16,000 meters of drilling across seven licenses in 2025, while generating approximately $500,000 in management fees.

The company's most advanced partnership involves two joint ventures with AngloGold Ashanti covering 100 kilometers of strike in the northern Macquarie Arc, Australia's premier porphyry belt that hosts world-class mines including Cadia, Northparkes, and Cowal. AngloGold's commitment has expanded substantially, with spending increasing from $4.5 million to date to a proposed $7 million budget for 2026 as targets are upgraded. The major has deployed three technical teams to site, bringing specialist expertise that would be difficult for a junior explorer to access independently.

Recent drilling at the Nevertire-Nevertire South project has confirmed encouraging copper-gold intervals suggesting proximity to porphyry centers, with follow-up drilling now underway testing upgraded targets. The company is systematically advancing the 40-kilometer strike length while looking for multiple discoveries within the immediate target area.

Kincora recently closed a C$4 million financing led by institutional investors Rick Rule and Jeff Phillips, providing capital for focused work on 100% owned projects including Trundle and Fairholme, which are in advanced discussions with multiple majors. Late 2025 activities included a technically successful drill hole, airborne surveys at Condobolin, and ground gravity surveys at Jemalong, with results expected through early 2026.

Trading at approximately $40 million market capitalisation, Kincora presents a valuation disconnect compared to peers. Recent Macquarie Arc explorers have rerated from $30 million to $100-200 million following positive results, while Kincora's seven non-JV assets are collectively valued at just $10 million. The company's partnership model offers multiple discovery opportunities with lower dilution than equity-funded peers, while retaining meaningful project-level stakes with potential for $100 million in partner funding before significant dilution decisions.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/green-critical-minerals-asxgcm-vhd-graphite-tech-targets-17b-data-center-market-7556

Recording date: 10th February 2026

GCM Corporation (ASX:GCM) is executing a critical transition from pre-revenue technology developer to commercial manufacturer in the thermal management sector, with first revenues targeted for the first half of 2026. The company has successfully pivoted from graphite exploration to industrial manufacturing following its late 2024 acquisition of proprietary VHD thermal management technology.

CEO Clinton Booth outlined the company's progress through distinct commercialization phases during a February interview. After validating the technology in early 2025 and confirming market appetite in Q2, GCM entered active prototyping in the second half of the year. The company is now manufacturing customer-specific products under confidentiality agreements, sharing technical drawings with multiple customers across electronics, data centers, renewables, and electrical sectors.

The VHD technology addresses a critical industry challenge: efficiently dissipating heat loads as devices become more powerful yet smaller. With thermal conductivity superior to copper and aluminum while being 4.5 times lighter than copper and 30 percent lighter than aluminum, VHD offers performance advantages that incumbent materials cannot match. As Booth noted, the market is actively seeking new solutions, with demand driven by electrification, artificial intelligence, and increasing power density requirements across the technology sector.

GCM's modular manufacturing approach provides rapid scalability with minimal capital requirements. The current demonstration plant produces hundreds of units monthly, scaling to 1,000 units near-term with capacity to expand 100-fold within 12-15 months. The company achieved ISO 9001 certification in late 2025 and in-housed its product design capability, establishing systematic processes essential for scaling production as sales agreements materialize.

Electronics and DC-to-DC converter markets offer the shortest sales pipeline, while data center opportunities present longer qualification periods but significant long-term value. The anticipated first major sales agreement represents a watershed moment that Booth expects will catalyze additional customer interest and validate the company's strategic transformation from explorer to industrial technology manufacturer.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/dryden-gold-tsxvdry-fully-funded-2026-drilling-for-high-grade-gold-hits-with-partner-validation-8545

Recording date: 11th February 2026

Dryden Gold Corp. has emerged as a compelling exploration opportunity in northwestern Ontario's Dryden greenstone belt, where the company controls 70,000 hectares of highly prospective ground exhibiting geological characteristics analogous to Canada's premier gold camps. With $11 million in treasury funding a 32,000-meter drilling program across multiple targets, the company is positioned to deliver sustained news flow throughout 2026-2027 whilst pursuing its stated objective of demonstrating multi-million-ounce potential across a district-scale land position.

The investment thesis centers on three key pillars: systematic expansion of the high-grade Gold Rock deposit, aggressive testing of regional discovery targets with distinct geological models, and strategic positioning within an emerging gold district backed by institutional investors. President Maura Kolb brings eight years of direct Red Lake experience, informing structural interpretation at Gold Rock where fold architecture and intersecting faults create high-grade traps identical to the geological model hosting Red Lake's 28 million ounces. Recent drilling validates this targeting approach, with intercepts including 301 g/t gold over 3.9m, 77.9 g/t over 0.5m, and 55 g/t over 3.5m demonstrating robust mineralization across multiple parallel shear zones extending over 20 kilometers of strike length.

Beyond Gold Rock, Dryden is advancing two regional targets exhibiting different deposit models that provide diversified discovery potential. Hyndman represents an intrusion-related target where a 4-kilometer-long granodiorite intrusion intersected by regional shearing offers potentially simpler geometry and bulk-tonnage potential compared to Gold Rock's structurally complex veins. The six-hole inaugural drilling program was completed in early 2026, with results expected end-March representing the most immediate catalyst for investors. Sherridon at the southern property boundary exhibits intrusion-related bulk-tonnage characteristics, with initial drilling returning 135 meters at 0.2 g/t gold and geochemistry confirming an intrusive fluid source—rare clarity in Archean-aged systems that provides targeting criteria for vectoring toward higher-grade zones.

The presence of three distinct geological models reduces exploration risk whilst offering optionality in development scenarios: high-grade underground potential at Gold Rock, possible open-pit bulk tonnage at Hyndman, and intrusion-related scale at Sherridon. This diversification increases probability of exploration success whilst building toward the multi-million-ounce scale necessary for district recognition and institutional interest.

Strategic validation strengthens the investment case, with Centerra Gold holding positions in Dryden and Alamos Gold maintaining a 10% equity stake. These institutional anchors provide technical validation, reduce going-concern risks, and potentially facilitate future development partnerships. The warrant exercises by Delbrook Capital and EuroPac Gold Fund that funded the current program occurred at C$0.30, with the stock subsequently advancing toward C$0.40—suggesting investor confidence in near-term catalysts and exploration potential.

Operational advantages distinguish Dryden from peers. Year-round road access eliminates seasonal constraints and helicopter costs, enabling continuous drilling and rapid iteration on geological models. The property sits adjacent to NeXGold's 3-million-ounce resource, validating regional prospectivity and demonstrating economic gold potential. Ontario's jurisdictional stability, transparent permitting, and established infrastructure reduce development risks relative to remote or politically challenged jurisdictions.

For investors seeking exposure to district-scale gold discovery in a premier jurisdiction with near-term catalysts, experienced management, and institutional backing, Dryden Gold offers a compelling risk-reward profile at approximately C$100 million market capitalization. The company's capital-efficient approach—demonstrating deposit footprints before committing to resource definition—prioritizes discovery value creation whilst maintaining 18-24 months of funded exploration runway. As drilling progresses across multiple high-priority targets throughout 2026, investors can anticipate sustained news flow and multiple opportunities for value inflection.

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Recording date: 10th February 2026

Focus Graphite (TSXV: FMS) is emerging as a strategically positioned North American graphite developer at a time when Western governments are actively reshoring critical mineral supply chains. The company's flagship Lac Knife project in Quebec boasts 15% graphitic carbon content, approximately three times the global industry average of 3-5%, providing fundamental cost advantages that management believes can enable price competition with Chinese producers while delivering premium specialty material to defense contractors.

After 18 years of development, the project is approaching commercial viability with substantial government backing. Focus has secured $14.1 million in non-dilutive funding from Natural Resources Canada's Global Partner Initiative, specifically earmarked for building a demonstration-scale purification plant and qualifying material with military and aerospace customers. Combined with existing cash, the company holds $18 million to advance through final permitting stages without near-term equity dilution.

The technical differentiation centers on a fluidized thermal bed purification process that removes impurities through heat rather than chemicals, preserving the structural integrity of large graphite flakes critical for high-value applications. Approximately 40% of Lac Knife's output consists of premium large and jumbo flake material, which the company is positioning for radar suppression coatings, expandable fire suppression graphite, thermal management systems, and ballistic applications. Material has already been successfully tested in missile applications in the Mojave Desert.

With the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment down to 30 remaining questions from an initial 380, management targets completion within three to four months. The $236 million capex for a 27-year mine life producing 50,000 tons annually represents a fraction of typical critical mineral projects, with potential for substantial debt financing from export credit agencies and Quebec government equity participation.

Trading at approximately $50 million market capitalization, Focus presents a compelling valuation relative to peers like Nouveau Monde Graphite ($400 million market cap, 4% grade), particularly as geopolitical imperatives drive Western governments to establish domestic specialty graphite supply for defense applications.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mining-royalty-sector-explodes-with-massive-consolidation-fresh-capital-7469

Recording date: 11th February 2026

The mining royalty sector delivered exceptional performance in 2025, driven by surging commodity prices and unprecedented consolidation activity. Gold prices rose 74% while silver surged 160%, translating into triple-digit share price gains for major precious metal royalty companies. Wheaton Precious Metals gained 102%, Royal Gold appreciated 98%, and Osisko Royalties reached 100%. Mid-tier companies performed even stronger, with Gold Royalty Corp advancing 215% and Element Royalties climbing 150%.

Despite lithium carbonate recovering 80% over the period, battery metal-focused royalty companies experienced a stark divergence in valuations. Electric Royalties reported zero share price appreciation, highlighting that market participants have not yet incorporated battery metal price recovery into their valuation frameworks for companies in this subsector.

The year marked a potential inflection point through significant M&A transactions. Royal Gold acquired Sandstorm for $3.5 billion, representing the first major royalty company acquisition in years. Triple Flag purchased Orogen Royalties for $420 million, while Altius Minerals bid $520 million for Lithium Royalty Corp in December. According to Electric Royalties CEO Brendan Yurik, this consolidation reflects fundamental economics where acquiring diversified portfolios proves more efficient than executing dozens of individual transactions.

Several experienced teams launched new royalty platforms in late 2025, including Versamet Royalties, Summit Royalties, and Lunar Royalties. Summit achieved a market valuation three to four times that of Electric Royalties despite being newly public, demonstrating strong investor appetite for proven management teams.

Valuation dynamics continue driving consolidation as larger companies with extensive diversification trade at 2.5 times net asset value compared to 1x for junior companies. This gap creates powerful incentives for mergers that enhance shareholder value through scale and improved operating leverage.

Looking ahead to 2026, industry participants expect M&A activity to accelerate beyond 2025 levels. The fragmented sector provides numerous consolidation targets, while battery metal royalties trading at significant discounts to precious metal peers may attract acquisition interest as cash flows materialize.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/santacruz-silver-tsxvscz-strong-cash-generation-funds-debt-free-growth-8019

Recording date: 13th February 2026

Santacruz Silver Mining (TSXV:SCZ) represents a transformed investment opportunity following the elimination of all debt obligations and completion of its NASDAQ listing in January 2026. The multi-metal producer operates four mines across Bolivia and Mexico, generating substantial cash flows with an $80 million treasury position after paying $70 million in Glencore obligations and tax liabilities during 2025.

The company's debt-free, streaming-free, royalty-free capital structure directs 100% of operational cash flows to equity holders during a period of elevated silver and zinc prices. This clean balance sheet distinguishes Santacruz from leveraged competitors and producers with streaming obligations that divert metal production at below-market prices, creating immediate margin expansion as commodity prices strengthen.

Management projects 5-7% production growth from operational efficiencies independent of metal price assumptions or acquisition execution. The Zimapan mine in Mexico delivered a $2.5 million investment in flotation cell circuits that improved silver recoveries by 500 basis points, generating approximately $5 million in incremental monthly cash flow—a 20-month payback demonstrating disciplined capital allocation. The mine's advancement to Level 960 encounters wider ore bodies with silver grades of 80-90 grams per tonne and zinc content of 2.5-3.5% across the 2,800-tonne-per-day operation.

In Bolivia, the Bolivar mine is recovering from 2025 flooding through systematic dewatering infrastructure that increased capacity to over 700 litres per second—five times pre-flooding levels and nearly double peak flood conditions. Fourth quarter 2025 production showed quarter-over-quarter silver increases as access to flooded veins improves, whilst development work necessitated by the flooding discovered new high-grade veins creating unanticipated exploration upside.

