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Athena Gold Corporation (CSE:ATHA)(OTCQB:AHNRF) (‘Athena Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its comprehensive till survey at its Laird Lake gold project, located in Ontario’s prolific Red Lake Gold District. The survey, completed ahead of schedule, marks a significant milestone in advancing the Company’s exploration strategy on this highly prospective 4,158-hectare property, which spans over 10 km of the Balmer-Confederation Assemblage contact.

 

The till survey, initiated in May 2025, involved the collection of 2,048 till and QAQC samples across the Laird Lake project, utilizing a grid spacing of 100 m x 100 m within the Balmer and Confederation assemblages and 200 m x 200 m in surrounding felsic intrusive bodies (Figure 1). The program employed the same sampling methodology as West Red Lake Gold’s successful till survey at the nearby Madsen Mine, which confirmed existing mineralization and outlined new zones (see West Red Lake Gold press release, January 29, 2025). The survey is designed to identify gold-in-till anomalies and refine high-priority drill targets, leveraging Athena Gold’s existing dataset, including LiDAR, detailed mapping, magnetics, and electromagnetic surveys.

‘We are thrilled to have completed the till survey at Laird Lake ahead of schedule, a testament to the efficiency and expertise of our exploration team and our partners at Bayside Geoscience,’ said Koby Kushner, President and CEO of Athena Gold. ‘The data from this survey is expected to significantly enhance our understanding of the project’s potential and guide our upcoming drilling campaign, which we hope to initiate this winter.’

 

The Laird Lake project, situated approximately 10 km west of West Red Lake Gold Mines’ flagship Madsen Mine and approximately 34 km northwest of Kinross Gold’s Great Bear project, is road-accessible and remains underexplored. The Company’s exploration crew remains on-site, with ongoing prospecting to further delineate high-priority targets. Athena anticipates receiving assay results from the till survey in late summer 2025, which will inform follow-up fieldwork and help define drill targets for a planned winter drilling program. The Company’s systematic, data-driven approach aims to de-risk its maiden drill program at Laird Lake, maximizing the potential for a significant gold discovery in this world-class gold camp.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Benjamin Kuzmich, P.Geo., a geoscientist and qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

About Athena Gold Corporation

Athena Gold is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on its projects across North America. Athena Gold’s Laird Lake project is situated in the Red Lake Gold District of Ontario, covering over 4,000 hectares along more than 10 km of the Balmer-Confederation Assemblage contact, where recent surface sampling results returned up to 373 g/t Au. This underexplored area is road-accessible, located about 10 km west of West Red Lake Gold’s Madsen mine and 34 km northwest of Kinross Gold’s Great Bear project. Meanwhile, its Excelsior Springs Au-Ag project is located in the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Nevada, where it is currently under option by Firetail Resources Limited. Excelsior Springs spans over 1,500 hectares and covers at least three historic mines.

For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Koby Kushner
President and Chief Executive Officer, Athena Gold Corporation

For further information, please contact:
Athena Gold Corporation
Koby Kushner, President and Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 416-846-6164
Email: kobykushner@athenagoldcorp.com

CHF Capital Markets
Cathy Hume, CEO
Phone: 416-868-1079 x 251
Email: cathy@chfir.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, ‘forward-looking statements’) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: ‘believes’, ‘will’, ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘estimates’, ”plans’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ”potential’, ‘scheduled’, or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company’s projects in a timely manner.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise stated.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source

Click here to connect with Athena Gold Corporation (CSE: ATHA) (OTCQB: AHNRF) to receive an Investor Presentation

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Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SYH ) (OTCQX: SYHBF ) (Frankfurt: SC1P ) (‘Skyharbour’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that its earn-in option partner, UraEx Resources Inc. (‘UraEx’), has commenced an inaugural 2,600-metre diamond drilling program at the South Dufferin Uranium Project (‘South Dufferin’ or the ‘Property’) located immediately south of the southern margin of the Athabasca Basin, proximal to Cameco’s Centennial deposit. UraEx can earn an initial 51% in the Property through CAD $4,600,000 in combined project consideration and up to 100% through $9,800,000 in combined project consideration consisting of cash and share payments as well as exploration expenditures over a five-year period.

 

  South Dufferin Property Map:  
https://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/SKY_SouthDufferin.jpg  

 

  2025 Exploration Program at South Dufferin:  

 

UraEx has initiated a fully-funded, comprehensive diamond drilling program for the summer of 2025, with approximately 2,600 metres of drilling planned across 8 to 12 drill holes. This is the first drilling program at the project in over six years. The helicopter-supported program is designed to test the southern extension of the Dufferin Lake Fault, which is interpreted to be the southern continuation of the structural corridor that hosts Cameco’s Centennial deposit and Dufferin Lake zone to the north. Drilling operations will be carried out by Apex Geoscience Ltd., under the supervision of Apex personnel, and with operations based out of a local contracting camp with helicopter support for daily drilling operations. The program will run through the summer and the budget for the program is approximately CAD $1.5 million funded by UraEx.

 

Drilling will prioritize high-potential target areas characterized by historical geochemical anomalies, gravity low signatures, and structural complexity along north-northeast-trending brittle fault corridors on the South Dufferin property. These features are interpreted to represent favourable pathways for uranium-bearing fluids and are considered key indicators for basement-hosted, high-grade uranium mineralization in the Athabasca Basin.

 

Tom Meredith, CEO and Director of UraEx stated: ‘Bordering Cameco’s Centennial project is surely a clear indication of our drill targets potential. The Athabasca Basin is the world’s leading uranium district, responsible for roughly 20% of global production and home to several tier-one discoveries. It has been well explored and understood for many years attracting billions of dollars of investment. Making a discovery is our fundamental goal and our technical team is excited with these targets.’

