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Syntholene Energy Corp. (TSXV: ESAF) (formerly, GK Resources Ltd.) (the ‘Company‘ or ‘Syntholene‘) is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated May 6, 2025, May 16, 2025, July 9, 2025, September 18, 2025, November 18, 2025 and December 3, 2025, it has completed the acquisition of Syntholene Energy Corp., a private Delaware corporation (‘Pre-Transaction Syntholene‘), pursuant to the amended and restated securities exchange agreement entered into between the Company, Pre-Transaction Syntholene and the securityholders of Pre-Transaction Syntholene on April 25, 2025, as amended from time to time (the ‘Securities Exchange Agreement‘), which resulted in the reverse takeover of the Company by Pre-Transaction Syntholene (the ‘Transaction‘) pursuant to the policies of the TSXV Venture Exchange (the ‘TSXV‘).

Final acceptance by the TSXV of the Transaction will occur upon issuance of the final bulletin in respect of the Transaction by the TSXV (the ‘Final Bulletin‘) which is expected on or about December 10, 2025. Subject to issuance of the Final Bulletin, trading on a post-Consolidation (as defined below) basis will commence on the TSXV under the Company’s new name ‘Syntholene Energy Corp.’ and new trading symbol ‘ESAF’ on or about December 12, 2025.

‘This milestone is important and impactful for Syntholene and the broader eFuels sector. Being the first publicly traded pure-play synthetic fuel company on any exchange worldwide sets up Syntholene to build value with shareholders from day one of this new era for high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-negative eFuels.’ said Dan Sutton, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

Syntholene is actively commercializing a new production pathway for low-cost clean fuel synthesis. The target output is ultrapure synthetic jet fuel, manufactured at 70% lower cost than the nearest competing technology. The Company’s mission is to deliver the world’s first truly high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral synthetic fuel at an industrial scale.

Syntholene’s power-to-liquid strategy harnesses thermal energy to power proprietary integrations of hydrogen production and fuel synthesis. Syntholene has secured 20MW of dedicated energy to support the Company’s upcoming demonstration facility and commercial scale-up.

Founded by experienced operators across advanced energy infrastructure, nuclear technology, low-emissions steel refining, process engineering, and capital markets, Syntholene’s mission is to be the first team to deliver a scalable modular production platform for cost-competitive synthetic fuel, thus accelerating the commercialization of carbon-neutral eFuels across global markets.

As part of and in connection with the Transaction:

  • The Company changed its name to ‘Syntholene Energy Corp.’ and consolidated the common shares of the Company (the ‘Shares‘) on the basis of five pre-consolidation common shares for one post-consolidation common share (the ‘Consolidation‘). No fractional Shares were issued as a result of the Consolidation. Fractional Shares equal to or greater than one-half (1/2) were rounded up to the nearest whole number. Fractional Shares equal to less than one-half (1/2) were cancelled without any repayment of capital or other compensation. The new CUSIP number for the post-Consolidation Common Shares is 87170K106 and the new ISIN is CA87170K1066.
  • Pursuant to the Securities Exchange Agreement, the Company acquired all of the securities of Pre-Transaction Syntholene, whereby Pre-Transaction Syntholene became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the securityholders of Pre-Transaction Syntholene received securities of the Company in exchange for their securities of Pre-Transaction Syntholene at an exchange ratio of 5.934 post-Consolidation Shares for each Pre-Transaction Syntholene share (subject to adjustments in accordance with the Securities Exchange Agreement) (the ‘Securities Exchange‘).

Pursuant to the Securities Exchange:

  • the Company issued a total of 53,511,804 post-Consolidation Shares at a deemed price of $0.375 per share and 890,100 Share purchase warrants (‘Warrants‘), with each Warrant exercisable to acquire one post-Consolidation Share at a price of $0.001685 until June 18, 2026;
  • up to 10,750,000 post-Consolidation Shares (the ‘Deferred Consideration Shares‘) are issuable to former shareholders of Pre-Transaction Syntholene upon the completion of certain business milestones in accordance with the Securities Exchange Agreement; and
  • the Company assumed a convertible note in the principal amount of $180,000 with a maturity date of March 30, 2027 and bearing simple interest at a rate of 12.5% per annum, which is convertible into post-Consolidation Shares at a price of $0.30 per share.
  • Pursuant to the amalgamation agreement dated November 18, 2025 (the ‘Amalgamation Agreement‘) among the Company, a special purpose financing vehicle of Syntholene (‘FinCo‘) and a wholly owned subsidiary of GK (‘SubCo‘), the Company acquired all of the securities of Finco by means of a ‘three-cornered amalgamation’, whereby SubCo and Finco amalgamated and continued as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the securityholders of Finco received securities of the Company in exchange for their securities of Finco at an exchange ratio of one post-Consolidation Share for every five FinCo common shares (subject to adjustments in accordance with the Amalgamation Agreement) (the ‘Amalgamation‘).
  • Pursuant to the Amalgamation, the Company issued a total of 9,303,700 post-Consolidation Shares at a deemed price of $0.375 per share to the former shareholders of FinCo.

In connection with the Amalgamation, the Company issued 83,333 post-Consolidation Shares, representing a corporate finance fee, to Canaccord Genuity Corp. and issued an aggregate of 151,886 non-transferable broker Warrants, with each Warrant exercisable to acquire one post-Consolidation Share at a price of $0.375 until December 9, 2027.

  • The Company issued 350,000 post-Consolidation Shares to an arm’s length finder in respect of the Transaction at a deemed price of $0.375 per share.
  • The Company granted an aggregate of 6,195,700 stock options of the Company (‘Options‘), 1,500,000 performance share units of the Company (‘PSUs‘) which are tied to achievement of certain listing milestones described in the Securities Exchange Agreement, and 5,025,000 restricted share units of the Company (‘RSUs‘), all on a post-Consolidation basis, to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company (collectively, the ‘Grants‘), subject to vesting conditions set out in the terms of the Grants and subject to disinterested shareholder approval of the Grants and of the Company’s new omnibus equity incentive plan.
  • The Company entered into an escrow agreement with Odyssey Trust Company and certain directors and officers of the Company providing for the escrow of an aggregate of 35,604,000 Shares, 110,000 Options, 500,000 PSUs, 600,000 RSUs and up to 7,160,265 Deferred Consideration Shares, all on a post-Consolidation basis, to be released on a Tier 2 escrow release schedule in accordance with TSXV policies.
  • An aggregate of 11,868,000 post-Consolidation Shares issued as part of the Securities Exchange will be subject to Seed Share Resale Restrictions (as defined in the TSXV policies), with 20% released on each of the date of the Final Bulletin and the dates that are 3, 6, 9 and 12 months thereafter.

Immediately following the closing of the Transaction, there are approximately 68,949,286 post-Consolidation Shares issued and outstanding.

As part of the Consolidation, shareholders holding physical certificates are required to exchange their existing share certificates for new certificates in accordance with the instructions of the letters of transmittal which will be mailed to them. Other shareholders are not required to take any action with respect to the name change or the Consolidation.

Following the closing of the Transaction (‘Closing‘), the Board of Directors of the Company comprises Daniel Sutton, Alexander Canon Bryan, John Kutsch, Anna Pagliaro and Steve Oldham.

Management of the Company comprises Daniel Sutton (Chief Executive Officer), Grant Tanaka (Chief Financial Officer), Alexander Canon Bryan (Chief Development Officer), John Kutsch (Chief Engineer) and Jennifer Hanson (Corporate Secretary).

The full particulars of the Transaction and the Company are described in the filing statement of the Company dated November 30, 2025 in respect of the Transaction (the ‘Filing Statement‘), which contains the information required pursuant to listing statement requirements under the policies of the TSXV. A copy of the Filing Statement is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company’s issuer profile.

Acquisitions by Daniel Sutton, Alexander Canon Bryan and John Kutsch

As part of and in connection with the Transaction, certain shareholders acquired post-Consolidation Shares pursuant to the Share Exchange and Amalgamation resulting in each of them acquiring more than 10% of the voting securities of the Company, as follows:

  1. Daniel Sutton of Vancouver, British Columbia (‘Sutton‘) acquired 11,868,000 Shares and 375,000 PSUs pursuant to the Securities Exchange, 933,500 Options pursuant to the Grants and may be issued up to 2,386,755 Deferred Consideration Shares;
  2. Alexander Canon Bryan of Vancouver, British Columbia (‘Bryan‘) acquired 11,868,000 Shares and 125,000 PSUs pursuant to the Securities Exchange, and 543,400 Options pursuant to the Grants and may be issued up to 2,386,755 Deferred Consideration Shares; and
  3. John Kutsch of Harvard, Illinois (‘Kutsch‘) acquired 11,868,000 Shares pursuant to the Securities Exchange, 3,715,467 Shares pursuant to the Amalgamation, 100,000 RSUs and 543,400 Options pursuant to the Grants and may be issued up to 2,386,755 Deferred Consideration Shares.

The Shares issued to Sutton, Bryan and Kutsch pursuant to the Share Exchange have a deemed issue price of $0.375 per post-Consolidation Share and an aggregate value of $445,000 for each of them; these Shares were issued in exchange for the Pre-Transaction Syntholene Shares held by each of them. In the case of Kutsch, the Shares he was issued pursuant to the Amalgamation also have a deemed issue price of $0.375 per post-Consolidation Share and an aggregate value of $1,393,000 and were issued in exchange for FinCo common shares that were acquired for cash paid by Kutsch in the same amount. The Grants were made to these individuals in recognition of their services to Pre-Transaction Syntholene and to the Company, and in the case of the PSUs pursuant to the terms of the Share Exchange Agreement. The Options are non-transferrable and have an exercise price of $0.375 per post-Consolidation Share each and are exercisable for three years.

