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Proven ProbableCategory: Precious Metals
This article makes the obvious point that a return to a gold standard is the only way nations can contain the interest cost of servicing debt, given the alternative is inflationist policies that can only lead to far higher interest rates and currency destruction. The topic is timely, given the self-harm of American economic and geopolitical policies, which are already leading America into a cyclical slump. Meanwhile, American fears of Asian domination of global economic, monetary and political outcomes have come true. The upcoming credit crisis is likely to kill off the welfare state model in the West by destroying their unbacked paper currencies, while China, Russia and their Asian allies have the means to prosper.
The fragility of state finances
In my last Goldmoney article I explained why the monetary policies of inflationist economists and policy makers would end up destroying fiat currencies. The destruction will come from ordinary people, who are forced by law to use the state’s money for settling their day-to-day transactions. Ordinary people, each one a trinity of production, consumption and saving, will eventually wake up to the fraud of monetary inflation and discard their government’s medium of exchange as intrinsically worthless.
They always have, eventually. This has been proved by experience and should be uncontroversial. For the issuer of a currency, the risk of this happening heightens when credit markets become destabilised and confidence in the full faith and credit, which is the only backing a fiat currency has, begins to be questioned either by its users or foreigners or both. And when it does, a currency starts to rapidly lose purchasing power and the whole interest rate structure moves higher.
The state’s finances are then ruined, because by that time the state will have accumulated a lethal combination of existing unrepayable debt and escalating welfare liabilities. Today, most governments, including the US, are already ensnared in this debt trap, only the public has yet to realise the consequences and the planners are not about to tell them. The difficulty for nearly all governments is the deterioration in their finances will eventually wipe out their currencies unless a solution is found.
There is a solution that if taken allows the state to survive. It could be modelled on Steve Hanke’s (of John Hopkins University) preferred solution of a currency board, that when strictly observed removes the state’s ability to create money out of thin air. He recommends this solution to currency debasement and the evils that come with it for Venezuela and the like, linking a distressed emerging market currency to the dollar. But here we are considering stabilising the dollar itself and all the other currencies linked to it. The currency board in this case can only be linked to gold, which has always been the peoples’ money, free of issuer risk. In former times this was the basis of a gold exchange standard.
Professor Hanke’s currency board is a rule-based system designed to achieve the same thing. Once the system is in place, every currency unit subsequently put into public circulation by the monetary authority must be physically backed by a defined weight of gold bullion. This was the method of the gold exchange standard adopted by the Bank of England under the terms of the Bank Charter Act of 1844. A modern currency board, consisting of digitised currency, effectively works the same way.
A currency board system is not the best mechanism whereby currency is made exchangeable for gold. Its weakness is it relies on the state fulfilling its obligations, so it would be better to use gold directly, either in physical or digitised form. America reneged on its gold exchange standard in 1933/34, when it first banned gold ownership and then devalued the dollar. That was simply theft by the state from its citizens. Therefore, other safeguards for a gold exchange standard must be in place.
A return to a credible gold exchange standard will then put a cap on interest rates and therefore government borrowing costs. Instead of nominal rates of 10% going on 20% and beyond, a gold exchange standard will probably cap long-term government borrowing rates in a two to five per cent range. It also allows businesses with viable investment plans to progress as well. Not only is it an obvious solution, but it is similar to that adopted in the UK following the Napoleonic wars.
Britain had government debt levels in 1815 greater than that of all advanced nations today relative to the size of her economy, with the single exception of Japan. She introduced the gold sovereign coin in 1816, comprised of 0.2354 ounces of gold, as circulating money with a face value of one pound. Over the following nine decades, not only did she pay down her government debt from over 200% of GDP to about 30%, but her economy became the most advanced and wealthy in the world. This was achieved with sound money, whose purchasing power rose significantly over those nine decades, while the quality of life for everyone improved. A sovereign was still one pound, only it bought much more.
Ordinary people were encouraged to work, spend and save. They aspired to make their families better off. The vast majority succeeded, and for those few unfortunates who fell by the wayside, charitable institutions were set up by successful philanthropists to provide both housing and employment. It was never the function of the state to support them. It would be too much to claim that it was a perfect world, or indeed that everyone behaved as gentlefolk with the best of Victorian values, but the difference between the successful laissez-faire economy in Britain with its relatively minor faults compared with the bureaucratic socialism that succeeded it is stark.
The key is in the creation and preservation of personal wealth, contrasting with socialist redistribution and wealth destruction, which has steadily undermined formerly successful economies. The future is coalescing towards an inflationary collapse for all Western governments, the manner of which is described in more detail in the following section. For prescient politicians, it creates the opportunity to reverse out of socialism, because the silent majority, which just wants commercial stability in preference to state handouts, if properly led will support a move away from destructive socialism. It is not a simple task, because all advice that a politician receives today is predicated on the creed of inflationism and socialist imperatives.
Why and how an inflationary collapse occurs
Monetarists are fully aware that if a government increases the quantity of money in circulation, its purchasing power declines. Their theory is based on the days when gold was money and describes the effect of imports and exports of monetary gold on the general price level.
Pure monetarists appear to assume the same is basically true of fiat currencies, unbacked by gold. But there is a fundamental difference. When gold is used as money for settling cross-border trade, an arbitrage takes place, correcting price differentials. When prices are generally low in one country, that country would achieve sales of commodities and goods in other countries where prices were higher. Gold then flows to the lower price centre, raising its prices towards those of other countries. With unbacked national currencies, this does not happen.
Instead, national currencies earned through cross-border trade are usually sold in the foreign exchanges, and the determinant of trade flows is no longer an arbitrage based on a common form of money. The pure link between money and trade has gone, and whether foreigners retain or sell currency earned by exports depends mostly on their confidence in it. That is a matter for speculation, not trade.
Domestic users of state-issued currency are divorced from these issues, because foreign currencies do not circulate domestically as a medium of exchange. Instead of being a form of money accepted beyond national boundaries, as gold was formerly, there is no value anchor for domestic use. For this reason, a national currency’s purchasing power becomes a matter of trust, and it is that trust that risks being undermined in a credit crisis. The less trustworthy a government, the more rapidly a currency is in risk of decline.
This is why monetarism, which was based on gold as ubiquitous money, is no longer the sole determinant of currency values. It is true that an increase in the quantity of circulating money devalues the existing stock, but if the population as a whole is prepared to increase its preference for money, usually expressed as a savings ratio, there need be no detrimental effect on its purchasing power.
With fiat currencies we enter a world where statistics reflect the quantity of money, and never the confidence people have in it. Additionally, we should observe that statistics can tell you everything and nothing, but never the truth. It is possible for an economy to collapse, but statistically appear healthy as the following example illustrates.
Imagine, for a moment, that modern statisticians and their methods existed at the time of the Weimar Republic. Government finances were covered by approximately ten per cent taxes and ninety per cent monetary inflation. It was a government whose finances were run on the lines recommended by today’s modern monetary theorists.[i]
There can be no doubt the low level of taxation was an encouragement to business and permitted the redeployment of earnings for investment. A falling exchange rate delivers excess profits for export businesses as well. Interest rates were attractive relative to the rate of price inflation, and the economy, statistically anyway, was expanding rapidly.
This was certainly true measured in nominal GDP, the basic measure of economic activity today. Official prices, which are always the latest gathered and indexed, lag monetary debasement by at least a month, possibly two or even three. To this we must also mention governments always under-record price inflation, which is the natural consequence of earlier debasement. Therefore, even after an official price deflator is applied to nominal GDP, “real” GDP growth in Germany between 1918 and early-1923 would be judged by today’s government economists to be booming.
Interestingly, Joseph Stiglitz and a raft of left-leaning economists and politicians believed Hugo Chavez’s socialist policies were successful in 2007, when statistics revealed a similar interpretation for Venezuela’s inflation-ridden economy. However, instead of Germany being deemed to be in an economic boom, in 1920 economists in the classical and Austrian traditions saw it for what it was. Even Keynes wrote about it in his Tract on Monetary Reform, published coincidentally in late-1923 when the papiermark finally collapsed.
Germany’s inflation may have been a statistical success, but it concealed crippling wealth destruction through the transfer of wealth and wages from private individuals to the state through monetary debasement. As Lenin is reputed to have said, “The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them down between the millstones of taxation and inflation.”
In Germany, inflationary financing started before the First World War to finance a build-up of armaments. At the outbreak of war, gold convertibility was suspended, and the unbacked papiermarkbegan its inflationary drift. Exploiting the facility to issue valueless pieces of paper as currency and for the people to circulate them as legal tender became the principal source of government funds.
This trick worked until approximately May 1923. By then, the purchasing power of the mark had fallen consistently at a relatively even pace. It then took only seven months to lose all its purchasing power, when the public collectively realised what was happening, and manically dumped their marks for anything. It was the katastrophenhausse, or crack-up boom, the end of life for a state’s unbacked currency.
It was the pattern firmly established in all fiat currency collapses, which, besides the currencies in existence today, has happened to all of them throughout the history of post-barter trade, without any known exception. It is the familiar route along which the dollar and other paper currencies are travelling today. Now that we are entering a statistical slowdown in most major economies, Weimar-style financing is set to return to centre-stage. The fate for unbacked state currencies, unless somehow averted, will be the same.
The lesson from Weimar and today’s monetary inflation is that the period before the public cottons on to it can be prolonged. In Germany it was 1914-1923, followed by a swift seven-month collapse. Today it is from 1971 and still counting. But the final collapse could be as rapid as Germany’s between May and November 1923.
Doubtless, we will see rising price inflation later this year, but that statistic will continue to be suppressed. With the gap between the effect of accelerating monetary inflation and the official rate of price inflation widening, we could see for a brief period the statistical recovery in GDP that so badly misled Professor Stiglitz and others observing Venezuela’s economy twelve years ago.
A gold standard alone is insufficient
A major problem for governments when price inflation begins to rise is the notional cost of borrowing, because markets alive to the decline in the currency’s purchasing power will drive interest rates higher, despite official attempts to suppress them. So far, the problem has been successfully covered up by central banks rigging government debt markets, and by government statisticians masking the true rate of price inflation through statistical trickery. In future, efforts to keep a lid on reality will presumably intensify as a core feature of monetary and economic policy. In light of another wave of monetary debasement, the question then arises whether markets will permit this market rigging to continue. If not, the purchasing power of unbacked currencies will be visibly undermined by the erosion of public confidence in them.
We cannot know this outcome for sure until it is well on the way. The Lehman credit crisis led to a global explosion in the quantity of money as central banks worked in tandem to rescue the banks and the entire financial world. That injection still circulates in the global blood-stream. A second globally-coordinated monetary debasement is just starting, notably with China leading the way. A realistic assumption must be that this time the purchasing power of state currencies will be the victim of a severe monetary overdose.
This being the case, there is bound to be an upward adjustment in nominal interest rates forced on central banks by the markets. Government financing becomes overtly inflationary, embarking on a modern equivalent of the papiermark route. How else do you describe accelerated quantitative easing?
A loss of confidence in currencies is always reflected in the prices of gold and silver, which by then should be heading considerably higher. Crypto-currencies could compound the problem by becoming an alternative for people no longer content to retain bank deposits.
Governments and their central banks will be at a fork in the road. One direction towards monetary stability is rough, tough, suspension-breaking, but leads to a better place. The other towards accelerating monetary debasement is smoother, more familiar, but just out of sight leads to a cliff-edge of monetary destruction.
Which road will your government take?
Western governments are poorly equipped to make this decision. There are a few people in the political establishment who might understand the choice, but they will have to deliberately put the clock back, and reverse government policy away from socialism and state regulation towards free markets and sound money. They will be fighting the neo-Keynesian economic establishment, the inflationists who form the overwhelming majority of experts and advisers. These neo-Keynesians populate the central banks and government treasury departments almost to the exclusion of all other economic theorists. Spending ministers and secretaries of state will have to be told to reduce their power-bases, which goes against their personal ambitions and political instincts.
It will take an extraordinary feat of leadership to succeed.
In favour of a brave statesman will be the free-market instincts of the silent majority. It is only at times of crisis that a statesman can muster this support. In a different context, Churchill in 1940 comes to mind. The public will not know the solution, but with the right leadership they can be led along the path to economic and monetary salvation. The currency will have to be stabilised by making it convertible into gold bullion, and government spending will have to be slashed, by as much as a quarter or a third in most advanced economies. This means enacting legislation cancelling government responsibilities, something that could require a state of emergency. The message to the electorate must be the government owes you nothing. And so that you can look after yourself, the government must encourage individuals to accumulate personal wealth by removing taxation from savings.
Obviously, the most socialist welfare states will face the greatest challenge. There will be extreme tension between financial reality and entrenched interests. There can be no doubt that their currencies are most likely to fail.
The Eurozone poses a particular challenge, with one currency circulating between nineteen member states. Conventional opinion is that all the troubles visited on the PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain) are due to an inflexible currency. Here, there is likely to be a split, with Germany and perhaps a northern faction gravitating towards the protection of a gold standard, while the PIGS will press for more interest rate suppression and infinite supplies of easy money from the ECB.
The US is a pivot of disaster
The US has a different but more worrying problem. It refuses to accept its decline as the dominant super-power, retreating into trade protection and autarky. Consequently, the US Government is taking destructive decisions. Since President Trump was elected, he accelerated inflationary financing late in the credit cycle in the belief it would lead to greater tax income in due course. He has also replayed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, in the belief that trade protectionism somehow makes America great again (MAGA). Instead, it has crashed global trade, just as it did in the 1930s. MAGA is a fateful combination of tax cuts and trade protectionism. It is a curious form of self-harm, which backfires badly on American consumers and corporations. And it does not help foster good relations with America’s creditors, who have allowed America to live beyond her means for decades.
Foreigners now own dollars in enormous amounts, for which interpret they are America’s reluctant bankers. They are now beginning to be net sellers as a consequence of a dollar glut in their hands, combined with America’s clumsy geopolitical manoeuvrings. TIC data for December showed foreigners sold a net $91.4bn[ii] – the largest monthly outflow during Trump’s presidency, and this only a few months after everyone believed foreigners were buying yet more dollars to service their own debts.
While ignoring its dependency on foreign finance, America is trying to strangle China’s economic and technical development, but that horse has already bolted. Washington surely knows the jig is up, and that the US, Japan and Britain are merely islands on the periphery of a vitalised Eurasian powerhouse. We were all warned this would happen in one form or another by Halford Mackinder over a hundred years ago.[iii] America, it appears, is prepared to destroy herself rather than see Mackinder’s prophecy come true.
Consequently, the whole world is being thrown into a trade-induced slump, and the American government is central to the problem. We can expect its economy, along with all the others, to decline significantly in the coming months. It will be an encouragement for yet more inflationism. The monetary expansion which is sure to follow is set to lead to an acceleration in the decline in the dollar’s purchasing power, as foreigners turn from dollar bankers to dollar sellers. This will lead to an increase in the value of time-preference set by markets, and unless the Fed counters this increase sufficiently by raising its rates, the dollar will simply slide.
Under current circumstances, the 1980-81 Volcker solution of raising interest rates to 20% to stabilise the currency does not appear to be available. Furthermore, to reverse the Nixon shock of 1971 and reinstate gold backing for the dollar as a means of limiting the rise in interest rates is simply not in the establishment’s DNA. America, which is very much the guilty party in destroying its own Bretton Woods monetary arrangements, will find it very difficult to change its tack with such economic cluelessness at the top.
The SCO bloc[iv]
Things are very different in Asia. The eight members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, together with those seeking to join, represent roughly half the world’s population. It is led by gold-friendly China and Russia. A further two billion people can be said to be directly affected by the way the SCO develops, including the populous nations of South-East Asia, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. That leaves America’s questionable sphere of influence reduced to roughly one and a half billion souls out of a global population of seven. It is proof of Halford Mackinder’s foresight.
China and Russia still have significant infrastructure plans, which will stimulate Eurasian economic activity for at least the next decade, perhaps two. If the formerly advanced national economies slump, of course Asia will be adversely affected, but not as much as even China-watchers fear. The upcoming credit crisis is likely to mainly affect America, UK, Western Europe and their military and economic allies. The SCO bloc could escape relatively lightly, if it takes the right avoiding action.
The threat to the SCO’s future is mainly from its current monetary policies, with China in particular using credit expansion to manage the economy. She has sought to control the consequences of domestic monetary policy through strict exchange controls, a strategy which has so far broadly succeeded.
The growing possibility of a dollar collapse will call for a radical change in China’s monetary policy. We know the direction this new policy will take from the actions of Russia, China and increasingly those of other SCO members, and that is to somehow incorporate gold into their paper monies. Furthermore, they are capable of doing it and making it stick.
While it is clear to us that China and Russia understand the importance of gold as true money, it is not clear whether they have a credible plan for its introduction into their monetary systems. The Russians seem to have a good grasp of the issues. China had a good grasp, but many of her economic advisors are now Western-trained in neo-Keynesian inflationary beliefs. Therefore, China is not wholly immune to the faults that are likely to destroy the dollar and other Western currencies. But the central message in China’s successful cornering of the physical gold market is a switch will be made to sound money when it is strategically sensible, despite the neo-Keynesians in it ranks.
Almost none of the SCO nations have significant welfare commitments to their populations. It is therefore possible for them to contain government spending in an economic downturn. Not only can Russia and China introduce a gold exchange standard and make it stick, but fellow SCO members and those nations tied to it can either introduce their own gold exchange standards, or alternatively use gold-backed roubles and yuan to anchor their currencies.
The economic and monetary direction taken by the SCO in the coming years could turn out to be relatively successful, at least compared with the difficulties faced by the welfare states. Such an outcome would be immensely positive for humanity as a whole and be a lifeline for those of us deluded into inflation-funded socialism. You never know, it might even force spendthrift Western governments to reform their ways and return to sound money policies.
The effect on the price of gold should be obvious. It is said that foreign students in Berlin in 1923 were able to buy houses with the spare change from their allowances, sent to them by their parents, usually in dollars or pounds. Dollars at that time were as good as gold. Today, a currency board or gold exchange standard would have to be fixed at a rate significantly higher than current fiat-currency prices. Gold is the ultimate protection from theft by currency debasement.
Categories
SPROTT 2019 Top 10 List
Authored by Trey Reik, Senior Portfolio Manager, Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc.
During 2018, we started to sound a bit like a broken record. We felt the Fed’s dual policy agenda of simultaneous rate hikes and balance sheet reduction was too aggressive in the context of a global economy bloated with debt and addled far too long by salves of quantitative easing (QE) and zero interest rate policies (ZIRP). We even questioned whether the Keynesian academics at the Fed fully appreciated the direct and measurable impacts of QT on global money supply.
All the way through December’s unanimous decision by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to hike fed funds for the fourth time in 2018, our concerns gained very little traction in consensus circles. Because we have remained confident in our analysis, we found the second half of 2018 to be a frustrating investment environment.
During 2018, we started to sound a bit like a broken record. We felt the Fed’s dual policy agenda of simultaneous rate hikes and balance sheet reduction was too aggressive in the context of a global economy bloated with debt and addled far too long by salves of quantitative easing (QE) and zero interest rate policies (ZIRP). We even questioned whether the Keynesian academics at the Fed fully appreciated the direct and measurable impacts of QT on global money supply.
All the way through December’s unanimous decision by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to hike fed funds for the fourth time in 2018, our concerns gained very little traction in consensus circles. Because we have remained confident in our analysis, we found the second half of 2018 to be a frustrating investment environment.
Powell’s Pivot: The Fed’s Policy Reversal
How quickly things can change. In the four weeks following the December FOMC rate hike, the Fed executed one of its sharpest policy U-turns in memory. Indeed, the Fed’s tonal shift has been so profound, it is difficult to square recent comments from Fed Governors and Regional Bank Presidents with their stated positions just a few weeks prior. What could possibly account for such a dramatic about-face from such a characteristically deliberative body? Is the explanation as simple as the 19.6% decline in the S&P 500 Index (S&P 500)1 between Chairman Powell’s “long way from neutral” comment on 10/3/18 and Secretary Mnuchin’s convening of the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets on Christmas Eve?
In our experience, the contemporary Fed is always hyper vigilant about signs of financial stress with perceived potential to evolve into debt deflation. To us, S&P 500 air pockets are but a symptom of a far more troublesome underlying condition: insufficient credit creation to sustain inflated paper claims. Once equities complete their current Pavlovian bounce, consensus will need to confront the more sobering implications of the Fed’s policy reversal. The Fed is far too tight and has already tripped the switch on long overdue debt rationalization.
