Key Points: – Gold hits record $2,817/oz amid dollar weakness and trade policy concerns – Trump’s proposed tariffs spark renewed interest in safe-haven assets – Federal Reserve adopts cautious stance on rate cuts amid policy uncertainty
Gold prices reached an unprecedented peak of $2,817 per ounce, marking a 1.4% surge amid growing economic uncertainties and a weakening dollar. The precious metal’s rally reflects mounting investor concerns over President Trump’s proposed tariff measures and their potential impact on global trade relations.
The rally comes as traders digest Trump’s latest announcement of potential 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, along with hints of broader levies that could exceed previous Treasury estimates. This policy uncertainty, coupled with a softer dollar following the European Central Bank’s rate decision, has intensified the appeal of gold as a safe-haven asset.
The Federal Reserve’s recent “wait-and-see” stance, articulated by Chair Jerome Powell during the year’s first FOMC meeting, has added another layer of complexity to the market dynamics. While holding interest rates steady, the Fed expressed caution about rushing into rate cuts, particularly given the uncertain impact of the new administration’s economic policies.
Market strategists, including Phil Streible of Blue Line Futures, point to growing concerns about stagflation – a combination of rising inflation and declining growth – as a key driver behind gold’s attractiveness. The precious metal historically performs well in such economic conditions, making it an increasingly appealing hedge for investors.
The rally has sparked a notable shift in precious metals markets, with U.S. prices for both gold and silver commanding premiums over international benchmarks. Dealers and traders are accelerating efforts to secure inventory ahead of potential tariff implementation, further driving up domestic prices.
Beyond immediate trade concerns, the precious metal’s appeal is bolstered by persistent worries over growing U.S. debt levels. Many analysts anticipate continued strength in gold prices throughout 2025, supported by central banks’ efforts to diversify reserves and reduce dollar dependency.
The latest surge represents a significant milestone in gold’s historical trajectory, surpassing the previous record set in October. This breakthrough is particularly notable as it comes during a period of relative economic strength, suggesting that investors are increasingly viewing gold as both a hedge against uncertainty and a strategic asset class in diversified portfolios.
The current gold market dynamics echo historical patterns of price appreciation during periods of significant policy shifts and economic uncertainty. Historical data shows that gold has typically performed strongly during periods of trade tensions and currency fluctuations, with the metal gaining an average of 15% during similar periods of policy uncertainty in the past two decades
Market watchers are particularly focused on the Saturday deadline for Mexican and Canadian tariffs, which could trigger further volatility in precious metals markets and potentially drive gold to new records as investors seek safety amid economic policy shifts.
TULSA, Okla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP) today announced that the Board of Directors of ARLP’s general partner approved a cash distribution to its unitholders for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 (the “2024 Quarter”).
ARLP unitholders of record as of the close of trading on February 7, 2025 will receive a cash distribution for the 2024 Quarter of $0.70 per unit (an annualized rate of $2.80 per unit), payable on February 14, 2025. The announced distribution is consistent with the cash distributions of $0.70 per unit for the quarters ended December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2024.
As previously announced, ARLP will report financial results for the 2024 Quarter before the market opens on Monday, February 3, 2025 and Alliance management will discuss these results during a conference call beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern that same day.
To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 407-0784 and request to be connected to the Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. earnings conference call. International callers should dial (201) 689-8560 and request to be connected to the same call. Investors may also listen to the call via the “Investors” section of ARLP’s website at www.arlp.com.
An audio replay of the conference call will be available for approximately one week. To access the audio replay, dial U.S. Toll Free (844) 512-2921; International Toll (412) 317-6671 and request to be connected to replay using access code 13750955.
Concurrent with this announcement we are providing qualified notice to brokers and nominees that hold ARLP units on behalf of non-U.S. investors under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b) and (d) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446(f)-4(c)(2)(iii). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of ARLP’s distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. In addition, brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of the distribution as being in excess of cumulative net income for purposes of determining the amount to withhold. Accordingly, ARLP’s distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at a rate equal to the highest applicable effective tax rate plus ten percent (10%). Nominees, and not ARLP, are treated as the withholding agents responsible for withholding on the distributions received by them on behalf of non-U.S. investors.
About Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
ARLP is a diversified energy company that is currently the second largest coal producer in the eastern United States, supplying reliable, affordable energy domestically and internationally to major utilities, metallurgical and industrial users. ARLP also generates operating and royalty income from mineral interests it owns in strategic coal and oil & gas producing regions in the United States. In addition, ARLP is evolving and positioning itself as a reliable energy partner for the future by pursuing opportunities that support the advancement of energy and related infrastructure.
