SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Sept. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cameco (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) and X-energy have entered a non-binding and non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding to explore possible areas of cooperation to support the potential future deployment, fuelling and servicing of Xe-100 small modular reactors (SMRs) in Canada and the United States.

“We feel very confident about the future of nuclear power and the future of SMRs, here in Canada, in the U.S. and across the globe,” said Cameco president and CEO Tim Gitzel. “We intend to be a fuel supplier of choice for the emerging SMR and advanced reactor market and look forward to working with X-energy to see what opportunities might exist around their innovative reactor technology.”

Cameco is one of the largest global suppliers of uranium and a leader in uranium mining, refining, conversion and fuel manufacturing services. For more than three decades, Cameco has been safely and reliably producing uranium and nuclear fuel products to generate electricity at the world’s nuclear reactors.

“Cameco is a cornerstone of the Canadian nuclear industry and has global reach,” said Pete Pappano, President of TRISO-X, X-energy’s fuel fabrication subsidiary. “As X-energy works to bring the world’s first commercial advanced reactor to market in North America, we look forward to building a fruitful partnership that could provide a steady fuel supply for our technology in North America and support its deployment around the world.”

The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded X-energy, under a prime contract, approximately US$1.23 billion under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) to license, site, build and operate a commercial-scale advanced nuclear power plant based on the Xe-100 design with Energy Northwest by 2027, and to establish the commercial-scale TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility. The Xe-100 four-pack reactor plant is slated for operation in 2027.

In October 2020, Ontario Power Generation Inc. identified the Xe-100 as a potential technology for the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP), which aims to have an SMR in operation as early as 2028. X energy states it is currently advancing the Xe-100 design and engineering work with the utility.

Based on an economic benefits analysis conducted for X-energy by Hatch Ltd., X-energy estimates that the construction of a TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility in Canada would generate more than $310 million (CDN) in economic impact.

“At X-energy Canada, we’re partnering with the Canadian nuclear industry to create an SMR ecosystem that will grow with the developing large-scale deployment of our Xe-100 design – the ideal technology to advance Canada’s net-zero goals,” said Katherine Moshonas Cole, President, X-energy Canada. “We’re thrilled about the potential of this collaboration with Cameco, because it could increase the value of Canadian uranium to our domestic industry and create future export prospects.”

For further information on the Xe-100 reactor technology or its proprietary TRISO-X fuel, please visit the X-energy website at www.x-energy.com.

Profile

Cameco is one of the largest global providers of the uranium fuel needed to energize a clean-air world. Our competitive position is based on our controlling ownership of the world’s largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations. Utilities around the world rely on our nuclear fuel products to generate power in safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear reactors. Our shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This news release includes statements considered to be forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under Canadian and U.S. securities laws (which we refer to as forward-looking information), including: our intentions to explore possible areas of cooperation for the future deployment, fuelling and servicing of SMRs with X-energy; our views regarding the future of nuclear power and the future of SMRs; Cameco’s intention to be a fuel supplier of choice for the emerging SMR and advanced reactor market; X-energy’s intention to bring the world’s first commercial advanced reactor to market in North America and the potential for Cameco to provide a steady fuel supply for its technology; the expected operational date for the Xe-100 four-pack reactor plant and the target date for DNNP to have an SMR in operation; X-energy’s estimate of the economic impact of the construction of a TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility in Canada; and expectations regarding the creation and growth of an SMR ecosystem developing large-scale deployment of the Xe-100 design, the ability of the technology to advance net-zero goals, and the potential implications for the value of uranium. This forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding: the ability of Cameco and X-energy to collaborate successfully in the future deployment, fuelling and servicing of Xe-100 SMRs in Canada and the United States; future demand for nuclear power; Cameco’s ability to become a supplier of choice for the SMR and advanced reactor market; X-energy’s ability to bring a commercial advanced reactor to market in North America; the ability to achieve expected operational dates; the success of the technology; and the impact of the technology on the economy and the value of uranium. This information is subject to a number of risks, including: the risk that Cameco and X-energy may not be able to collaborate successfully in the future deployment, fuelling and servicing of SMRs; the risk that the demand for nuclear power and SMRs may be lower than expected; the risk that Cameco may not be successful in becoming a supplier of choice, or provide a steady fuel supply for the new technology; the risk that expected operational dates may be delayed, or not occur at all; and the risk that X-energy’s technology may not be successful in advancing Canada’s net zero goals, may not result in the expected favourable economic impact or may not increase the value of Canadian uranium. The forward-looking information in this news release represents our current views and the current views of X-energy, and actual results may differ significantly. Forward-looking information is designed to help you understand our current views, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We will not necessarily update this information unless we are required to by securities laws.

Investor inquiries:
Rachelle Girard
306-956-6403
rachelle_girard@cameco.com

Media inquiries:
Jeff Hryhoriw
306-385-5221
jeff_hryhoriw@cameco.com

Figure 1

Ground Magnetics Analytic Signal for Priority Drill Targets

Figure 2

Priority Drill Targets Relative to Oxide-Rich Caps of Amarilla and Verde

TORONTO, Sept. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSXV: TVC) Three Valley Copper Corp. (“Three Valley Copper” or the “Company”) is excited to announce the commencement of its 2021 near mine exploration drilling program on its 91.1% owned Minera Tres Valles (“MTV”) property near Salamanca, Region de Coquimbo, Chile.

“Since Vale first staked the property and found our two deposits named Don Gabriel and Papomono in 2005/2006, little further exploration has been performed on the property,” said Mr. Staresinic, President and CEO of Three Valley Copper. “A majority of Vale’s 170,000 meters of diamond drilling was focused on defining these two deposits. Multiple targets were identified elsewhere on the 46,000-hectare land package although detailed follow up was postponed while delineation of Don Gabriel and Papomono was prioritized. Our drill program will test high-potential copper targets located between Don Gabriel and Papomono, which sit approximately 3 kilometers apart. This initial area of focus represents less than 5 square kilometers or approximately 1% of our land package. We believe this is an excellent opportunity to identify new near-surface copper occurrences close to our existing mines and mineral processing plant.”

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed4d7f5f-1bb5-452b-8592-e9e518c0da8b

Among the information being used by MTV’s exploration team in planning the drilling program includes ground geophysical (magnetics and IP chargeability) anomalies with similarities to anomalies that are spatially associated with the Papomono and Don Gabriel mines. Geophysical surveying of the area was conducted in 2005 by Zonge Ingenieria y Geofisica (Chile) S.A. during the previous ownership of Compañia Minera Latino Americano Ltda, a subsidiary of Vale.

Mineralization at both Papomono and Don Gabriel mines is associated with distinctive magnetic analytic signal highs and intermediate responses in IP chargeability, likely mapping magnetite in genetically-related intrusives and copper-iron sulphide minerals, respectively. MTV believes that similar geophysical characteristics elsewhere in the district may be mapping similar copper-mineralized rock helping to frame drill targets for the upcoming program.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c3368b5-32e6-4255-9296-0b5d23560b81

Amarilla and Verde are two of the largest and longest running third-party miner locations where oxide-rich caps have been accessed and processed through MTV’s facilities. It is notable that there is a cluster of artisanal mining pits extending beyond Amarilla and Verde. The possibility that these are all part of a larger mineralized system is consistent with the available ground geophysical data. Initial drilling will be conducted in the area of the Verde deposit, which has been mined by third-party miners until recently.

Drilling will be conducted from existing surface infrastructure under current environmental permits. It is expected that this first phase of drilling will include approximately 6,000 to 8,000 meters and $2.5 million has been budgeted for this phase. MTV’s exploration team will assess the results of new drill holes when they are received and incorporate these results into the dynamic design and management of the program.

Qualified Person

Dr. John Mortimer, a consultant to Three Valley Copper, a qualified person under National Instrument 43–101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects has reviewed the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein.

About Three Valley Copper

Three Valley Copper, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is focused on growing copper production from, and further exploration of, its primary asset, Minera Tres Valles. Located in Salamanca, Chile, MTV is 91.1% owned by the Company and MTV's main assets are the Minera Tres Valles mining complex and its 46,000 hectares of exploratory lands. For more information about the Company, please visit www.threevalleycopper.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release, contain forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as the "Forward-Looking Statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-Looking Statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains Forward-Looking Statements pertaining to: identifying new near-surface copper occurrences, similar magnetic signals to Papomono and Don Gabriel elsewhere on the property may indicate similar copper-mineralized rock, and the possibility of a larger mineralized system.

Although TVC believes that the Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future results, performance or achievements. A number of factors or assumptions have been used to develop the Forward-Looking Statements, including: there being no additional significant disruptions affecting the development and operation of MTV; the availability of certain consumables (including water) and services and the prices for power and other key supplies; expected labour and materials costs; expected fixed operating costs; permitting and arrangements with stakeholders; certain tax rates, including the allocation of certain tax attributes, being applicable to MTV; the availability of financing for the Company's and MTV’s planned operations and development activities; assumptions made in mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates and the financial analysis based on these estimates, including (as applicable), but not limited to, geological interpretation, grades, commodity price assumptions, metallurgical performance, extraction and mining recovery rates, hydrological and hydrogeological assumptions, capital and operating cost estimates, and general marketing, political, business and economic conditions, the continued availability of quality management, critical accounting estimates, all terms of the restructuring agreement and facility agreement to which MTV and the Company are parties will be satisfied in the future including no events of default, existing water supply will continue, supplemental water availability will continue, the geopolitical risk of Chile will remain stable, including risks related to labour disputes, the construction and expansion of mining operations including the Papomono Masivo incline block caving underground mining project, as well as the timing thereof and production therefrom; the timing of production and results for the recently restarted Don Gabriel mine; and expected timelines for drawdown and repayment of indebtedness of MTV.

Actual results, performance or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Statements should assumptions underlying the Forward-Looking Statements prove incorrect or should one or more risks or other factors materialize, including: (i) possible variations in grade or recovery rates; (ii) copper price fluctuations and uncertainties; (iii) delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; (iv) risks associated with the mining industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to mineral reserves, production, costs and expenses; and labour, health, safety and environmental risks) and risks associated with the other portfolio companies' industries in general; (v) performance of the counterparty to the ENAMI Contract; (vi) risks associated with investments in emerging markets; (vii) general economic, market and business conditions; (viii) market volatility that would affect the ability to enter or exit investments; (ix) failure to secure additional financing in the future on acceptable terms to the Company, if at all; (x) commodity price and foreign exchange fluctuations and uncertainties; (xi) risks associated with catastrophic events, manmade disasters, terrorist attacks, wars and other conflicts, or an outbreak of a public health pandemic or other public health crises, including COVID-19; (xii) those risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Management" in TVC’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the period ended December 31, 2020; and (xiii) those risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" or incorporated by reference into TVC’s Annual Information Form dated March 3, 2021. The Forward-Looking Statements speak only as of the date hereof, unless otherwise specifically noted, and SRHI does not assume any obligation to publicly update any Forward-Looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable Canadian securities laws.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors Concerning Estimates of measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources

This news release may use the terms "measured", "indicated" and "inferred" mineral resources. Historically, while such terms were recognized and required by Canadian regulations, they were not recognized by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These amendments became effective February 25, 2019 (the “SEC Modernization Rules”) with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7, which will be rescinded from and after the required compliance date of the SEC Modernization Rules. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of “measured”, “indicated” and “inferred” mineral resources. In addition, the SEC has amended its definitions of “proven mineral reserves” and “probable mineral reserves” to be substantially similar to the corresponding Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum definitions, as required by NI 43-101. Investors are cautioned that "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of measured or indicated mineral resources will ever be converted into mineral reserves. United States investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable.