Of course, this is precisely the juncture for which we have long prepared.
Gold Coiling for Spirited Advance
Similar to early 2016, when global financial markets were destabilized by the Fed’s initial 12/16/15 rate hike, the gold price responded quickly to market fallout from Chairman Powell’s early October overreach, and has remained in steady uptrend ever since. Importantly, gold’s advance has not been derailed by the S&P 500’s 18.1% bounce from Christmas Eve through 2/15/19. To us, gold’s performance clearly signals Fed policy error, and we believe spot gold is coiling for spirited advance as global central banks pivot back toward easing. For gold investors, this is the mix of real-deal fundamentals on which spectacular gains are based.
Given the seminal nature of catalysts now in play for precious metals, we felt the timing appropriate for a comprehensive review of factors driving the gold price. In this report, we have compiled our Top 10 List of fundamentals supporting a portfolio allocation to gold in 2019. Because our gold investment thesis rests on epic global imbalances, our first few sections review underpinnings of our long-term gold thesis.
#1. Gold has been the Best Performing Global Asset for 18 Years
We often marvel at investor apathy towards gold’s investment merits. Especially in institutional circles, gold is generally viewed as an archaic asset offering negligible portfolio utility. To us, it is remarkable that gold could remain such an institutional outcast after posting the single best performance of any global asset for eighteen years running. Since 2000, not only has bullion outperformed traditional investment assets in cumulative total return, but gold’s ongoing bull market has also proved to be highly consistent in its annual progression. As shown in the rightmost column of Figure 1, the average of gold’s annual performance in nine prominent currencies has been positive in 16 of the past 18 years.
Figure 1: Annual Performance of Spot Gold in Prominent Global Currencies (2001-2018)
Source: Bloomberg.
Given gold’s fringe standing in much of the investment world, it is interesting to note that gold bullion’s cumulative performance since 2000 has trounced the S&P 500. As shown in Figure 2, gold’s cumulative gain from 12/31/00 through 2/15/19 totaled 385.42%, versus a 110.23% advance in the S&P 500 price level, and a 201.15% gain in S&P 500 total return.
Figure 2: Spot Gold2 vs. S&P 5001 (Price and Total Return Indices) (12/29/00-2/15/19)
Source: Bloomberg.
(Note to Reader: Items 2-9 have been condensed. The full 28-page Gold Report can be found here.)
#2. Paper Claims have Decoupled Completely from Productive Output
Synopsis: Greenspan, Bernanke and Yellen Feds have facilitated trillions of dollars of credit creation atop a fairly consistent GDP denominator. Why is debt-to-GDP analysis important and what does it have to do with gold’s portfolio merits? While timing is uncertain, it is inevitable that the U.S. financial system will eventually rebalance to the degree that GDP can productively support total debt levels. There are only two possible routes for the U.S. debt burden to be recalibrated to underlying GDP: default or debasement. Because gold can neither default nor be debased, it is an ideal portfolio component until such time as the U.S. financial system rebalances.
#3. Central Banks are Admitting Tightening is No Longer Possible
Synopsis: Since the Fed’s about-face on rates, the biggest riddle in financial markets is what could possibly have served as the underlying trigger. Was it the S&P 500 swoon, pressure from President Trump or some signal of financial stress not yet publically disseminated? We suspect it was a combination of all three. Whatever the true mix of catalysts, the message has been received, not only by the Fed, but by all global central banks, which have discarded in unison their collective resolve for policy tightening.
#4. The Return of Negative Interest Rates
Synopsis: In unison, global central banks are swinging quickly and hard back towards an easing posture. The world is quickly refocusing on the likelihood and utility of negative interest rates. The global total of negative yielding sovereign bonds has exploded 56% from $5.733 trillion on 10/3/18 to $8.944 trillion on 2/15/19. Already within $1 trillion of its September 2017 high, how large will the ultimate supply of negative-yielding sovereigns become in the unfolding cycle? While just one of many factors influencing the gold price, correlations confirm that gold is taking notice of the global pivot to negative rates.
#5. Fed Credibility Under Siege
Synopsis: While we recognize U.S. Fed power borders on the divine, we have always found the proposition that 19 individuals, no matter how capable and well-supported, might possibly price the world’s reserve currency more efficiently than free markets to be a fairly absurd notion. Sidestepping our perceptions of Fed Governors and Regional Bank Presidents, both individually and as a deliberative body, we have detected since early 2018 distinct erosion in the Fed’s factual credibility.
#6. Deteriorating U.S. Fiscal Position
Synopsis: One of the least kept secrets in global financial markets is the deteriorating fiscal position of the United States. Everyone knows the Trump Administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) now forecasts $1 trillion-plus budget deficits in fiscal 2019, 2020 and 2021. Everyone knows OMB assumptions for GDP growth in those years are likely a bit optimistic (3.2%, 3.1% and 3.0%). And everyone knows post-tax-cut federal receipts are already lagging advertised projections.
#7. Gold Versus U.S. Dollar as Strategic Reserve
Synopsis: Central bank demand for gold soared to a multi-decade high in 2018, rising 74% YOY – the highest level of CB net purchases since the dissolution of Bretton Woods (1968-1973). There is no question that President Trump’s penchant for sanctions has energized longstanding rancor towards the dollar-standard system. As recently as 2000, 72.7% of global foreign-exchange (FX) reserves were denominated in U.S. dollars. By year-end 2018, the U.S. dollar had shrunk to 61.9%. We believe that the declining use of dollar-denominated assets by global central banks has less to do with direct supply/demand impacts in currency markets than with the symbolic impact on the U.S. dollar’s hegemonic status.
#8. Global Policy Uncertainty
Synopsis: Since 2016, the twin shocks of Brexit and the Trump Presidency have bookended near continuous political turmoil in global markets. Investors have become inured to the daily twists and turns of President Trump’s seemingly erratic decision-making and Prime Minister May’s Sisyphean negotiations with both the EU and her own Parliament. Indeed, investors’ increasingly thick skin to political headline risk may be leading to underestimation of potential black swans forming on the horizon.
#9. Dormant Volatility
Synopsis: Important components of our 2019 gold investment thesis are the lingering imbalances from eight years of QE (quantitative easing) and ZIRP (zero-interest-rate-policy). Artificially depressed interest rates always distort time preferences and foster malinvestment. In the instance of the post-GFC (Great Financial Crisis) Fed, these imbalances have become epic in size and scope. At Sprott, we adhere to the theory that volatility generally signals change. We believe isolated outbreaks of volatility during 2018 served as early signposts of profound change in financial markets (the unwinding of eight years of volatility-suppressing QE and ZIRP). What is being vastly underestimated by investor consensus is the stored force of volatility suppression during these past eight years.
#10. Gold as Non-Correlating Portfolio Asset
In documenting an objective record of gold’s portfolio utility, one logically begins with gold’s traditional profile as safe-harbor asset. It goes without saying that gold’s safe-haven reputation accrues from bullion’s established history of relative outperformance during periods of financial stress. As shown in Figure 18, gold has done a masterful job of insulating portfolio capital from sharp declines in U.S. equities during the past three decades of financial crises.
Figure 18: S&P 500 Index versus Spot Gold During “Crisis” Periods (1987-Present)
Source: World Gold Council. Dates used: Black Monday: 9/1987-11/1987; LTCM: 8/1998; Dot-Com: 3/2000-3/2001; September 11: 9/2001; 2002 Recession: 3/2002-7/2002; Great Recession: 10/2007-2/2009; Sovereign Debt Crisis I: 1/2010-6/2010; Sovereign Debt Crisis II: 2/2011-10/2011; Greek Default: 6/2015-9/2015.
Institutional focus on non-correlating assets has directed trillions-of-dollars of investment capital towards hedge funds and specialized investment partnerships in disciplines such as real estate, private equity and venture capital. A more recent trend, however, has been mounting investor backlash against elevated fees charged by alternative managers in the context of mediocre investment returns (not to mention onerous liquidity and lockup provisions). In short, a marquee consideration for today’s pension and endowment stewards has become whether the fees, lockups and obfuscation of alternative investments are truly worth their while.
Even more challenging to the industry status quo, gold bullion has rivaled the performance of alternative asset indices while simultaneously displaying far lower correlation to these vehicles than either stocks or bonds. As shown in Figure 23, the correlation between prominent alternative asset indices and the S&P 500 Index has averaged 80% over the decade through 2018. By way of comparison, the 10-year correlation between these same indices and spot gold has averaged just 9%. At an 80% correlation-rate with U.S. equities, high-priced and unwieldy alternative vehicles seem hardly worth their freight.
Figure 23: Correlations between Alternative Asset Indices and S&P 500 Index, U.S. Treasuries and Spot Gold (Monthly Data Trailing 10-years through 2018)
Source: World Gold Council.
We thank you for your diligence in reviewing our fundamentals supporting a portfolio allocation to gold in 2019. We expect gold’s 2019 performance to more than justify the effort.
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Trey Reik
Senior Portfolio Manager
Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc
203.656.2400
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This content is intended solely for the use of Sprott Asset Management USA Inc. for use with investors and interested parties. Investments, commentary and statements are unique and may not be reflective of investments and commentary in other strategies managed by Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc., Sprott Asset Management LP, Sprott Inc., or any other Sprott entity or affiliate. Opinions expressed in this presentation are those of the presenter and may vary widely from opinions of other Sprott affiliated Portfolio Managers or investment professionals.
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Dr. Quinton Hennigh the President and Director of Novo Resources (TSX: NVO | OTCQX: NSRPF) sits down with Maurice Jackson of Proven and Probable to discuss the companies road to production. Current and prospective shareholders will be introduced to the thesis and unique value proposition that Novo Resources provides to the market. We shall address a number of fronts from expanding the project portfolio from 7,000 sq km to 12,000 sq km, bulk sample results, mechanical rock sorting with TOMRA, and DTC Eligibility for U.S. investors just to name a few. Dr. Hennigh shall provide a thorough comprehensive update on each project in the Novo portfolio.
VIDEO
AUDIO
TRANSCRIPT
Company’s Quest to Become an Established Gold Producer in Australia
Contributed Opinion
Source: Maurice Jackson for Streetwise Reports (2/23/19): https://www.streetwisereports.com/article/2019/02/23/companys-quest-to-become-an-established-gold-producer-in-australia.html
Dr. Quinton Hennigh, chairman and president of Novo Resources, sits down with Maurice Jackson of Proven and Probable to discuss how the road to production looks.
Maurice Jackson: Joining us for a conversation today is Dr. Quinton Hennigh, the president and chairman of Novo Resources Corp. (NVO:TSX.V; NSRPF:OTCQX), which is focused on “A New Paradigm in Gold Exploration and Investing.” Dr. Hennigh, welcome to the show.
Quinton Hennigh: Thank you, Maurice.
Maurice Jackson: Last time we spoke, Novo Resources accomplished a major milestone and that was the inclusion into the GDXJ. Since then Novo Resources has been extremely busy on a number of fronts from expanding the project portfolio, providing bulk sample results, mechanical rock sorting and DTC Eligibility, just to name a few. But before we go into greater detail, Dr. Hennigh, for someone new to the story, who is Novo Resources?
Quinton Hennigh: Novo Resources is Canada listed company that is focused on exploring in Australia. I founded the company roughly nine years ago, and it was explicitly to explore for a certain type of gold deposit in northwest Australia in a region called the Pilbara, which is just in from the Indian Ocean along the northern coast. Our projects are close to two cities, Port Hedland and Karratha.
They’re major cities that give access to the interior where there’s a lot of active iron ore mining in the region. The Pilbara has had a long-standing reputation, over 50 years, for their iron mines around Newman and Tom Price. Coincidently, within this same region Novo recognized the potential for gold early on in actually in the same strata, believe it or not, as the iron ore sequence.
Novo had a hypothesis that the Pilbara was once connected with the Kaapvaal Craton in South Africa. Both of those cratons are very old rocks, they’re over three billion years old, they share a lot of geologic similarities, including the strata that’s been deposited on each block. In addition, we identified the stratigraphy can be correlated from one side of the ocean to the other.
In South Africa, as many people know, there are vast deposits of gold in conglomerates in a basin called the Witwatersrand Basin. These gold deposits have been mined since around 1886 when they were first discovered; they produced something like 35% of all the gold produced on earth, around 1.7 billion ounces. The Witwatersrand Basin is a remarkable deposit; it’s basically the Saudi Arabia of gold.
The logical conclusion for us was, if deposits like that are present in South Africa, maybe over here in the Pilbara Craton there are similar deposits in conglomerates and of similar age, that have yet been discovered. Therefore, we came to Australia on that premise. We first structured deals with a gentleman named Mark Creasy, a well-known prospector in Australia, and those deals were largely centered over in the eastern part of the Pilbara region.
The Pilbara region is quite vast from one side to the other, covering over six hundred kilometers, and from the coast up here down to Paraburdoo is something like 250 or 300 kilometers. This is an enormous target area. Our first exploration ever was at Beatons Creek.
In 2011, drilled up a small resource at Beatons Creek, but what we learned is that the conglomerate units were quite continuous, and the gold is indeed there. The gold is a coarser grain than the Witwatersrand, but it is indeed present and appears to be economic. During our time at Beatons Creek we also conducted a bit of exploration at Marble Bar.
Since that time, we have focused efforts more to the northwest and acquired this vast land package by Karratha. This was based on a discovery roughly two-and-a-half years ago of gold being found by prospectors in areas like Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, as well as others around the marsh and the basin, including Egina and some other select locals.
The gold occurrences had been known by the locals for many years. When the news got out in late 2016, we strategically assembled a land package, including Comet Well and Egina. Novo staked a tremendous amount of ground, which is 100% owned by us. In addition, we also conducted a joint-venture agreement with Artemis Resource.
Maurice Jackson: Dr. Hennigh, you’ve already introduced us to the project portfolio, but introduce us in particular to the value proposition we have before us.
Quinton Hennigh: The conglomerate gold systems in our project portfolio are different gold deposits than most people are used to seeing. Our conglomerates are flat-sheet-like, and continuous over large areas. We’ve latched onto three systems in particular that we’re focused on right now, which are Beatons Creek, Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, where we are actively exploring now.
In 2018, we assembled the land package at Egina, and we’re conducting advanced exploration there now including bulk sampling.
For current and prospective shareholders I believe it best to become familiar with our trajectory for each project, as they are separate and unique. At Beatons Creek we’ve now undertaken a couple rounds of drilling over the past few years and also large-scale sampling, so this would be trench sampling as well as bulk sampling, and our current resource stands at somewhere around 670,000 ounces Measured, Indicated and Inferred. We are looking to grow that and are working to get a resource put together at Beatons Creek north of 1 million ounces in the near future.
Not only that, we’ve done a lot of work like test mining and other things to demonstrate the economics and continuity of this system. We are looking to advance our Beatons Creek project towards monetization over the coming year. Beatons Creek is our most advanced, it’s certainly a robust project. What you see there at Beatons Creek, you see conglomerate horizons, in some places it’s stacked six high, so we have a conglomerate bed with a bit of intervening material, another conglomerate bed, and so forth.
At Beatons Creek we have a robust deposit, easily accessible form surface. Those familiar with coal mines in West Virginia would identify these as tabletop mines. That’s the kind of setting we have at Beatons Creek, so it’s a really interesting deposit from that aspect, and the most exiting aspect is that Beatons Creek may be very inexpensive from a production standpoint. The gold is coarse and is easily recoverable; gravity recovery captures a lot but you know cyanide captures the rest so we expect very, very good recoveries out of that deposit in particular.
At Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, we first evaluated the system, because it is a very coarse gold system, this is not your average gold deposit.
The gold particles are often tenths of a gram up to multi-gram even tens of grams, and they’re distributed through the conglomerate somewhat randomly. Therefore, one can’t just walk up, grab a rock chip sample and expect to know through fire assay what’s in this rock. We’ve had to do some very hard yards in terms of bulk sampling and other means to begin to evaluate the grain here.
What we’ve shown at Comet Well and the Purdy’s Reward joint venture with Artemis is that the continuity appears to be good over several kilometers. We’ve done a lot of core drilling for geology and stepped out into the basin. Presently, we have enough data between the core drilling, three-dimensional modeling, as well as the grade data that we have from the bulk samples, to put together a mineralization report.
This is a big step for Novo. All of our tenements are currently exploration licenses. In order to advance a project towards a mining stage, we have to convert exploration licenses to mining licenses in Australia, and to do that we need a couple of things. One, we need a mineralization report, in this case we’re not necessarily going to produce a resource per se, we’ll demonstrate that we have a potentially economic body of rock here, through the data that we’ve collected that I just mentioned.
Novo Resources will submit a mineralization report within the next few weeks. The other aspect that’s needed is an agreement with the Aboriginal community, this would be the Ngarluma Community. The Ngarluma Community basically covers most of this project area here. We’ve been in negotiations with them, and developed a good relationship with the Ngarlumas, over the past year and a half.
We need to strike what’s called a “Native Title Agreement” that allows us rights to go mining, as well the Ngarlumas have commercial rights, such as royalty, as part of this project. But these are things that also have to be worked out for granting a mining lease.
We anticipate taking Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward through a development trajectory, probably first through trial mining. In fact, we might do a certain amount of trial mining this year. That will provide us more supporting data for developing a larger scale mine. But we are definitely moving Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward forward in a trajectory towards making a producing asset.
Revisiting the map, one can see that Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward are really just a small component of a much larger land package. As I alluded to earlier, within the conglomerate horizons, people have found nuggets weathering out of these conglomerates over many kilometers through this region. We have a lot of greenfields work to do along strike (gold line).
We also have some very interesting new ground at Egina that we’ve recently assembled. At Egina the conglomerates have weathered away over time. They used to cover a significant portion in the Pilbara. But as they have weathered away and receded back, they’ve left the gold that was in them behind across a terrace, or flat country through here in the Pilbara. If one drives across this country, it is absolutely flat as a pancake, very similar to West Texas.
If one were to look in either direction, it’s like a pool table. But the flat surface throughout this region has what is called a lag gravel horizon on it. The lag gravel horizon is about one to two meters thick. Novo was able to demonstrate last year through our trial bulk sampling at Egina that it contains gold and it’s fairly coarse-grain gold; we recovered something like 108 grams of gold out of a hundred cubic meters of bulk sample that we collected.
That’s pretty remarkable! A lot of alluvial deposits are less than 0.3 grams, and the grades we’re seeing at Egina are very enticing. Our hypothesis is that this terrace, of which we own about 400 sq km, could be a sizeable gold project in its own right.
Egina is basically another very large target we have. It is earlier stage, but the nice thing about Egina is that it’s soft rock, gravels at surface. Novo can advance this in a fairly orderly fashion.
We control 100% (of the blue on the map) at Egina. Thus, we are able to get out there and do a lot of test mining and stuff like that that we can’t quite undertake presently at Comet Well at the moment. So Egina is definitely going to be a focus for us this year. We’re going to tackle that terrace gravel, see what kind of economics that might have, including the size and potential that we might have.
Therefore, we are going to do sampling not only in the mining lease but hopefully in some more extensive areas to demonstrate the hypothesis that this region could hold a vast gold deposit could be true.
Maurice Jackson: Dr. Hennigh, allow be to interject here. This land package you have here, it looks quite massive, how many square kilometers are we looking at here?
Quinton Hennigh: Our land package is around 12,000 square kilometers at present.
Maurice Jackson: Let me ask you this, sir. I know Novo Resources has undergone a tedious and methodical process in attempting to figure out grade and tonnage. In the spring of 2018 the company released the first bulk-sample results from Comet Well, how have those been coming along?
Quinton Hennigh: The bulk samples from Comet Well that we released in May were the first two that we completed. To get these samples through the lab was a big exercise. It required several renditions of crushing and experimenting and assaying different streams. We also were battling a bit of wet weather down in Perth last year; it took a long time but we did get a pretty comprehensive set of assays out in late October that demonstrated the grade of these conglomerate horizons.
What we’ve identified are two conglomerate horizons at Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward. The lower one of which is say 2or 3 meters thick, the grades range from about a 1 to 6 grams, and it sits right on the basement, so it’s basically the lowermost bed of rock in this bigger sequence.