Near-term production catalysts include the Soracaya project targeting full permitting by June-July 2026 with production commencement in the fourth quarter, utilizing existing Bolivian milling infrastructure for low-capital-intensity cash flow generation. The Esperanza mine at the Caballo Blanco complex approaches commercial production as the third operating mine within that group, leveraging existing infrastructure for brownfield expansion.

The Bolivian operating environment transformed following the 2025 election of President Rodrigo Paz, whose administration declared mining a strategic industry and announced constitutional reforms to encourage foreign investment. As Bolivia's largest underground mining company, Santacruz occupies a prominent position during this regulatory evolution, with improved political conditions creating potential M&A opportunities whilst reducing political risk for existing operations.

The January 2026 NASDAQ listing provides strategic access to US institutional investors and family offices, expanding the investor base beyond Canadian venture shareholders whilst early trading data demonstrates volume improvements. US institutional capital historically applies higher valuation multiples to Latin American precious metals producers than Canadian venture markets alone.

Management employs a distinctive operational approach tracking per-tonne costs rather than conventional all-in sustaining cost metrics, maintaining five-year rolling budgets with detailed weekly mining plans to prevent short-term high-grading that compromises long-term mine life. This disciplined capital allocation framework, combined with direct executive operational involvement demonstrated through systematic site visits and hands-on crisis management during the Bolivar flooding, distinguishes the approach from volume-focused competitors.

For investors seeking exposure to silver and base metals through an established producer with near-term growth catalysts, operational leverage to metallurgical improvements, and exposure to transformative Bolivian political changes, Santacruz presents a differentiated opportunity with multiple risk mitigation factors relative to earlier-stage developers or debt-burdened producers.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/standard-uranium-tsxvstnd-35m-raised-to-hunt-high-grade-uranium-7828

Recording date: 17th February 2026

Standard Uranium (TSXV: STND) is a Canadian uranium exploration company with 13 projects in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, the world's highest-grade uranium jurisdiction. With a market capitalisation of approximately $15–20 million, the company has structured itself to maximise exploration activity while minimising shareholder dilution through a project generator business model.

Rather than self-funding all exploration, Standard Uranium invites third-party joint venture partners to fund drilling on most of its projects. Under a typical deal, a partner spends $6–7 million over three years to earn a 75% interest in a project, while Standard Uranium retains 25% equity, a 2.5% net smelter return royalty, and charges operator fees to run the program using its own geological team. Those fees — estimated at $1.5–2 million annually — are sufficient to cover the company's corporate overhead, reducing the need for repeated equity raises.

The company's flagship asset, Davidson River, sits outside this JV framework. The wholly-owned project covers 30,000 hectares in the southwest Athabasca Basin, adjacent to NexGen Energy's Rook I project — a discovery that transformed NexGen from a 30-cent stock into a $10 billion company over 13 years. Standard Uranium plans to drill Davidson River from May to August 2026.

Two additional drill programs are already underway in 2026. The Corvo project, under JV with Aventis Energy, commenced drilling in mid-February. The Rokas project, partnered with Collective Metals, is expected to begin drilling in early March. In total, JV partners are funding an estimated $7–10 million in exploration spend across the portfolio this year.

The macro backdrop supports the investment case. The uranium spot price stands near $89–90 per pound, while global nuclear capacity is forecast to triple over the next two decades, driven by clean energy targets and surging electricity demand from AI data centres. Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin is positioned as a primary source of future uranium supply.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/hycroft-mining-nasdaqhymc-nevada-giant-eliminates-debt-targets-2026-production-milestone-8914

Recording date: 18th February 2026

Hycroft Mining (Nasdaq: HYMC) has published an updated Mineral Resource Estimate confirming 55% growth in Measured and Indicated gold and silver resources at its Hycroft Mine in Winnemucca, Nevada. The deposit now stands at 16.4 million gold ounces and 562.6 million silver ounces in the M+I category, with inferred resources of a further 5.0 million gold ounces and 132.8 million silver ounces. The MRE was prepared by independent third parties and is based on commodity prices of US$3,100/oz gold and US$36/oz silver.

The update incorporates results from 70 drill holes and reflects a geological reinterpretation that has fundamentally changed how management and institutional investors view the asset. In late 2023, Hycroft announced the discovery of two new high-grade silver systems, Brimstone and Vortex, within the existing resource footprint. After just 14 months of drilling, those systems have already yielded an initial high-grade M+I silver resource of 90.2 million ounces. Critically, both systems remain open along strike and at depth, and no results from the current 2025-2026 drill programme are yet incorporated into the MRE.

Metallurgical test work using Pressure Oxidation has confirmed recoveries of 83% for gold and 78% for silver - robust figures for a refractory sulfide deposit and a key de-risking milestone ahead of a feasibility study. The company is also evaluating a roasting alternative that could convert a processing cost into a by-product revenue stream through sulfuric acid production.

Financially, Hycroft is well-positioned to execute. The company holds approximately US$200 million in cash with zero debt, following the retirement of legacy liabilities in October 2024. The institutional shareholder base, led by Eric Sprott at 43%, with BlackRock, Schroders, and Franklin Templeton also on the register, reflects sustained conviction in the long-term thesis. Project economics on the large-scale operation are expected by end of Q1 2026, with an underground mining assessment of the high-grade systems also underway.

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Recording date: 13th February 2026

i-80 Gold has completed a $500 million non-dilutive financing package that eliminates a longstanding capital structure overhang and provides the certainty required to advance its three-phase Nevada development plan. The transaction, expected to close by the end of Q1 2026, positions the company to execute across multiple underground mining projects without shareholder dilution.

The financing comprises two equal $250 million tranches. Franco-Nevada contributed the first portion through a royalty structure beginning at 1.5% across the portfolio through 2030, escalating to 3% from 2031 onward as production scales. The second tranche consists of a prepaid facility with National Bank and Macquarie Bank, with i-80 Gold pre-selling approximately 40,000 ounces at a net realized price of $3,750 per ounce over a 30-month delivery period.

CEO Richard Young emphasized the competitive dynamics that shaped favorable terms, noting the company received five term sheets and three committed offers. This competition proved crucial for securing covenant flexibility rather than pricing optimization, including provisions for working capital facilities and operational adaptability during the production ramp.

The financing enables immediate strategic priorities across the portfolio. Granite Creek Underground, currently the company's sole operating mine, processes ore through third-party toll milling that costs $1,000-1,500 per ounce in margin leakage. The Lone Tree autoclave refurbishment, targeted for completion by end of 2027, will eliminate this dependency and capture those margins internally as the second underground mine ramps production through 2026.

Most significantly, the package accelerates Mineral Point, the flagship asset and largest resource base. Management allocated $50 million specifically for 2026 resource expansion, pre-feasibility engineering, and initial permitting—work previously deferred pending financing certainty. Young stated that Mineral Point represents the company's most valuable asset, making earlier production timing critical for shareholder value.

At current gold prices above $5,000 per ounce, management projects full funding across all three development phases without equity issuance, with potential incremental debt limited to a lower-cost revolving facility. Key 2026-2027 milestones include feasibility studies for Granite Creek and Cove, Archimedes Phase 4 results, and Mineral Point pre-feasibility work.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atlas-salt-tsxvsalt-developer-targets-north-americas-30-40-de-icing-salt-supply-gap-8975

Recording date: 5th February 2026

North America faces a growing crisis in road salt supply that most investors have overlooked. While the US$26 billion global salt market operates largely beneath public awareness, severe winter weather across the northeastern United States and Canada has exposed a structural deficit that has persisted for decades. Atlas Salt (TSXV:SALT) is developing the Great Atlantic Salt Project in western Newfoundland—the continent's first new salt mine in nearly 30 years—to address this critical infrastructure gap.

The North American deicing road salt market imports 8-10 million tons annually to meet demand that domestic production cannot satisfy. Existing mines date predominantly from the mid-20th century, with operations beginning between 1906 and 1982. These aging facilities operate at depths of 500-600 meters, often beneath lakes, requiring high operating costs and substantial capital expenditures. Regulatory challenges and thin historical margins have prevented new mine development despite growing demand from population growth, expanded road networks, and increased vehicle numbers.

Atlas Salt's competitive advantage stems from its shallow 200-meter deposit depth, which allows access via horizontal drift rather than expensive vertical shaft construction. Located just three kilometers from an existing port facility, the project gains direct access to Atlantic Ocean shipping lanes and the eastern seaboard market. The simplified production process requires only mechanical crushing of 96% grade salt—no chemical processing, tailings, or refining—enabling two-month environmental assessment approval.

At full production capacity of 4 million tons annually, Atlas would need to capture only 30-40% of current import volumes, targeting non-cyclical government customers legally mandated to purchase salt for road safety. The market's inelastic demand was demonstrated in January 2026 when Ontario spot prices surged from $65-75 per ton to over $190 during severe winter conditions. CEO Nolan Peterson emphasizes the dual investment appeal: "We are working with lenders who view this as investing into an airport or power plant—something that has long-term sales baked in because you're selling your product to governments, citizens and people."

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/americas-gold-silver-tsxusa-executing-on-growth-strategy-across-idaho-silver-complex-9036

Recording date: 11th February 2026

Americas Gold & Silver Corporation (NYSE American: USAS | TSX: USA) has signed a definitive joint venture agreement with United States Antimony (NYSE American: UAMY) to construct and operate an antimony processing facility at its Galena Complex in Idaho’s Silver Valley. The deal is designed to solve a specific economic problem: Americas is already the largest antimony producer in the United States, but under its existing offtake arrangements, the company receives only a fraction of the prevailing market price for the antimony contained in its silver concentrate. CEO Paul Huet estimates this leaves $50–$70 million on the table over the next two years at current prices.

The JV creates a vertically integrated, fully domestic antimony supply chain from mine to finished product. Americas holds 51% ownership and provides the feed material and permitted site. US Antimony holds 49% and contributes its processing technology, construction expertise, and existing Department of War supply agreements reportedly worth $245 million. The facility is estimated to cost approximately $50 million, with capital split proportionally, and both companies have submitted a joint white paper seeking federal funding under the Trump administration’s $12 billion Project Vault critical minerals initiative.

For investors, the value proposition is straightforward. Americas produced 561,000 pounds of antimony in 2025 as a by-product of silver mining, meaning its marginal cost of antimony production is effectively zero. Once the facility is operational, the company will receive full market-price payments for its feedstock plus 51% of downstream processing profits. With antimony prices at approximately $15 per pound, government stockpiling initiatives providing demand visibility, and production volumes expected to grow as Americas transitions to mining higher-grade tetrahedrite ore, the JV represents a potentially significant new revenue stream layered on top of the company’s core silver growth strategy.

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The precious metals and mining sector experienced notable volatility in early February 2026, but institutional investors view the pullback as a tactical opportunity rather than a fundamental shift in market dynamics. Derek Macpherson, Executive Chairman, and Samuel Pelaez, President and CEO of Olive Resource Capital, characterize the recent correction as a normal return to established trend lines following an extended rally.

The turbulence stems from temporary liquidity withdrawal by the Treasury Department and seasonal factors, particularly the Chinese New Year in mid-February, which historically coincides with reduced market participation and liquidity drawdowns. However, key global liquidity risk indicators—including option-adjusted spreads and high yield bond indices—show no systemic concerns. The Treasury Department is expected to provide net liquidity throughout 2026, while March and April historically represent strong months for commodities.

Stabilizing valuations have unlocked significant M&A activity after a volatile January rally made share-exchange negotiations impractical. Three transactions highlight evolving sector dynamics:

Eldorado Gold surprised markets by acquiring Foran Mining's zinc-copper project at zero premium to the previous Friday close. The move raises strategic questions as the gold-focused producer diversifies into base metals during a strong gold bull market, though the permitted mine expected to produce later in 2026 will boost cash flow.

Goldsky Resources completed a transformative acquisition of full control over the Barsele deposit in Sweden from Agnico Eagle, consolidating nearly 2 million ounces. The transaction elevates Goldsky from explorer to tier-one developer with a market capitalization under $1 billion, suggesting substantial re-rating potential.

CANEX Metals secured 51.93% of Great Basin Resources through a hostile takeover, positioning the company to transform a 1.5-2 million ounce Arizona asset currently in cease trade. Strong financial backing including Eric Sprott provides capital to address anticipated issues.

