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Horizon Minerals’ near-term cash-flow potential, large-scale gold resource base, and strategic processing infrastructure in the prolific Western Australian Goldfields position the company to transition into a sustainable, standalone mid-tier gold producer. Recent acquisitions, operational start-ups and high-grade resource expansions strengthen Horizon’s ability to leverage record gold prices and deliver consistent shareholder returns.

Overview

Horizon Minerals (ASX:HRZ,OTC:HRZMF) is an emerging standalone gold producer strategically positioned in the heart of Western Australia’s world-class goldfields. The company has built a robust portfolio of high-quality gold projects complemented by significant base and precious metal resources, all within easy haulage distance of key processing infrastructure.

Horizon currently holds 1.8 Moz of resources across 1,386 sq km of exploration tenure.

Following the transformational merger with Poseidon Nickel in early 2025 and the acquisition of the Gordons project in August 2025, Horizon now controls a total mineral resource of 1.82 million ounces (Moz) of gold at an average grade of 1.84 grams per ton (g/t), along with substantial silver, zinc, nickel, cobalt and manganese resources.

Central to Horizon’s growth strategy is the 2.2 Mtpa Black Swan processing facility, acquired through the Poseidon transaction. Located just 40 km north of Kalgoorlie, the plant is currently on care and maintenance but is fully permitted and connected to power and water. A low-capex refurbishment and conversion to a gold CIL circuit is underway, forming the backbone of Horizon’s plan to establish a sustainable ~100,000 ounce per annum production profile from late 2026.

The Black Swan processing facility is at the heart of Horizon’s stand-alone gold production strategy.

In parallel, Horizon is generating strong near-term cash flow from ore sales and toll milling arrangements at its Boorara and Phillips Find operations, respectively, both of which have delivered first gold in 2025. These operations, together with high-grade satellite deposits such as Burbanks, Penny’s Find, Cannon and the newly acquired Gordons Dam, will provide the feedstock for Black Swan’s initial five-year mine plan.

The company’s consolidated 1,386 sq km landholding spans some of the most prospective geological trends in the Goldfields, offering a mix of advanced development assets, near-mill open pits, and highly prospective exploration ground. With approximately 50,000 metres of drilling budgeted for FY25–26, Horizon is targeting both resource growth and upgrades in confidence across its portfolio.

Leveraging record gold prices and a strong balance sheet, Horizon is now at an inflection point – transitioning from a developer with multiple growth options into a fully integrated, cash-generating, standalone Western Australian gold producer.

Company Highlights

  • Emerging standalone gold producer with an extensive WA Goldfields portfolio and a total mineral resource of 1.82 million ounces gold plus significant silver, zinc, nickel, cobalt and manganese resources.
  • Acquisition of Poseidon Nickel delivers the 2.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) Black Swan processing facility, strategically located 40 km north of Kalgoorlie, with refurbishment studies underway for conversion to a gold carbon-in-leach (CIL) plant.
  • Acquisition of the Gordons project from Yandal Resources adds 77 sq km of tenure near Black Swan, including the Gordons Dam deposit (365 kt @ 1.7 grams per ton gold for 20 koz) with strong exploration upside.
  • Continuous cash flow generation from two producing mines, via the ore sale agreement for Boorara (~AU$30 million estimated free cashflow at AU$3,600/oz) and the joint venture toll milling agreement at Phillips Find.
  • Record gold prices (>AU$5,000/oz) underpin robust margins and fund ~50,000 metres of drilling in FY25–26, targeting both resource growth and confidence upgrades.
  • Combined landholding of 1,386 sq km in Western Australia’s most productive gold belts, following the Poseidon and Gordons acquisitions

Key Projects

Boorara Gold Project

The Boorara gold project, located just 15 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is Horizon’s cornerstone operation and the foundation of its near-term cashflow strategy. Over the past decade, extensive reverse circulation and diamond drilling has defined a substantial JORC 2012 mineral resource of 10.53 Mt grading 1.27 g/t gold for 428,000 ounces. Boorara is strategically positioned within trucking distance of multiple third-party processing facilities and only two kilometres from Horizon’s 100-percent-owned Nimbus silver-zinc project.

Mine operations at the Boorara gold project

Open pit mining commenced in August 2024, marking the start of Horizon’s transition to gold production. First ore was exposed and mined in late September 2024, with the inaugural gold pour achieved in January 2025. Mining operations are planned over approximately 14 months, with processing to occur over 19 months. A binding ore sale agreement with Paddington Gold provides for the processing of 1.24 Mt of Boorara ore at their Paddington mill until Q2 2026. The agreement is forecast to deliver more than AU$30 million in free cash flow at a gold price of AU$3,600/oz, with upside potential given current spot prices exceeding AU$5,000/oz.

Importantly, Boorara is not just a standalone deposit; it is the central baseload feed source in Horizon’s integrated production plan. It will be supplemented by higher-grade satellite ore from projects such as Burbanks, Penny’s Find, Cannon, Phillips Find and Gordons Dam. This blend of tonnage and grade is designed to optimise mill feed once Black Swan is recommissioned, extending the life of mine and improving overall project economics..

