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Bold Ventures Provides Update on Burchell Drilling Progress and Announces PDAC Participation at Booth #2610

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Bold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: BOL,OTC:BVLDF) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Bold’) is pleased to provide an update on diamond drilling progress at its Burchell Base and Precious Metals Project, located 100 km west of Thunder Bay, Ontario. 4 holes totaling 669 meters have now been completed in the vicinity of the 111 Zone, where channel sampling results from last Fall were reported last December (see Bold news release dated December 2nd, 2025), and where one grab sample from December 2024 returned 68 gt Au (see Bold news release dated January 9th, 2025). 663 samples of drill core have now been submitted to the laboratory and results are pending. While awaiting results from this first phase of drilling, the drill has been moved to Bold’s Wilcorp property located approximately 13 km east of Atikokan, Ontario, and drilling has commenced there.

Bold’s CEO David Graham, President and COO Bruce MacLachlan, and VP Exploration Coleman Robertson will be meeting with investors at booth #2610 at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Mineral Exploration and Mining Convention in Toronto from March 1st to 4th, 2026. Coleman Robertson will be presenting at the PDAC Spotlight with a talk titled ‘From Burchell to the Ring of Fire,’ at 11:10 a.m. on Monday March 2nd in the Northern Lights Learning Hub, Level 300, Hall A of the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. During PDAC Bruce MacLachlan will also be interviewed by the Northern Miner on March 1st, and by CEO.CA on Monday March 2nd.

In continuing to build Bold’s name recognition and corporate message via video and digital media platforms, the Company will pay fees of $4,520 to the Northern Miner Group and $4,350 to CEO.CA for the interviews which will conclude at the end of the conference and will remain available for viewing at Bold’s website, www.boldventuresinc.com. The Northern Miner draws on 110 years of experience as the leading mining industry journal in Canada to cover the top developments and newsmakers around the globe. CEO.CA is a community for investors & traders in junior resource & venture stocks and is one of the most popular free financial websites and apps in Canada and for small-cap investors globally — with industry leading audience engagement and mobile functionality.

The Company has registered for the Resourcing Tomorrow 2026 convention to be held from Dec. 1-3 2026 at the Business Design Centre in London, UK. To optimize that event and to build Bold’s name recognition and brand in the United Kingdom, Bold has signed a 12-month contract with The Armchair Trader (Armchair Trader Limited) based in the United Kingdom. The contract begins immediately and provides promotional services to Bold Ventures for a fee of $10,000.

The Northern Miner Group, CEO.CA and Armchair Trader Limited are all arm’s length to the Company and do not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

Ring of Fire News

In other news, the Marten Falls Community Access Road project has moved to the public review stage. The road, which will provide year-round access to the community, is proposed to connect to a forestry road north of Aroland First Nation. The road is part of a broader plan to connect the Ring of Fire to Ontario’s highway network, which also includes the Northern Road Link and Webequie Supply Road projects. See links below:

Marten Falls road project moves to public review stage – Northern Ontario Business

Ontario First Nations complete fast-tracked assessments for Ring of Fire road | Globalnews.ca

The proposed Eagle’s Nest mine in the Ring of Fire has also cleared another regulatory hurdle. The Federal government has decided not to designate the mine for impact assessment. See link below:
https://globalnews.ca/news/11688531/ring-of-fire-northern-ontario/

About Bold’s Koper Lake Project in the Ring of Fire

The Koper Lake Project is a joint venture between Bold Ventures Inc. and Canada Chrome Corporation Inc. (CCC – formerly KWG Resources Inc.) where CCC is the Operator of the exploration effort.

Bold holds a 10% carried interest (through to production) in the Black Horse Chromite deposit on the Koper Lake Project which hosts an NI 43-101 Inferred Resource of 85.9 Mt grading 34.5% Cr2O3 at a cut-off of 20% Cr2O3 (KWG Resources Inc., NI 43-101 Technical Report, Aubut 2015). Bold also holds a 40% working interest in all other metals found within the Koper Lake claims and has a Right of First Refusal on a 1% NSR covering all metals found within the claim group.