 

  South Dufferin Property Summary:  

 

The South Dufferin project totals 13,204 hectares in ten claims and is located immediately south of the southern margin of the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan. The property covers the southern extension of the Virgin River Shear Zone, which hosts known high-grade uranium mineralization at Cameco’s Dufferin Lake zone approximately 13 kilometres to the north (highlight historical drill results of 1.73% U 3 O 8 over 6.5 metres) and Cameco’s Centennial deposit approximately 25 kilometres to the north (includes historical drill results up to 8.78% U 3 O 8 over 33.9 metres).

 

  South Dufferin Property Map:  
https://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/SKY_SouthDufferin.jpg  

 

Historical exploration work on South Dufferin consists of airborne EM, magnetic, gravity and radiometric surveys, lake water and sediment sampling, prospecting and ground-truthing of airborne anomalies, geological mapping, and diamond drilling. Some of the historical drill holes intersected elevated uranium with locally anomalous base metal and boron concentrations as well as significant clay alteration.

 

Exploration potential exists for basement-hosted uranium mineralization associated with the Dufferin Lake fault and parallel faults within the Virgin Lake Shear zone. With numerous mineralized showings to the north of the project, exploration efforts at South Dufferin have advanced the project to a discovery-ready state. Significant exploration potential exists for basement-hosted uranium mineralization associated with the Dufferin Lake fault, which has an apparent offset of >200 m, and numerous other parallel faults within the Virgin River Shear zone. The project is drill-ready with several prospective targets warranting follow up work.

 

Most of the claims are in good standing for several years and there are no underlying royalties on the property except for a 2% NSR on one of the claims owned by a third-party.

 

  Qualified Person:  

 

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Serdar Donmez, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Skyharbour as well as a Qualified Person.

 

  About UraEx Resources Inc.:  

 

UraEx Resources Inc. is currently a private company focused on uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin where it has an option to earn-in at the South Dufferin and Bolt projects. The company is planning for upcoming drill programs at the projects as well as a go-public transaction soon. UraEx is run by mining-industry executives and is backed by financiers in the investment industry.

 

  About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:  

 

Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with interest in thirty-six projects covering over 614,000 hectares (over 1.5 million acres) of land. Skyharbour has acquired from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, a 100% interest in the Moore Uranium Project, which is located 15 kilometres east of Denison’s Wheeler River project and 39 kilometres south of Cameco’s McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced-stage uranium exploration property with high-grade uranium mineralization in several zones at the Maverick Corridor. Adjacent to the Moore Project is the Russell Lake Uranium Project, in which Skyharbour is operator with joint-venture partner RTEC. The project hosts widespread uranium mineralization in drill intercepts over a large property area with exploration upside potential. The Company is actively advancing these projects through exploration and drilling programs.

 

Skyharbour also has joint ventures with industry leader Orano Canada Inc., Azincourt Energy, and Thunderbird Resources at the Preston, East Preston, and Hook Lake Projects, respectively. The Company also has several active earn-in option partners, including CSE-listed Basin Uranium Corp. at the Mann Lake Uranium Project; TSX-V listed North Shore Uranium at the Falcon Project; UraEx Resources at the South Dufferin and Bolt Projects; Hatchet Uranium at the Highway Project; CSE-listed Mustang Energy at the 914W Project; and TSX-V listed Terra Clean Energy at the South Falcon East Project. In aggregate, Skyharbour has now signed earn-in option agreements with partners that total to over $36 million in partner-funded exploration expenditures, over $20 million worth of shares being issued, and $14 million in cash payments coming into Skyharbour, assuming that these partner companies complete their entire earn-ins at the respective projects.

 

Skyharbour’s goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions.

 

  Skyharbour’s Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin:  
https://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/SKY_SaskProject_Locator_2024-11-21_v1.jpg  

 

To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: SYH) visit the Company’s website at www.skyharbourltd.com .

 

 Skyharbour Resources Ltd. 

 

‘Jordan Trimble’
  
Jordan Trimble
President and CEO

 

For further information contact myself or:
Nicholas Coltura
Investor Relations Manager
Skyharbour Resources Ltd. 
Telephone: 604-558-5847
Toll Free: 800-567-8181
Facsimile: 604-687-3119
Email: info@skyharbourltd.com  

 

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

 

The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘U.S. Securities Act’) or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction.

 

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be ‘forward-looking statements’. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements, including the Private Placement.  Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, regulatory approvals, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.

 

 

 

   

 

 

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Via IBN IBN a multifaceted communications organization engaged in connecting public companies to the investment community, is pleased to announce the release of the latest episode of The MiningNewsWire Podcast as part of its sustained effort to provide specialized content distribution via widespread syndication channels.

 

The MiningNewsWire Podcast features revealing sit-downs with executives who are shaping the future of the global mining industry. The latest episode features Kimberly Ann, Founder, CEO, President & Executive Chair of Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSX.V: LG) (OTCQB: LGCXF) , a Canadian mine development and exploration company advancing a portfolio of gold and silver assets in Nevada’s Walker Lane, one of the world’s most productive and mining-friendly regions.

 

To begin the interview, Ann outlined Lahontan Gold’s mission and strategic approach in Nevada’s Walker Lane.

 

‘At Lahontan Gold, we’re doing something so special,’ she said. ‘I have a very extensive background in running successful businesses across the board, and this one is just a perfect storm of great assets, the best jurisdiction in the world, and the best timing with our new administration that’s so pro-mining. Gold is finally on the critical metals list, and we have a past producer — perfect asset — that I’m so excited to tell everybody about.’

 

Ann went on to describe the Santa Fe Mine’s history and potential.

 

‘The Santa Fe mine was a past producer from 1988 to 1994, open-pit style heap leach. It’s the lowest cost style of operation you can have. It shut down from pure economics, because gold was at $340. They left a lot of gold and silver in the ground,’ she explained. ‘Right now, we have 2 million ounces that we’re reporting to the world. We obviously have a lot more internally that we’re working on, but really, it’s a very simple story in that we have enough to have a mine again now, and we’re fast-tracking it.’