Phillips Find Gold Project

The Phillips Find gold project, 45 kilometres northwest of Coolgardie, is a high-grade goldfield with a production history of about 33,000 ounces. Horizon is advancing the project under a low-risk joint venture with BML Ventures, which funds and manages all mining and operational activities.

First ore was mined in late 2024, with the initial gold pour in February 2025 from toll treatment at FMR Investments’ Greenfields mill. Early campaigns processed 56,300 dry tonnes at 1.63 g/t gold for 2,807 ounces, sold at an average AU$4,894/oz, generating approximately AU$13.7 million in gross revenue to the JV.

Milling agreements include capacity at the Greenfields mill from February to June 2025 and a September-October 2025 campaign for 70,000 tonnes at Focus Minerals’ Three Mile Hill plant. An additional 80,000 tonnes of capacity has been reserved at Greenfields for future ore, giving Horizon strong processing flexibility while complementing production from Boorara and other satellite deposits.

Burbanks Gold Project

Horizon’s high-grade growth asset, the Burbanks gold project, lies nine kilometres southeast of Coolgardie on the prolific Burbanks Shear Zone. With historical production exceeding 420,000 ounces, Burbanks now hosts 465,000 ounces at 2.80 g/t gold across open pit and underground resources. The deposit remains open in all directions, and recent drilling has demonstrated strong potential for significant extensions, with a major 30,000 metre drill campaign underway to support the Black Swan five-year mine plan.

Gordons Project

In August 2025, Horizon expanded its near-mill project pipeline with the acquisition of the Gordons project from Yandal Resources. This 77 sq km package, only 10 kilometres from the Black Swan facility, includes the Gordons Dam deposit with 20,000 ounces in resource and multiple drill-ready prospects, such as Star of Gordon and Malone. The strategic location and exploration upside of Gordons make it an ideal fit for Horizon’s centralised processing strategy.

Black Swan Processing Facility

Existing flotation circuit and planned changes to facilitate gold production at Black Swan

At the heart of Horizon’s stand-along gold production strategy is the Black Swan processing facility, secured through a February 2025 merger with Poseidon Nickel. This 2.2 Mtpa concentrator, currently on care and maintenance, is being refurbished and converted to include a gold CIL circuit. All necessary approvals are in place, and engineering studies led by GR Engineering are progressing towards first gold production from Black Swan in late 2026. The plant’s location and capacity offer Horizon the ability to unlock value from its own resources and potentially treat stranded third-party ores.

Other Projects

Cannon Underground Project

  • Fully permitted high-grade underground project 30km ESE of Kalgoorlie
  • Pre-feasibility study complete

Penny’s Find

  • High-grade UG project with MRE of 0.43Mt @ 4.57g/t Au for 63koz
  • Pre-feasibility completed December 2024

Nimbus Silver-Zinc Project

  • 12.1 Mt @ 52 g/t silver, 0.2 g/t gold, 0.9 percent zinc for 20.2 Moz silver, 77 koz gold, 104 kt zinc
  • High-grade core: 0.26 Mt @ 774 g/t silver, 12.8 percent zinc
  • Concept study supports concentrate production pathway

Management Team

Ashok Parekh – Non-executive Chairman

Ashok Parekh has over 33 years of experience advising mining companies and service providers in the mining industry. He has spent many years negotiating mining deals with publicly listed companies and prospectors, leading to new IPOs and the initiation of new gold mining operations. Additionally, he has been involved in managing gold mining and milling companies in the Kalgoorlie region, where he has served as managing director for some of these firms. Parekh is well-known in the West Australian mining industry and has a highly successful background in owning numerous businesses in the Goldfields. He was the executive chairman of ASX-listed A1 Consolidated Gold (ASX:AYC) from 2011 to 2014. He is a chartered accountant.

Warren Hallam – Non-executive Director

Warren Hallam is currently a non-executive director of St Barbara Limited and Poseidon Nickel Limited, and non-executive chairman of Kingfisher Mining Limited. Hallam has built a strong track record over 35 years in operations, corporate and senior leadership roles across multiple commodities. This includes previous Managing Director roles at Metals X Limited, Millenium Metals and Capricorn Metals. Hallam is a metallurgist with a Master in Mineral Economics from Curtin University.

Grant Haywood – Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Grant Haywood brings over three decades of experience in both underground and open-cut mining operations. During his career, he has served in senior leadership capacities in various mining companies, guiding them from feasibility through to development and operations. His experience spans various roles within junior and multinational gold mining companies, predominantly in the Western Australian goldfields, including positions at Phoenix Gold, Saracen Mineral Holdings, and Gold Fields. He is a graduate of the Western Australian School of Mines (WASM) and has also earned a Masters in Mineral Economics from the same institution.

