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Cellulose Breakthrough Could Simplify Rare Earths Separation

February 20, 2026 No Comments

A team of researchers at Penn State have developed a plant-based nanomaterial capable of selectively extracting dysprosium from rare earth mixtures, according to a recent report.

The findings published in the study detail how the team engineered a modified form of cellulose capable of isolating dysprosium, a heavy rare earth element used in semiconductors, electric motors, and generators.

Rare earths tend to occur together in nature and share nearly identical chemical properties, making separation complex and costly. Commercial processes typically rely on large-scale solvent extraction systems that require extensive chemical inputs and multiple repetitive stages to achieve high purity.

“As technology advances, manufacturers will need more and more dysprosium — some forecasts estimate the demand for this material may surge over 2,500 percent in the next 25 years,” said Amir Sheikhi, associate professor of chemical engineering at Penn State.

The research builds on earlier work by the team, which previously used cellulose-based compounds to recover neodymium from electronic waste.

In the latest study, the focus shifted to dysprosium and the challenge of separating heavier rare earth elements from lighter ones more efficiently.

To achieve this, the researchers modified cellulose at the molecular level, creating nanoscale crystalline particles roughly 100 nanometers long. When introduced into a water-based mixture containing both neodymium and dysprosium, the nanocellulose selectively captured dysprosium through adsorption.

The team observed that the modified cellulose chains behaved differently in the presence of dysprosium, effectively isolating it from the mixture.

“Separating rare earth elements from one another has been extremely difficult, due to the metals’ very similar chemical structures,” Sheikhi explained. “We have been looking for a reliable way to separate heavy elements like dysprosium from lighter elements like neodymium, while avoiding the negative environmental side effects that come from current separation approaches.”

The simplicity of the approach contrasts sharply with traditional rare earth separation facilities, which often require sprawling industrial plants and dozens of equilibrium stages to achieve magnet-grade purity.

Industry studies have shown that separating similar rare earth elements can require upward of 60 repetitive extraction stages, underscoring the technical barrier that has helped concentrate processing capacity in countries such as China.

China currently accounts for the majority of global rare earth processing, particularly for heavy rare earth elements like dysprosium that are critical for high-temperature magnets and defense applications.

The Penn State team argues that a cellulose-based system could reduce chemical usage and lower the environmental footprint of rare earth recovery if successfully scaled.

Future work will focus on refining the material and testing its ability to isolate additional rare earth elements.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Crypto Market Update: White House Pushes for Compromise in Stablecoin Negotiations

February 20, 2026 No Comments

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (February 20) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$67,697.37, up by 0.9 percent over the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, February 20, 2026.

Chart via TradingView.

Antonio Di Giacomo, a senior market analyst at XS.com, noted that BTC deepened its corrective phase after the US Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes revealed a division over the future path of interest rates, increasing volatility and weakening appetite for speculative assets.

A combination of macroeconomic caution, persistent price pressures, and geopolitical tensions has kept the Fed on a cautious stance, thus keeping BTC volatile and trading between technical resistance and intermediate support.

Its future direction will largely depend on the evolution of US data, interest rates and regulatory developments.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,968.25, up by one percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.42, up by 0.6 over 24 hours.

Solana (SOL) was trading at US$84.56, up by 3.1 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

White House stablecoin talks advance amid yield/rewards debate

The White House hosted its third meeting with its Crypto Policy Council, led by Executive Director Patrick Witt, Senate Banking Committee staff, crypto representatives and banking executives on Thursday (February 19), focusing on the yield v reward debate for stablecoins as part of negotiations for the CLARITY Act and GENIUS Act updates.

The first meeting, a broad introductory discussion that ended without a resolution, was held on February 2. The second meeting, held on February 10, was reportedly more focused, with banks presenting yield and interest prohibition principles, prohibiting rewards tied to holding stablecoins. The closed-door meetings, with no public records, were described by anonymous sources, attendees and journalists as productive but inconclusive.

During the latest meeting, the White House reportedly pushed for a compromise, allowing rewards tied to transaction activity, but not to idle holdings that resemble bank deposits; however, no final deal was reached.

Banking representatives from Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), Citigroup (NYSE:C), PNC Financial (NYSE:PNC) and US Bancorp (NYSE:USB), as well as trade groups like Bank Policy Institute, American Bankers Association and Independent Community Bankers of America, were said to actively work on language to that end, though a final draft will still have to be circulated and weighed by the banks.

CME moves crypto derivatives to 24/7 schedule

CME Group will begin offering round-the-clock trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options on CME Globex starting May 29, 2026, pending regulatory approval.

The decision follows a record US$3 trillion in notional crypto derivatives volume in 2025. Year-to-date in 2026, crypto derivatives average daily volume has climbed 46 percent year over year to 407,200 contracts, while futures ADV is up 47 percent. Average daily open interest currently stands at 335,400 contracts.

By eliminating weekend closures, CME allows traders to hedge in real time as crypto markets move, reducing the price gap risk that builds when traditional markets are shut.