For further information:

Michael Staresinic
Chief Executive Officer
T: (416) 943-7107
E: mstaresinic@threevalleycopper.com

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.
Joshua Lavers: jlavers@renmarkfinancial.com
T: (416) 644-2020 or (212) 812-7680
www.renmarkfinancial.com

Source: Three Valley Copper.

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

Rio Tinto plc RIO and Caterpillar, Inc. CAT recently joined forces to develop zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks for use at one of Rio Tinto’s Western Australian mining operations. This marks a significant step in Rio Tinto’s mine automation and digitalization program, and the target of attaining net zero emissions by 2050. The move also highlights Caterpillar’s efforts in developing autonomous solutions for customers.

Both of the parties will work together to advance the development of Caterpillar’s future 220-ton 793 zero-emissions autonomous haul truck including the validation of Caterpillar’s emerging zero-emissions technology. Prototypes will be developed, tested, and undergo pre-production trials. It is anticipated that the world’s first operational deployment of approximately 35 new Caterpillar 793 zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks will be at Gudai-Darri, which is Rio Tinto’s most technically advanced iron ore mine in the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Rio Tinto intends to make Gudai-Darri one of the world’s most technologically advanced mines. Construction at Gudai-Darri continues to progress with production ramp-up on track for early 2022. Once completed, the mine will have an annual capacity of 43 million tons.

Earlier in June, Rio Tinto announced that it will deploy the world’s first fully autonomous water truck at its Gudai-Darri mine in partnership with Caterpillar. Water spraying is a vital part of mining operations and this new technology will enhance productivity by enabling digital tracking of water consumption, while cutting down water wastage. Rio Tinto has earmarked approximately $1 billion in investments over the next five years to get its operations down to net zero emissions by 2050.

Rio Tinto’s existing Autonomous Haulage System has improved safety by reducing the risks associated with operators working around heavy machinery. With the help of technology and automation, miners are bringing radical changes to mining operations to increase productivity, reduce cost and improve frontline safety. These efforts will help the industry meet its sustainability target by cutting down on carbon emissions, which is the need of the hour considering the severity of climate change.

Earlier this month, Brazilian miner Vale S.A VALE announced that it has started operating six autonomous haul trucks in Carajás — its largest iron ore complex in Brazil and plans to take it up to 10 vehicles by this year-end. This follows the success of the autonomous operation at Vale’s second largest mine, Brucutu, in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2016. Last month, BHP Group BHP announced a partnership with Caterpillar to develop and deploy zero-emissions mining trucks at BHP sites to reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions.

Last year, Newmont Mining Corporation NEM announced investment in implementation of the Autonomous Haulage System at Boddington mine in Australia to enhance safety and productivity, while extending mine life. Once operational, Boddington will be the first open pit gold mine in the world with a fully autonomous haul truck fleet.

Given its benefits to the miners, the driverless fleet is becoming increasingly popular among miners. The number of autonomous trucks is expected to surge over the next few years, thanks to major investments by miners globally. Capitalizing on this demand, Caterpillar is enhancing its autonomous capabilities and bringing innovative products into markets that provide it with a competitive edge in mining. The intensifying global focus on shifting from fossil fuels to zero emissions will require a huge amount of commodities. This is a win-win situation for both miners and mining equipment makers.

Caterpillar and Newmont currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). BHP, Vale and Rio Tinto carry a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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Symbol: AZM.TSX Venture

LONGUEUIL, QC, Sept. 15, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ – Azimut Exploration Inc. ("Azimut" or the "Company") (TSXV: AZM) is pleased to announce that the summer drilling program on the Rex-Duquet ("Rex") and Rex South copper-gold properties has been completed on eight significant targets, including iron oxide copper-gold ("IOCG") mineralization, reduced intrusion-related gold-polymetallic systems and copper-gold mineralization in shear zones.

The projects are part of a major Strategic Alliance ("the Alliance") signed between Azimut and SOQUEM Inc. ("SOQUEM") (see press release of May 15, 2019). In 2021, SOQUEM funded a $4-million exploration program on both properties comprising 48.8 km of ground geophysics (induced polarization; "IP"), 2,890 metres (17 holes) of diamond drilling, and channel sampling. Assay results are pending. Azimut is the operator of the Alliance.

The region offers significant potential for commodities deemed critical or strategic by the Quebec and Canadian governments, specifically copper, tellurium, bismuth, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, rhenium, indium and rare earth elements. The Rex and Rex South properties cover a region considered by the Company's management to be a new mineral province with the potential to host large-scale deposits.

The properties are part of the Rex Trend, a strong 300-kilometre-long copper anomaly in lake-bottom sediments ("LBS") coupled with a strong 100-kilometre-long rare earth anomaly. The Alliance aims to unlock the mineral potential of this largely underexplored region.

2021 Exploration Program (see Figures 1 to 4)

The 2021 summer program comprised:

• Ground geophysics to further define and rank drilling targets (approximately 48.8 line-km of IP and 72.6-line-km of magnetics). This preparatory work started in April and was completed in June.

• Diamond drilling totalling 2,890 metres in 17 holes (2,152 m in 12 holes on Rex and 738 m in 5 holes on Rex South).

The key features of the main target zones that were drill-tested during the 2021 program are summarized below. They correspond to previously reported results. Note that grab samples are selective by nature and unlikely to represent average grades.

RBL Zone (Rex)

The RBL Zone is at least 3 kilometres long by 50 to 200 metres wide, with up to 11.3% Cu in grab samples. Mineralization primarily consists of chalcopyrite (lesser digenite, covellite) and pyrite. Copper mineralization is present as disseminations and in veinlets, stockworks, centimetric to decimetric massive sulphide blebs, semi-massive veins and breccia cement.

The zone is marked by a wide alteration corridor (50 m to 400 m wide), conformable with a NNW-trending brittle fault. Alteration mainly consists of pervasive potassic alteration that obliterates primary gneissic host rocks, accompanied by pervasive silica, quartz veins and veinlets, chlorite and epidote. The corridor displays an extensive stockwork of quartz-magnetite/hematite veins and veinlets and polymictic breccias.

RBL exhibits characteristics of a major IOCG-type hydrothermal-magmatic system with possible significant down-dip extensions. Other comparable zones in the Rex Trend appear to be related to brittle faults (the KAAM, Mousquetaires, CM, Jemima, Impact and Sombrero zones), highlighting the regional-scale potential for this type of deposit, likely related to deep-rooted crustal-scale structures.

Mousquetaires Zone (Rex)

Mousquetaires is a target zone at least 1.5 kilometres long by 200 metres wide related to a copper-bearing brittle fault cutting a foliated iron formation. The zone returned grades up to 13.65% Cu, 0.12% Mo, 25.9 g/t Te and 14.25 g/t Re from different grab samples. This zone, which shows alteration and vein types comparable to the RBL Zone, may represent the strike extension of the RBL Zone located 10 kilometres to the NNW.

Subtle Zone (Rex)

The Subtle target zone is recognized over an area 500 metres long by 150 metres wide, striking NNW with a subvertical dip and largely open along strike. It is interpreted as a shear-hosted mineralized system, returning high grades of 580 g/t Au, 915 g/t Ag and 7.87% Zn from grab samples, including up to 11.7 g/t Te, 0.5% W and 0.25% Mo.

PAK Zone and PAK North Zone (Rex)

The PAK and PAK North zones lie on strike with the Subtle Zone. They form a group of 10 prospects distributed over a distance of 7 kilometres that yielded up to 133.5 g/t Au, 851 g/t Ag, 9.09% Zn, >500 g/t Te, 1.6% Cu and 0.87% W in grab samples and proximal boulders.

Augossan Zone (Rex South)

The Augossan Zone represents a large polymetallic envelope (Au, Ag, Cu, W, Sn, Te, Bi, Rb, Mo) at the contact between an oval-shaped (5 km by 15 km) fluorite-topaz-bearing A-type intrusive complex (the Qalluviartuuq Intrusive Complex) and volcano-sedimentary rocks. Augossan measures about 8,000 metres long by 100 to 350 metres wide, as defined by extensive prospecting results and data from previous reverse circulation ("RC") reconnaissance drill holes. The zone remains open in all directions, notably toward the intrusion.

Delineation work returned grades of up to 47.2 g/t Au, 90.0 g/t Ag, 2.56% Cu, 60.8 g/t Te, 4.62% W, 7.53% Sn, 0.36% Mo, 0.77% Bi, and 0.25% Rb in grab samples.

Channel sampling notably yielded 7.53% Sn, 0.72% W and 0.14% Cu over 2.7 m. Highlights from a previous RC drilling program include 0.14% W over 15.24 m, 0.12% W and 0.35% Cu over 7.62 m; 1.28 g/t Au, 8.41 g/t Ag and 0.12% Cu over 6.1 m; 1.10 g/t Au and 2.60 g/t Ag over 9.14 m.

Copperton Zone (Rex South)

The Copperton Zone is hosted in a variably sheared, steeply dipping feldspathic intrusion, and in amphibolites and gneissic metasediments. The mineralized corridor is recognized over a strike length of 3.5 kilometres and a width of 20 to 100 metres. Mineralization is mainly disseminated to semi-massive chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite. The best grades were 9.56 g/t Au, 82.7 g/t Ag, 9.56% Cu, 38.4 g/t Te and 0.23% W in various grab samples.

Dragon North Zone (Rex South)

The Dragon North target zone is hosted in foliated mafic and felsic volcanics striking NW and dipping to the NE. It is approximately 450 metres long by 90 metres wide and appears spatially correlated with a magnetic high. Mineralization is mainly chalcopyrite accompanied by lesser pyrite and magnetite, with the best grab samples grading 4.05% Cu, 0.6% Mo and 2.78% Cu, 0.13% Mo. Alteration is mainly silicification.

Dragon Zone (Rex South)

Dragon is hosted in felsic orthogneiss. Mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite in quartz veins and veinlets associated with tourmaline. Alteration is marked by epidote and hematite. The best grades from grab samples are 3.67% Cu, 11.2 g/t Au and 48.5 g/t Te. The preliminary strike extent of this zone is about 2 kilometres. Widths are still undefined.

About the Rex Trend

The district-scale Rex and Rex South properties have provided a controlling land position over the giant LBS copper anomaly of the Rex Trend since 2009. The anomaly correlates well with more than 150 polymetallic prospects and mineralized zones (see press releases of November 6 and November 25, 2019).

The Rex Trend is a vast underexplored region of Northern Quebec. The Rex and Rex South properties were staked after the Company applied its proprietary AZtechMine^TM expert system to copper-gold predictive modelling over 1,247,900-km².