Immediately prior to Closing, each of Sutton, Bryan and Kutsch did not beneficially own, directly or indirectly, any securities of the Company.

Immediately following the Closing, all on a post-Consolidation basis:

  1. Sutton beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 11,868,000 Shares, 933,500 Options and 375,000 PSUs, representing approximately 17.21% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and, assuming the settlement of the 375,000 PSUs into Shares, exercise of the 933,500 Options into Shares and issuance of all 2,386,755 Deferred Consideration Shares (and settlement of all other PSUs and issuance of all other Deferred Consideration Shares issuable pursuant to the Securities Exchange Agreement), approximately 18.95% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a partially diluted basis;
  2. Bryan beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 11,868,000 Shares, 543,400 Options and 125,000 PSUs, representing approximately 17.21% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and, assuming the settlement of the 125,000 PSUs into Shares, exercise of the 543,000 Options into Shares and issuance of all 2,386,755 Deferred Consideration Shares (and settlement of all other PSUs and issuance of all other Deferred Consideration Shares issuable pursuant to the Securities Exchange Agreement), approximately 18.2% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a partially diluted basis; and
  3. Kutsch beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 15,583,467 Shares, 543,400 Options and 100,000 RSUs, representing approximately 22.6% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and, assuming the settlement of the 100,000 RSUs into Shares, exercise of the 543,400 Options into Shares and issuance of all 2,386,755 Deferred Consideration Shares (and settlement of all other PSUs and issuance of all other Deferred Consideration Shares issuable pursuant to the Securities Exchange Agreement), approximately 22.77% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a partially diluted basis.

The securities of the Company held by each of Sutton, Byan and Kutsch are held for investment purposes and were acquired pursuant to the terms of the Share Exchange Agreement and Amalgamation Agreement. Each of Sutton, Byan and Kutsch has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities of the Company either on the open market, through private acquisitions or as compensation or sell the securities on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, general economic and industry conditions, the Company’s business and financial condition, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. Certain securities held by Sutton, Bryan and Kutsch are subject to Tier 2 escrow in accordance with TSXV policies as described in the Filing Statement.

A copy of each of Sutton, Bryan and Kutsch’s early warning report will be filed on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and may also be requested by mail at Syntholene Energy Corp. Suite 1723, 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V7X 1J1, Attention: Corporate Secretary or phone at 604-684-6730.

The Shares and PSU issued, as applicable, and the Deferred Consideration Shares issuable, to Sutton, Bryan and Kutsch are not subject to minority approval or valuation requirements under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘MI 61-101‘) as each of them were arm’s length parties to the Company prior to completion of the Share Exchange and Amalgamation. The following Grants were made on Closing of the Transaction to certain directors and officers of the Company: (i) Sutton was issued 933,500 Options, (ii) Bryan was issued 543,400 Options, (iii) Kutsch was issued 100,000 RSUs subject to Tier 2 TSXV escrow and 543,400 Options, (iv) Grant Tanaka was issued 300,000 RSUs subject to Tier 2 TSXV escrow, (v) Anna Pagliaro was issued 100,000 RSUs subject to Tier 2 TSXV escrow, (vi) Steve Oldham was issued 50,000 Options, and (vii) Jen Hanson was issued 100,000 RSUs subject to Tier 2 TSXV escrow (collectively, the ‘Related Party Grants‘). The Related Party Grants are exempt from the valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to paragraph 5.5(b) as the Company is not listed on a specified market. The Related Party Grants are exempt from the minority approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to paragraph 5.7(1)(a) and the fair market value of each of the Related Party Grants is not more than 25% of the market capitalization of the Company and the time of grant. The Related Party Grants remain subject to disinterested shareholder approval under TSXV policies, and shall not vest or be exercisable until such approval is obtained.

Investor Relations and Market-Making Services

Pre-Transaction Syntholene entered into an investor relations agreement dated August 28, 2025 (the ‘Kin Agreement‘) with Kin Communications Inc. (‘Kin‘), a full-service investor relations agency specializing in the junior mining exploration and development sector (Suite 100 – 736 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1G3). Pre-Transaction Syntholene engaged Kin to provide investor relations services until August 28, 2026 (the ‘Kin Initial Term‘), after which the Kin Agreement will continue on a month-to-month basis unless otherwise agreed by Pre-Transaction Syntholene and Kin. Pre-Transaction Syntholene will pay and grant to Kin (i) a monthly fee of $15,000, (ii) $500 for each day each employee of Kin attends a conference or event on behalf of Pre-Transaction Syntholene which falls on a weekend or holiday or which exceeds a total five business days per calendar quarter and (iii) 500,000 post-Consolidation Options at an exercise price of $0.375 per post-consolidation Share until December 9, 2028. The Kin Agreement may be terminated by Pre-Transaction Syntholene or Kin (i) for breach of the Kin Agreement and (ii) following the Kin Initial Term, by providing 30 days prior notice to the other party. Kin and its principal, John Arlen Hansen, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 500,000 post-Consolidation Options. Kin is arm’s-length to the Company and is not engaged in market-making activities.

Pre-Transaction Syntholene entered into a client services agreement dated November 15, 2025 (the ‘SmallCap Agreement‘) with SmallCap Communications Inc. (‘SmallCap‘), a full-service investor marketing firm for public companies (306-310 Water Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B2). Pre-Transaction Syntholene engaged SmallCap to provide digital marketing services until the earlier of (i) November 15, 2026 and (ii) the date that the costs associated with the provision of services exceeds the compensation thereunder. Pre-Transaction Syntholene will pay to SmallCap an aggregate of $300,000, of which $150,000 is payable on each of (i) Closing and (ii) January 8, 2026. SmallCap and its principal, Rebecca Kerswell, do not beneficially own, directly or indirectly, any securities of the Company. SmallCap is arm’s-length to the Company and is not engaged in market-making activities.

Pre-Transaction Syntholene entered into an investor relations agreement dated December 1, 2025 (the ‘Milestone Agreement‘) with Milestone Capital Partners (‘Milestone‘), a consultancy firm (IFZA Business Park, DDP, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai, United Arab Emirates). Pre-Transaction Syntholene engaged Milestone to provide marketing and other investor relations services. Pre-Transaction Syntholene will pay and grant to Milestone (i) a fee of €260,000 and (ii) 500,000 post-Consolidation Options at an exercise price of $0.375 per Post-Consolidation Share until December 9, 2028. The term of the Milestone Agreement is for 12 months and may be terminated by (i) Pre-Transaction Syntholene for breach of the Milestone Agreement and (ii) Pre-Transaction Syntholene or Milestone by providing 14 days prior notice to the other party. Milestone and its principal, Christian Klingebiel, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, an aggregate of 503,096 Shares and 500,000 Options, all on a post-Consolidation basis. Milestone is arm’s-length to the Company and is not engaged in market-making activities.

Pre-Transaction Syntholene entered into an issuer trading services agreement dated November 20, 2025 (the ‘GIACP Agreement‘) with Generation IACP Inc. (‘GIACP‘), pursuant to which GIACP will provide the Company with certain issuer trading services, including trading the Shares with the objective of contributing to market liquidity of the Shares and providing periodic reporting of the market trading activity of the Shares. The services will be provided on the TSXV or such other stock exchange in Canada as the Resulting Issuer Shares shall be traded on from time to time. GIACP will commit its own funds to purchase the Shares and may act as agent for others to do so. As consideration, Pre-Transaction Syntholene will pay to GIACP a monthly fee of $8,500 with such fee subject to a 3% increase on each anniversary of the GIACP Agreement. The initial term of the GIACP is until May 9, 2026, subject to automatic renewals for subsequent six-month terms. Pre-Transaction Syntholene may terminate the GIACP Agreement with 30 days written notice and GIACP may terminate the GIACP Agreement at any time with written notice.

GIACP and its principals do not beneficially own, directly or indirectly, any securities of the Company, and GIACP is an arm’s length party to the Company

The Company intends to continue the engagements with Kin, SmallCap, Milestone Capital and GIACP following Closing. Certain proceeds of the concurrent financing completed in connection with the Transaction will be used towards investor relations, marketing and communications expenses.

About Syntholene Energy Corp.

Syntholene is actively commercializing a new production pathway for low-cost clean fuel synthesis. The target output is ultrapure synthetic jet fuel, manufactured at 70% lower cost than the nearest competing technology. The Company’s mission is to deliver the world’s first truly high-performance, low-cost, and carbon-neutral synthetic fuel at an industrial scale.

Syntholene’s power-to-liquid strategy harnesses thermal energy to power proprietary integrations of hydrogen production and fuel synthesis. Syntholene has secured 20MW of dedicated energy to support the Company’s upcoming demonstration facility and commercial scale-up.

Founded by experienced operators across advanced energy infrastructure, nuclear technology, low-emissions steel refining, process engineering, and capital markets, Syntholene’s mission is to be the first team to deliver a scalable modular production platform for cost-competitive synthetic fuel, thus accelerating the commercialization of carbon-neutral eFuels across global markets.

Contact Information: For more information and to sign-up to the mailing list, please contact:

Dan Suttton
Chief Executive Officer
Tel: 604-684-6730
Email: comms@syntholene.com

Certain information set forth in this news release contains ‘forward‐looking statements’ and ‘forward‐looking information’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and applicable United States securities laws (referred to herein as forward‐looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward‐looking statements which includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the final acceptance of the Transaction by the TSXV and the intended use of the available funds.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘potential’, ‘estimate’, ‘budget’, ‘scheduled’, ‘plans’, ‘planned’, ‘forecasts’, ‘goals’ and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include without limitation statements regarding the Company’s plans for development of its business, plans for commercialization, plans for a facility, expected benefits of synthetic fuel, capitalization, performance of the Company and its products relative to competitors, investor relations and marketing, use of proceeds of the concurrent financing, and other statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of factors and assumptions made by management and considered reasonable at the time such information is provided. Assumptions and factors include without limitation: the integration of the Company and Pre-Transaction Syntholene following Closing, and realization of benefits therefrom; the Company’s ability to carry out the business plan of the resulting issuer, including but not limited to an effects-test and commercial scaleup targeting deployment in Q4 2025; market acceptance of the Company’s products; efficacy of the synthetic fuel; the use of available funds; and the Company’s ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance operations. Forward‐looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks related to the listing on the TSXV, including, but not limited to, the ability to obtain necessary approvals in respect of the listing; integration risks; risks relating to the operation of a public company; and general business, economic and competitive uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

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. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward‐looking statements if circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are presented for the purposes of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s plans, objectives and goals, including with respect to the Transaction, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward‐looking statements. Additional risks impacting the Company and its business are described in the Filing Statement and should be reviewed.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act‘) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Neither 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.