For investors, the environment favors selective accumulation in quality names and transformation stories with defined catalysts, emphasizing jurisdiction quality, asset scale, and capital access.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/the-investment-case-for-platinum-palladium-investment-in-2026-8935

Recording date: 5th February 2026

ValOre Metals offers investors exposure to a scarce asset class addressing structural supply deficits in the platinum group elements sector. The company's Pedra Branca project in northeastern Brazil contains 2.2 million ounces of palladium and platinum resources - one of the few development-stage PGE assets advancing outside the South Africa-Russia-Zimbabwe concentration that controls over 95% of global reserves.

This jurisdictional differentiation carries strategic significance as traditional producing regions face operational challenges including aging infrastructure, increasing depths, rising costs, and geopolitical risks. South African operations contend with periodic labour disruptions whilst Russian supply faces sanctions exposure and market access constraints. Against this backdrop, Brazil's federal classification of platinum and palladium as critical minerals provides governmental support for Pedra Branca's development, whilst established infrastructure including paved highway access and proximity to deep-water port facilities at Fortaleza reduces capital requirements.

CEO Nick Smart brings proven PGE development credentials from Anglo American Platinum and De Beers, having built and operated mines globally including in Brazil. Under his leadership since October 2025, ValOre has appointed institutional-grade technical partners to advance the project toward production. Lycopodium, a specialised minerals processing engineering firm, leads preliminary economic assessment work targeting year-end 2026 completion. Simultaneously, University of Cape Town's Centre for Minerals Research, recognised as the premier global centre for PGE processing expertise, conducts metallurgical test work establishing optimal processing routes for both weathered oxidised material and fresh sulphide ore.

The deposit's geological structure provides inherent economic advantages. Near-surface mineralisation in the first 30 metres represents high-grade weathered material accessible through open-pit mining, enabling early cash flow generation whilst reducing capital intensity compared to underground development. Core deposits containing 1.1 million ounces provide sufficient foundation for initial operations targeting 150,000-200,000 ounces annually over a 10-15 year mine life. At current platinum prices exceeding $2,000 per ounce, the total resource represents approximately $4 billion in contained metal value.

Brazil's trial mining licensing process offers a fast-track permitting pathway enabling early-stage demonstration plant production before full-scale operations. This allows ValOre to prove project viability whilst advancing comprehensive licensing applications, reducing technical risk and generating cash flow to support development costs.

Market fundamentals support multi-year investment case. Smart emphasised sustained demand across automotive, industrial, and investment applications concurrent with structural supply constraints: "We see growing demand for platinum and palladium. There are some real structural constraints to bringing more supply on. So we see multi-year gap in terms of that balance between demand and supply." Contrary to earlier narratives of declining PGE relevance as electric vehicle adoption challenged autocatalyst demand, automotive transition timelines have moderated whilst platinum consumption in jewellery and investment products continues growing.

Exploration upside extends beyond the current resource base. Mineralisation runs along an 80-kilometre trend within a 50,000-hectare land package, with management characterising the 2.2 million ounces as representing "a relatively small part" of the total system. ValOre has doubled the resource since 2019 acquisition through 20,000 metres of drilling, with additional programmes budgeted for 2026.

The year-end 2026 preliminary economic assessment represents the primary near-term catalyst, establishing project economics and development pathway whilst positioning ValOre amongst the limited global pipeline of PGE projects advancing toward production outside geopolitically concentrated traditional sources.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/abitibi-metals-cseamq-high-grade-copper-gold-discovery-gains-momentum-in-quebec-8692

Recording date: 6th February 2026

Abitibi Metals Corp. (CSE:AMQ) has announced a transformational resource update for its B26 copper-gold-zinc-silver deposit in Quebec, demonstrating the scale potential that could attract major producer interest. The updated mineral resource estimate reveals 13 million tons indicated at 2.1% copper equivalent and 12.3 million tons inferred at 2.2% copper equivalent, representing a 125% increase in total tonnage since the company optioned the project from SOQUEM in 2023.

The resource growth was achieved at a discovery cost of just 2.5 cents per pound copper equivalent, positioning Abitibi favorably among peers for capital efficiency. CEO Jon Deluce emphasised that the company has delivered on its goal to reach 25-30 million tons by 2026 well ahead of schedule, while maintaining strong grades throughout the expansion process.

The resource calculation uses conservative commodity price assumptions of $2,500 gold, $30 silver, $4.50 copper, and $1.35 zinc. At current spot prices, the deposit would grade closer to 2.55% copper equivalent, demonstrating substantial operating leverage to metal price movements. The indicated category alone contains 775 million pounds of copper, 451,000 ounces of gold, 16 million ounces of silver, and 376 million pounds of zinc.

Management has assembled a world-class team to advance the project, most notably David Bernier as COO, who previously built Foran's McIlvenna Bay deposit from preliminary assessment through to commercial production. That deposit was recently acquired in a transaction valued at C$3.8 billion, providing a relevant valuation benchmark for B26, which currently represents 56% of McIlvenna Bay's resource tonnage.

Abitibi is executing a funded 40,000-meter drill program in 2026 focused on resource expansion, regional exploration testing four new targets, and early-stage permitting work. The deposit remains completely open along strike and at depth, with management targeting 30-50 million tons based on geological evidence and comparisons to the nearby 60-million-ton Selbaie mine located just 7 kilometers away.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/li-ft-power-tsxvlift-commits-7m-to-environmental-studies-for-50m-ton-lithium-project-7632

Recording date: 6th February 2026

Li-FT Power (TSXV:LIFT) has positioned itself at the forefront of North America's lithium sector through strategic consolidation, executing its acquisition of Winsome's Adina project as spodumene prices rebound from a 2.5-year downturn. CEO Francis MacDonald reports lithium prices have tripled from $600 per ton in July 2025 to nearly $2,000 per ton, signaling what the company believes is the early stage of an 18-24 month bull cycle.

The Adina transaction addresses a critical development constraint that had artificially limited the project's potential. A claim boundary bisected the deposit, preventing Winsome from optimizing pit design across its 78 million ton resource estimate—only 35 million tons could be incorporated into preliminary mine plans. Li-FT Power had strategically acquired the southern claims before announcing the transaction, enabling complete consolidation that MacDonald expects will unlock 80-100+ million tons of resource, positioning Adina among North America's largest hard rock lithium deposits.

The transaction was announced alongside $48 million in financing led by Avenir Minerals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agnico Eagle, at $4.30 per share—a price that subsequently doubled to over $9 as lithium sentiment strengthened. Combined with existing equity positions, the company now holds approximately $75 million to fund aggressive 2026-2027 technical programs across both its Adina and Yellowknife flagship projects.

MacDonald emphasizes the importance of cyclical timing, noting that strategic acquisitions should occur during market downturns when valuations are depressed. "We saw prices starting to fall in January of 2023. And so, it was really a falling or a flat price environment for 2.5 years," he explains, adding that volatility becomes advantageous when positioned correctly within the cycle.

The company plans 50,000 meters of drilling at Adina in 2026 to support a feasibility study targeted for 2027, while concurrent drilling at Yellowknife aims to expand its existing 50 million ton resource base. At the anticipated 80-100 million ton scale, MacDonald argues Adina could justify throughput rates of 4-5 million tons per year, significantly larger than typical 2 million ton per year lithium operations and improving project economics through economies of scale.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cobra-resources-lsecobr-maiden-resource-work-begins-with-2026-drill-campaign-8583

Recording date: 4th February 2026

Cobra Resources (LSE:COBR) is positioning itself at the forefront of Australia's critical minerals sector through a dual strategy: advancing two significant South Australian projects while actively influencing government policy on strategic reserves.

The company's flagship Boland rare earths project utilizes in-situ recovery (ISR) technology to extract dysprosium and terbium, targeting production costs of $60/kg NdPr—half the $120/kg required by conventional mining operations. This cost advantage forms the basis of management's ambition to become "the Kazatomprom of rare earths," replicating the Kazakh uranium producer's dominance through lowest-cost ISR operations. The company has achieved significant technical milestones, including proven ISR processes, proprietary sulfuric acid production from waste materials, and 100% cerium suppression that enhances product value by increasing heavy rare earth ratios to 48%.

Complementing the rare earths focus, Cobra's Manna Hill project offers substantial copper-molybdenum-gold-PGE potential. Historic drilling has returned exceptional results, including 4-8 meter intersections grading 2% molybdenum at the Blue Rose prospect. Current programs aim to demonstrate tier-one scale at shallow depths, with management targeting 50+ meter intersections exceeding 1% copper.

Beyond project development, Managing Director Rupert Verco has played a key role through the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) in shaping Australia's Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. The AMEC submission advocates for production support mechanisms modeled on Australia's Capacity Investment Scheme rather than floor pricing, which Verco argues would unfairly advantage higher-cost producers.

In 2025, Cobra expanded its land position by 3,200 square kilometers with favorable metallurgy confirmed, while divesting gold assets to Barton Gold for non-dilutive capital. The company holds approximately £5 million in in-the-money warrants and maintains a significant Barton Gold equity position, providing funding optionality as it pursues key 2026 milestones: defining a significant rare earths resource by June, completing a scoping study, and delivering copper-molybdenum drill results that could materially re-rate the asset.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/metals-exploration-lsemtl-nicaragua-build-on-track-dupax-abra-targets-add-long-term-upside-8132

Recording date: 4th February 2026

Metals Exploration, the AIM-listed gold producer, is executing a strategic transformation that will more than double its annual production to 140,000 ounces by 2027 through its La India project in Nicaragua. CEO Darren Bowden outlined the company's ambitious growth trajectory as construction proceeds ahead of schedule and within its revised budget parameters.

The company currently operates the Runruno mine in the Philippines, which is expected to produce approximately 55,000 ounces in 2026 before exhausting its reserves in December. However, cash flow from this operation is fully funding the development of La India without requiring significant equity dilution—a commitment management has emphasized to shareholders.

La India represents a substantial upgrade to Metals Exploration's production profile. The project will transition the company from open-pit to underground mining at higher grades and lower costs, with initial production targeting just over 100,000 ounces in 2027, ramping to 140,000 ounces as underground operations commence. The deposit contains 2.4 million ounces of resources supporting a 12-15 year mine life, with significant exploration upside across multiple epithermal vein systems.

Construction progress remains robust, with the company ending 2025 with $45 million in cash and all major capital expenditures committed. Management expects to generate over $100 million in free cash flow from Runruno operations, comfortably covering the remaining $90 million required to complete La India. The critical path centers on electrical infrastructure connections, while mechanical and steel erection work proceeds smoothly.

Beyond La India, Metals Exploration is actively pursuing construction-ready assets in Central America and Asia where its processing plant and experienced construction team can be redeployed following Runruno's closure. With a market capitalization exceeding £400 million and strong cash generation, the company is positioned to pursue opportunities in jurisdictions where other operators remain reluctant, leveraging direct government relationships and proven execution capabilities to access quality assets at attractive valuations.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/nine-mile-metals-csenine-vms-drilling-unlocks-expansion-potential-5410

Recording date: 5th February 2026

Nine Miles Metals (CSE: NINE) is emerging as a significant explorer in New Brunswick's Bathurst Mining Camp, controlling 140 square kilometers of continuous land across four volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) projects. Following a transformative year of advanced geophysical work, CEO Patrick Cruickshank has outlined an aggressive 2026 exploration strategy backed by recently completed $5.5 million financing providing two years of capital.

The company's flagship Nine Mile Brook project hosts what Cruickshank describes as the highest-grade lens ever recorded in Bathurst: 12% copper, 38% lead-zinc, 1,200 grams per ton silver, and 2.4 grams per ton gold over 15 meters of solid mineralization. While these exceptional grades present processing challenges—the hybrid nature requires specialized milling solutions—the company is developing a unique bulk sample processing approach with updates expected shortly.

The historic Wedge mine represents a different opportunity. This past-producing deposit operated by Caminco in the 1950s-60s was abandoned when its head pillar collapsed, leaving two-thirds of known mineralization in place. Recent drilling discovered an eastern extension with intercepts up to 134 meters, while a just-completed program tested depth and southwestern extensions with assays pending. Management targets proving 7-10 million tons at Wedge to reach economic thresholds.