 

She also emphasized her business-first mindset and the importance of focusing on outcomes.

 

‘I’m not emotional about it. I’m not in love with the project. I’m not thinking of anything but making money and making the company successful,’ she added. ‘I have a unique perspective in that, yes, I understand the geology. Yes, I understand the engineering background. But, more importantly, I understand the business and how to get to the finish line.’

 

Join IBN’s Stuart Smith and Kimberly Ann, Founder, CEO, President & Executive Chair of Lahontan Gold , for a discussion on unlocking the potential of past-producing mines, leveraging Nevada’s mining advantages, and driving shareholder-focused growth.

 

To hear the whole podcast and subscribe for future episodes, visit https://podcast.miningnewswire.com  

 

The latest installment of The MiningNewsWire Podcast continues to reinforce IBN’s commitment to the expansion of its robust network of brands, client partners, followers and the growing IBN Podcast Series . For more than 19 years, IBN has leveraged this commitment to provide unparalleled distribution and corporate messaging solutions to 500+ public and private companies .

 

To learn more about IBN’s achievements and milestones via a visual timeline, visit:   https://IBN.fm/TimeLine   

 

  About Lahontan Gold Corp.  

 

 Lahontan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mine development and mineral exploration company that holds, through its U.S. subsidiaries, four top-tier gold and silver exploration properties in the Walker Lane of mining-friendly Nevada. Lahontan’s flagship property, the 26.4 km 2 Santa Fe Mine project, had past production of 359,202 ounces of gold and 702,067 ounces of silver between 1988 and 1994 from open pit mines utilizing heap-leach processing. The Santa Fe Mine has a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,539,000 oz AuEq (48,393,000 tonnes grading 0.92 g/t Au and 7.18 g/t Ag, together grading 0.99 g/t AuEq) and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 411,000 oz AuEq (16,760,000 grading 0.74 g/t Au and 3.25 g/t Ag, together grading 0.76 g/t AuEq), all pit constrained ( AuEq is inclusive of recovery, please see Santa Fe Project Technical Report and note below* ).

 

The company plans to continue advancing the Santa Fe Mine project toward production, update the Santa Fe Preliminary Economic Assessment, and drill test its satellite West Santa Fe project during 2025.

 

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LahontanGoldCorp.com  

 

  The technical content of this news release and the company’s technical disclosure has been reviewed and approved by Michael Lindholm, CPG, Independent Consulting Geologist to Lahontan Gold Corp., who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 — Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Lindholm was not an author for the Technical Report* and does not take responsibility for the resource calculation but can confirm that the grade and ounces in this press release are the same as those given in the Technical Report.  

 

  * Please see the ‘Preliminary Economic Assessment, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Santa Fe Project’, Authors: Kenji Umeno, P. Eng., Thomas Dyer, PE, Kyle Murphy, PE, Trevor Rabb, P. Geo, Darcy Baker, PhD, P. Geo., and John M. Young, SME-RM; Effective Date: December 10, 2024, Report Date: January 24, 2025. The Technical Report is available on the company’s website and SEDAR+. Mineral resources are reported using a cut-off grade of 0.15 g/t AuEq for oxide resources and 0.60 g/t AuEq for non-oxide resources. AuEq for the purpose of cut-off grade and reporting the Mineral Resources is based on the following assumptions gold price of US$1,950/oz gold, silver price of US$23.50/oz silver, and oxide gold recoveries ranging from 28% to 79%, oxide silver recoveries ranging from 8% to 30%, and non-oxide gold and silver recoveries of 71%.  

 

  About IBN  

 

  IBN consists of financial brands introduced to the investment public over the course of 19+ years. With IBN, we have amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands aim to fulfill the unique needs of a growing base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

 

Through our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP) , IBN provides: (1) access to a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets ; (3) Press Release Enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions ; and (6) total news coverage solutions.

 

For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com  

 

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer  

 

  Forward-Looking Statements  

 

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company’s SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

 

  Corporate Communications  

 

IBN
Austin, Texas
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com  
512.354.7000 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com  

 

   

 

 

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Tungsten-focused Almonty Industries (TSX:AII,ASX:AII,NASDAQ:ALM) saw its shares rise on Monday (July 14) in its first day of trading on the Nasdaq, buoyed by a US$90 million public offering.

The company’s share price climbed roughly 7 percent under its new “ALM’ ticker symbol, opening at US$4.50; Almonty was trading at US$4.80 by midday in New York.

Almonty, which is redomiciling from Canada to Delaware, holds a 15 year contract with a US defense contractor to supply tungsten — an essential metal used in armor plating, missiles and electronics.

Starting in 2027, the US will ban tungsten produced or refined in China, Russia or North Korea from entering the Pentagon’s supply chains. This development has made Almonty a critical supplier in waiting.

“Our US listing also reflects our emerging status as America’s tungsten supplier, further supported by our ongoing redomiciling initiatives,” Almonty CEO Lewis Black said in a Monday release.

“The capital from this offering funds the development of our Sangdong tungsten oxide facility, enabling Almonty to continue to rise in prominence as a leading supplier of tungsten for the defense needs of the US and its allies.”

Almonty’s Sangdong tungsten mine

Located in South Korea, Almonty’s Sangdong tungsten mine is among the largest-known tungsten deposits outside of China and is expected to be a cornerstone of the company’s growth. The site, which was mothballed for decades after once being the world’s largest producer, is now central to US-allied efforts to secure critical supply chains.

The company holds a 15-year offtake agreement with a US defense contractor for over 90 percent of its Phase I production. The mine is expected to begin soft commissioning in 2025, with commercial output scaling thereafter.

Almonty also operates the Panasqueira mine in Portugal, another non-Chinese source of high-grade tungsten, providing additional geographic diversification at a time of heightened geopolitical risk.

