Uranium’s spot price doesn’t adequately reflect demand from nuclear power plants, Sprott says. Credit: Adobe Stock photo by pwmotion
The price of uranium will rebound from its lowest level in a year as supply shortages, nuclear energy’s promise for clean energy and president-elect Donald Trump’s America-first security stance provide support, the world’s largest investment fund in the physical metal says.
The heavy metal’s spot price fell to $76.56 per lb. this week, down from a 17-year high of $106 per lb. in February. But it should recover to between $90 and $100 a lb. by about June, according to John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management. He runs the $5.1 billion Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (TSX: U.U for USD; U.UN for CAD).
The United States and other Western nations such as Canada, Australia and Namibia are restarting or ramping up production of uranium oxide. Yet, it’s nowhere near enough to meet just the 50 million lb. a year needed to power US nuclear power plants. Output from global leader Kazakhstan has been hampered by sulphuric acid shortages. The West is attempting to limit uranium supplies from pariah Russia, which controls some 40% of the world’s capacity to enrich uranium into fuel.
“What Trump will continue to do is support local industry in the name of national security and reshoring, and that obviously has implications right across the whole nuclear fuel supply chain,” Ciampaglia said in an interview on Friday with The Northern Miner. “Canada will be a huge winner here as we restart uranium projects and build new uranium mines.”
Utilities defer
However, utilities, which buy the majority of their uranium in long-term contracts, haven’t been stocking up on supplies during the supply shortage as much as Ciampaglia expected. Even some miners such as Cameco (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) have had to buy uranium on the spot market to meet utility supply contracts when production fell short. The needs for some 60 new nuclear plants under construction aren’t reflected in the spot price, he said.
“We’re a little bit confused sometimes around the utility behavior,” he said. “We would have thought that their urgency to buy more uranium would be higher, given the risks to the supply chain, given some of the production challenges with the restarts and given the long timelines to get new mines online. The market over the next four to six years is going to be very supply challenged.”
He said the price fell this year over uncertainty about the US Congress passing an import ban in August against Russian enriched uranium. However, it doesn’t take effect until 2028 and some utilities may wait to see if Russia-friendly Trump cuts a deal with President Vladimir Putin to lift the sanctions.
“Energy security is driving a lot of the energy policy, so we’re really bullish on uranium,” Ciampaglia said, adding that the US depends on nuclear for 19% of its power. “That price correction we’ve had in uranium this year is very overdone.”
Trump’s avowed stance to impose tariffs on all kinds of global trade and Putin’s own threat in September to retaliate against the West with sanctions on uranium, nickel and palladium complicates matters. Yet, energy security will be the driving force, the CEO said.
“The US Department of Energy wants to force users in the US to shift to domestic sources, given this capacity that’s being built is very, very expensive,” Ciampaglia said. “They want that capacity to be filled through long-term contracts with the new capacity being scaled.”
Big tech
Uranium demand has more catalysts to rise as energy-hungry artificial intelligence spreads among tech giants Alphabet, the parent of Google, Amazon, Oracle and Microsoft. They’ve all bought property near nuclear plants, or made long-term power deals and expressed interest in the development of small nuclear reactors (SMRs).
“It’s really interesting that big tech with very deep pockets of capital are really stepping up to the plate and acknowledging that they just can’t fund the building of new solar and wind farms to power these AI data centres,” Ciampaglia said. “They also need firm clean power coming from large-scale reactors.”
Microsoft announced a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy in September. It includes nuclear power from the Crane Clean Energy Center and the restart of Three Mile Island Unit One. French state nuclear company Orano chose Tennessee in September to build an enrichment plant and its expanding another in southern France. Urenco, a British-Dutch-German nuclear fuel consortium, is expanding a site in New Mexico.
Projects due
One the production side, Cameco has been ramping up production at the MacArthur River and Key Lake mines in Saskatchewan. The plants were idled when uranium prices were low before the surge of green energy investments to limit climate change. Denison Mines (TSX: DML; NYSE: DNN) and NexGen Energy (TSX: NXE; NYSE: NXE; ASX: NXG) are progressing their advanced-stage Wheeler and Rook I projects, respectively.
Even so, the projects are years if not a decade away from producing. Also, the Canadian government has launched a national security review of Paladin Energy’s (ASX: PDN) proposed C$1.1 billion takeover of Saskatchewan uranium developer Fission Uranium (TSX: FCU).
Meantime, Cameco and Kazakhstan’s Kazatomprom (LSE: KAP), in a joint venture on the Inkai mine in the central Asian country, said this month it was performing about 20% below expectations.
Likewise, south of the border companies such as Uranium Energy (NYSE-AM: UEC) and Energy Fuels (NYSE: UUUU; TSX: EFR) are reopening sites in Wyoming, Texas, Arizona, and Utah after years of inactivity.
Delays
But Energy Fuels’ Canyon project near the Grand Canyon has faced delays due to regulatory challenges, environmental opposition and legal battles with groups concerned about its impact on the nearby national park and groundwater. EnCore Energy’s (TSXV: EU; NASDAQ: EU) Dewey Burdock project in South Dakota and Uranium Energy’s Sheep Mountain project in Wyoming have faced similar hurdles.
The Sprott Physical Uranium Trust raised about C$65 million to C$70 million in new equity in the last six weeks or so, the CEO said. It’s prepared for another September-to-May period when more long-term contracting tends to occur, he said.
“After having a little bit of a low, given all the distractions, we’re just going to get back into another up period,” he said. “We’d love to get back to buying more uranium.”
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – November 14, 2024) – Riverside Resources Inc.(TSXV: RRI) (OTCQB: RVSDF) (FSE: 5YY) (“Riverside” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce the completed transfer of its three key Ontario gold properties: Pichette, Oakes, and Duc to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blue Jay Resources Inc (“Blue Jay”). This move lays the groundwork for Riverside’s strategic plan to advance its Ontario portfolio by establishing Blue Jay as a standalone exploration company. Blue Jay can fully focus on the exploration, discovery, and value-creation potential that these assets deserve. This structure provides Riverside shareholders with exposure to potential gains, while also paving the way for capital investment aimed at unlocking value in these properties.
This approach is similar to Riverside’s past strategy with Capitan Silver Corp. (“CAPT”), where Riverside shareholders received shares of CAPT, which gained value as exploration progressed successfully. Now, Blue Jay offers another opportunity to further unlock shareholder value, while Riverside retains a 2% NSR on each project.
Blue Jay is led by Geordie Mark as Chief Executive Officer, with the company in the final stages of appointing its Chairman, John-Mark Staude, along with a strong lineup of board of directors. Geordie brings extensive experience in the mining industry, with leadership roles spanning exploration, academia, and financial markets. He has spent over 15 years as a mining analyst on both the buy and sell sides in North American equity markets. Under Geordie’s leadership, Blue Jay will leverage Riverside’s Ontario-based gold assets and is already working on an exploration strategy, with plans to initiate a targeted drill campaign during H1 2025.
“We are excited to see Blue Jay Resources rapidly progress towards becoming a focused exploration company, dedicated to advancing this quality portfolio of Ontario gold assets. This spinout provides our shareholders with exposure to a new vehicle for value creation, while Riverside retains upside through a 2% net smelter royalty (NSR) on the projects,” said Dr. John-Mark Staude, CEO of Riverside Resources. “Our goal is to unlock the inherent value of these properties for our shareholders through the potential share spinout.”
Geordie Mark, CEO of Blue Jay Resources, stated, “I’m thrilled by the opportunity to lead Blue Jay as we explore Ontario’s well-established Beardmore-Geraldton greenstone belt, especially in such a proactive mining jurisdiction. Both the Pichette and Oakes projects are strategically positioned near the Equinox Gold Greenstone Gold project, Canada’s 4th largest open pit gold mine, which emphasizes the potential of this area. Our team is committed to realizing the value of these assets through a focused exploration strategy, and we’re eager to expand our work.”
The proposed spinout structure includes Riverside potentially issuing shares of Blue Jay to Riverside shareholders, allowing them direct ownership in the new exploration-focused entity. While terms of the spinout are under consideration and have not been finalized, Riverside’s intention is to ensure shareholders can benefit from the success of both Riverside and Blue Jay Resources and provide positive upside for the growth of both companies.
About the Projects:
Pichette Project The Pichette Gold Project, covering approximately 1190 hectares, is situated in the prolific Geraldton-Beardmore Greenstone Belt of Northwestern Ontario, a renowned gold-producing region in Canada. This 100%-owned project is strategically positioned near Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Gold Project, Canada’s newest large-scale mine and immediately east of Beardmore mining camp that produced from high grade veins similar to some of the targets found at Pichette.