The Black Horse is contiguous with the Blackbird Chromite deposits owned by Ring of Fire Metals (formerly Noront Resources Inc.). The Koper Lake claims are located approximately 300 m from the Eagle’s Nest Ni-Cu Massive Sulphide Deposit that is in the permit acquisition stage.

Chromite, nickel and copper are critical minerals that will play an important role in the electrification plans of Ontario and North America. The Company is encouraged by these ongoing developments in this emerging critical mineral mining camp.

The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Coleman Robertson, B.Sc., P. Geo., the Company’s V.P. Exploration and a qualified person (QP) for the purposes of NI 43-101

Bold Ventures management believes our suite of Battery, Critical and Precious Metals exploration projects are an ideal combination of exploration potential meeting future demand. Our target commodities are comprised of: Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd) and Chromium (Cr). The Critical Metals list and a description of the Provincial and Federal electrification plans are posted on the Bold website here.

About Bold Ventures Inc.

The Company explores for Precious, Battery and Critical Metals in Canada. Bold is exploring properties located in active gold and battery metals camps in the Thunder Bay and Wawa regions of Ontario. Bold also holds significant assets located within and around the emerging multi-metals district dubbed the Ring of Fire region, located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario.

For additional information about Bold Ventures and our projects, please visit boldventuresinc.com or contact us at 416-864-1456 or email us at info@boldventuresinc.com.

‘Bruce A MacLachlan’ ‘David B Graham’
Bruce MacLachlan David Graham
President and COO CEO

Direct line: (705) 266-0847 

Email: bruce@boldventuresinc.com

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. When used in this document, the words ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘will’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to such risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from the statements made, including those factors discussed in filings made by us with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties, such actual results of current exploration programs, the general risks associated with the mining industry, the price of gold and other metals, currency and interest rate fluctuations, increased competition and general economic and market factors, occur or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, or expected. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Corporate Logo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/285792

News Provided by TMX Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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Tech Weekly: Stocks See Minor Reprieve Before Ending Week in the Red

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We also break down next week’s catalysts to watch to help you prepare for the week ahead.

In this article:

    This week’s tech sector performance

    Tariff concerns sent global stocks drifting on Monday (February 23), with US futures pointing lower at the start of the week even though the Nasdaq Composite (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) ended a three week losing streak the previous week.

    Additionally, a Citrini Research report published on Sunday (February 22) projects that the dominance of artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to the collapse of the “human-centric consumer economy” and cause widespread unemployment, adding to the growing anxiety around AI-induced displacement.

    Markets had a subdued reaction to Anthropic’s announcement ⁠of 10 new AI tools on Tuesday (February 24), including plugins that could help with investment banking tasks, private equity engineering and design.

    Mohit Kumar, chief Europe economist at Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE:JEF), noted that, although AI disruption will remain a market theme for the foreseeable future, the company’s emphasis on “partnership rather than displacement” may have spurred a software sector rally in Tuesday afternoon trading.

    Also aiding the software recovery was a handful of experts pushing back against the Citrini report, including a response published by Citadel Securities’ Frank Flight, who said the thesis is far-fetched at best.

    On Wednesday (February 25), ahead of NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) much-anticipated earnings report, tech stocks boosted indexes in North America, Europe and Asia, with the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) seeing advances in AI-related software and diversified tech amid positive quarterly reports from Canada’s main financial institutions; meanwhile, semiconductor companies led gains on Wall Street.

    While positive sentiment lifted Canada’s main index to a new record on Thursday (February 26), the US had a weaker session after investors were unimpressed with NVIDIA’S results.

    Although NVIDIA beat expectations, guidance shows deceleration. A 3.2 percent drop in the PHLX Semiconductor Sector (INDEXNASDAQ:SOX) index dragged the Nasdaq down to close 1.2 percent lower.

    Indexes in Canada and the US slipped on Friday (February 27) as renewed positive sentiment from earlier in the week ultimately gave way to concerns over AI-led disruptions.