Julian Tambyrajah – Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary

Julian Tambyrajah is an accomplished global mining finance executive with more than 25 years of industry expertise. He is a certified public accountant and chartered company secretary. He has served as CFO of several listed companies including Central Petroleum (CTP), Crescent Gold (CRE), Rusina Mining NL, DRDGold, and Dome Resources NL. He has extensive experience in capital raising, some of which includes raising US$49 million for BMC UK, AU$122 million for Crescent Gold and AU$105 million for Central Petroleum.

Stephen Guy – Chief Geologist

Stephen Guy is a geologist with over 25 years of experience in the mining industry, specialising in exploration, production, and project start-ups for both open pit and underground operations. His career spans key regions in Australia, including Western Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland, where he has collaborated with leading companies such as BHP, Newcrest, St Barbara Gold, Fortescue Metals Group (FMG), and Gindalbie Metals. Guy’s expertise covers a diverse range of commodities, including gold, copper, nickel, base metals, and iron ore.

Rob Waugh – Non-Executive Director

Rob Waugh is a senior mining executive with more than 35 years’ experience in the resources sector, operating predominantly in gold and base metals. With a strong track record of exploration and discovery success, Waugh has held senior exploration management roles at WMC Resources and BHP and was previously the managing director of Musgrave Minerals, which was acquired for AU$200 million by Ramelius Resources in 2023.

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Stefan Gleason, CEO of Money Metals, shares his outlook for gold, silver and platinum.

He also weighs in on Tether Investments’ recent deal with Elemental Altus Royalties (TSXV:ELE,OTCQX:ELEMF) and advances in US sound money policies.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Alice Queen (ASX:AQX) is a gold exploration company focused on district-scale discoveries and near-term production opportunities. Its flagship asset is the Viani Gold Project in Fiji, where early drilling indicates a major epithermal gold system, comparable to other systems along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Fiji itself hosts the 10 Moz Vatukoula Gold Mine, underscoring the region’s proven prospectivity. With a portfolio spanning both the Pacific Ring of Fire and Australia’s most prolific gold belts, Alice Queen combines strong geological potential with strategic access to capital.

The company’s secondary asset, Horn Island, hosts over half a million ounces of gold in a JORC-compliant resource. A 2021 scoping study indicated an NPV of more than AU$500 million, based on an internal update using AU$5,000/oz gold. Ongoing discussions with development partners aim to unlock value from this project, which has the potential to generate over AU$800 million in free cash flow across an eight-year mine life.

Alice Queen’s shareholder base is anchored by Gage Resource Development (51 percent) and supported by significant, well-funded Australian investors with a long-term outlook. The company is advancing a balanced strategy focused on drilling success, strategic partnerships, and asset-level monetization.

Company Highlights

  • High-impact Discovery at Viani in Fiji: Drilling at the Viani project has confirmed a significant low-sulphidation epithermal gold system with mineralization over a ~5 km strike, with assay results from recent drilling expected imminently.
  • Established Gold Resource at Horn Island: The Horn Island project hosts a 524,000 oz JORC-compliant gold resource and is being advanced through potential development partnerships, offering near-term monetization opportunities.
  • Strategic Financial Backing: Backed by major shareholder Gage Resource Development, a subsidiary of Beijing-based Gage Capital (US$1.6 billion AUM), ensuring access to growth capital and long-term support.
  • Exceptional Leadership: Led by a highly experienced management team with a successful track record in global business and resource development.

This Alice Queen Limited profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Alice Queen (ASX:AQX) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Copper has become a hot topic due to its role in the green energy transition and its necessity for urbanization. However, the lack of incoming supply in the long term has experts concerned.

Due to its importance in construction, energy transmission and new technologies, copper is a critical metal needed to power the future of our society. However, mined supply has not kept pace with demand, with few new operations coming online, and older mines facing decreasing grades and lower outputs.

The term “peak copper” was coined because some experts believe that copper reserves may be diminishing. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), more than 700 million metric tons of copper have been mined throughout history, and current economic global copper reserves stand at 980 million metric tons.

Nearly all of that mined copper is still in circulation, as the red metal’s recycling rate is higher than that of any other engineering metal, but it is still not enough to keep up with escalating demand. As a result, it’s prudent to know the top copper reserves by country, especially when considering investing in the copper mining industry.

Reserve data for this article was sourced from the USGS’s 2025 Mineral Commodity Summary and supplemented with datasets from Mining Data Online (MDO) and the UN Comtrade Database.

Top 5 copper reserves by country

The countries with the largest copper reserves are Chile, Australia, Peru, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Russia. These five countries hold more than 55 percent of the world’s total copper reserves and will be critical to a world with soaring demand for copper.

Read on to learn about these copper kingpins.

1. Chile

Copper reserves: 190 million metric tons

Chile holds the largest copper reserves globally at 190 million metric tons, nearly as much as Australia and Peru hold combined. Additionally, Chile is also the world’s top copper producer, with its 5.3 million metric tons of copper in 2024 representing nearly a quarter of global output.