Historical drilling at Pichette, primarily conducted in the 1950s, intersected shallow high-grade gold mineralization, including notable intercepts such as 3.4 meters at 16.7 g/t Au and 3.2 meters at 4.8 g/t Au, associated with banded iron formations (“BIF”). These BIF structures, which span over 15 kilometers of interpreted trend across the project, remain largely untested at depth, with gold mineralization open along strike. Positioned for efficient exploration, Pichette has road access via the Trans-Canada Highway and benefits from existing regional infrastructure. The assay information is historic in nature and will be retested as part of the planned work for Blue Jay to carry out in 2025.
Oakes Project The Oakes Gold Project, located within the productive Geraldton-Beardmore Greenstone Belt in Northwestern Ontario, sits 20km east of the Equinox Gold’s Greenstone Gold Mine. The project is approximately 5200 hectares in size and hosts a series of parallel favorable geology and shear zones with gold mineralization identified along its length. Historical drilling and recent surface sampling have returned high-grade gold values, with drill intercepts of up to 8 g/t Au and surface assays over 30 g/t Au. Geophysical surveys, including magnetics and induced polarization, have mapped several fault zones and structural features aligned with known geological units, offering significant exploration potential.
The project is accessible with robust local infrastructure, including roads, train line and power, which supports low-cost exploration efforts. The future exploration program could expand on previous findings by further testing mineralized zones along strike and at depth, positioning Oakes as a strong candidate for additional high-grade gold discoveries in a historically productive district.
Duc Project The Duc Project is located in the Porcupine Mining Division, approximately 50 km southwest of Kapuskasing, Ontario. Covering 580 hectares, it sits within the highly prospective Kapuskasing Structural Zone, near the open-pit phosphate mine of Agrium Ltd. The property is underlain by a mix of metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks, with potential for gold and rare earth element (REE) mineralization. Recent exploration, including a 2023 helicopter magnetics survey, has confirmed key structural elements and identified promising areas for follow-up targeting work.
The Company is leading exploration efforts at Duc, focusing on gold mineralization and potential platinum group metals (PGMs). Historical drilling and geophysical data suggest significant gold and nickel potential, while current geophysical surveys have highlighted new targets. Planned work includes further integration of the new geophysical surveys, geochemical analysis, and then drilling to refine these targets and advance the project towards more detailed exploration.
Qualified Person & QA/QC: The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Freeman Smith, P.Geo, a non-independent qualified person to Riverside Resources who is responsible for ensuring that the information provided in this news release is accurate and who acts as a “qualified person” under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Riverside Resources Inc.: Riverside is a well-funded exploration company driven by value generation and discovery. The Company has over $5M in cash, no debt and less than 75M shares outstanding with a strong portfolio of gold-silver and copper assets and royalties in North America. Riverside has extensive experience and knowledge operating in Mexico and Canada and leverages its large database to generate a portfolio of prospective mineral properties. In addition to Riverside’s own exploration spending, the Company also strives to diversify risk by securing joint-venture and spin-out partnerships to advance multiple assets simultaneously and create more chances for discovery. Riverside has properties available for option, with information available on the Company’s website at www.rivres.com.
ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE RESOURCES INC.
“John-Mark Staude”
Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO
For additional information contact:
John-Mark Staude President, CEO Riverside Resources Inc. info@rivres.com Phone: (778) 327-6671 Fax: (778) 327-6675 Web: www.rivres.com
Eric Negraeff Investor Relations Riverside Resources Inc. Phone: (778) 327-6671 TF: (877) RIV-RES1 Web: www.rivres.com
Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology (e.g., “expect”,” estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”). Such information involves known and unknown risks — including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
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.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – November 7, 2024) – EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (FSE: 6E9)(the “Company” or “EMX”) is pleased to report results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 (in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted).
In Q3 2024, EMX continued on a strong uptrend due to robust royalty production and strong metal prices. Strong performance during the quarter was marked from Caserones, Gediktepe, and Leeville. EMX continued to invest capital generating and acquiring royalties around the world while our partners invested significant capital to expand operations at existing mines, advance towards the development of new mines, and explore for new opportunities.
Summary of Financial Highlightsfor the Quarter Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of U.S. dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Statement of Income (Loss)
Revenue and other income2
$
7,027
$
12,925
$
19,272
$
19,075
General and administrative costs
(1,537)
(1,364)
(5,379)
(4,662)
Royalty generation and project evaluation costs, net
(3,090)
(3,505)
(8,931)
(8,527)
Net income (loss)
$
1,194
$
2,441
$
(5,055)
$
(6,007)
Statement of Cash Flows
Cash flows from operating activities
$
(187)
$
7,122
$
326
$
2,787
Non-IFRS Financial Measures1,2
Adjusted revenue and other income
$
9,660
$
14,527
$
26,711
$
26,108
Adjusted royalty revenue
$
8,817
$
12,744
$
24,310
$
21,951
GEOs sold
3,560
6,608
10,607
11,358
Adjusted cash flows from operating activities
$
1,760
$
8,863
$
5,762
$
7,880
Adjusted EBITDA
$
5,071
$
10,168
$
12,933
$
13,390
Strong Revenue Growth Excluding $6,676,000 in catch-up payments received in Q3 2023 related to the Timok royalty, adjusted revenue and other income1 increased by 23%3 and adjusted royalty revenue1 increased by 45%3 compared to Q3 2023.
Development of Flagship Assets Significant investment by Zijin Mining Group at Timok through continued development of upper and lower zonesIncreased exploration activity by Zijin Mining Group and Lundin Mining within EMX’s existing royalty footprints.
Exceeding Adjusted Royalty Revenue1 Guidance The Company expects to exceed its 2024 adjusted royalty revenue1 guidance range of $22,000,000 to $27,500,000.
Other Q3 2024 Highlights Excluding catch-up payments received in Q3 2023, adjusted EBITDA1 increased 45%3 compared to Q3 2023.Working capital of $41,825,000 as at September 30, 2024.
Outlook
The Company previously announced 2024 guidance of GEOs sales of 11,000 to 14,000, adjusted royalty revenue of $22,000,000 to $27,500,000 and option and other property income of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. The Company is currently on pace to achieve the upper end of its annual guidance for GEOs sold, and exceed adjusted royalty revenue, while aiming for the lower end of our option and other property income guidance.
The Company is excited about the prospect for continued growth in the portfolio for 2024 and the coming years. The driver for near and long term growth in cash flow will come from the large deposits at Caserones in Chile and Timok in Serbia. At Caserones, Lundin has initiated an exploration program which is intended to expand mineral resources and mineral reserves while at the same time looking to increase throughput at the plant. At Timok, Zijin Mining Group Co. continues to increase its production rates in the upper zone copper-gold deposit while developing the lower zone, which we believe will be one of the more important block cave development projects in the world. Zijin also highlighted a recently discovered exploration target south of the Cukaru Peki mine and within EMX’s royalty footprint. Analysis of recent satellite imagery over the Brestovac license, which contains the Cukaru Peki Mine and is covered by EMX’s royalty, shows substantial development of new drill pads with numerous drill rigs visible in the images in the southeast corner of the license.
In terms of other producing royalty assets, the Company expects Gediktepe, Leeville, and Gold Bar South to mirror what occurred in 2023. In Türkiye, Gediktepe continues to perform well and is ahead of its production forecast for 2024 (as of the end of Q3) and production rates at Balya North continued to increase in Q3. New and compelling exploration results were announced at the Viscaria copper-iron-silver development project in Q3 and the new owner/operator of Gediktepe highlighted potential for additional oxide gold and polymetallic sulfide mineralization beyond the currently defined resources. We are also excited about the advancement of Diablillos in Argentina by AbraSilver Resource Corp. where the company continues to expand the mineral resource. These developments are all examples of the remarkable optionality that exists through EMX’s global royalty portfolio.
EMX believes it is well positioned to identify and pursue new royalty and investment opportunities, while further filling a pipeline of royalty generation properties heading into 2025. As the Company continues to generate revenues from its producing royalty assets and from other option, advance royalty and pre-production payments across its global asset portfolio, various opportunities for capital redeployment will be evaluated. Such opportunities may include the direct acquisition of royalties, continued organic generation of royalties through partner funded projects, purchase of strategic investments, share buybacks through the Normal Course Issuer Bid or debt repayment. Through the astute allocation of capital, EMX will seek to build upon its recent years of success and continue creating value for shareholders into the future.
Third Quarter Results for 2024
In Q3 2024, the Company recognized $9,660,000 and $8,817,000 in adjusted revenue and other income4 and adjusted royalty revenue4, respectively, which represented a 23%5 and 45%5 increase, respectively, compared to Q3 2023. The increase is largely due to a 72% increase in royalty revenue from Gediktepe and a 44% increase in royalty revenue from Leeville when compared to Q3 2023.
