Bert Dohmen, founder and CEO of Dohmen Capital Research, discusses precious metals.
He believes gold’s fundamentals support ‘much higher prices’ for a number of years, and sees silver doing even better as the US faces down the specter of potential deflation.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
For years, rare earths have been discussed mostly in times of crisis — a supply scare here, a geopolitical flare there. This year, the strategic minerals are again taking center stage as China reasserts control over the sector.
The latest round of rare earths policy shifts has put new attention on how producers outside China are positioning themselves. For MP Materials (NYSE:MP), 2025 has been less about responding to market turbulence and more about testing what a viable, strategically resilient rare earths supply chain could look like beyond China’s dominance.
“We’ve been talking about these issues for many, many years,” CFO Ryan Corbett said during a fireside chat at the Benchmark Week conference in Marina del Rey, California.
“But the export controls in April put everything in stark relief.” The result, he told the audience, has been a level of public and government attention he has “never seen before.”
And the attention is coming at a pivotal moment for the US-based company.
This year marked five years since MP went public, an anniversary the team celebrated by ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the culmination of several major announcements aimed at strengthening rare earths production, processing and magnet making outside of China.
Corbett is the first to admit that the broader conversation around rare earths often oversimplifies the challenge. Headlines usually focus on mining or magnets, but the real bottlenecks, he stressed, live in the middle.
“You don’t magically take NdPr oxide and turn it into a magnet in a magnet factory,” he said. The process includes converting oxide to metal, metal to alloy flake, flake to powder, then pressing, sintering, slicing and grinding. Each step requires specific infrastructure, technical expertise and — perhaps most critically — experience.
Corbett sees this gap clearly in the wake of announcements from companies claiming to have plans for large-scale magnet facilities. “We see all these announcements — ‘We’re going to do a 10,000 ton magnet plant.’ They’ve never made metal before,” he said. “Good luck. It takes time. It takes investment. It takes R&D.”
When MP listed publicly five years ago, it was still producing only rare earths concentrate. The company told investors it would revisit magnet-making discussions around 2025.
Geopolitical urgency pushed MP to accelerate that timeline, leading to the company’s fully integrated US facility in Fort Worth, where metal, alloy and finished magnets are now all made domestically.
“It is critical that we master all of them at scale,” Corbett said. Without that know-how, any new facility will be vulnerable to single-point failures, the same dynamic that has left the industry heavily reliant on China.
When asked what truly slows down western rare earths supply chain development, Corbett didn’t point to mining. Instead, he pointed to refining, a stage China has dominated for decades.
“China doesn’t have 99 percent of the upstream reserves,” he noted. “They have the refining capacity and capability.”
That distinction is shaping MP’s next major step: a new world-scale refining facility in Saudi Arabia, built in partnership with Maaden and backed by the US Department of Defense (DoD).
The project is designed to process feedstocks from around the world, including materials that are too small, too short-lived or too geographically constrained to justify their own refineries.
Crucially, the new plant is being built with capital from the US government, not MP. “We didn’t want to be putting more capital at risk overseas while we’re fulfilling promises in the US,” Corbett said.
He added that the government wanted the facility built, and MP brought the technical and operational capability; the equity investment from the DoD bridged the gap.
The structure is unusual. According to Corbett, this is the first time since World War II that the DoD has taken an equity stake in a private enterprise. But he argued that the situation demands it.
“From a supply chain and national security perspective, we are that far behind.”
The DoD’s involvement isn’t limited to the Saudi facility.
This past summer, the department also struck a landmark agreement with MP, establishing a price floor for NdPr oxide, the high-value rare earths ingredient inside permanent magnets.
The deal is “absolutely transformational,” Corbett said.
Rare earths prices have historically been highly vulnerable to sudden moves from China, a fact that has long posed an existential risk to western refiners. “What good is it to invest billions of dollars if the second you turn your refinery on, prices go from US$170 to US$45?” questioned Corbett.
The agreement is structured to avoid distorting the downstream market. MP still sells oxide at market prices; the government covers the difference only when prices fall below the negotiated threshold.
“It doesn’t impact the pricing of our magnets at all,” Corbett explained. “That was really important to us.”
If prices soar — something Corbett says he would welcome — MP would pay the government.
“I hope five years from now I’m being accosted by investors for taking this deal, because prices are so high we’re cutting checks back to the government,” he said.
Also over the summer, MP announced another milestone — a major partnership with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) to source 100 percent recycled rare earth materials for the tech giant’s devices.
Recycling is often framed as a threat to miners. Corbett argues the opposite.
“It’s still a game of scale and expertise in refining,” he said. “It’s just a different feedstock.”
In many ways, recycled magnets are easier to process than raw ore. The challenge is achieving sufficient volume and consistency, something MP believes Mountain Pass is uniquely positioned to enable.
“Integration matters,” Corbett said. By blending recycled materials with the mine’s large, steady feedstock, MP can smooth out the variability inherent in end-of-life magnets.
Taken together, MP’s 2025 announcements point toward a broader shift in how western governments approach critical minerals supply chains moving forward. Heavy government involvement through frameworks like equity stakes, price floors and international partnerships may represent a new template.
“This administration is approaching it with the mentality that it’s going to take real dollars to make this happen,” Corbett said. And if its investments pay off, he argued, they could help rebuild an industrial base the US hasn’t had in decades as MP positions itself to offer the full value chain, from mining and refining to producing finished magnets.
“Once the flywheel gets going,” Corbett said, “You’re onto something.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Homerun Resources Inc. (TSXV: HMR,OTC:HMRFF) (OTCQB: HMRFF) (‘Homerun’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it has received TSXV conditional approval for its previously announced financing, originally announced on June 16, 2025, with an arm’s length institutional investor, Sorbie Bornholm LP (the ‘Investor’) in connection with a proposed financing for CDN$6,000,000.00 (the ‘Offering’) at a price of $1.00 per unit (‘Unit’).
The Offering will consist of the issuance of 6,000,000 Units. Each Unit shall be comprised of one (1) common share (‘Shares‘) of the Company and one (1) common share purchase warrant (‘Warrants‘). The proceeds from the Offering will be used to advance the Company’s vertically integrated silica to solar and energy storage business, supporting business development and scaling of revenues and for general working capital purposes.
Brian Leeners, CEO of Homerun stated, ‘We are thrilled to welcome this particular Institutional Investor as they have chosen Homerun to be their inaugural investment with a company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange. Their innovative investment model provides capital over 24 months keeping our team focused on the execution of our plans and deliverables. We have confidence that this financing based on its unique model, will provide capital premiums to the original financing amount over that 24-month period as we continue to de-risk our business and transition into a high-growth, revenue-generating Company with exceptional long-term potential.’
Sorbie Bornholm Managing Director Whitney Kofford commented, ‘Sorbie is proud to announce this new investment in Homerun Resources and to provide Homerun with flexible, growth-linked capital over the next two years through our unique Sharing Agreement. The global energy transition requires bold thinking and the ability to execute on transformative ideas. Homerun’s integrated strategy for high-purity silica and advanced energy solutions is a prime example of just that – innovation meeting opportunity. We applaud Homerun’s consistent track record of hard work and determination, and we look forward to supporting the Company over the longer-term throughout their growth trajectory.’
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of a Sharing Agreement between the parties, the following structure and sequence will take effect under the Offering:
The Company intends to rely on the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 – Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, for the Offering, and the Shares and Warrants will not be subject to restrictions on resale. There will be an offering document related to the Offering that will be available under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at www.homerunresources.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision. Closing of the Offering is subject to several conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the TSXV.
The Offering is expected to close on or about November 30, 2025, or such other date as the Company may determine, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. There are no finder’s fees payable to any parties under the Offering.