The mining industry is essential to the Chilean economy, making up more than 50 percent of the country’s exports and contributing US$40 billion of its GDP in 2023. Copper alone accounting for more than US$29 billion of that total.

Due to the sheer quantity of copper in the country, it should come as no surprise that Chile is home to the world’s largest copper mine, Escondida. According to MDO, Escondida produced 927,000 metric tons of copper in concentrate in 2024 and sits atop proven and probable copper reserves of 37.62 million metric tons. The mine is a 57.5/30/12.5 joint venture between BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP), Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) and Japan’s JECO.

2. Australia

Copper reserves: 100 million metric tons

Australian copper reserves are pegged at 100 million metric tons, tying it for the second largest country by copper reserves. The resource industry is an essential sector in Australia, contributing AU$385 billion during the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Of that, copper was the sixth largest contributor with AU$13.2 billion, a AU$1.8 billion increase over 2023/2024.

While Australia hosts significant copper reserves, it lags the other countries on the list with similarly sized reserves in terms of production at 800,000 metric tons in 2024. More than a quarter of that came from BHP’s Olympic Dam mine in South Australia, which produced 216,000 metric tons of copper cathode. The polymetallic mine contains substantial proven and probable copper reserves totaling 10.68 million metric tons.

Another significant operation in Australia is Newmont’s (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) Cadia Valley mine, which hosts probable reserves of 3.1 million metric tons of contained copper. Cadia Valley produced 87,000 metric tons of copper in concentrate in 2024.

2. Peru

Copper reserves: 100 million metric tons

Copper reserves in Peru stand at 100 million metric tons, tying it with Australia for the second largest copper country. Much like its neighbor Chile, copper is an essential part of Peru’s economy, accounting for 49 percent of the value of its US$47.7 billion in mining exports.

Peru is home to some of the world’s biggest mining operations, and produced 2.6 million metric tons of copper last year. Two mines accounted for a third of the country’s total output.

The top producer in the country is the Cerro Verde Complex, a 55/21/19.6 venture with Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX), Sumitomo Metal Mining (TSE:5713) and Minas Buenaventura (NYSE:BVN). Cerro Verde hosts hosts proven and probable reserves of 11.45 million metric tons of copper and produced 949 million pounds of copper metal in concentrate in 2024.

Not to be outdone, the second highest is Antamina, a 33.75/33.75/22.5/10 joint venture between BHP, Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF), Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.B,TSX:TECK.A,NYSE:TECK) and Mitsubishi (TSE:8058). Last year, output at the mine fell just short of Cerro Verde’s at 941 million pounds of copper in concentrate. Antamina hosts a proven and probable reserve of 4.53 million metric tons of contained copper.

The mine with the largest copper reserves in Peru is Southern Copper’s (NYSE:SCCO) Toquepala mine, home to 13.79 million metric tons of copper in proven and probable reserves. The mine produced 496 million pounds of copper in concentrate last year.

4. Democratic Republic of Congo

Copper reserves: 80 million metric tons

Copper reserves in the Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 80 million metric tons in 2024, making it the fourth largest country by copper reserves. The DRC’s economic copper reserves have seen a staggering rise in recent years, climbing from an estimated 19 million metric tons in 2019.

The mining sector has been critical to GDP growth in the DRC, with copper being the largest contributor. World Bank reports that the extraction sector has outpaced other segments of the DRC’s economy, increasing 12.8 percent in 2024, while non-mining sectors grew by only 3.2 percent.

According to data from the United Nations, in 2023 the DRC exported US$17 billion in refined copper and unwrought alloys, a large jump from US$7.34 billion in 2019. The country’s copper ore exports contributed US$2.16 billion in 2023, nearly double the US$1.11 billion four years prior.

Among the contributing factors in the rise in mining and export activity has been the development of the Lobito Corridor, which connects mineral-rich regions in Zambia, the DRC and Angola to the port at Lobito in Angola.

This link allows greater access for large-scale operations like Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) and Zijin Mining’s (HKEX:2899,SHA:601899) Kamoa-Kakula complex in the Southern DRC. One of the largest copper operations in the world, Kamoa-Kakula hosts a probable reserve of 17.69 million metric tons of contained copper and produced 964 million pounds of copper in concentrate in 2024.

4. Russia

Copper reserves: 80 million metric tons

Russia’s copper reserves are estimated to be 80 million metric tons, tying it with the DRC. While commodities are important to the Russian economy, contributing US$417 billion in 2024, the metals sector represented 15 percent of that total at US$60 billion.

Russia has been under significant sanctions since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. According to the UN Comtrade Database, Russia’s copper exports from in 2021 were valued at US$5.98 billion.