Bitcoin ETFs extend five week outflow streak

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds logged another US$165.8 million in net redemptions on February 19, stretching a five-week outflow streak to nearly US$4 billion.

Weekly withdrawals since mid-January have ranged from US$318 million to US$1.49 billion, raising questions about whether institutional demand is cooling.

Despite the steady redemptions, Bitcoin edged up 1.4 percent over the past day to roughly US$67,800, lifting the broader crypto market cap to around US$2.4 trillion.

Solana meme coin PUNCH surges after exchange listing

A Solana-based meme coin known as PUNCH has surged sharply after securing a listing on a major exchange, briefly jumping more than 80 percent in a single session and posting eye-catching weekly gains.

The token’s market capitalization climbed past US$30 million as it ranked among CoinGecko’s top gainers.

The coin draws branding from a viral story about a rescued baby long-tailed macaque named Punch, which gained traction across social media.

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

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

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AI Still Has Legs, but Valuation Risk is Back in Focus

February 20, 2026 No Comments

The tech rally that powered markets through 2025 is being tested in 2026.

In early February, a broad tech selloff hit markets, fueled by various elements, including aggressive artificial intelligence (AI) capital spending guidance from hyperscalers, as well as the rapid release of new AI models, which sparked disruption concerns within the software sector. This powerful combination forced investors to separate durable AI leaders from stocks whose gains were driven mainly by sentiment and stretched valuations.

Technology benchmarks saw significant losses. From December 31, 2025, to its February 5 year‑to‑date low, the S&P Technology Index (INDEXSP:SP500-45) dropped by nearly 7 percent. Software-focused measures were hit especially hard; the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (BATS:IGV) declined by almost 25 percent.

Meanwhile, semiconductor‑focused peers like the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) remained up more than 5 percent over the same stretch. The divergence underscored how quickly a broad AI theme can split into clear winners and laggards depending on where revenues and profits are actually showing up.

Indexes have since returned some of their losses, but investors with a multi‑year horizon need portfolio construction that can withstand the volatile nature of a sentiment-sensitive sector like tech. In this kind of environment, the challenge becomes building exposure to long‑term AI growth without drifting into a concentrated valuation risk trade.

James Learmonth serves as co-chief investment officer at Harvest ETFs and oversees strategies including the Harvest Tech Achievers Growth & Income ETF (TSX:HTA). Over the same period, it declined only by about 7 percent, underscoring the difference between a diversified, income‑oriented structure and a pure software basket.

Why did tech stocks sell off in early February?

After piling into AI‑linked software and services names on strong cloud and AI‑related revenue growth, the technology sector underwent a steep correction from its October 2025 high. The decline followed earnings reports that included guidance pointing to sustained, capital‑intensive buildouts and longer payback periods.

After hyperscalers signaled aggressive 2026 infrastructure spending, market participants began to question return‑on‑investment timelines, even as fundamentals largely held up.

Companies with less certain paths to monetization saw their share prices decrease rapidly, while those showing profitable AI‑driven growth and measurable returns on invested capital were hit less hard. Disruption‑driven headlines, such as the launch of Anthropic’s Claude Cowork tools and new AI assistants aimed at legal and accounting workflows, added to the perception that many software business models are at risk, even if long‑term AI adoption remains intact.

The move exposed the limits of a purely thematic AI basket approach; in this environment, a passive, set‑and‑forget AI allocation can quickly morph from a growth‑oriented bet into a concentrated valuation risk trade, which is where active managers like Learmonth are trying to draw a sharper line between structural growth and speculation.

For Harvest ETFs, that line starts with business quality rather than a story about AI.

“Obviously it’s a rapidly evolving landscape across AI right now,” he said. “I think having competitive moats in place is paramount for companies maintaining their leadership position over time. From a valuation perspective, we like to look at P/E with that growth multiplier peg applied to us, so you have that growth lens applied to the valuation.”

Several lenses help distinguish structural winners from speculative names.

Learmonth pointed to growing margins, return on equity and return on invested capital as key markers that AI‑driven capex is actually creating value, rather than just inflating a headline growth story.

“You want to make sure companies are actually growing profitably, and not just generating revenue for the sake of generating revenue, but not able to pass that through in terms of bottom‑line growth as well. I think return on equity and return on invested capital, along those same lines, are key metrics to look at too,’ he noted.

Companies with clear, recurring AI‑related revenue streams, such as infrastructure or enabling hardware, tend to fare better than those whose AI exposure is largely driven by narrative.

“We have for a long time argued that the hardware and semiconductor side of the business is where we want to be (more heavily focused) right now, because it is seeing the revenue and profit generation directly from the infrastructure investment. That being said, particularly with the severity of the declines that we’ve seen in the software side over the past few weeks, I think (some opportunities) might be starting to spring up there,’ said Learmonth.

“We have reduced our software exposure a little bit over the past few quarters, but we are still maintaining some software exposure in those companies where we think they have competitive moats, whether that’s specialized areas like tax preparation and accounting, things like that,’ the expert elaborated.