Nine Miles Metals' competitive edge lies in systematic application of modern technology. The company flew 1,400 line kilometers of UAV drone geophysics, identifying 11 new mineralized trends. This approach delivered an 80% drill success rate at California Lake East, hitting mineralization in eight of ten holes.

With 185 million shares outstanding, reduced overhead ($300,000 annual savings from office relocation), and drilling costs of just $85-100 per meter in a jurisdiction offering 30-day permitting, the company is positioned to execute multiple 2026 catalysts: pending Wedge assays, April drilling resumption at both Nine Mile Brook and Wedge, and government-funded California Lake exploration—all while maintaining optionality for strategic partnerships or sector consolidation.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/serabi-gold-lsesrb-300-share-price-surge-underscores-brazil-focused-growth-strategy-7926

Recording date: 5th February 2026

Serabi Gold (LSE: SRB) has positioned itself as one of the sector's standout performers following a transformative 2025, with CEO Mike Ojenir outlining an ambitious yet fully-funded growth strategy in a recent investor update. The Brazilian-focused gold producer delivered record production of 44,000 ounces while growing cash reserves from $20 million to $54 million, despite investing $12 million in exploration—a testament to the company's exceptional cash generation capabilities.

For 2026, Serabi has set guidance of 54,000-57,000 ounces, representing up to 30% growth, with longer-term targets of 70,000-80,000 ounces by 2027-2028 and potential to approach 100,000 ounces thereafter. This expansion roadmap is underpinned by the installation of a fourth ball mill at the Palito processing plant, scheduled for Q3 2026, and the probable restart of the previously shuttered Sao Chico mine, which has become economically viable at current gold prices above $4,000 per ounce.

What distinguishes Serabi's growth story is its remarkable cost discipline and financial self-sufficiency. With 65% of costs derived from regulated inputs—including labor governed by predictable union agreements and government-subsidized diesel—the company maintains flat operating costs while capturing full margin expansion from elevated gold prices. Quarterly profits have surged from $6 million to a projected $13-14 million, enabling Serabi to fund all capital expenditures from cash flow without equity dilution or debt.

The company has also committed to returning approximately 25% of 2025 free cash flow to shareholders through dividends or buybacks, balancing growth investment with shareholder returns. Meanwhile, a $24 million two-year exploration program aims to grow resources from 1 million to 1.6 million ounces, providing the foundation for sustainable production scaling.

With permitting progress expected at the flagship Coringa project in 2026 and a debt-free balance sheet, Serabi exemplifies how established producers in stable jurisdictions can leverage operational excellence and favorable commodity prices to deliver compelling shareholder value without the execution risks of transformational M&A.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/integra-resources-tsxvitr-delamar-project-wins-fast-41-status-with-15-month-timeline-8943

Recording date: 5th February 2026

Integra Resources represents a differentiated investment opportunity among mid-tier gold producers, combining near-term cash generation from producing assets with a de-risked, high-quality development pipeline advancing toward construction decision. The company's $55 million equity financing, which attracted 12 new institutional investors in a three-times oversubscribed raise, validates the investment thesis during a period of sustained gold prices above $2,800 per ounce.

The financing was directly prompted by Fast-41 permitting designation from the Bureau of Land Management establishing a 15-month regulatory timeline for the DeLamar gold-silver project in Idaho, considerably faster than management anticipated and creating opportunity to accelerate development activities. This regulatory certainty differentiates DeLamar from peer projects facing uncertain multi-year permitting processes typical of U.S. mining development, whilst enabling detailed capital planning and proactive risk reduction through early works programmes.

Capital deployment focuses specifically on pre-permit activities including site preparation, infrastructure upgrades, critical land purchases, long-lead equipment orders, and detailed engineering work. These activities collectively de-risk construction timelines, demonstrate tangible development intent to federal regulators, and position Integra to commence construction rapidly following anticipated mid-2026 record of decision. The early works programme leverages DeLamar's status as a past-producing asset with existing infrastructure requiring selective upgrading rather than greenfield construction, reducing development risk and capital intensity compared to earlier-stage projects.

The equity commitment strategically strengthens Integra's position for H2 2026 project financing negotiations by reducing total debt requirements for construction funding, improving leverage ratios, and creating more favourable risk profiles for project lenders. This financial engineering approach potentially reduces overall cost of capital whilst demonstrating management's preference for proactive capital deployment over reactive positioning.

Florida Canyon heap leach operation in Nevada provides financial stability through $2,500 per ounce margins and sufficient cash flow to fund all corporate activities and operational reinvestment requirements without external capital. The producing asset reduces development risk compared to pure development companies whilst providing steady cash generation during DeLamar advancement. Management expects 2026 performance to mirror 2025 results, with mid-year feasibility study anticipated to demonstrate mine life extension beyond acquisition-case assumptions.

Institutional validation through generalist fund participation alongside traditional precious metals investors suggests broadening mainstream acceptance of gold producer equities as portfolio allocation tools. The oversubscribed financing during volatile market conditions demonstrates strong investor conviction in Integra's execution capabilities, development timeline certainty, and leveraged exposure to sustained precious metals prices.

The investment thesis combines multiple catalysts converging within defined timelines: producing operations generating steady cash flow, accelerated permitting pathway reducing regulatory risk, early works programme de-risking construction timelines, upcoming project financing discussions in H2 2026, and construction decision anticipated shortly after mid-2026 record of decision. This sequencing provides near-term development visibility uncommon among mid-tier producers, whilst sustained gold prices above $2,800 per ounce enhance project economics and cash generation profiles across both assets.

For investors seeking exposure to precious metals through established producers with near-term growth catalysts, Integra offers differentiated risk-reward positioning: financial stability from producing assets, de-risked development pipeline benefiting from regulatory certainty, proven management execution capabilities, and institutional validation during a favourable commodity price environment. The strategic financing positions the company to advance DeLamar efficiently whilst maintaining operational stability and financial flexibility across the portfolio.

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Olive Resource Capital executives Derek Macpherson and Samuel Pelaez discussed the sharp correction in precious metals markets during their February 2nd investor update, providing context for the volatility and outlining their investment strategy moving forward.

Gold and silver experienced significant declines on January 30th, falling 9% and 26% respectively, effectively erasing approximately two weeks of gains. Despite this sharp correction, both metals remained positive for the month, with January ranking as the fifth-best performing month for gold since the December 2015 market bottom. The fund itself posted a 12% gain for January despite the month-end selloff.

The managers characterized the correction as technical rather than fundamental, noting that key systemic risk indicators remained stable throughout the volatility. High-yield credit spreads, option-adjusted bond spreads, and overnight repo rates showed no signs of financial stress, leading them to conclude that "the plumbing of the system is working fine." They attributed the selloff to a large institutional participant unwinding positions, possibly ahead of month-end requirements, rather than any deterioration in underlying market fundamentals.

Looking ahead, the managers identified upcoming fourth-quarter earnings reports from major gold producers as a significant catalyst. Beginning with Agnico Eagle on February 12th, these reports should showcase exceptional cash flow generation, with gold prices averaging $700 per ounce higher than the previous quarter. The expected announcements of dividend increases, share buybacks, and debt reduction should support equity valuations.

The fund maintains heavy precious metals exposure while gradually rotating toward industrial commodities and base metals. This strategy reflects their thesis that monetary policy-driven gains in precious metals will broaden to include industrial commodities as fiscal stimulus reaches the real economy. The managers remain confident in the commodity bull market thesis, viewing the recent correction as a tactical pause rather than a trend reversal.

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Recording date: 2nd February 2026

The global nickel market is undergoing a fundamental transformation that is creating investment opportunities in Western-controlled supply chains. Andrew Penkethman, CEO of Ardea Resources, and Mark Selby, CEO of Canada Nickel, recently discussed how their large-scale projects in Australia and Canada are positioned to capitalise on this shift.

After two challenging years dominated by Indonesian supply flooding global markets, the landscape is changing. Since December 2025, nickel prices have risen approximately $4,500 per ton as Indonesia transitions from overwhelming production to active supply management. Selby characterises Indonesia as "an OPEC of one country," now implementing quota controls rather than unrestricted output. Price increases across the entire supply chain—from ore to nickel pig iron to stainless steel—indicate genuine market tightness rather than temporary speculation.

Both executives emphasise a critical distinction between their new development projects and the aging operations that closed in 2024. Legacy assets from BHP and First Quantum represent 30-year-old mines with declining grades, increasing costs, and years of underinvestment. In contrast, Ardea's Goongarrie Hub and Canada Nickel's Crawford project offer fresh economics with 30-50+ year mine lives, substantial resources, and modern processing capabilities that position them favourably on the cost curve.

Strategic validation has arrived through significant partnerships. Ardea secured $98.5 million in definitive feasibility study funding from Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsubishi Corporation, whilst Canada Nickel attracted Anglo American, Agnico Eagle, and Samsung SDI as investors. These experienced institutions seek long-term supply arrangements spanning decades, not speculative positions.

Government support is accelerating development timelines. Both projects have received major project status enabling streamlined permitting and access to sovereign wealth fund financing. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney personally promotes the Crawford project to Middle Eastern investors, whilst Australia develops an "investor front door" program for critical minerals projects.

The investment thesis extends beyond electric vehicles into broader critical minerals security. Chinese interests control approximately 80% of refined nickel supply, creating strategic vulnerabilities that Western governments address through supply chain diversification initiatives. With defence spending increasing globally and only a handful of quality nickel projects advancing worldwide, both companies expect construction decisions in 2026-2027.

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/energy-fuels-nyseuuuu-americas-critical-minerals-champion-2025s-best-uranium-stock-returns-8965

Recording date: 29th January 2026

Energy Fuels, a leading U.S. uranium and critical minerals producer, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) through a scheme of arrangement valued at under 6% of its share registry. The transaction represents a significant milestone in Energy Fuels' strategy to build vertical integration across the rare earth supply chain, adding metals and alloys production capabilities to complement its existing separation operations at the White Mesa mill in Utah.

ASM brings immediate production capability through its South Korean facility, which currently produces approximately 1,300 tons per annum of neodymium-iron-boron alloy—a critical material for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and clean energy applications. The facility is already expanding to 3,600 tons per annum in Phase 2, with plans for Phase 3 expansion to 5,600 tons. Additionally, ASM had been developing plans for a U.S. facility with phased development up to 4,000 tons per annum, providing Energy Fuels with domestic production capabilities that align with government initiatives to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth supply chains.

The acquisition also includes the Dubbo project in New South Wales, Australia—a permitted rare earth development that adds another feed source to Energy Fuels' growing portfolio. The project is being re-evaluated using a heap leach processing approach that significantly reduces capital requirements by producing an intermediate concentrate for shipment to White Mesa mill rather than building full on-site separation facilities.

CEO Mark Chalmers emphasized that vertical integration addresses a fundamental challenge in the rare earth industry: fragmentation. By controlling multiple steps from separation through alloys production, Energy Fuels expects to improve margins by up to 20% while positioning itself as a strategic partner for government programs and commercial customers seeking integrated solutions. The transaction is expected to close by the end of June 2026, following shareholder votes and court approvals under Australian law.

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Olive Resource Capital executives Derek Macpherson and Samuel Pelaez recorded their latest market commentary during a pivotal moment in late January 2026, as precious metals experienced both historic gains and a subsequent correction. Gold surpassed $5,100 while silver exceeded $120 before both metals pulled back, yet still positioned to deliver potentially the best monthly performance on record following 2025's exceptional year.

The correction, while notable, was characterised by the executives as a healthy consolidation rather than a reversal of underlying trends. Pelaez emphasised that fundamental drivers supporting precious metals remained intact, including expanding global liquidity at all-time highs and persistent supply constraints. Technical indicators showed overbought conditions with relative strength indices in the 90s range, but the executives noted such conditions can persist for extended periods without signaling imminent reversals.

Macpherson's attendance at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference revealed dramatic shifts in market participation. Conference attendance exceeded levels seen in the previous decade, with one small-cap exploration company reporting over 150 investor booth visits. This contrasted sharply with recent years when sparse attendance left companies pitching to neighbouring exhibitors rather than actual investors.

Capital markets activity reflected this heightened interest, with private placements routinely exceeding $20-25 million. Institutional investors who participated in mid-2025 financings returned with substantially larger commitments in January 2026, reflecting strong portfolio performance and capital rotation into the mining sector.