Investors back ‘mineral nationalism’ strategy

Almonty’s successful offering illustrates investor appetite for plays tied to resource nationalism and US defense modernization. According to a recent report by GBC Research, the company could supply up to 43 percent of non-Chinese tungsten demand by 2027. The firm is projecting net income of US$212 million by that year, supported by long-term contracts and rising prices for critical materials.

Tungsten is essential in a variety of applications, including missile casings, turbine blades, armor plating and semiconductors — markets that are seeing rapid budget growth, particularly in the US

The listing comes at a time of rising scrutiny over US reliance on China for materials key to both civilian technology and military systems. According to the most recent US Geological Survey, the US was 100 percent import reliant for 12 of the 50 designated critical minerals in 2024, with tungsten high on the list.

Another 28 had import reliance above 50 percent.

Efforts to address this gap have accelerated under the current administration and continued into the Trump administration’s second term, including supply chain reviews, trade realignments and procurement restrictions.

Almonty continues to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker “AII,” as well as on the Australian Securities Exchange and Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

The company said proceeds of the offering will be used primarily for the development of Sangdong, along with general working capital needs and corporate purposes.

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

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(TheNewswire)

 

  

   
 

 

   

 

VANCOUVER, British Columbia July 15th, 2025 TheNewswire Michael Kott announces that his security holding percentage in the common shares (each, a ‘ Share ‘) of Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp. (the ‘ Company ‘), following the acquisition of 800,000 Shares of the Company in the open market on July 14 th ( the ‘Transaction’) is approximately 13.72% on a partially diluted basis.

 

  Immediately prior to the completion of the Transaction, Mr. Kott owned and controlled   10,371,   999   Shares, representing approximately 12.73 % of the then-outstanding Shares on a partially diluted basis.  

 

  Pursuant to the Transaction, Mr. Kott acquired control and ownership over an additional 800,000 Shares, resulting in control and ownership over a total of 11,171,999 Shares.  

 

  Mr. Kott acquired the Shares for investment purposes.   Mr. Kott may, depending on various factors, including, without limitation, market and other conditions, increase or decrease his beneficial ownership, control or direction over Shares or other securities of the Company.  

 

  For   further   information,   please   contact:  

 

  Michael Kott
kott@cm-equity.de
 

 

  This   news   release   is   issued   pursuant   to   the   early   warning   requirements   of   applicable   securities   laws.   A copy of the Early Warning Report will appear on the Company’s profile on the SEDAR+ website at     www.sedarplus.ca.     A copy of the Early Warning Report may also be obtained by contacting    closingbellservices@gmail.com    .  

 

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

 

 

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Investor Insight

With a clear vision for value creation in the energy transition and precious metals sectors, Surface Metals has strategically assembled one of North America’s most compelling project portfolios. Anchored by a high-potential gold asset and a robust lithium pipeline, the company is focused on discovery-driven growth, resource development, and unlocking long-term shareholder value through exploration, partnerships and potential M&A.

Overview

Surface Metals (CSE:SUR,OTCQB:SURMF) is a diversified exploration and development company with a portfolio spanning precious metals and lithium, targeting the growing global need for electrification metals and gold as a financial hedge.

The company’s flagship Cimarron gold project in Nevada is an underexplored, high-grade oxide gold system with historic drilling by majors including Newmont and Echo Bay. Simultaneously, Surface Metals, through its subsidiary ACME Lithium US, is developing lithium projects across Nevada and Manitoba, Canada. These include the Clayton Valley lithium brine asset (with a defined resource), the claystone-hosted Fish Lake Valley project, and the pegmatite-rich Shatford and Cat-Euclid claims in partnership with Snow Lake Resources.

Surface Metals’ projects are located in prolific mining jurisdictions in Nevada and Manitoba

With a foundational 43-101 resource, compelling exploration upside, and strategic positioning next to producing and near-producing lithium assets, Surface Metals is building value from the ground up.

Company Highlights

  • Dual Focus Portfolio: Combines precious metals and energy transition minerals, including a 90 percent stake in the Cimarron gold project and multiple lithium assets in Nevada and Manitoba.
  • Gold Asset with Legacy Database: Cimarron contains over 190 historical drill holes with high-grade intercepts and a non-compliant historic resource of 50,000+ oz gold, open in multiple directions.
  • NI 43-101 Lithium Resource: The Clayton Valley project hosts an inferred lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) resource of 302,900 tonnes, backed by geophysics, drilling and pumping test data.
  • Strategic Lithium Locations: Lithium claims are adjacent to Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine and Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge development in Nevada, and contiguous to the Tanco mine in Manitoba.
  • Experienced Leadership: Led by resource sector veterans with a track record of successful exits, technical development and public company management.
  • Energy Transition Strategy: Well-positioned to benefit from macro tailwinds in lithium demand and US domestic critical minerals supply chain policies.

Key Projects

Cimarron Gold Project

The Cimarron gold project is a high-grade epithermal gold exploration project located at the north end of the San Antonio Mountains in the historic San Antonio (Cimarron) mining district, approximately 18 miles north of Tonopah, Nevada. Surface Metals holds a 90 percent interest in the project through its US subsidiary, Surface Metals US Inc. The project comprises 31 lode claims and is characterized by shallow, structurally controlled, low-sulfidation oxide gold mineralization.

Cimarron lies at the intersection of two regionally significant gold trends: the northwest-trending Walker Lane Belt and a north-northeast trend hosting Round Mountain (Kinross), Bullfrog, Goldfield, Manhattan and Gold Hill deposits. Notably, Round Mountain—located just 28 miles north—has produced more than 15 million ounces of gold. The project benefits from excellent infrastructure, including nearby power, road access and historic drill pads.