The Rex-Duquet Property (2,040 claims) comprises three (3) main claim blocks totalling 871.5 km² with a cumulative length of 74 kilometres. The Rex South Property (2,343 claims) consists of two (2) claim blocks totalling 1,020.6 km² with a cumulative length of 68 kilometres.

About the Azimut-SOQUEM Nunavik Alliance and 2021 program

The Alliance, announced on May 15, 2019, comprises two (2) option phases representing a total investment of up to $40 million:

• First Option ($16 million for 50%): SOQUEM has the option to earn an initial 50% interest in the Rex-Duquet, Rex South and Nantais properties by investing $16 million in exploration work over a period of four (4) years, the first two (2) years being a firm commitment of $4 million each year.

• Second Option ($8 million, plus a PEA per designated property for an additional 10%): SOQUEM will have the option to earn an additional 10% interest in each designated property (for a total 60% interest in each property) by investing $8 million per designated property over a period of two (2) years and delivering a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA").

Geosig Inc. of Quebec City (Quebec) conducted the geophysical surveys over the Rex and Rex South properties. The IP survey used a pole-dipole array with readings every 25 metres (n=1 to 8). Drilling was completed by Chibougamau Drilling Ltd of Chibougamau, Quebec. The hole diameter is BTW.

Drill core samples are sent to AGAT Laboratories from Mississauga, Ontario, and ALS Minerals in Val-d'Or, Quebec. Azimut applied industry-standard QA/QC procedures to the program. Certified reference materials, blanks and field duplicates are included in all batches of drill core sent to the laboratories.

This press release was prepared by Dr. Jean-Marc Lulin, P.Geo., acting as Azimut's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. The field program is under the direction of François Bissonnette, P.Geo., Azimut's Operations Manager. SOQUEM's professionals were also part of the exploration team.

About SOQUEM

SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Québec, is dedicated to promoting the exploration, discovery and development of mining properties in Quebec. SOQUEM also contributes to maintaining strong local economies. Proud partner and ambassador for the development of Quebec's mineral wealth, SOQUEM relies on innovation, research and strategic minerals to be well-positioned for the future.

About Azimut

Azimut is a mineral exploration company whose core business centres on target generation and partnership development. The Company is actively advancing the Patwon gold discovery on its 100%-owned flagship Elmer Property in the James Bay region.

The Company uses a pioneering approach to big data analytics (the proprietary AZtechMine^TM expert system), enhanced by extensive exploration know-how. Azimut maintains rigorous financial discipline, a strong balance sheet and has 81.7 million shares issued and outstanding. Azimut's competitive edge against exploration risk is based on systematic regional-scale data analysis and multiple concurrently active projects.

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

SOURCE Azimut Exploration Inc.

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2021/15/c3216.html

(Bloomberg) — The Canadian firm behind the world’s only physical uranium fund said hedge funds and family offices are driving up demand for the radioactive metal used to fuel nuclear reactors.

The Sprott Physical Uranium Trust has itself been on a buying spree, bolstering its stockpile by 45% in four weeks after snapping up 8.1 million pounds of the commodity as prices surged. Uranium has soared 40% this month, putting pressure on utility owners and other users when supplies are dwindling and demand is poised to take off with more reactors being built around the world.

“I don’t think we’re crowding them out,” said John Ciampaglia, chief executive officer of Sprott Asset Management, which oversees the trust. “You’ve got end users that are trying to buy materials, you’ve got speculators and financial intermediaries in the market as well.”

Investment demand from non-utility buyers such as hedge funds and family offices has been strong this year, even before Sprott Inc.’s asset-management unit launched the trust on July 19, according to Ciampaglia. A few uranium development companies bought the physical commodity after raising equity in the capital markets rather than parking the proceeds into cash, he said.

Still, Sprott’s trust holds about 26 million pounds of uranium, equal to about 14% of the annual consumption from the world’s nuclear reactors. The closed-end fund was formed out of an April takeover of Uranium Participation Corp., which held 18 million pounds of uranium, and its trust units trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The units have jumped 41% this month, tracking uranium’s surge. The fund invests and holds substantially all of its assets in uranium, which is stored in highly secured facilities in Canada, France and the U.S.

Historically low prices and pandemic-driven mine disruptions have prompted uranium producers including Cameco Corp. to buy from the spot market to fulfill their long-term contracts with consumers. That means stockpiling by the Sprott fund may have the potential for tightening the market and boosting prices.

The robust investment demand is built on a growing realization that nuclear power is becoming more accepted by policymakers worldwide as a way to limit greenhouse-gas emissions, Ciampaglia said.

“That’s something that’s just recent, and you’re seeing this from the Biden administration acknowledging and providing support for nuclear,” he said. “And the European Union clearly identifies nuclear as part of the taxonomy.”

Uranium is also getting a boost from generalist investors who are seeking investments that meet environmental, social and governance criteria or support the energy shift away from fossil fuels, he said.

Then there’s the recent buzz from retail investors, with uranium becoming a recent target of the meme-stock frenzy that share tips on Reddit message boards. Cameco, the world’s second-largest uranium miner, was the most searched stock symbol on Monday, according to WallStreetBets Ticker Sentiment.

Reddit day-traders “seem to be into it,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Eric Balchunas said. “When you have something that’s starting to surge that’s been beaten for 10 years and there’s some more room to run potentially, I think that’s what they’re trying to do.”

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Uranium stocks are the latest to grab the attention of Reddit’s WallStreetBets community, and surging uranium futures prices have prompted one Wall Street analyst to raise his triuranium octoxide price targets.

The Analyst: On Tuesday, Bank of America analyst Lawson Winder reiterated a Neutral rating on Cameco Corp (NYSE: CCJ) and raised the price target from $20 to $29.

Related Link: The Case For A Stock Market Bubble: 'Speculation Pervading Society'

The Thesis: Winder increased his 2021 triuranium octoxide price target by 18% to $36.30. He also raised his 2022 target by 41% to $53.50 and his 2023 target by 18% to $48.50.

In the last month, the price of uranium futures has jumped about 40% to around $42.40, roughly a seven-year high.

In that same stretch, Cameco shares are up 47.1%, and Winder said Tuesday that rising uranium prices are already reflected in Camecon’s stock price at this point.

He said the stock will likely continue to be volatile in the near-term given it is the only large, liquid U.S. stock with significant exposure to uranium.

“We however believe that any potential short-term spike in prices would prove temporary. We see our current outlook as largely reflected in the shares,” Winder said.

Winder said the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (OTC: SRUUF) alone has increased global demand by about 3% since Aug. 17. Winder said producers will certainly respond to the price spike by ramping up supply, but that new supply will take a bit of time to come online. Meanwhile, Winder said the SRUUF fund will likely continue to trade higher.

In addition to Cameco, several OTC-traded uranium penny stocks have experienced extreme volatility this week. In the past five trading days, Peninsula Energy Ltd (OTC: PENMF) shares are up 40.1%, Energy Resources of Australia Limited (OTC: EGARF) is up 40.2% and Yellow Cake PLC (OTC: YLLXF) shares are up 23.2%.

Benzinga’s Take: Uranium is the latest meme investment to take social media by storm, and pouring retail trading volume into relatively illiquid OTC-listed uranium stocks has certainly created some extreme near-term volatility.

Uranium prices may continue to drift higher in the near-term until more supply comes online, but traders can expect uranium stocks to eventually follow a similar longer-term trajectory to most of the low-float meme stock short squeeze trades of 2021.

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The FTSE 100 was struggling for a foothold on gains Tuesday, as its heavily weighted mining sector logged losses.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – BHP Group on Tuesday laid out its aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 from the operations of its customers by working with them to cut carbon out of their processes.

BHP, the world's biggest miner, has already committed to extinguishing emissions directly from its own operations and lowering its indirect emissions through means such as using more power from renewable sources by then as well.

Steelmaking is one of the world's most heavily polluting industries and the shift to focus on net zero emissions from the use of its raw materials by the sector marks an escalation in its efforts. BHP said its definition of reaching net zero includes the use of carbon offsets.

The miner characterised its aim as an ambitious "goal" rather than a concrete target, since it has yet to determine a specific pathway to reach it.

Steelmaking is expected to be one of the slower sectors to decarbonise because it requires the combustion of carbon and iron at high temperatures, creating carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

Although steelmakers and Australia's iron ore miners are working on the production of carbon-free steel from iron ore, potentially using hydrogen, the process is not expected to become economic until late this decade at the earliest.

"The most significant contributions to our reported Scope 3 inventory come from the emissions generated by steelmaking through the processing of iron ore and metallurgical coal," BHP said.

Those emissions represent 96% of BHP’s total reported emissions, which during last financial year stood at 418.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Tom Hogue)

MELBOURNE, Australia, September 14, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rio Tinto and Caterpillar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Caterpillar’s development of zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks for use at one of Rio Tinto’s Western Australian mining operations.

The collaboration will see Rio Tinto work with Caterpillar to advance the development of the manufacturer’s future 220-tonne 793 zero-emissions autonomous haul truck including the validation of Caterpillar’s emerging zero-emissions technology.

Rio Tinto and Caterpillar will progress a series of development milestones to include a 793 prototype pilot program, testing and pre-production trials.

It is anticipated that the world’s first operational deployment of approximately 35 new Caterpillar 793 zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks will be at Gudai-Darri once development is complete. Gudai-Darri is Rio Tinto’s most technically advanced iron ore mine, in the Pilbara, Western Australia

Rio Tinto’s Chief Commercial Officer Alf Barrios said "Our ambition to reach net zero emissions across our operations is a priority. Reaching this ambition will require new and innovative solutions and partnerships with supplier partners like Caterpillar. This collaboration represents a small but important step on that journey.

"We look forward to working together to validate these zero-emissions haul trucks in just a few years’ time. The advanced technology at Gudai-Darri puts it at the forefront of new mining operations globally and we look forward to adding Caterpillar zero-emissions haul trucks to the site."

Caterpillar Group President Denise Johnson said, "The integration of autonomy with a zero-emissions fleet demonstrates Rio Tinto’s commitment to reach net zero emissions.

"By leveraging these technologies across their sites, Rio Tinto can more safely increase productivity, efficiency and be more sustainable. We are pleased to be part of Rio Tinto’s sustainability journey and look forward to building on our long-standing collaboration."

In June, Rio Tinto announced it would deploy the world’s first fully autonomous water truck at Gudai-Darri, which will also be produced by Caterpillar. Rio Tinto is assessing multiple project scopes for Gudai-Darri Phase 2 as part of an ongoing $44 million pre-feasibility study.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210914006181/en/

Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK
Illtud Harri
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David Outhwaite
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Media Relations, Americas
Matthew Klar
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Investor Relations, UK
Menno Sanderse
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
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Clare Peever
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Rio Tinto plc
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United Kingdom

T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Media Relations, Australia
Jonathan Rose
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Matt Chambers
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Investor Relations, Australia
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Toronto, Ontario–(Newsfile Corp. – September 14, 2021) – Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) ("Purepoint" or the "Company") today confirmed that it has contracted crews and resources to commence drilling later this month at its 100% owned Henday Lake project located within the eastern margin of Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin.