Following the earlier correction, which Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives says may have been an overreaction, AI‑sensitive stocks are now trading at more reasonable multiples than at their October 2025 peak.

For the S&P 500 Software & Services group, the average forward P/E multiple has fallen from about 32.6 times to 22.7 times expected profits, even though analysts still forecast double‑digit revenue and earnings growth, plus net margins close to 30 percent. That average hides a wide gap between names that still trade on premium “AI story” multiples and others that have rerated much more sharply, which is where stock picking becomes critical.

In a recent note, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) spotlighted Atlassian (NASDAQ:TEAM), Shopify (NYSE:SHOP) and Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) as some of the most compelling software opportunities for investors looking to buy the dip.

Investor takeaway

Against this backdrop, the focus is shifting from “how much AI” to “how AI is structured.’

For investors who want to stay exposed to AI‑driven tech, but are wary of sharp, headline‑driven swings, vehicles like the Harvest Tech Achievers Growth & Income ETF could offer a middle ground by combining active stock selection in structural winners with a covered‑call overlay.

“That’s how we generate enhanced yields — by selling calls on our long equity positions to generate option premiums, which we then pay as distributions on a fixed monthly basis,” explained Learmonth.

“That sale of options can help to mitigate some of the month‑to‑month volatility across the fund, with the tradeoff being some foregone upside in a strong bull market.”

As the AI trend evolves, success will likely favor those who view AI as a long-term, multi-year structural shift rather than a short-term theme. Winners will employ active management, prioritize income and utilize a disciplined structure to separate signal from noise.

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

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Crypto Market Update: CME Shifts Crypto Futures to 24/7 Trading

February 20, 2026 No Comments

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (February 20) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$67,850.72, up by 1.2 percent over the last 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, February 20, 2026.

Chart via TradingView

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,959.77, up by 0.6 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.42, trading flat over 24 hours.

Solana (SOL) was trading at US$83.59, down by 3.1 percent over 24 hours.

Today’s crypto news to know

CME moves crypto derivatives to 24/7 schedule

CME Group will begin offering round-the-clock trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options on CME Globex starting May 29, 2026, pending regulatory approval.

By eliminating weekend closures, CME allows traders to hedge in real time as crypto markets move, reducing the price gap risk that builds when traditional markets are shut.

Bitcoin ETFs extend five-week outflow streak

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds logged another US$165.8 million in net redemptions on February 19, stretching a five-week outflow streak to nearly US$4 billion.

Weekly withdrawals since mid-January have ranged from US$318 million to US$1.49 billion, raising questions about whether institutional demand is cooling.

Despite the steady redemptions, Bitcoin edged up 1.4 percent over the past day to roughly US$67,800, lifting the broader crypto market cap to around US$2.4 trillion.

Solana meme coin PUNCH surges after exchange listing

The token’s market capitalization climbed past US$30 million as it ranked among CoinGecko’s top gainers.

The coin draws branding from a viral story about a rescued baby long-tailed macaque named Punch, which gained traction across social media.

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

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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1911 Gold Announces US$30 Million Credit Facility with Auramet International

February 20, 2026 No Comments

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

1911 Gold Corporation (‘1911 Gold’ or the ‘Company’) (TSXV: AUMB,OTC:AUMBF) (OTCQX: AUMBF) (FRA: 2KY) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a loan agreement (the ‘Loan Agreement’) with Auramet International, Inc. (‘Auramet’), providing for a US$30 million secured credit facility (the ‘Credit Facility’). It is anticipated that the proceeds from the Credit Facility will be used to advance critical operational milestones at the True North Gold Project, specifically providing the capital required to purchase essential mining equipment, underground development at the True North mine, and the installation of the new crushing circuit at the mill.

1911 Gold Corporation - TSXV: AUMB, OTCQB: AUMBF, FRA: 2KY (CNW Group/1911 Gold Corporation)

Shaun Heinrichs, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated ‘We are very pleased to secure this credit facility with Auramet, a group that has a long and successful history with the True North Gold Project and a deep understanding of its potential. This US$30 million facility provides the necessary funding to advance the restart plan outlined in our recently released PEA, which showcased a high-return, low-capital-intensity path back to production. By securing this financing, we remain well-capitalized to achieve our key operational milestones at Rice Lake as we position 1911 Gold for a restart in 2027.’

Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, US$15 million of the Credit Facility (the ‘Tranche 1 Amount‘) will be made available on the Closing Date (as defined below) and, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, the remaining US$15 million of the Credit Facility (the ‘Tranche 2 Amount‘) will be made available during the period commencing on the date that is 90 days following the Closing Date and ending on the date that is 180 days following the Closing Date. The outstanding principal amount under the Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate of 12% per annum calculated and payable monthly in arrears on the last business day of each calendar month; provided, however, that no interest shall accrue on the Tranche 1 Amount for a period of six months following the Closing Date. The Tranche 1 Amount shall be amortized and repaid to Auramet in 12 equal monthly instalments of US$1.25 million commencing on the date that is 13 months following the Closing Date and ending on the date that is 24 months following the Closing Date (the ‘Maturity Date‘). The Tranche 2 Amount shall be repaid to Auramet on the Maturity Date.