Aerial view of the project property

From 1980 to 2004, significant historical exploration was conducted by major operators such as Newmont, Echo Bay, Romarco and Budge. More than 190 drill holes define three main mineralized zones: West, Central and East. Echo Bay’s internal reports (1987) estimated a non-NI 43-101 compliant resource of over 50,000 oz of gold hosted in approximately 1.5 million tons (Mt), with roughly 80 percent of the ounces located in the West Zone. Historic high-grade intercepts include:

  • 4.46 grams per ton (g/t) gold over 11 m
  • 4.49 g/t gold over 23 m
  • 3.94 g/t gold over 46 m

Mineralization remains open in multiple directions, and surface sampling has returned anomalous gold values across a wide area, indicating strong potential for both lateral and vertical extensions. The mineralized system features strong structural controls and is interpreted to be part of a shallow, boiling zone epithermal system.

Surface Metals is currently finalizing its 2025/2026 exploration interpretation and strategy to potentially expand the known mineralized envelope and produce an NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate.

Clayton Valley Lithium Brine Project

The Clayton Valley Project, held through Surface’s subsidiary ACME Lithium US, is located in Esmeralda County, home to the only operating lithium brine mine in the United States: Albemarle’s Silver Peak mine. ACME’s 100 percent interest covers 122 placer claims totaling 2,440 acres in one of the world’s most prolific lithium-producing basins.

The project hosts a defined NI 43-101 inferred resource of 302,900 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), based on extensive geophysical surveys (gravity and HSAMT), Phase 1 and Phase 2 drilling, and a 10-day pump test. The brines are hosted in interbedded silts, clays, sand and gravel, with lithium concentrations in brine ranging from 38 to 130 mg/L. Borehole DH-1 confirmed brine presence from 85 meters to 370 meters, with increased concentrations in basal gravels and lacustrine tuff layers.

Phase 2 drilling (DH-1A and TW-1) reached a depth of 1,940 ft, intersecting the Lower Gravel Unit (LGU), interpreted as the main brine aquifer. Pack testing and zone-isolated sampling from the LGU showed lithium values up to 71 mg/L. Permeability tests demonstrated favorable aquifer transmissivity. The presence of bicarbonate-rich groundwater indicates typical Clayton Valley geochemistry, conducive to direct lithium extraction (DLE) processing. Surface is currently evaluating DLE partnerships and pilot testing, with SLB (formerly Schlumberger) having already demonstrated a working DLE unit in the region.

Fish Lake Valley Lithium Claystone Project

The Fish Lake Valley (FLV) project is a 100 percent owned sedimentary lithium claystone asset covering 207 claims across 4,002 acres in Esmeralda County. The project is strategically adjacent to Ioneer’s fully permitted and DOE-funded Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project, with expected commencement of construction in 2025 and offtake agreements with Ford, Panasonic and Toyota.

FLV hosts lithium values up to 1,418 parts per million (ppm) in surface samples, with boron anomalies as high as 1,964 ppm—both strong indicators of favorable sedimentary lithium potential. Two major field sampling programs (2022 and 2023) confirmed the widespread presence of lithium-bearing illite-smectite clays. Phase 2 sampling utilized Asterra’s satellite analytics to identify new mineralized zones.

Geophysical surveys, including gravity and HSAMT, confirm the presence of a deep down-dropped basin with clay-rich horizons extending to over 1.3 km depth. Interpreted illite-smectite units, comparable to Rhyolite Ridge’s host rocks, are present throughout the basin. The project is fully permitted for drilling, with multiple high-priority drill targets identified for validation and resource definition. Surface is actively seeking a JV or strategic partner to fund and advance this asset.

Shatford, Birse and Cat-Euclid Lake Lithium Projects

Surface Metals, in partnership with Snow Lake Resources (Nasdaq:LITM), holds a 49 percent interest in a 17,000-acre pegmatite exploration portfolio in southeastern Manitoba, contiguous with the Tanco mine, Canada’s only operating LCT (lithium-cesium-tantalum) pegmatite mine, owned by Sinomine.

The Shatford Lake project comprises 21 claims (8,883 acres), Birse Lake adds another 10 claims (5,196 acres), and the Cat-Euclid block includes six claims (2,930 acres). The claims straddle the Greer-Shatford Shear Zone, a major 15-km structural corridor hosting known pegmatites, favorable host rocks and historic lithium occurrences.

Snow Lake’s 2024 field campaign discovered a 25 m to 30 m wide tantalite-bearing pegmatite on the Cat-Euclid block and identified multiple new pegmatite swarms under heavy overburden. Drilling at Shatford Lake (2023) included eight holes totaling 3,280 meters, intersecting pegmatites in six holes. 3D modeling of airborne magnetic data correlated structural dilation zones with pegmatite emplacement, prime targets for lithium mineralization. Multiple new drill targets have been identified for follow-up in 2025. The joint venture provides a low-cost pathway to potential lithium discoveries near a fully integrated lithium processing facility.

Management Team

Stephen Hanson – President, CEO and Director

With over 28 years of global experience in finance and corporate development, Stephen Hanson has held executive roles across mining, energy and resource sectors. He has successfully executed M&A deals and created exit strategies for multiple public and private companies. Hanson’s focus at Surface Metals is on unlocking value through resource expansion and strategic partnerships.

Zara Kanji – CFO and Corporate Secretary

A CPA with deep experience in financial reporting for junior mining companies, Zara Kanji oversees compliance, budgeting, and financial strategy. She brings more than two decades of expertise in audit, taxation and advisory for public entities in Canada.

Vivian Katsuris – Director

A capital markets specialist with over 28 years of experience, Vivian Katsuris has served in executive and board roles for numerous TSXV and CSE-listed companies. Her expertise spans brokerage, corporate governance and strategic advisory.

Yannis Tsitos – Director

Formerly with BHP Billiton for 19 years, Yannis Tsitos has decades of exploration and M&A experience across multiple continents. He is currently the president of Goldsource Mines and sits on several public company boards.

