How Expanded Crushing and Underground Mining Boost Production

Mark Brennan,  Founder, CEO, and Director of Cerrado Gold Inc (TSX.V: CERT) (OTCQX: CRDOF), joins me to review their Q3 2025 operational metrics, along with the expansionary exploration program at the producing Minera Don Nicolas gold mine in Argentina.  We also unpack the value proposition and key upcoming development catalysts at the Lagoa Salgada VMS Project in Portugal and the Mont Sorcier Iron-Vanadium project in Quebec.

Q3 Operating Highlights

• Q3 Production of 13,868 GEO vs 11,437 GEO in Q2 2025 (+21%)
• Heap leach production growing as expanded crushing capacity and improved recoveries result in record quarterly production of 10,465 GEO (+33% vs Q2)
• Underground development at Paloma is advancing, with ramp well advanced and three access portals targeted to reach production stopes in Q4
• CIL plant starting to receive ore from underground development, production expected to ramp up in Q4/2025 as higher grade underground material supplants lower grade feed in the mill

• Expanded crushing capacity results in substantial additional tonnage to the leach pad and record quarterly production
• Underground Development to access production stopes in Q4 supporting increase in mill head grade and production
• 2025 Production Guidance revised to 50,000 to 55,000 GEO
• Exploration Program expanded with an additional 50,000m planned for 2026 (in addition to the existing ~15,000m program in 2025)

Mark and I review their Minera Don Nicolas producing gold project in Argentina, and the record heap leach gold equivalent ounce production for the quarter. There is expanded and improved crushing capacity at the heap leach, from the newly installed secondary crusher, and this will continue to be impactful on a move-forward basis into Q4 and beyond, with the quantity of ore being placed on the pad having increased, and with it helping to reduce down unit costs in the latter part of H2 2025.

The production profile will also keep growing with the underground mining having now commenced.  With higher gold prices, the CIL plant continued to process lower-grade stockpiles in Q3/25, but new high-grade material from the underground mining operations has started to be blended with that moving forward, and this will increase the average grade throughput at the mill.

Another area of future growth will be the ongoing drill program of about 15,000 meters this year and another 50,000 meters slated for next year (once all 4 drill rigs are in place). It will be a combination of  underground exploration work targeting new areas of mineralization and growing the mine life, in addition to surface drilling that is exploring around the open pit resources, as well as identifying additional satellite open-pits at surface. 

Next we unpacked the growing value proposition at the Lagoa Salgada VMS Project  in Portugal, with a Post-tax NPV of US$147 million and a 39% IRR in the current Feasibility Study. This Project adds both substantial precious metals resources along with critical minerals exposure (42 % Gold & Silver, 24% zinc, 14% copper, and 5% tin) to the future production profile.  We also discuss the various work streams leading to optimized Feasibility Study in Q4, a construction decision by Q1 2026.  Construction is targeted for H2 of 2026, with first production slated for early 2028.

We wrap up discussing the underappreciated value and ongoing derisking work that is moving towards a Bankable Feasibility Study in Q1 of 2026 at the Mont Sorcier Iron-Vanadium in Quebec. Recent metallurgical test work, has reaffirmed the potential to produce high-grade and high-purity iron concentrate grading in excess of 67% iron with silica and alumina content below 2.3%.

If you have questions for Mark regarding Cerrado Gold, then please email those to me at Shad@kereport.com.

• In full disclosure, Shad is a shareholder of Cerrado Gold at the time of this recording, and may choose to buy or sell shares at any time.

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