Company Interviews

Interview with David D'Onofrio, CEO of White Gold Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/white-gold-corp-wgo-project-generator-finding-gold-in-the-yukon-3263Recording date: 11th November 2025White Gold Corp is developing one of Canada's most compelling gold stories in Yukon's historic Klondike district, where the company controls a massive 300,000-hectare land position - 15 to 30 times larger than typical junior exploration companies. Founded in 2016 by CEO David D'Onofrio, PowerOne Capital, and renowned explorer Shawn Ryan, the company has delineated a substantial 3 million ounce gold resource at its flagship Golden Saddle deposit, representing the highest-grade open-pit resource in the Yukon at 1.4 grams per ton.The project's most significant attribute is an ultra-high-grade core containing 700,000 ounces at 5 grams per ton with exceptional 92% metallurgical recoveries. This high-grade zone, identified through recent structural reinterpretation by Dylan Langille from Great Bear Resources' discovery team, positions the company for robust starter-pit economics with rapid payback potential. A Preliminary Economic Assessment targeted for the first half of 2026 will quantify these advantages and evaluate accelerated development scenarios.White Gold recently closed a $23 million financing that represents a capital inflection point, enabling a 25,000-meter drill program—nearly ten times larger than the company's historical 3,000-meter programs. This expanded budget allows simultaneous pursuit of multiple high-probability targets: extending the ultra-high-grade zone at depth, drilling newly identified parallel footwall zones, and returning to earlier discoveries for systematic expansion. Management considers 4 to 5 million ounces a "reasonable" target, with potential pathways to 7 to 10 million ounces if deposits connect at depth.The company benefits from strategic validation through Agnico Eagle's maintained 19% shareholding and the advancement of the neighboring Coffee project to production, which establishes clear permitting pathways and infrastructure benefits. With the Yukon jurisdiction regaining favor following recent major discoveries and resolution of regional concerns, White Gold offers investors leveraged exposure to rising gold prices in an underexplored Canadian frontier with major company backing and clear development catalysts ahead.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/white-gold-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Scott Caithness, Managing Director of Hawk Resources Ltd.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/hawk-resources-asxhwk-new-exploration-model-revitalises-historic-utah-mining-district-6860Recording date: 12th November 2025Hawk Resources (ASX:HWK) is preparing to drill its flagship Cactus copper-gold project in Utah this December, targeting five high-priority prospects in a historically productive mining district. Managing Director Scott Caithness recently outlined the company's systematic exploration approach and the multiple pathways to value creation at this advanced-stage project.The Cactus district boasts an impressive mining heritage, with the original mine operating between 1905 and 1920, producing 1.3 million tons at 2% copper with gold credits of 0.3 grams per ton and 6-7 grams per ton silver. Modern exploration has validated this potential, with Rio Tinto's previous work intersecting 42 meters at 1.9% copper and 0.6 g/t gold, while multiple historical drill holes have exceeded 1.4% copper grades.Hawk has employed a sophisticated dual-track strategy, identifying both deep geophysical targets with district-scale potential and near-surface oxide mineralization that could provide rapid development opportunities. The company's comprehensive geophysical surveys and systematic soil sampling—the first conducted over these targets - have defined five priority drill targets ranked by geological confidence.The Copperopolis target exemplifies the project's exploration potential, featuring a massive geophysical anomaly with surface soils returning up to 1,000 ppm copper. A 1974 drill hole off the anomaly's edge intersected 30 meters at 0.2% copper, yet the core remains untested with potential for substantial mineralization.With A$5 million recently raised and Utah permitting expected by end-November 2025, Hawk is fully funded for its 12-hole drilling program. Initial assay results are anticipated in Q1 2026, providing regular newsflow through the critical discovery phase.Beyond Cactus, the company has secured the Olympus scandium project in Western Australia, featuring a 4km x 7km soil anomaly grading over 500ppm scandium. This provides significant optionality in an emerging critical mineral with growing aerospace and defense applications, currently valued at approximately $3-3.5 million per ton.View Hawk Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/alderan-resourcesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Hayden Locke, CEO & Jose Antonio Merino, CFO of Marimaca CopperOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/marimaca-copper-tsxmari-industry-leading-economics-meet-growth-potential-7830Recording date: 10th November 2025Marimaca Copper has secured environmental approval for its oxide copper project in northern Chile, marking a significant