About Homerun (www.homerunresources.com)
Homerun is building the silica-powered backbone of the energy transition across four focused verticals: Silica, Solar, Energy Storage, and Energy Solutions. Anchored by a unique high-purity low-iron silica resource in Bahia, Brazil, Homerun transforms raw silica into essential products and technologies that accelerate clean power adoption and deliver durable shareholder value.
With disciplined execution, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to best-in-class ESG practices, Homerun is focused on converting milestones into markets-creating a scalable, vertically integrated platform for clean energy manufacturing in the Americas.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Homerun Resources Inc.:
‘Brian Leeners’
Brian Leeners, CEO & Director
brianleeners@gmail.com / +1 604-862-4184 (WhatsApp)
Tyler Muir, Investor Relations
info@homerunresources.com / +1 306-690-8886 (WhatsApp)
FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
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The BRICS nations, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have had many discussions about establishing a new reserve currency backed by a basket of their respective currencies.
The creation of a potentially gold-backed currency, known as the ‘Unit,’ as a US dollar alternative is also under consideration by BRICS members. However, whether or not these countries can fully separate themselves from the ruling global currency is up for debate even amongst themselves.
At the 2024 BRICS Summit, the movement away from US dollar supremacy really came to a head when Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on stage holding what appeared as a prototype of a possible BRICS banknote.
However, he soon backed away from his previous aggressive calls for de-dollarization, stating the goal of the BRICS member nations is not to move away from the US dollar-dominated SWIFT platform, but rather to deter the ‘weaponization’ of the US dollar by developing alternative systems for using local currencies in financial transactions between BRICS countries and with trading partners.
‘We are not refusing, not fighting the dollar, but if they don’t let us work with it, what can we do? We then have to look for other alternatives, which is happening,’ Putin told listeners.
A potential BRICS currency would allow these nations to assert their economic independence while competing with the existing international financial system. The current system is dominated by the US dollar, which accounts for about 89 percent of all currency trading. Traditionally, nearly 100 percent of oil trading was conducted in US dollars; however, in 2023, one-fifth of oil trades were reportedly made using non-US dollar currencies.
Central to this situation is the US trade war with China, as well as US sanctions on China and Russia. Should the BRICS establish a new reserve currency, it would likely significantly impact the US dollar, potentially leading to a decline in demand, or what’s known as de-dollarization. In turn, this would have implications for the US and global economies.
If BRICS watchers were hoping for more fireworks at the 2025 BRICS meeting held in Brazil this July, they were sorely disappointed. Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were not in attendance, and talk of a BRICS currency was much more muted. On top of this, according to Modern Diplomacy, that topic may be even less of a concern at next year’s BRICS meeting; it will be held in India, which has sought to distance itself from a move away from the US dollar.
It’s still too hard to predict if and when a BRICS currency will be released, but it’s a good time to look at the potential for a BRICS currency and its possible implications for investors.
The BRICS nations have a slew of reasons for wanting to set up a new currency, including recent global financial challenges and aggressive US foreign policies. They want to better serve their own economic interests while reducing global dependence on the US dollar and the euro.
In recent years, the US has placed numerous sanctions on Russia and Iran. The two countries are working together to bring about a BRICS currency that would negate the economic impacts of such restrictions, as per Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalal, speaking at a press conference during the Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum in May 2024.
Some experts believe that a BRICS currency is a flawed idea, as it would unite countries with very different economies. There are also concerns that non-Chinese members might increase their dependence on China’s yuan instead. That said, when Russia demanded in October 2023 that India pay for oil in yuan as Russia is struggling to use its excess supply of rupees, India refused to use anything other than the US dollar or rupees to pay.
There’s no definitive launch date as of yet, but the countries’ leaders have discussed the possibility at length.
During the 14th BRICS Summit, held in mid-2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the BRICS countries plan to issue a ‘new global reserve currency,’ and are ready to work openly with all fair trade partners.
In April 2023, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva showed support for a BRICS currency, commenting, “Why can’t an institution like the BRICS bank have a currency to finance trade relations between Brazil and China, between Brazil and all the other BRICS countries? Who decided that the dollar was the (trade) currency after the end of gold parity?”
In the lead up to the 2023 BRICS Summit, there was speculation that an announcement of such a currency could be on the table. This proved to be wishful thinking, however. ‘The development of anything alternative is more a medium to long term ambition. There is no suggestion right now to creates a BRICS currency,’ Leslie Maasdorp, CFO of the New Development Bank, told Bloomberg at the time. The bank represents the BRICS bloc.
Government officials in Brazil, which took the rotating presidency of the BRICS group for 2025, have said there are no plans to take any significant steps toward a BRICS currency.
However, measures to reduce the reliance on the US dollar are very much on the table with cross-border payment systems, including exploring blockchain technology, a major theme at the 2025 BRICS summit, reported Reuters.
As mentioned, in 2026, the BRICS Summit will be held in India, which earlier this year distanced itself from the idea of a move away from the US dollar. Speaking at an event in London in March 2025, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated, ‘I don’t think there’s any policy on our part to replace the dollar. The dollar as the reserve currency is the source of global economic stability, and right now what we want in the world is more economic stability, not less. I don’t think there’s a unified BRICS position on this. I think BRICS members, and now that we have more members, have very diverse positions on this matter.’
As of 2025, there are 10 BRICS member nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This expanded group of 10 full member countries is sometimes referred to as BRICS+.
The group was originally composed of the four nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China and called BRIC, which changed to BRICS when South Africa joined in 2010.
At the 2023 BRICS Summit, six countries were invited to become BRICS members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. All countries but Argentina and Saudi Arabia officially joined the alliance in January 2024, and in 2025, Indonesia became the 10th full member of BRICS.
Additionally, at the 2024 BRICS Summit, 13 nations signed on as BRICS partner countries, although they are not yet full-fledged members: Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
Saudi Arabia has seemingly been on the fence about joining the BRICS. The Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s November 19, 2025, announcement of a US$1 trillion investment in the US economy during a visit to the White House may signal something about the Middle Eastern country’s allegiance.
A new currency could have several benefits for the BRICS countries, including more efficient cross-border transactions and increased financial inclusion. By leveraging blockchain technology, digital currencies and smart contracts, the currency could revolutionize the global financial system. Thanks to seamless cross-border payments, it could also promote trade and economic integration among the BRICS nations and beyond.
A new BRICS currency would also:
Trump has not been shy about upping the ante on American protectionism with tariffs. During the first US presidential debate between him and Vice President Kamala Harris on September 10, 2024, Trump doubled down on his pledge to punish BRICS nations with strict tariffs if they seek to move away from the US dollar as the global currency.
He originally took a particularly strong stance against China, threatening to implement 60 percent to 100 percent tariffs on Chinese imports, although these hefty tariffs would be paid by American companies and consumers purchasing Chinese products, not by China itself.
In early December 2024, Trump posted an even more direct threat to BRICS nations on Truth Social:
“We require a commitment from these countries that they will neither create a new Brics currency nor back any other currency to replace the mighty US dollar or they will face 100% tariffs and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US economy.’
In response to Trump demanding a ‘commitment’ from BRICS nations not to challenge the supremacy of the US dollar, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov sounded less than threatened.
‘More and more countries are switching to the use of national currencies in their trade and foreign economic activities,’ Peskov said, per Reuters. ‘If the U.S. uses force, as they say economic force, to compel countries to use the dollar it will further strengthen the trend of switching to national currencies (in international trade).’
In July 2025, President Trump took it a step further by threatening to slap an extra 10 percent in tariffs on countries who side with BRICS policies, although this has not been implemented as of November 2025. ‘Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,’ he wrote in a social media post.
This additional BRICS targeted tariff has not yet been implemented as of November 2025.