The obligations under the Loan Agreement and the Offtake Agreement (as defined below) are secured by a first-ranking security interest on all personal property of the Company and a continuing collateral mortgage against the Company’s True North Gold Project and Rice Lake exploration properties. The Loan Agreement includes terms and conditions customary for a transaction of this nature, including certain specified positive and negative covenants and mandatory prepayment terms.

The closing of the advance of the Tranche 1 Amount is anticipated to occur prior to the end of February (the ‘Closing Date‘) and is subject to customary conditions, including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange (the ‘TSXV‘).

In consideration for the arrangement of the Credit Facility, on the Closing Date, the Company will pay Auramet an arrangement fee of US$1,050,000, representing 3.5% of the aggregate principal amount of the Credit Facility, which fee is payable, at the option of the Company, in cash or by the issuance of 1,369,600 common shares in the capital of the Company (‘Common Shares‘) at a deemed price of C$1.05 per Common Share.

In consideration for the lending of the Tranche 1 Amount, on the Closing Date, the Company will pay Auramet a drawdown fee of US$375,000, representing 2.5% of the Tranche 1 Amount, which fee is payable, at the option of the Company, in cash or by the issuance of 489,142 Common Shares at a deemed price of C$1.05 per Common Share, and will issue to Auramet 4,500,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company (the ‘Tranche 1 Warrants‘), with each Tranche 1 Warrant exercisable to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to C$1.07 per Common Share, representing a 10% premium to the 5-day volume-weighted average price of the Common Shares on the TSXV for the five consecutive trading days ending on (and including) the date of the Loan Agreement, with such Tranche 1 Warrants expiring on the Maturity Date, subject to acceleration.

In consideration for the lending of the Tranche 2 Amount, on the date of drawdown of the Tranche 2 Amount, the Company will pay Auramet a further drawdown fee of US$375,000, representing 2.5% of the Tranche 2 Amount, which fee is payable, at the option of the Company, in either cash or in Common Shares by issuing such number of Common Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the amount of the drawdown fee converted to Canadian dollars based on the Bank of Canada daily exchange rate on the business day prior to the date of drawdown of the Tranche 2 Amount, by (ii) the greater of (A) the closing price of the Common Shares on the TSXV on the trading day immediately prior to the date of drawdown of the Tranche 2 Amount, and (B) the lowest price permitted by the TSXV, and will issue to Auramet an additional 4,500,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company (the ‘Tranche 2 Warrants‘ and, together with the Tranche 1 Warrants, the ‘Warrants‘), with each Tranche 2 Warrant exercisable to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to the greater of (i) a 10% premium to the 5-day volume-weighted average price of the Common Shares on the TSXV for the five consecutive trading days ending on (and including) the trading day immediately prior to the date of drawdown of the Tranche 2 Amount, and (ii) the lowest price permitted by the TSXV.

The Common Shares and the Warrants issuable pursuant to the Loan Agreement and the Common Shares underlying the Warrants will be subject to a four-month statutory hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Common Shares and the Warrants issuable pursuant to the Loan Agreement and the Common Shares underlying the Warrants 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 U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws or compliance with the requirements of an applicable exemption therefrom. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

In connection with the Credit Facility, the Company also entered into an offtake agreement (the ‘Offtake Agreement‘) with Auramet, pursuant to which the Company will sell to Auramet 100% of gold produced from its True North Gold Project and its Rice Lake exploration properties until the date that is the later of (i) the date which is 36 months following the Closing Date, and (ii) the date on which full repayment of the Credit Facility has been made.

About Auramet

Auramet is a private company established in 2004 by seasoned professionals who have assembled a global team of industry specialists with over 400 years combined industry experience. It is one of the largest physical precious metals merchants in the world and has provided over $1.5 billion in term financing facilities to date. Auramet offers a full range of services including physical metals trading, metals merchant banking (including direct lending), and project finance advisory services to all participants in the precious metals supply chain.

About 1911 Gold Corporation

1911 Gold is an advanced gold explorer and developer focused on its 100%-owned True North Gold Project in the Archean Rice Lake Greenstone Belt in Manitoba, Canada. The Company controls a large, highly prospective ~62,000-hectare land package with numerous past-producing gold operations within trucking distance of the fully built and permitted True North mine and mill complex. 1911 Gold is positioning itself to restart operations in 2027 and offers a unique, near-term production story with significant exploration upside. The strategy is to build a district-scale gold mining operation around a centralized, and readily expandable infrastructure to support a socially and environmentally responsible, long-term mining operation with little development risk and a growing mineral resource base.