"With this year's strengthening of the uranium market and our deep portfolio of advanced uranium projects, we can now aggressively schedule ongoing exploration activity through the coming year," said Chris Frostad, President & CEO at Purepoint. Along with this market activity, however, comes a heightened demand for crews, equipment and permits. Our long-standing relationships in Northern Saskatchewan are assisting us in ensuring a smooth flow of work across all of our projects."

Henday Lake

The 100% owned Henday Lake property is 1,029 hectares in size and consists of 2 claims. This property is located nine kilometres northwest of Orano's Midwest Lake deposit (41 million lbs. U3O8) and ten kilometres west of Rio Tinto's Roughrider Deposit (57 million lbs. U3O8).

Only one drill hole is known to have been drilled on Purepoint's Henday property. Hole HLH8-71 was drilled by Cogema Resources (now Orano Resources Canada Inc.) in 1998 and encountered a steeply dipping, strongly graphitic fault gouge at the bottom of the hole. The claims rest within a magnetic low believed to represent pelitic basement rocks, a typical host rock for economic uranium mineralization. The depth to basement is locally less than 350 metres.

Denison's recently discovered Huskie deposit is located approximately 10 km due east along strike from Henday Lake. A NI43-101 technical report dated October, 2018 estimates the inferred resource of the Husky deposit to be 5.7 million Ibs. U3O8.

The Henday Lake property falls within the Mudjatik-Wollaston Tectonic Zone, a northeast trending structural zone along the eastern margin of the Basin. The Mudjatik-Wollaston Tectonic Zone is the NE trending high strain tectonic zone marking the boundary between the Archean gneisses and granitoids of the Mudjatik Domain to the west and Archean gneisses, metasediments, and pegmatite intrusions of the Wollaston domain to the east.

About Purepoint

Purepoint Uranium Group Inc. (TSXV: PTU) (OTCQB: PTUUF) actively operates an exploration pipeline of 12 advanced projects in Canada's Athabasca Basin, the world's richest uranium region. Purepoint's flagship project is the Hook Lake Project, a joint venture with two of the largest uranium suppliers in the world, Cameco Corporation and Orano Canada Inc. The Hook Lake JV Project is on trend with recent high-grade uranium discoveries including Fission Uranium's Triple R Deposit and NexGen's Arrow Deposit and encompasses its own Spitfire discovery (53.3% U3O8 over 1.3m including 10m interval of 10.3% U3O8). Together with its flagship project, the Company's projects stretch across approximately 185,000 hectares of claims throughout the Athabasca Basin. These claims host over 20 distinct and well-defined drill target areas with advanced geophysical surveys completed, and in some cases, have had first pass drilling performed.

Scott Frostad BSc, MASc, PGeo, Purepoint's Vice President, Exploration, is the Qualified Person responsible for technical content of this release.

For more information, please contact:
Chris Frostad, President & CEO
Phone: (416) 603-8368
Email: cfrostad@purepoint.ca

For additional information please visit our new website at https://purepoint.ca, our Twitter feed: @PurepointU3O8 or our LinkedIn page @Purepoint-Uranium.

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

Disclosure regarding forward-looking statements

This press release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information can include without limitation statements based on current expectations involving a number of risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/96419

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Fortescue Metals Group has reached a deal with the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC) to oversee development of new mines at its Solomon Hub iron ore operations in Western Australia, the groups said in a statement.

The pact comes as miners revise the way they negotiate with traditional land owners, following Rio Tinto's destruction of culturally and historically important rock shelters last year.

The destruction cost Rio's chief executive and two senior leaders their jobs, sparked a public furore and a parliamentary inquiry set to deliver its findings next month. Last year, BHP set up a new heritage council with the Banjima people.

"Working collaboratively, we will ensure that Eastern Guruma people are active participants in the future development of mines on our country," Wintawari Chair Glen Camille said in the statement.

The arrangement would enable deeper consultation over protection of culturally significant sites while building a better future for the people, he added.

Formerly at loggerheads, Fortescue and WGAC are to form a co-management joint venture to develop the East and West Queens deposit that is part of the miner's Solomon hub, which has annual production capacity of 75 million tonnes of iron ore.

It will work on all stages of the mine development.

Fortescue delayed 2019 royalty payments to WGAC after the group missed its timeline for consent, though WGAC told the parliamentary inquiry it had been waiting for more information, as the area had numerous sacred sites.

The group was unhappy with how Fortescue preserved another site, as well as its approach. In February, Fortescue apologised to WGAC for clearing land on a heritage site without ensuring elders were present as had been agreed.

Mining tenements cover more than 93% of Eastern Guruma country, making it one of the most heavily explored regions in Australia, WGAC has said.

Fortescue runs the large Solomon mine and a rail line on Eastern Guruma country while Rio runs six mines and three rail lines. Both firms are seeking approval for significant expansion, WGAC said.

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

(Bloomberg) — BHP Group said it will target net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from its direct suppliers and the shipment of its products by 2050, but stopped short of extending it to steelmaking customers due to what it describes as the technical challenges facing the industry.

The Melbourne-based company’s Scope 3 emissions — which include procurement and shipping as well as end-user emissions — were 402.5 million tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent in the year ended June 30, BHP said in a climate plan announced Tuesday. That’s more than the total emissions of the U.K. and account for 96% of its overall emissions.

While steel is an important component in many of the products driving the decarbonization process, its production accounts for as much as 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions — and about three quarters of BHP’s Scope 3 emissions. The company says it’s working with industry giants including Japan’s JFE Steel and China’s HBIS Group on ways to reduce manufacturers’ carbon footprint.

“There are a number of global uncertainties that must be reckoned with in terms of achieving net zero in steel,” BHP said in the report, including the timeline for finding economical solutions to decarbonize the steel-making process. While some steel producers are trialling the use of hydrogen as a cleaner alternative to coal, the company has said the technology faces headwinds in terms of cost and storage.

Read: BHP Quits Oil, Piles Into Potash in Overhaul for CEO Henry

Both BHP and Rio Tinto Group, the world’s top iron ore exporter, are targeting a 30% reduction in the emissions intensity of its steel customers over the next decade. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. has said it will announce targets for Scope 3 emissions later this month.

BHP’s Scope 3 goals come with caveats. Its net-zero target for direct suppliers is subject to the availability of carbon neutral goods and services that meet the miner’s requirements. Its shipping pledge depends on the widespread availability of carbon-neutral solutions including low or zero emissions marine fuels as well as technology on board suitable ships.

While emissions from BHP’s operations rose 2% in the past year, the company said it remained on track to reach its 30% reduction target by 2030. Solar and wind power supply deals were already in place across a range of its mine assets which would lower those emissions in the years ahead, the company said.

BHP is looking to clean up its portfolio by exiting thermal coal and increasing its exposure to what Chief Executive Officer Mike Henry calls “future-facing commodities”. They include metals such as copper and nickel — key materials for the batteries and wiring that are key to the clean-energy transition.

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BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / September 14, 2021 / Silver Spruce Resources, Inc. (TSXV:SSE)(FRA:S6Q1) ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Definitive Agreement with two parties (the "Vendors") to acquire 100% of three early-stage gold exploration properties, Mystery, Till and Marilyn, (the "Property" or the "Properties") located near Grand Falls, Newfoundland, Canada, 20-25 kilometres west of New Found Gold Corp.'s Queensway project and 15-35 kilometres south of Sokoman Minerals Corp.'s Moosehead gold project.

Figure 1. Location Map of Mystery, Till and Marilyn Gold Properties in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt (Image adapted from exploits.gold).

"We expedited our initial site visit on the Properties during the week of August 23^rd and given the positive initial report on the mineral and rock textures potentially related to shallow epithermal and/or orogenic vein-style mineralization, we are pleased to move forward with this Definitive Agreement with the Vendors," said Greg Davison, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director. "We believe that this is a timely opportunity to acquire these Properties given their strategic location in a very active exploration camp, displaying prospective geology with only limited exploration and no history of drilling, and proximal to regional and secondary structural features defined by the geophysical and geological coverage. We have started building out the project ArcGIS database and investigating the most up-to-date and appropriate geochemical and geophysical techniques to conduct a Fall 2021 Phase 1 exploration program."

The Properties are well situated in exploration logistics, located close to each other and <10-25 kilometres southeast and south by road from Grand Falls, Newfoundland. The Properties are located <50 kilometres from the Gander International Airport and are easily accessible from major paved roads and local logging and bush roads and trails largely by vehicles and more remote areas by ATV.

The 8,750-hectare project is located within the Exploits Subzone, an extensive area of mineral exploration activity and discoveries over the past two years (Figure 1). The region is structurally complex and located, in large part, between two major crustal lineaments, the Grub Line and Valentine Lake Faults. Numerous major to lesser sub-parallel features merge and bifurcate along strike and are transected by NW and EW-trending faults. These deep-seated structures, which juxtapose geological terranes over hundreds of kilometres, are key to the location and formation of orogenic gold deposits containing several million ounces of gold as reported by a number of junior companies in the district. Though younger, the lineaments are very similar to those of the Abitibi Gold Belt in Ontario and Quebec in scale, splaying surface expression and wide distribution of mineral endowment, though in an earlier stage of overall exploration and development.

"We look forward to working in Newfoundland which offers a favorable regulatory environment, supportive communities, outstanding provincial geological survey, near year-round operating conditions, excellent property access and of principal importance, significant potential for new deposits as indicated by the number and quality of recent successful exploration projects," said Greg Davison, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director. "The Company's decision to add multiple properties to our portfolio in high-quality jurisdictions will give shareholders more opportunities for notable discoveries."

Due Diligence

Silver Spruce contracted a Newfoundland-based professional geologist to visit the properties with one of the Vendors. They travelled to the Mystery and Marilyn properties, shown in Figures 2 and 3 respectively, examined the geology, verified sample locations for the historical assays and collected new rock samples, thirteen of which were submitted to ALS Global for analysis, and took photographs of pertinent topography, geomorphology, geological exposures, access and types of vegetation. The four claims on the Till property were not evaluated during the site visit. Additional rock samples and splits of assay samples were shipped by courier to the Company's QP for forthcoming examination by optical microscopy. The results of the due diligence rock geochemistry for thirteen samples are expected from ALS Global in due course.

Figure 2. Mystery claims transected by the Great Rattling Brook. Due diligence sampling sites indicated.

Figure 3. Marilyn claims, southeast of Grand Falls, transected by the Bay d'Espoir Highway. Due diligence sampling sites indicated.

A selection of historical assays reported for precious and base metals and pathfinder elements from 123 samples collected from Mystery and Marilyn are shown in Table 1. Eighteen samples reported Au >0.5 g/t (max. 12.5 g/t Au). Cu values were reported up to to 9.85% with minor Ag, Pb and Zn. Arsenic was highly anomalous with values for 36 samples over the 2200 ppm upper limit for Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-OES) analysis, strongly associated with elevated Au values and displayed generally as minor to abundant arsenopyrite (see Figure 4).

Table 1. Select analyses from historical exploration on the Mystery and Marilyn properties – n=123 The samples represent those with Au, Ag and base metal (Cu, Pb, Zn) values in the 90^th percentiles for each element from a total of 123 samples analysed.