If US President Donald Trump were to come through on his promise to enact 100 percent tariffs on BRICS nations the outcome could prove costly for all parties involved.
“The action would result in slower growth and higher inflation than otherwise in the US and most of the targeted economies,” according to analysis by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
China would likely experience the worst slowing of its GDP growth as the US is its largest trading partner. One silver lining for China is that its disciplined central bank will help to save it from accelerated inflation.
While neither the 100 percent or 10 percent tariffs specifically targeting BRICS countries for their membership have been implemented, the countries still face many other tariffs from the US.
Trump’s blanket 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, set on June 3, 2025, impact Brazil, China and the UAE. Brazil is a top three source for US steel imports, while China and the UAE are significant sources of US aluminum imports.
In late July, Brazil was also saddled with a 50 percent tariff on a broader range of goods, which US President Donald Trump inflicted on the nation in response to the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro for his alleged coup attempt.
Trump’s tariffs could have a significant impact on Brazil’s economy, which is the largest in Latin America. However, most of the key trading sectors between the two nations are exempt from the tariff, including “civil aircraft, pig iron, precious metals, wood pulp, energy and fertilizers,” states Reuters.
India is another BRICS nation facing 50 percent tariffs. The sectors targeted span from textiles, garments and footwear to food, leather goods, gems and automobiles. Key industries such as pharmaceuticals and computer chips.
One of the major sticking points for the Trump administration is India continuing to purchase Russian oil. India and China are the two largest buyers of Russian oil, but the US has yet to punish China for purchasing oil from Russia.
Although China is the US’s biggest economic rival on the global stage, Trump hit the pause button on the escalating tariff war between the two nations until November 10, 2026.
In the meantime, the US’s 30 percent tariff on Chinese goods remains in place. Negotiations are underway, including on a proposed 245 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports.
In July, the Trump Administration imposed 30 percent tariffs on South Africa, the US’s second biggest trading partner. The African nation’s agriculture, mining and manufacturing sector are at significant risk from the tariffs, but there are exceptions in place for “copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, some critical minerals, stainless steel scrap and energy products,” reports the BBC.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva convened an online BRICS summit on September 8, 2025, to address the threat of US trade policies and tariffs to member nations.
“Tariff blackmail is being normalized as an instrument to seize markets and interfere in domestic affairs,” stated Lula, according to a prepared statement from the Brazilian government.
“Our countries have become victims of unjustified and illegal trade practices.”
Both Lula and Jinping called upon their BRICS peers to stand together and push back against unfair trade practices, and strengthen trade and cooperation between member nations.
However, the South China Morning Post reports that summit attendees fell short of directly criticizing US President Donald Trump in a bid not to further stoke his ire. That may also be why most BRICS members are trying to negotiate with the US rather than fight back with retaliatory tariffs.
Critics have suggested Trump’s tariffs are having the undesirable effect of driving major trading partners like Brazil, India and South Africa further into the arms of US rivals China and Russia.
While currently only 9 percent of China’s exports are to other BRICS members, according to Reuters, trade between China and Russia reached a record US$244.8 billion in 2024.
In addition, China is Brazil’s largest trading partner, importing 70 percent of its soybeans from the Latin American country. In fact, 28 percent of Brazil’s total exports go to China and 24 percent of its imports are from China.
BRICS trade relations may strengthen as the bloc seeks to mitigate the economic impact of US tariffs.
RomanR / Shutterstock
For decades, the US dollar has enjoyed unparalleled dominance as the world’s leading reserve currency. According to the US Federal Reserve, between 1999 and 2019, the dollar was used in 96 percent of international trade invoicing in the Americas, 74 percent in the Asia-Pacific region and 79 percent in the rest of the world.
According to the Atlantic Council, as of November 2025 the US dollar is used in approximately 89 percent of currency exchanges, and 56 percent of all foreign currency reserves held by central banks. Due to its status as the most widely used currency for conversion and its use as a benchmark in the forex market, almost all central banks worldwide hold dollars.
Additionally, the dollar is used for the vast majority of oil trades.
Although the dollar’s reserve currency share has decreased as the euro and yen have gained popularity, the dollar is still the most widely used reserve currency, followed by the euro, the yen, the pound and the yuan.
The potential impact of a new BRICS currency on the US dollar remains uncertain, with experts debating its potential to challenge the dollar’s dominance. However, if a new BRICS currency was to stabilize against the dollar, it could weaken the power of US sanctions, leading to a further decline in the dollar’s value. It could also cause an economic crisis affecting American households. Aside from that, this new currency could accelerate the trend toward de-dollarization.
Nations worldwide are seeking alternatives to the US dollar, with examples being China and Russia trading in their own currencies, and countries like India, Kenya and Malaysia advocating for de-dollarization or signing agreements with other nations to trade in local currencies or alternative benchmarks.
While it is unclear whether a new BRICS currency would inspire the creation of other US dollar alternatives, the possibility of challenging the dollar’s dominance as a reserve currency remains.
And, as countries continue to diversify their reserve holdings, the US dollar could face increasing competition from emerging currencies, potentially altering the balance of power in global markets.
However, a study by the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center released in June 2024 shows that the US dollar is far from being dethroned as the world’s primary reserve currency. ‘The group’s ‘Dollar Dominance Monitor’ said the dollar continued to dominate foreign reserve holdings, trade invoicing, and currency transactions globally and its role as the primary global reserve currency was secure in the near and medium term,’ Reuters reported.
Warwick J. McKibbin and Marcus Noland of the Peterson Institute for International Economics agree with this sentiment, writing in their analysis of the impacts of US tariffs on BRICS nations that ‘the BRICS pose no serious threat to the dollar’s dominance.’
Ultimately, the impact of a new BRICS currency on the US dollar will depend on its adoption, its perceived stability and the extent to which it can offer a viable alternative to the dollar’s longstanding hegemony.
BRICS nations do not as of yet have their own specific digital currency, but a BRICS blockchain-based payment system is in the works, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov in March 2024.
Known as the BRICS Bridge multi-sided payment platform, it would connect member states’ financial systems using payment gateways for settlements in central bank digital currencies. The planned system would serve as an alternative to the current international cross-border payment platform, the SWIFT system, which is dominated by US dollars.
“We believe that creating an independent BRICS payment system is an important goal for the future, which would be based on state-of-the-art tools such as digital technologies and blockchain,’ Ushakov said in an interview with Russian news agency TASS, emphasizing that it should be convenient, as well as cost effective and free of politics.
While development is underway, it has been a slow go and implementation isn’t likely before the end of the decade.
Another dollar-alternative digital currency cross-border payment system in the works is Project mBridge, which is under development via a collaboration between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Bank of Thailand, the Digital Currency Institute of the People’s Bank of China and the Central Bank of the UAE. Saudi Arabia joined the project in 2024.
The central bank digital currencies traded on the platform would be backed by gold and local currencies minted in member nations.
In June 2024, Forbes reported that the mBridge platform had reached a significant milestone by completing its minimal viable product stage (MVP).
‘The MVP platform can undertake real-value transactions (subject to jurisdictional preparedness) and is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), a decentralized virtual environment that executes code consistently and securely across all Ethereum nodes,’ the publication stated. ‘MVP thus is suitable as a testbed for new use cases and interoperability with other platforms.’
Watch the full interview with Andy Schectman.
‘(New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff) came out and publicly said that there has been an agreement in principle to use a new settlement currency called the Unit, which will be backed 40 percent by gold and 60 percent by the local currencies in the BRICS union — the BRICS+ countries. That gold will be in the form of kilo bars and will be deliverable or redeemable for those entities,’ Schectman said.