1911 Gold’s True North complex and the exploration land package are located within and among the First Nation communities of the Hollow Water First Nation and the Black River First Nation. 1911 Gold looks forward to maintaining open, cooperative, and respectful communications with all of our local communities and stakeholders to foster mutually beneficial working relationships.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Shaun Heinrichs
President and CEO

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements‘). Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as ‘plans’, ‘expects’ or ‘does not expect’, ‘is expected’, ‘budget’, ‘scheduled’, ‘estimates’, ‘forecasts’, ‘intends’, ‘anticipates’ or ‘does not anticipate’, or ‘believes’, or that describe a ‘goal’, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or ‘will’ be taken, occur or be achieved.

All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including, but not limited to, statements about the structure and terms of the Credit Facility, the Loan Agreement and the Offtake Agreement, the use of proceeds of the Credit Facility, the timing and ability of the Company to close the advance of the Tranche 1 Amount on the terms announced or at all, the timing and ability of the Company to satisfy the conditions precedent in respect of the Credit Facility, including the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, and the Company’s objectives, goals and future plans and strategies, are forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made. Actual results or events may differ from those predicted in these forward-looking statements. All of the Company’s forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions listed below. Although the Company believes that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, predictions, projections, forecasts, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s inability to close the Credit Facility, including the advance of the Tranche 1 Amount, on the terms described in this news release or on other terms acceptable to the Company, the Company’s inability to satisfy the conditions precedent in respect of the Credit Facility, the Company’s inability to receive necessary regulatory approvals in respect of the Credit Facility, and the Company’s inability to repay the Credit Facility or comply with the covenants set out in the Loan Agreement.

Although 1911 Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are given as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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 1911 Gold Corporation

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Steadright Critical Minerals: Advancing High-grade Mineral Assets in Morocco

February 20, 2026 No Comments

Steadright Critical Minerals (CSE:SCM) is a Canadian-listed exploration and development company focused on unlocking value from Morocco’s mineral-rich terrain. It prioritizes assets with past production, strong geological datasets, and defined development pathways, aiming to shorten timelines, lower risk, and balance near-term cash flow with longer-term discovery upside.

Its core assets include the fully permitted, past-producing Goundafa polymetallic mine, the Copper Valley copper-lead-silver project in a proven mining district, and the TitanBeach heavy mineral sands project along Morocco’s Atlantic coast. A recent letter of intent with SilverLine Mining SARL could further strengthen the portfolio by adding a licensed, silver-focused asset, reinforcing Steadright’s strategy of acquiring high-quality, permitted projects.

Azurite mineral on rocky surface, highlighted with a green dashed line. from Steadright Critical MIneral

Operating in Morocco—a jurisdiction known for modern mining legislation, strong infrastructure, and competitive fiscal incentives—Steadright benefits from a supportive mining environment. The company is led by an experienced management team with decades of global mining, exploration, and capital markets expertise, positioning it to advance its projects efficiently.

Company Highlights

Near-Term Production: The historic Goundafa Polymetallic mine is fully permitted with a legacy of high-grade zinc, lead, copper, silver, and gold production, Goundafa offers near-term, non-dilutive cash flow from historic stockpile sales under a binding processing agreement.
Diversified Portfolio: Fully permitted Goundafa Polymetallic mine (PbZn-Cu-Ag-Au), the Copper Valley CopperLead-Silver Project, SilverLine Mining Sarl (LOI) and the TitanBeach Heavy Mineral Sands
Strategic Moroccan Operations: Operating in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with modern legislation, strong infrastructure, and significant fiscal incentives including corporate tax exemptions.
Experienced Leadership: Management and technical teams bring decades of international mining, exploration, and capital markets experience.

This Steadright Critical Minerals profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Steadright Critical Minerals (CSE:SCM) to receive an Investor Presentation

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LaFleur Minerals

February 20, 2026 No Comments

Investor Insight

LaFleur Minerals is advancing a district-scale gold platform anchored by a defined resource base and a fully permitted processing facility in Québec’s Abitibi region. With ongoing mill restart activities and a targeted gold pour on the horizon, the company offers investors exposure to both near-term production potential and meaningful exploration upside.

Overview

LaFleur Minerals (CSE:LFLR,OTCQB:LFLRF) is a growth-oriented gold exploration and development company focused on building a scalable mining platform within Québec’s Abitibi region, a belt that has produced more than 190 million ounces of gold historically. The company’s strategy is centered on advancing its flagship Swanson deposit while leveraging existing infrastructure to accelerate timelines to production.

A key differentiator is LaFleur’s vertically integrated model: combining resource expansion with ownership of a permitted processing facility. This approach reduces development risk, lowers capital intensity, and positions the company to monetize discoveries faster than traditional single-asset explorers.

With a market valuation that management believes does not yet reflect the combined value of its resource base, infrastructure and exploration pipeline, LaFleur offers exposure to both near-term catalysts and long-term district-scale discovery potential.