In 2024, Russia produced 930,000 metric tons of copper, an increase from the 890,000 metric tons produced in 2023. Among the main contributing factors was a ramp-up in production at Udokan Copper’s Udokan mine in Siberia, which was expected to produce 135,000 metric tons in 2024 and, according to the mine’s website, hosts a JORC-compliant copper resource of 26.7 million metric tons.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Providence Gold Mines Inc. (“Providence” or the “Company”) announces that subject to Regulatory approval it has entered an option agreement to acquire the “La Dama de Oro Gold Property”. The property is a historical gold mine 100% owned by the Optionor, (” Mohave Gold Mining”), a private Company incorporated under the laws of the state of California.

Providence recently commissioned Ethos Geological Inc. of Bozeman MT to complete an NI 43 101 technical report, authored by Zachary Black, SME-RM acting as the Qualified Person under NI 43 101. The NI 43 101 technical report has been submitted for Exchange review and approval. A cautionary note: The property is at an early exploration stage and does not have sufficient data for a mineral resource.

The La Dama de Oro Property is situated in the Silver Mountain Mining District, within the structurally complex Eastern California Shear Zone and the intersection with the San Andreas Fault Zone. Bedrock geology includes Mesozoic quartz monzonite that intrudes the Jurassic Sidewinder Volcanics. The structural history of the region implies a sequence of compressional and extensional events that reactivated favorably oriented zones of weakness for the circulation of hydrothermal fluids. The main zone of mineralization is hosted by the La Dama de Oro Fault, a shallow northeast-dipping oblique-slip fault.

The mineralization at the property is classified as a structurally controlled, low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver vein system. Gold and silver mineralization is associated with multi-phase quartz veining, brecciation, and pervasive hydrothermal alteration along the La Dama de Oro Fault. The largest known vein is 4.5 feet at its widest point and remains open to exploration, with the potential for additional undiscovered veins along the fault system. The property has an approved exploration permit that includes a bulk sample.

The Option entitles the Company the right to purchase 100% of the La Dama de Oro Gold Property under the following terms:

YEAR 1

Within 15 days of Regulatory approval the Company shall issue 2,000,000 common shares from treasury and incur $20,000 in expenditures within 12 months of the effective date.

YEAR 2

The Company shall issue an additional 2,000,000 common shares from treasury and incur $250,000 in expenditures before the second-year anniversary of the effective date

YEAR 3

The Company shall issue an additional 500,000 common shares from treasury and incur a further $250,000 in expenditures before the third-year anniversary date of the effective date

YEAR 4

The Company shall incur an additional $250,000 expenditures before the fourth-year anniversary of the effective date

Ronald A. Coombes, President & CEO of Providence commented; “The best place to explore for gold is where gold is, with the rich historical history of past gold production at the La Dama de Oro mine there remains very good discovery potential”.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Zachary Black, SME-RM, a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101. Mr. Black is a consultant and is independent of Providence Gold Mines Inc.

For more information, please contact Ronald Coombes, President, and CEO of the Company.

Ronald A. Coombes, President & CE

Phone: 604 724 2369

roombes@providencegold.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Neither the OTCQB and or the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release relative to markets about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to the permitting process, future production of Providence Gold Mines, budget and timing estimates, the Company’s working capital and financing opportunities and statements regarding the exploration and mineralization potential of the Company’s properties, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Providence Gold Mines expectations include fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; and uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Providence Gold Mines does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statement.

Source

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ESGold (CSE:ESAU,OTCQB:ESAUF) has signed a binding memorandum of understanding with Colombian firm Planta Magdalena to form a 50/50 joint venture on a fully permitted gold- and silver-bearing tailings project.

Under the agreement, ESGold will invest C$1.5 million for its stake and will retain a first right of refusal to acquire the remaining 50 percent interest from Planta Magdalena within 12 months.

The project is designed to replicate ESGold’s Montauban model in Québec, which focuses on generating cashflow by reprocessing legacy tailings, while providing environmental remediation.

Preliminary due diligence sampling of 27 tailings collected from the project, located in Colombia’s Bolívar department, returned encouraging results, including assays of 42.7 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold and 280 g/t silver.

Several samples exceeded 5 g/t gold and 190 g/t silver, highlighting the potential for high-grade recovery.

Bulk concentrate tests are underway, with final verification to be completed at Actlabs in Québec.

Bolívar is one of Colombia’s most prolific gold regions, with artisanal miners processing an estimated 300,000 metric tons of ore annually. ESGold, a self-described scalable clean mining and exploration innovation company, plans to apply modern, mercury-free recovery methods to improve yields while addressing environmental concerns.

“The region still processes hundreds of thousands of metric tons of ore annually, yet much of it is handled using rudimentary mercury amalgamation methods that leave behind a substantial amount of gold and silver in the tailings,” said Gordon Robb, CEO of ESGold. “This creates an immense opportunity for ESGold to apply modern, environmentally responsible recovery technology that can significantly improve yields while remediating legacy mine sites.”

Pending completion of technical and legal due diligence, ESGold aims to fast track the project toward production in 2026, establishing a second high-margin operation alongside Montauban.