‘The basket of gold and the basket of currencies will be minted in the member countries … it will be put into an escrow account, taken off the ledger so to speak — off of their balance sheet and put onto the mBridge ledger, and held in an escrow account in their own borders. It doesn’t need to be sent to a central authority.’
A potential shift toward a new BRICS currency could have significant implications for the North American economy and investors operating within it. Some of the most affected sectors and industries would include:
A new BRICS currency would also introduce new trading pairs, alter currency correlations and increase market volatility, requiring investors to adapt their strategies accordingly.
Adjusting a portfolio in response to emerging BRICS currency trends may be a challenge for investors. While it does not currently seem like a BRICS currency is on the immediate horizon, Trump’s aggressive trade tactics have pushed allies away from the US, making diversification important.
Several strategies can be adopted to capitalize on these trends and diversify your portfolio:
Prudent investors will also weigh these strategies against their exposure to market, political and currency fluctuations.
In terms of investment vehicles, investors could consider ETFs such as the iShares MSCI BIC ETF (ARCA:BKF) or the Pacer Emerging Markets Cash Cows 100 ETF (NASDAQ:ECOW). They could also invest in mutual funds such as the T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Equity Fund, or in individual companies within the BRICS countries.
Simply put, preparing for a new BRICS currency or potential de-dollarization requires careful research and due diligence by investors. Diversifying currency exposure, and investing in commodities, equity markets or alternative investments are possible options to consider while being mindful of the associated risks.
While it is not certain whether the creation of a BRICS reserve currency will come to pass, its emergence would pose significant implications for the global economy and potentially challenge the US dollar’s dominance as the primary reserve currency. This development would present unique investment opportunities, while introducing risks to existing investments as the shifting landscape alters monetary policy and exacerbates geopolitical tensions.
For those reasons, investors should closely monitor the progress of a possible BRICS currency. And, if the bloc does eventually create one, it will be important watch the currency’s impact on BRICS member economies and the broader global market. Staying vigilant will help investors to capitalize on growth prospects and hedge against potential risks.
Some financial analysts point to the creation of the euro in 1999 as proof that a BRICS currency may be possible. However, this would require years of preparation, the establishment of a new central bank and an agreement between the five nations to phase out their own sovereign currencies; it would most likely also need the support of the International Monetary Fund to be successful internationally.
The impact of its war on Ukraine will continue to weaken Russia’s economy and the value of the ruble, and China is intent on raising the power of the yuan internationally. There is also a wide chasm of economic disparity between China and other BRICS nations. These are no small obstacles to overcome.
Additionally, speaking at the New Orleans Investment Conference 2023, well-known author Jim Rickards gave a detailed talk on how a gold-backed BRICS currency could work. He suggested that if a BRICS currency unit is worth 1 ounce of gold and the gold price goes to US$3,000 per ounce, the BRICS currency unit would be worth US$3,000, while the dollar would lose value compared to the BRICS currency as measured by the weight of gold.
Importantly though, he doesn’t see this as a new gold standard, or the end of the US dollar or the euro.
“(With) a real gold standard, you can take the currency and go to any one of the central banks and get some gold,” Rickards said at the event. “With BRICS they don’t have to own any gold, they don’t have to buy any gold, they don’t have to prop up the price. They can just rise on the dollar gold market.’
The combined central bank gold holdings of the original BRICS nations plus Egypt (the only nation of the five new additions to have central bank gold reserves) accounts for more than 20 percent of all the gold held in the world’s central banks. Russia, India and China rank in the top 10 for central bank gold holdings.
Russia controls 2,329.63 metric tons (MT) of the yellow metal, making it the fifth largest for central bank gold reserves. China follows in the sixth spot with 2,303.51 MT of gold and India places eighth with 880.18 MT. Brazil and South Africa’s central bank gold holdings are much smaller, coming in at 145.14 MT and 125.47 MT, respectively. New BRICS member Egypt’s gold holdings are equally small, at 128.82 MT.
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
This press release is issued pursuant to the requirements of National Instrument 62-103 – The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues
In accordance with the requirements of Section 3.1 of National Instrument 62-103 – The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, Matthew J. Mason announces that, in connection with the closing of the Technology Licensing Agreement (the ‘Agreement’) with Stallion Uranium Corp. (TSXV: STUD,OTC:STLNF) (OTCQB: STLNF) (FSE: B76) (the ‘Issuer’), he has acquired 3,750,000 Common Shares of the Issuer at a deemed price of $0.12 per Common Share.
Immediately before the closing of the Agreement: (i) Mr. Mason held an aggregate of 20,825,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 17% of the Issuer’s issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis; and (ii) assuming the exercise in full of all of the convertible securities of the Issuer held by Mr. Mason, being 15,137,500 Warrants to purchase an additional 15,137,500 Common Shares, Mr. Mason would have held an aggregate of 35,962,500 Common Shares, representing approximately 29% of the Issuer’s issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis.
Immediately after the closing of the Agreement: (i) Mr. Mason held an aggregate of 24,575,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 19% of the Issuer’s issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis; and (ii) assuming the exercise in full of all of the convertible securities held by Mr. Mason, being 15,137,500 Warrants to purchase an additional 15,137,500 Common Shares, Mr. Mason would hold a total of 39,712,500 Common Shares, representing approximately 30% of the Issuer’s issued and outstanding Common Shares on a partially diluted basis.
Mr. Mason acquired such Common Shares for investment purposes and may, from time to time, acquire additional securities of the Issuer or dispose of such securities as he may deem appropriate, on the basis of his assessment of market conditions and in compliance with applicable securities regulatory requirements. A copy of the early warning report filed by Mr. Mason may be obtained on the Issuer’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
For more information, please contact the Acquiror at 925 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L2.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally reshaping biotechnology and healthcare, unlocking the secrets hidden within complex biological data.
Machine learning in genomics and proteomics is transforming how diseases are detected, monitored and treated. Central to this revolution are innovative platforms tackling some of medicine’s toughest challenges, integrating AI with molecular biology to accelerate drug development, improve diagnostics and personalize patient care.
This wave of AI-driven biotechnology not only promises to improve lives by addressing unmet medical needs but also offers investors a rare opportunity to support scalable, data-rich solutions, setting the stage for potential disruptive growth in healthcare.
The challenge of interpreting vast amounts of biological data, which has long slowed progress in disease detection and drug discovery, is precisely where AI offers a valuable solution.
For example, liquid biopsy, which analyzes DNA fragments circulating in the blood, exemplifies AI’s power to break new ground. Unlike invasive tissue biopsies, liquid biopsy offers a minimally invasive window into the body’s molecular makeup.
However, signals in blood can be extremely subtle, especially for chronic diseases like liver conditions, which have eluded detection with older methods. Transformer-based AI models adapted to biological data can analyze millions of molecular interactions simultaneously, uncovering faint patterns and signatures that traditional methods miss, enabling early detection and personalized diagnostics that can dramatically improve outcomes.
Hepta, a liquid biopsy company developed by experts from Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) and GRAIL, Inc. (NASDAQ:GRAL), has created an AI platform that analyzes epigenetic patterns in circulating cell-free DNA.
The company recently came out of stealth mode with US$6.7 million in seed funding led by Felicis Ventures and Illumina Ventures, among others. Its technology is designed to replace invasive biopsies with simple blood draws, showing strong early clinical results for detecting liver disease.
CEO Hamed Amini described how Hepta’s platform is uniquely designed from the ground up to deliver a specialized approach that sets it apart from earlier AI tools used in cancer research, opening the door to new possibilities for broad applications.
“I think in the not-distant future, we’re going to be at a place where generating ample genomic data is truly not going to be a cost barrier anymore,” he said. “Once you get there, I envision a super comprehensive central assay that captures all this epigenetic signal from a blood sample (to determine patient eligibility for certain treatments). You can expand this to oncology and other chronic diseases down the line, hopefully.’