William Feyerabend – Qualified Person (US Projects)

A certified professional geologist and NI 43-101 Qualified Person, William Feyerabend has authored multiple technical reports on lithium assets and has decades of exploration experience in the US, Mexico and South America.

Dane Bridge – Technical Advisor

With over 45 years in global mineral exploration and mine evaluation, Dane Bridge provides strategic technical oversight across Surface’s exploration assets.

Matt Banta – Technical Advisor

A specialist in hydrology and lithium brine systems, Matt Banta brings over 20 years of field and analytical experience with a focus on lithium extraction and water resource modeling.

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Geopolitical tensions are rising in several regions of the world, and governments are expected to increase their defense spending in the years ahead. This has investors looking to aerospace and defense stocks.

The entrenched Russia-Ukraine war, widespread conflict in the Middle East, military posturing in the ongoing US-China trade conflict and the spread of cybersecurity attacks on critical infrastructure — all of these developments and more are driving demand in the global defense market.

In 2024, the five countries spending the most on their militaries were the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

For the most part, the aerospace and defense industry provides equipment, technologies and services to national governments through contracts. The players in this space are typically defense contractors that design and manufacture aircraft, satellites, electronic systems, software, missiles, drones, autonomous vehicles, tanks and marine vessels.

Global aerospace and defense revenue reached record highs in 2024, according to PwC in its latest annual sector report, totaling US$922 billion across the top 100 companies. However, the firm reports that increased demand is outpacing supply and capacity from defense companies.

5 Biggest US Defense Stocks

Today, the US accounts for the largest share of global defense spending, representing about 37 percent of worldwide military outlays. In fact, military spending represents about 12 percent of the US federal budget for fiscal year 2025. Worsening geopolitical tensions are expected to increase the US government’s spending on defense technology.

1. RTX (NYSE:RTX)

Market cap: US$189.46 billion

One of the most well-known American defense companies, RTX operates in the defense, aviation, space, electronics and cybersecurity sectors. The company captured more than US$80.7 billion in revenue for 2024, up 17.15 percent from the previous year.

The company’s defense solutions arm Raytheon was awarded a US$250 million contract in June 2025 from Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric (TSE:6503) for licensed production of ESSM Block 2 short to medium-range guided missiles.

‘Under the Direct Commercial Sale contract, Raytheon will provide missile kits, parts, and components as well as technical support for missile production at (Mitsubishi Electric) in Japan,’ the press release stated.

2. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)

Market cap: US$151.52 billion

Another heavyweight in the aerospace and defense industry, Boeing designs and manufactures airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment and missiles.

Revenue for the company declined by 14.5 percent in 2024 over the previous year to come in at US$66.5 billion. The majority of that loss was driven by its airplane segment; its defense segment revenue dropped 4 percent over the same period. The company’s aviation sector has faced heavy scrutiny in recent years after several disastrous incidents linked to the Boeing 737.

As for its defense business, in March 2025, Boeing reported that production of its air defense systems, Patriot Advanced Capability-3 seekers, reached an all-time high in 2024. According to the release, the company produces the seekers as a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin and has sold them to 17 countries, including the US and Ukraine.

3. Honeywell International (NASDAQ:HON)

Market cap: US$144.57 billion

Engineering and technology company Honeywell International develops and manufactures technological solutions for a variety of sectors. The company’s four business divisions are aerospace technologies, building automation, energy and sustainability solutions, and industrial automation. Honeywell’s sales came in at US$38.5 billion in 2024, up 5 percent from the previous year.

Honeywell has numerous defense contracts with government agencies around the world, including right at home with the US Department of Defense (DoD) and US Armed Forces. In May 2025, the company’s JetWave X satellite communication system was selected for use in the advanced US Army aircraft ARES.

4. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)

Market cap: US$107.57 billion

Lockheed Martin’s business is concentrated on aerospace products and advanced defense technology systems. The F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet is among its most notable products, but Lockheed is also well known for its space launchers, ballistic missiles and satellites. The company’s 2024 net sales increased by 5.15 percent from the previous year to just over US$71 billion.

Unsurprisingly, about half of Lockheed Martin’s annual sales are made to the US DoD. However, governments around the world have purchasing contracts with the company to supply their militaries with defense products such as F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. In April 2025, the Royal Norwegian Air Force received the last two F-35 fighter jets of the 52 ordered in its most recent supply contract.

5. General Dynamics (NYSE:GD)

Market cap: US$76.57 billion

Although best known for its Gulfstream business jets, General Dynamics designs and manufactures wheeled and tracked combat vehicles, submarines, weapons and communications systems, as well as munitions. The company garnered more than US$47.72 billion in revenue for 2024, up 12.88 percent from the previous year.

General Dynamics is a major defense contractor for the US military as well as allied nations abroad. In April 2025, the company was awarded US$12 billion in contract modifications for the construction of two Virginia-class submarines for the US Navy, bringing the potential value of the contract to US$17.2 billion. This type of sub is designed for anti-submarine and surface ship warfare and special operations support.

5 Biggest US Defense ETFs

Investors looking to mitigate the risk of investing in individual stocks can diversify their portfolio with defense ETFs. While ETFs aren’t without risk, they are often considered a more stable investment compared to stocks as they allocate funds across a variety of stocks that are rebalanced by an asset manager to meet the return goals of the fund.

The biggest US Defense ETFs by assets under management are listed below according to data from ETF Database.

1. iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (BATS:ITA)

Assets under management: US$7.83 billion

The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF launched in May 2006. This fund invests in large, generally stable companies in the aerospace and defense sector, particularly those with the majority of their revenues based on long-term government contracts.

The ETF has 40 holdings and an expense ratio of 0.4 percent. IShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF’s top holdings include RTX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics as well as another important name in the industry, L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX).

2. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:PPA)

Assets under management: US$5.41 billion

Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF launched in October 2005. Like ITA, it also tracks large, stable aerospace and defense stocks with steady revenue streams from long-term government contracts.