Company Highlights

District-Scale Land Position: Controls ~183 sq km of claims near Val‑d’Or in Québec, one of the world’s most prolific gold jurisdictions.
Flagship Resource Asset: Swanson Gold Project hosts NI 43-101 resources of 123,400 oz indicated and 64,500 oz inferred with expansion potential.
Strategic Infrastructure Ownership: Owns the fully permitted Beacon Gold Mill with 750 tpd capacity and low restart cost.
Growth-Focused Exploration: 5,000 m drill program underway targeting resource growth to >1 Moz.
Proven Asset Consolidation: Claims assembled from prior operators including Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines and Globex.
Tier-1 Jurisdiction: Québec ranks among the world’s top mining investment regions according to the Fraser Institute.
Experienced Leadership: Led by CEO Paul Ténière, a geologist with extensive development and technical reporting expertise.

Key Projects

Swanson Gold Project – Flagship Asset

The Swanson project forms the cornerstone of LaFleur’s growth strategy. Spanning more than 18,300 hectares, the property hosts multiple deposits and mineralized trends along favorable regional structures and deformation corridors. Historic drilling exceeding 36,000 meters demonstrates strong geological continuity and supports expansion potential across the broader land package.

Located approximately 66 km north of Val-d’Or with road and rail access, Swanson sits in close proximity to established operators such as Agnico Eagle and Eldorado, as well as developers including Probe Gold and O3 Mining. Ongoing geophysics, soil geochemistry and drilling continue to identify new targets, reinforcing the project’s potential to evolve into a large-scale gold system.

Project Highlights:

Spans +18,300 hectares (183 sq km) and rich in gold and critical metals, hosts the Swanson, Bartec and Jolin gold deposits
Previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines and Globex
Accessible by road/rail, 66 km north of Val-d’Or on the Southend Abitibi gold belt, close proximity to established producers such as Agnico Eagle and Eldorado, as well as developers like Probe Gold and O3 Mining, with direct access to several nearby gold mills
Mineral resource estimate reinforces status as flagship project:
- Indicated mineral resource estimate of 2,113,000 t with average grade of 1.8 g/t gold, containing 123,400 oz of gold.
- Inferred mineral resource estimate of 872,000 t with average grade of 2.3 g/t gold, containing 64,500 oz of gold
- The project’s current MRE was optimized with a price of gold at US$1,850/oz, current gold market price has hit above US$3,000/oz
$3 million in flow-through to deploy with immediate plans to increase gold resources through diamond drilling at Swanson, Bartec, Jolin, and other gold deposits
Other key developments include a decline portal and ramp extending to a depth of 80 metres; well positioned for advanced exploration with over $5 million invested by the previous owner between 2021 and 2023
Since acquiring the Swanson deposit and consolidating the large claims package, the company has deployed in excess of $1 million in flow-through funds, completed detailed soil geochemistry and prospecting across several gold targets, completed a very-high resolution airborne magnetic and VLF-EM geophysical survey, and is currently in the process of completing a ground IP survey over the Swanson, Jolin, and Bartec gold deposits
Several new promising gold targets have been identified from the recent surface exploration and geophysics programs, highlighting the potential for mineral resource growth and new discoveries at Swanson

With advanced assets and infrastructure in place, LaFleur Minerals is well-positioned as a leading gold development company in Québec.

Beacon Gold Mill – Near-term Production

The Beacon Gold Mill is a strategically located processing facility less than 50 km from Swanson and represents a rare asset for a junior developer: a fully permitted plant capable of near-term restart. The 750-tpd mill underwent approximately $20 million in upgrades and refurbishment, placing it in excellent operational condition and substantially reducing restart timelines.

An independent valuation by Bumigeme estimated rehabilitation costs at about C$4.1 million and a replacement value exceeding C$71.5 million, underscoring its strategic importance. Beyond processing Swanson material, the mill also offers potential toll-milling revenue from regional deposits, providing LaFleur with multiple pathways to cash flow as it transitions toward producer status.

Industrial machinery with large drums and walkways at LaFleur Minerals

Project Highlights:

Capable of custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects
Currently being evaluated for processing mineralized material from Swanson as part of a high-level preliminary mining and economic study
Past-producing Beacon Mine is located on the site of the Beacon Mill: the property consists of a mining lease, a mining concession, and 11 mining claims
Beacon I and II mines include mineralized zones where limited historical gold production was achieved during the period of 1984 to 1988 and again in 2005
The advancement of operations at the Beacon Mill has transformational qualities for the company, evolving it from explorer to a near-term gold producer in a Tier 1 jurisdiction with significant upside potential

Management Team

Kal Malhi – Chairman

A successful entrepreneur and the founder of Bullrun Capital, Kal Malhi has raised over $300 million for various public and private companies across multiple industries, including mining, biotechnology and technology.

Paul Ténière – CEO

Paul Ténière has more than 20 years of experience in mine development, geology and project management. He has held senior leadership roles across multiple mining companies and is a recognized expert in NI 43-101 compliance and technical reporting.