Source

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First Class Metals PLC (‘First Class Metals’, ‘FCM’ or the ‘Company’) the UK listed company focused on the discovery of economic metal deposits across its exploration properties in Ontario, Canada, is pleased to announce that the drilling on the North Hemlo property, whilst currently paused, will recommence next week.

Highlights

  • Nine drillholes completed across the Dead Otter trend, marking strong progress in the Company’s maiden programme on this property.
  • Four priority target areas tested along the 3.5 km trend, providing early geological coverage across multiple prospective zones.
  • Approximately 200 core samples dispatched to the Thunder Bay laboratory for assay analysis.
  • Drilling to recommence next week to complete the planned programme
  • Several logged intersections exhibit visually encouraging geological features, consistent with the Company’s exploration model and supporting the decision to advance drilling. A video of a representative cut core section displaying multiple deformed structures, contact, clasts veining and sulphide mineralisation is available via the link below.

https://firstclassmetalsplc.com/link/yOO9ky

Marc J. Sale CEO First Class Metals commented:

‘To date, the maiden drill programme on the Dead Otter trend has been both technically and logistically successful, particularly given the inclement as well as challenging weather conditions. The Emerald Geological Services team has executed the plan efficiently, and early indications from the core are encouraging.

While assays will ultimately determine the significance of these intervals, the geological features observed to date reinforce our confidence in the Dead Otter trend as a compelling gold target within the North Hemlo Project. We look forward to receiving the first assay results in the New Year and to completing the balance of the programme before the Christmas break.’

Location & Strategic Context

The North Hemlo Project is situated within the world-class Hemlo Greenstone Belt, a district that has produced more than 23 million ounces of gold since discovery. In early December 2025, Barrick Gold Corporation completed the sale of its Hemlo Mine to Hemlo Mining Corporation (‘HMC‘) in a transaction valued at up to US$1.09 billion. That transaction signaled a renewed and focused investment into the Hemlo district and reflects continued interest in evaluating the region’s exploration potential. First Class Metals’ Dead Otter trend lies contiguous with HMC’s regional exploration holdings.

A map of a large area AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Figure 1 showing the Dead Otter trend with locations of the initial 6 drillholes which are logged and sampled. Also shown are the VLF grids and positions of significant grab samples

NH 2025 DDH Collars

Hole_ID

Easting

Northing

Elevation

Az_deg

Dip_deg

NH-25-01

591566

5410975

366

10

-45

NH-25-02

591566

5410975

366

10

-70

NH-25-03

591542

5410973

367

10

-45

NH-25-04

591542

5410973

367

10

-70

NH-25-05

589167

5412220

416

25

-45

NH-25-06

589161

5412198

420

25

-45

The initial drillholes targeted the location of the previously reported 19.6 g/t high grade Au grab sample, as well as zones of pronounced structural deformation (‘messed up rocks’) delineated in mapping conducted by Professor Mary Louise Hill (Professor Emerita, Lakehead University). These areas represent key focal points of gold anomalism and structural complexity along the trend.

A person wearing gloves holding a pipe AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Figure 2 showing a section of uncut core from the Dead Otter trend displaying sulphides which could indicate potential mineralisation.

Figure 3 showing cut core displaying quartz veining and course pyrite.

A second target area, including the site of the 2.3 g/t Au sample and the interpreted granite contact, has also been tested with two additional holes.

Emerald Geological Services (‘EGS‘) continue to oversee and manage all drill-site geological operations, including core logging, sampling, and photography at their Manitouwadge facility.

The drilling contract minimum of 700m drilling will be surpassed at the completion of the programme.

Given the seasonal volume of samples being processed across the region, combined with the Christmas-New Year period, assay turnaround times are difficult to estimate accurately at this stage.

Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (‘ESG’)

FCM takes its ESG responsibilities seriously and this attitude is imparted to all contracted personnel. The Company is proud that Rugged Aviation, the drill contractor, as well as EGS, are taking this responsibility seriously to in ensuring that drill sites, as much as feasible are left in an environmentally responsible state.

Figure 4 showing drill holes 01 and 02, cleared before drilling and after drilling completed and the rig moved.

ENDS

Qualified Person

The technical disclosures contained in this announcement have been drafted in line with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum standards and guidelines and approved by Marc J. Sale, who has more than 30 years in the gold exploration industry and is considered a Qualified person owing to his status as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

For Further Information:

Engage with us by asking questions, watching video summaries, and seeing what other shareholders have to say. Navigate to our Interactive Investor hub here: https://firstclassmetalsplc.com/link/yOO9ky

For further information, please contact:

James Knowles, Executive Chair
Email: JamesK@Firstclassmetalsplc.com
Tel: 07488 362641

Marc J Sale, CEO and Executive Director
Email: MarcS@Firstclassmetalsplc.com
Tel: 07711 093532

AlbR Capital Limited (Financial Adviser)
David Coffman/Dan Harris

Website: www.albrcapital.com
Tel: (0)20 7469 0930

Axis Capital Markets (Broker)
Lewis Jones

Website: Axcap247.com
Tel: (0)203 026 0449

First Class Metals PLC Background

First Class Metals listed on the LSE in July 2022 and is focused on metals exploration in Ontario, Canada which has a robust and thriving junior mineral exploration sector. In particular, the Hemlo ‘camp’ near Marathon, Ontario is a proven world class address for gold exploration, featuring the Hemlo gold deposit previously operated by Barrick Mining (>23M oz gold produced), with the past producing Geco and Winston Lake base metal deposits also situated in the region.

FCM currently holds 100% ownership of seven claim blocks covering over 250km² in north west Ontario. A further three blocks are under option and cover an additional 30km2.FCM is focussed on exploring for gold, but has base metals and critical metals mineralisation. FCM is maintaining a joint venture with GT Resources on the West Pickle Lake Property, a drill-proven ultra-high-grade Ni-Cu project.

The flagship properties, North Hemlo and Sunbeam, are gold focussed. North Hemlo has a significant discovery in the Dead Otter trend which is a discontinuous 3.5km gold anomalous trend with a 19.6g/t Au peak grab sample. This sampling being the highest known assay from a grab sample ever recorded on the North Limb of Hemlo.

In October 2022 FCM completed the option to purchase the historical high-grade past-producing Sunbeam gold mine near Atikokan, Ontario, ~15 km southeast of Agnico Eagle’s Hammond Reef gold deposit (3.3 Moz of open pit probable gold reserves).

FCM acquired the Zigzag Project near Armstrong, Ontario in March 2023. The property features Li-Ta-bearing pegmatites in the same belt as Green Technology Metals’ Seymour Lake Project, which contains a Mineral Resource estimate of 9.9 Mt @ 1.04% Li2O. Zigzag was successfully drilled prior to Christmas 2023.

The Kerrs Gold property, acquired under option by First Class Metals in April 2024, is located in northeastern Ontario within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the world’s most prolific gold-producing regions. The project holds a historical inferred resource of approximately 386,000 ounces of gold, underscoring its potential as a meaningful addition to FCM’s expanding gold portfolio. Kerrs Gold complements the Company’s exploration strategy and provides exposure to a well-established mining district. FCM is currently reviewing plans to advance the project and further unlock its value.

The significant potential of the properties for precious, base and battery metals relates to ‘nearology’, since all properties lie in the same districts as known deposits (Hemlo, Hammond Reef, Seymour Lake), and either contain known showings, geochemical or geophysical anomalies, or favourable structures along strike from known showings (e.g. the Esa project, with an inferred Hemlo-style shear along strike from known gold occurrences).

For further information see the Company’s presentation on the web site:

www.firstclassmetalsplc.com

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement may contain forward-looking statements which are based on the Company’s expectations, intentions and projections regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as ‘aim’, ‘anticipate’, ‘target’, ‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘goal’, ‘believe’, or other words of similar meaning. These statements are not guarantees of statements. Given these risks future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking and uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles and ordered them returned to the control of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

The order, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, is a blow to the Trump administration, and comes six months after the president in June deployed thousands of federalized National Guard troops to the city in response to a wave of immigration protests.

Breyer on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s claim that the demonstrations in Los Angeles amount to a ‘rebellion’ sufficient to justify the president’s continued deployment of National Guard troops in the city under U.S.C. Section 12406, which allows a sitting president to call up or federalize National Guard troops during instances of a foreign invasion or in instances when the president is ‘unable to execute the law.’

Breyer said in the 35-page order that the deployment runs ‘contrary to law’ and risks ‘creating a national police force made up of state troops.’ 

‘The founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balance,’ Breyer said Wednesday. ‘Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one.’

White House officials told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that they looked forward to ‘ultimate victory’ on the issue, suggesting they are likely to appeal the order to a higher court for review. 

‘President Trump exercised his lawful authority to deploy National Guard troops to support federal officers and assets following violent riots that local leaders like ‘Newscum’ refused to stop,’ White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in response to the ruling. ‘We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue.’

Breyer, the brother of retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, had issued a temporary restraining order in June blocking Trump’s National Guard deployment from immediately taking effect in California. 