Multiple surface occurrences are reported of agate chalcedony to colloform and crystalline silica veining and multi-phase breccias (see Figures 4 and 5), carbonate replacement by quartz, and open-space filling quartz and calcite, all textures indicative of the upper zones of epithermal systems and epizonal to mesozonal structural conduits in orogenic systems, and are accompanied by Au and arsenopyrite, stibnite, chalcopyrite, bornite and Cu carbonate mineralization in several host lithologies including quartz, black shale and other sediments, ultramafics and gabbro.

Figure 4. Left – Epithermal silica veining outcropping along Great Rattling Brook. Right – Quartz float with arsenopyrite, sample grade reported as 12.5 g/t Au, 3.2 g/t Ag with anomalous As and Bi.

Figure 5. Polished samples showing epithermal chalcedonic silica veining with complex depositional and compositional banding, open space filling and multi-stage brecciation from Mystery property.

Terms of Agreement

Silver Spruce had a 30-day window after signing the LOI (see Press Release August 16^th, 2021) to carry out its due diligence and prepare a Definitive Agreement ("DA") for the Property acquisition.

The principal terms to purchase 100% interest in the Properties include cash payments and Silver Spruce common shares, with CAD$40,000 in cash and 1,000,000 shares on signing, and escalating payments of CAD$575,000 and 9,000,000 shares spread over five years on the anniversary date of TSX Venture Exchange approval. The minimum work expenditures over the life of the agreement total CAD$1,500,000. All financial terms are in Canadian dollars.

A finder's fee is payable on the acquisition pursuant to the guidelines of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Upon TSX acceptance for the DA, Silver Spruce will earn a 100% interest in the Property by paying the following cash payments to the Vendors or their nominee(s):

• $40,000 collectively upon receipt by the Purchaser of the Conditional Acceptance of the Exchange of this Agreement;

• $50,000 collectively upon the first anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin;

• $75,000 collectively upon the second anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin;

• $100,000 collectively upon the third anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin;

• $150,000 collectively upon the fourth anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin;

• $200,000 collectively upon the fifth anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin; and

issuing to the Vendors or their nominee(s) from treasury the following Shares:

• 1,000,000 common shares collectively upon receipt by the Purchaser of the Conditional Acceptance of the Exchange of this Agreement;

• 1,000,000 common shares collectively upon the first anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin;

• 1,250,000 common shares collectively upon the second anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin;

• 1,500,000 common shares collectively upon the third anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin;

• 2,000,000 common shares collectively upon the fourth anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin;

• 3,250,000 common shares collectively upon the fifth anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin; and

incurring a minimum of $1,500,000 in Expenditures on the Property as follows:

• $150,000 in property expenditures by the first anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin; and

• $200,000 in additional property expenditures by the second anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin; and

• $250,000 in additional property expenditures by the third anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin; and

• $300,000 in additional property expenditures by the fourth anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin; and

• $600,000 in additional property expenditures by the fifth anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin.

Upon completion of the above terms in to earn a 100% interest in the Property, and the Title Transfer, the Vendors will reserve, retain and hold a 2% net smelter return royalty as described in the Royalty Agreement (the "Royalty").

An advance payment against the Royalty payable by the Purchaser to the Vendors in the amount of $15,000 will be made on an annual basis starting on the 6^th anniversary of the date of the Final Exchange Bulletin.

The Company shall be entitled, at any time in its sole discretion, upon written notice to the Vendors, to buy back 1% of the Royalty for $2,000,000, and shall have the right to buy back the remaining 1% of the Royalty from the Vendors at any time at a prevailing market price.

Geochemical Analysis, Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Rock samples were collected, packaged and delivered by the Company's contract professional geologist to a courier service for shipment to the ALS sample preparation facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ALS Global is a facility certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada.

Pulps (50gram split) were submitted for Au analysis by Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption finish (Au-AA24) and Four Acid Digestion with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) multi-element analyses (ME-ICP61m).

Given the small size of the sample suite, no additional in-house quality control samples (blanks, standards, duplicates, preparation duplicates) were inserted into the sample set. ALS Global conducts its own internal QA/QC program of blanks, standards and duplicates, and the results are provided with the Company sample certificates. The results of the ALS control samples will be reviewed by the Company's QP and evaluated for acceptable tolerances. All sample and pulp rejects will be stored at ALS Global pending full review of the analytical data, and future selection of pulps for independent third-party check analyses, as requisite.

All of the metal values disclosed herein for the Mystery and Marilyn properties by past operators, including the Vendors, and by Silver Spruce are reported from grab samples which may not be representative of the metal grades, or the metal grade distribution, and those from previous exploration efforts must be considered as historical in nature. The Company has reviewed the historical certificates, where available, and conducted data verification sampling on the known areas of mineralization with a view to to confirm the presence and tenor of metal values. The verification sample results are pending from ALS.

The Company believes that the analytical protocols and data will withstand scrutiny for inclusion. Sample grades reported by element in the technical documentation and analytical certificates range from detection limit (based on the specific instrumentation and by element) to anomalous values which represent and include select samples and are reported as ‘up to' the maximum values and/or ranges presented. Average values may be reported for select suites of samples in which the sample frequency is indicated and which only represent metal grades from those samples.

Qualified Person

Greg Davison, PGeo, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person for the Mystery, Marilyn and Till Projects and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("N.I. 43-101"), under TSX guidelines.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, a drill-ready precious metal project, and up to 50% interest in each of Colibri's early stage Jackie Au and Diamante Au-Ag projects, with the three properties located from 5 kilometres to 15 kilometres northwest from Minera Alamos' Nicho deposit, respectively. The Company also is acquiring 100% interest in the drill-ready and fully permitted Pino de Plata Ag project, located 15 kilometres west of Coeur Mining's Palmarejo Mine, in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce has signed a Definitive Agreement to acquire 100% interest in three exploration properties in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, located 15-40 kilometres from recent discoveries by Sokoman Minerals Corp. and New Found Gold Corp., central Newfoundland. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.
Greg Davison, PGeo, Vice-President Exploration and Director
(250) 521-0444
gdavison@silverspruceresources.com

Michael Kinley, CEO and Director
(902) 826-1579
mkinley@silverspruceresources.com

info@silverspruceresources.com
www.silverspruceresources.com

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

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

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(Bloomberg) — Copper might be BHP Group’s most prized metal, but the world’s biggest mining company spent little more than it earned in an average 12-hour period last year exploring for new deposits.

The company spent just $53 million looking for the metal last year, when it posted record profit of $37.4 billion. In total it spent $516 million on exploration, with more than two-thirds directed at oil and gas, a business it’s in the process of exiting.

The world’s biggest miners are universally bullish on copper, expecting a surge in demand as the global economy decarbonizes, while long-term supply looks constrained by the lack of new mine development. Yet part of the reason copper is so favored by miners and investors alike is because new deposits have been so hard to find.

Still, BHP does have growth plans in copper, but from buying into smaller developers rather then spending a fortune on exploration.

The company has built a stake in SolGold Plc, which is developing Ecuador’s Cascabel project, potentially one of the biggest copper mines in the world. BHP is also in the process of trying to buy Noront Resources Ltd. to gain control of a nickel project in Canada.

The company expects its total exploration spend to jump to $800 million this year.

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By Sonali Paul

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – BHP Group will transfer a smaller-than-expected $3.9 billion in oil and gas decommissioning liabilities to Woodside when it merges its petroleum business with the independent Australian gas producer.

Woodside's shares jumped 6.5% after the figure was disclosed in BHP's annual report on Tuesday, outperforming gains of around 4% among its peers.

"The long awaited BHPP (BHP Petroleum) abandonment provision number has been released, coming in below what we feared it could be," Credit Suisse analyst Saul Kavonic said in a note.

BHP said in its annual report that as of June 2021, its petroleum assets included "property plant and equipment and closure and rehabilitation provisions of approximately $11.9 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively".

When the merger was announced in August, investors had raised concerns as Woodside declined to reveal the rehabilitation liabilities that were assumed in setting the deal terms with BHP's petroleum business to create a global top-10 independent oil and gas company.

The oil and gas rehabilitation provisions, which are estimates of the cost of removing platforms and pipelines and cleaning up sites at the end of their lives, make up about one-third of BHP's total closure and rehabilitation provisions of $11.9 billion for all its assets.

Kavonic said he had assumed Woodside might inherit as much as $5 billion to $7 billion in decommissioning liabilities in the merger with BHP's petroleum arm, which comprises assets in Australia, the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Algeria.

Citi had estimated BHP's decommissioning liabilities in Australia's Bass Strait alone at $3.4 billion.

Once tax offsets are taken into account, the actual decommissioning cost may be below $1 billion, Kavonic said, adding that those costs could be deferred through reusing sites for activities such as carbon capture and storage or offshore wind in the future.

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – September 13, 2021) – Quaterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: QTA) (OTCQB: QTRRF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement"). Pursuant to the first tranche, the Company has issued 26,105,833 units ("Units") at a price of US$0.06 (C$0.075) per Unit for gross proceeds of US$1,566,350 (C$1,957,937).

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of US$0.10 per share for a period of three years from the date of closing. The Warrants contain a forced exercise provision if the daily volume weighted average trading price of the common shares of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange is equal to or greater than US$0.30 for a period of 10 consecutive trading days.

Proceeds of the Private Placement will be used primarily for general working capital. The securities will be subject to a hold period expiring on January 14, 2022 in accordance with applicable securities laws.

In connection with the completion of the first tranche of the Private Placement, the Company paid a total of US$22,974 and issued 382,900 finder's warrants as finder's fees. The finder's warrants will be exercisable at US$0.10 per share for a period of 3 years from the date of closing.

The Company is pleased to announce that Stephen Goodman and Tony Alford have been appointed as directors of the Company. Stephen Goodman also serves as the President of the Company and effective September 15^th will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer.

Tony Alford brings to the board a history of executive leadership, including serving as a director of Revett Minerals Inc. in 2009 and 2010, where he was part of the team that rang the bell on the NYSE Amex listing of the company. Mr. Alford is the Founder and President of PBA Consultants, Inc., a firm specializing in tax savings and cost reduction services, for many of the fortune 500 companies across the USA. In 1993 Mr. Alford founded Alford Investments focusing on real estate investment properties, pharmacy distribution, food related and natural resource companies.

The Company also announces that John Kerr, LeRoy Wilkes, and Terrence Eyton have resigned as directors of the Company.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Stephen Goodman
President

For more information please contact:
Karen Robertson
Corporate Communications
778-898-0057

Email: info@quaterra.com
Website: www.quaterra.com

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

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/96362

Uranium producer Cameco, and meme stocks GameStop and AMC Entertainment all made gains early on Monday after generating interest on Reddit’s WallStreetBets forum.

BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / September 13, 2021 / Silver Spruce Resources Inc. (TSXV:SSE)(FRA:S6Q1)("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") announced today that the Board of Directors has appointed Kevin Thieneman as Chairman of the Board of Directors effective September 10, 2021. Mr. Thieneman was appointed to the Board on April 28, 2020.