Harry Nijjar – CFO and Corporate Secretary

Harry Nijjar is currently a managing director with Malaspina Consultants and provides CFO and strategic financial advisory services to his clients across many industries. This experience has allowed him to help his clients successfully navigate regulatory and financial environments within which they operate. Harry holds a CPA CMA designation from the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and a BComm from the University of British Columbia

Louis Martin – Technical Advisor and Exploration Manager

Louis Martin is a professional geoscientist. and has been a major contributor to the discovery of several gold and base metal deposits during his more than 40-year career. Martin has been fortunate to be part of the exploration teams that were awarded the Discovery of the Year by the AEMQ for the West Ansil Deposit (2005) and the Louvicourt Deposit (1989). He has worked on several advanced exploration projects that included bringing four of these projects into production. For the last eight years, Martin has worked as a technical advisor and geological consultant for numerous junior and major mining companies.

Preet Gill – Director

Preet Gill is a business professional offering leading development and implementation of superior business strategy. Gill has a proven track record of identifying and creating profitable business opportunities, qualifying authentic prospects, and cultivating strong partnerships. She has over 28 years of experience in leadership roles within Home Depot Canada and has an MBA from Royal Roads University and certificates in business leadership from Queen’s University.

Harveer Sidhu – Director

Harveer Sidhu is the founder of BuildSmartr.com and has served as a director, officer and audit committee member for publicly listed companies. Sidhu is experienced in manufacturing, import and exporting, information technology systems, e-commerce and construction project management. He is also the president and director of Beyond Medical Technologies. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Simon Fraser University and has been a licensed builder with BC Housing since 2014.

Michael Kelly – Director

Michael Kelly is a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces Military Police and a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Kelly currently serves as a Partner at BullRun Capital Inc. and is a respected businessman based in Kelowna, British Columbia. He is also a director and member of the audit committee of Beyond Medical Technologies, an industrial/technology company with a manufacturing facility located in Delta, British Columbia.

Jean Lafleur – Senior Advisor

A highly respected geologist with over 40 years of experience in the mining sector, Jean Lafleur has led multiple exploration programs and mining projects, contributing to major gold discoveries worldwide.

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Rapid Critical Metals: Visit us at PDAC 2026 Convention in Toronto this March at Booth 3142

February 20, 2026 No Comments

Visit Rapid Critical Metals (ASX: RCM) at Booth #3142 at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC) Convention at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) from Sunday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

About Rapid Critical Metals

Rapid Critical Metals (ASX: RCM) (ASX: RCMO) is an exploration company driving the discovery and development of high-grade silver and critical mineral assets. Following a transformational pivot in mid-2025, Rapid has assembled a high-impact portfolio anchored by the Webbs and Conrads Silver Projects in New South Wales and the Prophet River Gallium–Germanium Project in British Columbia, Canada. Both projects sit within geologically rich, infrastructure-ready regions and present strong potential for near-term exploration success.Headquartered in Sydney, Rapid is fully funded and strategically positioned to deliver growth through aggressive exploration and value-accretive development. Led by an experienced team, including Chairman John Poynton AO and Managing Director Byron Miles, the Company is advancing a catalyst-rich program — with resource upgrades, step-out drilling, and new target testing set to drive a steady flow of news and shareholder value in the months ahead.

About PDAC

The World’s Premier Mineral Exploration & Mining Convention is the leading convention for people, governments, companies and organizations connected to mineral exploration. In addition to meeting more than 1,100 exhibitors, 2,500 investors and 26,000 attendees in person in 2024, participants could also attend programming, courses and networking events.

The annual convention is held in Toronto, Canada. It has grown in size, stature and influence since it began in 1932 and today is the event of choice for the world’s mineral industry.

For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://www.pdac.ca/convention.

We look forward to seeing you there.

For further information:

Rapid Critical Metals
Byron Miles
+61 2 9290 9600
info@investability.com.au
https://rapidmetals.com.au/

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Northern Dynasty Shares Plunge as DOJ Backs EPA Veto of Alaska’s Pebble Mine

February 20, 2026 No Comments

Northern Dynasty Minerals (TSX:NDM,NYSEAMERICAN:NAK) shares plunged on Wednesday (February 18) after the US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a court brief backing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) January 2023 veto of the company’s long-contested Pebble project in Alaska.

The brief supports the EPA’s prior determination to restrict development of the proposed copper, gold and molybdenum project in the Bristol Bay watershed. Northern Dynasty and its wholly owned US subsidiary, Pebble Limited Partnership, are seeking summary judgment in their legal challenge to overturn the EPA’s veto.

The veto, issued under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act, blocks the disposal of mine waste in certain waters within the Bristol Bay area, effectively preventing the project from advancing through the federal permitting process.

In its determination, the EPA said the proposed mine would destroy more than 2,000 acres of wetlands.

The Pebble project has faced more than two decades of regulatory scrutiny and opposition, largely due to its location in the Bristol Bay watershed, home to some of the world’s largest sockeye salmon fisheries.