News, unit prices and additional information about ARLP, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), are available at www.arlp.com. For more information, contact the investor relations department of ARLP at (918) 295-7673 or via e-mail at investorrelations@arlp.com.
Investor Relations Contact
Cary P. Marshall Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 918-295-7673 investorrelations@arlp.com
Key Points: – $1.275B deal creates $3.8B energy giant with doubled production – Shifts from gas-heavy to balanced oil/gas portfolio – 3.3x EBITDA price with $345M cash flow; EIG takes 20% stake
Diversified Energy (NYSE:DEC) made waves in the energy sector Monday with its $1.275 billion acquisition of Maverick Natural Resources, a move that signals a major shift in domestic energy production strategy and could spark further consolidation in the industry.
The deal, which combines two major players in the U.S. energy market, is set to nearly double Diversified’s revenue and significantly boost its free cash flow, according to company statements. Market observers note this could mark the beginning of a new wave of consolidation in the domestic energy sector, as companies seek to build scale and efficiency in an increasingly competitive market.
“This acquisition expands our unique and highly focused energy production company with a complementary portfolio of attractive, high-quality assets,” said Rusty Hutson, Jr., CEO of Diversified. The combined company will boast an enterprise value of approximately $3.8 billion and operate across five distinct regions, with production reaching approximately 1,200 MMcfe/d.
What’s catching investors’ attention is the deal’s attractive valuation at roughly 3.3 times LTM EBITDA, suggesting Diversified may have found value in a market where quality assets often command premium multiples. The transaction structure, including the assumption of $700 million in Maverick debt and the issuance of 21.2 million new shares, appears designed to maintain financial flexibility while expanding the company’s operational footprint.
Perhaps most significantly, the merger dramatically shifts Diversified’s production mix. While the company has historically been heavily weighted toward natural gas with about 85% of production, Maverick brings a more balanced portfolio with 55% liquids production. This diversification could prove crucial in navigating volatile energy markets.
The deal also marks a strategic entry into the coveted Permian Basin, while strengthening Diversified’s position in the Western Anadarko Basin. Industry analysts suggest this multi-basin exposure could provide valuable operational flexibility and help mitigate regional production risks.
EIG, a major energy-focused investor, will emerge as a significant stakeholder, owning approximately 20% of the outstanding shares post-merger. This backing from a sophisticated institutional investor may provide additional validation for Diversified’s growth strategy.
Looking ahead, the combined company is positioned to benefit from substantial operational synergies and improved market presence. With a projected free cash flow of $345 million, the merged entity should have ample resources to fund both growth initiatives and shareholder returns.
The transaction, expected to close in the first half of 2025, still requires shareholder approval and regulatory clearance. However, with unanimous board approval and strong strategic rationale, the deal appears well-positioned to move forward.
For investors watching the energy sector, this merger could signal a broader trend toward consolidation as companies seek to build scale and improve operational efficiency in an evolving market landscape. The success of this integration could set a template for future deals in the domestic energy sector.
Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Phase I Drilling at Douay. Maple Gold Mines commenced a Phase I diamond drilling program at the Douay Gold project that is expected to last three to four months. The company’s drilling program will entail a minimum of 10,000 meters of diamond drilling, with ~70% dedicated to de-risking and expanding the Douay mineral resource and 30% for testing new regional geological and geophysical targets. At the Douay gold project, the goal is to expand and upgrade the current three-million-ounce gold resource to five million ounces. The first phase will target shallow portions of the Douay system at a vertical depth of less than 500 meters, while the second phase will test vertical depths greater than 500 meters.
Drilling at Joutel is planned in 2H 2025. An additional 3,000 meters of diamond drilling is planned at Joutel in the second half of 2025 to extend the known high-grade gold mineralization along the past-producing Eagle-Telbel mine trend.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – January 22, 2025) – Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: MGM) (OTCQB: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G) (“Maple Gold” or the “Company“) is pleased to provide an exploration update and 2025 outlook for its 100%-owned Douay Gold Project (“Douay“) and Joutel Gold Project (“Joutel“) (together, “Douay/Joutel” or the “Property“) located along the Casa Berardi-Douay Gold Trend in Québec, Canada (see Figures 1 and 2).
A 10,000-metre (“m“) Phase I diamond drilling program (the “Program“) has now commenced at Douay with an expected duration of three to four months. The location of the Douay mineralized zones and primary targets are shown in Figures 3 and 4. Key objectives of the Program include:
Targeting poorly drilled areas within Inferred Resources for conversion to Indicated Resources within the pit-constrained and underground resource domains;
Step-out drilling along strike, down-dip, and down-plunge to expand Inferred Resources
Step-out drilling from zones of high-grade gold mineralization within the underground Inferred Resources to demonstrate lateral and vertical continuity;
Targeting areas between modeled mineralized zones with geological continuity; and
Testing new targets developed during the compilation exercise of geological, geochemical and geophysical data.