Green revenue stream

It is estimated that there are 8,500 tailings facilities around the globe, holding more than 217 billion cubic meters of mine ‘waste.’ In an effort to reduce the amount of stored tailings and their environmental impact, tailings reprocessing is emerging as both an economic and sustainable revenue stream.

By extracting valuable residual metals, such as gold, copper and critical minerals, from legacy waste, companies can generate revenue while reducing the environmental footprint of tailings facilities.

The approach also aligns with sustainability goals, as it mitigates risks like tailings dam failures and restores degraded sites, turning longstanding liabilities into productive assets

Globally, the growing recognition of untapped value in tailings has spurred renewed interest and investment, with major miners — like Vale (NYSE:VALE) — and governments prioritizing tailings projects as part of circular mining strategies and critical minerals security.

Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Commodities giant Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF) has submitted applications to place two of its flagship copper projects in Argentina under a new investment regime.

The Switzerland-based firm is seeking to include the El Pachón deposit in San Juan and the Agua Rica deposit in Catamarca under Argentina’s recently introduced Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI).

Together, the two projects represent a planned capital investment of about US$13.5 billion over the next decade — US$9.5 billion for El Pachón and US$4 billion for Agua Rica.

Both sites would benefit from a long-term economic framework with enhanced investor protections under the RIGI program, which the administration of President Javier Milei launched this year to attract foreign investment.

“President Milei and his administration must be credited for introducing the RIGI. This framework has changed the investment landscape in Argentina, providing a key catalyst to attract major foreign investment to the country,” Glencore CEO Gary Nagle said in the company’s announcement on Monday (August 18).

“The RIGI provides a key platform for the development of Argentina’s significant natural resource endowment,’ added Martín Pérez de Solay, CEO of Glencore Argentina.

‘I am confident that the mining sector can be a major contributor to the Argentinian economy with the El Pachón and Agua Rica projects supporting the country’s ambition to become one of the world’s leading copper producers.”

El Pachón is a large-scale copper and molybdenum deposit with estimated resources of about 6 billion metric tons (MT) of ore averaging 0.43 percent copper, 2.2 grams per MT silver and 130 grams per MT molybdenum.

For its part, Agua Rica hosts roughly 1.2 billion MT of ore with average grades of 0.47 percent copper, 0.2 grams per MT gold, 3.4 grams per MT silver and 0.03 percent molybdenum. Ore from Agua Rica would be processed at the existing Alumbrera facilities, located 35 kilometers away, through the MARA project framework.

The scale of Glencore’s expansion comes amid a broader strategic race among western producers to secure supplies of critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies, electric vehicles and defense applications. Copper in particular is considered vital to global electrification, and analysts warn that rising demand could soon outstrip supply.

US enforcement shift on Chinese metals

On Tuesday (August 19), the US Department of Homeland Security announced that imports of Chinese steel, copper and lithium will be targeted for “high-priority enforcement” under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a law restricting goods linked to alleged human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region.

“The use of slave labor is repulsive and we will hold Chinese companies accountable for abuses and eliminate threats its forced labor practices pose to our prosperity,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X.

US officials say the Xinjiang region hosts state-run internment camps where Uyghurs and other minority groups are subject to forced labor. Beijing has consistently denied the allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated.

The announcement expands Washington’s campaign to scrutinize goods with ties to Xinjiang, which has already affected solar panels, cotton and other commodities. The new focus on copper and lithium marks a significant escalation given both metals’ central role in renewable energy and battery production.

Global supply chains in flux

Together, Glencore’s Argentine projects and Washington’s enforcement measures highlight how critical minerals are becoming increasingly entangled with geopolitics.

China processes about 70 percent of the world’s rare earths and controls a major share of global copper and lithium refining capacity. Western governments are trying to diversify away from Chinese supply chains amid rising tensions.

Argentina, with its vast mineral reserves, has emerged as a key player in this strategy. The country is already a major producer of lithium and is positioning itself as a copper hub through projects like Glencore’s expansion.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Privately owned Rare Earths Americas (REA) has formed in a bid to explore and develop high-grade rare earths assets in the US and Brazil, looking to consolidate supply chains for various domestic sectors.

The company, which raised AU$25 million in a private funding round, said it combines experienced operators and investors with “deep expertise across global mining, energy and critical materials.”

Included in the company’s portfolio is the Foothills discovery, located in Georgia, US.

The site contains grades of up to 41.3 percent total rare earth oxides, including heavy rare earths crucial for high-performance magnets. REA has highlighted its strong logistics, low-cost power and streamlined path to permitting.

In Brazil, the Alpha and Constellation projects hold more than 1 billion metric tons of high-grade ionic clay rare earths mineralization, including dysprosium and terbium, which are essential for permanent magnets.

The Homer project, also located in Brazil, targets multiple carbonatite clusters with the potential for niobium discoveries in a region known for leading niobium mines.

“The rare earths market is undergoing a generational shift as the West races to secure its rare earths future,” said CEO Donald Swartz in a Monday (August 18) press release.