Despite the rally in metal prices, Pelaez argued that mining equities, particularly developers and explorers, have not yet reflected $5,000 gold in their valuations. Upcoming first-quarter earnings should demonstrate significant margin expansion, as producers benefit from $700 quarterly increases in realised gold prices flowing directly to bottom lines. 

The executives maintained that mining equities retain appreciation potential even if commodity prices stabilise at current levels, presenting ongoing opportunities for investors willing to navigate near-term volatility while maintaining conviction in the sector's long-term trajectory.

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Recording date: 26th January 2026

NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ: NB) is accelerating toward project financing for its Elk Creek critical minerals facility in Nebraska, backed by over $300 million in cash and intensifying support from US government agencies. The company raised $370 million in 2025, including a $10 million Department of Defense grant that funded reserve upgrades and engineering work critical to securing Export-Import Bank financing.

Executive Chairman Mark Smith reports unprecedented momentum with the US Export-Import Bank, which designated NioCorp as a "very top priority project" in December 2025. "In the last two weeks, I have received more emails and more phone calls from EXIM than I did in all of 2025," Smith said, describing the pace as "Trump speed." The company expects binding commitments by Q2 2026 for a 65% debt, 35% equity structure totaling $780 million.

Project economics have been dramatically enhanced by surging rare earth prices. Neodymium-praseodymium oxide has doubled from $55/kg in July 2025 to $110-120/kg, while heavy rare earths show even more striking differentials—dysprosium at $1,250/kg outside China versus $250/kg domestically. These pricing improvements will be reflected in the company's mid-March feasibility study update.

NioCorp has commenced detailed engineering for a $45 million underground mine portal project starting February 2026, demonstrating management confidence in near-term financing. The project offers exceptional margins of approximately $450-475 per ton, with $700 in revenue against $225-250 in processing costs across four critical minerals: niobium, scandium, titanium, and magnetic rare earths.

The company has secured definitive offtake agreements for 75% of ferroniobium production and 12 tons annually of scandium, with additional announcements expected through April. NioCorp is also negotiating with the Department of Defense for support similar to recent arrangements with MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, positioning the project as critical to US supply chain independence for materials currently 100% imported.

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Recording date: 29th January 2026

Power Metallic (TSXV: PNPN) is advancing one of the world's rarest deposit types—an orthomagmatic polymetallic discovery at its NISK project in Quebec. CEO Terry Lynch recently outlined the company's significant 2025 achievements and ambitious 2026 plans, positioning the explorer for a transition toward mine development.

The company's most significant 2025 milestone was a metallurgical study delivering exceptional 95% recovery rates across its metal suite, substantially exceeding the 80% modeled. Specific recoveries include copper at 98.9%, palladium at 93.9%, platinum at 96.8%, gold at 85%, and silver at 88.9%. These results address a primary concern in polymetallic projects and, combined with near-surface mineralisation, position NISK as a low-capital, high-margin opportunity with estimated internal rates of return approaching 100%.

Power Metallic also successfully consolidated its land position, acquiring seven of eight priority targets around the discovery. Orthomagmatic deposits are exceptionally rare—only 20 discovered globally—with 19 of 20 developing into multi-mine districts. The company now controls a land package six times larger than at the discovery stage, providing district-scale development potential.

The company raised $50 million in 2025 and currently holds approximately $33 million cash, fully funding its aggressive 2026 program without near-term financing needs. Plans include 100,000 meters of drilling using five rigs expanding to seven, testing four transformative exploration targets beyond the known Lion zone. The "Elephant" target, emerging from borehole electromagnetic surveys, theoretically measures five times Lion's size and represents the largest anomaly the technical team has encountered.

Beyond Quebec, Power Metallic is diversifying its portfolio through a Chilean Metals spinout (TSXV listing expected within weeks) consolidating copper-gold assets near the Candelaria mine, plus three large-scale Saudi Arabian concessions offering significantly lower exploration costs and unprecedented government incentives including 75% project financing at 1% interest rates.

With commodity prices strengthening across its metal portfolio and multiple near-term catalysts including drill results and a preliminary economic assessment targeted for Q4 2026 or Q1 2027, Power Metallic is positioning for significant rerating as markets recognize the development potential of this rare discovery.

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Recording date: 29th January 2026

Pulsar Helium is developing the Topaz Project in Minnesota, positioning itself as a potential solution to America's persistent helium supply challenges. Led by President and CEO Thomas Abraham-James, the company has systematically de-risked its primary helium discovery through 2025, setting the stage for a transformative 2026 with multiple value-defining catalysts on the horizon.

The United States represents the world's largest helium market yet has experienced persistent shortages over the past 15 years. Unlike most commodities, helium exists primarily as a byproduct of natural gas production, creating significant supply inflexibility. Major producers outside the United States—Qatar, Algeria, and Russia—present both geopolitical risks and logistical challenges, with helium's molecular properties causing product loss during the four-week shipping transit.

Pulsar specializes in primary helium resources, where helium exists as the principal gas rather than a byproduct. The Topaz Project has delivered five consecutive successful wells, all intersecting helium-bearing gas zones with concentrations of 8-10%—significantly exceeding the 2% economic threshold. These wells flow naturally to surface without hydraulic fracturing, and approximately 85% of the raw gas stream appears marketable.

The October 2025 announcement of helium-3 presence garnered particular market attention. This ultra-rare isotope, valued at $18.5 million per kilogram, is currently being pursued through lunar mining programs funded by the U.S. and Chinese governments. Pulsar's terrestrial alternative offers concentrations comparable to the moon's surface but in gaseous form, making extraction significantly simpler. Helium-3 is critical for quantum computing applications, enabling optimal processing at near-absolute-zero temperatures.

Looking ahead, flow testing scheduled for February through May 2026 will provide critical reservoir data, followed by a resource update and the company's first economic study expected mid-2026. Recent warrant exercises and efficient drilling costs have strengthened Pulsar's financial position, providing sufficient capital through these key milestones. Abraham-James characterized the coming six months as "fast and furious" as the company transitions from exploration to engineering-ready status.

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Recording date: 23rd January 2026

Tudor Gold Corp. has released an updated mineral resource estimate for its Goldstorm deposit at Treaty Creek in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, reporting 24.9 million ounces of gold equivalent in the indicated category with an additional 4 million ounces inferred. The 15% increase in indicated resources positions the project as a potential tier-one asset as the company accelerates development plans targeting production.

President and CEO Joseph Ovsenek emphasized the company's focus on higher-grade mineralization to optimize economics. The resource update includes sensitivity analyses at different net smelter revenue cutoff values. At a $125 per ton NSR cutoff, the deposit contains 5.8 million indicated ounces plus 2.6 million inferred ounces. At the more selective $175 per ton NSR cutoff, resources total 3.4 million indicated ounces and 2.4 million inferred ounces.

The grade profile at higher cutoffs becomes particularly attractive. At the $175 per ton NSR cutoff, indicated grade averages 2.33 grams per ton gold while inferred averages 4.02 grams per ton. Combined, this approaches three grams per ton gold equivalent without copper and silver credits.

The 15% resource increase came primarily from enhanced modeling techniques employing 5-meter blocks at grade boundaries rather than new drilling. Tudor Gold is pursuing concurrent mine planning and metallurgical studies expected to complete this quarter, targeting a Preliminary Economic Assessment by Q3 2026. The development strategy focuses on underground mining using long-hole stoping methods at 8,000-10,000 tons per day supporting annual production around 300,000 ounces.

The company has filed permits for underground ramp development to enable infill drilling and expects approval in 2026. A substantial exploration program budgeting 10,000-15,000 meters will target Perfectstorm, CBS, and Eureka zones with an objective of developing an additional 5 million ounce resource beyond Goldstorm.

With gold prices approaching $5,000 per ounce, Tudor Gold reported receiving unsolicited financing approaches, providing capital optionality to advance development on its preferred timeline.

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Recording date: 23rd January 2026

New Found Gold Corporation has commenced the execution phase of its flagship Queensway gold project in Newfoundland by awarding the engineering, procurement and construction management contract to WSP Canada. The appointment culminates a competitive selection process involving seven firms and positions the company to achieve first production in late 2027 through an integrated development strategy coordinating engineering, environmental permitting, and project financing.

The development plan centres on expanding the acquired Pine Cove mill to 1,400 tonnes per day capacity by converting the facility from flotation to a gravity-CIL circuit and adding a parallel processing train using equipment relocated from the Nugget Pond facility. This approach leverages existing permitted infrastructure obtained through the Maritime Resources acquisition rather than constructing greenfield facilities, reducing both capital requirements and development timeline risk. Pine Cove currently processes 700 tonnes per day from the Hammerdown mine, which is ramping to steady-state production in the first half of 2026 and will generate cash flow during Queensway development.

CEO Keith Boyle's selection of an EPCM (Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management) contract structure over traditional EPC reflects management's experience in project delivery and prioritisation of execution certainty over aggressive cost minimisation. The EPCM approach allows collaborative execution with WSP while maintaining owner involvement and flexibility for design optimisation as engineering advances. WSP was selected from five proposals based on relevant mill expansion experience and commenced preliminary work before year-end, establishing early integration with New Found Gold's permitting and financing timelines.

The company has structured its path to production around three parallel workstreams coordinated by COO Robert Assabgui. Vice President of Sustainability Jared Saunders is advancing the environmental assessment application through Stantech, targeting submission in Q1 2026. Stantech secured Firefly Metals' environmental approval in 45 days during 2025, providing a relevant precedent for timeline expectations. The environmental assessment process operates independently of WSP's engineering advancement, allowing simultaneous progress without creating schedule dependencies.

Meanwhile, Cutfield Freeman is structuring project financing for Queensway development, with management reporting strong interest from potential financing partners. The financing workstream must align with engineering schedules to ensure capital availability for long-lead equipment purchases and construction mobilisation following permit approvals. These represent the next critical milestones following environmental assessment approval.

The investment case combines multiple elements: de-risked development through acquired infrastructure, experienced management executing proven development models, near-term catalysts providing sequential de-risking opportunities, Newfoundland's permitting certainty, and management's reported financing confidence. The Hammerdown production ramp provides near-term cash flow while Queensway advances through development, creating a portfolio structure with both production and development components.

Investors should monitor environmental assessment approval, financing commitment announcement, and long-lead equipment procurement as key milestones over the next 12-18 months. Each milestone achievement should reduce perceived execution risk and potentially re-rate valuation toward production-stage multiples. The late 2027 production target provides a defined investment horizon for evaluating execution progress, while the current gold price environment above $4,500 per ounce provides economic headroom supporting proper engineering investment without compromising project returns.

New Found Gold's disciplined approach to service provider selection and integrated execution framework positions the company to differentiate itself among junior developers through demonstrated execution capability rather than aggressive timelines with minimal professional support.

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Recording date: 22nd January 2026

As gold approaches $5,000 per ounce, Precipitate Gold Corporation has positioned itself for an aggressive exploration campaign across two promising Dominican Republic projects. The junior explorer recently closed a C$6.5 million financing in early January 2026, bringing its treasury to C$9.5 million with no underlying work commitments on its 100%-owned properties.

The most significant development for Precipitate has been the dramatic de-risking of the Dominican Republic as a mining jurisdiction through neighbor GoldQuest Mining Corp.'s success. GoldQuest's share price surged from C$0.16 to over C$2.00 in twelve months as the company advanced its Romero project through environmental approval toward a bankable feasibility study. This progression validated that projects in the Dominican Republic can advance to production, opening capital access for regional explorers.

Precipitate's recent financing was notably supported by Dominican investors who watched their peers profit from early GoldQuest positions. According to President and CEO Jeffrey Wilson, wealthy Dominican business individuals who passed on GoldQuest at lower prices are now seeking similar opportunities in the district.

The company has identified two near-term drill catalysts. At Pueblo Grande, which surrounds Barrick Gold's Pueblo Viejo mine, Precipitate discovered an untested chargeability anomaly following comprehensive review of historical data. The company plans to test this target with 5-8 drill holes at 100-350 meter depths in a permitted, accessible area with geophysical characteristics similar to Pueblo Viejo mineralisation.

At Juan de Herrera, adjacent to GoldQuest's Romero deposit, Precipitate has advanced four to five targets to drill-ready status through twelve months of geochemistry, mapping, and geophysics work. The 40-kilometer shared claim boundary with GoldQuest positions the company within the same geological district for potential "string of pearls" style mineralisation.