Concurrent development initiatives are anticipated throughout 2025 to advance and de-risk the Douay deposit, including a review of the current Douay mineral resource estimate (“MRE“) and an evaluation of potential scenarios to optimize higher grade mineral resources that could be accessible via underground mining methods. An additional 3,000 m of diamond drilling is planned at Joutel in H2 2025 to extend the known high-grade gold mineralization along the past-producing Eagle-Telbel mine trend.
“We are excited to be drilling again at Douay with refocused attention on the higher-grade core of the deposit and its possible extensions both within and beyond our current drill pattern up to 500 m vertical depth,” stated Kiran Patankar, President and CEO. “Maple Gold’s technical team has accomplished a monumental task in compiling over 50 years of exploration data to generate new geological/structural/geochemical 3D models that have vastly improved our drill targeting. This work highlights the excellent exploration potential of Douay/Joutel, the importance of its location along the deep-seated Casa Berardi break, and the opportunity for the Property to host multiple gold deposits within a variety of geological settings. Our focus in 2025 will be executing a comprehensive exploration and development program that is aimed at delivering shareholder value through the drill bit and via project de-risking, while maintaining strict cost discipline across the Company.”
A total exploration budget of approximately $6.3 million has been established for 2025, including permitting, drilling, assaying, personnel, camp and site support costs. The 2025 work program will be fully funded from Maple Gold’s existing treasury.
Program Details
The Company is currently planning a minimum of 10,000 m of diamond drilling at Douay in 2025. Phase I drilling has now commenced with an expected duration of approximately three to four months (see Figures 3 and 4). The breakdown of the drilling metreage will be approximately: 70% dedicated to de-risking and expanding the Douay MRE through strategic infill and step-out holes (along strike and at depth); and 30% for the testing of new regional geological and geophysical targets along strike from the Douay MRE and north into the Taibi Group sediments along favourable structural breaks and lithologic contacts. The Company plans to complete infill drilling throughout the Douay MRE to convert Inferred Resources to Indicated Resources, potentially add new Inferred Resources within poorly drilled 100-200 m gaps between modeled mineral domains and target the down-plunge extensions of higher-grade zones outside the Douay MRE.
The Company plans to utilize all available data from its year-long data compilation exercise to initially target the shallow portions of the Douay mineralizing system (<500 m vertical depth) to fully understand the geometry of the known zones and outline key plunge directions (Phase I on Figure 4) before systematically stepping down-plunge and at depth (>500 m vertical depth) during a proposed second drilling phase (Phase II on Figure 4). This will allow the Company to control exploration risk and maximize exploration success.
The initial focus of Phase I drilling will be on the central portions of the Douay MRE targeting higher grade areas within the Porphyry Zone (comprised of West/Central/East portions), which is hosted within the Douay Intrusive Complex and includes some of the highest-grade assays returned on the Property (up to 2,888 grams/tonne (“g/t”) of gold (“Au”) over 0.5 m in historical drill hole DO-05-04). Other targets include: the 531 Zone which is hosted within mafic volcanic and folded interflow sedimentary rocks and includes one of highest-grade gold intersections reported by the Company in drill hole DO-21-310 which returned 8.8 g/t Au over 28.5 m, including 12.7 g/t Au over 10.0 m and 31.1 g/t Au over 0.5 m (see Company news release dated September 9, 2021); and the Main Zone which lies along the northern edge of the Douay Deformation Zone (“DDZ“) with gold mineralization hosted along the sheared graphitic contact between the Taibi Group volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks to the north and Cartwright Hills Group mafic volcanic rocks to the south. Taibi Group sediments represent a promising new target area for the Company with the potential for sediment-hosted gold deposits along a major lithotectonic boundary similar to the Casa Berardi and Canadian Malartic deposits.
Douay/Joutel Exploration Update
Since the completion of its last drilling campaign in Spring 2023, the Company has focused on streamlining onsite operations, standardizing procedures, enhancing efficiencies, centralizing data management, optimizing workflow, and reducing overhead site costs. This effort has led to increased productivity from a revamped technical team that has reviewed historical drill core, compiled and digitized data, distinguished new geological and structural controls on gold mineralization, and developed vectors for targeting gold mineralization in the next phases of drilling.