While it has more holdings than ITA at 57, it also has a higher expense ratio at 0.58 percent. Unlike ITA, Honeywell is listed among Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF’s top holdings in addition to the other biggest US defense stocks.

3. SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEARCA:XAR)

Assets under management: US$3.76 billion

SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF, which launched in September 2011, offers exposure to large cap stocks in this sector. It has the lowest expense ratio on this list at 0.35 percent.

Of the 40 holdings XAR tracks, the most heavily weighted US defense stocks include RTX, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics as well as Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) and AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV).

4. Global X Defense Tech ETF (NYSEARCA:SHLD)

Assets under management: US$2.69 billion

Launched in September 2023, Global X Defense Tech ETF is the newest defense ETF on the market. While it does offer a geographic diversity of exposure to the overall defense sector, its holdings are just over 50 percent based in the United States. This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.50 percent.

SHLD has 43 holdings, including the biggest US defense stocks such as Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics, but is also heavily weighted in Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) and L3Harris Technologies.

5. Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares (NYSEARCA:DFEN)

Assets under management: US$249.19 million

Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares launched in May 2017 with the goal of tripling the daily return of an index of major defense industry stocks.

DFEN has the highest expense ratio on this list at 0.95 percent. Some of the most heavily weighted stocks of its 39 holdings are Boeing, Lockheed Martin and RTX.

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

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Defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is in early talks with undersea mining companies to open access to two dormant seabed exploration licenses it has held since the 1980s

The move signals a renewed US push to tap the ocean floor for critical minerals.

The licenses, which cover swaths of the eastern Pacific seabed in international waters, were awarded to Lockheed by US regulators decades ago during a previous wave of interest in deep-sea mining.

Though the projects never progressed to extraction, they are now gaining fresh attention as nations and corporations seek alternative sources of key minerals used in electric vehicles, defense technologies, and clean energy systems.

“We are in early stages of conversations with several companies about giving them access to our licences and allowing them to process those materials,” Frank St. John, Lockheed’s chief operating officer, told the Financial Times.

While St. John declined to quantify the potential value of the deposits, he added that interested parties have “done the homework and determined there is value there.”

Lockheed’s seabed licenses could represent a strategic foothold in a mineral-rich region, containing polymetallic nodules that can hold commercially viable concentrations of key metals.

The timing also coincides with recent executive action from the White House.

USPresident Donald Trump, who returned to office in January, signed an executive order in April asserting US rights to issue mining licenses in international waters and encouraging the stockpiling of seabed metals as strategic resources.

The order bypasses ongoing negotiations at the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN agency tasked with regulating deep-sea mining, and instead relies on the 1980 US Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act as the legal foundation.

It emphasizes the need to “establish the US as a global leader in seabed mineral exploration and development both within and beyond national jurisdiction.” While the US has not ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea — the treaty from which the ISA derives its authority — it has signed a 1994 agreement recognizing the treaty’s seabed provisions and operates its own permitting system through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Lockheed said it welcomes the renewed policy attention. “We believe the US has the opportunity to develop a gold standard for commercial recovery of nodules in an environmentally responsible manner.”

Court upholds TMC disclosures on deep-dea mining risks

Lockheed is not alone in navigating the legal uncertainties surrounding seabed mining.

The Metals Company (TMC) (NASDAQ:TMC), a deep-sea mining startup, recently survived a shareholder lawsuit alleging it had misled investors about the environmental impacts and financial backing of its operations.

US District Judge Eric Komitee dismissed the claims, ruling that the company’s comparisons to conventional mining methods were not misleading, even if deep-sea mining still carries environmental risks.

“It is eminently possible that (1) deep-sea mining causes meaningful environmental harm, and yet (2) such harm is significantly less than the harm caused by existing methods,” the judge wrote.

TMC had disclosed in filings that deep-sea mining could result in damage and that the regulatory path remained uncertain. Its legal win may encourage others — like Lockheed — to proceed more openly with their seabed plans, albeit cautiously.

Deep-sea mining industry cautiously awakens

The growing pursuit of potentially extracting resources from the world’s oceans comes at a critical juncture for the seabed-mining industry. For decades, a de facto moratorium on mining in international waters has been in place due to regulatory uncertainty and environmental concerns.

The ISA has issued more than 30 exploratory permits, but has yet to finalize commercial extraction rules. That delay has prompted frustration from some parties, while drawing calls from others for a pause or outright ban.

Currently, the ISA is holding key assemblies in Jamaica to hash out the long-awaited mining code to regulate commercial activity on the ocean floor with provisions for environmental safeguards, royalties, and tax obligations.

But a growing number of countries — 37 at last count — have pushed for a precautionary pause, citing risks to deep-sea ecosystems that remain largely uncharted. Scientists warn that mining these habitats could cause irreversible damage.

In 2023, Lockheed appeared to step back from the sector by selling two UK-sponsored exploration licenses in the Pacific, a move interpreted by analysts as signaling reduced confidence in deep-sea mining.

However, its retained US licenses suggest it never fully exited the space.

The Trump administration’s executive order marks the most assertive US step yet to undermine the ISA’s multilateral approach, raising fears among diplomats that the agency may lose legitimacy.

China, which has also invested heavily in seabed mining, responded sharply to the move.

“The US authorization violates international law and harms the overall interests of the international community,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said earlier this year.

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

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The resource investing community descended on Boca Raton, Florida, during the first full week of July for another edition of the Rule Symposium, hosted by veteran investor and speculator Rick Rule.

The five day event featured an illustrious array of speakers, panelists and companies sharing a wealth of investor knowledge. As in years past, gold remained a top focus, with many presenters stressing the value it offers investors.

Opening the conference, Rule provided a sobering overview of the current economic trajectory. He urged investors to set aside political narratives and instead focus on the raw arithmetic of America’s financial condition.

