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gold geologist

Brent on TV. Photo: BNN

The other day we were talking discovery with respected gold geologist Brent Cook (full interview to be published next week). In our conversation we asked Brent to name a few explorationists investors should follow; the names of people Brent would most like to work with. He provided us with the following three ideas:

1. Steve Nano, Vice President of Exploration, Mirasol Resources

Nano MiningStephen Nano has over 22 years exploration and management experience throughout the Americas and the Asia Pacific working with large precious and base metal mining companies. Mr Nano has a wealth of experience in project generation, exploration, acquisition and mining in both senior management and technical roles, and has managed exploration teams over a diverse range of geographic and cultural environments. He is regarded as one of the frontier explorers of Santa Cruz epithermal province in Argentina where he has played a leading role in a range of gold and silver discoveries.

Mr Nano is a founder of Mirasol Resources Ltd, a founder and director of Global Ore Discovery, an Australian based mineral energy and water consultancy, and is also actively involved in the development of the Australian geothermal industry.

2. Rob Carpenter, President & CEO, Kaminak Gold Corporation

Dr. Robert L. Carpenter is the co-founder of Kaminak Gold Corporation (KAM: TSX-V), a mineral exploration company publicly listed in 2005 employing a prospect generator business model. This business model led to the acquisition of the Coffee Gold Project located in the White Gold District, Yukon Territory. In 2010, Kaminak completed the first ever drilling on the Coffee property and discovered 8 significant gold zones beginning at surface. This success led to six bought deal financings totaling $74 million and an asset with world-class gold potential.

Prior to Kaminak, Rob spent three years with the Federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs of Canada where he was responsible for evaluating technical reports submitted on mineral claims, prospecting permits and mining leases as required under the Canada Mining Regulations and recommending their approval/rejection based on compliance. He also worked with BHP-Billiton Ltd., Placer Dome Inc., and WMC Resources Ltd., focusing primarily on early stage exploration projects throughout Canada, Australia and the United States.

Another success in Rob's career includes the formation of a landmark 2008 uranium partnership, the first of its kind in Canada, between the Inuit of Nunavut and Kaminak. This partnership involved Kaminak spinning-out its uranium assets into a new uranium company called Kivalliq Energy Corp. (KIV: TSX-V), which Rob serves as a Director. In 2009, the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia recognized Rob's achievement in this ground-breaking transaction and awarded him the Robert R. Hedley Award for excellence in social and environmental responsibility.

Rob obtained his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario and completed his Ph.D. thesis on the regional geological setting of the Meliadine Lake gold deposits, which are now owned by Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited. He is a practicing professional geologist with over 20 years of precious and base metal exploration experience and certified by the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (P. Geo).

3. Rob McLeod, Founder, McLeod Williams

Robert McLeod is a highly technical, creative and innovative exploration geologist. He has over 18 years of post-graduate experience in mining and mineral exploration, working for a variety of major and junior mining companies. Through his experience working with these companies, McLeod has developed a strong set of managerial skills, including budgeting, planning and supervision of large and small exploration and mine development projects.

McLeod's technical skills include advanced GIS and 3D geologic modeling, grade-block modeling and resource calculation, mine design and geostatistics, lithogeochemical and structural studies, as well as project generation and property evaluation. His exploration strategy is a multitiered approach, including; conceptual geologic ideas with prospecting, early-stage project advancement focusing on discovery, and advancing mid-stage projects towards feasibility.

The majority of McLeod's exploration experience has been in Alaska, Yukon and Nunavut. As VP Exploration for Underworld Resources, he identified the potential of the White gold Property in the Yukon, and led the discovery team for the Golden Saddle Zone. Underworld was acquired by Kinross Gold in May 2010. As an exploration geologist and project manager at Miramar's Hope Bay project, he was part of the team that discovered the Naartok deposit, as well as expanding and delineating the Boston and Doris deposits. He was previously Vice President of Exploration for Atna Resources Ltd., a junior company exploring for gold in Nevada, and base metals in the Yukon. Mr. McLeod is currently a director for Keegan Resources, Revolution Resources, Silver Quest Resources and Gold Standard Ventures.

McLeod obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Economic Geology from the University of British Columbia in 1993 and graduated from Queens University, Masters in Geology, Mineral Exploration Program in 1998. He is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists, member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, Alaska Miners Association and the AMEBC. He is a member of Doug Casey's Nexten Top 10 list of young mining entrepreneurs.

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