Key tasks completed by the Maple Gold technical team include: re-logging of historical diamond drill core (>20,000 m); re-interpretation and preparation of drill hole cross-sections and level plans for all mineralized zones; updating and creating new robust 3D geological and structural models in Leapfrog software; updating of the Property-wide drill hole and geochemical databases with previously unincorporated historical data; layering of geological, structural, geochemical and geophysical data sets to generate new targets; and use of expert geochemical consultants to process multi-element assay data to identify potential pathfinder elements and ‘hot’ spots.
Key findings from the year-long data review and compilation exercise include:
The Casa Berardi Deformation Zone (the “CBDZ“) widens around Douay/Joutel resulting in complex zones along the DDZ of brittle and ductile deformation, subsidiary splays, NNE cross-faulting, and potential dextral rotation around the Douay Intrusive Complex resulting in Delta-type pressure shadows and possible structural traps for gold (see Figure 2).
A variety of host domains and rock types are favourable for gold mineralization including the Douay Alkaline Intrusion, Taibi Group sediments (including iron formations), Cartwright Hills Group basalts (including Fe-Rich tholeiitic komatiites), Temiskaming-style conglomerates, and structural breaks associated with major lithotectonic (volcanic-sedimentary) contacts.
Multiple styles and generations of mineralization are present at Douay/Joutel including Intrusion-Related Gold Systems (“IRGS“), multi-phase breccias, late orogenic gold, and synvolcanic-exhalative gold (Eagle-Telbel).
Gold mineralization is commonly associated with broad zones of albitization, Fe-carbonatization, silicification, hematization, fenitization, biotitization, and pyritization and alteration can be used as a key vector for gold mineralization.
The twelve (12) main mineralized zones all display a strong plunge geometry to the higher-grade gold mineralization, which varies from shallow to steep, and from southeast to southwest, possibly related to an earlier folding event. There also appears be a periodicity to the mineralized zones within the DDZ spaced 500 m to 1,000 m apart (see Figure 3).
There has been very limited drilling below 500 m vertical depth in comparison to other gold deposits in the Abitibi (East Gouldie/Odyssey, LaRonde) (see Figure 4).
Planned Douay Development Initiatives
The Company plans to review the current Douay MRE for the Project which currently contains both pit-constrained and underground Inferred and Indicated mineral resources to optimize higher grade resources that could be accessible via an underground mining scenario. Initial focus would include the Douay West zone which currently hosts Indicated mineral resources totaling 4.2 million tonnes (“Mt“) grading 2.13 g/t Au (containing 286,000 ounces of Au) and Inferred mineral resources totaling 3.7 Mt grading 1.39 g/t Au (containing 169,000 ounces of Au)1. Douay West also includes existing surface infrastructure constructed in 1995 including a headframe and mine hoist.
Figure 1: Location of the Douay/Joutel (Eagle-Telbel) Property in the Abitibi Sub-Province, Québec
Figure 4: Composite longitudinal section showing location of Douay Mineralized Zones and 2025 Target Areas (in red) (note: comparison to other deposits for reference purposes only)
2024 Exploration Work Completed at Joutel and Morris VMS Project
In Q2 2024, the Company completed a 525 line-km airborne drone-magnetic geophysical survey over a detailed grid on the western portion of the Joutel gold project to assist in the development of new drill targets along the western strike extent of the Eagle-Telbel stratigraphy.
In Q3 2024, the Company completed a lithogeochemical sampling program over its Morris volcanogenic massive sulphide (“VMS“) project, located 29 km east of Matagami, Québec. The program focused on the felsic volcanic rocks of the key Watson Lake formation which is present on the Morris project and is known to host the major VMS deposits within the Matagami mining camp. The Summer 2024 sampling program highlighted several areas of highly altered rhyolite, and the Company is developing plans for follow-up work in 2025.
Qualified Person
Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, P.Eng., Vice President, Technical Services of Maple Gold and a qualified person (“QP“) as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information related to exploration and Mineral Resource matters contained in this news release.
About the Douay/Joutel Gold Project
The Douay/Joutel Gold Project is located adjacent to Highway 109 in the heart of the Abitibi greenstone belt, Canada’s premier gold mining jurisdiction (see Figure 1). This large, 100%-owned land package includes the multi-million ounce2 Douay Gold Project and the past-producing, high-grade Joutel Gold Mine Complex3. The Property contains ~400 km2 of highly prospective geology (see Figure 2) within the influence of the major gold-bearing CDBZ. Gold mines in the immediate region include the Casa Berardi Gold Mine operated by Hecla Mining Company and the Detour Lake Gold Mine operated by Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (see Figure 1).