AI is also drastically transforming cancer care by accelerating drug discovery and development, with the potential to revolutionize medicine, according to an editorial in the Lancet Oncology. Author Abhishek Mehta observes that many academic cancer centers are collaborating with private companies to use AI for optimizing drug development, trials and analytics.
For example, the cancer drug BBO-10203 was developed by researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research in collaboration with private biotech company BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics. Developers used advanced computing and AI to go from conception to human trials in just six years. This is a stark improvement to the 10 to 15-year timeline of the traditional drug development process.
Other key innovators include Rakovina Therapeutics (TSXV:RKV), a Canadian biotech company, which is using its AI platforms, Deep-Docking and Enki, to help discover drugs that target the DNA damage repair process in cancer cells.
One of its main programs is a therapy that blocks a key protein that cancer cells need to survive. Rakovina has found promising candidates and is working with top cancer research centers to move these treatments toward human trials.
Recently, it has partnered with a biotech company specializing in advanced lipid nanoparticle technology designed with AI assistance to develop AI-discovered cancer therapies. The company has also expanded access for US investors through new trading eligibility.
Beyond optimizing drug candidates and delivery mechanisms, AI is also being deployed to develop targeted therapeutic strategies.
“The next improvement in human life and survival comes from the next platform shift, and we really believe that metabolism is that, and this trial would allow us to really open that door for people in their minds,” Parikh explained, adding that the complexity of metabolic function necessitates the need for machine learning. “There are no approaches around metabolism and cancer that can thrive and survive and be reproducible without leveraging machine learning.”
Looking ahead, AI is reshaping drug development pipelines, with techniques like DeepDR and SNF-CVAE expected to enhance drug discovery and repurposing, speeding up clinical timelines.
For investors, the economic implications of such efficiency gains are profound: faster approvals and lower development costs can significantly increase returns while reducing risk.
Not only will AI tools help pharmaceutical companies select promising candidates faster and design smarter trials, but industry insiders maintain that they can eventually help physicians personalize therapies to patient-specific profiles.
In Faeth’s case, its AI-driven MetabOS platform reduces the data related to cancer metabolism to a smaller, more tractable set of potential targets. Then, CRISPR gene-editing technology allows further experimental validation and refinement to identify the most promising therapeutic candidates with high precision.
“There’s a cohort of patients .. .that are really benefiting,” Parikh said of the DICE trial. “And so we’re going to figure out who those patients are, and then make sure physicians are getting those patients on it early so they can derive the maximum benefit.”
However, widespread adoption faces hurdles, including regulatory pathways and data quality standards; still, growing investor interest and strategic partnerships indicate strong momentum in overcoming these barriers. As Parikh said, “If the data … (are good), more capital will come.”
For example, Danish medical AI company Corti is increasingly finding traction by offering healthcare institutions “AI infrastructure” designed specifically for medical use cases
Governments are also investing heavily in AI for disease research, exemplified by the US$500 billion US Stargate Project, which includes funding allocated to AI-driven biomedical research and infrastructure development; and the UK’s £19 million PharosAI initiative supporting AI-powered cancer research and clinical innovation.
AI-driven platforms are on the frontline of healthcare innovation.
For investors with an eye toward the future, this is an opportunity to support transformative science while participating in a market with tremendous growth potential. This is not just about technology; it’s about changing how medicine is practiced and ultimately, how lives are improved and saved.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
CopAur Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CPAU) (‘CopAur’ or the ‘Company’) announces that pursuant to the press release on November 24th, 2025, by Omega Pacific Resources Ltd (CSE: OMGA) (‘Omega’), that CopAur and Omega (the ‘Parties’) have completed an amendment of the Williams Property (the ‘Property’) Option/Joint Venture Agreement (the ‘Option Agreement’) to accelerate Omega’s acquisition of a 100% interest in the Property.
On February 29, 2024, the Parties entered into an Option Agreement (see CopAur’s March 1st, 2024, press release) whereby Omega could earn up to a 100% interest in the Williams Property. On April 24th, 2024, CopAur announced the receipt of $1 million in cash and 3 million Omega shares from Omega, which along with agreed upon exploration expenditures and other considerations, allowed Omega to earn a 51% interest in the Williams property. On November 12th, 2024, Omega exercised its option to acquire a 51% interest in the property.
On November 20th, 2025, the Parties entered into a second amendment to the Option Agreement whereby Omega has the option to acquire the remaining 49% interest in the Williams Property from CopAur on or before December 4th, 2025, by issuing to CopAur, 3.3 million common shares in the capital of Omega.
‘CopAur is confident that the Williams Property, located in BC’s re-emerging Toodoggone District and the Golden Horseshoe, which is widely regarded as a tier-one exploration region, holds tremendous, untapped mineral value as confirmed during Omega’s 2024 drill program that returned values of 1.69 g/t Au over 104 metres and 2.16 g/t Au. over 96.9 metres. Omega has the requisite skill set to further develop this property, and this agreement allows CopAur to concentrate our efforts on our Nevada properties. We look forward to following developments at the Williams Property as a significant shareholder of Omega,’ commented Andrew Neale, CEO.
About CopAur
CopAur is a mine development company focused on projects within the emerging, mineral-rich gold mining regions of Nevada. The Company is backed by a dynamic and experienced team of resource professionals advancing its projects in Nevada with the flagship project being Kinsley Mountain Gold Project, a Carlin-style project located in the Kinsley Mountains in Eastern Nevada, approximately 80 km SSW of West Wendover.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF COPAUR MINERALS INC.
Andew Neale, Chief Executive Officer
For more information, please contact:
Andrew Neale, Chief Executive Officer
Email: ir@copaur.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking statements. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revised any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.
Source
Strategic Minerals plc (AIM: SML; USOTC: SMCDF), an international mineral exploration and production company, is delighted to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Cornwall Resources Limited (‘CRL’), has received standout drillhole assay results from CRD034b, including very high-grades and multiple thick intersections. CRD034b was the second drill hole of the ongoing drilling campaign at the Redmoor Tungsten-Tin-Copper Project (‘Redmoor’) in southeast Cornwall.
Downhole Composite Highlights:
Very High-Grade
Significant Widths
Copper and Tin
Silver
|
|
Figure 1: Highlighted high-grade intersection of containing 10.00 m @ 0.92% WO3, 0.02% Sn & 0.78% Cu (1.15% WO3.Eq) from 578.00 m from a zone of multiple stacked mineralised veins and wall rock within the Redmoor SVS deposit. This high-grade intersection (yellow arrows) comprises 10 individual sample sections (small double arrows) detailed in Appendix 1 below. Including1.10 m @ 7.19% WO3, 0.02% & 1.11% Cu (7.51% WO3.Eq*1) from 579.93 m These samples were visibly logged by CRL geologists containing wolframite, chalcopyrite and cassiterite. |
Dennis Rowland, CRL Managing Director, said:
‘These results highlight downhole intersections of impressive length and grade, up to 15.00 m at nearly 1% WO3, and significant single sample zones reaching 7.19% WO3 – amongst the top 10 sample intervals by grade recorded at Redmoor to date by the Company.
‘The new results reported outside the existing Redmoor resource model indicate strong potential for material resource growth. Ongoing analysis of samples from additional drillholes is expected to further refine and enhance the understanding of Redmoor’s resource potential.
‘The continuation of very high-grade mineralisation in CRD034b reinforces Redmoor’s status as Europe’s highest-grade undeveloped tungsten resource, and among the highest-grade globally.’
Mark Burnett, SML Executive Director, said:
‘The Board is pleased with the impressive results reported from this drillhole, which highlight the exceptional nature of the Redmoor deposit. Overall, CRD034b has proved very valuable in the short-range continuity test as well as in finding excellent grade intersections. Redmoor sits in a commanding position to be a secure supply of minerals deemed critical to the UK and its peers.’