That order was quickly stayed by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and Trump ultimately deployed roughly 5,000 troops in Los Angeles over the summer, as the protests continued, including 4,000 California National Guard troops and roughly 700 U.S. Marines.

‘Six months after they first federalized the California National Guard, Defendants still retain control of approximately 300 Guardsmen, despite no evidence that execution of federal law is impeded in any way—let alone significantly,’ Breyer said Wednesday.

In anticipation of another appeal, Breyer stayed the new preliminary injunction from taking force through Dec. 15.  

The new order comes as Trump’s National Guard deployment has sparked fierce backlash from officials from California and other Democratic-led states where Trump launched similar federalization efforts this year, including Oregon and Illinois. 

Newsom, who immediately sued to block the effort in his state, has continued to assail the effort as both unprecedented and illegal. 

Senior Trump administration officials have argued that the deployment is a necessary step to crack down on what they say is an uptick in violent crime and protect against threats from protesters, including anti-ICE demonstrations in many downtown areas, including Los Angeles.


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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is coming under fire for allegedly becoming ‘one of the biggest engines driving woke corporate America’ amid the Trump administration’s battle to strip diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the fabric of industry and government, a conservative watchdog alleges. 

‘Once a voice for small businesses and Main Street, the Chamber now advocates for DEI mandates, (environmental, social and governance) investment schemes, and radical climate policies that punish consumers,’ said Will Hild, the executive director of Consumers’ Research, a free-market-oriented nonprofit focused on consumer advocacy. 

ESG is an investing framework focused on prioritizing environmental, social and governance investments.

‘They have strayed far from their original mission of advocating for free markets in favor of a political agenda,’ he continued. ‘Now, that the Chamber has made itself a leader in pushing woke policies in corporate boardrooms, it should come as no surprise that they are also supporting legislation to cripple litigation finance, one of the few tools consumers have to hold woke corporations accountable for pushing political ideology. Consumers’ Research will continue to call out organizations like the Chamber for pushing a woke agenda.’ 

Hild’s comments come as Consumers’ Research published a ‘Woke Alert’ this week accusing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of being ‘totally woke, pushing DEI and a left-wing climate agenda.’

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a business association that represents and lobbies for the interests of local and national companies in Washington, D.C., and operates in a nonpartisan manner. The chamber has received praise and criticism from both Republicans and Democrats across the years for its various politically focused initiatives. 

Consumers’ Research, as part of its mission to strip ‘woke’ ideology from the fabric of American businesses, publishes ‘Woke Alerts’ sounding the alarm on practices the group views as harmful to consumers or serving ‘woke politicians.’ The latest alert focuses on the Chamber of Commerce’s promotion of DEI initiatives, as well as prioritizing ‘a radical climate agenda.’ 

The alert pointed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website stating that ‘diversity is America’s strength’ in its mission to remove DEI initiatives, which conservatives argue promotes group-based preferences and ideological conformity over individual merit, free speech and equal treatment. 

‘Diversity is America’s strength, spurring the innovation and creativity that have made the U.S. economy the most vibrant and dynamic in history,’ the Chamber’s website declares. ‘When businesses recognize and embrace different perspectives, they are better able to create value, serve customers, support employees, and solve problems. By providing opportunities for everyone, businesses help lift communities and strengthen the health, prosperity, and competitiveness of our nation and our society.’ 

The Chamber’s push on DEI came as such race-based workplace initiatives were promoted from the highest echelons of industry down to grade school classrooms in the 2020 era, especially after the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, when ‘defund the police’ and Black Lives Matter dominated the news cycle with protests and riots. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was among the flood of industries that heightened their promotion DEI policies, including the Chamber reporting in a 2021 video that Floyd’s death helped spark its launch of the ‘Equality of Opportunity Initiative.’ 

Fox News Digital reviewed archived links to the Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Equality of Opportunity Initiative’ and found that it focused on efforts to ‘develop real, sustainable solutions to help close race-based opportunity gaps in six key areas: education, employment, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, health, and wealth.’

The link to the former website page redirects users to the chamber’s website homepage, with archived links showing the race-based URL was still active in January. The chamber launched the effort in June 2020, just days after Floyd’s death. 

‘This work is a priority for the chamber and our members because as we all know its not just a moral imperative, it’s an economic imperative,’ U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark said in 2021 during the 2nd Annual National Summit on Equality of Opportunity of DEI practices. 

Consumers’ Research also flagged the chamber’s 2022 impact report, which said it helped deliver $8.1 million in race-based grants to 1,414 Black-owned small businesses across 42 states. The alert also noted that the chamber has promoted reading materials such as a 2021 guide on DEI, and publicly supported the ‘Equality Act’ in 2021 — legislation Consumers’ Research described as ‘radical’ and claimed would ‘enshrine in federal law a right for males to participate in women’s sports and lead to the punishment of small business owners based on their religious beliefs.’

When asked about the Woke Alert, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce took issue with Hild arguing that the business group is ‘supporting legislation to cripple litigation finance,’ which Hild said ‘is one of the few tools consumers have to hold woke corporations accountable for pushing political ideology.’ 

‘It is sad this organization has become a mouthpiece for trial lawyers whose tactics have imposed a stealth tax on American families who are paying up to $4,200 extra a year for insurance, food, clothing and other items as a result of sham lawsuits that only line the pockets of trial lawyers,’ Stephen Waguespack, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, said. ‘These lawyers, who donate overwhelmingly to progressive causes and candidates, and those who align with them, are undermining President Trump’s efforts to lower costs for American families.’

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports a Republican-introduced bill, the Litigation Transparency Act of 2025, which aims to ensure greater transparency in litigation by requiring parties receiving payment in lawsuits to disclose their identities. 

Consumers’ Research has used litigation finance in recent years to push back against ‘woke capitalism’ to counter ESG and DEI policies, Fox News Digital previously reported, with Hild saying that he views the legislation as an ‘attack’ on one of the ‘few tools Americans have to hold powerful, woke corporations accountable.’

The new criticisms land as President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office in January marked an end to DEI initiatives at the federal level and set off a sweeping effect on private industries as well.

Trump has moved to systematically unwind DEI programs across the federal government, signing a pair of executive orders in January that direct agencies to identify and shut down DEI offices, terminate equity-focused grants and contracts, and scrap long-standing affirmative action-style requirements for federal contractors in favor of what the White House calls ‘colorblind’ merit based rules.

While Consumers’ Research is now attacking the chamber from the right, the organization has previously faced scrutiny from Democrats as well. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., led the charge in a 2019 letter demanding the group ‘accept that human-caused climate change is real and warrants immediate action,’ claiming the chamber ‘marshaled considerable lobbying resources on behalf’ of companies working to ‘oppose congressional, executive, and judicial actions that would meaningfully address climate change,’ according to the letter.

The Chamber has been lauded by other prominent U.S. leaders, such as former President Barack Obama in 2011, when he thanked the group for pushing Congress on infrastructure investments. He said during an address focused on resetting relations with corporate America following the recession that had rocked the U.S. that the White House and the Chamber ‘must work together’ on the economy.

Consumers’ Research also knocked the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over its climate agenda, saying the group has paired its DEI push with aggressive environmental goals. A 2023 blog post on the chamber’s website titled ‘Fostering a Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Future’ promoted prioritizing and working with ‘diverse suppliers’ to strengthen businesses.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference earlier in 2025, which the Trump administration effectively boycotted by not sending a delegation to the annual conference. Instead, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom attended the event in the federal government’s absence, where he took shots at Trump for his environmental policies. 

‘Our climate is changing and humans are contributing to these changes. Inaction is simply not an option,’ the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website. ‘Combating climate change will require citizens, government, and business to work together. American businesses play a vital role in creating innovative solutions to protect our planet.’ 

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report. 


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Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania condemned an attack against Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination shocked the world earlier this year.

‘It’s gross and dehumanizing to attack a widow with young children after just witnessing his public assassination,’ the senator noted in a post on X.

‘It shouldn’t be controversial to put our political views aside and extend the grace for a deeply traumatized family to grieve,’ he added.

He made the comments when sharing a screenshot of a Fox News Digital article headline that read, ‘Liberal podcaster labels widow Erika Kirk a ‘grifter’ who should be ‘kicked to the curb.”

‘This woman should be kicked to the curb,’ Jennifer Welch said on her ‘I’ve Had It’ podcast. ‘She is an absolute grifter, just like Donald Trump, and just like her unrepentant, racist, homophobic husband was,’ she said of Erika Kirk.

Jennifer Welch says

GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who is running for governor, responded to Fetterman’s post by thanking the senator.

Fox News Channel political analyst Gianno Caldwell expressed full agreement with Fetterman’s comments.

Charlie Kirk wanted

Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University in September. He and his wife Erika had two children.


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Commanding hundreds of billions of dollars in market capitalization globally, stablecoins have exploded around the world, with total market cap pushing past US$308 billion as of December 8, 2025.

Stablecoins now facilitate over US$4 trillion in annual transaction volume. Functioning as efficient digital cash on blockchain rails, they offer solutions for payments, remittances and decentralized finance (DeFi).

This amazing growth was largely fueled by the US passing the GENIUS Act in July 2025. Since then, Tether’s (USDT) market cap has grown by over 30 percent to more than US$185 billion. Meanwhile, its main competitor, Circle’s (NYSE:CRCL) USDC, has surged to surpass US$78 billion.

Enter QCAD, Canada’s pioneering regulated digital token, serviced by Stablecorp Digital Currencies. With backing from Coinbase Ventures, Circle Ventures, Side Door Ventures and DeFi Technologies, QCAD is positioning itself to bridge traditional finance and blockchain for Canadian institutions.

What is QCAD?

QCAD is a digital token pegged 1:1 to the Canadian dollar, with reserves held at regulated financial institutions under the QCAD Digital Trust.