The following table is a summary of GEOs4 sold and adjusted royalty revenue4 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
2024
2023
GEOs Sold
Revenue (in thousands)
GEOs Sold
Revenue (in thousands)
Caserones
1,063
$
2,633
831
$
1,602
Timok6
499
1,236
3,987
7,689
Gediktepe
1,354
3,353
1,014
1,955
Leeville
449
1,112
401
773
Balya
139
344
295
568
Gold Bar South
42
104
31
59
Advanced royalty payments
14
35
51
98
Adjusted royalty revenue
3,560
$
8,817
6,608
$
12,744
Included in the quarterly revenue for Caserones was a true up of $412,500 (Q3 2023 – $111,000) due to a higher than expected revenue in the prior quarter. The true up in the current period was mainly driven by positive provisional pricing adjustments on prior period concentrate sales, higher than estimated sales and higher than estimate realized copper prices.
The following table is a summary of GEOs1 sold and adjusted royalty revenue1 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
2024
2023
GEOs Sold
Revenue (in thousands)
GEOs Sold
Revenue (in thousands)
Caserones
3,232
$
7,439
3,630
$
7,033
Timok6
1,789
4,089
3,987
7,689
Gediktepe
3,569
8,149
2,098
4,056
Leeville
1,374
3,163
1,019
1,971
Balya
367
852
380
730
Gold Bar South
150
346
98
193
Advanced royalty payments
127
272
145
279
Adjusted royalty revenue
10,607
$
24,310
11,358
$
21,951
Net royalty generation and project evaluation costs decreased from $3,505,000 in Q3 2023 to $3,090,000 in Q3 2024. Royalty generation costs include exploration related activities, technical services, project marketing, land and legal costs, as well as third party due diligence for acquisitions. The decrease in net royalty generation and project evaluation costs was predominately attributable to the timing of the 2024 and 2023 annual share-based compensation grants. The 2024 annual grant occurred in Q2 2024 while the 2023 grant occurred in Q3 2023. This timing difference generated a $472,000 decrease in costs when compared to Q3 2023.
Not inclusive of the net royalty generation and project evaluation cost, EMX earned $345,000 in royalty generation revenue in Q3 2024 (Q3 2023 – $1,507,000).
Third Quarter Corporate Updates
Appointment of Stefan Wenger as Chief Financial Officer
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Stefan L. Wenger as Chief Financial Officer effective October 1, 2024. Mr. Wenger was previously the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Royal Gold, Inc., one of the mining industry’s leading royalty companies, from 2006 to 2018.
Credit Agreement with Franco-Nevada Corporation
In August 2024, the Company entered into a $35,000,000 credit agreement with Franco Nevada Corporation with a maturity date of July 1, 2029. Upon closing, the Company used the proceeds of the loan to repay the outstanding balance of the Sprott Credit Facility and for general working capital purposes.
Normal Course Issuer Bid
During Q3 2024 the Company repurchased and returned to treasury 692,189 common shares at a cost of $1,223,000. The Company then cancelled, pursuant to the Company’s Normal Course Issuer Bid, 684,253 common shares. Subsequent to period end, the Company repurchased 2,156,754 shares for a total cost of $3,322,000.
Qualified Persons
Michael P. Sheehan, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved the above technical disclosure on North America and Latin America, except for Caserones. Consulting Chief Mining Engineer Mark S. Ramirez, SME Registered Member #04039495, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and consultant to the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the above technical disclosure with respect to the Caserones Mine. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified, and approved the above technical disclosure on Europe, Türkiye and Australia.
Shareholder Information – The Company’s filings for the year are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov, and on EMX’s website at www.EMXroyalty.com. Financial results were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
About EMX – EMX is a precious, and base metals royalty company. EMX’s investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “EMX”. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” that reflect the Company’s current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the future price of copper, gold and other metals, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the Company’s growth strategy and expectations regarding the guidance for 2024 and future outlook, including revenue and GEO estimates, refinancing outstanding debt and the timing thereof, the acquisition of additional royalty interests and partnerships, the purchase of securities pursuant to the Company’s NCIB or other statements that are not statements of fact. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projects,” “estimates,” “assumes,” “intends,” “strategy,” “goals,” “objectives,” “potential,” “possible” or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events, conditions or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material assumptions, including those listed below, which could prove to be significantly incorrect, including disruption to production at any of the mineral properties in which the Company has a royalty, or other interest; estimated capital costs, operating costs, production and economic returns; estimated metal pricing (including the estimates from theCIBC Global Mining Group’s Consensus Commodity Price Forecasts published on January 2, 2024), metallurgy, mineability, marketability and operating and capital costs, together with other assumptions underlying the Company’s resource and reserve estimates; the expected ability of any of the properties in which the Company holds a royalty, or other interest to develop adequate infrastructure at a reasonable cost; assumptions that all necessary permits and governmental approvals will remain in effect or be obtained as required to operate, develop or explore the various properties in which the Company holds an interest; and the activities on any on the properties in which the Company holds a royalty, or other interest will not be adversely disrupted or impeded by development, operating or regulatory risks or any other government actions.
Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, failure to maintain or receive necessary approvals, changes in business plans and strategies, market conditions, share price, best use of available cash, copper, gold and other commodity price volatility, discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries, mining operational and development risks relating to the parties which produce the gold or other commodity the Company will purchase, regulatory restrictions, activities by governmental authorities (including changes in taxation), currency fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions, the absence of control over mining operations from which the Company will receive royalties from, and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, risks in the marketability of minerals, fluctuations in the price of gold and other commodities, fluctuation in foreign exchange rates and interest rates, stock market volatility, as well as those factors discussed in the Company’s MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and the most recently filed Annual Information Form (“AIF”) for the year ended December 31, 2023, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained or incorporated by reference, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Future-Oriented Financial Information
This news release may contain future-oriented financial information (“FOFI”) within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, about prospective results of operations, financial position, GEOs and anticipated royalty payments based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action, which FOFI is not presented in the format of a historical balance sheet, income statement or cash flow statement. The FOFI has been prepared by management to provide an outlook of the Company’s activities and results and has been prepared based on a number of assumptions including the assumptions discussed under the headings above entitled “2024 Guidance”, “Outlook” and “Forward-Looking Statements” and assumptions with respect to the future metal prices, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, realization of mineral reserve estimates and the timing and amount of estimated future production. Management does not have, or may not have had at the relevant date, or other financial assumptions which may have been used to prepare the FOFI or assurance that such operating results will be achieved and, accordingly, the complete financial effects are not, or may not have been at the relevant date of the FOFI, objectively determinable.
Importantly, the FOFI contained in this news release are, or may be, based upon certain additional assumptions that management believes to be reasonable based on the information currently available to management, including, but not limited to, assumptions about: (i) the future pricing of metals, (ii) the future market demand and trends within the jurisdictions in which the Company or the mining operators operate, and (iii) the operating cost and effect on the production of the Company’s royalty partners. The FOFI or financial outlook contained in this news release do not purport to present the Company’s financial condition in accordance with IFRS, and there can be no assurance that the assumptions made in preparing the FOFI will prove accurate. The actual results of operations of the Company and the resulting financial results will likely vary from the amounts set forth in the analysis presented in any such document, and such variation may be material (including due to the occurrence of unforeseen events occurring subsequent to the preparation of the FOFI). The Company and management believe that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management’s best estimates and judgments as at the applicable date. However, because this information is highly subjective and subject to numerous risks including the risks discussed under the heading above entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s public disclosures, FOFI or financial outlook within this news release should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
The Company has included certain non-IFRS financial measures in this press release, as discussed below. EMX believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. These non-IFRS financial measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.
Non-IFRS financial measures are defined in National Instrument 52-112 – Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure (“NI 52-112”) as a financial measure disclosed that (a) depicts the historical or expected future financial performance, financial position or cash flow of an entity, (b) with respect to its composition, excludes an amount that is included in, or includes an amount that is excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in the primary financial statements of the entity, (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements of the entity, and (d) is not a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation. A non-IFRS ratio is defined by NI 52-112 as a financial measure disclosed that (a) is in the form of a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation, (b) has a non-IFRS financial measure as one or more of its components, and (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements.
The following table outlines the non-IFRS financial measures, their definitions, the most directly comparable IFRS measures and why the Company use these measures.
Non-IFRS financial measure
Definition
Most directly comparable IFRS measure
Why we use the measure and why it is useful to investors
Adjusted revenue and other income
Defined as revenue and other income including the Company’s share of royalty revenue related to the Company’s effective royalty on Caserones.
Revenue and other income
The Company believes these measures more accurately depict the Company’s revenue related to operations as the adjustment is to account for revenue from a material asset
Adjusted royalty revenue
Defined as royalty revenue including the Company’s share of royalty revenue related to the Company’s effective royalty on Caserones.
Royalty revenue
Adjusted cash flows from operating activities
Defined as cash flows from operating activities plus the cash distributions related to the Company’s effective royalty on Caserones.