Wilson emphasized that all factors have aligned for the first time in Precipitate's 13-year history: drill-ready targets, strong gold prices, capital availability, and responsive market conditions following years of disciplined capital preservation.

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Recording date: 23rd January 2026

EraNova Metals represents a compelling asymmetric investment opportunity in the critical minerals sector, combining an advanced-stage molybdenum development project trading at a substantial discount to peers with emerging high-grade silver exploration upside that remains unrecognised by current valuation.

Under newly appointed President and CEO Meredith Eades, EraNova has repositioned around a dual-path value creation strategy centred on its 30,000-hectare Ruby Creek property in British Columbia. The company's 433 million pound molybdenum resource benefits from $30 million in existing infrastructure, historical feasibility study and environmental approval, and simple metallurgy requiring straightforward processing. Working with engineering firm Tetra Tech to advance toward preliminary economic assessment, EraNova is updating project economics to reflect improving molybdenum market fundamentals with minimal additional drilling required due to comprehensive historical work.

The valuation opportunity is striking. At approximately $10 million market capitalisation, investors acquire the Ruby Creek infrastructure at 33 cents on the dollar before accounting for the molybdenum resource itself. Trading at 2.5 cents per pound of molybdenum in-ground versus comparable developers at 5-35 cents, EraNova presents potential for 2-14x re-rating as the PEA demonstrates project economics and strategic partnership discussions advance. Management has confirmed active interest from potential partners exploring joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and offtake agreements—structures that could fund development whilst preserving shareholder value.

The exploration dimension provides additional upside optionality currently ignored by market valuation. A 1,585-pound bulk sample from the Silver Surprise zone yielded a 14.3-ounce silver bar through simple crushing and gravity separation, with grades of 4,200 grams per tonne silver and 95% recoveries. Three parallel surface veins extending up to 180 metres offer compelling drill targets, whilst strengthening silver prices above $30 per ounce enhance the economics of potential direct shipping ore scenarios. This near-term revenue generation potential offers an anti-dilutive funding mechanism for continued exploration across seven distinct mineralised zones showing copper-gold-silver-tungsten potential.

Management's capital structure and alignment merit investor attention. The operations manager and chief geologist both hold significant equity positions and work without cash compensation, ensuring decisions prioritise shareholder value creation. The autumn financing round came together efficiently with participation from both long-term shareholders and new investors, demonstrating market confidence in the strategic vision whilst maintaining the company's stated focus on execution and disciplined capital allocation.

The macro backdrop supports both elements of EraNova's investment thesis. Molybdenum serves critical functions in high-strength steel alloys for infrastructure, pipelines, and construction, with emerging demand from offshore wind, nuclear power, and hydrogen infrastructure supporting steady price improvement. Government emphasis on domestic critical mineral production in stable jurisdictions enhances the strategic value of Canadian molybdenum supply. Simultaneously, silver benefits from monetary uncertainty, industrial demand growth, and supply constraints.

For investors seeking exposure to critical minerals development with precious metals exploration leverage, EraNova presents compelling risk-reward at current valuation. The combination of near-term PEA catalyst, potential strategic partnership announcements, 2026 exploration results, and substantial valuation discount to peers creates multiple pathways for value recognition as the market adjusts to the company's repositioned focus and demonstrated progress on both development and exploration fronts.

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Recording date: 23rd January 2026

Americas Gold & Silver has delivered a remarkable operational turnaround, achieving 2.65 million ounces of silver production in 2025 - the highest output in 20 years and the highest grade at its flagship Galena mine in two decades. This represents a 52% year-over-year production increase, demonstrating the effectiveness of new management's operational improvements since taking control in October 2024.

The company recently completed a transformative $130 million acquisition of the Crescent Silver Mine, located just nine miles from Galena. Crescent features a resource exceeding 20 million ounces at over 600 grams per ton - double Galena's current mining grade. The proximity enables significant synergies, with ore from Crescent feeding directly into Galena's existing mill infrastructure. Management has already reduced power costs at Crescent from 65 cents to 5 cents per kilowatt-hour and plans to invest $20-25 million in development during 2026, with production expected to ramp through 2027-2028.

Executive Vice President Oliver Turner emphasized the company's execution-focused approach: "We just got to execute on what we say we're going to do and deliver, deliver, deliver. That's what we've started to do already at Americas Gold and Silver and will continue to do in the years ahead."
Looking ahead, the company plans an unprecedented exploration campaign with 15-20 drills across its asset base in 2026. Recent discoveries include the high-grade 34 vein at Galena, which intersected 983 grams per ton silver with an expanded conceptual target of 6-7 million ounces. The exploration potential extends to Cosala in Mexico, where seven outcropping targets remain untested.

Strategically, Galena operates as the largest active antimony mine in the United States, producing continuously since 1942. With new offtake contracts effective January 2026 providing payment for all byproducts and antimony designated as a critical mineral priority, the company offers unique exposure to both precious metals and strategic materials. Backed by over 60% institutional ownership and robust capitalization, Americas Gold & Silver combines operational execution with significant growth catalysts across production, exploration, and strategic mineral positioning.

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Recording date: 22nd January 2026

Verdera Energy represents a focused opportunity to gain exposure to New Mexico uranium development through the state's largest land holding and most comprehensive data package. The company controls 400 square miles of mineral rights alongside 88 million pounds of historical uranium resources distributed across four in-situ recovery projects, following its strategic spin-out from production-oriented enCore Energy.

New Mexico's uranium credentials provide compelling jurisdictional context. The state accounts for 40% of all uranium produced in the United States and hosts the only commercial enrichment facility in the country, creating existing nuclear fuel cycle infrastructure. As CEO Janet Lee Sheriff noted, New Mexico could be known as the seventh largest uranium producing district in the world.

The $20 million qualifying transaction led by Haywood and SCP Resource Finance at $1.00 per subscription receipt provides substantial working capital relative to typical exploration-stage uranium developers. This financing positions Verdera to simultaneously advance multiple projects rather than pursuing sequential, capital-constrained development. TSXV listing under symbol "V" is expected within weeks following completion of the reverse takeover with POCML7.

Verdera's project portfolio spans various advancement stages, anchored by the Crownpoint-Hosta project's NI 43-101 compliant resource of approximately 28 million pounds. West Largo stands out as the highest-grade ISR project in the United States at 0.3% U₃O₈—substantially exceeding typical ISR deposits operating at 0.05-0.15% grades—with approximately 20 million pounds of historical resources. This exceptional grade potentially offers superior project economics through reduced processing volumes and lower operating costs per pound recovered.

The company's control of approximately 90% of all uranium exploration data in New Mexico creates strategic competitive advantages unavailable to potential competitors. This data consolidation, comprising the majority of URI and Kerr McGee databases, de-risks exploration across existing landholdings whilst enabling identification of additional acquisition or joint venture opportunities using proprietary information.

EnCore Energy's retained 14% stake creates alignment whilst providing access to production-focused technical expertise developed through Texas ISR operations. This partnership proves particularly relevant for Ambrosia Lake, where enCore brings knowledge of satellite central processing plant configurations that could reduce infrastructure requirements.
The investment thesis extends beyond individual project merits to encompass broader domestic supply security dynamics. Despite operating the world's largest commercial reactor fleet with 94 operating units generating approximately 20% of domestic electricity, the United States produces less than 5% of required uranium. The Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act signed in 2024 eliminates a source that previously supplied approximately 20% of US reactor requirements, intensifying focus on domestic production.
Four New Mexico uranium projects now participate in the FAST-41 permitting programme designed to streamline federal permitting for infrastructure projects of national significance. Combined with state-level engagement through the Clean Energy Association of New Mexico, the regulatory environment shows signs of improvement as domestic supply chain priorities intensify.
First-year priorities focus on modernising West Largo's historical resource to current NI 43-101 standards whilst executing drill programmes to expand the resource base. Ambrosia Lake will pursue a dual-track approach combining ISR drilling with permitting advancement, leveraging enCore's technical expertise and the project's historical conventional mining infrastructure.
For investors seeking exposure to domestic uranium supply re-emergence, Verdera offers a consolidated vehicle capturing New Mexico's geological prospectivity, established infrastructure, and evolving regulatory support through the state's dominant land position and comprehensive data package.

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Recording date: 23rd January 2026

Laramide Resources has strategically repositioned its portfolio following Kazakhstan's effective nationalization of uranium exploration through legislation requiring 75-90% state ownership in future joint ventures. After securing substantial land packages and completing initial targeting work, the company was preparing to drill when the government introduced rules that CEO Marc Henderson characterized as making commercial development "unviable." The decision represents a significant shift in Kazakhstan's approach to its strategic uranium assets, despite maintaining western-style mining codes for other minerals.

With Kazakhstan no longer viable, Laramide has refocused on its Churchrock in-situ recovery project in New Mexico, which is advancing toward Q2 2027 permitting under the federal FAST-41 process. The project offers compelling economics with operating costs estimated at approximately $30 per pound—positioning it in the lower quartile of the global cost curve—while current uranium prices hover around $85. Churchrock will commence production at 1 million pounds annually with expansion capacity to 3 million pounds, benefiting from Laramide's ownership of processing infrastructure that provides competitive advantages over peers requiring third-party toll milling.

Henderson emphasized growing supply-demand imbalances as global uranium demand projects to 400 million pounds by 2040 while Kazakhstan and other major producers face declining reserve profiles. The market has entered its first year of primary deficit, yet utilities have been slow to secure long-term supply contracts. The CEO drew parallels to silver markets, which required years of physical deficits before prices responded materially.

The company's Australian Westmoreland project—containing 65 million pounds with potential 5-million-pound annual production—remains politically constrained despite Australia's commitment to nuclear submarine programs. However, Boss Resources' acquisition of approximately 20% of Laramide signals external validation of the asset's strategic value. Henderson noted the low-technical-risk open-pit operation could unlock substantial value if political obstacles resolve.

Looking forward, Henderson emphasized the industry's need for horizontal consolidation to create diversified mid-tier producers generating 8-10 million pounds annually, as utilities require supply diversification beyond major producers and junior developers.

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Recording date: 20th January 2026

Astra Exploration (TSXV:ASTR) is aggressively advancing its flagship La Manchuria precious metals project in Argentina following encouraging initial drilling results that have validated management's exploration thesis. CEO Brian Miller outlined the company's progress and 2026 strategy in a recent discussion covering exploration results, geological interpretation, and capital allocation priorities.

The company's most significant achievement was securing La Manchuria in mid-2024 and completing an inaugural drill program in early 2025 that intersected exceptional near-surface grades. Miller emphasized the quality of mineralization: "The grades that we've intersected there, they're not common to get repeat grades because I'm literally talking about ounces of gold and kilograms of silver in open drill intercepts near surface. And they're not one-offs. We've repeated several of those."

Critically, Phase 1 results demonstrated that the mineralized system extends well beyond previous geological interpretations. The project was thought to be faulted off at both ends along strike, but Astra has proven the system continues in both directions with new parallel zones identified. This expansion fundamentally changes the scale potential, with the deposit now opening up in multiple dimensions including at depth.

Astra initiated a 10,000-meter Phase 2 drill program in October 2025, with the first half focused on extending the surface footprint through shallow drilling and the second half targeting deeper zones starting March 2026. Assays from the initial phase are currently pending and expected to provide critical information about lateral continuity and the effectiveness of geophysical targeting methodology.

Rather than rushing toward formal resource estimation, management is prioritizing demonstration of scale through step-out drilling. This capital-efficient approach aims to prove system extent before the expensive, dilutive infill drilling required for resource definition. The company maintains its original thesis of multi-million-ounce potential.

Argentina's unprecedented political and economic reforms have attracted major mining companies including Lundin, BHP, Kinross, and Barrick to deploy significant capital in the country, validating the jurisdiction and reducing perceived country risk. Management views 2026 as having potential to match or exceed 2025's success, with near-term valuation dependent on pending assay results that will determine how much metal the expanded system contains.

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Recording date: 20th January 2026

Capitan Silver is entering 2026 with significant momentum following a transformative year that repositioned its Cruz de Plata silver project in Durango, Mexico. CEO Alberto Rosco outlined an ambitious exploration program backed by a recent $29 million financing that will fund 60,000 meters of drilling across what the company now recognizes as a complete mineral system rather than a simple silver trend.