Like other stablecoins, QCAD aims to bridge traditional financial institutions and modern blockchain networks by providing interoperable and secure digital rails. It offers institutional-grade infrastructure to facilitate transactions and digital asset operations.

The strategy proved prescient. When Canadian regulators finally approved stablecoin standards, QCAD’s architecture aligned almost perfectly with expectations.

The service’s primary users are fintech companies and exchanges. Qualified holders can access and use QCAD through a growing network of authorized channels, which include regulated crypto trading platforms (CTPs), fintech APIs and institutional custody providers.

QCAD’s architecture wasn’t built in isolation – Stablecorp deliberately populated its cap table with industry leaders to learn from their experiences and avoid repeating mistakes.

“We learn from (our partners) every day. We talk to them on an ongoing basis, and we try to learn from their strengths and learn from some of the challenges that they have. For example, the USDC from Circle…is a really good model reference test that I think is going to inform a lot of decisions that we make going forward.

“I don’t look at QCAD as a competitor to USDC,” he added. “It really is a complementary product. When you think of use cases like FX, you can take one USDC and exchange it for a corresponding amount of QCAD. You can do that with no friction, with much lower spreads than the big banks would charge and (with) immediate settlement.”

This interoperability is a use case that benefits both tokens rather than cannibalizing one.

QCAD’s regulatory journey

QCAD represents a major development in Canada’s digital money infrastructure, receiving full compliance in November 2025 from the CSA following years of regulatory collaboration.

To achieve this milestone, Stablecorp’s six-year infrastructure build included creating a trust to hold reserves at regulated banks, securing exemptive relief from inapplicable securities rules and committing to monthly reserve attestations plus annual audits, all filed publicly on SEDAR+. Stablecorp has also partnered with exchanges to list QCAD publicly.

Additionally, one of the company’s key investors, DeFi Technologies, made a strategic investment to scale QCAD and develop CAD-linked products like ETPs in September 2025, positioning it for payments, treasury and e-commerce use cases under Canada’s (Retail Payment Activities Act (RPAA) regulations.

QCAD is also working to safeguard its transactions from future threats. While the full capability of post-quantum computing isn’t here yet, QCAD is being proactive by working with partners like BTQ to implement the Quantum Stablecoin Settlement Network to ensure its transactions have world-class, future-proof security against eventual quantum threats.

“My sense is that post-quantum computing is not quite here yet. And we’re thrilled to be working with partners to actually make sure that as it becomes more real, we absolutely leverage it. (Our goal is) to have a security profile that is as strong and world-class as we can. We’re just thrilled to be working with really good partners to help us get that done.”

Recently, the Ontario Securities Commission exempted QCAD from the underwriter certificate requirements under National Instrument 41-101, which was followed by the final prospectus approval from all CSA provinces on November 24, officially launching QCAD as the first compliant CAD token. The project is now focused on the rollout to exchanges and building liquidity integrations.

Compliance and the non-security security

The regulatory status and approval process of QCAD have influenced the pace and scope of its adoption by companies as users.

QCAD operates under Canada’s unique interim stablecoin framework, requiring issuers to file a prospectus under securities laws while awaiting federal payment-focused rules.

A rigorous approval process, while essential for compliance, creates a high bar for legitimate issuers and users.

“I call us a non-security security,” said Desgagné. “Basically, we comply with all the requirements of the security regulators without (labelling ourselves) as a security.”

This clever regulatory workaround allows Stablecorp to proceed under the existing CSA framework. In order for companies to use or integrate QCAD, they must also be registered or authorized as crypto trading platforms (CTPs) or financial entities that comply with Canadian securities and fintech regulations themselves.

“By having the provincial regulators get their framework out and have us approved under it, it eliminates the key barrier that we had, which is that CTPs were basically not allowed to have these on their platform in Canada unless they were approved by the OSC. Now that the securities commission (has) approved it, our CTPs (can) have QCAD listed. That was a huge barrier.”

Regulatory overlap and the path to unification

Beyond securities regulation, QCAD must navigate Canada’s RPAA, the framework governing payment service providers. The Bank of Canada recently enacted RPAA Phase 1, creating potential overlap and ambiguity around how stablecoins fit into the payments infrastructure. The regulatory intent, however, appears aligned.

“We’re encouraged that the Bank of Canada will supervise this Stablecoin Act as well as the Payments Act, because that creates much more opportunity to bring the two together. There are no barriers that prevent us from using stablecoins in payment-related use cases. And we intend to move forward doing that.”

Legislation expected in 2026 will aim to unify rules nationwide, treating stablecoins as payments, not just securities.

“The challenge that we have in Canada is we’re moving towards what I call a three-regulator regime, which is not ideal. The securities regulators claim jurisdiction over this space. The federal government has published its Stablecoin Act, which still needs to be passed by Parliament and proclaimed. And the banks are completely exempted from the Stablecoin Act. So how you reconcile these three regimes and end up with one coherent framework is one of the outstanding issues.”

Budget 2025 attempts to clear a path for DeFi to scale legally nationwide without provincial patchwork, with a two-year, C$10 million commitment to the Bank of Canada for stablecoin oversight, as well as proposed amendments to the RPAA to explicitly cover stablecoin payments.

The bottom line

Stablecorp’s leadership sees stablecoins as foundational infrastructure enabling broader digitization.

As federal regulation takes shape in Canada alongside maturing provincial frameworks, QCAD will become a testbed for how digital rails can replace legacy settlement systems.

“I fundamentally believe that capital markets and, by extension, the economy will at some point go fully digitized,” said Desgagné. “That doesn’t happen until we build in digital land all of the boring financial market infrastructure that we have in what I call analog land: transparent, regulated exchanges, clear payment mechanisms, price discovery, good custody, etc. A stablecoin is a really powerful part of that.”

The real impact won’t be measured in token volume, but in how many transactions can settle instantly, how many barriers to entry fall away, and how many previously excluded participants gain access to financial infrastructure.

“If I want to digitize the stock exchange, where I can sell you 100 shares of Apple, and you can pay me immediately in QCAD, it eliminates the need for stock exchanges, clearing houses, collateral, T+1 settlement, margins…all of that stuff goes away. That’s just one example; banking unbanked people and making FX easier (are two more).”

Ultimately, QCAD is not just a digital token, but a pioneering test case for how regulated stablecoins can serve as the foundational digital infrastructure to eliminate legacy barriers and drive the full digitization of Canada’s capital markets and economy.

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

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(TheNewswire)

Angkor Resources Corp.

GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALBERTA (December 10, 2025): Angkor Resources Corp. (TSXV: ANK,OTC:ANKOF) (‘ANGKOR’ OR ‘THE COMPANY’) announces an additional gold target, named CZ Gol d on the west side of the Canada Wall prospect on the Andong Meas exploration license in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia.

Angkor’s mineral exploration team has identified a gold target based on physical workings from a tunnel on the west side of the river running through the Andong Meas license. A quartz stockwork with an apparent thickness of 30 metres was mapped in the tunnel. The stockwork tended to have a northwest strike.   The target consists of multiple shallow trenches and one 47-metre-long tunnel excavated by artisanal miners. The tunnel is located on a steep slope and at the end of the tunnel, the artisanal miners drove a raise to surface following several veins.

Dennis Ouellette, VP Exploration, describes the CZ Gold  Prospect and historical work from over a decade  ago, ‘ In 2012, three holes were drilled with collars about 70 metres apart. The first hole was collared immediately outside the adit and was drilled in the same direction as the tunnel. None of the holes intersected the quartz stockwork zone but they did core immediately into a granite bereft of mafic minerals and containing abundant miarolytic cavities. The granite is likely an alaskite type granite. The holes also cored thick and frequent bands of ‘bucky’ quartz (a coarsely crystallized, non-laminating quartz). ‘  Dennis further clarified that although alaskite and bucky quartz do not host gold deposits per say, they are frequently found in close proximity to gold deposits.

Figure 1 Inside the CZ Gold tunnel showing vein and stockwork and adit.

The team uses the rainy season, generally from June to November, to review all prospects, samples, assays, and core from the prospects on each license.  As part of that exercise and with the spike in gold over the past year, analysis took place on all gold prospects, including those close to copper porphyry systems such as the Canada Wall prospect.   In this case, historical workings from artisanal miners were part of the annual review.


Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2 Nugget in the palm of Mike Weeks, recovered from panning material from CZ Gold tunnel in a small stream directly below CZ Gold Prospect

The Company intends to conduct a surface trenching and sampling program in Q1 of 2026 on this gold target to determine the setting and orientation of the quartz stockwork. Once this has been established, a follow up diamond drill program can be planned.

Angkor also acknowledges a restart in the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in the northwest quadrant of Cambodia.   Evacuations of near-border communities and school closures have occurred as the conflict continues.   Although the oil project Block VIII is in the far south of Cambodia, and the Andong Meas mineral license is far to the east of the conflict, management is carefully monitoring the Andong Bor license and no work is being done there at this time._  Safety is imperative for staff and personnel so any activities in the northwest are on hold until further notice.

QUALIFIED PERSON:

Dennis Ouellette, B.Sc., P.Geo., is a member of The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA #104257) and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 (‘NI 43-101’). He is the Company’s VP Exploration on site and has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this document.

ABOUT Angkor Resources CORPORATION:

Angkor Resources Corp. is a public company, listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange, and is a leading resource optimizer in Cambodia working towards mineral and energy solutions across Canada and Cambodia.

The company’s mineral subsidiary, Angkor Gold Corp. in Cambodia holds two mineral exploration licenses in Cambodia with multiple prospects in copper and gold.  Both licenses are in their first two-year renewal term.