Cash flows from operating activities
The Company believes this measure more accurately depicts the Company’s cash flows from operations as the adjustment is to account for cash flows from a material asset.
Gold equivalent ounces (GEOs)
GEOs is a non-IFRS measure that is based on royalty interests and calculated on a quarterly basis by dividing adjusted royalty revenue by the average gold price during such quarter. The gold price is determined based on the LBMA PM fix. For periods longer than one quarter, GEOs are summed for each quarter in the period.
Royalty revenue
The Company uses this measure internally to evaluate our underlying operating performance across the royalty portfolio for the reporting periods presented and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating results.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA represents net earnings or loss for the period before income tax expense or recovery, depreciation and amortization, finance costs. Adjusted EBITDA adds all revenue from the Caserones Royalty less any equity income from the equity investment in SLM California (Caserones Royalty holder). Additionally, it removes the effects of items that do not reflect our underlying operating performance and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. These may include: share based payments expense; unrealized and realized gains and losses on investments; write-downs of assets; impairments or reversals of impairments; foreign exchange gains or losses; and other non-cash or non-recurring expenses or recoveries.
Earnings or loss before income tax
The Company believes EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are widely used by investors and analysts as useful indicators of our operating performance, our ability to invest in capital expenditures, our ability to incur and service debt and also as a valuation metric.
Reconciliation of Adjusted Revenue and Other Income and Adjusted Royalty Revenue:
During the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had the following sources of revenue and other income:
(In thousands of dollars)
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Royalty revenue
$
6,184
$
11,142
$
16,871
$
14,918
Option and other property income
310
1,409
990
3,109
Interest income
533
374
1,411
1,048
Total revenue and other income
$
7,027
$
12,925
$
19,272
$
19,075
The following is the reconciliation of adjusted revenue and other income and adjusted royalty revenue:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenue and other income
$
7,027
$
12,925
$
19,272
$
19,075
SLM California royalty revenue
$
6,162
$
4,002
$
17,409
$
17,586
The Company’s ownership %
42.7
40.0
42.7
40.0
The Company’s share of royalty revenue
$
2,633
$
1,602
$
7,439
$
7,033
Adjusted revenue and other income
$
9,660
$
14,527
$
26,711
$
26,108
Royalty revenue
$
6,184
$
11,142
$
16,871
$
14,918
The Company’s share of royalty revenue
2,633
1,602
7,439
7,033
Adjusted royalty revenue
$
8,817
$
12,744
$
24,310
$
21,951
Reconciliation of GEOs:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Adjusted royalty revenue
$
8,817
$
12,744
$
24,310
$
21,951
Average gold price per ounce
$
2,477
$
1,929
$
2,292
$
1,933
Total GEOs
3,560
6,608
10,607
11,358
Reconciliation of Adjusted Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
$
(187)
$
7,122
$
326
$
2,787
Caserones royalty distributions
1,947
1,741
5,436
5,093
Adjusted cash flows from operating activities
$
1,760
$
8,863
$
5,762
$
7,880
Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
(In thousands of dollars)
2024
2023
2024
2023
Income (loss) before income taxes
$
1,226
$
4,515
$
(4,439)
$
(2,225)
Finance expense
921
1,298
3,066
3,809
Depletion, depreciation, and direct royalty taxes
2,230
1,595
6,018
3,237
EBITDA
$
4,377
$
7,408
$
4,645
$
4,821
Attributable revenue from Caserones royalty
2,633
1,602
7,439
7,034
Equity income from investment in SLM California
(1,276)
(733)
(3,484)
(2,988)
Share-based payments
359
1,538
1,902
1,763
Loss (gain) on revaluation of investments
(1,778)
160
(3,004)
869
Loss (gain) on sale of marketable securities
307
(39)
2,253
420
Foreign exchange (gain) loss
(51)
401
204
1,366
Loss (gain) on revaluation of derivative liabilities
(283)
(336)
(176)
62
Loss on revaluation of receivables
–
124
–
–
Other losses
–
–
2,326
–
Loss on debt settlement
783
–
783
–
Impairment charges
–
43
45
43
Adjusted EBITDA
$
5,071
$
10,168
$
12,933
$
13,390
1 Refer to the “Non-IFRS financial measures” section below and on page 29 of the Q3 2024 MD&A for more information on each non-IFRS financial measure. 2 Included in Q3 2023 and Q3 YTD 2023 was $6,676,000 (3,462 GEOs sold) and $4,783,000 (2,480 GEOs sold) respectively, in catch-up payments from the Timok royalty that relate to prior periods (2021 – $1,587,000, 2022 – $3,196,000, Q2 YTD 2023 – $1,893,000) 3 Excluding $6,676,000 in catch-up payments received in Q3 2023 from the Timok royalty that relate to prior periods (2021 – $1,587,000, 2022 – $3,196,000, Q2 YTD 2023 – $1,893,000) 4 Refer to the “Non-IFRS financial measures” section below and on page 29 of the Q3 2024 MD&A for more information on each non-IFRS financial measure. 5 Excluding $6,676,000 in catch-up payments in Q3 2023 from the Timok royalty that relate to prior periods. 6 Included in Q3 2023 and Q3 YTD 2023 was $6,676,000 (3,462 GEOs sold) and $4,783,000 (2,480 GEOs sold), respectively, in catch-up payments from the Timok royalty that relate to prior periods (2021 – $1,587,000, 2022 – $3,196,000, Q2 YTD 2023 – $1,893,000)
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – November 1, 2024) – EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (FSE: 6E9) (the “Company” or “EMX”) is pleased to announce the execution of an exploration and option agreement for its Yarrol, Mt Steadman and Queensland Gold projects to Mila Resources PLC (“Mila”, LSE:MILA). Mila is a well-capitalized London Stock Exchange listed company seeking to broaden its exploration portfolio in Australia. The agreement provides EMX with a cash payment, warrants and work commitments during a one-year option period, and upon exercise of the option, EMX will receive additional cash payments, equity in Mila, advance royalty payments, milestone payments and a 2.5% NSR royalty.
The Yarrol and Mt Steadman projects both contain historically defined gold resources in addition to sites of historic gold mining activities (see notes regarding the historical mineral resources below). The Yarrol project also contains areas with cobalt-enriched manganese oxide mineralization and heavy mineral sands deposits. The nearby Queensland Gold project lies to the north of Yarrol and Mt Steadman (see Figure 1) and contains multiple historic gold mines, gold occurrences, drill defined zones of gold mineralization, and numerous additional geochemical anomalies enriched in gold and copper.
EMX looks forward to working with Mila to commence work on the projects and to follow up on recent drill and sampling programs. This transaction is another example of the execution of EMX’s business model in providing turn-key and drill ready exploration projects to its partner companies in exchange for royalty interests and other considerations.
Commercial Terms Overview. EMX will receive AUD $25,000 upon execution of the agreement, along with 16 million purchase warrants of Mila Resources stock with a strike price of £0.01. Mila can acquire a 100% interest in the project by completing AUD$450,000 in work commitments by the end of the first anniversary of the agreement. Upon exercising the option Mila will:
Issue the equivalent of £110,000 in shares of Mila (with certain escalation clauses) and make an initial advance royalty payment equivalent to 20 ounces of gold in cash, shares or bullion.
Grant EMX an uncapped 2.5% NSR royalty and make annual advance royalty (“AAR”) payments commencing at 20 ounces of gold until the fifth anniversary of the agreement, at which time the AAR’s will increase to 35 ounces of gold until the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment, at which time the AAR’s will increase to 50 ounces of gold. The AARs can be paid in cash, shares or bullion.
Upon the second anniversary of the agreement, pay EMX an additional AUD$125,000 in cash or shares of Mila, and commit to completing a JORC Code or NI-43-101 compliant resource estimate on at least one of the project areas.
By the fifth anniversary of the agreement, complete a cumulative of 30,000 meters of drilling and/or define a resource of at least 400,000 ounces of gold with at least 40% of those ounces defined as “indicated” resources.
Deliver certain milestone payments.
For each project, upon delivery of a feasibility study Mila can repurchase 1.25% of the EMX royalty for a payment equating to 65% of the post-tax royalty net present value (NPV) as defined in the feasibility study.
Overviews of the projects. Each of the projects lie within the Tasman Orogenic Zone of eastern Australia, which hosts significant gold mines and deposits including Cracow, Mount Morgan and Mount Rawdon (see Figure 1).
Yarrol Project: The 59,520 Ha Yarrol Project is located between the Queensland Gold project and Evolution Mining’s Mt Rawdon gold mine and is positioned along the regional scale Yarrol Fault zone. Several other historical mines and active exploration projects also lie along the Yarrol Fault structural trend.