Twelve to fifteen meters above first horizon is a second horizon. We call it the Upper Cannonball conglomerate, the Upper Cannonball conglomerate is about 1 to 2 meters thick, and again the grades in that bed are in a range of 1 to 3, 4 grams, somewhere in that range. And it’s very continuous along strike; we can see good continuity from one trench to the other over three-and-a-half, four kilometers right now. We feel very compelled that it’s demonstrating similar continuity to the beds we see at Beatons Creek.
For those who have followed Novo Resources for the year are familiar with the challenges we had at Beatons Creek. Specifically, we had to develop sampling protocols to deal with the coarse grade, assay protocols that were unusual; it took some time to develop. But now, Beatons Creek is basically getting close to mine.
Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward area are going along the same trajectory as Beatons Creek. We’ve had to cut our teeth with different styles of bulk sampling and assaying but we’ve now got things under control. We are also experimenting with somewhat unconventional techniques of recovering the gold.
Novo has done test work with TOMRA, for example; this was starting in late last year in November. The results that came out are fantastic! We think there is potential to crush up the conglomerate, screen it, of course, but put it through an ore sorting machine, and actually let the ore sorter pick rock with the gold particles.
You know the downside of coarse gold is assaying. It’s a real challenge, but the upside is that the metallurgy might be very favorable for us. Novo is very excited about that ore sorter possibility.
Maurice Jackson: Dr. Hennigh, the following may be a bit premature to address at the moment but the two most frequent questions I receive from prospective shareholders are, “Is this a place for deposit?” and, “How do you intend to extract the gold?” What do you have to say to those two questions?
Quinton Hennigh: Sure, the first question is a very good one. I came to this region on the basis that there might be deposits like those in South Africa. Now let me give a little background there, in South Africa there are really two types of ore, there’s the conglomeratic ore and in that the gold occurs as particles distributed in the matrix of the conglomerate.
In effect those are alluvial deposits in the Witwatersrand Basin. There is also what they call “carbon leader ore.” Carbon leader ore is a very, very thin seam of carbon, almost like coal, and I’ve written several papers (click here to view paper) on this with other authors. We believe that that seam of carbon is basically the fossil remains of early cyanobacterial mats that formed or evolved in a time when Earth’s atmosphere was largely reduced. The idea is the sea water back at that time, under reduced conditions, would have been able to dissolve a fair bit of gold. Gold dissolves in reduced atmospheric conditions.
The cyanobacteria was the first photosynthetic life. During this time period the cyanobacteria starting to kick off oxygen. What we believe is that that oxygen, which causes gold to precipitate, actually pulled, or started pulling the gold out of sea water and created that little carbon seam type ore, that is very, very rich in gold. This is a very, very unusual style of gold mineralization. It’s a thin and very continuous and covers many square kilometers. A seam of carbonaceous gold ore.
I came here looking for similar carbonaceous ores. What have we found? Well, at Beatons Creek, in fact we’ve talked about this in the past, we’ve actually found particles, pieces of carbonaceous material in the conglomerates here. So to answer your question, at Beatons Creek, we see two types of gold, we see bonafide alluvial gold. These would be loose, somewhat rounded particles in the matrix of the conglomerate, but we also see a component of carbonaceous material at Beatons Creek that tells us that that same process that you see in the Witwatersrand was active over in this area.
At Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, what we see in the conglomerates here are large, rounded; they appear to be water-worn nuggets of gold. The origin of that gold we still haven’t put our finger on, but it’s possible that that gold has been recycled from weathering of previously existing conglomerates or carbonaceous beds that no longer exist.
In their present form it’s alluvial gold, but it’s ultimate origin is still in question. In addition, we have gold that appears to have grown in the matrix around the nuggets. This is what we call “halo gold,” it’s a thin halo about two or three millimeters wide around the gold nuggets, the coarse nuggets, and we believe that gold is actually a precipitated type gold, probably in response to biogenic activity.
So once again I would say it’s a mixture of two types of gold that have brought the system together. We have alluvial particles for sure, we have secondary gold that appears to be perhaps biogenic in nature.
Maurice Jackson: Alright and the second question: “How do you intend to extract the gold?”
Quinton Hennigh: Like the coarse gold is a problem from the sense of assaying but in terms of recovery, it is quite favorable. Gold is dense. One of the easiest ways to treat coarse gold is, of course, gravity recovery, and that’s certainly a possibility, but one of the things we wanted to look at was a call it a somewhat portable style of processing, by using ore sorting machines.
These ore sorting devices are skid mounted or they’re mounted on a transportable platform. They can be moved from one location to the other. Now why is that important? Well, this is a flat deposit, so if you have something that’s long, you know rather than trucking ore from one place to another over kilometers, why not mine process, right on the spot, and then move as you mine the material.
We looked at TOMRA ore sorters starting late last year (click here). We tried ore sorting early in 2017, had mixed results with the Steinert, first looked like it worked great, second rendition didn’t work so well. When we went to TOMRA they showed us some reasons why they thought they could improve things dramatically and just recently we published the final data from that.
In fact, the two samples that were good coherent conglomerate material that we put through saw recoveries over 80% just by sorting. This is using a scanner device, X-ray transmission that literally picks out particles of rock off a conveyor belt that have gold embedded in them. It’s just remarkable! We essentially took gravel, put it on a conveyor belt, sent it across this machine, and it picks out the little particles of rock with gold. What you end up with is a concentrate that’s a very, very small fraction of the overall mass you put in that machine, and it has most of the gold in it.
There are a few additional steps we have got to take to test this further. One question is “What do we do with the fines?” At the present, we are considering to conglomerate them, and then put them through the ore sorter as they are. In other words, turn them back into little pellets or something, let the ore sorter pick them out. Or another option we could do is just put the fines through a gravity circuit on their own. These are options we are considering, which are essentially unconventional means of processing for this very unconventional deposit.
Maurice Jackson: Looking forward, what are the company’s goals and objectives for 2019?
Quinton Hennigh: First, at Beatons Creek, which I talked about as being the most advanced project. We have a resource remodel underway right now, this is work that’s ongoing and we are expecting some bulk samples back from the project. These are ones we collected late last year. Once we have all that data, which should be available by the end of the first quarter, we anticipate publishing a new, updated resource for Beatons Creek. We are targeting over a million ounces, we’ll see if we can get there, I feel pretty confident. Beatons Creek should be a robust deposit. This puts the project in a good path for monetization. Then we will take the next steps of looking at how we potentially develop that project.
Second, at Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, we anticipate doing a level of trial mining this year. We are continuing to evaluate some of the test work around the TOMRA, for example, as a means of processing at Comet Well. I think once we get a full evaluation, and we do have a bit more data we got to get back on that, but once we have a full evaluation of that processing, we’ll look at that trajectory. Bear in mind, we also are shooting for that mineralization report and working on a Native Title agreement so that we can convert a lot of that country into mining leases. That’s the trajectory for Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward.
Third, at Egina, once the rainy season’s over in a few weeks, we anticipate getting out there and hitting the mining lease very hard. This is the mining lease where we took our bulk sample last year. We anticipate putting together on a test basis, a grid of samples across a target area, where we can see if we can put together a resource on the terrace gravels.
We also anticipate, because it’s a mining lease and we have permit to go up to 50,000 tons extractable, doing some small-scale test mining. We are seeking to help build our confidence around that project. The other aspect to Egina, very important, we anticipate taking some samples further afield in some more distant areas, and trying to get an idea how extensive that deposit may be. If Novo proves that that deposit covers a vast area, encompassing many tens of square kilometers, in that country, I think people will sit up and take note. I think that’s really a big add to the story we have in the Pilbara right now.
Maurice Jackson: Near term, what is the next unanswered question, when should we expect results, and what determines success?
Quinton Hennigh: Per each project, the factors that determine success are a bit different. We have data coming back from bulk samples from Beatons Creek that will help support a new resource model, again that’s going to be over the next few weeks. We anticipate getting that resource put together by the end of this quarter.
If we see a resource above a million ounces I think we now have critical mass that allows us to look at that project a bit differently and more aggressively in terms of advancing it.
As far as Comet Well goes, I think right now we feel comfortable with the grades and the continuities we’re seeing. I think we have a fairly decent understanding of what this deposit is. What we really need to do there is to go test mine it on a scale, maybe a few tens of thousands of tonnes, and from multiple locations alone the strike of the conglomerate.
We also have to do some ore sorting tests to see if we can use that as a means of processing. Those are the two factors if we can successfully process this material using ore sorter, and that includes capturing the gold that’s in the finer material, I think we have an exceptional means of treating this unusual mineralization.
Ore sorting and test mining at Comet Well are absolutely critical paths for us. At Egina, because it’s free-dig gravel at surface, we have the luxury, and because we have a mining lease, too, of going out there and being pretty aggressive. Right so we can go out and start digging some hundred cubic meter samples like we did late in 2018, and we can advance that project quickly.
Basically, it’s almost like doing an exploration program in parallel with test mining and test processing. So I really think even though the metrics are not fully defined yet, I think Egina is one where it’s an easier project that can be advanced much more quickly. Therefore, we believe going forward Egina is going to become more and more important to the company.
Maurice Jackson: Sir, what do you see as the biggest challenge for Novo Resources, and how would you mitigate that situation?
Quinton Hennigh: This is a good question. Australia’s a very good place to work and in particular in Western Australia. Every single project that’s been put up for permitting and advancement has become a mine. There are virtually no examples where a deposit wasn’t mined, but it takes time. That’s our determining factor.
We have to do things like permit, we have to get mining leases from exploration licenses. We have to do the proper steps. We have to work with social license, we can’t just go in and start mining. I think a lot of people, they look at our projects and they’re very exciting, it’s easy to see that these things could be developed, we literally go out and start mining some tomorrow if you had that luxury, but we have to do things right here.
We have to do things right, both in terms of permitting, social license and all of those aspects, but we also have to do the right technical work to make sure that we take the right steps. We don’t want to go and fall on our sword. I guess my comment to that question would be, time and patience is what we need.
Maurice Jackson: Switching gears, sir can you please share with us the current capital structure for Novo Resources?
Quinton Hennigh: We have a little over 163 million shares out. We have a few options in warrants out there bringing us to 204 million shares. Right now we have a little less cash than shown above, we’re around CA$45 million at the end of the year. We have a good treasury, which is great! Because these projects, as I just said, need time and patience to advance.
What we really are appreciative of is the shareholder base. We’ve got good shareholders, we have Kirkland Lake, we have Newmont Mining, Mark Creasy who I mentioned earlier, we have a lot of long-term shareholders who really understand the geology, and they understand the steps that we need to take to get these projects through to fruition.
Maurice Jackson: And at the recording of today’s interview, right now the share price is at CA$2.32. Sir, for our U.S. investors, what can you share with us regarding DTC Eligibility?
Quinton Hennigh: Novo Resources filed DTC Eligibility in October 2018. This will enable U.S. citizens’ shares to be traded electronically in much more user-friendly way to facilitate electronic trading. It allows U.S. shareholders to put those share certificates into a U.S. brokerage accounts and trade them. So we did that for the benefit of our shareholders and I haven’t heard any complaints since.
Maurice Jackson: Last question. What did I forget to ask?
Quinton Hennigh: What does Novo Resources want to become? People who really know us know the story. They know we want to become a gold producer. Novo has tackled a very unusual style of mineralization but we want to prove that these deposits are going to make good economic mines, and we have three very promising projects, each of which has huge potential! Beatons Creek, Karratha, as well as Egina, all have extremely good potential to be very large, and hopefully very high margin, deposits.
I think if I had one comment to say, that’s the path we’re going to take: “Novo would like to become an established Western Australian gold producer.”
Maurice Jackson: Dr. Hennigh, for someone who wants to get more information on Novo Resources, please share the contact details.
Quinton Hennigh: Please contact our Head of Investor Relations Leo Karabelas in Toronto. His telephone number 416.543.3120 or email leo@novoresources.com.
Maurice Jackson: And as a reminder, Novo Resources trades on the TSX.V symbol NVO and on the OTCQX symbol NSRPF. Novo Resources is a sponsor of Proven and Probable and we are proud shareholders of Novo Resources for the virtues conveyed in today’s message. And last but not least, please visit our website, provenandprobable.com, where we deliver mining insights and bullion sales. You may reach us at contact@provenandprobable.com.
Dr. Quentin Hennigh of Novo Resources, thank you for joining us today, on Proven and Probable.
Maurice Jackson is the founder of Proven and Probable, a site that aims to enrich its subscribers through education in precious metals and junior mining companies that will enrich the world.
Quinton Hennigh: Thank you, Maurice.
Maurice Jackson: Last time we spoke, Novo Resources accomplished a major milestone and that was the inclusion into the GDXJ. Since then Novo Resources has been extremely busy on a number of fronts from expanding the project portfolio, providing bulk sample results, mechanical rock sorting and DTC Eligibility, just to name a few. But before we go into greater detail, Dr. Hennigh, for someone new to the story, who is Novo Resources?
Quinton Hennigh: Novo Resources is Canada listed company that is focused on exploring in Australia. I founded the company roughly nine years ago, and it was explicitly to explore for a certain type of gold deposit in northwest Australia in a region called the Pilbara, which is just in from the Indian Ocean along the northern coast. Our projects are close to two cities, Port Hedland and Karratha.
They’re major cities that give access to the interior where there’s a lot of active iron ore mining in the region. The Pilbara has had a long-standing reputation, over 50 years, for their iron mines around Newman and Tom Price. Coincidently, within this same region Novo recognized the potential for gold early on in actually in the same strata, believe it or not, as the iron ore sequence.
Novo had a hypothesis that the Pilbara was once connected with the Kaapvaal Craton in South Africa. Both of those cratons are very old rocks, they’re over three billion years old, they share a lot of geologic similarities, including the strata that’s been deposited on each block. In addition, we identified the stratigraphy can be correlated from one side of the ocean to the other.
In South Africa, as many people know, there are vast deposits of gold in conglomerates in a basin called the Witwatersrand Basin. These gold deposits have been mined since around 1886 when they were first discovered; they produced something like 35% of all the gold produced on earth, around 1.7 billion ounces. The Witwatersrand Basin is a remarkable deposit; it’s basically the Saudi Arabia of gold.
The logical conclusion for us was, if deposits like that are present in South Africa, maybe over here in the Pilbara Craton there are similar deposits in conglomerates and of similar age, that have yet been discovered. Therefore, we came to Australia on that premise. We first structured deals with a gentleman named Mark Creasy, a well-known prospector in Australia, and those deals were largely centered over in the eastern part of the Pilbara region.
The Pilbara region is quite vast from one side to the other, covering over six hundred kilometers, and from the coast up here down to Paraburdoo is something like 250 or 300 kilometers. This is an enormous target area. Our first exploration ever was at Beatons Creek.
In 2011, drilled up a small resource at Beatons Creek, but what we learned is that the conglomerate units were quite continuous, and the gold is indeed there. The gold is a coarser grain than the Witwatersrand, but it is indeed present and appears to be economic. During our time at Beatons Creek we also conducted a bit of exploration at Marble Bar.
Since that time, we have focused efforts more to the northwest and acquired this vast land package by Karratha. This was based on a discovery roughly two-and-a-half years ago of gold being found by prospectors in areas like Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, as well as others around the marsh and the basin, including Egina and some other select locals.The gold occurrences had been known by the locals for many years. When the news got out in late 2016, we strategically assembled a land package, including Comet Well and Egina. Novo staked a tremendous amount of ground, which is 100% owned by us. In addition, we also conducted a joint-venture agreement with Artemis Resource.
Maurice Jackson: Dr. Hennigh, you’ve already introduced us to the project portfolio, but introduce us in particular to the value proposition we have before us.
Quinton Hennigh: The conglomerate gold systems in our project portfolio are different gold deposits than most people are used to seeing. Our conglomerates are flat-sheet-like, and continuous over large areas. We’ve latched onto three systems in particular that we’re focused on right now, which are Beatons Creek, Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, where we are actively exploring now.
In 2018, we assembled the land package at Egina, and we’re conducting advanced exploration there now including bulk sampling.
For current and prospective shareholders I believe it best to become familiar with our trajectory for each project, as they are separate and unique. At Beatons Creek we’ve now undertaken a couple rounds of drilling over the past few years and also large-scale sampling, so this would be trench sampling as well as bulk sampling, and our current resource stands at somewhere around 670,000 ounces Measured, Indicated and Inferred. We are looking to grow that and are working to get a resource put together at Beatons Creek north of 1 million ounces in the near future.
Not only that, we’ve done a lot of work like test mining and other things to demonstrate the economics and continuity of this system. We are looking to advance our Beatons Creek project towards monetization over the coming year. Beatons Creek is our most advanced, it’s certainly a robust project. What you see there at Beatons Creek, you see conglomerate horizons, in some places it’s stacked six high, so we have a conglomerate bed with a bit of intervening material, another conglomerate bed, and so forth.
At Beatons Creek we have a robust deposit, easily accessible form surface. Those familiar with coal mines in West Virginia would identify these as tabletop mines. That’s the kind of setting we have at Beatons Creek, so it’s a really interesting deposit from that aspect, and the most exiting aspect is that Beatons Creek may be very inexpensive from a production standpoint. The gold is coarse and is easily recoverable; gravity recovery captures a lot but you know cyanide captures the rest so we expect very, very good recoveries out of that deposit in particular.
At Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, we first evaluated the system, because it is a very coarse gold system, this is not your average gold deposit.
The gold particles are often tenths of a gram up to multi-gram even tens of grams, and they’re distributed through the conglomerate somewhat randomly. Therefore, one can’t just walk up, grab a rock chip sample and expect to know through fire assay what’s in this rock. We’ve had to do some very hard yards in terms of bulk sampling and other means to begin to evaluate the grain here.
What we’ve shown at Comet Well and the Purdy’s Reward joint venture with Artemis is that the continuity appears to be good over several kilometers. We’ve done a lot of core drilling for geology and stepped out into the basin. Presently, we have enough data between the core drilling, three-dimensional modeling, as well as the grade data that we have from the bulk samples, to put together a mineralization report.
This is a big step for Novo. All of our tenements are currently exploration licenses. In order to advance a project towards a mining stage, we have to convert exploration licenses to mining licenses in Australia, and to do that we need a couple of things. One, we need a mineralization report, in this case we’re not necessarily going to produce a resource per se, we’ll demonstrate that we have a potentially economic body of rock here, through the data that we’ve collected that I just mentioned.
Novo Resources will submit a mineralization report within the next few weeks. The other aspect that’s needed is an agreement with the Aboriginal community, this would be the Ngarluma Community. The Ngarluma Community basically covers most of this project area here. We’ve been in negotiations with them, and developed a good relationship with the Ngarlumas, over the past year and a half.
We need to strike what’s called a “Native Title Agreement” that allows us rights to go mining, as well the Ngarlumas have commercial rights, such as royalty, as part of this project. But these are things that also have to be worked out for granting a mining lease.
We anticipate taking Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward through a development trajectory, probably first through trial mining. In fact, we might do a certain amount of trial mining this year. That will provide us more supporting data for developing a larger scale mine. But we are definitely moving Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward forward in a trajectory towards making a producing asset.
Revisiting the map, one can see that Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward are really just a small component of a much larger land package. As I alluded to earlier, within the conglomerate horizons, people have found nuggets weathering out of these conglomerates over many kilometers through this region. We have a lot of greenfields work to do along strike (gold line).
We also have some very interesting new ground at Egina that we’ve recently assembled. At Egina the conglomerates have weathered away over time. They used to cover a significant portion in the Pilbara. But as they have weathered away and receded back, they’ve left the gold that was in them behind across a terrace, or flat country through here in the Pilbara. If one drives across this country, it is absolutely flat as a pancake, very similar to West Texas.
If one were to look in either direction, it’s like a pool table. But the flat surface throughout this region has what is called a lag gravel horizon on it. The lag gravel horizon is about one to two meters thick. Novo was able to demonstrate last year through our trial bulk sampling at Egina that it contains gold and it’s fairly coarse-grain gold; we recovered something like 108 grams of gold out of a hundred cubic meters of bulk sample that we collected.
That’s pretty remarkable! A lot of alluvial deposits are less than 0.3 grams, and the grades we’re seeing at Egina are very enticing. Our hypothesis is that this terrace, of which we own about 400 sq km, could be a sizeable gold project in its own right.
Egina is basically another very large target we have. It is earlier stage, but the nice thing about Egina is that it’s soft rock, gravels at surface. Novo can advance this in a fairly orderly fashion.