    3 tech stocks moving markets this week

    1. NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)

    NVIDIA, which makes up almost 8 percent of the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX), was up on Wednesday ahead of its Q4 earnings report, which showed US$68.1 billion in revenue, an increase of 73 percent. Net income was up 94 percent to US$42.9 billion, and the company generated US$96.6 billion in free cashflow for the year.

    The results exceeded analysts’ estimates, but shares were flat in after-hours trading, despite CEO Jensen Huang’s claim of “skyrocketing” AI agent adoption and sales growth of 78 percent for the current quarter.

    2. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM)

    Salesforce rose modestly intraday ahead of its Q4 earnings release on Wednesday, which showed revenue growth of 12 percent year-on-year, beating analysts’ estimates at US$11.2 billion. Full-year revenue was at US$41.5 billion, up 10 percent, with the company reporting remaining performance obligations of US$72.4 billion, a 14 percent increase.

    Annual recurring revenue from the company’s AI agent platform, Agentforce, led quarterly gains, reaching US$800 million, up 169 percent. Despite CEO Marc Benioff’s revenue projection of US$63 billion by the 2030 fiscal year, 2027 fiscal year guidance of US$45.8 billion to US$46.2 billion was below the consensus estimate of US$46.06 billion, which sent shares down around 5 percent in after-hours trading. The company also said it anticipates a slowdown in core business expansion, projecting organic growth of only 7 to 8 percent for the upcoming fiscal year.

    2. Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL)

    Dell Technologies was trading higher ahead of its Q4 earnings. The firm delivered revenue of US$33.4 billion, beating estimates, and full-year revenue of a record US$113.5 billion.

    Sales of AI servers hit US$9.8 billion, up 100 percent year-on-year, with a US$64 billion AI pipeline and US$43 billion backlog. Earnings per share topped estimates of US$2.36, coming in at US$2.86.

    Momentum continued after hours following CEO Mike Dell’s comments on “skyrocketing” hyperscaler demand for AI infrastructure despite some margin pressure, with Dell’s share price soaring about 11 percent.

    Top tech news of the week

                Tech ETF performance

                Tech exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track baskets of major tech stocks, meaning their performance helps investors gauge the overall performance of the niches they cover.

                This week, the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) advanced by 1.83 percent, while the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXQ) advanced by 1.77 percent.

                The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SMH) also increased by 1.76 percent.

                Tech news to watch next week

                Next week there will be light earnings, with results expected from MongoDB (NASDAQ:MDB), Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) and Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO); however, macro data alongside speeches from US Federal Reserve presidents will dominate alongside tariff developments and AI CAPEX and inflation concerns.

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

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                Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Adex Mining Shines with 171 Percent Gain

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                Statistics Canada released its December data for gross domestic product (GDP) by industry on Friday (February 27).

                While overall GDP increased 0.2 percent, the figures showed a broad 0.9 percent decline in the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector, reversing a 0.1 percent increase in November. In real dollars, the sector contributed C$119.62 billion in the month, just shy of C$120.76 billion in November.

                The decrease was due to a 1.1 percent contraction in the oil and gas subsector and a 1.4 percent decline in the mining and quarrying subsector. However, the fall off was slightly offset by a 1.6 percent increase in sector support activities.

                The Canadian reporting agency also released its annual mineral production survey on Wednesday (February 25).

                The data showed that 2025’s production and shipment numbers increased nearly across the board for copper, silver and gold.

                In terms of production, copper output climbed to 499,896 metric tons, beating the 444,587 metric tons in 2024. The quantity of silver produced also rose significantly to 356,052 kilograms in 2025 from 331,965 kilograms. Gold also increased, though narrowly, to 186,923 kilograms from 185,555 kilograms the previous year.

                As for shipments, copper climbed to 480,100 metric tons from 437,861 metric tons in 2024, while silver shipments increased to 344,133 kilograms from 325,705 kilograms. Of the three metals, only gold saw a decline, with shipments falling slightly to 184,456 kilograms from 185,376 kilograms a year earlier.

                Several other resources, including cobalt and nickel, also saw sizeable jumps last year.

                For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.

                Markets and commodities react

                Canadian equity markets were positive this week.