Yarrol was the site of historical gold mining activities in the 1800’s through the 1930’s, with historical gold production averaging ~10 g/t.1 Further exploration and assessments conducted in the 1980’s and 1990’s led to the definition of two historical gold resources (see notes regarding the historical mineral resources below). Gold mineralization at Yarrol is present as quartz sulfide veins and zones of silicification developed in and around Permian-aged dioritic intrusions. EMX conducted a two-hole confirmation drill program in late 2022, resulting in the intersection of 17.8 meters averaging 4.01 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 61 meters in drill hole DD22-YA187, and 12 meters at 0.91 g/t gold from 92 meters in drill hole DD22-YA188 (see EMX News Release dated November 14, 2022)2.
Many Peaks Gold Ltd (now Many Peaks Minerals Ltd or “Many Peaks”, ASX:MPK) optioned the project from EMX in 2023 and conducted various exploration programs before changing its strategy to focus on western African projects in early 2024. In addition to other programs, Many Peaks drilled six reconnaissance diamond drill holes at Yarrol totaling 1,210 meters that included a drill intercept of 16 meters averaging 0.75 g/t gold from 42 meters in hole YAD-189 (see Many Peaks news releases dated January 29 and 30, 2024)3. The project was returned to EMX in mid-2024.
Mt Steadman Project: The 5,760 hectare Mt Steadman project is an intrusion-related gold system (“IRGS”) located along the Perry Fault system, a major structural feature in the region that also hosts the nearby Mt Rawdon Mine. The Mt Steadman project was the focus of exploration in the 1990’s when shallow reconnaissance drilling programs led to the recognition and definition of historical gold resources (see notes regarding the historical mineral resources below). Several historic mines are also located on the Mt Steadman project (Mt Steadman, Venus and London), and were initially worked in the 1880’s with periodic production continuing into the 1940’s.
In the 1990’s mineralized sheeted vein swarms (IRGS-style mineralization) were recognized at the Fitzroy prospect, where over 4,000 meters of shallow drilling led to the definition of historic gold resources1. Examples of historical drill intercepts at Mt Steadman’s Fitzroy prospect include reverse circulation drill holes with intercepts that include 23 meters from surface averaging 1.04 g/t gold in drill hole RC95MS7, 24 meters from surface averaging 1.13 g/t gold in RC85MS10, and 26 meters from surface averaging 1.00 g/t in RC95MS44 (true widths unknown)4.
1 Independent Geological Report for MGT Mining Ltd, 2010. https://www.nsx.com.au/ftp/news/021723444.PDF. EMX has not performed sufficient work to verify historical sample results and production figures, however, from EMX’s field reviews of the Yarrol and Mt Steadman properties, these data are considered to be reliable and relevant.
2 True widths remain unknown but are estimated to be in the 50-75% range of the reported drilled interval. The interval was calculated assuming a cutoff of 0.5 g/t gold.
3 True widths not reported.
4 The historical drilling was completed by Probe Resources in 1995 and 1996 and reported to Queensland Geologic Survey. EMX has not done sufficient work to classify these results as compliant with NI 43-101 regulation, these results should not be relied upon until they are confirmed. However, EMX believes these results are reliable and relevant.
Many Peaks also optioned the Mt Steadman project from EMX in 2023 and drilled two reverse circulation (“RC”) drill holes on the property totaling 205 meters. Many Peaks reported an intercept of 8 meters averaging 2.63 g/t gold from 8 meters in RC drill hole MS041 (see Many Peaks news releases dated January 29 and 30, 2024). Many Peaks also completed additional soil sampling surveys, but identified gold anomalies were not followed up and the project was returned to EMX in mid-2024.
Queensland Gold Project: The 47,680 Ha Queensland Gold Project has been the site of historical mining and exploration activities for over a century. In the mid-1990’s, the Boggy Creek gold prospect was explored by CRA Exploration and North Ltd (both precursor companies to what is now Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited (“RTZ”). Drilling by CRA and North Ltd intercepted long intervals (i.e., >25 meters) of gold mineralization associated with quartz vein stockworks in rhyolitic-dacitic intrusions, typical of IRGS systems. Several of the historic CRA and North Ltd holes ended in mineralization.
In terms of historical production, gold was discovered at Monal Creek in 1891, leading to the development of the Monal Goldfields in the northwest portion of the EMX license. This area is marked by historical shafts, adits, mine dumps and processing sites, where gold mineralization was present in multiple parallel quartz vein reefs. Eight reef deposits were discovered and mined, with the gold mineralization appearing to extend for several kilometers along strike.
Many Peaks optioned the Queensland Gold project from EMX in 2020 and executed several exploration programs on the project. Many Peaks drilled twelve RC holes at Boggy Creek totaling 1,806 meters, and six additional reconnaissance drill holes elsewhere on the property (totaling 531 meters). Many Peaks also conducted various rock-chip, soil, auger and air core sampling programs at various locations on the property. On June 7, 2022, Many Peaks announced drill results from the Boggy Creek program that included intercepts of 7 meters averaging 2.04 g/t from 13 meters in drill hole BCRC003, 17 meters averaging 0.75 g/t from 10 meters in drill hole BCRC005 and 11 meters averaging 0.53 g/t from 73 meters in drill hole BCRC0073 (see Many Peaks news release dated June 7, 2022).
Comments on Historical Mineral Resources. The historical mineral resources at Yarrol and Mt Steadman were reported in 2010 by MGT Mining Ltd, which was a publicly traded Australian company (ASX: MGT) at the time of publication. Discussions of the projects and historic resources can be found at: https://www.nsx.com.au/ftp/news/021723444.PDF. EMX has not done sufficient work to verify the historical resources and is not considering these resources to be current or compliant with NI43-101 standards. Additional drilling and sampling would be required to confirm the resources, but EMX considers the published historical estimates to be relevant and reliable.
Comments on Nearby Mines and Deposits. The mines and deposits discussed in this news release provide context for EMX’s projects, which occur in similar geologic settings, but this is not necessarily indicative that the Company’s projects host similar styles, tonnages or grades of mineralization.
Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.
About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX’s investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “EMX”. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain “forward looking statements” that reflect the Company’s current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will”, “believe”, “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company’s future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company’s MD&A for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 (the “MD&A”), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form (“AIF”) for the year ended December 31, 2023, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.
Kelowna, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – October 31, 2024) – F3 Uranium Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (OTC Pink: FUUFF) (“F3 Uranium” or the “Company“) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced “bought deal” private placement (the “Offering“) for aggregate gross proceeds of C$8,000,000, which includes the full exercise of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option. Under the Offering, the Company sold 7,500,000 federal flow-through units of the Company (the “FFT Units“) at a price of C$0.375 per FFT Unit and 12,500,000 Saskatchewan flow-through units of the Company (the “SFT Units“, and together with the FFT Units, the “FT Units“) at a price of C$0.415 per SFT Unit, for an aggregate of 20,000,000 FT Units at a blended price of C$0.40 per FT Unit.
Red Cloud Securities Inc. acted as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters that included Canaccord Genuity Corp., Haywood Securities Inc., SCP Resource Finance LP and Eight Capital (collectively, the “Underwriters“).
Each FT Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a “Common Share“) issued as a “flow-through share” within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a “FT Share“) and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant“). Each whole Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share (each, a “Warrant Share“) at a price of C$0.40 at any time on or before October 31, 2026.
A total of 12,500,000 FT Units under the Offering (the “LIFE Units“), representing gross proceeds of C$5,000,000, were offered by way of the “listed issuer financing” exemption under Part 5A under National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106“) in all the provinces of Canada except for Quebec (the “Selling Jurisdictions“). The FT Shares and Warrant Shares issuable pursuant to the sale of the LIFE Units are immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers’ resident in Canada. The remaining 7,500,000 FT Units sold under the Offering (the “Non-LIFE Units“) were offered by way of the “accredited investor” and “minimum amount investment” exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Selling Jurisdictions. The FT Shares and Warrant Shares issuable from the sale of the Non-LIFE Units are subject to a restricted period in Canada ending on March 1, 2025.
In connection with the Offering, the Company paid to the Underwriters an aggregate cash commission of C$431,860, equal to 5.5% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering (except for gross proceeds raised from the sale of FT Units sold to purchasers on a president’s list (the “President’s List“), which were subject to a reduced 2.75% cash commission). The Company also issued to the Underwriters a total of 1,079,650 warrants of the Company (the “Broker Warrants“), equal to 5.5% of the number of FT Units sold pursuant to the Offering (except for those FT Units sold to purchasers on the President’s List, which were subject to a reduced number of Broker Warrants equal to 2.75%). Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of C$0.32 at any time on or before October 31, 2026.
The proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to fund exploration of the Company’s projects in the Athabasca Basin. The Offering remains subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
About F3 Uranium Corp.
