In a strange turn of events, Pretivm Resources (PVG:TSX) announced this morning that their qualified person overseeing the company’s highly anticipated 10,000 tonne bulk sample program has resigned. Strathcona Mineral Services had been engaged to oversee and report on the bulk sample.  It is unclear from the news release as to the reason for their… Continue Reading

“There was no firm like it.  And there probably won’t be another one like it.  It was  tough to get into and tough to get out. Hotel California.” I’ve heard the name, Gordon Capital, a few times in my career.  I find when talking about Gordon Capital, it is often complimented with a fond smirk… Continue Reading

Lundin Group company, ShaMaran Petroleum (SNM:TSX), received good news on the development of its Atrush block located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.  The company and its partners received approval from the Kurdistan regional government for the first phase of development there.  This approval allows for a 25-year development license which allows SNM, TAQA and… Continue Reading

A top pick from Denver, Rio Alto (RIO:TSX) released gold production and sales numbers for the third quarter, ahead of their full quarter financials.  RIO produced and sold a totaled of 59,157 ounces in the third quarter bringing total production from their La Arena project in Peru to 143,940 ounces, year-to-date.  Third quarter production was… Continue Reading

It looks like the rumours have proved to be correct as China’s Minmetals announces a first round bid for Glencore-Xstrata’s (GLEN:LN) Peruvian Las Bamabas copper mine.  Prior to the mega-merger being finalized between Glencore and Xstrata last year, the Chinese antitrust authorities demanded the sale of Glencore’s $5.2 billion Las Bambas mine in order to reduce the power… Continue Reading

After reviewing most of the corporate presentations from last week’s Denver Gold Forum, some repetitive themes arose: 1.)    Focus on returns: Almost unanimously, the producers claim to be focusing on high-quality operations only and have already, or will look to, dramatically reduce capital spending as well as divest assets that do not meet the margin… Continue Reading

Ari Sussman’s Continental Gold (CNL:TSX) released assay results from 28 drill holes and underground sampling from the Yaragua and San Agustin vein systems at the company’s ‘best-in-class’ Buritica gold project in Colombia (news release). Overall, the results continue to show exceptional grades and growing widths. All of the 27 underground holes at Yaragua were successful at… Continue Reading

Bob Quartermain’s Pretium Resources (PVG:TSX) has begun processing the 10,000-tonne bulk sample from the Valley of the Kings material at the company’s Brucejack project (news release).  The material has been sent to a custom mill in Montana where it will be processed at a rate of 220tpd which will produce gold-silver gravity and flotation concentrates… Continue Reading

International Minerals (IMZ:TSX) has agreed to be bought by Peruvian miner, Hochschild Mining (HOC:LN) for CAD$2.46 per share.  On top of the cash component, International Minerals shareholders will also receive one common share of Spinco which will hold IMZ’s current portfolio of Nevada assets including the Goldfield and Converse properties.  Spinco will also keep the… Continue Reading

Mason Graphite (LLG:TSXV) has updated the market with regards to progress at their Lac Gueret graphite project in northeastern Quebec in a news release out this morning. Lac Gueret has had extensive development work done to date including a PEA earlier this year which envisioned a low capital intensity, high-grade, long-life asset.  The company also completed initial… Continue Reading

Brian Edgar and Tim Barry’s Silver Bull Resources (SVB:TSX) released a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Sierra Mojada silver-zinc project in Coahuila, Mexico. Sierra Mojada is one of the largest undeveloped silver projects in Mexico, with an indicated resource of over 160 million ounces of silver at an average grade of 70 grams per tonne using a… Continue Reading

Midas Gold (MAX:TSX) released assays from recent drilling at their Hanger Flats deposit at the Golden Meadows project in Idaho.  The company is completing resource definition drilling at Golden Meadows in order to complete an updated economic study.  The highlight of the release today was hole MGI-13-361 which intersected an impressive 100.6m of 3.09g/t gold… Continue Reading

Lundin Group company, NGEx Resources (NGQ:TSX), released an updated resource estimate for their Josemaria copper-gold project located in San Juan province, Argentina.  According to the company, the Lundin Family Trust controls 19.9% of NGQ’s shares.  NGEx is the 60% operator of the project with JOGMEC (Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation) holding the other… Continue Reading

J.P.Morgan Asset Management’s James Sutton believes a recovery is likely for the macro-commodity sector as he sees significant returns in his natural resource funds.  The J.P.Morgan Natural Resources fund is up nearly 18% since June, however it remains 50% below 2011 highs.  This highlights an increased perception that commodity prices may have bottomed.  Sutton sees… Continue Reading

The second largest oil producer in Colombia, Pacific Rubiales Energy (TSX:PRE), has agreed to buy light oil producer Petrominerales (TSX:PMG) for $1.6 billion in an all cash deal that represents a 56% premium for PMG shareholders. The transaction also implies a value to Petrominerales of $47,000 per flowing barrel.  Each PMG shareholder will receive $11 per… Continue Reading