Mr. Thieneman was formerly the President of Caterpillar Inc. Forest Products Business Unit, and currently serves as Chairman for LiuGong North America and Vice President of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery Co. Ltd. ("LiuGong"). LiuGong is one of China's largest construction and mining equipment manufacturers with worldwide sales and operations. Mr. Thieneman is a global executive with decades of experience in turnarounds of manufacturing operations and end-to-end businesses, and with extensive on-the-ground experience in China and India. He previously chaired the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council infrastructure committee while leading delegations to Indonesia and Vietnam. He also served as Chairman of the Georgia Association of Manufacturers in 2017-2018. Mr. Thieneman earned a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from the Duke University School of Law. His previous experience includes working as a licensed attorney and Certified Public Accountant in the State of Illinois.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, a drill-ready precious metal project, and up to 50% interest in each of Colibri's early stage Jackie Au and Diamante Au-Ag projects, with the three properties located from 5 kilometres to 15 kilometres northwest from Minera Alamos's Nicho deposit, respectively. The Company is acquiring 100% interest in the drill-ready and fully permitted Pino de Plata Ag project, located 15 kilometres west of Coeur Mining's Palmarejo Mine, in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce recently signed an LOI to acquire 100% interest in three exploration properties in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, located 15-40 kilometres from recent discoveries by Sokoman Minerals Corp. and New Found Gold Corp., central Newfoundland. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Michael Kinley, CEO and Director
(902) 402-0388
mkinley@silverspruceresources.com

info@silverspruceresources.com
www.silverspruceresources.com

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

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

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(Bloomberg) — Plant workers at a Codelco mine in Chile agreed to end a strike while union members at a BHP Group mine accepted a new wage proposal, easing labor tensions in the top copper-producing nation.

Codelco reached a deal to end a more than three-week stoppage by members of the Suplant union at its Andina mine, the state-owned company said Friday, allowing the central Chilean operation to ramp back up.

At BHP’s Cerro Colorado mine, workers voted Saturday to accept an offer hammered out by the two negotiating teams in mediated talks this week, avoiding a strike. Union members at Salvador, Codelco’s smallest mine, are scheduled to vote Monday on a new offer delivered during mediation.

The breakthroughs follow strike-ending agreements earlier this month with the two main unions at Andina and at a mine owned by JX Nippon Mining & Metals. Chile is coming to the end of an intense period of contract renewals, with the industry so far managing to avoid stoppages at top-tier mines such as Escondida and El Teniente.

Workers used high copper prices and profits as leverage in the talks while companies looked to contain labor costs in a cyclical industry that has seen input prices start to rise.

(Adds result of Cerro Colorado vote)

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(Bloomberg) — Plant workers at a Codelco mine in Chile agreed to end a strike while union members at a BHP Group mine will vote a new wage proposal in the latest signs of easing labor tensions in the top copper-producing nation.

Codelco reached a deal to end a more than three-week-long stoppage by members of the Suplant union at its Andina mine, the state-owned company said Friday.

At BHP’s Cerro Colorado mine, workers will vote on the new offer Saturday after the two negotiating teams hammered out terms in mediated talks this week, the union said in a text message. Voting is scheduled to conclude at 4 p.m. Santiago time.

The breakthroughs follow strike-ending agreements earlier this month with the two main unions at Andina and at a mine owned by JX Nippon Mining & Metals. Chile is coming toward the end of an intense period of contract renewals, with the industry so far managing to avoid stoppages at top-tier mines such as Escondida and El Teniente.

To be sure, there is still a possibility of a stoppage at Codelco’s smallest mine, Salvador. Workers used high copper prices and profits as leverage in the talks while companies looked to contain labor costs in a cyclical industry that has seen input prices start to rise.

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Bullish sentiment appeared to return to markets on Friday morning as a combination of supply disruptions and an apparent detente between the U.S. and China gave oil markets hope.

Oil Prices Today: Friday, September 10th, 2021

With three-quarters of crude production still shut in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Ida remained one of the key factors determining price movements this week. In addition to tight US supplies, with the EIA reporting a 1.5 million b/d week-on-week drop in total production, Friday provided some additional bullish sentiment as the Xi-Biden phone call sparked hopes of a smoother US-China relationship, offsetting downside factors like the Chinese strategic stock auction. As of today, Brent traded around $73 per barrel, whilst WTI was just south of $70 per barrel.

China Releases Strategic Reserves of Crude.

For the first time ever, China’s Strategic Reserves Administration will hold an auction on SPR volumes to be provided to integrated refiners and chemical plants (i.e. state-owned firms) in a bid to tame increasing feedstock prices.

Related: 3 Bearish Catalysts For Oil This Fall

US Natgas Futures Hit $5/mmBtu For First Time Since 2014.

US natural gas futures soared this week as expectations of warmer-than-anticipated weather coincided with Hurricane Ida-induced production outages, with October delivery prices surpassing the $5 per mmBtu mark for the first time since February 2014.

Saudi Aramco Moves into Steel.

Moving beyond its traditional sphere of activity, the world’s largest oil producer Saudi Aramco (Tadawul:2222) signed a deal with Chinese steelmaker Baoshan (600019) to build a steel plate factory in Saudi Arabia, marking the second metals-related venture of the Saudi NOC.

Libyan Export Terminals Blocked by Protesters.

Libya’s Es Sider and Ras Lanuf terminals were blocked by protesters who forced vessels to halt loading operations as calls for the dismissal of NOC head Mustafa Sanalla gained strength, in what might trigger another prolonged period of infighting in the North African country.

Gazprom Waits for German Nod on Nord Stream 2.

Having completed the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Russian gas giant Gazprom (MCX:GAZP) is now waiting for an approval from Germany’s regulator, a process that could take several months.

LyondellBasell Eyes Houston Refinery Exit.

US chemicals firm LyondellBasell (NYSE:LYB) is reportedly trying to sell its 265kbpd Houston Refinery as soon as possible. This is the second time LyondellBasell has attempted to sell after the 2016 talks with Saudi Aramco yielded no result.

Papua New Guinea Might Derail Santos Merger.

Fearing that the pending merger between Australian energy firms Santos (ASX:STO) and Oil Search (ASX:OSH)might give the company too much control over PNG oil and gas, the Papua New Guinea government is mulling its options to veto the deal.

India Expedites Ethanol Blending Target.

The Indian government brought forward its 2030 objective to see 20% ethanol blending in gasoline flows by five years to 2025, requiring an effective tripling of its ethanol production and breathing life into its grain-to-ethanol output which has been all but non-existent so far, relying primarily on sugarcane.

Nigeria’s NNPC Mulls IPO Options.

Nigeria’s state-owned oil company NNPC, which is to become a limited liability company under the country’s new oil code, could consider an initial public offering within three years, buoyed by news that the company recorded its first-ever profit last year, Reuters reports.

Exxon Tries Methane Integrity Grading.

Under increasing pressure from environmentalist groups, US major ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) will offer some of its gas assets in the Permian Basin for a third-party assessment on potential methane leaks from its production sites.

Colombia Desperate for New Upstream Investment.

The Colombian government is pinning its hopes on a November licensing round that will see the national hydrocarbons agency offering 28 areas of potential interest, desperate to breathe new life into its declining production rates. Colombia’s oil reserves have fallen to the equivalent of 6 years’ production.

PEMEX Impacted by KMZ Explosion After All.

Despite PEMEX claiming to have fully recovered from the Ku-Maloob-Zaap platform explosion in late August, Mexico’s Finance Ministry revised its 2022 crude production estimate downwards by some 50,000 b/d to 1.826 million b/d. The draft version of Mexico’s 2022 budget also has PEMEX’s profit-sharing duty dropping from the current rate of 54% to 40%.

BHP Teams Up with Billionaire-Backed Firm.

Australian miner BHP (NYSE:BHP)signed a partnership deal with Kobold Metals, a recently launched AI exploration company that is backed by Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg, and Jeff Bezos, in a bid to find more battery metals like copper and nickel in Australia.

Hyundai to Present Next-Gen Hydrogen Technology.

The South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motors (KRX:005380) pledged to present its new hydrogen drivetrain in 2023, with the aim of applying fuel cell systems to all commercial models by 2028, claiming overall costs would be some 50% lower than currently existing technologies.

Nickel Prices Soar Despite Chinese Stock Releases.

Nickel prices rose to their highest level in 7 years – going beyond $20,200 per metric ton – as continuously robust demand has started to reduce global stockpiles. Most notably Shanghai warehouse stocks have decreased by 80% year-on-year, standing at less than 6,000 tonnes.

By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com

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We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt.

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Investigator Resources (ASX:IVR) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn.

View our latest analysis for Investigator Resources

When Might Investigator Resources Run Out Of Money?

A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. In December 2020, Investigator Resources had AU$14m in cash, and was debt-free. In the last year, its cash burn was AU$4.7m. Therefore, from December 2020 it had 2.9 years of cash runway. That's decent, giving the company a couple years to develop its business. Importantly, if we extrapolate recent cash burn trends, the cash runway would be noticeably longer. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

How Is Investigator Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

In our view, Investigator Resources doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just AU$70k in the last twelve months. As a result, we think it's a bit early to focus on the revenue growth, so we'll limit ourselves to looking at how the cash burn is changing over time. In fact, it ramped its spending strongly over the last year, increasing cash burn by 179%. It's fair to say that sort of rate of increase cannot be maintained for very long, without putting pressure on the balance sheet. Investigator Resources makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow.

Can Investigator Resources Raise More Cash Easily?

Given its cash burn trajectory, Investigator Resources shareholders may wish to consider how easily it could raise more cash, despite its solid cash runway. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Since it has a market capitalisation of AU$86m, Investigator Resources' AU$4.7m in cash burn equates to about 5.4% of its market value. Given that is a rather small percentage, it would probably be really easy for the company to fund another year's growth by issuing some new shares to investors, or even by taking out a loan.

So, Should We Worry About Investigator Resources' Cash Burn?

As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about Investigator Resources' cash burn. For example, we think its cash runway suggests that the company is on a good path. While we must concede that its increasing cash burn is a bit worrying, the other factors mentioned in this article provide great comfort when it comes to the cash burn. Considering all the factors discussed in this article, we're not overly concerned about the company's cash burn, although we do think shareholders should keep an eye on how it develops. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 5 warning signs for Investigator Resources (of which 2 are concerning!) you should know about.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

(Bloomberg) — Argentina’s Mendoza province is in talks with some of the world’s top producers of potash to revive a mine that requires an investment of as much as $5 billion at a time of surging fertilizer prices.

Mendoza — better known for its exports of Malbec wine than its vast mineral wealth — took over the Rio Colorado potash project several months ago after years of wrangling with Vale SA. The Brazilian company pulled the plug in 2013 after spending $2.2 billion to build almost half the mine.

Provincial officials have since spoken to several would-be partners to finally put Rio Colorado into production, signing non-disclosure agreements with five of the world’s biggest producers of the crop nutrient, said Emilio Guinazu, director general of province-owned PRC SA, which holds the asset.

Luring investment to Rio Colorado 15 years after Rio Tinto first sought to develop it would be big win — not only for Mendoza, which has struggled to spur new mines because of environmental opposition, but for the whole country, where onerous business rules including capital controls have scared off investors. Guinazu says now is the time because prices of potash are rallying along with other fertilizers as strong demand from farmers collides with a slew of supply disruptions.