                The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) gained 2.3 percent over the week to close Friday (February 27) at 34,339.99, while the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) rose 8.4 percent to 1,107.60.

                The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) gained 4.02 percent to 174.55.

                The gold price gained 1.36 percent to close at US$5,261.19 per ounce on Friday at 4:00 p.m. EST. The silver price fared better, closing the week up 6.55 percent at US$93.66 on Friday.

                In base metals, the Comex copper price recorded a 3.24 percent increase this week to US$6.05.

                The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was up 2 percent to end Friday at 610.89.

                Top Canadian mining stocks this week

                How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

                Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

                1. Adex Mining (TSXV:ADE)

                Weekly gain: 171.43 percent
                Market cap: C$27.09 million
                Share price: C$0.095

                Adex Mining is an exploration company that holds a 100 percent stake in the Mount Pleasant project in Southwest New Brunswick, Canada. The property contains two main deposits: the Fire Tower zone, which hosts tungsten and molybdenum mineralization, and the North zone, which hosts tin, zinc and indium.

                The asset consists of 102 mineral claims covering 1,600 hectares, as well as equipment and facilities from historic mining operations conducted by BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) between 1983 and 1985.

                According to its most recent investor presentation released on June 11, the property hosts the world’s largest indium reserve and North America’s largest tin deposit. Indicated resources for the North zone demonstrate contained metal values of 47 million kilograms of tin, and 789,000 kilograms of indium from 12.4 million metric tons with average grades of 0.38 percent tin and 64 parts per million indium.

                Adex Mining has not released news since it published its interim management discussion and analysis on November 18.

                The increase in Adex’s share price this week comes ahead of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention, which is taking place in Toronto, Ontario, from March 1 to 4.

                In a mid-February interview, New Brunswick Natural Resources Minister John Herron revealed that a deal “is due imminently with a well-known company in the Canadian mining community” for Adex’s Mount Pleasant project.

                Additionally, he said the provincial government plans to introduce its new minerals strategy at PDAC on March 2. According to Herron, New Brunswick will adopt a one project, one process framework to quickly advance critical minerals projects.

                2. US Copper (TSXV:USCU)

                Weekly gain: 100 percent
                Market cap: C$37.17 million
                Share price: C$0.28

                US Copper is an exploration company working to advance its Moonlight-Superior project in Northeast California, United States.

                The project covers approximately 13 square miles of patented and unpatented federal mining claims in the Lights Creek Copper District, near the Nevada border.

                A preliminary economic assessment released on January 6, 2025, demonstrated a post-tax net present value of US$1.08 billion with an internal rate of return of 23 percent and a payback period of 5.3 years, assuming a copper price of US$4.15 per pound.

                The included mineral resource estimate shows a total indicated resource of 2.5 billion pounds of copper, 21.7 million ounces of silver and 140,042 ounces of gold from 402.83 million metric tons of ore with a grade of 0.31 percent copper, 1.85 parts per million (ppm) silver and 0.012 ppm gold. The majority is hosted at its Moonlight and Superior deposits.

                The company has not released any news since December 15, when it announced that it had staked 54 additional claims, totalling 1,104 acres near Moonlight-Superior, that US Copper intends to use for the project’s infrastructure development.

                The company also stated that it had begun metallurgical testing, which it expected to be completed in April 2026, with the release of partial results starting in February 2026.

                3. Doubleview Gold (TSXV:DBG)

                Weekly gain: 95.62 percent
                Market cap: C$27.09 million
                Share price: C$2.68

                Doubleview Gold is an exploration company working to advance its Hat copper-gold project in Northwestern British Columbia, Canada.

                The project is located within BC’s Golden Triangle, an area that hosts numerous active mines and development projects. The property consists of 19 mineral tenures covering an area of 18,000 hectares.

                On February 25, Doubleview released an updated mineral resource estimate for its Hat project, reporting copper equivalent resources of 5.82 billion pounds in the measured and indicated categories and 4.57 billion pounds in the inferred category.