The strategic shift came through property consolidation that expanded the project from 7 kilometers to 20 kilometers of vein targets. Through systematic mapping and sampling, the geological team identified that high-grade silver mineralization sits near the contact between an intrusive body and sedimentary rocks, with this controlling structure extending westward and northward in a circular pattern. The company also eliminated a significant royalty and increased gold resources at the adjacent Capitan Hill deposit by 115% to 525,000 ounces.

Rosco emphasized that Cruz de Plata's outcropping nature provides substantial cost advantages throughout exploration and potential development. Most previous drilling remained in the top 150 meters, with the 2026 program designed to extend testing to 150-300 meters depth on the advanced Jesus Maria trend while using reverse circulation rigs for rapid, cost-effective testing of new targets to the west, north, and within the intrusive itself.

Management remains focused on building an operating mine rather than pursuing early monetization, drawing on the team's experience developing and operating projects in Mexico through their previous work at Argonaut Gold. "We're developing this for the long haul. We see a very big system here and we're very excited about it," Rosco stated, comparing Cruz de Plata to successful intermediate sulfidation deposits like Penasquito and MAG Silver's Juanicipio.

With approximately 50 unreleased drill holes from the previous program and multiple rigs operating simultaneously in 2026, investors can expect consistent news flow as Capitan Silver works to demonstrate the scale of its expanded mineral system.

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Recording date: 20th January 2026

Hawk Resources has successfully raised A$5 million to fund an aggressive exploration campaign across two high-potential critical minerals projects, with the capital raise closing within an hour of opening due to strong investor demand. The oversubscribed raise demonstrates market confidence in the company's dual-pronged strategy targeting near-term copper-gold catalysts in Utah alongside a potentially transformational scandium opportunity in Western Australia.

Managing Director Scott Caithness confirmed drilling has commenced at the company's flagship Cactus copper-gold project in Utah, with a 4,000-meter program testing six previously undrilled targets. The project carries significant historical pedigree, having been mined between 1905 and 1920 at grades of 2% copper with meaningful gold credits. Recent verification drilling by Hawk intersected 30 meters at 1.8% copper from surface, confirming the presence of high-grade mineralisation that remains accessible for modern exploration techniques.

The company has allocated approximately A$3 million toward the Cactus drilling campaign, with results expected to flow from March 2026 onwards. Hawk's systematic approach integrates geophysical data, historical drilling records, and the first-ever project-wide soil sampling program to identify high-priority targets. The Copperopolis target exemplifies this methodology—a large chargeability anomaly with encouraging surface geochemistry that has never been drill-tested, despite a 1974 hole nearby intersecting 30 meters at 2% copper.

Complementing the Utah copper focus, Hawk has reserved A$1-1.5 million to advance its recently acquired scandium project in Western Australia. The asset features a 4 kilometer by 7 kilometer soil anomaly with scandium grades exceeding 500 parts per million, reaching peaks of 1,200 ppm in a commodity currently worth $3,400 per kilogram. Historical shallow drilling intersected significant scandium mineralisation, though verification through laboratory assays remains the immediate priority.

Caithness positions Hawk as a critical metals company with copper focus, offering investors exposure to supply-constrained commodities essential for electrification and advanced manufacturing while maintaining strategic optionality through its diversified project portfolio.

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Recording date: 20th January 2026

Chalice Mining is developing the Western world's leading palladium-nickel-copper project at Gonneville, discovered in 2020 near Perth, Australia. The project has advanced from discovery to prefeasibility study (PFS) stage, with Final Investment Decision (FID) and construction planned for 2028-29.

The project's exceptional economics stem from open-pit mining starting at surface level, delivering all-in sustaining costs of $370/oz compared to $900-1,800/oz for South African competitors operating deep underground mines. This positions Gonneville in the second quartile of the global cost curve. The PFS demonstrates a 23-year mine life with NPV8 of A$3.3 billion at current prices and 40% IRR, producing 170,000 oz/year initially and scaling to 250,000 oz/year in stage two.

Palladium prices have surged 105% from $880/oz to $1,800/oz over seven months, driven by supply constraints with over 90% production concentrated in Russia and South Africa. Demand remains resilient as electric vehicle adoption progresses slower than anticipated, supporting hybrid vehicles that require palladium catalytic converters.

Chalice's two-stage development strategy balances ambition with capital discipline. Stage one requires A$820 million capex, fundable through 50-70% debt financing given strong project margins and abundant critical minerals financing from sovereign wealth providers. The company has invested A$325 million in technical work, including A$15 million on metallurgical testing—significantly more than typical junior miners at this stage.

A simplified flowsheet redesign produces three standard products processable by conventional smelters, eliminating downstream technology risk. The project's Perth location provides infrastructure advantages and residential workforce access, reducing capital requirements to A$200-250 million versus multi-billion dollar bills for remote projects.

With regulatory approvals expected in early 2028, Chalice offers rare exposure to palladium development outside Russian and South African dominance in a structurally constrained supply market.

View Chalice Mining's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/chalice-mining

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cartier-resources-tsxvecr-agnico-backed-junior-targets-mining-camp-scale-gold-discovery-8319

Recording date: 19th January 2026

Cartier Resources represents a compelling investment opportunity in Canadian gold exploration, combining exceptional drilling economics, strategic backing from Agnico Eagle Mines, and systematic execution of a mining camp-scale discovery programme across 15 kilometres of Quebec's prolific Cadillac Fault.

The investment thesis centres on resource growth from the current 3.2 million ounce baseline at the flagship Chimo Mine toward 4-5 million ounces by year-end 2026, with longer-term potential for 12-15 million ounces across multiple deposits. Independent consultants have formally identified exploration targets for an additional 1.1 million ounces achievable through disciplined drilling, validating management's systematic approach to proving up a mining camp rather than a single-asset development story.

Cartier's operational advantages stem directly from location within Val-d'Or's established mining infrastructure. The company has secured all-in drilling costs of C$105-110 per metre—from site preparation through assay results to press release—representing exceptional value in the current inflationary environment. This cost structure enables an aggressive 250,000-metre programme with two rigs currently operating 24/7 and plans to deploy four to six additional rigs, matching in one year the total drilling accomplished over the previous decade.

Strategic validation from Agnico Eagle, which holds a 27% stake acquired through its O3 Mining purchase, provides both financial support and technical credibility. Monthly technical committee meetings enable rapid reallocation of drilling resources based on emerging results, whilst Agnico's involvement significantly enhances Cartier's profile amongst institutional investors who view major mining company participation at the exploration stage as validation of project quality and future acquisition potential.

The company has initiated critical de-risking studies that progressively enhance project economics. Independent metallurgical testwork targets 96-97% gold recovery rates versus historic 93% recoveries, whilst evaluating toll-milling opportunities at four different processing facilities within 60 kilometres. Establishing toll-milling arrangements could reduce capital expenditure by approximately C$120 million by eliminating dedicated mill construction requirements. Environmental baseline studies and a preliminary economic assessment scheduled for 2026 delivery provide the technical foundation for various development scenarios.

Cartier's recent surpassing of C$100 million market capitalisation represented a critical threshold that unlocked institutional investor access previously unavailable. The company has traded over 80 million shares since July 2025, representing complete shareholder base rotation toward sophisticated investors with longer time horizons and larger position sizes. This evolution provides improved liquidity, reduced volatility, and establishes the foundation for additional institutional participation as exploration objectives are achieved.

Management has demonstrated disciplined capital allocation by optioning three non-core Windfall District projects to Exploits Discovery for C$2 million cash, nearly 10 million shares, and retained royalties whilst maintaining singular focus on the Cadillac Project. Integration of AI-driven targeting methodologies has already validated discoveries like the Contact zone, accelerating exploration timelines by six to eight months compared to traditional approaches.

With C$10 million in treasury supporting aggressive drilling without near-term dilution, gold prices sustained above US$4,600 per ounce dramatically improving project economics, and multiple catalysts including ongoing drill results, metallurgical studies, and year-end PEA delivery, Cartier offers substantial upside leverage at current valuations. The company trades at significant discount to peers with comparable resource bases despite superior jurisdictional advantages, strategic backing, and cost structure. For investors seeking exposure to Abitibi gold discovery potential with clearly defined catalysts and multiple value realisation pathways, Cartier Resources represents a compelling core holding within precious metals portfolios during a critical value inflection period.

View Cartier Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/cartier-resources-inc

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atlas-salt-tsxvsalt-rare-public-salt-play-targets-10-of-north-americas-de-icing-market-8676

Recording date: 16th January 2026

Atlas Salt is positioning itself to address a critical infrastructure need in North America through the development of the Great Atlantic Salt project on Newfoundland's west coast. The company targets the deicing road salt market, where demand consistently outstrips domestic supply by 30-40%, forcing North American buyers to source from Egypt and Chile with significantly longer lead times and higher costs.

CEO Nolan Peterson, who joined the company in June 2025, explained the market dynamics: "There is a salt shortage year-over-year when you're balancing domestic production versus domestic needs. And domestically, I'm grouping Canada and the United States as one market." The timing appears particularly opportune, with Ontario currently experiencing severe shortages despite having a full year to prepare following last year's supply crisis.

The project's geographic advantage is substantial. Located in Newfoundland with direct port access, Atlas Salt can deliver product to the same markets served by foreign producers in 15 to 20% less time and cost, according to Peterson. This proximity enables rapid response to spot market opportunities and provides supply chain stability that foreign sources cannot match.

The updated feasibility study demonstrates robust economics with total capital requirements of approximately $600 million CAD. The project generates an NPV of $920 million CAD with a 21.3% after-tax IRR and $188 million in annual after-tax free cash flow over a 25-year mine life. "Our contrast is that we have steady stable cash flow year after year kind of like a dividend or a bond if you will once you get over that initial hurdle," Peterson explained.

Construction activities are beginning imminently following financing completed in October 2025, with the company targeting Q2 2026 for a finalized debt package covering 60-80% of capital needs from sovereign wealth funds and infrastructure banks. Atlas Salt has already signed an MOU with Scotwood Industries, the largest distributor of packaged retail deicing salt in North America, while pursuing additional commercial partnerships and potential vertical integration opportunities.

View Atlas Salt's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/atlas-salt

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/us-gold-corp-nasdaqusau-feasibility-study-imminent-with-major-20262028-catalysts-8678

Recording date: 16th January 2026

US Gold Corp has distinguished itself within the junior gold sector by securing full mining permits for its CK Gold project in Wyoming whilst maintaining an exceptionally tight share structure of just 16.5 million shares outstanding. The company completed a $31.2 million financing in December 2025 with participation from major institutional investors including VanEck, Goehring & Rozencwajg, and Libra Capital, marking a validation milestone that complements its established retail shareholder base.

The CK Gold project represents one of the few fully permitted, shovel-ready gold-copper developments in North America. Having received final non-conditional mining permits in December 2024, US Gold Corp has eliminated a significant source of timeline uncertainty that affects competing projects. This permitting achievement, combined with the project's location just 20 miles from Cheyenne, Wyoming, provides practical advantages in accessing established infrastructure, skilled labour, and contractor services that should translate into lower capital and operating costs.

The company expects to release its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in late January or early February 2026, establishing the pathway to project finance. Executive Chairman Luke Norman outlined an 18-month timeline from financing to production, with first-year output forecast at 130,000 ounces gold and 24 million pounds copper. With gold prices exceeding $4,600 per ounce, project economics benefit materially compared to earlier technical assessments conducted at lower metal price assumptions.

Management has identified multiple financing pathways reflecting strong global demand for gold-copper concentrates. The preference for debt financing aims to preserve the company's tight share structure, which provides significant operating leverage with a $330 million market capitalisation against a 1.7 million ounce reserve base. Potential financing structures include forward sales arrangements, concentrate offtake agreements, and traditional project debt, creating optionality in capital structure.

Beyond the permitted reserve, US Gold Corp plans to commence drilling targeting an additional one million ounces below the current resource. With 80% of historical drilling bottoming in mineralisation, management estimates this exploration programme could add approximately one billion dollars in net present value. This drilling represents a strategic shift toward value optimisation now that economic viability and permitting have been established.

The investment proposition centres on scarcity value within North American gold development opportunities. As major producers face declining reserve grades and extended permitting timelines, fully permitted projects in tier-one jurisdictions command premium valuations. US Gold Corp's combination of permits, institutional validation, infrastructure advantages, and tight share structure positions the company for potential multiple reratings throughout 2026 as it advances through definitive feasibility release, project financing, and construction commencement.