“A window of opportunity has begun to open that we don’t want to waste,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

U.S. sanctions against Belarus potash producers are jeopardizing mine expansion there, while pandemic- and hurricane-related shipping disruptions are slowing fertilizer trade. A decision last month by BHP Group to proceed with the $5.7 billion Jansen project in Canada after years of hesitation underscores the market’s buoyant long-term prospects.

Rio Colorado has potential to produce 4.5 million metric tons a year, similar to Jansen, which would require roughly $5 billion. This version of the project needs 500 miles of train track to be built or upgraded to get the potash to an Atlantic port for export to markets like Brazil.

A more likely scenario, Guinazu said, is to attract $1 billion for annual output of 1 million tons, which could be transported by truck, though Mendoza would be prepared to scale down even further just to get the project off the ground. An investment of $200 million would produce enough fertilizer for Argentina and its small neighbor Uruguay, he said.

The province wants to find an investor that would take a majority stake and operate the mine within 18 months. It’s currently looking for an adviser to guide the search.

Because of risks in Argentina, where markets are often intervened, investors need a strong stomach. But they can also be drawn in by specially-designed benefits. For instance, federal and provincial governments are in talks for legislation for oil and gas drillers in the Vaca Muerta shale patch to be able to increase sales abroad and to free some of those export revenues from capital controls. A similar mechanism is under discussion for miners, Guinazu said.

“Without a doubt, some of the benefits in the oil and gas bill are being studied for mining too,” he said.

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MELBOURNE (Reuters) – An executive with mining company Rio Tinto has played down damage to Indigenous Australian heritage, an Aboriginal group said on Thursday, in a submission to an inquiry into widespread destruction of sites of cultural significance.

A spokesman for Rio Tinto said the company declined to comment.

News emerged this year that Rio forerunner Hamersley Iron failed to protect artefacts belonging to the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation (WGAC) that had been salvaged from its Marandoo iron ore project including 18,000-year-old evidence showing how people lived during the last Ice Age.

Those and other artefacts were thrown in a Darwin rubbish heap.

The group's complaint centres on a statement by Rio's head of Indigenous Affairs, Brad Welsh, who last month told the Juukan Gorge Inquiry: "We have not identified any evidence that Rio Tinto directed any disposal of artefacts," according to the submission.

The group said such comments showed Rio's "continued lack of regard and respect for Eastern Guruma cultural heritage".

"The comments clearly sought to downplay importance of the cultural material disposed and lessen Rio’s involvement and responsibility for what occurred," the group said in its submission.

Rio Tinto operates six of its 16 mines and three rail lines on the group's traditional lands.

Last year, Rio Tinto triggered a public outcry with the destruction of rock shelters in Western Australia that showed human habitation dating back 46,000 years, during iron ore mining operations.

Welsh told the inquiry that the world's biggest iron ore miner had not been able to put together a "complete picture" of the potential cultural or archaeological value of what was discarded, given the passage of time, and without knowing if its records were complete.

"However, we do recognise that decisions made on the management of these materials may not have adequately considered archaeological and cultural values in the analysis completed," he said, adding that current standards of analysis would be more comprehensive.

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Robert Birsel)

BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / September 9, 2021 / (TSXV:SSE) – Silver Spruce Resources, Inc. ("Silver Spruce" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the receipt of its report from Strategic Consultants IGIS, ("SCIGIS") based in Chihuahua, Mexico, providing a comprehensive interpretation of regional ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflectance Radiometer) and LANDSAT 8 OLI (Operational Land Imager) data over three exploration properties comprising El Mezquite, Jackie and Diamante (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. El Mezquite, Diamante 1 and 2, and Jackie Concession Location Map. Nicho mine development by Minera Alamos located 6 km SE of Jackie (Image taken from Google Earth).

"We continue to build on the Sonoran project geotechnical database using advanced processing techniques for re-interpretation of available ASTER and LANDSAT 8 OLI imagery. The TLALI algorithm processing clearly illustrated its capabilities in mineral and anomaly identification with clarity of spatial response," said Greg Davison, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director. "We are compiling and interpreting the Shortwave Infrared ("SWIR") and Visible to Near-Infrared ("VNIR") hyperspectral data from El Mezquite and Jackie rock samples in concert with the ASTER/LANDSAT alteration fields for the next phase of drill target definition after recently completing our maiden drill program on EL Mezquite and Phase 2 geological and alteration mapping on Jackie. The SCIGIS maps also will be used for focusing and planning of the targeted geological mapping program at Diamante 1 and 2 in Q4 2021."

The SCIGIS study comprised a spectral reconnaissance of the Properties (Diamante 1, Diamante 2, El Mezquite, and Jackie) to understand the structural and lithological controls in a regional context and provide additional detail on the mineral-by-mineral distribution over each of the Properties. SCIGIS research covered an area of 6,500 hectares – the map area shown in Figure 2. The ASTER imagery was processed using the proprietary TLALI algorithm, which has shown significant success in optimizing and recognizing anomalies in a wide range of geological environments from several international projects.

A second run was carried out using LANDSAT 8 OLI imagery and focus on clay minerals, ferrous iron, and iron oxide species. The reporting included a complete set of shapefiles, index raster and RGB images, index reclassifications, and various digital elevation rasters with shading and lineament extraction in ArcGIS format.

Project Geology – Spectral Response

The El Mezquite and Diamante properties each exhibit features that manifest with excellent hyperspectral signatures and responses for a broad suite of oxide and silicate minerals. The remote spectral response distribution, particularly for Jackie, is limited by extensive vegetation. A historical study of ASTER imagery was performed in 2017 principally on the Diamante and El Mezquite properties and identified hyperspectral responses interpreted as supergene oxidation and argillization with propylitic areas, the latter mainly in less altered andesites.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate examples of the Servicio Geológico Mexicano ("SGM") alteration and the recent LANDSAT 8 OLI interpretation for the three properties mainly for the Diamante and El Mezquite projects. Data available from the GEOINFOMEX SGM web portal displayed alteration with broadly circled areas of grouped minerals or styles. It is noteworthy that the Jackie property showed only minimal LANDSAT 8 OLI responses though the evidence from the current ground exploration successfully identified significant clay and oxide minerals proximal to the Au-Ag anomaly (see Press Releases – June 10^th and June 26^th, 2021).

El Mezquite – A white mica-dominant assemblage with lesser jarosite, kaolinite and iron oxides, distal zones containing chlorite, and intermittent areas of aluminous minerals locally linked to potential structural lineaments, were identified by the rock hyperspectral response. The LANDSAT 8 OLI TLALI maps illustrate northeast and northwest-trending clusters tied to surfaces exposure and topographic features including faults interpreted from the magnetic and 3D IP surveys. ASTER data documented, in Figures 3 and 4, the kaolinite, alunite and pyrophyllite group, with silica spatially associated with NW-trending lineaments and, in part, were targeted by the Phase 1 drilling. Additional targets to the south of the current drilling are interpreted from the TLALI alteration maps and the initial lineament analysis.

Jackie – The Phase 1 prospecting and Phase 2 mapping programs (see Press Releases – June 10^th and June 26^th 2021) identified a distinctive andesite ridge with intense oxidation, silicification, argillic alteration, and a notable vegetation-free zone. This location was confirmed by the ASTER and LANDSAT 8 interpretation though was limited to a focused area with ferric oxides, kaolinite, silica and chlorite-epidote-carbonate. The oxide and silicate alteration, was verified by aiSIRIS results of rock hyperspectral analysis, represented oxidized argillic zones with low grade or bleached metal values. Rock samples collected from the northern area of the ridge also displayed intense replacement by zeolite, kaolinite, alunite, montmorillonite, opaline silica, and muscovite and contained the bulk of the anomalous gold and silver values. None of this neighboring and significant alteration was recognized by ASTER and LANDSAT 8 OLI given the coverage by vegetation during the period of image collection. Compilation of the rock sample hyperspectral data is pending and requisite for advancing the alteration mapping of the Jackie property.

Figure 2. Distribution of clay and ferric oxide alteration from LANDSAT 8 OLI data focused around vein and disseminated mineralization targets, with outlined areas sourced from historical SGM database, on the Diamante and El Mezquite properties. Limited response on the Jackie property.

Diamante – Historical ground exploration on the Diamante 1 and 2 concessions identified mineralization accompanied by silicification, and phyllic, argillic, advanced argillic (quartz-alunite-pyrite) and propylitic (chlorite) zones, with overprinting by iron oxide and oxyhydroxide (hematite, goethite, and limonite) staining, jarosite and vuggy silica. The TLALI maps, shown in Figures 2 and 3 for the LANDSAT 8 OLI and combined LANDSAT/ASTER data, respectively, illustrate the spectral response for silicification and argillic alteration, including generic clay, alunite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite and silica, which are in part coincident with known artisanal vein workings and disseminated gold targets, such as the Southern Anomaly in Diamante 2. The areas of alteration require verification by surface exploration as part of the Phase 1 drill target definition program planned for Q4 2021.

Figure 3. Distribution of alunite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite and silica from ASTER and overprinting ferric oxide alteration from LANDSAT 8 OLI data focused on Diamante 2 and El Mezquite identifying potential targets of advanced argillization and silicification, with outlined areas sourced from historical SGM database, on shaded topography.

Figure 4. Distribution of alunite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite and silica from ASTER focused on Diamante 1 and El Mezquite identifying potential targets of advanced argillization and silicification, on shaded topography and regional geology, primarily the Tarahumara Formation (teal color), principal host to known mineralization.

Project Background

The 180-hectare ("ha") El Mezquite and 1,057-ha Diamante Concessions are drill-ready precious metal (Au-Ag) projects, located 10 and 5 kilometres respectively, from Tepoca and 165 km southeast of Hermosillo, Mexico. Diamante 1 is situated adjacent to the west of the El Mezquite project. Diamante 2 is located 700 metres south of Diamante 1. The grassroots 1,130-ha Jackie property is located less than two kilometres south of our El Mezquite and Diamante properties and directly adjacent to the west boundary of Minera Alamos' Santana project.

The Properties are well situated in logistics for exploration, adjacent to each other, and six to fifteen kilometres west and northwest of the Minera Alamos' Nicho deposit in mine development.

The Properties are easily accessible from Mexican Highway #16, which transects Diamante 1 and El Mezquite, ranch trails and dry riverbeds to Diamante 2, and dry riverbed access from the pueblo of La Quema, west of Highway #117 to Jackie. High voltage power lines positioned along with Highway #16.

The El Mezquite, Jackie, and Diamante projects are currently subject to option agreements with Colibri, wherein SSE can earn 50% of the gold and silver projects by meeting specific criteria over periods of two to four years. El Mezquite and Jackie concessions currently have hyperspectral assays pending detailed interpretation from 2021 mapping and prospecting programs, and the Company recently completed Phase 1 drilling at El Mezquite.

The Properties are located within the west-central portion of the Sierra Madre Occidental Volcanic Complex within the prominent northwest-trending "Sonora Gold Belt" of northern Mexico and parallel to the well-known, precious metals-rich Mojave-Sonora Megashear.