Cllr Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Investment, said:
‘We’ve invested almost £765,000 through our Good Growth Programme to support the latest drilling operation at Redmoor, and it’s encouraging to see these latest results. Cornwall’s critical minerals sector has enormous potential to create high-quality jobs, attract further private investment and strengthen security of supply for the minerals our economy increasingly relies on. That’s why we’re backing responsible critical minerals projects that we believe can deliver long-term economic value for Cornwall, while helping to meet national demand and deliver against the government’s Industrial Strategy.’
Highlight of CRD034b Intersections:
Laboratory assay results for drillhole CRD034b, the second hole of the 2025 drilling programme, confirm wide zones of high grade mineralisation and multiple sub-zones of very high-grade tungsten mineralisation, including copper, tin and silver, throughout the Redmoor Sheeted Vein System (‘SVS’) deposit intercepted by the drillhole, and also additional mineralised zones outside of the SVS (see Table 2 for sample intersection details), with highlights including:
Detail of analytical results form CRD034b
CRD034b was drilled south to intersect the Redmoor SVS mineralisation. Details of the collar and survey setup are provided in Table 1.
Table 1: Drillhole collar data for CRD034b, drilled from the same pad as previously reported CRD033
|
Pad Number |
Collar |
Orientation at Collar |
Total Depth (m) |
|||
|
Easting (m) |
Northing (m) |
Elevation (m) |
Azimuth (⁰) |
Dip (⁰) |
||
|
1 |
235802.1 |
71341.02 |
185 |
135 |
58 |
608.20 |
Laboratory assay results for drillhole CRD034b have returned further exceptional results from the current drilling programme, containing very-high-grade results, with tungsten (WO3) grades reaching 7.19%, copper (Cu) grades reaching 4.73% and tin (Sn) grades reaching 1.01%, from a zone of the deposit known to be lower in tin concentrations, coupled with silver (Ag) grades of up to 84.8 g/t correlated with copper mineralisation. The silver mineralisation encountered is highly encouraging and is currently undergoing further metallurgical testwork to confirm its economic importance with regards to the Redmoor project, prior to modelling as part of the forthcoming Mineral Resource estimate (‘MRE’) update, with further updates and commentary expected soon.
These results continue to exhibit the strong continuity of structure and grade within the SVS orebody, with mineralised continuity confirmed eastwards and correlated to high-grade zones previously drilled in CRD033. The final 35.00 m of CRD034b was successful in drilling a previously untested portion of a projected high-grade zone, this section returned the wide, high-grade interval of 10.00 m @ 0.92% WO3, 0.02% Sn & 0.78% Cu (1.15% WO3.Eq) from 578.00 m, including 1.10 m @ 7.19% WO3, 0.02% & 1.11% Cu (7.51% WO3.Eq*1) from 579.93 m, along with strong grades of silver (Ag) up to 84.8 g/t (Figure 1, above).
Figure 2, include a drillhole trace of CRD034b, the hole was planned as an infill hole to test short spaced continuity of structure and grade between other nearby spaced drillholes. The data from CRD034b and other holes will be used in the assessment for future drill spacings. It also serves to demonstrate that the SVS within this portion of the deposit is wider than previously modelled, containing further high-grade zones of mineralisation.
Figure 2: Plan view of the deposit with the route of CRD034b (in Red), with previous CRL and South West Minerals drillholes (in Black). CRD034b is an infill hole aimed at testing short spaced continuity of structure and grade.
Figure 3, includes a cross-section of the borehole, highlighting reported intersections and the previously modelled high-grade zones that form the basis of the 2019 Redmoor MRE.
Figure 3: Cross-section of CRD034b, including sample intersection grades, and grade bars representing WO3 results. Zones in pink represent the previously modelled high-grade zones that form the basis of Redmoor mineral resource. The modelled high-grade zones towards the bottom of the hole, falls short of the drill holes trajectory, and following the intersection of a further significant width high grade intersection in CRD034b highlights the potential for resource growth should the zone be extended.
Table 2 below, contains the details of the composite sample intersections including sample depths, thickness, metal content, and tungsten equivalent calculations, as well as the mineralisation style recorded by CRL geologists. The tungsten equivalent (WO3. Eq.) highlights the value-add from tin and copper to the tungsten grades of the sample intervals. Appendix 1 includes full details of each sample included in these composite intersections.
Table 2: Highlights of downhole composite sample intersections returned from recently received results from drillhole CRD034b, showing interval lengths and subsequent assay results for WO3, Sn & Cu. A tungsten equivalent results has also been calculated. Composited values use a downhole length weighted average of grades.
|
Sample Start |
From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
WO3 % |
Cu % |
Sn % |
WO3. Eq. % |
Comments |
|
CRL005376-79 |
92.00 |
100.00 |
8.00 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.20 |
0.18 |
Lode-Style Cu Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005367 |
92.00 |
94.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
0.01 |
0.45 |
0.38 |
Lode-Style Cu Mineralisation |
|
CRL005413-14 |
291.55 |
295.00 |
3.45 |
0.48 |
0.41 |
0.01 |
0.60 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005414 |
293.00 |
295.00 |
2.00 |
0.62 |
0.56 |
0.01 |
0.78 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005425 |
309.70 |
311.00 |
1.30 |
0.21 |
0.41 |
0.01 |
0.33 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005486-5501 |
456.04 |
471.50 |
15.46 |
0.72 |
0.66 |
0.04 |
0.93 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005486-88 |
456.04 |
459.57 |
3.53 |
1.67 |
0.27 |
0.02 |
1.76 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
cont. CRL005488 |
458.52 |
459.57 |
1.05 |
4.93 |
0.03 |
0.01 |
4.94 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005493-96 |
463.54 |
467.00 |
3.46 |
1.25 |
1.93 |
0.08 |
1.84 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
cont. CRL005496 |
466.00 |
467.00 |
1.00 |
2.73 |
0.11 |
0.03 |
2.78 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005501 |
470.54 |
471.50 |
0.96 |
0.50 |
0.31 |
0.03 |
0.60 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005513-15 |
484.00 |
488.00 |
4.00 |
0.51 |
0.42 |
0.03 |
0.65 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005514 |
485.73 |
486.43 |
0.70 |
2.65 |
2.07 |
0.14 |
3.32 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005527-28 |
501.54 |
504.35 |
2.81 |
0.06 |
0.17 |
0.14 |
0.22 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005528 |
503.47 |
504.35 |
0.88 |
0.14 |
0.52 |
0.42 |
0.63 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005537-38 |
515.00 |
517.85 |
2.85 |
0.15 |
0.90 |
0.36 |
0.69 |
Lode-Style Cu Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005538 |
515.00 |
516.00 |
1.00 |
0.00 |
2.14 |
1.00 |
1.40 |
Lode-Style Cu Mineralisation |
|
CRL005545 |
523.85 |
525.00 |
1.15 |
0.38 |
0.00 |
0.01 |
0.39 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005555-56 |
534.00 |
535.55 |
1.55 |
0.64 |
0.08 |
0.01 |
0.67 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005556 |
534.00 |
534.50 |
0.50 |
1.96 |
0.09 |
0.01 |
1.99 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005562-64 |
540.00 |
543.90 |
3.90 |
0.21 |
0.02 |
0.01 |
0.22 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005564 |
543.25 |
543.90 |
0.65 |
0.70 |
0.04 |
0.00 |
0.71 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005595-5605 |
578.00 |
588.00 |
10.00 |
0.92 |
0.78 |
0.02 |
1.15 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005596 |
579.93 |
581.03 |
1.10 |
7.19 |
1.11 |
0.02 |
7.51 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005599 |
583.30 |
584.05 |
0.75 |
1.21 |
4.73 |
0.05 |
2.53 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005605 |
587.50 |
588.00 |
0.50 |
0.27 |
0.64 |
0.01 |
0.45 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
CRL005613-14 |
596.00 |
597.92 |
1.92 |
0.22 |
0.13 |
0.02 |
0.27 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
|
incl. CRL005613 |
596.00 |
596.60 |
0.60 |
0.65 |
0.23 |
0.03 |
0.73 |
S.V.S Mineralisation |
Note*1 Tungsten Equivalent (WO3.Eq) Calculation: WO₃ (EQ)% = WO₃%+(Sn% x 0.82) + (Cu% x 0.27)
Commodity price assumptions: WO₃ US$ 43,000/t, Sn US$ 32,525/t, Cu US$ 9,429/t. Using the 12-month average to September 2025. Recovery assumptions: total WO₃ recovery 72%, total Sn recovery 68% and total Cu recovery 85%. Payability assumptions of 81%, 90% and 90% respectively.