F3 Uranium is a uranium exploration company advancing its newly discovered high-grade JR Zone and exploring for additional mineralized zones on its 100%-owned Patterson Lake North (PLN) Project in the southwest Athabasca Basin. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone discovery is located ~25km northwest of Fission Uranium’s Triple R and NexGen Energy’s Arrow high-grade uranium deposits. This area is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. The PLN project is comprised of the PLN, Minto and Broach properties. The Broach property incorporates the former PW property which was obtained from CanAlaska as a result of a property swap.
The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
F3 Uranium Corp. 750-1620 Dickson Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2
Contact Information Investor Relations Telephone: 778 484 8030 Email: ir@f3uranium.com
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“Dev Randhawa” Dev Randhawa, CEO
Cautionary Statement:F3 Uranium Corp.
This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws, which is based upon the Company’s current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company’s expectations with respect to the Offering and the use of proceeds of the Offering. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “potential”, “is expected”, “anticipated”, “is targeted”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to: general business and economic conditions; regulatory approval for the Offering; changes in commodity prices; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of the price of uranium and other metals; changes in project parameters as exploration plans continue to be refined; costs of exploration including labour and equipment costs; risks and uncertainties related to the ability to obtain or maintain necessary licenses, permits or surface rights; changes in credit market conditions and conditions in financial markets generally; the ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; the availability of qualified employees and contractors; the impact of value of the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, foreign exchange rates on costs and financial results; market competition; exploration results not being consistent with the Company’s expectations; changes in taxation rates or policies; technical difficulties in connection with mining activities; changes in environmental regulation; environmental compliance issues; and other risks of the mining industry. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that could cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. For more information on the Company and the risks and challenges of its business, investors should review the Company’s annual filings that are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and F3 Uranium Corp. disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – October 31, 2024) – EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSX Venture: EMX) (FSE: 6E9) (the “Company” or “EMX”) is pleased to announce that the operator of the Viscaria copper-iron-silver project in Northern Sweden, where EMX holds a royalty interest, recently published new exploration results that appear to include discoveries of multiple new bodies of mineralization. Viscaria Gruvaktiebolag (“Viscaria”; formerly Copperstone Resources AB) is the operator of the Viscaria project and has been undertaking final permitting and recently commenced construction of its water treatment plant needed for the reopening of the past-producing mine. According to their disclosures, Viscaria expects to commence production on the project in 2026.
In parallel with its ongoing development work, Viscaria has been conducting its first “near mine” exploration drilling campaign, which commenced in spring of this year. According to Viscaria’s most recent exploration presentation and news release1, over 9,000 meters of drilling have been completed as part of this program. This has led to the recognition and definition of additional zones of mineralization that project downward from the currently defined “D” and “B” resource areas, as well as a new zone of drill-defined mineralization that lies beneath the “A” and “B” resource areas and has been named the “ABBA” zone (see Figures 1 and 2). Viscaria has described these new discoveries as “exceptional exploration results” which highlight the considerable upside potential and optionality that exists on the project.
Reported drill results are highlighted by[1]:
An intercept of 43.2m @ 1.12% Cu and 31.35% Fe from depths of 1107 to 1050.2 meters in hole VDD24055 (positioned just below the existing “D Zone” resources).
An intercept of 13.3m @ 2.42% Cu and 4.96 g/t Ag from depths of 498.1 to 511.4 meters in drill hole VDD23116 (adjacent to the “B Zone” resources).
EMX considers these results to be salient and important to the valuation of its royalty interest. Viscaria has also reported that it is working to complete a feasibility study by year end and is currently working to update and bring its resource estimates into compliance with PERC (2021) reporting standards. EMX congratulates Viscaria Gruvaktiebolag on these successes and their recent progress.
EMX’s current royalty footprint covers the A, B and D zones and consists of a 0.5% NSR royalty that escalates to an uncapped 1% NSR royalty after $12 million has been paid to the royalty holder.
About the Viscaria Copper-Iron-Silver deposit. The Viscaria deposit is located just west of LKAB’s Kiruna iron mine, the largest underground iron mine in the world. Viscaria is typically classified as a member of the Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold (“IOCG”) deposit clan and is broadly associated with similar iron and copper systems elsewhere in the region. The Viscaria mine was initially owned and operated by LKAB, which commenced operations in 1983. Outokumpu OY acquired the mine in 1985 and operated it until closure in 1993. Phelps Dodge Sweden AB later acquired the project from Outokumpu and then sold the project to Avalon Viscaria AB in 2008 and kept a royalty over the project area as part of its consideration. Avalon Viscaria AB later became the current Viscaria Gruvaktiebolag. EMX acquired Phelps Dodge Sweden AB in 2009, including the Viscaria royalty.
Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.
Notes about reported drill intersections. EMX has not performed sufficient work to verify the reported drill data and intersections. However, the samples were collected and reported by Viscaria in accordance with PERC (2021) reporting standards. EMX considers the reported drill data to be reliable and relevant.
About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX’s investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company’s common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “EMX”. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain “forward looking statements” that reflect the Company’s current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will”, “believe”, “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company’s future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company’s MD&A for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 (the “MD&A”), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form (“AIF”) for the year ended December 31, 2023, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca and on the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.
[1] True widths stated as “unknown”. These results were reported by Viscaria according to PERC 2021 standards in “Exploration Results, PERC (2021) Reporting standard, Table 1” on September 2024, and in Viscaria’s exploration update presentation dated September 24, 2024: “Viscaria: the next Tier-1 copper deposit in the world-class Kiruna mining district”.
Kelowna, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – October 29, 2024) – F3 Uranium Corp(TSXV: FUU)(OTC Pink: FUUFF) (“F3” or “the Company“) is pleased to announce assay results for thirteen drillholes of the ongoing 2024 drill program on the PLN Property, including PLN24-161 at the JR Zone (see NR August 13, 2024) which returned 10.5m of 2.66% U3O8, including a high grade 2.0m interval averaging 12.0% U3O8, further including an ultra-high grade core of 0.5m of 20.7% U3O8. Significant mineralization over a 13.5m interval was intersected in PLN24-184 on line 105S at JR, including 1.5m off-scale radioactivity (>65,535 cps) between 235.60 and 240.10m.
Exploration drilling focused mainly on the B1 area close to, and south of the Harrison Fault, with a number of very prospective drill holes, highlighted by PLN24-187 which was drilled on line 3240S, approximately 400m south of the Harrison Fault, and on section with PLN24-183. PLN24-183 was the first hole to intersect what is interpreted to be the southern extension of the A1 shear zone hosting the JR Zone. Due to encouraging alteration and intense shearing a down dip hole was drilled, and PLN24-187 encountered intense alteration and anomalous radioactivity (see Table 1 and Photo 1).
Sam Hartmann, Vice President Exploration, commented:
“Today’s update includes scintillometer results of drilling in the JR Zone, where three holes successfully targeted high grade mineralization in areas of lower drill hole density, as well as high-grade assay results of drillholes completed and previously announced earlier in the program. Exploration drilling south of the Harrison Fault discovered the A1 Shear Extension, ~400m beyond the previously interpreted southern extent of the A1 shear, as a discrete continuation, and parallel to the B1 structures. This potential for stacked and parallel structure south of Harrison Fault provides further high priority drill targets for high grade uranium mineralization.”
JR Zone Assay Highlights:
PLN24-161 (line 035S):
10.5m @ 2.66% U3O8 (206.5m to 217.5m), including:
2.0m @ 12.0% U3O8 (207.5m to 209.5m), further including:
0.5m @ 20.7% U3O8 (208.0m to 208.5m)
PLN24-163 (line 095S):
13.0m @ 0.45% U3O8 (197.0m to 210.0m), including:
2.5m @ 1.77 % U3O8 (204.0m to 206.5m)
JR Zone Handheld Spectrometer Highlights:
PLN24-184 (line 105S):
13.5m mineralization from 228.5m – 242.0m, including
3.80 m cumulative mineralization of >10,000 cps radioactivity between 233.00m – 240.30m, including 1.5m cumulative off-scale radioactivity (>65,535 cps) between 235.60 -240.10m
PLN24-185 (line 025S)
13.0m mineralization from 218.0m – 231.0m, including
2.30 m cumulative mineralization of >10,000 cps radioactivity between 223.00m – 230.50m, including 0.5m cumulative off-scale radioactivity (>65,535 cps) between 223.00 -2424.00m
Exploration Handheld Spectrometer Highlights:
PLN24-178 (line 2835S): B1 Exploration
0.5m radioactivity from 446.5m – 447m with a peak of 310 cps
PLN24-180 (line 1125S): A1 South Exploration
0.5m radioactivity from 319.0m – 319.5m with a peak of 700 cps
PLN24-181 (line 2880S): B1 Exploration
0.5m radioactivity from 377.5m – 378.0m with a peak of 360 cps
PLN24-187 (line 3240S): B1 Exploration
0.5m radioactivity from 549.0m – 549.5m with a peak of 300 cps
Handheld spectrometer composite parameters: 1: Minimum Thickness of 0.5m 2: CPS Cut-Off of 300 counts per second 3: Maximum Internal Dilution of 2.0m
Natural gamma radiation in the drill core that is reported in this news release was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 scintillometer. The Company considers greater than 300 cps on the handheld spectrometer as anomalous, >10,000 cps as high grade and greater than 65,535 cps as off-scale. The reader is cautioned that scintillometer readings are not directly or uniformly related to uranium grades of the rock sample measured and should be used only as a preliminary indication of the presence of radioactive materials.