                The measured and indicated resource includes 2.42 billion pounds of copper, 3.22 million ounces of gold, 80.1 million pounds of cobalt and 5.05 million ounces of silver from 609 million metric tons of ore with average grades of 0.21 percent copper, 0.18 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold, 0.008 percent cobalt and 0.38 g/t silver.

                Additionally, the MRE reported a recoverable measured and indicated scandium oxide resource of 2,415 metric tons, grading 28.77 g/t.

                Doubleview’s president and CEO stated that exploration of the property has increased the deposit’s size over the years, with it now covering an area of about 1.6 kilometers by 1.6 kilometers. He also noted that the company discovered additional elements within the deposit that it plans to unveil soon.

                4. BP Silver (TSXV:BPAG)

                Weekly gain: 62.16 percent
                Market cap: C$35.9 million
                Share price: C$1.20

                BP Silver is an exploration company focused on its flagship Cosuño project in Bolivia.

                The property covers approximately 3,375 hectares and hosts a 10.5 square kilometer alteration zone within an underexplored jurisdiction. To date, the company has identified four primary targets in the southern project area.

                On February 27, the company announced assay results from the final eight holes of the 11 hole drill program at Cosuño.

                Exploration encountered several zones of silver mineralization at the Pocañita Chica target. One hole delivered high grades of 600.4 g/t silver over 5 meters, which included an intersection of 1,655 g/t over 1 meter.

                The company said it achieved its main goal of “confirming mineralization within the lithocap beneath surface geochemical anomalies,” which it said de-risks the project.

                Additionally, BP Silver stated the drill program confirmed a silver and polymetallic mineralized system along a 2.7 kilometer long corridor that remains open in all directions.

                5. Tsodilo Resources (TSXV:TSD)

                Weekly gain: 61.29 percent
                Market cap: C$21.75 million
                Share price: C$0.25

                Tsodilo Resources is a metals exploration company advancing its Gcwihaba polymetallic project in Northwest Botswana, which hosts the C26 and C27 rare earth skarn anomalies. It also owns the Xaudum iron formation project in the country.

                At Gcwihaba, Tsodilo has identified a conceptual exploration target of skarn ore in the 81 million to 97 million metric ton range with grades of 0.05 and 1.49 percent total rare earth oxides (TREO).

                The company originally identified the C26 and C27 targets through ground magnetic and gravity surveys, with drilling confirming mineralization at depths of 20 to 50 meters below surface.

                Tsodilo plans to perform 15,000 meters of drilling in 2026, with a focus on defining high-grade REE zones, while also evaluating the system’s overall polymetallic potential.

                The most recent news from the company came on February 2, when it reported that it had closed a C$742,095 private placement by issuing 4.95 million shares. Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance its projects in Botswana.

                FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

                What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?

                The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.

                How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?

                As of December 2025, 898 mining companies and 71 oil and gas companies are listed on the TSXV, combining for more than 60 percent of the 1,531 total companies listed on the exchange.

                As for the TSX, it is home to 175 mining companies and 51 oil and gas companies. The exchange has 2,089 companies listed on it in total.

                Together, the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.

                How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

                There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

                The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

                These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

                How do you trade on the TSXV?

                Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

                Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.

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

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

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                Kevin Wadsworth, Patrick Karim: Gold, Silver Price Targets, Plus Oil Opportunity

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                Technical analysts Kevin Wadsworth and Patrick Karim of NorthstarBadcharts.com share an update on the capital rotation process that they see unfolding, and explain what it means for precious metals, as well as the US stock market and Bitcoin.

                They also talk about the opportunity they see in oil and how to get exposure to the market.

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

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                55 North Mining Announces Closing of Flow-Through Financing

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                TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / February 27, 2026 / 55 North Mining Inc. (CSE:FFF,OTC:FFFNF)(FSE:6YF) (‘55 North‘ or the ‘Company‘) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered flow-through private placement (the ‘Private Placement’).

                Pursuant to the Private Placement, the Company issued 1,702,800 flow-through common shares (‘FT Shares’) at a price of $0.745 per FT Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,268,586.02.