milestone that positions the company to break ground by the end of Q1 2026. The approval, granted through Chile's Declaration of Environmental Impact (DIA) pathway, represents years of strategic planning and proactive stakeholder engagement that distinguished the company's approach from typical mining development.The DIA approval followed submission of a comprehensive 4,800-page document that underwent rigorous review by 17 separate government agencies. Each agency examined whether the project would generate "significant environmental impact" within their specific scope, from water resources and flora to archaeology and air quality. Managing Director Jose Antonio Merino emphasized that the pathway selection was not arbitrary but rather "a result of your environmental impact assessment," with the company's design qualifying for the streamlined DIA process by demonstrating minimal environmental impact.Marimaca's strategic approach centered on designing the project around environmental sensitivities from the outset rather than retrofitting considerations after engineering completion. This methodology, while adding approximately one quarter to the submission timeline, proved instrumental in securing approval. The company also engaged proactively with local communities despite no regulatory mandate, opening dialogue about expectations and concerns that informed the final community engagement plan.The approval arrives amid favorable shifts in Chile's political environment, where Merino noted "more consensus in the Chilean political and regulatory agencies about the importance of economic growth" compared to the environmentalist wave of four to five years ago. CEO Hayden Locke views the timing as optimal, stating that "the next 5 to 10 years in copper is going to be very favorable, and we are coming to market with a new project at exactly the right time."With primary environmental approval secured and remaining sectoral permits considered low-risk, Marimaca has successfully navigated what Locke described as permitting issues that have "delayed junior companies in some cases by two decades," positioning the oxide project for near-term construction commencement.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/marimaca-copperSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Recording date: 4th November 2025The gold mining sector demonstrated extraordinary financial performance in Q3 2025, with gold stabilizing near $4,000 per ounce and silver between $47-49 after a recent $300 pullback. Major producers generated unprecedented free cash flow despite market volatility, positioning the sector for sustained growth.Agnico Eagle Mines produced exceptional results with $3 billion in revenue and 66% gross margins, generating $1.2 billion in free cash flow at all-in sustaining costs of $1,400 per ounce. At current gold prices, this translates to approximately $17-18 million in daily free cash flow. Newmont Corporation similarly posted strong performance with $8 billion in revenue and $1.6 billion in free cash flow from 1.4 million ounces produced.Despite Federal Reserve rate cuts temporarily reducing global liquidity flows, the fundamental investment case for precious metals remains robust. Market weakness may extend through November, but recovery is anticipated approaching December's Fed meeting as monetary debasement trends continue supporting sector strength.M&A activity accelerated significantly with Fresnillo acquiring Probe Gold for $780 million cash, marking the world's largest primary silver producer's expansion into Canadian gold assets. This departure from Mexican operations may signal jurisdiction concerns given limited recent permitting activity. Coeur Mining's acquisition of New Gold demonstrated valuation arbitrage opportunities, with the U.S.-domiciled company leveraging its 50% premium to double operational scale while achieving 40% net accretion.Strategic investments are flowing downstream from major producers to developers and explorers. Gold Fields invested $50 million in Founders Metals targeting Suriname projects, while B2Gold deployed $10 million into Prospector Metals for Yukon exploration. These investments represent modest commitments relative to daily free cash flow generation Agnico's $180 million Perpetua investment equals just ten days of current free cash flow.The preference for cash transactions injects capital directly into specialist mining funds likely to redeploy within the sector, creating a multiplier effect. Development-stage assets trading at 0.4 times net asset value versus full NAV multiples for producers enable immediate accretion through strategic acquisitions.This capital migration down the market capitalization structure from major producers to mid-tier companies, developers, and explorers represents an early-stage phenomenon with substantial additional activity expected as producer profitability compounds at sustained gold prices.