In the Shadow of Hemlo's Headframe: Canadian Orebodies (TSX-V: CORE) Following Up on Strong Results

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A lack of exploration and discovery near Hemlo has created an opportunity for one Canadian company with a deep connection to the region to make the next discovery and the regional connection between two possible gold systems.

A Primer on Mining Politics in Bolivia: New Pacific Metals (TSX-V: NUAG)

I came across an article (linked below) published in Bloomberg Business Week, and it served as a crash course into the recent politics around mining in Bolivia. It is very relevant given how a Canadian mining company recently has released impressive drill results and signed an agreement to advance a project in the under-explored but well geologically well-endowed Andean nation.

Recently, New Pacific Metals (TSX-V: NUAG) announced a Mining Production Contract "MPC" with the Bolivian government and the stated-owned mining enterprise Comibol for its Silver Sand Project; a unique agreement for a nation noted for its leftist policies and animosity towards foreign investment.

Gordon Neal, President of New Pacific said, “The MPC is a first of its kind agreement between a public resource company and the Bolivian government.  I commend the Minister of Mines and Metallurgy and the President of COMIBOL for committed focus to complete this transaction.  It is a benchmark achievement that shows that Bolivia is open to foreign investment.”

New Pacific appears to have a distinct advantage in Bolivia with this agreement, and has a whole host of properties they can explore in a country that has not seen modern mineral exploration in a generation.  This is a huge opportunity.

Here is the article, take a read, let me know your thoughts:

Bolivia’s Desperate Miners Are Doing Desperate Things — Like Murder Everyone knows who killed Rodolfo Illanes. So why is his death such a mystery?

9 Lessons in Mineral Exploration from Legendary Mine Finder J. David Lowell

Mineral exploration is a tough business and it makes and breaks companies all the time. So, finding insights from previous explorers is critical.

J. David Lowell is known for the Lowell-Guilbert Model, a guide to large, low-grade porphyry copper deposits. Throughout his career, Lowell used this model to discover some of the most profitable mineral finds in the history of mining, such as the 1981 discovery of the Escondida deposit in Chile.    Worth hundreds of billions of dollars, Lowell and his colleagues found it at the cost of $2.5 million.

In 2014, he published "Intrepid Explorer: The Autobiography of the World's Best Mine Finder", which outlines his career and many insights. However, it was on page 192 and 193, that he outlined some lessons that are valuable for any investor.

We sold SoldGold (TSX: SOLG) because

We sold SoldGold at 63 cents CDN after entering into the stock at 50 cents last year.   The reason why we sold was because we got in on a lark without much due diligence asides from meeting management and looking at past drill holes.

Going forward is a mystery to us, we believe it is a good project but after a rough year in the mining markets, we are going to take our 13 cent per share profit and keep watching the story.  

Evaluating the prospects and share price movement is beyond our understanding and capability for now.  This site is not so much about stock picking, but we feel we should we notify people about companies we mentioned we were long in.  

There is going to be more news coming from SOLG, but this is a huge project and timeline, beyond this tiny corner of the Internet to properly follow.

These markets are volatile and we feel we would be fired from any investment firm if this stock moves significantly higher, which is still a possibility given the scale of this project.

But we feel SOLG is overdue for some hard realities of building a copper mine, but our feelings are mixed with an upcoming economic assessment of the project due.

A profit is a profit, a rare thing for these markets.

Speculation Surrounds Blue Jay Mining (LON: JAY) as an Undisclosed Investor Increases Stake in Greenland Titanium Project

Today, an HSBC Holdings PLC client increased its stake in Blue Jay Mining's (LON: JAY) Dundas titanium sands project in Greenland, to over 8%. SP Angel Meyer, a junior resource brokerage based in London, speculates that HSBC is acting as a cover for a major corporation or investor.

Sir Roger Scruton and the Conservative Case for Environmentalism

NewsMiner approaches the world pragmatically, and in no way is this an endorsement of a political party or an ideology. NewsMiner values honesty and avoids overblown rhetoric and slick PR.

Sir Roger Scruton exemplifies this with clear thinking that criticizes and counters the current environmental rhetoric with a local approach and conservative thinking, and ultimately makes the point, a conservative approach can offer solutions to real environmental problems without radical steps that alter society, and more often than not, Conservatives have been the true environmentalists.

Today in Metal Markets - Vanadium Cooling Off

The hub bub in the mining world this morning has been the surging price of palladium, it is almost equivalent to the price of gold. Palladium surges to record highs as the Chinese auto industry is expected to buoy global demand amid tight supplies consumed in ICE vehicle pollution-control catalytic converters. 

Goodbye Tahoe (TSX: THO)! Hello Pan American Silver (TSX: PAAS)!

The big news today in the mining sector is another mega merger (mega for the silver sector) but in the silver sector. Pan American Silver is taking over the troubled Tahoe Resources and in particular its sweet sweet high grade Escobal Silver mine in Guatemala.

Video: Jurisdictional Competence is Critical In a Post-Conflict Colombia, Tim Coughlin and Royal Roads Minerals (TSX-V: RYR)

Mineral exploration companies are often the first ones into countries that have not received investment due to jurisdictional instability.  It is our premise at NewsMiner that mineral exploration can be a leading economic indicator of economic progress and development for countries in dire need of investment and thus significant returns for investors. We look for companies on the bleeding edge of early signs of investment attractiveness. 

However, this is risky time and companies need to demonstrate awareness of their surroundings and an understanding of the political as well as the geological setting.   One company that stands out is a South American mineral exploration company called Royal Roads Minerals (TSX-V: RYR). 

NewsMiner Goes to Peru

NewsMiner has been actively looking for companies in Peru.  We have visited the country many times and have invested in several Peruvian early stage mining operations.

We are going to check in and provides updates and also look for new companies.  

We were long SolGold (TSX: SOLG) when we saw this a year ago...

A Silver Lining in Bolivia?: New Pacific Metals Corp. (TSX-V: NUAG)

Countries looking to develop their mineral assets require experienced investors and mine developers. Bolivia is no exception, however a dearth of foreign investment and mineral development has left the country with an inefficient mineral industry and dwindling mineral reserves despite its geological endowment.

This presents opportunities for well managed and connected companies and their investors.

New Pacific Metals Corp. (TSX-V: NUAG) hopes to define the next mineral resource in Bolivia with a management team that has deep experience and a sterling reputation in the country that is looking to increase its mineral reserves.

We all like to make money but...

We all like to make money but it is clear that investment dollars and especially natural resource investment has significant impact on the physical and human environment.