Its Cambodian energy subsidiary, EnerCam Resources, was granted an onshore oil and gas license of 7300 square kilometres in the southwest quadrant of Cambodia called Block VIII.   The company then removed all parks and protected areas and added 220 square kilometres, making the license area just over 4095 square kilometres.  EnerCam is actively advancing oil and gas exploration activities onshore to meet its mission to prove Cambodia as an oil and gas producing Nation.

Since 2022, Angkor’s Canadian subsidiary, EnerCam Exploration Ltd., has been involved in oil and gas production in Saskatchewan, Canada with measures of gas capture to reduce emissions.  ANGKOR’s carbon capture and gas conservation project is part of its long-term commitment to Environmental and Social projects and cleaner energy solutions across jurisdictions.

CONTACT: Delayne Weeks – CEO

Email:- info@angkorresources.com Website: angkor resources.com Telephone: +1 (780) 831-8722

Please follow @AngkorResources on , , , Instagram and .

Neither 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.

_____________________________________

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to the potential for gold and/or other minerals at any of the Company’s properties, the prospective nature of any claims comprising the Company’s property interests, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals, uncertainty of sample results, timing and results o f future exploration, and the availability of financing.

Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

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This article has been disseminated on behalf of LaFleur Minerals Inc . and may include a paid advertisement.

MiningNewsWire Editorial Coverage : The period when a mining company advances from pure exploration into the early stages of production is often one of the most advantageous entry points for investors. This transition, when a company moves from discovery to the potential for meaningful cash flow, frequently marks a powerful value rerating. Companies that successfully navigate this development stage typically reduce operational risk, demonstrate tangible production capability and lay the groundwork for recurring revenue. For many investors, participating at this inflection point provides exposure before the full upside associated with initial production growth is recognized. The opportunity has the potential to be even more compelling when a company operates in a world-class jurisdiction, controls its own infrastructure and trades below the estimated replacement value of its assets. This is the case for LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR,OTC:LFLRF) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) ( profile ), which owns a fully permitted and modernized gold mill in Québec’s Abitibi region and is positioned further along the development curve than many peers. With broad land holdings, an advancing flagship deposit and a clear path toward production, LaFleur is well exposed to the explorer-to-producer transition that has historically delivered some of the strongest returns in the mining sector. The company is working alongside other companies focused on establishing leadership roles in the mining industry including Nicola Mining (TSX.V: NIM) (OTCQB: HUSIF), ESGold Corp. (CSE: ESAU) (OTC: ESAUF), SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: SSRM) and Troilus Mining Corp. (TSX: TLG) (OTC: CHXMF)

  • LaFleur’s strategy centers on a vertically integrated approach anchored by both its 100%-owned Beacon Gold Mill and its nearby Swanson Gold Project.
  • To continue advancing Swanson toward production and strengthen the data required for future engineering studies, LaFleur launched a 7,500-meter diamond drilling campaign this year across more than 50 regional prospects.
  • To further validate Swanson’s development potential, LaFleur has begun permitting a 100,000-tonne bulk sample.
  • One of LaFleur’s most significant assets is the Beacon Gold Mill, a fully permitted and recently upgraded processing facility in Val-d’Or’s established mining district.
  • LaFleur has outlined a restart plan for the Beacon Mill requiring C$5–6 million to execute over a six-to-eight-month period.

Click here to view the custom infographic of the LaFleur Minerals editorial.

Development Model Supports Streamlined Path to Production

LaFleur’s strategy centers on a vertically integrated approach anchored by both its 100%-owned Beacon Gold Mill and its nearby Swanson Gold Project. By planning to supply its mill with mineralized material from its own deposit, the company minimizes dependence on third-party processors and establishes one of the region’s most cost-effective routes to production.

This structure differentiates LaFleur from many junior miners that must rely on toll-milling agreements or shared facilities, arrangements that often introduce delays and reduce margins. In contrast, LaFleur’s ownership of both the mining asset and the processing infrastructure provides a more direct avenue for monetizing ore, accelerating cash flow and enabling a self-reliant operational model.

At the center of this strategy is the Swanson Gold Project , an advanced exploration asset supported by more than 36,000 meters of historic drilling across 242 drill holes. This extensive work underpins the current resource estimate: 123.4 thousand ounces of gold in the Indicated category and 64.5 thousand ounces in the Inferred category . The scale of the existing dataset provides a strong platform for mine planning.

Situated in the world-renowned Abitibi Greenstone Belt, which has produced more than 200 million ounces of gold, Swanson benefits from a region known for hosting long-lived, commercially successful mining operations. The combination of geologic strength, large land position and room for new discoveries makes Swanson a key asset in LaFleur’s journey toward production.

Recent land consolidation increased Swanson’s footprint to more than 18,300 hectares , covering 445 claims and a mining lease . This expanded ownership enhances control over mineralized systems and gives the company access to new targets for drilling. The project lies approximately 60 kilometers from LaFleur’s Beacon Gold Mill, making future haulage direct and cost-effective.

Together, Swanson and Beacon form a distinctive pairing: a promising near-production deposit and a fully permitted, scalable processing facility under single ownership—an uncommon advantage for a junior gold company preparing to enter production.

Robust Drilling Program Aims to Grow Resources, Build Confidence

To continue advancing Swanson toward production and strengthen the data required for future engineering studies, LaFleur launched a 7,500-meter diamond drilling campaign this year across more than 50 regional prospects. These include targets at Swanson as well as nearby zones such as Bartec, Jolin and Marimac, each exhibiting favorable geology and encouraging early indications.

The program is designed to follow high-grade structures, test continuity and expand mineralization along strike. Early sampling from the Jolin area returned assays up to 11.7 g/t gold , demonstrating compelling potential for additional near-surface zones within the broader property position. Several drill holes are also intended to evaluate shallow mineralization that could support future open-pit scenarios. Confirming near-surface continuity is particularly valuable given the proximity to the Beacon Gold Mill, which enables rapid monetization of shallow material once production begins.

In parallel, LaFleur is also conducting a 10-hole twin-hole program at Swanson. This initiative aims to verify historic drilling, refine grade distribution models and generate fresh core for metallurgical and ore-sorting evaluations. The results will feed into an updated mineral resource estimate and support the company’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (‘PEA’), prepared by Environmental Resources Management (‘ERM’). The PEA will evaluate geology, mine design, processing parameters and cost structures to frame the initial development scenario.

Together, these technical programs are enhancing the geological understanding of LaFleur’s district-scale holdings and moving the company toward its longer-term objective of defining a resource exceeding one million ounces of gold. As the work progresses, it reinforces Swanson’s potential as a scalable production asset supported by a recently upgraded mill.

Bulk Sample Permitting Supports Near-Term Production Readiness

To further validate Swanson’s development potential, LaFleur has begun permitting a 100,000-tonne bulk sample. The sample indicates an estimated average grade of 1.89 g/t gold, containing roughly 6,350 ounces, around 3% of the current mineral resource.

Bulk samples play a crucial role in transitioning to production by confirming geological interpretations, validating metallurgy and generating initial processing revenue. In LaFleur’s case, ownership of the Beacon Mill allows the company to process bulk sample material on-site, reducing costs and accelerating early cash flow.

The company is progressing closure and permitting requirements with Québec’s well-established regulatory system , which is recognized for its clarity and efficiency. Because the Beacon Mill is already fully permitted, LaFleur’s focus is primarily on mine-site conditions rather than large-scale infrastructure, reducing the overall time needed to begin extraction.

ERM’s Technical Mining Services Group is completing the PEA for Swanson, which will include mine design, resource modeling, metallurgical work, flow sheets and cost estimates. The study will also incorporate prevailing gold-price assumptions, which remain historically strong.

The bulk sample will provide critical operational insights, including dilution, mining conditions and mill throughput, which will guide both the PEA and future feasibility work. These milestones collectively support LaFleur’s advancing timeline toward near-term production.

Strategic Asset with Significant Replacement Value

One of LaFleur’s most significant assets is the Beacon Gold Mill , a fully permitted and recently upgraded processing facility in Val-d’Or’s established mining district. Acquired through Monarch Mining’s restructuring in 2024, the mill received approximately C$20 million in upgrades in 2022 and is capable of processing more than 750 tonnes per day.

The facility is supported by year-round road access, skilled labor, dependable power infrastructure and proximity to prospective deposits. Beyond serving LaFleur’s own production plans, Beacon could later generate toll-milling revenue from other explorers in the region.

An independent assessment by Montréal engineering group Bumigeme estimated the replacement value of the mill and tailings facility at C$71.5 million, with only C$4.1 million in required rehabilitation. The mill is free of royalties and backed by a C$2.4 million reclamation bond, emphasizing its strong condition and low restart cost. Relative to LaFleur’s current market valuation, Beacon represents an unusually valuable core asset.

Having a fully permitted mill in place significantly shortens the otherwise lengthy, multiyear process required to build new processing infrastructure. In regions like the Abitibi, where environmental standards are rigorous and permitting is comprehensive, access to an existing facility provides a substantial strategic edge. The Beacon Mill positions LaFleur ahead of local competitors that still face the challenges of designing, funding and securing approvals for new milling capacity. When combined with the resource strength at Swanson and the company’s broad land position, the Beacon facility creates a direct and achievable route to production, reinforcing LaFleur’s goal of becoming one of Québec’s emerging gold producers.

Restart Plan, Momentum and Catalysts

LaFleur has outlined a restart plan for the Beacon Mill requiring C$5–6 million to execute over a six-to-eight-month period. Production ramp-up is expected to begin early next year, with full capacity targeted by year-end. Planned expenditures include approximately C$3.8 million in equipment upgrades and C$1.8 million for tailings facility improvements, ensuring safe and efficient operation in line with Québec regulations.

The restart occurs amid heightened regional consolidation across Abitibi. Recent deals, including Fresnillo’s acquisition of Probe Gold, highlight growing interest in companies with both resources and infrastructure. Probe’s implied valuation of $70–$80 per ounce of gold in the ground provides a local benchmark. Against that backdrop, LaFleur’s combined Swanson resource and Beacon Mill appear undervalued.