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Recording date: 17th October 2025Jeff Phillips has spent three decades navigating the volatile junior resource sector, developing an investment philosophy he describes as "parental supervision" rather than traditional activism. His approach involves taking substantial positions of 4-10% ownership in carefully selected companies and providing strategic guidance on capital raising, shareholder composition, and development milestones.Central to Phillips's strategy is maintaining a concentrated portfolio of just 10-14 meaningful positions across different commodities and exploration models. He argues that excessive diversification—he cites investors holding 97 or more junior resource stocks—makes portfolio management impossible and dilutes the impact of successful investments. His mathematical reasoning is straightforward: even a 10,000% return becomes insignificant if spread across too many positions.Share structure represents Phillips's primary investment criterion. He seeks companies where 50-60% of outstanding shares are held by fully reporting insiders and major shareholders whose holdings must be publicly disclosed. This concentration indicates genuine long-term commitment, contrasting sharply with companies claiming high insider ownership where only minimal percentages are actually reported. Phillips has recently taken this preference further, requesting year-long lock-ups on his investments rather than standard four-month holds to prevent warrant flipping and allow management to execute their programs.Management quality ranks equally important. Phillips invests exclusively with proven teams who have previously built companies, made significant discoveries, or successfully navigated projects to exit. He avoids "lifestyle" management teams who perpetually raise money without building substantial value, focusing instead on those pursuing tier-one discoveries through what he calls "elephant hunting."Phillips believes the sector is entering a generational bull market driven by government supply security concerns and direct state investment in critical metals projects. He favors copper, uranium, rare earths, and antimony, though he cautions investors to expect periodic corrections or "rain delays" rather than uninterrupted appreciation. His typical holding period extends five to six years, reflecting the patient capital required for junior exploration companies to advance through development stages and create meaningful shareholder value.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Rudi Deysel, Board MD & CEO OF West Wits MiningOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/west-wits-mining-asxwwi-gold-producer-doubles-npv-to-500m-with-81-irr-in-updated-dfs-7533Recording date: 30th October 2025West Wits Mining (ASX:WWI) has successfully transitioned from project developer to gold producer, achieving a significant milestone on October 14, 2025, with its first underground ore production in South Africa's renowned Witwatersrand Basin. Managing Director and CEO Rudi Deysel confirmed that following a three-month mobilization period beginning in July, the company completed its first physical blast and ore transport from the mine.The project's unique structure allows for simultaneous development and production, facilitated by previous early works that established an operational footprint. "We actually produced our first ore around the 14th of October. So that was the first physical blast and first transport of ore out of the mine," Deysel stated. Stockpiles are being transported to Sibanye Stillwater's Ezulwini processing plant under tolling arrangements, enabling the company to generate revenue while advancing development.Early results have exceeded expectations, with production tracking marginally above resource model forecasts. Ground conditions have proven excellent, with fresh rock and strong stability allowing rapid advancement of the one-east and one-west temporary declines. Drilling and blasting cycle times are completing within single shifts, with the operation progressing toward multi-blast approvals that could double production capacity at working faces.West Wits has implemented modern hydropower technology over traditional compressed air systems common in older South African mines, delivering significant power savings by eliminating compression losses and leakage issues. The company has also deployed digital infrastructure including volume scanning, electronic sampling systems, and real-time vibration monitoring.The project remains fully funded through to steady-state production of 70,000 ounces annually, with an eight-to-nine-month payback period at current gold prices. Management maintains a disciplined focus on establishing sustainable mining practices and quality standards during this critical ramp-up phase, while pursuing a longer-term growth target of 200,000 ounces per annum within three years. "Once you prove yourself as a good operator and you deliver what you promised then you really get financial partners that support you," Deysel emphasized.View West Wits Mining's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/west-wits-miningSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Niël Pretorius, CEO of DRDGOLD Ltd.