Competent Person Statement:
The information in this announcement that relates to Sampling Techniques and Data and Exploration Results has been reviewed and approved by Mr Laurie Hassall, MSci (Geology), FIMMM, QMR, FGS, who is a full-time employee of Snowden Optiro. Mr Hassall holds a Master of Science degree in Geology from the University of Southampton and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (FIMMM), through which he is also accredited as Qualified for Minerals Reporting (QMR). He is also a Fellow of the Geological Society of London (FGS).
Snowden Optiro has been engaged by Cornwall Resources Limited to provide independent technical advice. Mr Hassall, a full-time employee of Snowden Optiro, is acting as the Competent Person and is independent of Cornwall Resources Limited. He has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code), and under the AIM Rules.
Mr Hassall consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information, in the form and context in which it appears. He confirms that, to the best of his knowledge, there is no new information or data that materially affects the information contained in previous market announcements, and that the form and context in which the information is presented has not been materially modified.
|
For further information, please contact: |
||
|
Strategic Minerals plc |
+44 (0) 207 389 7067 |
|
|
Mark Burnett |
||
|
Executive Director |
||
|
Website: |
www.strategicminerals.net |
|
|
Email: |
info@strategicminerals.net |
|
|
Follow Strategic Minerals on: |
||
|
X: |
@StrategicMnrls |
|
|
LinkedIn: |
https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-minerals-plc |
|
|
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP |
+44 (0) 20 3470 0470 |
|
|
Nominated Adviser and Broker |
||
|
Matthew Johnson/Charlie Bouverat/Grant Barker Zeus Capital Limited Joint Broker Harry Ansell/Katy Mitchell |
+44 (0) 203 829 5000 |
|
|
Vigo Consulting |
+44 (0) 207 390 0234 |
|
|
Investor Relations |
||
|
Ben Simons/Peter Jacob/Anna Sutton |
||
|
Email: |
strategicminerals@vigoconsulting.com |
Notes to Editors
About Strategic Minerals plc and Cornwall Resources Limited
Strategic Minerals plc (AIM: SML; USOTC: SMCDY) is an AIM-quoted, producing minerals company, actively developing strategic projects in the UK, United States and Australia.
In 2019, the Company completed the 100% acquisition of Cornwall Resources Limited and the Redmoor Tungsten-Tin-Copper Project.
The Redmoor Project is situated within the historically significant Tamar Valley Mining District in Cornwall, United Kingdom, with a JORC (2012) Compliant Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate published 14 February 2019:
|
Cut-off (SnEq%) |
Tonnage (Mt) |
WO3 % |
Sn % |
Cu % |
Sn Eq1 % |
WO3 Eq % |
|
>0.45 <0.65 |
1.50 |
0.18 |
0.21 |
0.30 |
0.58 |
0.41 |
|
>0.65 |
10.20 |
0.62 |
0.16 |
0.53 |
1.26 |
0.88 |
|
Total Inferred Resource |
11.70 |
0.56 |
0.16 |
0.50 |
1.17 |
0.82 |
1 Equivalent metal calculation notes; Sn(Eq)% = Sn% x 1 + WO3% x 1.43 + Cu% x 0.40. WO3(EQ)% = Sn% x 0.7 + WO3 + Cu% x 0.28. Commodity price assumptions: WO₃ US$ 33,000/t, Sn US$ 22,000/t, Cu US$ 7,000/t. Recovery assumptions: total WO3 recovery 72%, total Sn recovery 68% & total Cu recovery 85% and payability assumptions of 81%, 90% and 90% respectively
More information on Cornwall Resources can be found at: https://www.cornwallresources.com
In September 2011, Strategic Minerals acquired the distribution rights to the Cobre magnetite project in New Mexico, USA, through its wholly owned subsidiary Southern Minerals Group. Cobre has been in production since 2012 and continues to provide a sustainable revenue stream for the Company.
In March 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of the Leigh Creek Copper Mine situated in the copper rich belt of South Australia. The Company has entered into an exclusive Call Option with South Pacific Mineral Investments Pty Ltd trading as Cuprum Metals to acquire 100% of the project.
About the CIOS Good Growth Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund
This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council is responsible for managing projects funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly has been allocated £184 million for local investment through the Shared Prosperity Fund. This new approach to investment is designed to empower local leaders and communities, so they can make a real difference on the ground where it’s needed the most.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund proactively supports delivery of the UK-government’s five national missions: pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a specific focus to help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.
For more information, visit
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
For more information, visit https://ciosgoodgrowth.com
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Canada is preparing to unveil a multibillion-dollar uranium export agreement with India, marking the strongest sign yet that the two countries are rebuilding ties after a two-year diplomatic freeze.
Two people familiar with the negotiations revealed that the deal, valued at roughly US$2.8 billion, would run for up to a decade and position Canadian producer Cameco (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) as a long-term supplier to India’s expanding nuclear power sector.
The final terms are still being refined, the sources cautioned, but the agreement is expected to be announced in the coming days.
The deal, if it pushes through, would form part of the formal attempt of both parties to revive economic cooperation after a period of political strain.
This culminated last weekend in a decision by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restart long-stalled trade talks. The former has also accepted the latter’s invitation to visit India in 2026.
Both leaders signaled their intention to pursue a comprehensive economic partnership as they seek alternatives to increasingly unpredictable US trade policy.
According to two sources, the new agreement will not be a renewal but an entirely separate, larger commitment.
The pending export deal would go well beyond the countries’ previous uranium pact: a five-year, roughly US$350-million arrangement signed in 2015 that allowed India to buy Cameco uranium for civilian nuclear use.
In a recent press release, India’s Ministry of External Affairs also noted that “both sides reaffirmed their longstanding civil nuclear cooperation and noted the ongoing discussions on expanding collaboration, including through long-term uranium supply arrangements.”
India’s interest reflects its growing nuclear-power ambitions. The country operates about 25 reactors—many based on the Canadian-designed CANDU system—with six more under construction.
As electricity demand climbs and the government pushes to reduce carbon emissions, securing reliable uranium supplies has become a strategic priority for New Delhi. Expanded cooperation with Canada could also extend into small modular reactors, an area Ottawa has been promoting as part of its clean energy strategy and transition.
For Canada, the deal furthers its goals of developing a stable domestic nuclear supply. The country is the world’s second-largest producer of uranium, responsible for about 13 percent of global output, and holds some of the highest-grade deposits in the world.
Nearly 85 percent of Canadian uranium is exported primarily from mines in northern Saskatchewan. The industry generates around US$800 million in annual economic activity and employs more than 2,000 people, including many Indigenous and northern workers.