To support the restart, the company engaged FMI Securities to initiate a Gold-Linked Convertible Note offering for up to C$7 million. This follows the completion of a C$2.88 million LIFE Offering and C$1.66 million flow-through financing, demonstrating strong investor commitment to LaFleur’s development plans.

With advancing permits, upcoming bulk sample work, continued drilling success and an approaching PEA, LaFleur is strategically positioned within one of Canada’s most productive gold regions. The company’s integrated model, infrastructure ownership and near-term production pathway align squarely with a stage of development long recognized for generating substantial investor upside.

Major Developments Reshaping Today’s Mining Landscape

The mining sector continues to show steady momentum as operators advance projects, secure key partnerships and report strong technical results across multiple jurisdictions. These developments underscore the ongoing expansion and resilience of the global mining ecosystem as companies work to meet rising demand for essential minerals.

Nicola Mining Inc. (TSX.V: NIM) (OTCQB: HUSIF) reported that Blue Lagoon Resources has started transporting high-grade gold and silver millfeed to BC-based Nicola’s mill. The company had previously announced that the two parties had entered into a long-term partnership and that Nicola, which is also a major Blue Lagoon shareholder, had committed to providing a non-dilutive $2.0 million line of credit to augment the latter’s balance sheet. Nicola Mining officials noted that they are pleased to see Blue Lagoon achieve this significant milestone as it morphs Dome Mountain Gold Mine from a project to a producing mine.

ESGold Corp . (CSE: ESAU) (OTC: ESAUF) has announced the completion of the main mill building at its fully permitted Montauban Gold-Silver Project in Quebec. This marks a key step on the company’s path toward production. With structural work finalized, ESGold is now advancing to equipment procurement and installation, moving the project into its commissioning phase. According to the company, the Montauban mill building structure, concrete flooring and interior divisions have been fully completed. The on-site gold room and laboratory are also complete, providing facilities for metallurgical testing and exploration analysis, while securely housing gold and silver doré prior to shipment to off takers and refineries.

SSR Mining Inc. (NASDAQ: SSRM) is reporting the results of a Technical Report Summary for the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine, located in Colorado. Highlights of the report include after-tax NPV of $824 million at consensus gold prices averaging $3,240 per ounce over the life of the mine, with after-tax NPVs increasing to approximately $1.5 million at a gold price of $4,000 per ounce; a 12-year mine life, 26 years of total production based on 2.8 million ounces of gold Mineral Reserves; an average annual production of 141,000 ounces of gold over the three-year period from 2026 to 2028; and Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources, exclusive of Mineral Reserves, totaling 4.8 million ounces of gold with an additional 2 million ounces of Inferred Mineral Resources, highlighting the potential for future growth.

Troilus Mining Corp. (TSX: TLG) (OTC: CHXMF), formerly Troilus Gold Corp., was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year distinction by the Québec Mineral Exploration Association. The award was announced at the association’s annual Xplor 2025 convention and Recognition Gala. The award celebrates companies that have demonstrated exceptional progress, vision and leadership in advancing a Quebec mineral project. Troilus was recognized for the disciplined advancement of the Troilus copper-gold project, marking a transformational year defined by major milestones in engineering, permitting, and financing as the Company continues to move towards construction.

Across the industry, progress in project buildout, resource validation and strategic collaboration reflects a broader shift toward disciplined growth and long-term value creation. As mining organizations push forward with investments in infrastructure, exploration and operational excellence, they collectively demonstrate how innovative planning and strong execution continue to propel the sector.

For more information, visit LaFleur Minerals Profile .

Qualified Person Statement – All scientific and technical information contained in the LaFleur Minerals Market Awareness Profile (‘MAP’) has been reviewed and approved by Louis Martin, P.Geo. (OGQ), Exploration Manager and Technical Advisor of the company and considered a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 .

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// Not for distribution to the United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States //

Copper Quest Exploration Inc. (CSE: CQX,OTC:IMIMF; FRA: 3MX) (‘ Copper Quest ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) is pleased to announce that it has completed its positive due diligence of the arms-length Option to Purchase Agreement (the ‘ Agreement ‘) dated November 7th, 2025 and previously announced November 14, 2025 . The Agreement is with 0847114 B.C. Ltd. (‘ Privco ‘), a British Columbia Incorporated company that holds 100% ownership, title, and interest in the Alpine Gold Property (the ‘ Property ‘), located in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia (the ‘ Acquisition ‘). The Company plans to immediately begin the process to complete the Acquisition of the Property.

Highlights of the Alpine Gold Property

  • 2018 NI43-101 Inferred Resource of 268,000 tonnes estimated using a cut-off grade of 5.0 g/t Au and an average grade of 16.52 g/t Au that represents an inferred resource of 142,000 oz of gold (McCuaig & Giroux, 2018).
  • Substantial opportunity to grow the maiden Alpine resource to the east-west and to depth with only about 300m of the roughly 2km long vein system explored to date by underground mine workings and drilling.
  • Estimated 24,000 tonnes Run of Mine mineralized stockpile on surface presenting a possible near term cash flow opportunity.
  • 1,650 meters of clean and dry underground workings accessing sampled and mineable zones.
  • At least 4 additional relatively unexplored vein systems on the Property (Black Prince, Cold Blow, Gold Crown & past-producing King Solomon), all hosting historic high-grade gold values.
  • Road accessible 4,611.49-hectare Property including 15 Crown Grants (1 with surface rights) and 19 staked mineral claims with all-season operation potential (Figure 1).
  • Additions of Mr. Allan Matovich to the Board of Directors. Mr. Ted Muraro and Mr. John Mirko as Technical Advisors on closing. They have a combined mining and exploration experience of 150+ years in the industry.

The 4,611.49-hectare Property is approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the City of Nelson (Figure 1) and hosts the former operating underground mine with a recorded production of approximately 16,810 tonnes of mineralized vein material (Table 1). This material contained 356,360 grams of gold, 222,054 grams of silver, 49,329 kilograms of lead and 17,167 kilograms of zinc. The other 4 significant vein systems on the property will also be explored including the Black Prince and Cold Blow quartz veins approximately 3km to the northeast of the Alpine mine, the Gold Crown vein system 600m southeast, and the past-producing King Solomon vein workings 1.8km to the south. Further information about the Alpine Gold property will be forthcoming in the upcoming weeks.

Brian Thurston, President & CEO of Copper Quest, commented : ‘ The Alpine Gold property presents a tremendous opportunity to create near term value for our shareholders through exposure to an all-time high gold market while we continue to also focus on our efforts of copper exploration. Our recent closing of approximately $2 million in financing ensures that our shareholders will see work put into the ground to advance our multiple properties. We look forward to welcoming Mr. Matovich, Mr. Muraro and Mr. Mirko to our team in the very near future.’

Figure 1: Location Claim Map

Figure 1: Location Claim Map

Appointment of Mr. Allan Matovich as Director

Copper Quest is also pleased to announce that upon closing of the acquisition, Mr. Allan Matovich will join the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Matovich is the principal owner of the Alpine Gold Property.

Mr. Matovich has 60+ years of mining and exploration experience in Canada and the United States. He first started with Cominco in Trail BC working in the smelter operation. Mr. Matovich then started Matovich Mining Industries where they supplied considerable tonnages of siliceous flux materials, lead and zinc concentrates to Cominco for over 20 years. Mr. Matovich then opened a mining operation in 1997 in Northern British Columbia to supply barite for drilling fluids in the oil and gas industry. This mining operation is still in production today. Mr. Matovich also opened a barite operation in Washington State that is going into production. He also worked with Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and Newmont and was very successful. In 2000, Mr. Matovich purchased the Alpine Gold Mine and since then has spent a considerable amount of time proving up the project.

Mr. Matovich commented I am very pleased to bring the Alpine Gold Property to Copper Quest and join as a director. The company has a fantastic portfolio of critical mineral projects advancing and the Alpine Gold Project gives a potential near term cash flow opportunity along with upside to grow the current resource with drilling. I look forward to working with the Copper Quest team to help create value for all stakeholders involved.’

Table 1 – Production History – Minfile (082FNW127) for Alpine Mine for gold (Au) and silver (Ag)

YEAR Tonnes Tonnes Au Grams Ag Grams Est Grade Est Grade
Mined Milled Recovered Recovered Au (g/t) Ag (g/t)
1988 200 90 198 591 2.20 6.57
*1948 16,889 11,384 25.32 17.07
*1947 2,768 1,866 15.38 10.37
*1946 11,042 5,785 18.59 9.74
*1942 56,079 34,182 824.69 502.68
1941 11,517 11,517 219,350 130,011 18.26 11.29
1940 3,992 3,992 57,852 35,333 14.49 8.85
1939 3 0 62 62
1938 35 0 1,120 902
1915 4 0 1,938

*ore milled not reported

Appointment of Mr. Ted Muraro as Technical Advisor to the Board

Mr. Muraro will be appointed as Technical Advisor to the board on closing of the transaction. Mr. Theodore (Ted) W. Muraro has accumulated over six decades of experience in mineral exploration, including 35 years with Cominco where he advanced through Exploration to serve as the companies Chief Geologist and Internal Consulting Geologist. Early in his career, Mr. Muraro gained underground experience at Keno Hill, HB Mine, Sullivan, and Western Mines. His tenure at Cominco was marked by direct involvement in the discovery and subsequent successful development of the Westmin Mine at Buttle Lake, the Polaris Mine on Little Cornwallis Island in the high Arctic and Snip Mine on the Iskut River.

Following his service at Cominco, Mr. Muraro assumed the role of Vice President, Exploration at Romanex and International Barytex Resources, contributing his expertise to international gold projects.