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/gold-strategic-vision-vs-market-hype-how-mining-leaders-navigate-cycles-7468Recording date: 29th October 2025DRDGOLD represents an unusual opportunity in the gold sector—a company that has paid dividends for 18 consecutive years without interruption, maintained a debt-free balance sheet through multiple commodity cycles, and is currently funding a transformative expansion entirely from operating cash flows. For investors seeking gold exposure through operational discipline rather than exploration speculation, DRDGOLD's business model warrants serious attention.The Johannesburg-based company, listed on both the JSE and NYSE with a market capitalization exceeding $2 billion, operates a distinctive business extracting gold from mine tailings—the waste material from historical mining operations. Current production runs between 100,000-155,000 ounces annually from two main operations: Ergo and Far West Gold. Success in this business depends entirely on processing massive volumes at the lowest possible cost, requiring relentless operational efficiency.CEO Niël Pretorius emphasizes a critical operational philosophy: "We don't gauge our efficiency on the basis of dollar per ounce. We gauge our efficiency on the basis of rand per ton." This focus on unit costs per ton processed rather than per ounce produced enables profitable operations across wider gold price ranges. As head grades inevitably decline when mining tailings, controlling costs per ton processed becomes the only sustainable path forward. Strategic investments in renewable energy—including a solar farm and battery storage at Ergo—have reduced power costs by 9-15 rand per ton, demonstrating management's commitment to continuous efficiency gains.DRDGOLD is currently executing Vision 2028, its most significant capital investment program. The initiative includes three major projects: extending Ergo operations with new infrastructure including the Withok tailings facility, expanding the DP2 plant to double processing capacity to 1.2 million tons monthly, and constructing an 800-hectare Regional Tailings Storage Facility—one of the largest in South Africa—capable of holding more than 800 million tons of mine residue. These projects will establish infrastructure for processing 3 million tons monthly and increase production to approximately 200,000 ounces annually by 2028-2029.The financial execution is particularly impressive. Vision 2028 requires $100-120 million in annual capital expenditure, dramatically higher than the company's typical sustaining capital of approximately 5% of cash operating costs. When designed, management anticipated requiring debt financing during peak capital periods. However, the gold price rally enabled funding the entire program from cash flows while maintaining the debt-free balance sheet and even doubling recent dividend payments. Upon completion, sustaining capital requirements will return to historical levels, substantially improving free cash flow generation.Beyond current operations, DRDGOLD is positioning for two growth opportunities: regional consolidation of nearby tailings operations leveraging existing infrastructure, and environmental restoration services for global mining companies. The restoration concept involves reprocessing mine tailings and depositing material into exhausted open pits, addressing the industry's escalating mine closure challenge while potentially generating economic returns. Management is actively engaging with operators of mature open-pit projects worldwide.Pretorius articulated the company's value proposition candidly: "Our value proposition is one of asset optimization. So we have a very large asset base. We can process at a particular rate, and our efforts are towards putting in the infrastructure to do that for as long as we possibly can and not leaving any value behind." This embedded resilience—prioritizing stability and longevity over speculative growth—has enabled uninterrupted dividend payments through commodity cycles and positions DRDGOLD as a disciplined, operationally focused investment in the gold sector.For investors seeking gold exposure through proven management, operational excellence, production growth, and financial discipline without exploration risk or acquisition-driven volatility, DRDGOLD presents a compelling case built on 18 years of demonstrated resilience.View DRDGOLD's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/drdgold-limitedSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Gord Glenn, President & CEO of Minnova Corp.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/minnova-mci-planning-price-pace-potential-partners-1103Recording date: 28th October 2025Minnova Corp (TSXV:MCI) presents a distinctive investment opportunity in the junior gold development space, combining near-term production potential with substantial infrastructure advantages and exceptional leverage to elevated gold prices. The company is advancing the past-producing PL Gold Mine in northern Manitoba toward production by late 2027 or early 2028, following a strategic pivot from underground to open-pit mining that transforms the project's risk-return profile.The company's most significant competitive advantage lies in its existing infrastructure. An on-site 1,000-ton-per-day mill remains in serviceable condition, requiring only $15-20 million in refurbishment versus the $100+ million that peer companies must invest to build new processing facilities. Combined with owned power lines connected to Manitoba's hydroelectric grid and major permits still in place from the 1980s operation, Minnova effectively enjoys a $50-75 million head start over grassroots developments. The mill's location just 200-300 meters from the planned open pit eliminates the substantial haulage costs