Composited weight % U3O8 mineralized intervals are summarized in Table 1. Samples from the drill core are split in half sections on site. Where possible, samples are standardized at 0.5m down-hole intervals. One-half of the split sample is sent to SRC Geoanalytical Laboratories (an SCC ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 Accredited Facility) in Saskatoon, SK while the other half remains on site for reference. Analysis includes a 63 element suite including boron by ICP-OES, uranium by ICP-MS and gold analysis by ICP-OES and/or AAS.
The Company considers uranium mineralization with assay results of greater than 1.0 weight % U3O8 as “high grade” and results greater than 20.0 weight % U3O8 as “ultra-high grade.”
All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thickness are yet to be determined.
About Patterson Lake North:
The Company’s 4,078-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North property (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Fission Uranium’s Triple R and NexGen Energy’s Arrow high-grade world class uranium deposits which is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone uranium discovery is located 23km northwest of Fission Uranium’s Triple R deposit.
Qualified Person:
The technical information in this news release has been prepare in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has verified the data disclosed.
About F3 Uranium Corp:
F3 Uranium is a uranium exploration company advancing its newly discovered high-grade JR Zone and exploring for additional mineralized zones on its 100%-owned Patterson Lake North (PLN) Project in the southwest Athabasca Basin. PLN is accessed by Provincial Highway 955, which transects the property, and the new JR Zone discovery is located ~25km northwest of Fission Uranium’s Triple R and NexGen Energy’s Arrow high-grade uranium deposits. This area is poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. The PLN project is comprised of the PLN, Minto and Broach properties. The Broach property incorporates the former PW property which was obtained from CanAlaska as a result of a property swap.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of the management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
F3 Uranium Corp. 750-1620 Dickson Avenue Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2
Contact Information Investor Relations Telephone: 778 484 8030 Email: ir@f3uranium.com
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD “Dev Randhawa” Dev Randhawa, CEO
TORONTO, Ontario – (NewMediaWire) – October 28, 2024 – Silver Crown Royalties Inc. (“Silver Crown”, “SCRi”, the “Corporation”, or the “Company”) (Cboe:SCRI; OTCQX:SLCRF; FRA:QS0) is pleased to announce the signing of a definitive royalty purchase agreement (the “Agreement“) with BacTech Environmental Corporation (“BacTech“) (CSE:BAC, OTCQB:BCCEF). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, SCRi will be granted a royalty on BacTechs’s future bioleaching facility in Tenguel, Ecuador (the “Project“) equal to the cash equivalent of 90% of the silver processed at Project (the “Royalty“). Additionally, the Royalty provides that SCRi is to receive payments of a minimum 35,000 ounces annually for at least ten years following the commencement of regular processing operations at the Project (“Commercial Production“).
The total purchase price for the Royalty is C$4,000,000 in SCRi units (“Units“) at a deemed value of C$10.00 per Unit, with each Unit consisting of a common share of SCRi and a common share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of C$16.00 for a period of 36 months from issue, will be deployed in three tranches based on milestones as follows:
1) 100,000 Units will be issued to BacTech upon the grant of the Royalty at Closing,
2) 100,000 Units will be issued upon BacTech successfully financing the Project, and
3) 200,000 Units will be issued upon BacTech achieving Commercial Production.
Peter Bures, Silver Crown’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We believe this transaction opens the door to a very exciting new opportunity for Silver Crown Royalties in Ecuadora country with immense potential that is gaining recognition from companies such as Lundin Gold, Franco-Nevada, Osisko Gold Royalties, BHP and SolGold. Additionally, we are eager to cultivate a partnership with an operator that utilizes environmentally sensitive methods for precious metals extraction and seeks an innovative approach to further unlock value.”
Ross Orr, BacTech’s President and Chief Executive Officer, added: “We are happy to be working with Silver Crown. Many of the projects that we are looking at contain complementary amounts of silver, and, as a shareholder in SCRi, it only makes sense for them to be our first call with any future silver ounces we acquire. We look forward to developing a long-standing mutual relationship with Silver Crown.”
ABOUT BACTECH ENVIRONMENTAL
BacTech Environmental Corporation is a company that specializes in environmental technology. We use a process called bioleaching to recover metals like gold, silver, cobalt, nickel, and copper while also safely removing harmful contaminants like arsenic. This process is eco-friendly and uses naturally occurring bacteria that are safe for both humans and the environment. By using our proprietary method of bioleaching, we can neutralize toxic concentrates and tailings while also creating profitable opportunities. The company is publicly traded on several stock exchanges, including the CSE, OTCQB, and Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
ABOUT SILVER CROWN ROYALTIES INC.
Founded by industry veterans, Silver Crown is a publicly traded, silver royalty company. SCRi currently has four silver royalties of which two are revenue-generating. Its business model presents investors with precious metals exposure allowing for a natural hedge against currency devaluation while minimizing the negative impact of cost inflation associated with production. SCRi endeavors to minimize the economic impact on mining projects while maximizing returns for shareholders.
This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” and certain “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements and information include but are not limited to statements with respect to SCRi’s ability to achieve its strategic objectives in the future and its ability to target additional operational silver-producing projects. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual actions, events or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the impact of general business and economic conditions; the absence of control over mining operations from which SCRi will purchase gold and other metals or from which it will receive royalty payments and risks related to those mining operations, including risks related to international operations, government and environmental regulation, delays in mine construction and operations, actual results of mining and current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents, equipment breakdowns, title matters, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions in operations; SCRi’s ability to enter into definitive agreements and close proposed royalty transactions; the inherent uncertainties related to the valuations ascribed by SCRi to its royalty interests; problems inherent to the marketability of gold and other metals; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; industry conditions, including fluctuations in the price of the primary commodities mined at such operations, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in interest rates; government entities interpreting existing tax legislation or enacting new tax legislation in a way which adversely affects SCRi; stock market volatility; regulatory restrictions; liability, competition, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises on SCRi’s business, operations and financial condition, loss of key employees. SCRi has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, 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. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. SCRi undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management’s best judgment based on information currently available.
This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any such offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein will be made only pursuant to subscription documentation between the Company and prospective purchasers. Any such offering will be made in reliance upon exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements under applicable securities laws, pursuant to a subscription agreement to be entered into by the Company and prospective investors. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Gold retreated from a new all-time high set on Wednesday as some investors booked profits while assessing geopolitical risks from the US election and Middle East conflicts.
Spot gold dropped 1.0% to $2,718.79 an ounce by 12:10 p.m. ET after briefly hitting an all-time high of $2,758.25 in the morning trading. US gold futures also fell 1.0% to $2,734.00 an ounce in New York.
Bullion was down as much as 1.5% earlier in the session, with some traders exiting positions amid signs that the precious metal’s recent rally to successive highs may be excessive.
Gold’s relative strength index has been above the overbought level of 70 for the past three sessions, according to Bloomberg data.
A stronger US dollar and rising bond yields also weighed on the metal, whose price has surged by more than 30% in anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s pivot to interest rate cuts. The rally also intensified as uncertainties surrounding the US presidential race and the Middle East conflict grew.
Standard Chartered analyst Suki Cooper expects further upside risk in the coming weeks. The bank sees gold averaging $2,800 an ounce in the fourth quarter, with prices set to average $2,900 for the first three months of next year.
Those from Citi Research gave a similar outlook. The bank recently upgraded its three-month gold price view to $2,800 per ounce from $2,700 previously, adding that its 6- to 12-month forecast is $3,000.
If we start with VMS Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Ore Deposits and their Mineralization we see from this image shows some of the sulphide chimneys associated with the model black smoker VMS deposit. VMS will emit black plume of hot water venting from one of the chimneys. You’ll remember this cross section from reads on both porphyry deposits and epithermal, in the case of VMS deposit, we are basically looking at a submarine high sulfidation epithermal deposit venting from an underlying hot chamber into the sea.
VMS deposits are dominated by copper and zinc, but there are a number of other minor minerals, including: lead, silver, gold, cobalt, tin, selenium, magnesium, cadmium and a whole host of other ones that are associated with them.