About Maple Gold
Maple Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian advanced exploration company focused on advancing its 100%-owned, district-scale Douay and Joutel gold projects located in Québec’s prolific Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt. The Douay/Joutel projects benefit from exceptional infrastructure access and boast ~400 km2 of highly prospective ground including an established gold mineral resource at Douay with significant expansion potential as well as the past-producing Telbel and Eagle West mines at Joutel. In addition, the Company holds an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the Eagle Mine Property, a key part of the historical Joutel Mining Complex.
Maple Gold’s property package also hosts a significant number of regional exploration targets along a 55-km strike length of the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone that have yet to be tested through drilling, making the property ripe for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The Company is currently focused on carrying out exploration and drill programs to grow mineral resources and make new discoveries to establish an exciting new gold district in the heart of the Abitibi. For more information, please visit www.maplegoldmines.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 PRESS RELEASE.
Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Notes:
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively referred to as “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “aims,” “potential,” “goal,” “objective,”, “strategy”, “prospective,” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will,” “would,” “may,” “can,” “could” or “should” occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements about the resource expansion and discovery potential across the Company’s gold projects, and its intention to pursue such potential, and the Company’s exploration work and results from current and future work programs. Although the Company believes that forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, as forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management’s best estimate of future events on the date the statements are made and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, actual events or results could differ materially from the Company’s expectations and projections, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of additional risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements in this news release, please refer to the Company’s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval Plus (SEDAR+) at www.sedarplus.ca or the Company’s website at www.maplegoldmines.com. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and/or the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any intention to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
________________________ 1 For additional details, see the technical report for the Douay gold project entitled “Technical Report on the Douay and Joutel Projects Northwestern Québec, Canada Report for NI 43-101” prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. with an effective date of March 17, 2022, and dated April 29, 2022. 2 The Douay Project contains Indicated Mineral Resources estimated at 10 million tonnes at a grade of 1.59 g/t Au (containing 511,000 ounces of gold), and Inferred Mineral Resources estimated at 76.7 million tonnes at a grade of 1.02 g/t Au (containing 2,527,000 ounces of gold). See the technical report for the Douay Gold Project entitled “Technical Report on the Douay and Joutel Projects Northwestern Québec, Canada Report for NI 43-101″ prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. with an effective date of March 17, 2022, and dated April 29, 2022. 3 The Eagle, Eagle West and Telbel Gold Mines at Joutel were in production from 1974 to 1993 and produced 1.1 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 6.5 g/t Au (Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. website)
Comstock (NYSE: LODE) innovates technologies that contribute to global decarbonization and circularity by efficiently converting under-utilized natural resources into renewable fuels and electrification products that contribute to balancing global uses and emissions of carbon. The Company intends to achieve exponential growth and extraordinary financial, natural, and social gains by building, owning, and operating a fleet of advanced carbon neutral extraction and refining facilities, by selling an array of complimentary process solutions and related services, and by licensing selected technologies to qualified strategic partners. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Hans Baldau, Research Associate, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Agreement with Hexas Biomass. Comstock Fuels executed an agreement with Hexas Biomass Inc. to acquire an exclusive worldwide license to Hexas’ intellectual properties in liquid fuels applications, subject to certain pre-existing agreements and relationships. Moreover, Hexas will provide development services in connection with Comstock Fuels’ site development and innovation activities. Comstock Fuels will invest $500,000 in Hexas to be paid in four tranches on January 15, January 31, February 28, and March 31, 2025.
High yield energy crops. Hexas has developed a portfolio of proprietary intellectual properties supporting the propagation, production, harvesting, and processing of purpose-grown energy crops with yields exceeding 25 to 30 dry metric tons per acre per year, or about 4 to 7 times the yields of traditional forestry species.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Paving the way for an off-take agreement. Century Lithium recently executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize a multi-year off-take agreement with Orica Specialty Chemicals to purchase sodium hydroxide from Century Lithium’s wholly owned Angel Island project. Orica is a leading mining and infrastructure solutions provider, the largest producer of sodium cyanide, and a supplier of specialty mining chemicals to Nevada’s mining industry.
Initial term of five years. The contemplated off-take agreement will have an initial term of five years and a right of first offer for an additional five years. It would account for a large portion of the surplus sodium hydroxide produced during the early years of the Angel Island project’s operation. A definitive agreement will contain pricing terms.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
January 21, 2025 – Vancouver, Canada – Century Lithium Corp. (TSXV:LCE) (OTCQX: CYDVF) (Frankfurt: C1Z) (Century Lithium) is pleased to announce it signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Orica Specialty Mining Chemicals (Orica) on January 16, 2025. The non-binding MOU outlines the intent of Century Lithium and Orica to formalize a multiyear offtake agreement for Orica to purchase sodium hydroxide (NaOH) from Century Lithium’s wholly owned Angel Island project near Silver Peak, Nevada. Orica is one of the world’s leading mining and infrastructure solutions providers, and a major US manufacturer and supplier of specialty mining chemicals to Nevada’s mining industry.