“It’s not about politics, it’s about math,” said Rule.

He pointed to three figures that define the US financial landscape: US$141 trillion in aggregate private net worth, a US$27.71 trillion GDP and a personal savings rate of just 4 percent. That’s set against mounting obligations — US$36.6 trillion in federal debt held by bondholders and over US$100 trillion in unfunded federal entitlements.

Rule cautioned that the imbalance between assets and liabilities points to a looming reckoning, potentially echoing the inflationary erosion of the 1970s, when the US dollar lost 75 percent of its purchasing power.

“There’s no way out of this without reducing the value of the dollar,” he told the audience. “(The) increase in gold (prices) will mirror the decrease in purchasing power of the US dollar.’

To hedge against this risk, Rule encouraged attendees to adopt a more self-reliant approach.

He advised listeners to question government guarantees, focus on building personal financial resilience and consider investing in inflation-sensitive assets such as gold and silver. “The math doesn’t lie — it’s time to prepare, not just react,” said Rule. ”I need you not to panic when the time is right, but rather to pounce.”

Watch a recap of key Rule Symposium takeaways.

Tailwinds turning to headwinds

In addition to strategically allocating to gold, geopolitical uncertainty was as a key theme at the Rule Symposium.

During his presentation “Back to the Old Drawing Board: First Principles and the Lost Art of Investing Through Crisis,” author and publisher Grant Williams made the case that longstanding tailwinds — globalization, demographic expansion and low interest rates — have reversed, giving way to persistent uncertainty.

 

Williams provides an overview of shifting market dynamics.

He traced the last four decades of wealth creation to a rare alignment of forces that pushed asset prices, particularly US equities, sharply higher. However, since 2020, a new macro regime has emerged, defined by tighter monetary policy, rising geopolitical risk and fading confidence in the US dollar.

Like many speakers at the Rule Symposium, Williams also underscored the massive gold purchases central banks are making. During Q1 of this year, central banks added 244 metric tons of gold to their official reserves, a 24 percent increase above the five year quarterly average, according to World Gold Council data.

For Williams, this shift signals growing concern within the financial system — a trend investors shouldn’t overlook.

“When central banks are exchanging their reserves for gold in record amounts, if they feel the sudden urgent need to own more gold, you better believe that we should feel that too,” he noted.

The expert went on to illustrate how major economic and societal cycles are converging, suggesting more volatility ahead. A live poll of the audience taken during his session revealed growing unease among attendees, with many already adjusting their portfolios and long-term goals. In response, Williams called for a return to key principles: scarcity, durability, resilience, trust, patience and a clear-eyed acceptance of uncertainty.

These, he said, should now anchor any sound investment approach. He urged Rule Symposium attendees to shift their mindset from chasing returns to preserving capital by reducing overexposure to US equities, diversifying by geography and asset class and focusing on businesses with real staying power.

The investment playbook of the past no longer fits the world we’re entering, he stressed.

Navigating what Williams calls an “age of headwinds” will require humility, discipline and a willingness to rethink what truly creates and protects wealth.

Hard assets set to shine

Economist, author and former Wall Street executive Dr. Nomi Prins laid out a case for what she calls the “real asset uprising,” a global shift in value and power driven by hard assets like gold, silver, copper, uranium and rare earths.

Drawing on her experience in high-level banking and her current work in the mining sector, Prins argued that rising geopolitical friction, shifting trade dynamics and financial system strain are fueling a renewed focus on tangible resources. She pointed to surging institutional interest in commodities, noting that Wall Street deal flow tied to real assets is up 24 percent year-on-year, while hiring in commodity finance roles has increased by 15 percent.

Gold, once dismissed on trading desks, is now seen as a strategic monetary tool.

According to Prins, the yellow metal will not replace the US dollar as the reserve currency, but it will play a central role in bilateral trade and power negotiations. Gold’s jurisdiction — where it is stored and mined — is now more important than ever, she explained, as nations seek to shield assets from sanctions and instability.

Silver, copper, uranium and rare earths are all finding support through similar structural tailwinds, Prins pointed out.

Silver demand is rising due to its industrial applications, and limited aboveground supply is driving long-term contracts.

For its part, copper has become so strategically important that the US is conducting a Section 232 national security investigation into its supply chain, a move historically reserved for defense resources. Major buyers like China and India are stockpiling copper in anticipation of supply constraints.

Uranium is also surging back into focus, driven by bipartisan support for nuclear energy. Legislation and executive orders are fast tracking uranium permitting and enrichment, with utility demand expected to outstrip supply.

Rare earths = real assets

Prins highlighted rare earths as a critical new front in the ongoing global shift in value and power.

‘Rare earths are intrinsic to the nation,’ she said, pointing to their essential role in defense, electronics and energy technologies. With 85 percent of processing controlled by China, the US has launched Section 232 investigations to assess domestic vulnerabilities — reports on copper and rare earths are expected this fall.

Prins described her decision to join the board of a rare earths company as a natural extension of her belief in physical assets: “It’s not just about the asset — it’s about controlling the asset, the processing and the movement.”

That theme underpins the investment case: security of supply, efficient processing and strategic jurisdiction are key to value creation. She also noted a dramatic capital rotation, saying that US$330 billion has exited bonds over the past year, while US$230 billion has flowed into commodities.

“Wall Street is following the real asset story,” Prins emphasized.

 

Rule sits down with Porter Stansberry to discuss his investment strategy.

Prins then said real upside now lies not just in owning resources, but in having processing capability.

New technologies, like advanced rare earths separation methods, are increasing economic viability and attracting private capital. “Where private money and public power combine, that’s where the investment opportunity is,” she said.

With key policy announcements and trade shifts looming in the fall, she warned investors this is a “very critical time” in the real asset uprising. For Prins, the message is clear: investors, policymakers and mining leaders must position accordingly, because, in today’s world, “whoever controls the ground controls the game.’

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

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