The diplomatic significance of the deal is equally notable. Relations between Canada and India plummeted in September 2023 after then-prime-minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi of involvement in the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an allegation India rejected.
The allegations led to trade talks being suspended, and political contact between the two countries sharply diminished.
While Canadian authorities continue to investigate the matter, Carney has signaled that he wants to move economic relations forward, particularly as he seeks to diversify exports away from the US under President Donald Trump.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Silver Dollar Resources Inc. (CSE:SLV)(OTCQX:SLVDF)(FSE:4YW) (‘Silver Dollar’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to report underground sample assay results and preliminary geologic modeling of existing high-grade drill results in support of an exploration and mining strategy shift from open pit to underground at its 100%-owned La Joya Silver (Cu-Au) Project (the ‘Property’) in the state of Durango, Mexico.
Figure 1: La Joya plan view showing mineralized areas and location of underground sampling.
A total of 16 channel samples were collected from the historic La Embotelladora mine workings, showing mineralization localized in ENE and NNE structural zones. Sample R-300 returned 2,753 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 0.4 metres (m) representing the NNE trending zone. Sample R-291 returned 328 g/t AgEq over 0.4m representing the ENE structural zone (Table 1). These data combined with existing drilling results are aiding in the Company’s ongoing strategy of transitioning La Joya from an open pit to an underground project by confirming high grade mineralization localization in a network of prospective structures. Ongoing geologic modeling will focus on validating this thesis through re-focused exploration planning.
Photo 1: Underground sampling of the historic La Embotelladora Mineworkings.
Figure 2: Plan view showing recent channel sample assay results and existing drilling results.
|
Sample ID |
Width (m) |
Ag g/t |
Au g/t |
Cu g/t |
Pb g/t |
Zn g/t |
AgEq g/t |
|
R-289 |
0.4 |
2 |
0.0 |
387 |
26 |
171 |
6 |
|
R-290 |
0.6 |
5 |
0.3 |
464 |
17 |
158 |
21 |
|
R-291 |
0.4 |
166 |
0.2 |
23,110 |
43 |
153 |
328 |
|
R-292 |
1.1 |
11 |
0.1 |
1,900 |
14 |
186 |
26 |
|
R-293 |
0.7 |
4 |
0.4 |
606 |
13 |
145 |
23 |
|
R-294 |
0.6 |
2 |
0.0 |
254 |
9 |
153 |
5 |
|
R-295 |
0.6 |
2 |
0.1 |
448 |
9 |
163 |
7 |
|
R-296 |
0.85 |
5 |
0.1 |
457 |
369 |
1,620 |
13 |
|
R-297 |
0.8 |
5 |
0.1 |
689 |
292 |
4,440 |
18 |
|
R-298 |
0.3 |
1 |
0.1 |
367 |
11 |
156 |
6 |
|
R-299 |
0.85 |
26 |
0.0 |
2,160 |
20 |
204 |
41 |
|
R-300 |
0.4 |
1,800 |
0.6 |
139,860 |
1,340 |
4,550 |
2,753 |
|
R-301 |
0.95 |
148 |
0.1 |
13,870 |
36 |
234 |
244 |
|
R-302 |
0.32 |
34 |
0.5 |
416 |
15 |
129 |
57 |
|
R-303 |
0.4 |
9 |
1.1 |
460 |
4 |
182 |
54 |
|
R-304 |
0.26 |
3 |
0.2 |
549 |
58 |
364 |
15 |
Table 1: Assay results from underground sampling campaign.
Silver equivalent is calculated using the following metal prices in USD: Au $1,750/oz, Ag $22/oz, Pb $1.25/lb, Zn $1.50/lb, Cu $4.30/lb. Recoveries of Au 66%, Ag 93%, Pb 87%, Zn 84%, Cu 70% historically reported from Pan American Silver’s La Colorada mine and Southern Silver’s Cerro Minitas mine (Cu only) have been used in the AgEq calculation, and are assumed to be comparable to anticipated recoveries at La Joya.
Figure 3: La Joya preliminary numerical model of AgEq trended to apparent E-W structural network.
Silver Dollar has also completed preliminary numerical modeling of existing drillhole assay data to identify additional high-grade mineralization. Numerical models were trended using preliminary vein modeling, which focused on a series of emerging E-W trends. Ongoing geologic modeling will incorporate other local trends, including a NNE structural trend, and the impact of stratigraphic-structural intersections on plunging mineral trends.
‘With silver, copper, and gold prices all reaching record highs this year, it’s an opportune time to re-conceptualize La Joya from a new underground perspective,’ said Greg Lytle, President of Silver Dollar. ‘The goal of our geological modeling is to assess La Joya’s underground potential based on a compilation of all historical data, consider hypothetical underground mining methods, and identify high-priority exploration targets to add value to the Project.’
Procedure, quality assurance/quality control and data verification:
All rock samples were collected, described, photographed, and bagged on-site. The samples were delivered by Silver Dollar staff to ActLabs in Zacatecas, Mexico for analysis. ActLabs is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Rock samples were crushed, pulverized and screened to -80 mesh at the lab, prior to analysis. Gold is analyzed by a 30g Fire Assay with AA (atomic absorption spectroscopy) finish, then gravimetric finish if greater than 10ppm Gold. Silver and 34 other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission spectroscopy) finish. Silver, lead, zinc, and copper over limits were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES (Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy) finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company’s quality assurance and quality control protocol.
About the La Joya Property:
La Joya is an advanced exploration stage property consisting of 15 mineral concessions totaling 4,646 hectares and hosts the Main Mineralized Trend (MMT), Santo Nino, and Coloradito deposits.
The previous operator, Silvercrest Mines, released a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) NI 43-101 Technical Report on the La Joya Property in December 2013. The PEA included a mineral resource estimate (MRE) on the MMT and Santo Nino deposits (See Historical MRE Table) that was based on 89 holes totaling 30,085 m of Silvercrest’s drilling between 2010 and 2012 (See Historical MRE Model). The MRE was reported to conform to CIM definitions for resource estimation; however, a qualified person of Silver Dollar has not done sufficient work to classify the historical resource, and the Company is not treating it as a current mineral resource. Independent data verification and an assessment of the mineral resource estimation methods are required to verify the historical mineral resource.
The Property is situated approximately 75 kilometres southeast of the Durango state capital city of Durango in a high-grade silver region with past-producing and operating mines, including Silver Storm’s La Parrilla Mine, Industrias Penoles’ Sabinas Mine, Grupo Mexico’s San Martin Mine, Sabinas Mine, First Majestic’s Del Toro Mine, and Pan American Silver’s La Colorada Mine (Figure 4).
Figure 4: La Joya location and historical and operating mines in the area.
Dale Moore, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person (QP) as defined in NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release on behalf of the Company.
About Silver Dollar Resources Inc.
Silver Dollar is a dynamic mineral exploration company focused on two of North America’s premier mining regions: Idaho’s prolific Silver Valley and the Durango-Zacatecas silver-gold belt. Our portfolio includes the advanced-stage Ranger-Page and La Joya projects, as well as the early-stage Nora project. The Company’s financial backers include renowned mining investor Eric Sprott, our largest shareholder. Silver Dollar’s management team is committed to an aggressive growth strategy and is actively reviewing potential acquisitions with a focus on drill-ready projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions.
For additional information, you can visit our website at silverdollarresources.com, download our investor presentation, and follow us on X at x.com/SilverDollarRes.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Signed ‘Gregory Lytle’
Gregory Lytle,
President, CEO & Director
Silver Dollar Resources Inc.
Direct line: (604) 839-6946
Email: greg@silverdollarresources.com
179 – 2945 Jacklin Road, Suite 416
Victoria, BC, V9B 6J9
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release may contain ‘forward-looking statements.’ Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this news release.
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