“The non-binding MOU with Orica marks a key milestone for Angel Island,” said Century Lithium President and CEO, Bill Willoughby. “The MOU outlines the first expected agreement of its kind for the project and involves a large portion of the surplus sodium hydroxide anticipated during the early years of operation. We are excited to work with Orica and have their support at this stage of development at Angel Island.”
Orica President Specialty Mining Chemicals Andrew Stewart said: “This collaboration signifies our commitment to strengthening and unlocking Nevada’s manufacturing and mining sectors. By securing a reliable source of sodium hydroxide from Angel Island, we strengthen the local supply chain and reinforce our dedication to innovative US manufacturing solutions for our customers in North America.”
Century Lithium patent-pending process for extracting lithium from the claystone at Angel Island combines chloride leaching with direct lithium extraction and uses salt, in the form of solid sodium chloride or saline brine, to make the reagents for leaching and pH control. In addition to lithium, the process produces surplus sodium hydroxide, the sales of which are anticipated to underpin low operating costs for Angel Island’s primary product, lithium carbonate.
Highlights of MOU
Century Lithium to intends to provide Orica membrane-grade sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
Initial 5-year term, right of first offer for an additional 5 years
Pricing to be determined by definitive agreement
Orica – Century Lithium relationship will strengthen the U.S. supply chain, reducing reliance on imports of NaOH to the western U.S. and supporting Nevada’s mining industry
ABOUT ORICA
Orica (ASX: ORI) is one of the world’s leading mining and infrastructure solutions providers. From the production and supply of explosives, blasting systems, specialty mining chemicals and geotechnical monitoring to our cutting-edge digital solutions and comprehensive range of services, we sustainably mobilize the earth’s resources.
Operating for more than 150 years, today our 14,000+ global workforce supports customers across surface and underground mines, quarry, construction, and oil and gas operations.
With a sodium cyanide manufacturing plants located in Winnemucca, Nevada and Alvin Texas, Orica is now the world’s largest producer of sodium cyanide and supplier to the Nevada mining industry, a leader in U.S. gold production. Find out more about Orica: www.orica.com
ABOUT CENTURY LITHIUM CORP.
Century Lithium Corp. is an advanced stage lithium company, focused on developing its wholly-owned Angel Island project in Esmeralda County, Nevada, which hosts one of the largest sedimentary lithium deposits in the United States. The Company has utilized its patent-pending process for chloride leaching combined with direct lithium extraction to make high purity lithium carbonate product samples from Angel Island lithium-bearing claystone on-site at its Pilot Plant in Amargosa Valley, Nevada.
Angel Island is one of the few advanced lithium projects in development in the United States to provide an end-to-end process to produce battery quality lithium carbonate for the growing electric vehicle and battery storage market. Angel Island is currently in the permitting stage for a three-phase feasibility-level production plan expected to yield an average of 34,000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate over a 40-year mine-life.
Century Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “LCE” and the OTCQX under the symbol “CYDVF”; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “C1Z”. To learn more, please visit: centurylithium.com
ON BEHALF OF CENTURY LITHIUM CORP. WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, PhD., PE President & Chief Executive Officer
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.
This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, 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” and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.
Forward-looking statements relate to any matters that are not historical facts and statements of our beliefs, intentions and expectations about developments, results and events which will or may occur in the future, without limitation, statements with respect to the potential development and value of the Project and benefits associated therewith, statements with respect to the expected project economics for the Project, such as estimates of life of mine, lithium prices, production and recoveries, capital and operating costs, IRR, NPV and cash flows, any projections outlined in the Feasibility Study in respect of the Project, the permitting status of the Project and the Company’s future development plans.
These and other forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause their actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein.These risks include those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual information form and its other public filings, copies of which can be under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.com. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update-forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Furthermore, Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Comstock (NYSE: LODE) innovates technologies that contribute to global decarbonization and circularity by efficiently converting under-utilized natural resources into renewable fuels and electrification products that contribute to balancing global uses and emissions of carbon. The Company intends to achieve exponential growth and extraordinary financial, natural, and social gains by building, owning, and operating a fleet of advanced carbon neutral extraction and refining facilities, by selling an array of complimentary process solutions and related services, and by licensing selected technologies to qualified strategic partners. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Special meeting of stockholders. Comstock will host a virtual special meeting of stockholders on February 14 at 9:00 a.m. PT. Stockholders of record, as of January 2, are asked to vote to authorize a reverse stock split of the company’s issued and outstanding common stock at a ratio ranging from one-for-five to one-for-twenty, with the timing and ratio to be determined by the Board. There will be no reduction or change to Comstock’s 245,000,000 authorized share count. The primary goal of the reverse split is to increase the number of shares available for issuance should the company need to raise additional capital.