Supporters argue the project represents a strategic domestic source of copper and other critical minerals, while opponents contend it poses unacceptable environmental risks.

Northern Dynasty Minerals’ TSX performance, February 12 to 19, 2026.

Chart via Google Finance.

In a Wednesday statement, Northern Dynasty President and CEO Ron Thiessen criticized the government’s position:

“We find it surprising that despite the executive orders and the many statements made by the administration related to Alaskan development, pro-energy, pro-critical metals, pro-defense and military support, removing roadblocks to permitting, on the need for copper, etc., this EPA would choose to defend the unlawful Obama-Biden veto.’

Thiessen pushed back strongly against the DOJ’s filing in a follow-up comment on Thursday (February 19), claiming that the “veto was illegal, and a high level of confidence that the court will agree with us.”

The CEO added, “This DOJ brief makes many arguments that we have seen before and that directly contradict the findings of the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The flaws in this brief only increase that confidence.’

After Northern Dynasty filed its legal challenge in Alaska’s federal district court in 2024 and settlement discussions with the EPA failed, the parties agreed to seek resolution through summary judgment. Under the court’s timeline, the DOJ filing was due by Tuesday (February 17), with final reply briefs from the plaintiffs to follow.

If built, Pebble would be the largest copper, gold and molybdenum extraction site in North America. A 2023 economic study estimates the project could produce 6.4 billion pounds of copper, 7.4 million ounces of gold and 300 million pounds of molybdenum over 20 years, along with 37 million ounces of silver and 200,000 kilograms of rhenium.

Despite those projections, the project’s path forward remains tied to the outcome of the legal battle. Northern Dynasty said it is reviewing the DOJ’s filing with its legal advisors.

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

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CoTec Holdings Corp. Publishes Updated Corporate Presentation

February 20, 2026 No Comments

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / ACCESS Newswire / February 19, 2026 / CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV:CTH,OTC:CTHCF)(OTCQB:CTHCF) (‘CoTec’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the publication of its updated February 2026 corporate presentation, available on the Company’s website at www.cotec.ca.

The updated presentation reflects the continued progress of the Company’s growth strategy with recent project-level advancements across its asset portfolio, including previously announced feasibility studies, expansion concept studies and key development milestones at HyProMag USA, MagIron and Lac Jeannine.

The presentation also includes an updated consolidated summary of attributable project interests and economics, reflecting the Company’s updated sum-of-the-parts valuation based on previously announced technical studies and press releases. No new technical material or economic information is being announced.

Julian Treger, Chief Executive Officer of CoTec, commented: ‘As our portfolio advances across multiple execution-stage assets, this updated presentation brings together our recently announced project milestones and updated project economics into a single, integrated view. In partnership with our stakeholders, we are reducing traditional mining development timelines to within five years. CoTec’s core strategy is to unlock value from resources and waste using disruptive technologies with a focus on critical minerals.

Based on the sum of the parts of our attributable interests, we believe the Company continues to trade at a significant undervaluation relative to the underlying value of our assets, with material upside as we execute on our stated milestones.’

The February 2026 corporate presentation is available on the homepage of the Company’s website.

About CoTec

CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV:CTH,OTC:CTHCF)(OTCQB:CTHCF) is redefining the future of resource extraction and recycling. Focused on rare earth magnets and strategic materials, CoTec integrates breakthrough technologies with strategic assets to unlock secure, sustainable, and low-cost supply chains.

CoTec’s mission is clear: accelerate the energy transition while strengthening strategic mineral supply chains for the countries we operate in. By investing in and deploying disruptive technologies, the Company delivers capital-efficient, scalable solutions that transform marginal assets, tailings, waste streams, and recycled products into high-value critical minerals.

From its HyProMag USA magnet recycling joint venture in Texas, to iron tailings reprocessing in Québec, to next-generation copper and iron solutions backed by global majors, CoTec is building a diversified portfolio with long-term growth, rapid cash flow potential, and high barriers to entry. The result is a differentiated platform at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and strategic materials.

For more information, please visit www.cotec.ca

For further information, please contact:

Eugene Hercun, VP Finance, +1 604 537 2413

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement

Statements in this press release regarding the Company and its investments which are not historical facts are ‘forward-looking statements’ that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, statements relating to the advancement, development, financing and potential construction of the Company’s projects and investments; anticipated economic metrics; expected production, permitting, engineering and execution milestones; potential strategic transactions or listings; future investment opportunities; and management’s expectations regarding the Company’s strategy and growth plans. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding the continued advancement of the Company’s projects, availability of financing, receipt of required permits and approvals, commodity price assumptions, and general economic and market conditions. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, including, without limitation: risks relating to project development and execution; the ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms or at all; changes in commodity prices; changes in government regulation or policy; permitting and environmental risks; joint venture and counterparty risks; and general economic, market and industry conditions. For further details regarding risks and uncertainties facing the Company, readers are encouraged to review the Company’s public disclosure documents, which are available under the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

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 news release.

SOURCE: CoTec Holdings Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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