Mr. Muraro, who was awarded the Spud Huestis award in 2021 for his outstanding contributions to the industry and excellence in exploration, worked as an independent consultant (T.W. Muraro Consulting 1993-2016) on base metal and gold exploration projects around the world until his retirement in 2016. In these later years, he served on several boards as Director and/or Advisor, most recently with Imperial Metals. Mr. Muraro’s working relationship with Al Matovich started in the Rossland Mining Camp and shifted to the Alpine Property in the late 80’s.

Appointment of Mr. John Mirko as Technical Advisor to the Board.

Mr. Mirko will be appointed as Technical Advisor to the board on closing of the transaction. Mr. Mirko has over 40 years’ experience in the mining industry, past President, and Founder of Canam Alpine Ventures Ltd. (recently sold to Vizsla Resources Ltd.), currently President and Founder of Canam Mining Corp. and Rokmaster Resources Corporation.

From 1986 to 2010 Mr. Mirko the founder, President-CEO and Director of 4 public mining-exploration companies and a founder and Director of 3 others. He has been self-employed in the sector since 1972 as a prospector, contractor and consultant involved in exploration, development, and mine construction of various projects in 12 counties, and commercial production of mineral concentrates and metal products from 5 of the projects.

In 2008, Mr. Mirko was a recipient of the ‘E. A. Scholtz Medal for Excellence in Mine Development’ from the Association for Mineral Exploration of British Columbia, and in 2009, the Mining Association of British Columbia’s ‘Mining and Sustainability Award’ for the MAX Mine.

Mr. Mirko is currently a member in good standing of the Society of Economic Geologists, Inc., the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada and AME BC.

Transaction Details

The Agreement provides for the purchase of all the minerals claims and crown grants held by the Privco that make up the Alpine Gold Property. At closing Copper Quest will issue 14,177,517 Copper Quest common shares to Privco at a deemed price of $0.175c per share. The Shares will have a 24-month escrow agreement from closing date.

Additionally, Copper Quest will pay $225,000 towards the 2025 expenditures of the Property that was completed earlier this year and a 2 percent NSR will be granted to Privco on closing of the Acquisition with half being able to be bought back for CAD$1-million.

Closing is subject to exchange approval and other customary closing conditions. A finder’s fee is payable in common shares in connection with the transaction.

Qualified Person

Brian Thurston, P.Geo., the Company’s President, CEO and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects , has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.

Increase in Financing

To accommodate increased interest in the Private Placement previously announced December 1, 2025 , of which $1,927,000 was previously closed on December 5, 2025, the Company announces that it may further issue up to 1,500,000 common shares of the Company to be issued on a flow-through basis (‘the ‘ Flow-Through Shares ‘) at a price of $0.19 per Flow-Through Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $285,000, no later than December 22, 2025. All securities to be issued thereunder will be subject to a statutory hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

Each FT Share constitutes a ‘flow-through share’ within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the ‘ Tax Act ‘) and the gross proceeds of the Private Placement will be used by the Company for exploration and related programs, which qualify as ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ and ‘flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures’, as such terms are defined in the Tax Act, in connection with Copper Quest’s projects in British Columbia.

The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘ U.S. Securities Act ‘), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Copper

Copper is an essential industrial metal at the heart of the global energy transition and modern infrastructure. It plays a critical role in electrification, renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, data centers, and smart technologies. With global demand rising and new supply challenged by declining grades, complex permitting, and underinvestment, the copper market faces persistent deficits and growing geopolitical scrutiny. Recent U.S. policy announcements, including import tariffs and initiatives to secure domestic and allied supply chains, underscore copper’s strategic importance and the need for resilient, localized resource exploration, development, production and processing capacity.

ABOUT Copper Quest Exploration Inc.

Copper Quest (CSE: CQX,OTC:IMIMF; OTCQB: IMIMF; FRA: 3MX) is committed to building shareholder value through acquisitions, discovery-driven exploration, disciplined execution, and responsible development of its North American Critical Mineral portfolio of assets. Please visit our website at www.copper.quest .

The Company’s land package currently comprises five projects that span over 40,000+ hectares in great mining jurisdictions as well as the Kitimat Cu-Au Project and the past-producing Alpine Gold Mine that are both pending acquisition following due diligence.

Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Stars Property, a porphyry copper-molybdenum discovery, covering 9,693 hectares in central British Columbia’s Bulkley Porphyry Belt. Contiguous to the Stars Property, Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the 5,389-hectare Stellar Property. CQX also has an earn-in option up to 80% and joint-venture agreement on the 4,700-hectare porphyry copper-molybdenum Rip Project, also in the Bulkley Porphyry Belt.

Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Nekash Copper-Gold Project, a porphyry exploration opportunity located in Lemhi County, Idaho, along the prolific Idaho-Montana porphyry copper belt that hosts world-class systems such as Butte and CUMO. The project is fully road-accessible via maintained U.S. highways and forest service roads and currently consists of 70 unpatented federal lode claims covering 585 hectares.

Copper Quest has a 100% interest in the Thane Project located in the Quesnel Terrane of Northern BC which spans over 20,658 ha with 10 high-priority targets identified demonstrating significant copper and precious metal mineralization potential.

Copper Quest’s leadership and advisory teams are senior mining industry executives who have a wealth of technical and capital markets experience and a strong track record of discovering, financing, developing, and operating mining projects on a global scale. Copper Quest is committed to sustainable and responsible business activities in line with industry best practices, supportive of all stakeholders, including the local communities in which it operates. The Company’s common shares are principally listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘CQX’.

On behalf of the Board of Copper Quest Exploration Inc.

Brian Thurston, P.Geo.
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Tel: 778-949-1829

For further information contact:

Investor Relations
info@copper.quest

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain ‘forward-looking information’ and ‘forward-looking statements’ (collectively, ‘ forward-looking statements ‘) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding the terms and completion of the Flow-Through Offering, the payment of finder’s fees and issuance of Finder’s Warrants, the anticipated closing date and the planned use of proceeds of the Flow-Through Offering, and future operations and activities of Copper Quest, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ‘potential’, ‘possible’, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘could’, or ‘should’ occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to obtain regulatory approval of the Flow-Through Offering, risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company’s exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company’s business and prospects. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4ec3985f-a43a-4cd8-b8a2-03f81860fa0f

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Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV: FOR,OTC:FTBYF) (FWB: 5QN) (OTCQB: FTBYF) (‘Fortune Bay’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the adoption of its formal Environmental, Social & Governance (‘ESG’) Policy (the ‘ESG Policy’), strengthening the Company’s commitment to responsible exploration and development across its portfolio of gold and uranium projects.

Fortune Bay Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Fortune Bay Corp.)

The ESG Policy provides a clear framework for how Fortune Bay operates today and how it intends to advance its projects in alignment with community expectations, environmental stewardship, and industry best practices. This policy formalizes principles that have guided the Company’s approach for years: transparency, respect, scientific rigour, and proactive engagement with local partners.

Highlights of Fortune Bay’s ESG Policy

    • Responsible Environmental Practices:
      The Company will continue to prioritize minimizing its environmental footprint through data-driven decisions, robust baseline studies, and early integration of environmental considerations in project design.
      • Local Economic Participation:
        The Company is committed to creating opportunities—direct and indirect—that contribute to local economies, including contracting, employment, training, and skills development where possible and appropriate during exploration and development activities.

      ‘Responsible development has always been integral to how we operate,’ said Dale Verran, CEO of Fortune Bay. ‘Formalizing our ESG Policy reinforces that commitment as we advance our projects toward key milestones. Whether it’s establishing baseline environmental work, or maintaining transparent communication with our stakeholders, this policy ensures our values remain at the forefront of every decision we make.’

      Implementation Across the Portfolio

      The ESG Policy will guide ongoing and upcoming activities across Fortune Bay’s portfolio, including:

      • Environmental baseline studies and community engagement underway at Goldfields, supporting future regulatory engagement.
      • Establishment of local exploration agreements and stakeholder relationships in Chiapas, Mexico.

      The full ESG Policy is available on the Company’s website at https://fortunebaycorp.com/responsibility.

      About Fortune Bay

      Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV:FOR,OTC:FTBYF; FWB:5QN; OTCQB:FTBYF) is a gold exploration and development company advancing high-potential assets in Canada and Mexico. With a strategy focused on discovery, resource growth and early-stage development, the Company targets value creation at the steepest part of the Value Creation Curve. Its portfolio includes the development-ready Goldfields Project in Saskatchewan, the resource-expansion Poma Rosa Project in Mexico, and an optioned uranium portfolio in the Athabasca Basin providing non-dilutive capital and upside exposure. Backed by a technically proven team and tight capital structure, Fortune Bay is positioned for multiple near-term catalysts. For more information, visit www.fortunebaycorp.com or contact info@fortunebaycorp.com.

      On behalf of Fortune Bay Corp.

      ‘Dale Verran’
      Chief Executive Officer
      902-334-1919

      Cautionary Statement

      Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Words such as ‘expects’, ‘aims’, ‘anticipates’, ‘targets’, ‘goals’, ‘projects’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’, ‘believes’, ‘seeks’, ‘estimates’, ‘continues’, ‘may’, variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the results of the Updated PEA, including future Project opportunities, future operating and capital costs, closure costs, AISC, the projected NPV, IRR, timelines, permit timelines, and the ability to obtain the requisite permits, economics and associated returns of the Project, the technical viability of the Project, the market and future price of and demand for gold, the environmental impact of the Project, and the ongoing ability to work cooperatively with stakeholders, including Indigenous Nations, local Municipalities and local levels of government. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management’s expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward- looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company’s objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate Indigenous Nations and local Municipalities, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Company’s public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. For more information on Fortune Bay, readers should refer to Fortune Bay’s website at www.fortunebaycorp.com.

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

      SOURCE Fortune Bay Corp.

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