Convertible promissory note financing. Comstock recently executed a 6.0% convertible promissory note agreement with a principal amount of $10,638,298 to Kips Bay Select, LP. The note is due on April 10, 2026. On the initial closing date, Kips Bay will fund $5,000,000 which will result in an aggregate principal amount of $5,319,149, including the original issue discount. Following and contingent on the reverse split, Comstock could receive additional funding of $5,000,000 in a second tranche, likely next month, on the same terms. Kips Bay could also receive restricted shares equal to 2% of the principal amount of the convertible note and registered shares equal to 3% of the principal amount.
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This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Mark Reichman, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Natural Resources, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Private placement financing. In December, Aurania closed the second and final tranche of its private placement financing. A total of 3,747,243 units were sold at C$0.45 per unit for gross proceeds of C$1,686,259.35. Each unit is comprised of one common share and one common share purchase warrant, which entitles the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of C$0.75 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the applicable tranche of the offering. Aurania expects to allocate most of the net proceeds to fund exploration activities in France.
Equity Research is available at no cost to Registered users of Channelchek. Not a Member? Click ‘Join’ to join the Channelchek Community. There is no cost to register, and we never collect credit card information.
This Company Sponsored Research is provided by Noble Capital Markets, Inc., a FINRA and S.E.C. registered broker-dealer (B/D).
*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Key Points: – Ban protects 625 million acres of federal waters from new oil and gas development – Trump pledges reversal but faces legal hurdles without Congressional support – Decision impacts East, West coasts and parts of Alaska while preserving current operations
President Joe Biden has announced a sweeping ban on new offshore oil and gas development across vast stretches of U.S. coastlines, creating a potential environmental legacy that his successor may struggle to dismantle. The executive action, protecting 625 million acres of ocean, represents a significant move in Biden’s climate agenda just weeks before the presidential transition.
The ban covers federal waters off the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and portions of Alaska’s northern Bering Sea. While largely symbolic, as it doesn’t affect areas with active drilling operations, the decision aligns with Biden’s broader environmental goals, including his commitment to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
The timing of this decision carries particular significance, as President-elect Donald Trump has explicitly stated his intention to reverse the ban immediately upon taking office. However, legal precedent suggests this may be more challenging than anticipated. A 2019 court ruling established that while the 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act grants presidents the authority to withdraw areas from drilling, it doesn’t provide the power to reverse such withdrawals without Congressional action.
Industry impact appears limited, as only 15% of U.S. oil production comes from federal offshore acreage, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. This share has been declining over the past decade as onshore drilling, particularly in Texas and New Mexico, has transformed the United States into the world’s leading oil and gas producer.
The American Petroleum Institute has criticized the decision, arguing it threatens energy security and urging policymakers to reverse what they term a “politically motivated decision.” Conversely, environmental groups like Oceana celebrate the move as a victory for coastal communities and marine ecosystems.
The ban’s geographical scope notably includes areas where Trump himself had previously prohibited drilling during his re-election campaign, including waters off Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. This overlap highlights the bipartisan nature of coastal protection concerns, as many Republican-led coastal states have historically opposed offshore drilling due to its potential impact on tourism.
Biden’s decision invokes the memory of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, arguing that the minimal drilling potential in the protected areas doesn’t justify the public health and economic risks associated with future leasing. The administration emphasizes that the ban aligns with both environmental protection goals and practical risk assessment.
Looking ahead, the ban’s durability will likely depend on Congressional willingness to intervene, as well as potential legal challenges. The decision adds another layer to the complex relationship between federal energy policy and environmental protection, setting up a significant early test for the incoming Trump administration’s energy agenda.
Key Points: – Antimony prices surge 250% in 2024, reaching $40,000 per metric ton – China’s export ban disrupts global supply chains, controlling 50% of production – US scrambles to diversify sources amid critical minerals trade
The global antimony market faces unprecedented pressure as China’s recent export ban threatens to push prices to record highs. The critical mineral, essential for semiconductors and military applications, has already seen a dramatic 250% price increase in 2024, with traders anticipating further surges beyond $40,000 per metric ton.