REA’s timing aligns with broader US efforts to reduce reliance on China, which currently controls nearly 70 percent of global rare earths processing and accounts for most heavy rare earths production.

In April, Beijing restricted shipments of seven rare earths to the US and other countries, prompting concern among automakers and defense contractors dependent on these materials.

The US government recently proposed a pricing support mechanism for domestic rare earths ventures in order to increase production and mitigate China’s influence.

Discussions last month, led by former White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro and National Security Council official David Copley, included rare earths producers and major tech firms reliant on these critical minerals.

China’s dominance stems from billions of dollars invested in mining and processing since 2000, often with minimal environmental or safety oversight, allowing the country to produce rare earths at lower cost than western competitors.

The US response to the Asian nation’s rare earths stranglehold has included efforts to develop domestic mine supply and build out refinement, processing and production capacity. American companies have also sought to secure alternative sources in Africa and Latin America, but investment and technology barriers remain significant.

Mountain Pass in California, the country’s only large-scale rare earths mine, produces bastnaesite carbonate, but relies heavily on foreign processing. MP Materials (NYSE:MP), the mine’s operator, posted a net loss of US$65.4 million in 2024, highlighting the challenge of competing with China’s low-cost production model.

REA’s launch positions it as a potential strategic player in this evolving landscape.

According to the company, the Foothills project offers a “streamlined permitting pathway” in the US, while the Alpha and Constellation projects in Brazil provide access to large-scale, high-grade heavy rare earths.

“With grade and strategic geography on our side, we intend to advance our rare earths projects to support the long-term supply of critical materials essential to domestic innovation,” Swartz added.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Uranium mining in Canada accounts for 13 percent of global output, making the Great White North the second largest producer of uranium in the world, behind only Kazakhstan.

Canada hosts 9 percent of the world’s uranium resources and is home to the biggest deposits of high-grade uranium. Their grades of up to 20 percent uranium are 100 times greater than the global average.

Canadian uranium deposits are found mainly in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Québec, as well as the territory of Nunavut. Of these, Saskatchewan leads the country in both uranium exploration and production.

In this article

    Top Canadian uranium mines

    Canada is home to three producing uranium mines, Cigar Lake, McArthur River and McClean Lake, all of which are located in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin.

    Saskatchewan is a premier uranium mining jurisdiction as home to the Athabasca Basin, a mining-friendly region in the north of the province that’s renowned for its high-quality uranium deposits. The area’s long uranium-mining history has made Canada an international leader in the uranium sector.

    Canada’s major uranium mining companies are Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) and Orano Canada, a subsidiary of the multinational company Orano Group. Cameco is the majority owner and operator of Cigar Lake and McArthur River. Orano holds a significant stake in both mines, and is also the majority owner and operator of the recently restarted McClean Lake operation.

    Data and information on the Canadian uranium mines and advanced projects discussed below is taken from mining database MDO. The database only includes projects that have at least partial ownership by public companies.

    1. Cigar Lake Mine

    Ownership:
    54.547% — Cameco
    40.453% — Orano Canada
    5% — TEPCO Resources
    Province: Saskatchewan
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Unconformity-related

    Cigar Lake, which entered commercial production in 2015, is one of Canada’s largest uranium mines and the world’s highest grade uranium mine. The underground mining operation involves the use of innovative mining methods such as jet boring, which was purposely designed by Cameco to tackle the unique challenges of the Cigar Lake deposit.

    For 2024, production at the Cigar Lake mine was reported at 16.9 million pounds U3O8, up 2 million pounds from the previous year. Guidance for 2025 stands at approximately 18 million pounds.

    Cigar Lake’s proven and probable reserves stand at 551,400 metric tons of ore grading 15.87 percent U3O8 for 192.9 million pounds of contained U3O8. Its mine life is expected to run until 2036.

    2. McArthur River-Key Lake Mine

    Ownership:
    McArthur River mine
    69.805% — Cameco
    30.195% — Orano Canada
    Key Lake mill
    83.3% — Cameco
    16.7% — Orano Canada
    Province: Saskatchewan
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Unconformity-related

    The McArthur River-Key Lake operation is home to the McArthur River mine and Key Lake mill, respectively the largest high-grade uranium mine and largest uranium mill in the world, according to MDO.

    McArthur River was first brought into production in 2000 using raiseboring and blast hole stoping mining methods, but was put on care and maintenance temporarily in early 2018 due to low uranium prices. Cameco brought the mine and mill back into production in late 2022, progressively ramping up output over the next few years.

    Production in 2024 came in at 20.3 million pounds U3O8, up nearly 43 percent from the previous year’s output, and production guidance for 2025 has been set at 18 million pounds.

    McArthur River’s proven and probable reserves total 2.49 million metric tons grading 6.55 percent U3O8 for 359.6 million pounds of contained metal. Its mine life extends out to 2044.