We control 100% (of the blue on the map) at Egina. Thus, we are able to get out there and do a lot of test mining and stuff like that that we can’t quite undertake presently at Comet Well at the moment. So Egina is definitely going to be a focus for us this year. We’re going to tackle that terrace gravel, see what kind of economics that might have, including the size and potential that we might have.
Therefore, we are going to do sampling not only in the mining lease but hopefully in some more extensive areas to demonstrate the hypothesis that this region could hold a vast gold deposit could be true.
Maurice Jackson: Dr. Hennigh, allow be to interject here. This land package you have here, it looks quite massive, how many square kilometers are we looking at here?
Quinton Hennigh: Our land package is around 12,000 square kilometers at present.
Maurice Jackson: Let me ask you this, sir. I know Novo Resources has undergone a tedious and methodical process in attempting to figure out grade and tonnage. In the spring of 2018 the company released the first bulk-sample results from Comet Well, how have those been coming along?
Quinton Hennigh: The bulk samples from Comet Well that we released in May were the first two that we completed. To get these samples through the lab was a big exercise. It required several renditions of crushing and experimenting and assaying different streams. We also were battling a bit of wet weather down in Perth last year; it took a long time but we did get a pretty comprehensive set of assays out in late October that demonstrated the grade of these conglomerate horizons.
What we’ve identified are two conglomerate horizons at Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward. The lower one of which is say 2or 3 meters thick, the grades range from about a 1 to 6 grams, and it sits right on the basement, so it’s basically the lowermost bed of rock in this bigger sequence.
Twelve to fifteen meters above first horizon is a second horizon. We call it the Upper Cannonball conglomerate, the Upper Cannonball conglomerate is about 1 to 2 meters thick, and again the grades in that bed are in a range of 1 to 3, 4 grams, somewhere in that range. And it’s very continuous along strike; we can see good continuity from one trench to the other over three-and-a-half, four kilometers right now. We feel very compelled that it’s demonstrating similar continuity to the beds we see at Beatons Creek.
For those who have followed Novo Resources for the year are familiar with the challenges we had at Beatons Creek. Specifically, we had to develop sampling protocols to deal with the coarse grade, assay protocols that were unusual; it took some time to develop. But now, Beatons Creek is basically getting close to mine.
Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward area are going along the same trajectory as Beatons Creek. We’ve had to cut our teeth with different styles of bulk sampling and assaying but we’ve now got things under control. We are also experimenting with somewhat unconventional techniques of recovering the gold.
Novo has done test work with TOMRA, for example; this was starting in late last year in November. The results that came out are fantastic! We think there is potential to crush up the conglomerate, screen it, of course, but put it through an ore sorting machine, and actually let the ore sorter pick rock with the gold particles.
You know the downside of coarse gold is assaying. It’s a real challenge, but the upside is that the metallurgy might be very favorable for us. Novo is very excited about that ore sorter possibility.
Maurice Jackson: Dr. Hennigh, the following may be a bit premature to address at the moment but the two most frequent questions I receive from prospective shareholders are, “Is this a place for deposit?” and, “How do you intend to extract the gold?” What do you have to say to those two questions?
Quinton Hennigh: Sure, the first question is a very good one. I came to this region on the basis that there might be deposits like those in South Africa. Now let me give a little background there, in South Africa there are really two types of ore, there’s the conglomeratic ore and in that the gold occurs as particles distributed in the matrix of the conglomerate.
In effect those are alluvial deposits in the Witwatersrand Basin. There is also what they call “carbon leader ore.” Carbon leader ore is a very, very thin seam of carbon, almost like coal, and I’ve written several papers (click here to view paper) on this with other authors. We believe that that seam of carbon is basically the fossil remains of early cyanobacterial mats that formed or evolved in a time when Earth’s atmosphere was largely reduced. The idea is the sea water back at that time, under reduced conditions, would have been able to dissolve a fair bit of gold. Gold dissolves in reduced atmospheric conditions.
The cyanobacteria was the first photosynthetic life. During this time period the cyanobacteria starting to kick off oxygen. What we believe is that that oxygen, which causes gold to precipitate, actually pulled, or started pulling the gold out of sea water and created that little carbon seam type ore, that is very, very rich in gold. This is a very, very unusual style of gold mineralization. It’s a thin and very continuous and covers many square kilometers. A seam of carbonaceous gold ore.
I came here looking for similar carbonaceous ores. What have we found? Well, at Beatons Creek, in fact we’ve talked about this in the past, we’ve actually found particles, pieces of carbonaceous material in the conglomerates here. So to answer your question, at Beatons Creek, we see two types of gold, we see bonafide alluvial gold. These would be loose, somewhat rounded particles in the matrix of the conglomerate, but we also see a component of carbonaceous material at Beatons Creek that tells us that that same process that you see in the Witwatersrand was active over in this area.
At Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, what we see in the conglomerates here are large, rounded; they appear to be water-worn nuggets of gold. The origin of that gold we still haven’t put our finger on, but it’s possible that that gold has been recycled from weathering of previously existing conglomerates or carbonaceous beds that no longer exist.
In their present form it’s alluvial gold, but it’s ultimate origin is still in question. In addition, we have gold that appears to have grown in the matrix around the nuggets. This is what we call “halo gold,” it’s a thin halo about two or three millimeters wide around the gold nuggets, the coarse nuggets, and we believe that gold is actually a precipitated type gold, probably in response to biogenic activity.
So once again I would say it’s a mixture of two types of gold that have brought the system together. We have alluvial particles for sure, we have secondary gold that appears to be perhaps biogenic in nature.
Maurice Jackson: Alright and the second question: “How do you intend to extract the gold?”
Quinton Hennigh: Like the coarse gold is a problem from the sense of assaying but in terms of recovery, it is quite favorable. Gold is dense. One of the easiest ways to treat coarse gold is, of course, gravity recovery, and that’s certainly a possibility, but one of the things we wanted to look at was a call it a somewhat portable style of processing, by using ore sorting machines.
These ore sorting devices are skid mounted or they’re mounted on a transportable platform. They can be moved from one location to the other. Now why is that important? Well, this is a flat deposit, so if you have something that’s long, you know rather than trucking ore from one place to another over kilometers, why not mine process, right on the spot, and then move as you mine the material.
We looked at TOMRA ore sorters starting late last year (click here). We tried ore sorting early in 2017, had mixed results with the Steinert, first looked like it worked great, second rendition didn’t work so well. When we went to TOMRA they showed us some reasons why they thought they could improve things dramatically and just recently we published the final data from that.
In fact, the two samples that were good coherent conglomerate material that we put through saw recoveries over 80% just by sorting. This is using a scanner device, X-ray transmission that literally picks out particles of rock off a conveyor belt that have gold embedded in them. It’s just remarkable! We essentially took gravel, put it on a conveyor belt, sent it across this machine, and it picks out the little particles of rock with gold. What you end up with is a concentrate that’s a very, very small fraction of the overall mass you put in that machine, and it has most of the gold in it.
There are a few additional steps we have got to take to test this further. One question is “What do we do with the fines?” At the present, we are considering to conglomerate them, and then put them through the ore sorter as they are. In other words, turn them back into little pellets or something, let the ore sorter pick them out. Or another option we could do is just put the fines through a gravity circuit on their own. These are options we are considering, which are essentially unconventional means of processing for this very unconventional deposit.
Maurice Jackson: Looking forward, what are the company’s goals and objectives for 2019?
Quinton Hennigh: First, at Beatons Creek, which I talked about as being the most advanced project. We have a resource remodel underway right now, this is work that’s ongoing and we are expecting some bulk samples back from the project. These are ones we collected late last year. Once we have all that data, which should be available by the end of the first quarter, we anticipate publishing a new, updated resource for Beatons Creek. We are targeting over a million ounces, we’ll see if we can get there, I feel pretty confident. Beatons Creek should be a robust deposit. This puts the project in a good path for monetization. Then we will take the next steps of looking at how we potentially develop that project.
Second, at Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward, we anticipate doing a level of trial mining this year. We are continuing to evaluate some of the test work around the TOMRA, for example, as a means of processing at Comet Well. I think once we get a full evaluation, and we do have a bit more data we got to get back on that, but once we have a full evaluation of that processing, we’ll look at that trajectory. Bear in mind, we also are shooting for that mineralization report and working on a Native Title agreement so that we can convert a lot of that country into mining leases. That’s the trajectory for Comet Well and Purdy’s Reward.
Third, at Egina, once the rainy season’s over in a few weeks, we anticipate getting out there and hitting the mining lease very hard. This is the mining lease where we took our bulk sample last year. We anticipate putting together on a test basis, a grid of samples across a target area, where we can see if we can put together a resource on the terrace gravels.
We also anticipate, because it’s a mining lease and we have permit to go up to 50,000 tons extractable, doing some small-scale test mining. We are seeking to help build our confidence around that project. The other aspect to Egina, very important, we anticipate taking some samples further afield in some more distant areas, and trying to get an idea how extensive that deposit may be. If Novo proves that that deposit covers a vast area, encompassing many tens of square kilometers, in that country, I think people will sit up and take note. I think that’s really a big add to the story we have in the Pilbara right now.
Maurice Jackson: Near term, what is the next unanswered question, when should we expect results, and what determines success?
Quinton Hennigh: Per each project, the factors that determine success are a bit different. We have data coming back from bulk samples from Beatons Creek that will help support a new resource model, again that’s going to be over the next few weeks. We anticipate getting that resource put together by the end of this quarter.
If we see a resource above a million ounces I think we now have critical mass that allows us to look at that project a bit differently and more aggressively in terms of advancing it.
As far as Comet Well goes, I think right now we feel comfortable with the grades and the continuities we’re seeing. I think we have a fairly decent understanding of what this deposit is. What we really need to do there is to go test mine it on a scale, maybe a few tens of thousands of tonnes, and from multiple locations alone the strike of the conglomerate.
We also have to do some ore sorting tests to see if we can use that as a means of processing. Those are the two factors if we can successfully process this material using ore sorter, and that includes capturing the gold that’s in the finer material, I think we have an exceptional means of treating this unusual mineralization.
Ore sorting and test mining at Comet Well are absolutely critical paths for us. At Egina, because it’s free-dig gravel at surface, we have the luxury, and because we have a mining lease, too, of going out there and being pretty aggressive. Right so we can go out and start digging some hundred cubic meter samples like we did late in 2018, and we can advance that project quickly.
Basically, it’s almost like doing an exploration program in parallel with test mining and test processing. So I really think even though the metrics are not fully defined yet, I think Egina is one where it’s an easier project that can be advanced much more quickly. Therefore, we believe going forward Egina is going to become more and more important to the company.
Maurice Jackson: Sir, what do you see as the biggest challenge for Novo Resources, and how would you mitigate that situation?
Quinton Hennigh: This is a good question. Australia’s a very good place to work and in particular in Western Australia. Every single project that’s been put up for permitting and advancement has become a mine. There are virtually no examples where a deposit wasn’t mined, but it takes time. That’s our determining factor.
We have to do things like permit, we have to get mining leases from exploration licenses. We have to do the proper steps. We have to work with social license, we can’t just go in and start mining. I think a lot of people, they look at our projects and they’re very exciting, it’s easy to see that these things could be developed, we literally go out and start mining some tomorrow if you had that luxury, but we have to do things right here.
We have to do things right, both in terms of permitting, social license and all of those aspects, but we also have to do the right technical work to make sure that we take the right steps. We don’t want to go and fall on our sword. I guess my comment to that question would be, time and patience is what we need.
Maurice Jackson: Switching gears, sir can you please share with us the current capital structure for Novo Resources?
Quinton Hennigh: We have a little over 163 million shares out. We have a few options in warrants out there bringing us to 204 million shares. Right now we have a little less cash than shown above, we’re around CA$45 million at the end of the year. We have a good treasury, which is great! Because these projects, as I just said, need time and patience to advance.
What we really are appreciative of is the shareholder base. We’ve got good shareholders, we have Kirkland Lake, we have Newmont Mining, Mark Creasy who I mentioned earlier, we have a lot of long-term shareholders who really understand the geology, and they understand the steps that we need to take to get these projects through to fruition.
Maurice Jackson: And at the recording of today’s interview, right now the share price is at CA$2.32. Sir, for our U.S. investors, what can you share with us regarding DTC Eligibility?
Quinton Hennigh: Novo Resources filed DTC Eligibility in October 2018. This will enable U.S. citizens’ shares to be traded electronically in much more user-friendly way to facilitate electronic trading. It allows U.S. shareholders to put those share certificates into a U.S. brokerage accounts and trade them. So we did that for the benefit of our shareholders and I haven’t heard any complaints since.
Maurice Jackson: Last question. What did I forget to ask?
Quinton Hennigh: What does Novo Resources want to become? People who really know us know the story. They know we want to become a gold producer. Novo has tackled a very unusual style of mineralization but we want to prove that these deposits are going to make good economic mines, and we have three very promising projects, each of which has huge potential! Beatons Creek, Karratha, as well as Egina, all have extremely good potential to be very large, and hopefully very high margin, deposits.
I think if I had one comment to say, that’s the path we’re going to take: “Novo would like to become an established Western Australian gold producer.”
Maurice Jackson: Dr. Hennigh, for someone who wants to get more information on Novo Resources, please share the contact details.
Quinton Hennigh: Please contact our Head of Investor Relations Leo Karabelas in Toronto. His telephone number 416.543.3120 or email leo@novoresources.com.
Maurice Jackson: And as a reminder, Novo Resources trades on the TSX.V symbol NVO and on the OTCQX symbol NSRPF. Novo Resources is a sponsor of Proven and Probable and we are proud shareholders of Novo Resources for the virtues conveyed in today’s message. And last but not least, please visit our website, provenandprobable.com, where we deliver mining insights and bullion sales. You may reach us at contact@provenandprobable.com.
Dr. Quentin Hennigh of Novo Resources, thank you for joining us today, on Proven and Probable.
Maurice Jackson is the founder of Proven and Probable, a site that aims to enrich its subscribers through education in precious metals and junior mining companies that will enrich the world.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Group Ten Metals Inc. (TSX.V: PGE; US OTC: PGEZF; FSE: 5D32) (the “Company” or “Group Ten”) announces results from the Chrome Mountain and East Boulder target areas on the west side of the Stillwater West Project in Montana, USA. This is the second in a series of planned news releases to report results of 2018 exploration programs, on-going historical data compilation, and modeling work at the Company’s flagship PGE-Ni-Cu project adjacent to Sibanye-Stillwater’s high-grade PGE mines in the Stillwater Igneous Complex. With more than 41 million ounces of past production and current M&I resources, plus another 49 million ounces of inferred resources at over 16 g/t palladium and platinum, the Stillwater Complex is recognized as one of the top regions in the world for PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization1,2.
Michael Rowley, President and CEO, commented, “We are pleased to report results of our work to date in the Chrome Mountain and East Boulder target areas at the middle-west portion of the 25-km-long Stillwater West project (see Figure 1). Mineralization including platinum group elements (PGE), nickel, copper and cobalt at these target areas is associated with two major electro-magnetic geophysical conductors that are approximately 2.9 and 2.6 km in length respectively, and correspond with broad coincident soil and rock geochemical anomalies. The scale of these targets demonstrates the potential for discovery of a major new bulk-tonnage “Platreef-style” PGE-Ni-Cu deposit in the Stillwater Complex, geologically similar to those in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa.”
“Chrome Mountain, in particular, is one of our highest priority target areas and has advanced very rapidly with the discovery of a new style of platinum and palladium mineralization associated with nickel and copper sulphides at the Hybrid Zone (see December 17, 2018 news release). This discovery has attracted significant interest in the Stillwater West project with wide intervals of platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, and cobalt mineralization starting at surface, including nine intervals of over 100 meters in thickness with grade-thickness values of more than 100 gram-meter Total Platinum Equivalent (TotPtEq), including six holes which returned composite mineralization of over 200 meters with grade-thickness values of 200 to 294 gram-meter TotPtEq (see Table 1). Grade-thickness values of 25 gram-meter or more are considered economically significant, with the grade-thickness values at the adjacent J-M Reef mines averaging approximately 34 gram-meter palladium and platinum1. Values of 100 to 300 gram-meter are exceptional, highlighting the strength of the Stillwater West system.”
“Rock sampling programs at Chrome Mountain in 2018 returned up to 16 g/t 3E (8.72 g/t Pt, 7.25 g/t Pd and 0.03 g/t Au) (see Table 2) in previously unrecognized areas, confirming the underexplored nature of the lower Stillwater Complex, and the substantial potential for new discoveries of both higher-grade and bulk tonnage deposits in this famously metal-rich district.”
Chrome Mountain – Overview
As shown in Figure 1, the Chrome Mountain target area is one of eight major bulk tonnage target areas identified by Group Ten Metals across the Ultramafic and Basal Series of the Stillwater Complex. These target areas are highlighted by strong, multi-kilometer electro-magnetic conductive signatures that are characteristic of large bodies of interconnected to strongly disseminated sulphides. These conductive geophysical targets have overlapping highly elevated platinum, palladium, gold, nickel, copper, and chromium values in soils and rock sampling. The limited drilling completed to date on these large geophysical and geochemical targets confirms the presence of corresponding PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization within the 31 holes drilled across the broad Chrome Mountain target area. In addition, the Company has obtained most of the core samples drilled on the property since 2001 for re-logging and sampling as part of the ongoing modeling work, which has allowed the Group Ten team to identify and confirm the potential for Platreef-style deposits in the Stillwater Complex.
Figure 1 – 14 Target Areas Across the 25-Kilometer Width of the Stillwater West Project
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/76f412d3-e608-4b20-9643-a6111b4f3c57
The Chrome Mountain target area covers an area of approximately 2.9 km by 2.3 km that includes bulk tonnage “Platreef-style” PGE-Ni-Cu targets within the Hybrid Zone (the Discovery, Dunite Ridge, Bald Hills, and Tarantula Targets), as well as potential bulk tonnage PGE-enriched Ni and Cu sulphide mineralization targets within the basal portion of the complex. Potential also exists for higher-grade PGE “reef-type” targets. Comprehensive soil geochemical data has been collected across Chrome Mountain with high levels of PGE, Ni, Cu and Cr in soils shown across kilometer-scale areas coincident with high level electro-magnetic conductors shown in geophysical survey results (see Figures 2, 3 and 4).
Chrome Mountain – Hybrid Zone
The Hybrid Zone is characterized by broad intervals of highly anomalous PGE levels associated with chromite and nickel and copper sulfides with complex pegmatoidal and magmatic breccia textures in the Ultramafic Series lithologies. The complexly textured host rocks, together with broadly disseminated chromite and sulphide, are geologically similar to the Platreef setting in South Africa’s Bushveld Complex.
Table 1 presents highlight intercepts from ten holes drilled in the Discovery target where nine separate intercepts exceeded 100 meters thickness with continuous highly elevated PGE, Ni, Cu and Co mineralization, starting at surface, including 118 m at 1.73 g/t TotPtEq (0.36 Pt, 0.56 Pd, and 0.09 Au for 1.0 g/t 3E along with 0.12% Ni, 0.03% Cu and 0.01% Co for 0.17% NiEq). In addition, six holes returned composite mineralization of over 200 meters in thickness that occurs over a strike length of approximately 600 meters which remains open in all directions and occurs within a broader one kilometer wide area of highly anomalous metals in soils. These holes were targeted on highly elevated platinum and palladium values in soils that characterize the entire Hybrid Zone (see Figure 3). Along with the untested additional soil targets and geophysical conductors, these drill results demonstrate the potential for significant bulk tonnage mineralization at the Chrome Mountain target area.