China’s December announcement banning antimony exports to the United States marks a significant shift in the critical minerals landscape. As the world’s dominant producer, accounting for nearly 50% of global supplies estimated at 83,000 tons annually, China’s move has created immediate market disruption and supply uncertainty.
European traders report transactions reaching $40,000 per metric ton in Rotterdam, with non-Chinese sellers positioned to capitalize on the supply squeeze. This price surge reflects both immediate market reactions and deeper concerns about long-term supply chain resilience.
The impact of China’s export restrictions extends beyond immediate price effects, signaling a broader strategic shift in global mineral markets. Industry experts suggest this move aligns with China’s long-term strategy to consolidate control over critical mineral production and processing. This development has significant implications for global technology and defense sectors, where antimony plays a crucial role in semiconductor manufacturing and military applications.
The U.S. faces particular challenges in responding to the ban. While efforts to diversify supply chains away from China were already underway, with increased sourcing from Southeast Asia, filling the immediate supply gap presents significant challenges. Industry experts, including Ellie Saklatvala from Argus, question the feasibility of finding adequate alternative sources in the near term.
The situation has sparked urgent discussions about supply chain resilience and national security implications. U.S. policymakers and industry leaders are accelerating efforts to develop domestic production capabilities and secure alternative supply sources. However, establishing new supply chains and processing facilities requires significant time and investment, leaving the market vulnerable to short-term price volatility.
China’s export restrictions, which also include gallium and germanium, though these have less immediate impact due to previously reduced U.S. purchasing, signal a potentially broader strategy of using critical minerals as leverage in international trade relations. Market analysts are closely monitoring other critical minerals, with some suggesting bismuth and manganese could be targets for future export controls.
The broader strategy suggests China’s intent to consolidate mineral production internally, raising concerns about potential future restrictions on other critical minerals. As Theo D. Ruas of Indium Corporation notes, “Being self-sufficient must be a short term goal for the U.S. government.” This emphasis on self-sufficiency reflects growing recognition of the vulnerabilities inherent in concentrated supply chains for critical minerals.
Looking ahead, market participants expect continued price volatility as supply chains adjust to the new reality. The combination of actual supply constraints and market psychology suggests sustained upward pressure on prices throughout 2025, with potential ripple effects across technology and defense supply chains globally.
Key Points: – President Biden blocked the $14 billion sale of US Steel to Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns. – US Steel and Nippon Steel criticized the decision as political and suggested they may pursue legal action. – The move highlights bipartisan resistance to foreign acquisitions in critical American industries.
In a decision underscoring Washington’s protectionist stance, President Joe Biden on Friday blocked the $14 billion acquisition of Pittsburgh-based US Steel (X) by Japan’s Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns. The move has created significant uncertainty for the iconic 124-year-old steelmaker, whose shares fell more than 7% in morning trading following the announcement.
President Biden stated that the acquisition would “place one of America’s largest steel producers under foreign control and create risk for our national security and critical supply chains.” This rejection aligns with longstanding concerns over foreign influence on critical U.S. industries, even as the Japanese buyer had committed to retaining the US Steel name, headquarters in Pittsburgh, and making significant investments in its plants.
The decision came after months of review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which could not reach a consensus. Biden’s executive order now requires the companies to abandon the deal within 30 days unless extended by CFIUS.
The deal faced fierce opposition from the United Steelworkers union, which argued that the acquisition would harm domestic workers and the nation’s steel production capabilities. Biden echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for domestic steelmakers to safeguard national interests.
“We need major US companies representing the major share of US steelmaking capacity to keep leading the fight on behalf of America’s national interests,” Biden stated.
In a joint statement, US Steel and Nippon Steel criticized the decision as a “political” move unsupported by credible national security concerns. They hinted at pursuing legal action, stating, “We are left with no choice but to take all appropriate action to protect our legal rights.”
The companies also highlighted their commitments to new investments and ensuring key directors and executives would remain U.S. citizens. They argued that their pledges would strengthen, not undermine, national security.
This decision reflects a growing trend of economic nationalism in U.S. policy. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump opposed the deal, signaling bipartisan resistance to foreign acquisitions of critical American industries.
Analysts suggest the decision could deter foreign companies from investing in the U.S. “It’s been a highly politicized process,” said Josh Spoores, CRU North American steel analyst, who pointed out that the decision sends a chilling message to allied countries.
It remains unclear if US Steel will seek a new buyer or pivot its strategy. The rejection is a significant setback after the company spent much of 2024 lobbying for approval. Meanwhile, the steelmaker must navigate the challenges of remaining competitive in a volatile industry.
The Biden administration’s stance may leave long-lasting implications on U.S.-foreign trade relations, especially as protectionist policies continue to shape economic strategy.