The straightforward metallurgical flowsheet—crush, grind, flotation, and tri-stack processing—reduces technical execution risk, whilst the Wyoming location provides jurisdictional certainty and operational advantages. With institutional capital flowing into the gold sector and concentrate demand characterised as "insatiable," US Gold Corp offers investors exposure to near-term North American gold production with significant exploration upside and multiple catalysts ahead.

View U.S. Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/us-gold-corp

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/i-80-gold-tsxiau-production-path-to-200000-ounces-8586

Recording date: 16th January 2026

Nevada-based i-80 Gold is executing an ambitious three-phase development plan to transform from a small producer into a mid-tier gold company, targeting production growth from under 50,000 ounces annually to over 600,000 ounces within six years. All five projects are brownfield developments at historic Nevada mines, offering reduced execution risk through existing permits and infrastructure.

The company delivered five preliminary economic assessments in Q1 2025 and has raised approximately $300 million toward a targeted $900 million to $1 billion recapitalisation. Management expects to complete balance sheet restructuring by end of Q1 2026, which will enable full construction approval for the critical Lone Tree autoclave refurbishment project.

The Lone Tree facility refurbishment represents a cornerstone investment, with total capital costs of approximately $430 million and completion scheduled for end of 2027. Once operational, the facility is projected to produce 200,000 ounces annually and generate $200-400 million in EBITDA at current gold prices. i-80 Gold will be one of only two companies operating an autoclave in Nevada.

Project economics have improved substantially with higher gold prices. At $3,000 gold, the net asset value of the five projects was approximately $5 billion versus the company's current market capitalization of $1.3 billion fully diluted. At current gold prices above $4,600, NAV is estimated between $8-10 billion, with all-in sustaining costs averaging approximately $1,400 per ounce.

The company has significantly strengthened its technical team and is advancing feasibility studies for multiple underground mines including Archimedes and Granite Creek. Management is also accelerating work on Mineral Point, the flagship asset capable of producing 300,000 ounces over a 17-year mine life, pulling development forward by approximately two years.

Operating exclusively in Nevada provides advantages including world-class geology, skilled workforce, supportive regulatory environment, and the current macro environment featuring high gold prices without corresponding input cost inflation.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/i-80-gold

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/isoenergy-tsxiso-multi-jurisdictional-uranium-portfolio-8580

Recording date: 15th January 2026

IsoEnergy Ltd. (TSX:ISO) differentiates within the uranium sector through near-term production advancement at the Tony M project in Utah while maintaining exposure to ultra-high-grade exploration upside at the Hurricane deposit in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. The company has commenced bulk sampling operations at Tony M, extracting approximately 2,000 tons of material for processing at the White Mesa Mill. This program validates three critical decision criteria for full-scale production restart: current operating costs for mining, trucking, and processing; updated capital requirements; and scalability of beneficiation techniques tested on smaller samples that could substantially reduce waste material sent to mill. 

The strategic toll milling arrangement with Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill—the only operational conventional uranium mill in the United States—eliminates processing infrastructure capital while providing established metallurgical pathway, as the mill historically processed ore from Tony M during previous 2007-2008 production period. Tony M's existing surface and underground infrastructure substantially reduces restart capital intensity compared to greenfield mine development, positioning the project as IsoEnergy's primary near-term production opportunity. 

CEO Philip Williams emphasized the competitive advantage: "In our market cap range, there's not so many of them so we want to be one of those producers and be able to deliver material into a rapidly rising uranium price environment which we think is coming in the United States." 

Concurrently, IsoEnergy has mobilized two drill rigs to Hurricane for a winter campaign exceeding 5,000 meters. The program tests expansion potential within and adjacent to known ultra-high-grade mineralization, extending up to 3 kilometers along structural trend. Hurricane ranks among the world's highest-grade uranium deposits, with exceptional grade concentration reflected in small physical footprint relative to contained uranium. The exploration strategy follows the Athabasca Basin geological model where high-grade deposits form as multiple lenses along structural corridors, suggesting discovery potential for additional proximate ore zones.

Portfolio diversification spans multiple development stages and top-tier jurisdictions. Beyond Tony M and Hurricane, IsoEnergy maintains the Coles Hill project in Virginia—a large-scale development opportunity potentially benefiting from federal policy support for domestic production—plus a 50% joint venture with Purepoint Energy exploring additional Athabasca Basin targets. The pending acquisition of Toro Energy, expected to close April 2026, adds Western Australian exposure and development-stage assets.

IsoEnergy operates within a bifurcated uranium market where large-cap producers trade at premiums to net asset value while smaller companies trade at substantial discounts, creating consolidation conditions. The company's mid-tier market capitalization provides optionality as both potential acquirer of discounted junior assets and potential target for larger producers seeking high-grade Athabasca Basin exposure. NextGen Energy's 30% ownership provides strategic shareholder stability, while IsoEnergy maintains approximately $60 million in equity positions in smaller uranium companies.

Management reports accelerating institutional investor engagement as the production timeline clarifies and uranium market fundamentals strengthen. The recent addition of commercial and marketing expertise signals preparation for uranium sales as production approaches. Near-term catalysts include the Tony M production restart decision following bulk sampling results, Hurricane drilling outcomes, Toro acquisition closure, and potential uranium import policy changes under the Section 232 investigation.

Williams acknowledged uranium equity performance ultimately depends on physical price movement despite strong fundamentals: "The space can get ahead of the price for some period of time, but the price has to also move." However, when utility contracting accelerates—whether driven by policy changes, supply disruptions, or other factors—price movements can occur rapidly given concentrated uranium market structure.

View IsoEnergy's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/isoenergy

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Our previous interview:  https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/canada-nickel-tsxvcnc-major-projects-office-fast-tracks-crawford-build-8552

Recording date: 14th January 2026

Canada Nickel has achieved critical milestones positioning its Crawford nickel sulfide project for a construction decision by year-end 2026, securing both federal Major Projects Office designation in November 2025 and Ontario's "one project, one process" fast-track permitting status on January 13, 2026. These designations reflect coordinated government commitment to establishing domestic critical mineral supply chains independent of Chinese influence.

The company has transformed the Timmins region into the world's largest nickel sulfide district, expanding from two resources at year-end 2024 to eight separate resources totaling over 20 million tons of contained nickel. The recently announced Reid deposit demonstrates superior economics with half Crawford's strip ratio, one-third less overburden, and 15% chromium content. CEO Mark Selby indicated the company has identified three to four additional deposits potentially offering higher value than the flagship Crawford project.

Strategic validation comes from a diversified investor base including Anglo American, Agnico Eagle, Samsung SDI, and Taykwa Tagamou Nation, which invested $20 million directly. This cornerstone group spans major mining operators, battery supply chain participants, and Indigenous partners, demonstrating confidence across the value chain.

Canada Nickel's downstream processing strategy targets 70-90 cent per pound North American premiums by converting concentrate into products for stainless steel and battery markets. This approach aligns with government priorities around value-added manufacturing while capturing sustained regional pricing advantages. The company has completed front-end engineering design with Hatch, moving beyond standard feasibility-level work to reduce execution risk.

The 2026 timeline includes federal permit approval by mid-year, initial government funding announcements in Q1, and financing package completion by Q3. Ontario Minister Stephen Lecce publicly committed to "go full tilt to unlock one of the world's largest nickel deposits," representing invested political capital that reduces regulatory uncertainty. Combined with first-quartile cost positioning from iron and chromium byproducts, existing infrastructure, and an experienced local workforce, Crawford represents Canada's tactical execution of critical mineral supply chain independence.

View Canada Nickel's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/canada-nickel

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Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/energy-fuels-nyseuuuu-completes-oversubscribed-700-million-funding-for-ree-uranium-duo-track-8223

Recording date: 14th January 2026

Energy Fuels CEO Mark Chalmers discusses the company's breakout 2025 performance as the best-performing uranium stock, with returns more than double its nearest competitor. This in-depth interview covers Energy Fuels' unique positioning as America's only integrated critical minerals platform, combining uranium production targeting 2+ million pounds annually with rare earth processing capabilities at the White Mesa Mill.
Key discussion points include:

- Uranium production ramp to 2M+ pounds and December's record 350,000-pound monthly output
- White Mesa Mill's rare earth processing capabilities and recent IMREC circuit addition
- Toliara project in Madagascar: world-class heavy mineral sands with $1.5B+ NPV
- $700M convertible note at just 0.75% coupon—dramatically below competitor rates
- Donald project and White Mesa upgrade feasibility studies expected Q1 2026
- Government engagement on critical minerals security
- Strong balance sheet with ~$1 billion cash providing development flexibility

View Energy Fuels' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/energy-fuels

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/equinox-gold-tsxeqx-canadian-gold-giant-forms-in-merger-of-equals-with-calibre-mining-6826

Recording date: 14th January 2026

Equinox Gold concluded 2025 with record-breaking production of 920,000 ounces, including a quarterly high of 247,000 ounces in Q4, driven primarily by its ramping Canadian operations. The Greenstone mine in Northern Ontario demonstrated particularly strong momentum, increasing output by 29% quarter-over-quarter as the company transitions from construction to operational excellence.

In a strategic pivot prioritizing quality over quantity, Equinox announced the sale of its four Brazilian mines for over $1 billion. These assets, producing 200,000-250,000 ounces annually, will be divested to reduce the company's $1.5 billion debt load by more than $800 million and refocus operations on tier-one North American jurisdictions. Executive Vice President Ryan King emphasized that management's expertise lies in optimizing large-scale open pit operations rather than managing multiple smaller mines.

Production guidance for 2026 is set at 700,000-800,000 ounces with all-in sustaining costs of $1,800-1,900 per ounce. Canadian assets alone are expected to deliver 400,000-500,000 ounces at industry-leading margins, representing two-thirds of total output from the company's highest-quality operations.

The company maintains a robust organic growth pipeline without requiring acquisitions. Castle Mountain in California is advancing through federal permitting with a decision expected in Q4 2026, potentially adding 200,000-225,000 ounces annually. The Los Filos expansion in Mexico could contribute 250,000-300,000 ounces yearly once community land access issues are resolved. Combined with phase 2 expansion opportunities at Newfoundland assets, these projects could add 450,000-700,000 ounces of annual production.

Management is prioritizing operational execution and deleveraging over mergers and acquisitions, with the company potentially becoming nearly debt-free by year-end 2026. This improved financial position opens possibilities for shareholder returns through buybacks or dividends while maintaining a $300 million capital expenditure budget and $75-100 million exploration program focused on expanding resources at existing operations.

View Equinox Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/equinox-gold

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Recording date: 13th January 2026

Clean Air Metals (TSXV:AIR) is advancing one of North America's rare primary platinum assets at a pivotal moment for the metal. The company's Thunder Bay North project in Ontario holds 14.9 million tons of indicated resource with a polymetallic composition including platinum, palladium, copper, nickel, gold, and silver. With an 11-year mine life processing 2,500 tons daily, the project's economics have transformed as metal prices surged.

CEO Mike Garbett, who brings 14 years of operational experience from Falconbridge and project development expertise, explained the compelling market dynamics. "Platinum is an interesting case. It is a precious metal, but it has some great industrial use. The bottom line is it's a pretty small market, 6 to 7 million ounces, and there's a growing deficit, nearing a million ounces a year," he noted.

The company's Preliminary Economic Assessment showed a post-tax NPV of CAD $219 million at 39% IRR using conservative metal prices. However, with spot prices approximately doubling since the study, Garbett stated they're now "looking at $700 million NPV at 8% discount rate and 100% IRR, just astronomical numbers."

Management is pursuing a dual-track strategy for 2026. The primary path involves toll milling, which ships material to existing facilities and keeps upfront capital under CAD $100 million. Simultaneously, the company is evaluating a standalone mill option that could position the site as a regional processing center for northwestern Ontario.

Recent exploration success strengthens the investment case. The company intersected 50 meters of mineralization 400 meters down plunge on the Escape deposit, validating targeting methodology across 2.5 kilometers of largely untested strike length. With approximately CAD $1 million in treasury, Clean Air Metals is pursuing strategic partnerships with mid-tier producers for non-dilutive financing while advancing technical studies and exploration permitting toward near-term production.

View Clean Air Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/clean-air-metals-inc

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