                The FT Shares entitle the holder to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada). No warrants were issued in connection with the Private Placement. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

                The gross proceeds raised from the Private Placement will be used to incur eligible Canadian exploration expenses that qualify as ‘flow-through mining expenditures’ for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), related to the exploration of the Company’s Last Hope Gold Project.

                The Company further confirms that exploration drilling activities are underway, with one drill rig currently operating on the Last Hope Gold Project. A more detailed operational update will be provided in a subsequent news release.

                About 55 North Mining Inc.

                55 North Mining Inc. is a Canadian exploration and development company advancing its high-grade Last Hope Gold Project located in Manitoba, Canada.

                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

                Mr. Bruce Reid
                Chief Executive Officer
                55 North Mining Inc.
                Phone: 647-500-4495
                bruce@mine2capital.ca

                Mr. Vance Loeber
                Corporate Development
                Phone: 778-999-3530
                cvl@tydewell.com

                CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

                This news release of 55 North contains statements that constitute ‘forward-looking statements.’ Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

                SOURCE: 55 North Mining Inc

                View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

                News Provided by ACCESS Newswire via QuoteMedia

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                Crypto Market Update: Bitcoin Price Retreats Again After Mid-week Rise

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                Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (February 25) as of 1:30 p.m. UTC.

                Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

                Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$65,260.11, down by 3,6 percent over the last 24 hours.

                Bitcoin price performance, February 27, 2026.

                Bitcoin price performance, February 27, 2026.

                Chart via TradingView.

                A US$8.9 billion crypto options expiry drove “extreme fear” in the market today, with price manipulation and re-hedging resulting in volatility. Bitcoin fell below the US$66,000 support level after a corrective rebound earlier in the week lost momentum, reflecting the fragility of the balance between risk appetite and available liquidity in global markets.

                According to XS.com senior market analyst, Rania Gule, Bitcoin’s swift pullback suggests the recent uptick was merely a technical bounce within a more complex macro environment, rather than the beginning of a sustainable bullish wave.

                “In the near term, I expect Bitcoin to remain within a broad range between US$64,000 and US$70,000, with a slight bearish bias if geopolitical pressures persist and equity market momentum weakens,’ she said.

                Ether (ETH) was priced at US$1,917.34, down by 5.5 percent over the last 24 hours.

                Altcoin price update

                • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.35, down by 3.7 percent over 24 hours.
                • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$81.42, down by 5.5 percent over 24 hours.

                Today’s crypto news to know

                Vitalik Buterin sells US$43 million in ETH

                Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sold approximately 17,000 ETH worth approximately US$43 million at the time of sale, to fund privacy and security initiatives.

                Marathon partners with Starwood on AI data center

                Shares of Bitcoin miner Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ:MARA) surged after the company announced a partnership with Starwood Capital Group, a leading global private investment firm focused on real estate, to build data centers for the artificial intelligence (AI) sector).

                In a Wednesday (February 25) blog post, Zach Pandl, Grayscale’s head of research, called the relationship between AI and blockchain “complementary from a fundamental standpoint.”

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

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

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                Crypto Market Update: Bitcoin Pumps, Could Still Have Room to Run

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                Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (February 25) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

                Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

                Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$69,190.26, up by 7.4 percent over the last 24 hours.

                Bitcoin price performance, February 25, 2026.

                Bitcoin price performance, February 25, 2026.

                Chart via TradingView.

                After a “cautiously bearish” start to the week marked by institutional exchange-traded fund outflows, the Bitcoin price suddenly flipped into the green, surging toward the US$70,000 territory.

                Analysts noted a double-bottom technical formation, which often signals the end of a short-term downtrend.

                Amberdata’s recent market snapshot highlights a bullish divergence where stablecoin supply expanded by over US$773 million, creating a dry powder reserve that sidelined cash. Combined with an aggressive short position in the perpetuals market, the firm believes the stage is set for a classic short squeeze.

                Meanwhile, Glassnode analysts noted that a leverage reset has already been completed, with the market shifting into an “accumulation backdrop.” This structural thinning of sell-side pressure essentially created a liquidity vacuum, allowing Wednesday’s move to happen with explosive speed once buyers returned.