Chrome Mountain – Dunite Ridge and Bald Hills Targets
Several intrusive dunite targets have been identified in the core of the Hybrid Zone (see cross section CM-6 in Figure 7). Work at Chrome Mountain in 2018 led to the discovery of the Dunite Ridge and Bald Hill targets where mapping of olivine chromite-rich intrusive returned chip samples of up to 16.0 g/t 3E (as 8.72 g/t Pt, 7.25 g/t Pd, and 0.03 g/t Au) at Dunite Ridge. A second sample at Dunite Ridge returned 7.45 g/t 3E as 2.32 g/t Pt, 5.10 g/t Pd, and 0.02 g/t Au (see Table 2). These samples occur within a highly elevated PGE, Ni and Cu soil anomaly covering at least 750 meters of strike. Intrusive dunites can have spectacular grades in the Bushveld Complex, but have not been systematically explored for in the Stillwater Complex. The intrusive dunites identified at the Chrome Mountain target area are one of several occurrences across the overall Stillwater West Project. Dunite Ridge and Bald Hills are priority targets for follow-up work in 2019.
| TABLE 1 – Highlight mineralized drill intercepts from the Chrome Mountain Target Area | ||||||||||||||
| INTERVAL | PRECIOUS METALS | BASE METALS | TOTAL METAL EQUIVALENTS | GRADE THICKNESS | ||||||||||
| HOLE ID | From | To | Width | Pt | Pd | Au | 3E | Ni | Cu | Co | NiEq | TotPtEq | TotNiEq | Grade x Width |
| (m) | (m) | (m) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (Pt g/t) | (Ni %) | (gram-meters) | |
| CM2007-01 | 3.1 | 148.1 | 145.1 | 0.24 | 0.21 | 0.01 | 0.46 | 0.07 | 0.01 | 0.009 | 0.10 | 0.89 | 0.22 | 129.5 |
| including | 7.9 | 25.9 | 18.0 | 0.46 | 0.54 | 0.02 | 1.02 | 0.08 | 0.01 | 0.010 | 0.12 | 1.52 | 0.37 | 27.4 |
| including | 56.7 | 77.4 | 20.7 | 0.34 | 0.35 | 0.01 | 0.70 | 0.07 | 0.00 | 0.010 | 0.11 | 1.15 | 0.28 | 23.8 |
| AND | 261.5 | 448.1 | 186.5 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.01 | 0.08 | 0.12 | 0.02 | 0.014 | 0.18 | 0.82 | 0.20 | 153.9 |
| including | 294.4 | 362.7 | 68.3 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 0.17 | 0.16 | 0.04 | 0.016 | 0.24 | 1.15 | 0.28 | 78.5 |
| including | 305.4 | 334.7 | 29.3 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.22 | 0.18 | 0.06 | 0.018 | 0.27 | 1.34 | 0.33 | 39.2 |
| CM2007-02 | 0.0 | 210.6 | 210.6 | 0.20 | 0.28 | 0.02 | 0.49 | 0.10 | 0.01 | 0.011 | 0.14 | 1.08 | 0.26 | 227.4 |
| including | 13.4 | 109.4 | 96.0 | 0.37 | 0.56 | 0.03 | 0.96 | 0.12 | 0.02 | 0.012 | 0.17 | 1.65 | 0.40 | 158.5 |
| including | 38.7 | 68.6 | 29.9 | 0.60 | 1.25 | 0.09 | 1.93 | 0.19 | 0.04 | 0.014 | 0.26 | 3.03 | 0.74 | 90.4 |
| AND | 300.8 | 387.7 | 86.9 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.01 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.02 | 0.010 | 0.14 | 0.66 | 0.16 | 57.0 |
| CM2007-03 | 0.0 | 47.5 | 47.5 | 0.30 | 0.44 | 0.13 | 0.87 | 0.13 | 0.05 | 0.010 | 0.19 | 1.68 | 0.41 | 79.9 |
| including | 0.0 | 17.7 | 17.7 | 0.33 | 0.42 | 0.16 | 0.92 | 0.14 | 0.06 | 0.011 | 0.21 | 1.82 | 0.44 | 32.1 |
| including | 23.5 | 41.8 | 18.3 | 0.38 | 0.62 | 0.13 | 1.13 | 0.15 | 0.06 | 0.010 | 0.21 | 2.03 | 0.49 | 37.1 |
| CM2007-04 | 1.5 | 119.5 | 118.0 | 0.36 | 0.56 | 0.09 | 1.00 | 0.12 | 0.03 | 0.010 | 0.17 | 1.73 | 0.42 | 204.3 |
| including | 1.5 | 18.9 | 17.4 | 0.40 | 0.52 | 0.15 | 1.06 | 0.12 | 0.04 | 0.010 | 0.17 | 1.81 | 0.44 | 31.5 |
| including | 33.5 | 51.8 | 18.3 | 0.52 | 0.91 | 0.10 | 1.54 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.011 | 0.22 | 2.48 | 0.60 | 45.3 |
| including | 34.8 | 43.3 | 8.5 | 0.55 | 0.94 | 0.14 | 1.63 | 0.22 | 0.10 | 0.012 | 0.31 | 2.94 | 0.71 | 25.1 |
| including | 71.3 | 118.3 | 46.9 | 0.45 | 0.71 | 0.11 | 1.27 | 0.13 | 0.04 | 0.011 | 0.18 | 2.04 | 0.50 | 95.9 |
| AND | 151.2 | 242.6 | 91.4 | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.02 | 0.44 | 0.12 | 0.02 | 0.012 | 0.17 | 1.15 | 0.28 | 105.1 |
| CM2007-05 | 1.2 | 239.3 | 238.1 | 0.14 | 0.22 | 0.04 | 0.40 | 0.12 | 0.03 | 0.011 | 0.17 | 1.12 | 0.27 | 267.4 |
| including | 64.6 | 128.3 | 63.7 | 0.19 | 0.33 | 0.07 | 0.60 | 0.15 | 0.05 | 0.012 | 0.22 | 1.51 | 0.37 | 96.4 |
| including | 85.3 | 107.6 | 22.3 | 0.26 | 0.41 | 0.10 | 0.77 | 0.18 | 0.07 | 0.012 | 0.25 | 1.84 | 0.45 | 40.9 |
| CM2007-06 | 0.0 | 128.0 | 128.0 | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.06 | 0.40 | 0.19 | 0.07 | 0.014 | 0.27 | 1.52 | 0.37 | 194.1 |
| including | 8.8 | 119.5 | 110.6 | 0.16 | 0.20 | 0.07 | 0.43 | 0.20 | 0.08 | 0.015 | 0.29 | 1.64 | 0.40 | 180.9 |
| CM2007-07 | 1.5 | 227.1 | 225.6 | 0.15 | 0.32 | 0.05 | 0.52 | 0.13 | 0.04 | 0.011 | 0.19 | 1.30 | 0.32 | 293.2 |
| including | 42.1 | 55.5 | 13.4 | 0.19 | 0.45 | 0.06 | 0.70 | 0.14 | 0.05 | 0.010 | 0.20 | 1.54 | 0.37 | 20.7 |
| including | 68.3 | 172.5 | 104.2 | 0.19 | 0.36 | 0.06 | 0.61 | 0.16 | 0.06 | 0.013 | 0.24 | 1.60 | 0.39 | 166.5 |
| including | 76.2 | 93.3 | 17.1 | 0.22 | 0.34 | 0.06 | 0.62 | 0.16 | 0.04 | 0.015 | 0.23 | 1.60 | 0.39 | 27.2 |
| including | 121.3 | 137.8 | 16.5 | 0.17 | 0.19 | 0.06 | 0.42 | 0.18 | 0.09 | 0.012 | 0.27 | 1.53 | 0.37 | 25.2 |
| including | 148.7 | 172.5 | 23.8 | 0.26 | 0.70 | 0.08 | 1.04 | 0.18 | 0.08 | 0.013 | 0.27 | 2.15 | 0.52 | 51.2 |
| CM2007-08 | 0.0 | 209.7 | 209.7 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.07 | 0.52 | 0.14 | 0.04 | 0.013 | 0.21 | 1.38 | 0.34 | 290.4 |
| including | 18.3 | 143.9 | 125.6 | 0.27 | 0.38 | 0.10 | 0.75 | 0.16 | 0.05 | 0.013 | 0.23 | 1.72 | 0.42 | 216.6 |
| including | 52.1 | 75.6 | 23.5 | 0.21 | 0.32 | 0.13 | 0.66 | 0.19 | 0.07 | 0.013 | 0.27 | 1.79 | 0.43 | 41.9 |
| including | 81.5 | 100.6 | 19.1 | 0.30 | 0.48 | 0.10 | 0.88 | 0.21 | 0.06 | 0.018 | 0.30 | 2.13 | 0.52 | 40.5 |
| including | 123.1 | 142.7 | 19.5 | 0.54 | 0.78 | 0.07 | 1.39 | 0.14 | 0.04 | 0.013 | 0.20 | 2.23 | 0.54 | 43.6 |
| CM2007-09 | 3.7 | 22.9 | 19.2 | 0.37 | 0.60 | 0.10 | 1.07 | 0.14 | 0.04 | 0.011 | 0.20 | 1.92 | 0.47 | 36.9 |
| including | 9.5 | 22.9 | 13.4 | 0.45 | 0.75 | 0.13 | 1.32 | 0.17 | 0.06 | 0.012 | 0.23 | 2.31 | 0.56 | 31.0 |
| CM2007-10 | 3.4 | 255.7 | 252.4 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.02 | 0.34 | 0.14 | 0.02 | 0.013 | 0.20 | 1.16 | 0.28 | 293.8 |
| including | 9.5 | 44.8 | 35.4 | 0.39 | 0.58 | 0.06 | 1.04 | 0.15 | 0.05 | 0.012 | 0.22 | 1.94 | 0.47 | 68.6 |
| including | 92.4 | 108.2 | 15.9 | 0.35 | 0.48 | 0.07 | 0.91 | 0.24 | 0.08 | 0.016 | 0.33 | 2.29 | 0.56 | 36.4 |
Intercepts with grade thickness values over 25 gram-meter TotPtEq are presented above. Total Platinum Equivalent (TotPtEq g/t) and Total Nickel Equivalent calculations reflect total gross metal content using metals prices as follows (all USD): $6.00/lb nickel (Ni), $3.00/lb copper (Cu), $20.00/lb cobalt (Co), $1,000/oz platinum (Pt), $1,000/oz palladium (Pd) and $1,250/oz gold (Au). Values have not been adjusted to reflect metallurgical recoveries. Total metal equivalent values include both base and precious metals, where available. Results labelled ‘n/a’ were not assayed for that metal. Total platinum equivalent grade thickness was determined by multiplying the thickness (in meters) by the Total Platinum Equivalent grade (in grams/tonne) to provide gram-meter values (g-m) as shown. All holes were conducted by Group Ten’s QP and are not considered historic.
Chrome Mountain – Tarantula Target
In the eastern area of the Hybrid Zone, work in 2018 identified the Tarantula Target, where highly anomalous PGE mineralization occurs in the Ultramafic Series. Host rocks are pegmatoidal bronzitite; disseminated chromite, sulphide and magmatic breccia textures have been described over an approximate strike length of at least 500 meters.
Table 2 presents select rock sample results from reconnaissance prospecting and geological mapping programs at the Chrome Mountain and East Boulder target areas in 2018 which confirm the presence of significant platinum, palladium, nickel, copper and cobalt mineralization with grades up to 3.56 g/t Pd, 0.618% Ni, and 0.049% Co outside of the Dunite Ridge Target discussed above (see Table 2). High chromium levels were also noted with 14 samples returning grades of 10 to 26.8% Cr. In addition, test work indicates a consistent ratio of rhodium content relative to platinum values. Neither chromium nor rhodium values have been included in the calculation of metal equivalents in the tables above and below.
| TABLE 2 – Highlight 2018 rock sample results from the Chrome Mountain Target Area | |||||||||||
| PRECIOUS METALS | BASE METALS | TOTAL METAL EQUIVALENTS | |||||||||
| SAMPLE ID | LOCATION | Pt | Pd | Au | 3E | Ni | Cu | Co | NiEq | TotPtEq | TotNiEq |
| (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (g/t) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (Pt g/t) | (Ni %) | ||
| 337388 | Dunite Ridge | 8.72 | 7.25 | 0.03 | 16.00 | 0.106 | 0.020 | 0.016 | 0.17 | 16.70 | 4.06 |
| 1409950 | Dunite Ridge | 2.32 | 5.10 | 0.02 | 7.45 | 0.093 | <0.005 | 0.012 | 0.13 | 8.00 | 1.94 |
| 337391 | Dunite Ridge | 0.38 | 1.23 | 0.05 | 1.67 | 0.112 | 0.058 | 0.026 | 0.23 | 2.62 | 0.64 |
| 337392 | Dunite Ridge | 0.41 | 1.00 | 0.08 | 1.49 | 0.157 | 0.056 | 0.019 | 0.25 | 2.53 | 0.61 |
| 3190364 | Discovery | 0.99 | 3.56 | 0.06 | 4.61 | 0.084 | 0.000 | 0.011 | 0.12 | 5.12 | 1.24 |
| 3190372 | Discovery | 1.53 | 2.34 | 0.01 | 3.88 | 0.088 | 0.000 | 0.018 | 0.15 | 4.49 | 1.09 |
| 3190368 | Discovery | 1.78 | 1.42 | 0.01 | 3.21 | 0.156 | 0.000 | 0.017 | 0.21 | 4.08 | 0.99 |
| 3190351 | Discovery | 0.87 | 2.15 | 0.06 | 3.09 | 0.139 | 0.019 | 0.019 | 0.21 | 3.97 | 0.97 |
| 3190375 | Discovery | 0.78 | 2.00 | 0.06 | 2.84 | 0.111 | 0.032 | 0.022 | 0.20 | 3.68 | 0.89 |
| 3190373 | Discovery | 0.47 | 1.17 | 0.04 | 1.68 | 0.104 | 0.000 | 0.020 | 0.17 | 2.39 | 0.58 |
| 3190362 | Discovery | 0.28 | 0.80 | 0.15 | 1.23 | 0.193 | 0.083 | 0.009 | 0.26 | 2.35 | 0.57 |
| 3190363 | Discovery | 0.21 | 0.79 | 0.05 | 1.04 | 0.182 | 0.085 | 0.020 | 0.29 | 2.25 | 0.55 |
| 3190461 | Bald Hills | 1.04 | 1.81 | 0.24 | 3.09 | 0.336 | 0.027 | 0.030 | 0.45 | 5.00 | 1.22 |
| 337378 | Bald Hills | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.06 | 0.23 | 0.618 | 0.094 | 0.049 | 0.83 | 3.66 | 0.89 |
| 3190467 | Bald Hills | 0.97 | 1.47 | 0.10 | 2.53 | 0.170 | 0.000 | 0.021 | 0.24 | 3.54 | 0.86 |
| 3190464 | Bald Hills | 1.02 | 0.72 | 0.05 | 1.78 | 0.233 | 0.000 | 0.030 | 0.33 | 3.16 | 0.77 |
| 337381 | Bald Hills | 0.44 | 1.77 | 0.07 | 2.28 | 0.107 | 0.000 | 0.024 | 0.19 | 3.07 | 0.75 |
| 337380 | Bald Hills | 1.09 | 0.64 | 0.03 | 1.76 | 0.137 | 0.018 | 0.029 | 0.24 | 2.77 | 0.67 |
| 3190394 | Bald Hills | 1.28 | 0.40 | 0.03 | 1.71 | 0.086 | 0.063 | 0.024 | 0.20 | 2.53 | 0.61 |
| 3190390 | Bald Hills | 0.72 | 0.62 | 0.17 | 1.50 | 0.050 | 0.034 | 0.017 | 0.12 | 2.05 | 0.50 |
| 3190471 | Tarantula | 0.71 | 2.48 | 0.06 | 3.25 | 0.243 | 0.030 | 0.020 | 0.32 | 4.60 | 1.12 |
| 3190397 | Tarantula | 1.44 | 1.88 | 0.14 | 3.46 | 0.100 | 0.007 | 0.010 | 0.14 | 4.05 | 0.99 |
| 3190306 | Tarantula | 0.92 | 2.16 | 0.01 | 3.09 | 0.111 | 0.000 | 0.016 | 0.16 | 3.77 | 0.92 |
| 3190376 | Tarantula | 0.97 | 0.41 | 0.01 | 1.39 | 0.101 | 0.000 | 0.018 | 0.16 | 2.05 | 0.50 |
| 1409933 | East Boulder | 0.68 | 2.58 | 0.15 | 3.41 | 0.212 | 0.152 | 0.015 | 0.34 | 4.84 | 1.18 |
| 3190452 | East Boulder | 0.44 | 1.06 | 0.01 | 1.51 | 0.162 | 0.000 | 0.016 | 0.22 | 2.39 | 0.58 |
| 337365 | Lindgren | 0.00 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 0.14 | 0.315 | 0.976 | 0.030 | 0.90 | 3.87 | 0.94 |
| 337368 | Lindgren | 0.03 | 0.21 | 0.08 | 0.32 | 0.342 | 0.054 | 0.034 | 0.48 | 2.32 | 0.56 |
| 3190389 | Hybrid Zone | 1.73 | 0.42 | 0.01 | 2.16 | 0.081 | 0.036 | 0.019 | 0.16 | 2.83 | 0.69 |
Results over 2 g/t TotPtEq are presented above. Total Platinum Equivalent (TotPtEq g/t) and Total Nickel Equivalent were determined as per Table 1.
Figures 6 and 7 present cross sections representing the Company’s current understanding of the Hybrid Zone and surrounding stratigraphy. The Hybrid Zone is open in all directions, and is a priority target for follow-up in 2019.
Chrome Mountain – Basal Zone Targets
The Company is also targeting potential bulk-tonnage sulphide mineralization in the Basal Series of the complex at Chrome Mountain where mineralization may be associated with interaction between the layered basal magmatic system and the basement country rocks. Interaction and assimilation of basement country rocks is an important component of the Platreef deposits in the Bushveld Complex, where the country rocks may be in place as the footwall or occur as large rafts within the layered magmatic stratigraphy. Kilometer-scale geophysical, geochemical and geological signatures present compelling bulk-tonnage targets in this type of setting for PGE-enriched Ni/Cu sulfides in the lower Stillwater Complex stratigraphy.
The potential for deposits of this type in the Chrome Mountain area has been confirmed by reconnaissance rock chip samples and geological mapping work by Group Ten in 2018, as well as in limited historic drilling, which targeted nickel and copper sulphides in the Basal and lowest Ultramafic Series. These drill holes were relatively shallow, and were only selectively assayed where base metal sulphide levels were high. A few of these high-sulphide intercepts were assayed for PGEs confirming that the nickel and copper sulphides in these areas are highly enriched in PGEs. Notably, this historic drill sampling did not assay areas enriched in chromite, which typically exhibit higher-grade PGE mineralization. Data from the 355 series drill holes by AMAX in the 1960s and 1970s, shown on cross sections in Figures 6 and 7, confirm the presence of net-textured to massive sulphide hosted mineralization proximal to the strongest electro-magnetic conductive signatures.
2018 rock sample results from the historic Lindgren Target in the basal series at Chrome Mountain are particularly compelling as they confirm the presence of significant PGE, Ni and Cu mineralization with results of 0.315% Ni, 0.976% Cu, and 0.030% Co (0.94% Ni Eq) in sample 337365 and 0.342% Ni, 0.054% Cu and 0.034% Co (0.56% Ni Eq) in sample 337368 (see Table 2). Basal zone sulphide targets will be a priority for follow-up work in 2019 at Chrome Mountain.
East Boulder Target Area
As shown in Figure 2, the East Boulder target area centers on a highly conductive geophysical anomaly with coincident highly elevated levels of PGE, Ni, Cu and Cr metals in soils (Figures 3 and 4) covering an area approximately 2.6 km x 1.9 km. The East Boulder target area has less outcrop exposure than the adjacent Chrome Mountain target area (Figure 5) and, as a result, remains much less explored despite historic placer mining in the area. Two drill holes from 2008 confirm the presence of Pt, Pd and Au mineralization adjacent to the EM conductive high anomaly but were not tested for base metals.
Work in 2018 included surface mapping and limited sampling with results up to 3.4 g/t 3E, 0.21% Ni, and 0.15% Cu (4.84 g/t TotPtEq) (see Table 2) providing support that similar mineralized stratigraphic horizons continue into the East Boulder target area.
Future work at the East Boulder target area will include detailed mapping and rock sampling to develop and refine drill targets in the area of the electro-magnetic conductors and coincident soil anomalies.
Amendment to the Catalyst Property Agreement
Group Ten announces that it has amended the terms of the agreement for the Catalyst Project within the Company’s Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu Project in Canada’s Yukon Territory, as announced on August 16, 2017. The amendment allows the Company to meet the $10,000 cash payment requirement by the issuance of 200,000 common shares, and is subject to regulatory approval.