and logistical complexity that burden many competing projects.The transformation in gold prices has fundamentally altered project economics. Minnova's 2017 feasibility study, prepared when gold traded at $1,250 per ounce, contemplated an 800-ton-per-day underground operation producing 46,000 ounces annually. While technically viable, the project struggled to attract financing. With gold now above $4,000 per ounce, the company has shifted to an open-pit strategy that can utilize the mill's full 1,000-ton-per-day capacity from day one. The 2017 underground scenario showed a 300% after-tax internal rate of return at $2,500 gold; the lower-cost open-pit approach should deliver even stronger metrics.The technical program supporting this strategy has progressed rapidly. Minnova engaged A&B Global Mining, a South African engineering firm with extensive open-pit and narrow-vein experience, to develop preliminary pit designs and engineering studies. Current drilling, initiated in September 2025, has intersected visible gold in mineralized structures outside the existing resource estimate, while infill drilling aims to upgrade resource confidence levels. The company targets Q1 2026 for its preliminary economic assessment and updated mineral resource estimate, followed by an updated feasibility study in Q3 2026.The financing environment has shown early signs of validation. In summer 2025, Minnova attracted its first Australian institutional shareholder, along with new interest from European and US investors—a geographic diversification that signals the investment thesis is resonating beyond traditional Canadian junior mining circles. Open-pit development specifically appeals to project financiers, offering lower operating costs, reduced technical risk, and shorter development timelines compared to underground operations.For investors, Minnova occupies an interesting position on the risk spectrum—beyond grassroots exploration but before established production. The 24-30 month timeline to cash flow generation, existing infrastructure, and advanced permitting status reduce several categories of development risk that plague many junior mining projects. The company expects annual production of 40,000-50,000 ounces at full throughput, with significant resource expansion potential demonstrated through recent drilling results.Key near-term catalysts include assay results from the current drill program, the Q1 2026 PEA release, and the Q3 2026 feasibility study—each representing inflection points where investors can evaluate whether preliminary economic expectations are validated by detailed engineering and costing. The combination of infrastructure advantages, gold price leverage, and near-term production timeline creates a differentiated opportunity for investors seeking exposure to elevated gold prices through an advanced development project with reduced capital intensity.View Minnova's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/minnova-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Nicholas Holthouse, MD & CEO, and Peter Ruse, Head of Corporate Development, Mont Royal ResourcesRecording date: 21st October 2025Mont Royal Resources (ASX:MRZ) is preparing to list on the Australian Securities Exchange on 5th November 2025, following its merger with Commerce Resources. The combined entity brings together North America's largest undeveloped rare earth deposit - the Ashram project in Quebec, Canada—with experienced management and a clear development strategy aimed at capitalizing on unprecedented Western government support for critical minerals.The Ashram deposit contains nearly 200 million tons of resource grading approximately 2% total rare earth oxide (TREO), supported by over 30,000 meters of drilling. What distinguishes the project is its exceptional metallurgical characteristics, with CEO Nicholas Holthouse noting the asset produces concentrates of 35-37% through strong flotation kinetics, a critical factor where many rare earth projects fail to deliver despite promising headline numbers.Holthouse, who brings eight years of rare earth sector experience including roles at Hastings Technology Metals and Meteoric Resources, will relocate to Montreal to oversee development. This on-site leadership approach mirrors the successful strategy employed by Michael O'Keefe at Champion Iron, also operating in Quebec.The company plans to scale operations to 1.2 million tons per year throughput, producing approximately 2,800-3,000 tons of NdPr annually, a "bite-sized chunk" attractive to separators while maintaining scalability for future expansion. The project also contains valuable fluorspar mineralization, contributing 10-15% of projected value and addressing North American supply shortages.The merged entity will comprise approximately 190 million shares at 20 cents per share with $10 million cash, creating an enterprise value of $25 million - compelling value for a resource of this scale. Near-term focus centers on securing government support for road infrastructure connecting the remote deposit to markets, leveraging Canada's recent commitment to allocate 1.5% of GDP specifically to critical mineral projects and associated infrastructure.View Mont Royal Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/mont-royal-resourcesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com