    3. McClean Lake Mine and Mill

    Ownership:
    77.5% — Orano Canada
    22.5% — Denison Mines (TSX:DML)
    Province: Saskatchewan
    Mine type: Surface mine
    Deposit type: Unconformity-related

    The McClean Lake mine re-entered production in July 2025, 17 years after it was shuttered in 2008 due to low uranium prices made the operations uneconomic.

    After studies demonstrated that the joint venture partners’ patented surface access borehole resource extraction (SABRE) mining method could bring McClean back to life economically, the decision was made in January 2024 to bring the asset back into production.

    The site hosts multiple deposits, including the now-producing McClean North deposit. It also boasts the only mill in the world designed to process high-grade uranium ore without dilution, according to MDO. The mill has the capacity to produce 24 million pounds of uranium concentrate, or yellowcake, annually. Currently, the mill is processing ore from the Cigar Lake mine under a toll mining agreement.

    Proven reserves at McClean Lake are in the form of ore stockpiles, and total 90,000 metric tons at a grade of 0.37 percent for U3O8 for 700,000 pounds of contained metal. The site also hosts significant indicated and inferred resources of 25.4 million pounds across the McLean North, Sue D and Sue F deposits.

    The partners expect to produce approximately 800,000 pounds of U3O8 from McClean North in the first year of operations. In addition, mining at the McClean North and Sue F deposits has the potential to produce about 3 million pounds from 2026 to 2030.

    Upcoming Canadian uranium mines

    There are a handful of contenders for Canada’s next uranium mine: Patterson Lake South, Rook 1 and Wheeler River. None are in the construction stage yet, but most are expecting to come online in the next few years. Learn about the advanced uranium projects below.

    1. Patterson Lake South

    Ownership: Paladin Energy (TSX:PDN,ASX:PDN)
    Province: Saskatchewan
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Basement hosted vein-type or fracture-filled

    Currently in the permitting phase, the Patterson Lake South (PLS) project hosts the large, high-grade and near-surface Triple R deposit, which has the potential to produce both uranium and gold. The project has a probable mineral reserve estimate of 93.7 million pounds of contained uranium from 3 million metric tons grading 1.41 percent U3O8.

    The 2023 feasibility study for PLS highlights average production of approximately 9 million pounds U3O8 per year over a 10 year mine life.

    Paladin added the PLS uranium project to its portfolio in December 2024 via its acquisition of Fission Uranium. The company is continuing to develop the PLS’s resource potential outside of the Triple R deposit, with a significant focus on the project’s Saloon East zone. Advancing through the environmental permitting process remains ongoing.

    2. Rook 1

    Ownership: NexGen Energy (TSX:NXE)
    Province: Saskatchewan
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Basement-hosted, vein-type

    NexGen Energy’s Rook 1 project, home to the Arrow deposit, is in the permitting stage with a feasibility study completed in February 2021. Arrow hosts probable mineral reserves of 239.6 million pounds of U3O8 from 4.57 million metric tons of ore at a grade of 2.37 percent, as well as a measured and indicated resource of 256.7 million pounds from 3.75 million metric tons at 3.1 percent.

    Over its 11.7 year mine life, Rook 1 is expected to produce an average of 19.8 million pounds of U3O8 per year, including over 25 million pounds during the first five years.

    Provincial environmental assessment approval was granted in November 2023, and the federal environmental impact statement was accepted as final in January 2025. In March 2025, the company shared that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has proposed hearing dates for the Rook I project on November 19, 2025, and February 9 to 13, 2026.

    NexGen states that a full project execution team is at the ready and the site is fully prepared for construction activities to commence following final federal approval.

    3. Wheeler River

    Ownership:
    95% — Denison Mines
    5% — Uranium Energy (TSX:UEC,NYSEAMERICAN:UEC)
    Province: Saskatchewan
    Mine type:
    Phoenix — In-situ recovery

    Gryphon — Underground
    Deposit type: Unconformity-related

    The Wheeler River uranium project, billed as the largest undeveloped uranium project in the eastern region of the Athabasca Basin, is home to the high-grade Phoenix and Gryphon deposits. Each deposit is considered a standalone asset, and the Phoenix deposit is the more advanced of the two.

    A feasibility study for the Phoenix deposit as an in-situ recovery operation was completed in mid-2023. In February 2025, Denison reported that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is set to conduct hearings for the project’s environmental assessment and license to prepare and construct a uranium mine and mill on October 8 and December 8 to 12, 2025. If granted approval, Denison is prepared to start construction in early 2026, followed by first production by the first half of 2028.

    As for the Gryphon deposit, an update to the pre-feasibility study for a conventional underground mining operation was completed in 2023. Denison conducted a field program in the first quarter of 2025 as part of its efforts to support a feasibility study.

    Canadian uranium exploration companies

    Canada is also home to a slew of uranium exploration and development companies focused on discovering uranium in Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Newfoundland and Labrador.

      For more insight on the uranium companies operating in the Athabasca Basin discussed in this article, check out our breakdown of the 15 uranium companies exploring the basin.

      Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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