Upcoming Events
Group Ten will be exhibiting in the Investor’s Exchange at booth #3018 at the PDAC convention in March in Toronto, among other upcoming shows. The Company looks forward to releasing further results from the adjacent target areas in the coming weeks.
About Stillwater West
The Stillwater West PGE-Ni-Cu project positions Group Ten as the second largest landholder in the Stillwater Complex, adjoining and adjacent to Sibanye-Stillwater’s world-leading Stillwater, East Boulder, and Blitz platinum group elements (PGE) mines in south central Montana, USA. With more than 41 million ounces of past production and current M&I resources, plus another 49 million ounces of Inferred resources1,2, the Stillwater Complex is recognized as one of the top regions in the world for PGE-Ni-Cu mineralization, alongside the Bushveld Complex and Great Dyke in southern Africa, which are similar layered intrusions. The J-M Reef, and other PGE-enriched sulphide horizons in the Stillwater Complex, share many similarities with the highly prolific Merensky and UG2 Reefs in the Bushveld Complex, while the lower part of the Stillwater Complex also shows the potential for much larger scale disseminated and high-sulphide PGE-nickel-copper type deposits, possibly similar to Platreef in the Bushveld Complex3. Group Ten’s Stillwater West property covers the lower part of the Stillwater Complex along with the Picket Pin PGE Reef-type deposit in the upper portion, and includes extensive historic data, including soil and rock geochemistry, geophysical surveys, geologic mapping, and historic drilling.
Note 1: Report on Montana Platinum Group Metal Mineral Assets of Sibanye-Stillwater, November 2017, Measured and Indicated Resources of 57.2 million tonnes grading 17.0 g/t Pt+Pd containing 31.3 million ounces and 92.5 million tonnes grading 16.6 g/t containing 49.4 million ounces. Grade thickness was determined by applying the reported minimum mining width of 2.0 meters to the M&I grade of 17 g/t Pt+Pd for an average grade thickness of approximately 34 gram-meter (g-m).
Note 2: Public production records from Stillwater Mining Company from 1992 to present.
Note 3: Magmatic Ore Deposits in Layered Intrusions—Descriptive Model for Reef-Type PGE and Contact-Type Cu-Ni-PGE Deposits, Michael Zientek, USGS Open-File Report 2012–1010.
About Group Ten Metals Inc.
Group Ten Metals Inc. is a TSX-V-listed Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the development of high-quality platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, cobalt and gold exploration assets in top North American mining jurisdictions. The Company’s core asset is the Stillwater West PGE-Ni-Cu project adjacent to Sibanye-Stillwater’s high-grade PGE mines in Montana, USA. Group Ten also holds the high-grade Black Lake-Drayton Gold project in the Rainy River district of northwest Ontario and the highly prospective Kluane PGE-Ni-Cu project on trend with Nickel Creek Platinum’s Wellgreen deposit in Canada‘s Yukon Territory.
About the Metallic Group of Companies
The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry’s highest-grade producers of platinum & palladium, silver and copper. Member companies include Group Ten Metals (PGE.V) in the Stillwater PGM-Ni-Cu district of Montana, Metallic Minerals (MMG.V) in the Yukon’s Keno Hill silver district, and Granite Creek Copper (GCX.V) in the Yukon’s Carmacks copper district. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry’s leading explorer/developers and major producers and are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven historic mining districts. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTC, and Frankfurt stock exchanges.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
| Michael Rowley, President, CEO & Director | |
| Email: info@grouptenmetals.com | Phone: (604) 357 4790 |
| Web: http://grouptenmetals.com | Toll Free: (888) 432 0075 |
Quality Control and Quality Assurance
2018 rock chip samples were analyzed by Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories in Vancouver, B.C. Samples were crushed and split, and a 250 g split pulverized with 85% passing 200 mesh. Gold, platinum, and palladium were analyzed by fire assay (FA350) with ICP finish. Selected major and trace elements were analyzed by peroxide fusion with ICP-EB finish to insure complete dissolution of resistate minerals. Following industry QA/QC standards, blanks, duplicate samples, and certified standards were also assayed.
2007 drilling was conducted by Group Ten’s QP while working for Beartooth Platinum. Pre-2001 drill results are considered historic and have not been independently verified by Group Ten. Mr. Mike Ostenson, P.Geo., is the qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101, and he has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Group Ten believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Group Ten and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.com.
Neither 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.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19ab82a2-8538-49c0-a4ab-d53d9560507a
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b1a32c4-124a-49f2-9131-91d308c90693
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8bd53d6b-5b65-4b05-b79d-6ec897cd91a3
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7500e218-8fb5-4f03-9f58-9ecb52ff8863
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f17abd16-0599-4991-b6c7-d6ddb73c1e5f
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0812e521-afe4-4be1-944e-d109e1f3db6f
In Energy & Gold’s latest conversation with 321gold founder Bob Moriarty we are treated to some glimpses into Bob’s newly published book on resource investing. Including Bob’s special technique for figuring out if a junior mining CEO is lying to him….
Goldfinger: I just read your latest book “Basic Investing in Resource Stocks: The Idiot’s Guide” and I found it to be extremely entertaining and chock full of valuable lessons for junior mining investors. Can you tell us about why you wrote this book and offer some clues as to what readers might learn?
Bob Moriarty: I’ve had several people literally bug me for years, asking me to write a book about the basics of junior resource investing. One of the interesting things about writing about a subject is that it forces you to think about your beliefs. Strange enough the book came out totally different from how I thought it would come out, and I think it’s better.
Goldfinger: The book is basically about the lessons you’ve learned through 50 years of investing, all the way from when you first came back from Vietnam and received some good advice from your broker to some of your most recent lessons including Novo Resources and Novagold. Can you give us a little taste of what’s in the book?
Bob Moriarty: Absolutely. The greatest bull market i’ve ever seen in a stock was in Novagold Resources, it went from US$.09 a share (C$.13 on the Canadian listing) in 2001 to more than US$20 a share (also more than C$20 per share on the Canadian listing) in 2007.
NG.TO (Monthly – 20 Year)
If you were a bull you had an extraordinary opportunity to buy it cheap and make a 200x gain on your investment. Whereas, if you were a bear you could have also made a lot of money because Novagold dropped from over $20 a share in 2007 to a mere $.46 per share in October 2008 when the Global Financial Crisis kicked the shit out of the junior mining sector.
What I realized from Novagold is that we focus on way too many things that are absolutely meaningless – this is how people lose money, they pay attention to theories that simply don’t make any sense. Novagold’s roller coaster ride can also teach us about cycles; if you get the cycles right you don’t need to worry about much else.
How well do you know Frank Giustra?
Goldfinger: I know about him a little bit as an investor but I don’t think i’ve ever met him in person.
Bob Moriarty: What was he doing between 1996 (after Bre-X) until 2001?
Goldfinger: I’m not sure exactly.
Bob Moriarty: He was making movies. He started Lion’s Gate Films. When Bre-X hit he decided that was going to be it for the mining sector for a number of years and he went into the film business. Then he picked the bottom in 2001 when he decided it was time to get back into the mining sector and he began building Wheaton River Minerals which later became Goldcorp and Silver Wheaton. Giustra is one of the most successful resource investors in history and my point is that there is a time to be in resource stocks, and there is a time to be out of resource stocks.
If you look for the signs of a major top or a major bottom you can do very well, but basically ½ of the time you shouldn’t be invested at all. I sold my gold and silver in January 1980 and didn’t own an ounce of metal again until 1999 when I decided it was a tremendous opportunity to accumulate precious metals when nobody else cared, everyone else was buying stock in pets.com, Worldcom, and Cisco.
Goldfinger: The point you just made is that everything is cyclical, especially in the mining and junior resource sectors where economic cycles heavily influence the prevailing price trends. There are bear cycles where one should have minimal investment exposure to the resource sector, and there are bull cycles in which many resource shares will see 1000%+ increases almost regardless of the quality of their projects and/or management teams.
Bob Moriarty: Correct.
Goldfinger: Using the example of Novagold, when it reached $20 a share in 2007 it was at the point of maximum optimism that metals prices would remain high for a long time to come and there were no concerns about obtaining project financing. And then barely more than a year later that optimism gave way to extreme pessimism in the depths of the Global Financial Crisis. It’s just another wonderful example of fading greed and buying fear and how we can use the cyclical nature of the sector to our advantage instead of being a victim of it.
Bob Moriarty: During bull markets everything goes up and during bear markets everything goes down and there are times when you simply don’t want to be involved in the resource sector. If people waited until December of 2015 or January 2016 when everyone was extremely pessimistic there was a 400%+ rally across the junior mining sector within six months. You only need to catch moves like this a couple of times in your lifetime to create some real wealth.
Goldfinger: Ok now i’m going to ask you a couple of tough questions since we’re talking about how important cycles are in the resource sector. Are we in a bull market or a bear market right now in the precious metals and junior mining sectors?
Bob Moriarty: We’re in a bull market in both. But palladium is about to fall off a cliff and gold is getting close to being frothy with a DSI (Daily Sentiment Index) of 90.
Goldfinger: How do you know we’re in a bull market?
Bob Moriarty: If you measure all the sentiment indicators that hit absolute extremes in January 2016 we made a capitulation low then, and until they hit an absolute overbullish extreme in the other direction then we will be in a bull market. I see nothing out there to indicate that we’re anywhere near the end of the bullish cycle.
Goldfinger: Going back to Novagold is it possible for an investor to catch that entire move from $.09 to $20? At some point the gains become too great OR the corrections become steep and scary enough that even the most seasoned investor is going to get shaken out of their position along the way, right?
Bob Moriarty: You’ve got to sell some on the way up and you’d be a fool to not ring the register on some at 5x, 10x, 20x, etc. You’ve simply got to sell some or even all of your position, and nobody can catch the entire move. I show the example of Novo Resources (TSX-V:NVO) in my book and Novo offers 3 or 4 opportunities for bulls each year and 3 or 4 opportunities for bears.
The single biggest mistake that I have made over the years is not selling when I had the chance. If I would have clipped some shares off every time I had the chance to I would have made ten times more money over the long run. It’s way better to sell some at a profit rather than hanging onto a stock for several years hoping for it to turn around.
Goldfinger: I think that’s a lesson that a lot of people need to hear. Some of the most common things I see with investors in the resource sector is being afraid to sell some for fear of missing out on more upside, and holding onto big losing positions for years in hopes that there will eventually be a rebound. “Cheap” can always get cheaper especially when the sector is out of favor.
I want to ask you about one of my favorite quotes from the book, here it is:
“It’s been my experience that resource companies are often run by idiots pretending to be managers who live the good life while sucking the financial blood out of the veins of helpless investors. It’s a dangerous business, where failure is the norm. Share prices run up and down faster than a bride’s nightie. I’ve run into charlatans, con men and fools. I’ve visited hundreds of mining properties and i’ve been lied to on almost every trip.
I find that wonderful, being lied to maybe 75 percent of the time. I used to be in the computer business. There I got lied to 100 percent of the time. So the liars in mining are at best amateurs in comparison.” ~ Bob Moriarty
Is this true? Are 75% of the people in this sector liars? Is there a way we can improve the level of integrity in this sector or is this just how the world is?
Bob Moriarty: It’s the way of the world.
Goldfinger: So this is just how the world is and things are? People are going to lie so we should expect it?
Bob Moriarty: Yeah and it’s a good thing to know. When everyone was four or five years old your parents probably told you to like people, to be nice to people, and to trust people but as you grow older you really do realize that people are scumbags. I mean the shit that people pull on each other is just amazing sometimes. One of my favorite analogies is that if you really trust people you should go buy & sell things on Ebay and then come back to me. The scams that people come up with are really amazing. The older I get the more I realize how stupid people are and how corrupt people are. Now I want to be clear that this is not necessarily a bad thing, it’s simply the way of the world.
Goldfinger: One of my father’s favorite sayings towards the end of his life was “the more you see of people the more you will like animals” and I always thought this was too skeptical and dour but it seems that you tend to agree Bob.
Maybe we can look at the glass as half full for a moment. Aren’t there some good people in the world and some really honest good people in the mining sector?
Bob Moriarty: Yes, there are some wonderful people in the sector and there are some guys who tell the truth as a rule. However, one thing you’ve got to realize is that when a guy starts lying to you he may very well be lying about everything. I have had some investments over the year in which I knew the managers were lying about some things but I still loved the story so much that told myself “well, he can’t be lying about everything”, but sure enough, they were lying about everything.
Goldfinger: Wow. I think that’s a cold hard truth that some people need to hear. It might be better to approach investing with a skeptical eye rather than an optimistic one. I know there are some companies out there right now that you are quite skeptical of, are you willing to mention a couple?
Bob Moriarty: I’m hesitant to mention names but I will say this. If you catch a CEO or company executive lying about one thing you can safely presume that they are lying about everything. There is something called lying by omission, which is quite common. These people will simply ‘forget’ to mention important details that aren’t favorable to their company’s story.
Goldfinger: I think that’s a great point. There is sort of a gray area in which companies aren’t lying per se, but they are telling the story in the most favorable way possible and simply not including some key facts that might make investors a lot more reluctant to buy shares. We should probably assume that when the story is being told by a company CEO that they are delivering it in the most favorable light possible, and we should be looking to ask for the things that the company is NOT telling us.
An example of this lying by omission would be a situation in which a junior explorer has a 43-101 compliant resource of 1 million ounces of high grade gold, but the resource is near a residential area and there is no chance they will get permitted to build a mine. This is a simple and even somewhat ridiculous example but it helps to illustrate the point. The CEO of this company is likely to focus on their 1 million ounces of high grade gold and how valuable it must be, however, if you can’t get the gold out of the ground it’s not worth anything. There are lots of companies out there with projects that have significant permitting challenges in front of them and investors should also be considering the likelihood that a project will get permitted and actually generate revenue at some point down the road.
Bob Moriarty: In the example that you just mentioned the company is being deceptive by not being upfront about the permitting roadblocks. You can lie to people by not telling them all of the truth. When I talk to a company I ask them two questions to start off: “Tell me the 3 best things about your company” and “Tell me the 3 worst things about your company”.
Everyone has 3 good things to say about their company, that’s the easy part. It’s usually harder for them to answer the question about the 3 worst things. What I do then is I time them and the longer it takes for a CEO to answer the question about the 3 worst things about their company the more likely they are to be lying from my experience.
Goldfinger: That’s a clever technique Bob. I’m envisioning junior mining CEOs practicing answering the question about the worst things about their company as soon as they read this interview.
Turning to the current market environment we’ve seen a nice rally in precious metals (gold is up ~$60 and silver is up nearly $1) since the last time we spoke and you made a point of recommending investors own precious metals before the Federal Reserve embarks upon QE-infinity again. How would you characterize the current sentiment environment in the metals? Are we starting to get a bit frothy?
Bob Moriarty: I wouldn’t call it frothy, yet, but with the DSI for gold just reaching 90 and the DSI for palladium at 97 we’re starting to get close to being frothy. What you want to pay attention to are the “anti-gold” and “anti-mining shares” assets and I would call those the general stock market. I think when the broader stock market is strong it is generally a headwind for precious metals and mining stocks (not always, but generally speaking). However, when the broader stock market crashes I believe we’re really going to see a parabolic rally in precious metals and mining stocks.
I think we’re going to see a 1937 redux this year. The Dow peaked in September of 1929 and went on to crash in October, continuing lower until July of 1932 when it began to rally 150% until June of 1933. It went up again until 1937 and then proceeded to crash again as fears around a World War began to percolate. I see a major crash starting soon as a worldwide revolution begins to take shape globally. There is no cure for this, there is no fix for what’s beginning to take shape.
Goldfinger: Did you see the recent quote from Alan Greenspan on central banks and gold? Here’s the quote that caught my attention:
“If gold is a relic of history, why do Central Banks + the IMF still hold over $1 trillion of gold? If it’s meaningless, why is everybody still holding it?” ~ Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve Chairman
Bob Moriarty: Alan Greenspan actually understands gold better than any economist in the world.
Goldfinger: That quote made me think more deeply about why central banks do hold so much gold and why they have continued to accumulate gold. Simply put, these central bankers are making it up as they go along and gold gives them some semblance of stability and value to hang onto. Without gold in their vaults the only thing most countries have left to ensure the value of their currencies is military force, essentially guns. Gold is a store of value in a valueless world.
Nobody knows what the endgame is for central bank quantitative easing. So far it’s worked pretty well….
Bob Moriarty: No, it hasn’t! QE is putting a band-aid on top of a band-aid on top of a band-aid that’s covering up an infected wound. In 5,000 years of recorded financial history there has never been negative interest rates. The financial system died in 2008 and everything the central banks have done since then is pumping helium into a cadaver. You can blow it up but it’s still a cadaver.
Did you know that there are seven million people in the U.S. who are more than 90 days late on their car payments?
Goldfinger: I didn’t know that and that sounds like an enormous number.
Bob Moriarty: People make their car payments before they pay their rent. They need a car to get to work so for there to be millions of people more than 90 days late on their car payments it’s a sign that there is a large segment of the U.S. economy that are experiencing significant hardships.
Goldfinger: There was a tremendous push by the auto industry over the last several years to get everyone into a new vehicle. This included a big resurgence in subprime auto-lending and it looks like we’re starting to see some of the consequences of this massive effort to sell cars at almost any cost.
Bob Moriarty: Not making your car payment is sort of like smashing your tennis racket into the court in the middle of a tennis match. It’s shooting yourself in the foot and it’s something that someone would pretty much only do if they were SOL.
Goldfinger: Getting down to the nitty gritty of the junior mining sector we’ve seen some big moves in certain stocks recently. Great Bear Resources (TSX-V:GBR) for example has basically doubled in share price in the last six weeks, reaching a nearly C$200 million market cap at its high last week. GBR appears to have just the right story for the junior gold exploration sector right now i.e. high grade gold in a great location.
Bob Moriarty: I believe Great Bear should be even higher. GBR is in a prime location (Red Lake District of Ontario, Canada not far from Goldcorp’s famous Red Lake Mine) and they have had fabulous drill results The market is going to pay up big for GBR if they can keep up these results.
Take for example a stock like Aben (TSX-V:ABN) which delivered a fantastic drill hole to kick-off its summer program but couldn’t back it up with results after that. ABN went to nearly C$.50 and then back down to C$.10:
ABN.V (Daily – One Year)
You get punished if you don’t follow up with good results, and you get rewarded if you do. That’s a good environment for companies and investors in the sector, and it’s a fair environment.
Goldfinger: It’s a balanced market environment in which we’ve seen some big winners and some big losers all depending upon the quality of their news flow.
Tell me about Irving Resources (CSE:IRV), i’ve noticed that IRV shares have continued to make new highs. Has Irving begun drilling?
IRV.CA (Daily – One Year)
Bob Moriarty: They haven’t actually started to drill. The last word I got was that they will begin drilling after PDAC due to a visa issue with their Canadian drillers. It’s out of the control of the company. I’m hoping they will be drilling by the middle of March.
Goldfinger: So Irving is using a Canadian drill crew because they can’t get drillers in Japan?
Bob Moriarty: Japan has a major demographic issue with an aging population and very few young men. Japan is in the worst shape possible in terms of population trends. They’re going to have to make some major changes.
Goldfinger: You had also mentioned Miramont in our last conversation. Can you update readers on MONT?
Bob Moriarty: Miramont is a copper-gold-silver play in southern Peru. They have started drilling and they have sent some material to the lab with results expected some time in March. Quinton Hennigh is the chairman of Miramont and I think this could be a home run.
Goldfinger: I must say that MONT has a nice looking chart and if it can get above resistance near C$.46 I could see it rallying another 50%+.
MONT.CA (Daily – One Year)
Goldfinger: One more thing i’d like to mention about your book Bob – you have an excellent list of services and newsletter writers that you use to help you be a better investor, however, I noticed one in particular that you left out…..
Bob Moriarty: (Laughs) Ah yes, yours!!
I’d like to thank Bob for an entertaining interview and I know I learned a few things in this conversation. I can’t recommend Bob’s new book more highly, the $12.99 price is like receiving the most valuable nuggets of wisdom from a lifetime of investing for the cost of one trading commission. Do yourself a favor and buy this book, then read it cover to cover in one sitting.
Disclaimer:
The article is for informational purposes only and is neither a solicitation for the purchase of securities nor an offer of securities. Readers of the article are expressly cautioned to seek the advice of a registered investment advisor and other professional advisors, as applicable, regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or any investment strategies, including those discussed above. Some of the stocks mentioned are high-risk venture stocks and not suitable for most investors. Consult the companies’ SEDAR profile for important risk disclosures.