Several nearby large operating mines include Alamos Gold's Los Mulatos gold mine and Agnico Eagle's La India gold mine located 50 and 58 kilometres to the northeast, respectively, Agnico's Pinos Altos Mine, 100 kilometres southeast and Argonaut's La Colorada Mine, 100 kilometres west. Exploration in the surrounding area is very active, with adjacent and nearby properties held by Evrim, Newmont, Garibaldi, Kootenay Silver, and Penoles.

Qualified Person

Greg Davison, PGeo, Silver Spruce VP Exploration and Director, is the Company's internal Qualified Person for the El Mezquite, Jackie and Diamante Projects and is responsible for approval of the technical content of this press release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("N.I. 43-101"), under TSX guidelines.

About Strategic Consultants IGIS

Based in Chihuahua, Mexico, Strategic Consultants have been in mineral exploration for over 30 years, having GIS and Remote Sensing as powerful tools to search for mineral deposits. Strategic Consultants developed an innovative cloud-based algorithm capable of processing an ASTER image anywhere in the world, in a matter of minutes, yielding up to twenty-five spectral signatures representing the same amount of minerals, each in a separate ArcGIS shapefile. This procedure allows to establish types of alteration, a rock-mineral relationship or geological-mineral characteristic, and helps to select specific areas of interest and objectives. Major mining companies, such as Agnico-Eagle México and Redline Minerals Inc., have used the algorithm for exploration in brownfields and greenfields properties in México and the United States.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, a drill-ready precious metal project, and up to 50% interest in each of Colibri's early stage Jackie Au and Diamante Au-Ag projects, with the three properties located from 5 kilometres to 15 kilometres northwest from Minera Alamos's Nicho deposit, respectively. The Company is acquiring 100% interest in the drill-ready and fully permitted Pino de Plata Ag project, located 15 kilometres west of Coeur Mining's Palmarejo Mine, in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce recently signed an LOI to acquire 100% interest in three exploration properties in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, located 15-40 kilometres from recent discoveries by Sokoman Minerals Corp. and New Found Gold Corp., central Newfoundland. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:

Silver Spruce Resources Inc.
Greg Davison, PGeo, Vice-President Exploration and Director
(250) 521-0444
gdavison@silverspruceresources.com

Michael Kinley, CEO
(902) 826-1579
mkinley@silverspruceresources.com

info@silverspruceresources.com
ww.silverspruceresources.com

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

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/663321/Silver-Spruce-Completes-ASTER-and-LANDSAT-8-Hyperspectral-and-Image-Analysis-on-El-Mezquite-Jackie-and-Diamante-Au-Ag-Concessions-Sonora-Mexico

(Bloomberg) — BHP Group is joining forces to explore for metals crucial to the energy transition with a startup backed by a group of tycoons including Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

The world’s biggest miner has entered an alliance with Silicon Valley-based KoBold Metals Co. to deploy its artificial intelligence technology to look for metals like cobalt, nickel and copper, which are used in electrical vehicle chargers and batteries. The two companies will jointly fund and operate exploration programs — initially in Western Australia — and will each have the right to share in any identified prospects.

KoBold has used data-crunching algorithms to build what’s been described as a Google Maps for the Earth’s crust. The technology can locate resources that may have eluded more traditionally-minded geologists, and helps miners to decide where to acquire land and drill, the company said.

See also: Algorithms Join Cobalt Hunt Backed by Gates, Bezos and Dalio

The tie-up offers an opportunity to access exploration databases built up by BHP over many years, Kurt House, KoBold’s chief executive officer, said in an interview. “In Western Australia, there’s extensive information. A lot of this data is dark data – it hasn’t been used more than once.”

Shareholders of KoBold Metals also include Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Norwegian oil major Equinor ASA and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a fund backed by a dozen high-profile investors including Bezos, Gates and Ray Dalio, as well as Michael Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.

“Globally, shallow ore deposits have largely been discovered, and remaining resources are likely deeper underground and harder to see from the surface,” Keenan Jennings, vice president at BHP Metals Exploration, said in a statement. “This alliance will combine historical data, artificial intelligence, and geoscience expertise to uncover what has previously been hidden.”

KoBold now has about a dozen exploration properties around the world that have resulted from joint ventures and tie-ups like the one with BHP, House said. “BHP engaged us, and we had many detailed discussions about KoBold’s technology,” he said. “Our approach is very different, and as such, various partners are keen to have ringside seats to see it deployed.”

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MELBOURNE (Reuters) – BHP Group will team up with billionaire-backed AI exploration firm KoBold Metals to look for battery minerals like copper and nickel in Australia and other global locations, the companies said on Wednesday.

The world's largest miner is building out its portfolio in what it calls "future facing commodities", expecting demand for electric vehicles and green energy to determine the minerals that will drive profits in coming years.

Privately held KoBold uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to hunt for raw materials. Its principal investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a climate and technology fund backed by Microsoft's Bill Gates, Bloomberg founder Michael Bloomberg and Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

Miners have been moving towards machine learning to find underground deposits in recent years, leading to some big discoveries, such as Rio Tinto's copper project Winu.

"Globally, shallow ore deposits have largely been discovered, and remaining resources are likely deeper underground and harder to see from the surface," said Keenan Jennings, vice-president of BHP Metals Exploration.

"We need new approaches to find the next generation of essential minerals, and this alliance will combine historical data, artificial intelligence, and geoscience expertise to uncover what has previously been hidden," he said.

The alliance will cover an area in Western Australia of more than 500,000 sq km (193,000 sq miles), KoBold CEO Kurt House told Reuters.

"Exploration success rates have been declining over the last couple of decades … because the easy things have been found," House said.

The discovery zones over the next 20 years will be at depths of 200 m to 1,500 m, he said.

"That’s the area that is very poorly explored (and) is likely to host a tremendous number of ore bodies."

KoBold has a dozen tie-ups across about 20 locations including Sub-Saharan Africa, North America and Australia, looking for copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium, House said.

Australia has some of the world's best mapping data for prospective minerals, while its solid regulatory environment also make it an attractive destination, House said.

KoBold, however, said it is closely watching development of a bill to protect Aboriginal heritage in Western Australia. Indigenous groups have protested a draft of the bill because it denies them final say-so over protection of their sacred sites, which could become a governance issue for miners and investors.

KoBold is planning to set up an Australian office in the next 12 months and is looking for other exploration partners.

"Inside the area of interest we are exclusive for BHP, but outside we are open for business."

(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Tom Hogue)

(Bloomberg) — Argentina’s Mendoza province is in talks with some of the world’s top producers of potash to revive a mine that requires an investment of as much as $5 billion.

Mendoza — better known for its exports of Malbec wine than its vast mineral wealth — took over the Rio Colorado potash project several months ago after years of wrangling with Vale SA. The Brazilian company pulled the plug in 2013 after spending $2.2 billion to build almost half the mine.

Provincial officials have since spoken to several would-be partners to finally put Rio Colorado into production, signing non-disclosure agreements with five of the world’s biggest producers of the crop nutrient, said Emilio Guinazu, director general of province-owned PRC SA, which holds the asset.

Luring investment to Rio Colorado 15 years after Rio Tinto first sought to develop it would be big win — not only for Mendoza, which has struggled to spur new mines because of environmental opposition, but for the whole country, where onerous business rules including capital controls have scared off investors. Guinazu says now is the time because prices of potash are rallying along with other fertilizers as strong demand from farmers collides with a slew of supply disruptions.

“A window of opportunity has begun to open that we don’t want to waste,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

U.S. sanctions against Belarus potash producers are jeopardizing mine expansion there, while pandemic- and hurricane-related shipping disruptions are slowing fertilizer trade. A decision last month by BHP Group to proceed with the $5.7 billion Jansen project in Canada after years of hesitation underscores the market’s buoyant long-term prospects.

Rio Colorado has potential to produce 4.5 million metric tons a year, similar to Jansen, which would require roughly $5 billion. This version of the project needs 500 miles of train track to be built or upgraded to get the potash to an Atlantic port for export to markets like Brazil.

A more likely scenario, Guinazu said, is to attract $1 billion for annual output of 1 million tons, which could be transported by truck, though Mendoza would be prepared to scale down even further just to get the project off the ground. An investment of $200 million would produce enough fertilizer for Argentina and its small neighbor Uruguay, he said.

The province wants to find an investor that would take a majority stake and operate the mine within 18 months. It’s currently looking for an adviser to guide the search.

Because of risks in Argentina, where markets are often intervened, investors need a strong stomach. But they can also be drawn in by specially-designed benefits. For instance, federal and provincial governments are in talks for legislation for oil and gas drillers in the Vaca Muerta shale patch to be able to increase sales abroad and to free some of those export revenues from capital controls. A similar mechanism is under discussion for miners, Guinazu said.

“Without a doubt, some of the benefits in the oil and gas bill are being studied for mining too,” he said.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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BEDFORD, NS / ACCESSWIRE / September 8, 2021 / Silver Spruce Resources Inc. (TSXV:SSE)(FRA:S6Q1) (the "Company") announced today that it has increased its private placement up to $1,500,000. The private placement will now consist of the issuance of up to 30,000,000 units at a price of $0.05 per unit with each unit consisting of one common share and awarrant to purchase an additional common share at an exercise price of $0.075 per share for a period of three years from the closing of the private placement.

The proceeds from the private placement will be used for exploration of the Company's mineral projects and general working capital.

The private placement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Finder's fees will be paid on the private placement in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Silver Spruce Resources Inc.
Silver Spruce Resources Inc. is a Canadian junior exploration company which has signed Definitive Agreements to acquire 100% of the Melchett Lake Zn-Au-Ag project in northern Ontario, and with Colibri Resource Corp. in Sonora, Mexico, to acquire 50% interest in Yaque Minerales S.A de C.V. holding the El Mezquite Au project, a drill-ready precious metal project, and up to 50% interest in each of Colibri's early stage Jackie Au and Diamante Au-Ag projects, with the three properties located from 5 kilometres to 15 kilometres northwest from Minera Alamos' Nicho deposit, respectively. The Company also is acquiring 100% interest in the drill-ready and fully permitted Pino de Plata Ag project, located 15 kilometres west of Coeur Mining's Palmarejo Mine, in western Chihuahua, Mexico. Silver Spruce recently signed an LOI to acquire 100% interest in three exploration properties in the Exploits Subzone Gold Belt, located 15-40 kilometres from recent discoveries by Sokoman Minerals Corp. and New Found Gold Corp., central Newfoundland. Silver Spruce Resources Inc. continues to investigate opportunities that Management has identified or that have been presented to the Company for consideration.

Contact:
Silver Spruce Resources Inc.
Michael Kinley, CEO
(902) 402-0388
mkinley@silverspruceresources.com
info@silverspruceresources.com
www.silverspruceresources.com

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

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including but not limited to, statements regarding the private placement. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with mineral exploration and difficulties associated with obtaining financing on acceptable terms. We are not in control of metals prices and these could vary to make development uneconomic. These forwardlooking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate.

SOURCE: Silver Spruce Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/663275/Silver-Spruce-Increases-Private-Placement-to-up-to-1500000