The deposits consist of a massive sulphide cap that formed on the seafloor and sort of lies parallel between two stratigraphy and an underlying feeder zone or streamer zone as it is usually called. VMS is basically mushroom shaped, Streamer zone tends to be copper rather than zinc rich. VMS deposits often form as clusters over a large intrusive heat source. If the heat chamber is long-lived you may get flat lenses of massive sulphide, each fed from the same fault, beginning successively younger as you go up through the stratigraphy. The deposits are pretty common although, as with any deposit type. There are only a few big enough or high enough grade to be economic. In spite of that, they really are economically significant with 27% of Canada’s copper production and almost 50% of its historical zinc production, and 20% of the Pb having come from this group of deposits.
VMS deposits have been forming throughout geological history and they still are forming on the seafloor today. Here’s a bunch of the better-known deposits you may have heard of. As you can see they are scattered all around the world, but I’m going to talk a little bit about the distribution later on. This is a cartoon 3D viewer of an active VMS black smoker developing on the oceanic crust on the seafloor (good rock crusher). Some of the metals are contributed by the underlying magma chamber, but as the hydrothermal fluids rise above the hot magma it sucks in cool sea water, this is then heated and mixing with the magnetic water, rises to the vent returning to the sea forming large circulation cells that maybe several kilometres across. It is the seawater circulation through the host volcanic that provides the remainder of the metal inputs. Leaching metals particularly iron there’s also bases metals and sulphur on the volcanic. Metal concentration in the hydrothermal fluids, volcanic and recycled seawater, are really low- just fractions of a percent. So how do we end up with the ore that makes up 20- 30% metal? The next slide will be on the seafloor to explain this. You can see there is a neck of fractured rock below the seafloor caused by the violent boiling of the hot fluids as the pressure is reduced, that in turn is surmounted by a series of chimneys that allow the fluid escape into the cold sea, at the bottom of the thermocline is really very cold, it’s often only a few degrees above freezing even in the tropical areas. Surrounding the chimney is an exhalative length of sulphuric material that forms on the floor. The secret of the high grade of the ore lies in rapid cooling of the hydrothermal fluid when it reaches the full seafloor.
As in porphyry deposits, the main focus of trend in deposits is the drop in temperature rather than changes in EH or pH. Different metal sulphides tend to drop out a metal solution at different temperatures- copper and gold first, followed by zinc, then lead and finally iron. There’s an overlap in the metal deposition, but that’s the broad trend. Copper starts to drop out as the temperature starts to drop from 400 degrees Celsius down to 300 degrees. The Iron and the copper drops out before the fluids actually reach the seafloor. Precipitating is a stockwork of veins in the brecciated funnel also called stringer zone, beneath the sulphide lens.
The fluids are hot, and because they are from a high sulfidation source, they’re moderately acid. This acidity alters the feldspars and host rocks to clays, some of which are washed out the rock and others metamorphous form sericite mica. Dissolved silica in the hot solutions distributes deposits such as quartz along with iron sulphide. You may hear geologist referring to this characteristic leach quartz, sericite pyrite assemblage the results are either QSP or folic alteration.
As the hydrothermal fluids reach the cold seawater, the temperature drops within seconds from 300 degrees down to 100 degrees and less. The lead and the zinc sulphite precipitates along with along with the remainder of copper. The sulfides dissolve along the sides and at the top of the vents, extending them and then bellow out to form black and white smoke as you see in National Geographic pictures. The fine clouds of sulphide cool and settles on the seafloor, building up a finely banded layers of pure sulphate which are closest to the vent, galena and sphalerite next. Pyrite deposits throughout the sequence and most desolate from the bed that is the only sphalerite still available to deposit. Beyond that the sulphur is exhausted and iron-oxide or hematite and silica is all that’s left to precipitate.
The massive sulphide is made up of a combination of finely interbedded sulphides that settle out of the black smokers and fragments of chimneys that have broken off and rolled down the slope. Here are couple of shots of massive sulphides in outcrop, note the typical, fine rhythmic banding just below the hammer on the left hand photo. The photo in the bottom right shows abandoned iron formation, developed very distantly to a VMS vent, as you can see it is made of hematite or magnetite which is oxide, rather than sulphide and white silica.
The fluids that form VMS deposits usually reach the seafloor of faults, because those faults represent zones of weakness when the stratigraphy is subsequently subject to deformation, the area around the faults is often particularly deformed. Combine this with the highly ductile nature of massive sulphides, we find that massive sulphide lenses themselves often exhibits extreme deformation. Very often the stringy cap which started off with a very high angle to the massive sulphide mushroom cap, is flattened and rotated to a much more acute angle and the massive sulphide may end up squeezed into a cigar shaped broad.
So not we know a little more about how VMS deposits are formed, let’s consider; where they occur; how common they are; and more importantly how big they are and what metal grades can we expect.
VMS deposits have been forming since the earliest of times in the Earth’s history and they are still forming today on the seafloor. As you might expect, they are found all over the world and in all ages of rocks. However, there are few areas in history where they seem to be particularly prevalent- the late Archean and the Tertiary, seem to be very prolific times. The blue, green and red symbols mark some of the more important VMS deposits worldwide.
Ok, what about size and grade? There are a number of different classes of VMS, each with somewhat very different characteristics.
It’s nice to say that economic VMS deposits generally range in size from 4- 25 million tonnes with an average of about 5 million tonnes, although there are a few monsters such as Peak Creek in Ontario which is 150 million tonnes.
Average Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Ore Deposits Grades:
5% copper
4% zinc
< 1% lead
Maybe 1 gram per tonne of gold.
Again there are a few outlines with far higher grades than these.
Let’s look now at a few examples of VMS deposits.Nevsun’s Bisha deposit near Eritrea is a superb example of a VMS deposit. It was discovered in January in 2003, construction began in 2008 and production in 2011. This is a view of the Bisha deposit looking south, before development began. The dark brown material in the foreground is a zinc rich deposit the without the outcrop of the mineralization. Not surprisingly, the way the mineralization is being folded and it plunges to the south, where the stringer zone smeared out, parallel to the massive sulphides. The massive sulphide material varies from 1- 70 meters thick, this is unusual as most VMS deposits are less than 20 meters in thickness. Bisha is a footprint that’s about 1 kilometre long and 200 meters wide. In spite of the steep dip to the mineralization which results in a pit with a high stripping ratio the deposit has one big advantage. So there is a leach gold zone on the surface, underlain by a secondary enrich copper zone with the primary zinc dominated, primary zone below that.
The advantage of this is the expense is concentrated and does not have to be booked by start-up and could be constructed just a few years later when the primary sulphides are reached and funded, most importantly from cash flow, rather than debt. Most attractive of all in Bisha, is the size:
With reserves of 26 million tonnes
at 1.8% copper
6.3% zinc
0.9 grams per tonne gold
and 41 grams per tonne silver.
This is 5 times the average VMS site. VMS deposits occur in clusters/groups and Bisha is no exception. With at least 7 other VMS deposits discovered within 20 kilometres. Although Bisha is the only one in production so far.
The second example we are going to talk about today is kind of unusual, it’s actually a group of deposits that only recently been formed, in fact they are so young they are still on the ocean floor and will have to be mined remotely from floating platforms. They were discovered by Nautilus Mining Company using a combination of both metrics and EM geophysics. To date it gives and fascinating insight to the nature of the black smoker fields.This image is taken from Nautilus’ 43 101 report and it shows an amazing isometric view of the chimney of Salwara 1 target off the coast of Papua New Guinea derived from the symmetry.The image covers about 800 meters from left to right and the individual chimneys are clearly visible. The small image shows remote operating vehicles claws, removing a sample of a smoker chimney for for assay. For environmental reasons only extinct smokers were targeted. Once the hot water stop flowing, the cold and lack of nutrients causes the once abundant sea life to move away or to die. Extinct smokers are therefore devoid of significant sea life, and environmentally not an issue. In the cross section of the Solwara 1 VMS based on mapping and drilling of deposits we can see the massive sulphides in red, the alterations associated with stringer zones in pale green. Although the resource is relatively small, just two and a half million tonnes, the grades are exceptionally high- with a copper grade of almost 8% and a gold grade of over 6 grams per tonne, as is typical there has been at least 18 other deposits discovered in this particular cluster.The Solwara 1 VMS is at a depth, 1600 meters below sea level. Submarine VMS deposits have never been mined before but the equipment that Nautilus plants use has a proven record, excavating trenches for submarine cables and mining marine diamonds off the South African coast. Its practicality is well established. This is another piece of mining equipment that Nautilus is considering having custom built, you will notice the proposed completion date in this old material, to my knowledge this construction is still on hold which gives the indication that funding and mining will not be straight forward. Once the material is remotely mined, its plan to pump it to the surface as a slurry then to transfer debarked or to transport to lower a sure base concentrator.