EnergyandGold.com, EnergyandGold Publishing LTD, its writers and principals are not registered investment advisors and advice you to do your own due diligence with a licensed investment advisor prior to making any investment decisions.
This article contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively “forward-looking statements”). Certain information contained herein constitutes “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expects”, “believes”, “aims to”, “plans to” or “intends to” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “will” occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, standard transaction risks; impact of the transaction on the parties; and risks relating to financings; regulatory approvals; foreign country operations and volatile share prices. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. The views expressed in this publication and on the EnergyandGold website do not necessarily reflect the views of Energy and Gold Publishing LTD, publisher of EnergyandGold.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Always thoroughly do your own due diligence and talk to a licensed investment adviser prior to making any investment decisions. Junior resource companies can easily lose 100% of their value so read company profiles on www.SEDAR.com for important risk disclosures. It’s your money and your responsibility.
Gregory Beischer the President, Director, and CEO of Millrock Resources (TSX: MRO | OTC: MLRKF) along with Chris Van Treeck Senior Project Geologist sits down with Maurice Jackson of Proven and Probable to discuss a unique value proposition for current and prospective shareholders on the latest developments on MRO’s West Pogo – Goodpaster Project. Today’s interview will be very comprehensive, as Senior Project Geologist Chris Van Treeck provides a thorough analysis of Nothern Star Resources Pogo Mine in relation to Millrock Resources adjacent 100% owned (7) claim blocks in the West Pogo – Goodpaster, in what may very likely be a watershed moment for Millrock Resources.
VIDEO
AUDIO
TRANSCRIPT
Original Source: http://www.streetwisereports.com/article/2019/02/20/millrock-resources-watching-neighbors-drilling-closely.html
Source: Maurice Jackson for Streetwise Reports (2/20/19)
Gregory Beischer, the president, director and CEO of Millrock Resources, and Chris Van Treeck, the company’s senior geologist, speak to Maurice Jackson of Proven and Probable about their varied projects, and discuss what their next-door neighbor’s drilling in Alaska is finding.
Maurice Jackson: Joining us for a conversation today is Gregory Beischer, the president, director and CEO of Millrock Resources Inc. (MRO:TSX.V; MLRKF:OTCQX), along with Chris Van Treeck, senior project geologist.
Glad to have you both on the program to discuss an important announcement that may be quite significance for Millrock Resources. But before we begin, Mr. Beischer, for first time listeners, who is Millrock Resources?
Gregory B: Millrock is a project generator company. Alaska is home base for a lot of us and so we explore there and we also explore in Sonora state in northwestern Mexico, as well as the state of New Mexico and the southwest U.S. At Millrock we come up with early-stage exploration projects and then we make agreements with other exploration and mining companies to share the risk that’s involved in early-stage drilling. And the whole objective is to keep a systematically exploring continuous early exploring company that over time will make big discoveries that drives up Millrock’s share price without continuously diluting shareholders as with most exploration companies.
Maurice Jackson: Mr. Beischer, beginning in Mexico, please introduce us to the Millrock project portfolio.
Gregory B: In Sonora state, which is the northwestern part of Mexico (click here to view), Millrock holds advanced exploration projects, primarily focusing on Orogenic gold deposits, of which Sonora hosts some great examples, such as the Herradura multimillion ounce, probably around 9 million ounces, one of which is Newmont’s leading mine. We are in the right part of the world to be looking for these large gold deposits. Additionally, we target copper there, in particular porphyry coppers like the world-class Cananea-La Caridad belt, just south of the Arizona porphyry belt, probably a southern extension of the same cluster of the porphyry deposit. So, we like these types of deposits that can be exceptionally large and great metal producers.
We also explore in the state of New Mexico (click here to view), which is opened up as a much more open jurisdiction to mining. We acquired several years ago a uranium deposit in that state; we’ve sat on it to for these years without doing much work, biding our time until the uranium price improved. It turns out this year the uranium deposit also has a lot of vanadium in it, and potentially both metals could be mined together. We’re starting to get calls as people learned that we own this project. So, I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to make an agreement on it sometime soon. We also have a gold project in New Mexico and are lining up partners as we speak. But home base is Alaska, where we’ve got quite a number of gold and copper projects that have active exploration ongoing right now.
Maurice Jackson: And, gentlemen, let’s stay in Alaska, shall we? And, in particular, I want to focus on seven claim blocks owned by Millrock Resources, which may be direct beneficiaries regarding the press release issued on Feb. 12 by neighboring Northern Star Resources where it just released some exceptional exploration results on its Pogo gold mine. Chris, you are the senior project geologists on the Pogo West. Please take us to the Pogo gold mine and show us where it is in relation to Millrock resources, Pogo West.
Chris Van T: We are going to be in interior Alaska right next to the Pogo mine. Literally right next to the Pogo mine as photos from our property, you can see the mill, right here and this is for the last drilling campaign by the junior company that had it prior to Millrock. So we are right across the river from Pogo proper. Current exploration on the mine property is getting closer and closer to the Pogo mine, which was very recently purchased from Northern Star at a fair price, but it ended up equaling about $69 an ounce that they had to find already.
But it’s been a great asset for Sumitomo and now Northern Star, 12 years of production, nearly 4 million ounces produced and easily another 4 million ounces that they have in their reserve and resource prior to the update that they said they’d be releasing later this year based on their new drilling and the latest press release. So things are really ramping up there. And it’s been a great asset for those two companies. And Northern Star felt very highly of it and some of their promotional material they placed it as the third highest grade mines in North America. And they felt it was the eighth largest gold mine in the United States, based on its production and contained ounces.
Millrock’s Pogo West is located in Tintina Gold Belt in Alaska, which has some of the more prolific deposits in Alaska right now. The Pogo mine has about 8 million ounces contained gold. The Mother’s Fort Knox is up at 13 million ounces and, of course, the gargantuan Donlin Creek at 45 million ounces, as well as some smaller deposits that are still being explored heavily in the Yukon that I’m sure you’re aware of there, Coffee and White Gold and Brewery Creek.
Maurice Jackson: Chris, can you provide us with some additional context on the geology at the West Pogo Goodpaster region?
Chris Van T: Geologically, the Goodpaster district, which contains Pogo, is a nice chunk of the crust that’s broken up by a number of very large faults that are all related to the Tintina gold belt faults. And so, the Denali fault would be down here, that’s the southern boundary of the Tintina gold belt and the Tintina fault is up here. And so, it’s in an area of metamorphic rocks that has some very nice granitic intrusions in them, which would be the source of the fluids for the Pogo mine, as well as the other deposits in the district there.
Maurice Jackson: Chris, what can you share with us about the existing infrastructure?
Chris Van T: It’s fantastic access and infrastructure with the Pogo mine road running through the claim block. We have the permit to travel on that road. The nice claim block, which size is 7,500 hectors and, as I mentioned, it’s adjacent to the Pogo mine. Taking a look at what the Pogo mine looks like in a geologic model, specifically in a schematic cross section. The Pogo mine itself is exploiting and beneficiating low angle quartz veins, as well as high angle veins. So, the theory is that the fluids from the plutons travel up those steep faults and enter into the shallow dipping faults. And that’s where they have the gold veins in both the steep faults in the shallow faults.
And there are quartz veins with a small amount of sulfide minerals, arsenopyrite and as well as some bismuth minerals. And so, arsenic and bismuth along with gold are the fantastic pathfinder elements that we have at the surface. Those allow us to look at the soil samples and the rock samples at the surface and try to zone in on where the mineralization would be at depth. The surface features would be these high angle steep faults intercepting the soil profile.
These are the projections of the Pogo veins from the subsurface brought up and displayed on the surface. Northern Star Resources are mining these areas: South Pogo, Liese, North Zone and East Theits. There are large faults that break up the rocks and move them around.
Looking at this cross section towards the northeast are some high angle steep veins and they’re interpreted mineralized halo. Both these and the shallow dipping faults contain veins that are being mined right now at the Pogo mine. And an important thing to point out on are the steep faults tend to move the northwest side of the fault up relative to the southeast side, which would then bring this mineralization in the low angle faults closer to the surface, and that’s been repeated throughout the district and has a real boon to the Millrock properties.
Here’s a picture from the mine and we’re looking down the trace of the mine. The latest exploration on Pogo is across the river and right adjacent to our claim block.
In 2017, they made a fantastic discovery of another vein of minable width. And on the other side of the river. The Goodpaster vein had very nice thicknesses and it dips in the same direction of previous veins. Northern Star Resources made this discovery based on reinterpretation of its subsurface imaging that uses a resistivity method called CSAMT, (Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics), the image conductive properties of the rocks. The company decided that the break rate here and the conductive properties of the rocks represented the base of a vein and the drilling in 2017 revealed this low angle vein that the 2007 drilling didn’t reach because they didn’t have this reinterpreted imaging.
The vein that they intercepted, a low angle vein Quartz gold Arsenopyrite, and it had a very nice minable width of 5.3 meters at 60 grams. So, this is very similar, nearly identical to what was being mined already in the Liese veins South Pogo, east steeps north zone on the eastern side of the river. Now on the western side of the river, they have nearly identical mineralization with the exact same orientation. So they’re very excited that the vein system that they’ve been mining for 12 years exists on the west side of the river.
The Fun Zone is this area in here on their plan map, so this would be looking down over the mine. The river is a visible in the satellite imagery from a northeast view, as we look this cross section. Once again, these high angel steep faults bring the northwest western side up.
Maurice Jackson: Chris, if I may interrupt you with the shift in the fault zones, how does it benefit Millrock?
Chris Van T: It brings the mineralization closer to surface. This area here is a big part of their latest press release; Northern Star Resources is calling it the Central Lode System and it feels that it’s a significant extension of both the Liese zone and Fun zone vein sets within the same overall large, mildly dipping faults that contain these veins. And so, this same process that’s bringing things up all throughout the district is that work on the western side of the river adjacent to the Millrock claims.
These red lines represent those steep folks that make and bring the northwestern side up relative to the southeastern side. And this red line represents that Goodpaster Structural Zone. The Goodpaster Prospect that has been explored aggressively by Pogo in the last two years is in between two other of these large steeply dipping faults. And so, it’s a fairly contiguous block and it’s about the same distance between the Goodpaster Structural Zone and the South Pogo Zone. And so, this matches very well geologically with what we would expect to see on these high angle faults. Northern Star Resources claim boundary and the latest exploration road is very close to our claim boundaries within 420 meters of our claim boundary now. Not only at an exploration road but also some of its large drill pads and it is drilling in the area.
Maurice Jackson: Does Northern Star Resources have any drilling planned this year near Millrock’s claim blocks?
Chris Van T: Northern Star Resources are exploring very close. It has got some drill holes planned for this year in the summertime within 90 meters of the claims boundary right here in the north. And so, Pogo is knocking at the door of the Millrock claims of their exploration. Their Central Lode and that’s what was in the press release (click here) that came out Feb. 12. And so, this area right in here is where they have released their new spectacular results and subsequent definition of resource coming this August from the press release. From a real estate standpoint, Millrock is very well placed within what’s going on with the Pogo mine exploration. And we feel that the rest of our geologic knowledge in the area as well as the information purchase from other parties leads me to believe that those veins extend onto the middle rock properties.
Maurice Jackson: Northern Star Resources had an active drill program near the Millrock claim blocks last year. Do we know any of the results? And also, do we know what their aspirations are in the area for 2019?
Chris Van T: Here are some photos in September of their exploration in that area. Very large drill pads, large rigs drilling, multiple drill holes. Northern Star Resources 2019 planned holes which are to start in February so they could well be underway as we speak. They are drilling off what appears to be a substantial resource of those low angle veins. Once again, just to remind you of 5.3 meters at 60 grams per tonne drilled and released in this area here. No other drill results or any of this drilling has been made public as of yet, but they are getting closer and closer to our claim boundary in this trajectory right here.
This is a photo from our claims looking back to the mine and here is that Goodpaster Structural Zone that they’ve named it. And so right now they’ve defined their new Central Lodes would be filling this area basically from their road here to this structural zone where they’ve defined basically a new extension of the mine right up to this fault and they’re getting ready to go and move some headings into there and continue to explore that from underground. So they’re moving mine infrastructure from the Liese zone, right up to this Structural zone. And as I mentioned, the Goodpaster Prospect is just the other side of that and is actually had the veins that are being explored for in the area brought closer to the surface because of the faults and how they always bring the northwestern side up, very close to our claim boundary.
Let’s take a look at a magnetic survey image that the state survey ran in 2000. Here are the Pogo veins brought to surface. Note these veins occur outside of this purple magnetic high, within a magnetic low relative to the rest of the area. There are more of these on the other side of this large high angle fault throughout the Millrock claim boundary as well as here in the Goodpaster Prospect.
This is the area they’re drilling and right now, predominantly in this magnetic low that’s very similar to what they have on the north side of their mine. They’ve got a diorite within the mine that’s magnetic and there’s one on the Millrock claims that’s magnetic as well with the same magnetic lows surrounding it. So, from a geologic standpoint, these are nearly identical features. The fact that they’re drilling and this one here as well as this mag lode to the north, lead me to believe that the geologic model at the mine is readily applicable on the other side of that high angle, steep fault called the Goodpaster Structural Zone. So I feel that the Millrock claims are very highly prospective for the extension of the vein. Placing our soil and rock samples on top of the magnetics, they illustrate how in those areas of magnetics, we have great gold samples and they are oriented more or less in a northeast, southwest fashion, which is the same as what’s going on over here on the mine property.
They have a northeast southwest orientation to their gold and soil sample. We have the same orientation on our property. These are most likely caused by unmapped equally dipping fault such as this one here, which helps those fluids from the magmatic intrusion at depth, get them to the surface into the soil profile. Arsenic has a coincident anomaly and so does bismuth. And so our pathfinder elements that match the Pogo mineralization of gold in our arsenopyrite with bismuth minerals are all present on the Millrock properties.
Maurice Jackson: Let’s add some geometry to the discussion.
Chris Van T: This here is the location of that Goodpaster vein, the 5.3 meters at 60 grams. Northern Star Resources has stated the vein was oriented with a strike of 240 degrees and the dip of 35 to the northwest. Plotting that strike line is would be where the vein would be the same elevation all the way across. It brings us very close to past drilling in our area. Past drilling was situated in that area of fantastic gold, soil, and rock anomalies that are all showing the interaction of those steep faults that carried the fluids with the soil. The vein intercepted within these drill holes have been narrow quartz arsenopyrite veins. And the assays returned good arsenic bismuth silver. They have the same style of alteration of Pogo there. And the angles intercept in there would indicate that these veins are steeply dipping.
So, exactly along the model lines of the steeply dipping faults springing the fluids up towards the surface. All of those faults have been intercepted in these drill holes. The difference between here and what’s going on at Pogo is that these drill holes did not get deep enough to intersect those shallowly dipping veins such as the hole reflecting 5.3 meters at 60 grams. That’s due to the higher elevation where are these drill holes where collared as well as the dip along the vein. The deepest hole over here at the very end of the hole, only got down to 350 meters above sea level. The vein was intercepted at 230 meters above sea level. So when all things being consistent, this hole ended 120 meters vertically above where we would expect to see the flat and veins.
To bring this back into the Pogo model, the exact same thing happened on the Pogo property in 2007. Norther Star Resources drilled and intercepted steeply dipping veins that contain gold, arsenopyrite and bismuth; they did not reach the flat line veins. The hole did not go deep enough. The same thing went on the west Pogo claims.
The drilling so far at West Pogo has just gotten into the top of these steeply dipping veins. I believe that the shallow dipping veins are there at depth, that the soil and rock anomalies at the surface coupled with the drilling show that we haven’t reached the depth of those flat veins to date and that a few holes of deeper drilling could readily intersect these veins at the depth and an extension of the mine mineralization on the Millrock Claims.
Maurice Jackson: What initiatives will Millrock take to de-risk the West Pogo property?
Chris Van T: That would be to do that imaging along these black lines here in order to do the same style imaging, the CSAMT or Resistivity imaging over this mag low that also has the good gold and rock samples on top of it. That would be one way to de-risk it. In order to know the depth you need to drill to in order to find the extension of this mineralization that’s on the Pogo claims.
Millrock believes that the West Pogo property has not been explored properly to depth. It’s got the exact same magnetic signature as the mine proper. The surface geochemistry and the drill hole geochemistry have all the attributes to indicate that mine style mineralization is located on the property. Northern Star Resources is currently exploring, right against our claim boundary and we’ve got established access with the mine road running right through the property. And so very positive factors for the West Pogo property.
Maurice Jackson: Gregory, this may be premature, but should we continue to have favorable outcomes such as this press release? How does this impact Millrock’s strategy?
Gregory B: Well, I think one of the more remarkable things about the statements from Northern Star is the exceptional grade of the drilling intersections that they’ve discovered at this Central Lode’s area. And we’re pretty sure they’re finding similar things at their new Goodpaster discovery, which is very close to Millrock’s West Pogo project. If an ore body of that grade does trend right onto Millrock’s claims, I think it’s going to make a tremendous difference in the price of Millrock stock. We’re trading today around 10 cents Canadian. And I think, just fortuitously, if that deposit comes onto our claims, it’s going to make a big difference for our company and for our shareholders.
We have stuck rigorously to our business model over the 12 years we’ve be in the operation. We’ve always got a partner on a project before it got to the drilling stage. Right now, we’re faced with the possibility that our neighbor, Northern Star at Pogo, has discovered an ore body that comes right on to our claims. And so, we might take a different view at this point since we presently have not made an agreement on the claims and we own it 100%. So, it’s possible that we would actually pursue this claim ourselves, but it’s not determined yet. And in fact, right now our best strategy is to wait and see what Northern Star has discovered. Eventually they’ll tell us more about their Goodpaster discovery.
What they announced on Feb. 12 was really interesting. I think they’re going to make a fortune from their purchase of the Pogo mine. They’re great miners and great explorers clearly. And they’ve had some great success of finding the new Central Lode’s area, but we know there’s more, further to the northwest and there’s likely to be gold on our claims too. So our strategy for now is to stand pat and a wait for more information, which is not our usual way of doing things. Usually we’re charging ahead full steam, but we’re at now we’re going to bide our time and watch, wait and see what happens.
Maurice Jackson: Germane to this discussion, how do the prices of gold, silver, copper and uranium fit into this narrative?
Gregory B: Well, certainly Millrock has exposure to all of these metals. I know that the price of gold seems to have a large effect on availability of capital for junior explorers. When the price of gold is strong, there’s lots of capital available. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for copper, it often seems to have a lot to do with the price of gold. Millrock has seen good increase in the gold price lately. Everything I’m reading says that gold’s going to march up even higher and silver we’ll go with it. I hope they’re all right about that. And that will soon have a really favorable market in the coming years for those metals. Longer term, I’m a huge believer in copper. I just know it’s going to be a metal in huge demand and we’re happy to be looking for copper now too, for the future. And a uranium, well, it’s a beaten a down cycle a long time, but I’ve sure seen some active of bull markets in that metal over the years. And if there’s another one coming, Millrock and its shareholders are really going to benefit by virtue of the uranium deposit we own in New Mexico.
Maurice Jackson: Switching gears, Gregory, what do you see as the biggest challenge for Millrock resources and how do you mitigate that situation?
Gregory B: Our biggest challenge is a financing. We’re in a short cash position. How do we mitigate that? Well, the best way we can do it is to get more funding partners on our projects. And so we’re on a real push to get that done right now. We’ve got deals that look like they’re imminent in Sonora and Alaska. So that’s the best way. Ultimately we may have to raise funds through an equity financing again soon. So those are Millrock’s challenges right now, but I think there’s good solutions for them. Millrock presently has a pretty low share account all of which was in quite solid hands. There’s 67 million shares outstanding at present.
Maurice Jackson: Finally, what did I forget to ask?
Gregory B: Well, I don’t know if it’s something you forgot to ask, Maurice, but maybe something I forgot to mention. Millrock had acquired several great properties in British Columbia some years ago, and last year we rolled them all into a new company called Sojourn Exploration and found a great management team for that company. It has its own projects and so Millrock’s is a big shareholder of Sojourn Exploration. Those shares are worth the money right now, which helps Millrock shareholders, and we own royalties on three of those projects. So, we’ve reviewed internally what’s Sojourn all those projects recently and that it’s just a great portfolio and I know that team is going to have great success attracting other companies to fund drilling on them and make discoveries. So, this could be a real winner for Millrock and its shareholders.
Maurice Jackson: Mr. Beischer, for someone listening that wants to get more information on Millrock Resources, please share the contact details.
Gregory B: millrockresources.com and Melanee Henderson at 604-638-3164, in charge of investor relations, will be glad to talk to you or put the shareholders in direct touch with me.
Maurice Jackson: And as a reminder, Millrock Resources trades on the TSX.V, symbol MRO. Now, in the OTCQX, symbol, MLRKF. Millrock Resources is a sponsor of Proven and Probable and we are proud shareholders of Millrock Resources for the virtues conveyed in today’s message. And last but not least, please visit our website, provenandprobable.com, where we deliver mining insights and bullion sales. You may reach us at contact@provenandprobable.com.
Gregory Beischer and Chris Van Treeck of Millrock Resources, thank you for joining us today on Proven and Probable.
Maurice Jackson is the founder of Proven and Probable, a site that aims to enrich its subscribers through education in precious metals and junior mining companies that will enrich the world.
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Glad to have you both on the program to discuss an important announcement that may be quite significance for Millrock Resources. But before we begin, Mr. Beischer, for first time listeners, who is Millrock Resources?
Gregory B: Millrock is a project generator company. Alaska is home base for a lot of us and so we explore there and we also explore in Sonora state in northwestern Mexico, as well as the state of New Mexico and the southwest U.S. At Millrock we come up with early-stage exploration projects and then we make agreements with other exploration and mining companies to share the risk that’s involved in early-stage drilling. And the whole objective is to keep a systematically exploring continuous early exploring company that over time will make big discoveries that drives up Millrock’s share price without continuously diluting shareholders as with most exploration companies.
Maurice Jackson: Mr. Beischer, beginning in Mexico, please introduce us to the Millrock project portfolio.
Gregory B: In Sonora state, which is the northwestern part of Mexico (click here to view), Millrock holds advanced exploration projects, primarily focusing on Orogenic gold deposits, of which Sonora hosts some great examples, such as the Herradura multimillion ounce, probably around 9 million ounces, one of which is Newmont’s leading mine. We are in the right part of the world to be looking for these large gold deposits. Additionally, we target copper there, in particular porphyry coppers like the world-class Cananea-La Caridad belt, just south of the Arizona porphyry belt, probably a southern extension of the same cluster of the porphyry deposit. So, we like these types of deposits that can be exceptionally large and great metal producers.
We also explore in the state of New Mexico (click here to view), which is opened up as a much more open jurisdiction to mining. We acquired several years ago a uranium deposit in that state; we’ve sat on it to for these years without doing much work, biding our time until the uranium price improved. It turns out this year the uranium deposit also has a lot of vanadium in it, and potentially both metals could be mined together. We’re starting to get calls as people learned that we own this project. So, I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to make an agreement on it sometime soon. We also have a gold project in New Mexico and are lining up partners as we speak. But home base is Alaska, where we’ve got quite a number of gold and copper projects that have active exploration ongoing right now.
Maurice Jackson: And, gentlemen, let’s stay in Alaska, shall we? And, in particular, I want to focus on seven claim blocks owned by Millrock Resources, which may be direct beneficiaries regarding the press release issued on Feb. 12 by neighboring Northern Star Resources where it just released some exceptional exploration results on its Pogo gold mine. Chris, you are the senior project geologists on the Pogo West. Please take us to the Pogo gold mine and show us where it is in relation to Millrock resources, Pogo West.
Chris Van T: We are going to be in interior Alaska right next to the Pogo mine. Literally right next to the Pogo mine as photos from our property, you can see the mill, right here and this is for the last drilling campaign by the junior company that had it prior to Millrock. So we are right across the river from Pogo proper. Current exploration on the mine property is getting closer and closer to the Pogo mine, which was very recently purchased from Northern Star at a fair price, but it ended up equaling about $69 an ounce that they had to find already.
But it’s been a great asset for Sumitomo and now Northern Star, 12 years of production, nearly 4 million ounces produced and easily another 4 million ounces that they have in their reserve and resource prior to the update that they said they’d be releasing later this year based on their new drilling and the latest press release. So things are really ramping up there. And it’s been a great asset for those two companies. And Northern Star felt very highly of it and some of their promotional material they placed it as the third highest grade mines in North America. And they felt it was the eighth largest gold mine in the United States, based on its production and contained ounces.
Millrock’s Pogo West is located in Tintina Gold Belt in Alaska, which has some of the more prolific deposits in Alaska right now. The Pogo mine has about 8 million ounces contained gold. The Mother’s Fort Knox is up at 13 million ounces and, of course, the gargantuan Donlin Creek at 45 million ounces, as well as some smaller deposits that are still being explored heavily in the Yukon that I’m sure you’re aware of there, Coffee and White Gold and Brewery Creek.
Maurice Jackson: Chris, can you provide us with some additional context on the geology at the West Pogo Goodpaster region?
Chris Van T: Geologically, the Goodpaster district, which contains Pogo, is a nice chunk of the crust that’s broken up by a number of very large faults that are all related to the Tintina gold belt faults. And so, the Denali fault would be down here, that’s the southern boundary of the Tintina gold belt and the Tintina fault is up here. And so, it’s in an area of metamorphic rocks that has some very nice granitic intrusions in them, which would be the source of the fluids for the Pogo mine, as well as the other deposits in the district there.
Maurice Jackson: Chris, what can you share with us about the existing infrastructure?
Chris Van T: It’s fantastic access and infrastructure with the Pogo mine road running through the claim block. We have the permit to travel on that road. The nice claim block, which size is 7,500 hectors and, as I mentioned, it’s adjacent to the Pogo mine. Taking a look at what the Pogo mine looks like in a geologic model, specifically in a schematic cross section. The Pogo mine itself is exploiting and beneficiating low angle quartz veins, as well as high angle veins. So, the theory is that the fluids from the plutons travel up those steep faults and enter into the shallow dipping faults. And that’s where they have the gold veins in both the steep faults in the shallow faults.
And there are quartz veins with a small amount of sulfide minerals, arsenopyrite and as well as some bismuth minerals. And so, arsenic and bismuth along with gold are the fantastic pathfinder elements that we have at the surface. Those allow us to look at the soil samples and the rock samples at the surface and try to zone in on where the mineralization would be at depth. The surface features would be these high angle steep faults intercepting the soil profile.
These are the projections of the Pogo veins from the subsurface brought up and displayed on the surface. Northern Star Resources are mining these areas: South Pogo, Liese, North Zone and East Theits. There are large faults that break up the rocks and move them around.
Looking at this cross section towards the northeast are some high angle steep veins and they’re interpreted mineralized halo. Both these and the shallow dipping faults contain veins that are being mined right now at the Pogo mine. And an important thing to point out on are the steep faults tend to move the northwest side of the fault up relative to the southeast side, which would then bring this mineralization in the low angle faults closer to the surface, and that’s been repeated throughout the district and has a real boon to the Millrock properties.
Here’s a picture from the mine and we’re looking down the trace of the mine. The latest exploration on Pogo is across the river and right adjacent to our claim block.
In 2017, they made a fantastic discovery of another vein of minable width. And on the other side of the river. The Goodpaster vein had very nice thicknesses and it dips in the same direction of previous veins. Northern Star Resources made this discovery based on reinterpretation of its subsurface imaging that uses a resistivity method called CSAMT, (Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics), the image conductive properties of the rocks. The company decided that the break rate here and the conductive properties of the rocks represented the base of a vein and the drilling in 2017 revealed this low angle vein that the 2007 drilling didn’t reach because they didn’t have this reinterpreted imaging.
The vein that they intercepted, a low angle vein Quartz gold Arsenopyrite, and it had a very nice minable width of 5.3 meters at 60 grams. So, this is very similar, nearly identical to what was being mined already in the Liese veins South Pogo, east steeps north zone on the eastern side of the river. Now on the western side of the river, they have nearly identical mineralization with the exact same orientation. So they’re very excited that the vein system that they’ve been mining for 12 years exists on the west side of the river.
The Fun Zone is this area in here on their plan map, so this would be looking down over the mine. The river is a visible in the satellite imagery from a northeast view, as we look this cross section. Once again, these high angel steep faults bring the northwest western side up.
Maurice Jackson: Chris, if I may interrupt you with the shift in the fault zones, how does it benefit Millrock?
Chris Van T: It brings the mineralization closer to surface. This area here is a big part of their latest press release; Northern Star Resources is calling it the Central Lode System and it feels that it’s a significant extension of both the Liese zone and Fun zone vein sets within the same overall large, mildly dipping faults that contain these veins. And so, this same process that’s bringing things up all throughout the district is that work on the western side of the river adjacent to the Millrock claims.
These red lines represent those steep folks that make and bring the northwestern side up relative to the southeastern side. And this red line represents that Goodpaster Structural Zone. The Goodpaster Prospect that has been explored aggressively by Pogo in the last two years is in between two other of these large steeply dipping faults. And so, it’s a fairly contiguous block and it’s about the same distance between the Goodpaster Structural Zone and the South Pogo Zone. And so, this matches very well geologically with what we would expect to see on these high angle faults. Northern Star Resources claim boundary and the latest exploration road is very close to our claim boundaries within 420 meters of our claim boundary now. Not only at an exploration road but also some of its large drill pads and it is drilling in the area.
Maurice Jackson: Does Northern Star Resources have any drilling planned this year near Millrock’s claim blocks?
Chris Van T: Northern Star Resources are exploring very close. It has got some drill holes planned for this year in the summertime within 90 meters of the claims boundary right here in the north. And so, Pogo is knocking at the door of the Millrock claims of their exploration. Their Central Lode and that’s what was in the press release (click here) that came out Feb. 12. And so, this area right in here is where they have released their new spectacular results and subsequent definition of resource coming this August from the press release. From a real estate standpoint, Millrock is very well placed within what’s going on with the Pogo mine exploration. And we feel that the rest of our geologic knowledge in the area as well as the information purchase from other parties leads me to believe that those veins extend onto the middle rock properties.
Maurice Jackson: Northern Star Resources had an active drill program near the Millrock claim blocks last year. Do we know any of the results? And also, do we know what their aspirations are in the area for 2019?
Chris Van T: Here are some photos in September of their exploration in that area. Very large drill pads, large rigs drilling, multiple drill holes. Northern Star Resources 2019 planned holes which are to start in February so they could well be underway as we speak. They are drilling off what appears to be a substantial resource of those low angle veins. Once again, just to remind you of 5.3 meters at 60 grams per tonne drilled and released in this area here. No other drill results or any of this drilling has been made public as of yet, but they are getting closer and closer to our claim boundary in this trajectory right here.
This is a photo from our claims looking back to the mine and here is that Goodpaster Structural Zone that they’ve named it. And so right now they’ve defined their new Central Lodes would be filling this area basically from their road here to this structural zone where they’ve defined basically a new extension of the mine right up to this fault and they’re getting ready to go and move some headings into there and continue to explore that from underground. So they’re moving mine infrastructure from the Liese zone, right up to this Structural zone. And as I mentioned, the Goodpaster Prospect is just the other side of that and is actually had the veins that are being explored for in the area brought closer to the surface because of the faults and how they always bring the northwestern side up, very close to our claim boundary.
Let’s take a look at a magnetic survey image that the state survey ran in 2000. Here are the Pogo veins brought to surface. Note these veins occur outside of this purple magnetic high, within a magnetic low relative to the rest of the area. There are more of these on the other side of this large high angle fault throughout the Millrock claim boundary as well as here in the Goodpaster Prospect.
This is the area they’re drilling and right now, predominantly in this magnetic low that’s very similar to what they have on the north side of their mine. They’ve got a diorite within the mine that’s magnetic and there’s one on the Millrock claims that’s magnetic as well with the same magnetic lows surrounding it. So, from a geologic standpoint, these are nearly identical features. The fact that they’re drilling and this one here as well as this mag lode to the north, lead me to believe that the geologic model at the mine is readily applicable on the other side of that high angle, steep fault called the Goodpaster Structural Zone. So I feel that the Millrock claims are very highly prospective for the extension of the vein. Placing our soil and rock samples on top of the magnetics, they illustrate how in those areas of magnetics, we have great gold samples and they are oriented more or less in a northeast, southwest fashion, which is the same as what’s going on over here on the mine property.
They have a northeast southwest orientation to their gold and soil sample. We have the same orientation on our property. These are most likely caused by unmapped equally dipping fault such as this one here, which helps those fluids from the magmatic intrusion at depth, get them to the surface into the soil profile. Arsenic has a coincident anomaly and so does bismuth. And so our pathfinder elements that match the Pogo mineralization of gold in our arsenopyrite with bismuth minerals are all present on the Millrock properties.
Maurice Jackson: Let’s add some geometry to the discussion.
Chris Van T: This here is the location of that Goodpaster vein, the 5.3 meters at 60 grams. Northern Star Resources has stated the vein was oriented with a strike of 240 degrees and the dip of 35 to the northwest. Plotting that strike line is would be where the vein would be the same elevation all the way across. It brings us very close to past drilling in our area. Past drilling was situated in that area of fantastic gold, soil, and rock anomalies that are all showing the interaction of those steep faults that carried the fluids with the soil. The vein intercepted within these drill holes have been narrow quartz arsenopyrite veins. And the assays returned good arsenic bismuth silver. They have the same style of alteration of Pogo there. And the angles intercept in there would indicate that these veins are steeply dipping.
So, exactly along the model lines of the steeply dipping faults springing the fluids up towards the surface. All of those faults have been intercepted in these drill holes. The difference between here and what’s going on at Pogo is that these drill holes did not get deep enough to intersect those shallowly dipping veins such as the hole reflecting 5.3 meters at 60 grams. That’s due to the higher elevation where are these drill holes where collared as well as the dip along the vein. The deepest hole over here at the very end of the hole, only got down to 350 meters above sea level. The vein was intercepted at 230 meters above sea level. So when all things being consistent, this hole ended 120 meters vertically above where we would expect to see the flat and veins.
To bring this back into the Pogo model, the exact same thing happened on the Pogo property in 2007. Norther Star Resources drilled and intercepted steeply dipping veins that contain gold, arsenopyrite and bismuth; they did not reach the flat line veins. The hole did not go deep enough. The same thing went on the west Pogo claims.
The drilling so far at West Pogo has just gotten into the top of these steeply dipping veins. I believe that the shallow dipping veins are there at depth, that the soil and rock anomalies at the surface coupled with the drilling show that we haven’t reached the depth of those flat veins to date and that a few holes of deeper drilling could readily intersect these veins at the depth and an extension of the mine mineralization on the Millrock Claims.
Maurice Jackson: What initiatives will Millrock take to de-risk the West Pogo property?
Chris Van T: That would be to do that imaging along these black lines here in order to do the same style imaging, the CSAMT or Resistivity imaging over this mag low that also has the good gold and rock samples on top of it. That would be one way to de-risk it. In order to know the depth you need to drill to in order to find the extension of this mineralization that’s on the Pogo claims.
Millrock believes that the West Pogo property has not been explored properly to depth. It’s got the exact same magnetic signature as the mine proper. The surface geochemistry and the drill hole geochemistry have all the attributes to indicate that mine style mineralization is located on the property. Northern Star Resources is currently exploring, right against our claim boundary and we’ve got established access with the mine road running right through the property. And so very positive factors for the West Pogo property.
Maurice Jackson: Gregory, this may be premature, but should we continue to have favorable outcomes such as this press release? How does this impact Millrock’s strategy?
Gregory B: Well, I think one of the more remarkable things about the statements from Northern Star is the exceptional grade of the drilling intersections that they’ve discovered at this Central Lode’s area. And we’re pretty sure they’re finding similar things at their new Goodpaster discovery, which is very close to Millrock’s West Pogo project. If an ore body of that grade does trend right onto Millrock’s claims, I think it’s going to make a tremendous difference in the price of Millrock stock. We’re trading today around 10 cents Canadian. And I think, just fortuitously, if that deposit comes onto our claims, it’s going to make a big difference for our company and for our shareholders.
We have stuck rigorously to our business model over the 12 years we’ve be in the operation. We’ve always got a partner on a project before it got to the drilling stage. Right now, we’re faced with the possibility that our neighbor, Northern Star at Pogo, has discovered an ore body that comes right on to our claims. And so, we might take a different view at this point since we presently have not made an agreement on the claims and we own it 100%. So, it’s possible that we would actually pursue this claim ourselves, but it’s not determined yet. And in fact, right now our best strategy is to wait and see what Northern Star has discovered. Eventually they’ll tell us more about their Goodpaster discovery.
What they announced on Feb. 12 was really interesting. I think they’re going to make a fortune from their purchase of the Pogo mine. They’re great miners and great explorers clearly. And they’ve had some great success of finding the new Central Lode’s area, but we know there’s more, further to the northwest and there’s likely to be gold on our claims too. So our strategy for now is to stand pat and a wait for more information, which is not our usual way of doing things. Usually we’re charging ahead full steam, but we’re at now we’re going to bide our time and watch, wait and see what happens.
Maurice Jackson: Germane to this discussion, how do the prices of gold, silver, copper and uranium fit into this narrative?
Gregory B: Well, certainly Millrock has exposure to all of these metals. I know that the price of gold seems to have a large effect on availability of capital for junior explorers. When the price of gold is strong, there’s lots of capital available. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for copper, it often seems to have a lot to do with the price of gold. Millrock has seen good increase in the gold price lately. Everything I’m reading says that gold’s going to march up even higher and silver we’ll go with it. I hope they’re all right about that. And that will soon have a really favorable market in the coming years for those metals. Longer term, I’m a huge believer in copper. I just know it’s going to be a metal in huge demand and we’re happy to be looking for copper now too, for the future. And a uranium, well, it’s a beaten a down cycle a long time, but I’ve sure seen some active of bull markets in that metal over the years. And if there’s another one coming, Millrock and its shareholders are really going to benefit by virtue of the uranium deposit we own in New Mexico.
Maurice Jackson: Switching gears, Gregory, what do you see as the biggest challenge for Millrock resources and how do you mitigate that situation?
Gregory B: Our biggest challenge is a financing. We’re in a short cash position. How do we mitigate that? Well, the best way we can do it is to get more funding partners on our projects. And so we’re on a real push to get that done right now. We’ve got deals that look like they’re imminent in Sonora and Alaska. So that’s the best way. Ultimately we may have to raise funds through an equity financing again soon. So those are Millrock’s challenges right now, but I think there’s good solutions for them. Millrock presently has a pretty low share account all of which was in quite solid hands. There’s 67 million shares outstanding at present.
Maurice Jackson: Finally, what did I forget to ask?
Gregory B: Well, I don’t know if it’s something you forgot to ask, Maurice, but maybe something I forgot to mention. Millrock had acquired several great properties in British Columbia some years ago, and last year we rolled them all into a new company called Sojourn Exploration and found a great management team for that company. It has its own projects and so Millrock’s is a big shareholder of Sojourn Exploration. Those shares are worth the money right now, which helps Millrock shareholders, and we own royalties on three of those projects. So, we’ve reviewed internally what’s Sojourn all those projects recently and that it’s just a great portfolio and I know that team is going to have great success attracting other companies to fund drilling on them and make discoveries. So, this could be a real winner for Millrock and its shareholders.
Maurice Jackson: Mr. Beischer, for someone listening that wants to get more information on Millrock Resources, please share the contact details.
Gregory B: millrockresources.com and Melanee Henderson at 604-638-3164, in charge of investor relations, will be glad to talk to you or put the shareholders in direct touch with me.
Maurice Jackson: And as a reminder, Millrock Resources trades on the TSX.V, symbol MRO. Now, in the OTCQX, symbol, MLRKF. Millrock Resources is a sponsor of Proven and Probable and we are proud shareholders of Millrock Resources for the virtues conveyed in today’s message. And last but not least, please visit our website, provenandprobable.com, where we deliver mining insights and bullion sales. You may reach us at contact@provenandprobable.com.
Gregory Beischer and Chris Van Treeck of Millrock Resources, thank you for joining us today on Proven and Probable.
Maurice Jackson is the founder of Proven and Probable, a site that aims to enrich its subscribers through education in precious metals and junior mining companies that will enrich the world.
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