                Crucially, open interest has climbed 1.57 percent in the last four hours and funding rates remain negative at -0.01 percent, indicating that the market isn’t overheated with leveraged buyers yet and that Bitcoin may have more room to run before hitting the resistance at the US$70,000 to US$82,000 zone.

                Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,074.84, up by 11.7 percent over the last 24 hours.

                Altcoin price update

                • XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.47, up by 8 percent over 24 hours.
                • Solana (SOL) was trading at US$89.75, up by 14.1 percent over 24 hours.

                Today’s crypto news to know

                Meta may integrate stablecoin payments this year

                Anonymous sources for CoinDesk claim that Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is planning to integrate a third-party firm that will enable stablecoin payments across all three of its platforms — WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram — early in the second half of the year, as well as implement a new wallet.

                Meta reportedly sent out a request for product to third-party firms. One source mentioned partner Stripe, which acquired stablecoin specialist Bridge in 2025, as a candidate for piloting a potential Meta stablecoin.

                A subsequent X post from senior communications executive Andy Stone states that Meta is not planning to launch its own stablecoin; however, the company is exploring opportunities to “(enable) people and businesses to make payments on (Meta’s) platforms using their preferred method.’

                Coinbase partners with Yahoo Finance

                Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) announced the launch of stock trading for all of its US-based users by partnering with Yahoo Finance. This puts the exchange directly in competition with broker Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD), widely considered the leading app-based platform for retail traders. The company is beginning with a selection of the market’s most popular stocks, and intends to roll out 24/5 trading for additional companies in the coming months.

                By spring 2026, Coinbase will introduce stock perpetuals for international users.

                “Looking further ahead, our goal is to offer fully tokenized stocks, creating a seamless, 24/7 global market where your equities can even serve as on-chain collateral,” Coinbase said in its announcement.

                “Our Everything Exchange vision is about removing artificial boundaries between asset classes and building for the next generation of markets. This expansion is a foundational step toward unifying traditional investments and digital assets into a single platform, simplifying portfolio management and unlocking what comes next.”

                Hut 8, Circle report latest earnings

                Hut 8 (TSX:HUT,NASDAQ:HUT) and Circle Internet Group (NYSE:CRCL) have both released Q4 2025 earnings.

                Circle shares rose over 35 percent on the day after revenue exceeded expectations, growing 77 percent year-on-year to US$770.2 million. Earnings per share also far exceeded estimates of US$0.16, coming in at US$0.43.

                Circulation of the company’s stablecoin, USDC, reached US$75.3 billion, up 72 percent, with on-chain transaction volume hitting US$11.9 trillion for the quarter.

                Meanwhile, shares of Hut 8 closed down 6.57 percent after the firm reported a net loss of US$301.8 million for the quarter, largely as a result of losses on its Bitcoin holdings of US$220 million. Revenue grew 45 percent year-on-year, driven by its ASIC mining and artificial intellgience cloud segment.

                Mastercard expands crypto push with new stablecoin, DeFi leadership role

                Mastercard (NYSE:MA) is stepping up its digital asset strategy with a new senior hire aimed squarely at stablecoins and DeFi. The payments giant is recruiting a director of crypto flows to oversee stablecoin-linked card products, DeFi integrations and updates to its internal risk and network frameworks.

                The move builds on partnerships forged in 2025 with Circle, Paxos and OKX that enabled spending from crypto wallets and merchant settlement in stablecoins.

                The new role will focus in part on allowing users to spend blockchain-based dollars at more than 150 million Mastercard-accepting locations worldwide, while preserving familiar card features such as rewards and cashback.

                It will also explore connecting Mastercard’s rails to decentralized applications, enabling programmable payments and automated settlement flows.

                Canaan buys deeper into Texas mining

                Canaan (NASDAQ:CAN) has acquired a 49 percent stake in a joint venture tied to several Texas Bitcoin-mining projects from Cipher Mining (NASDAQ:CIFR) in a US$39.75 million all-stock deal.

                The transaction gives Canaan exposure to operations totaling 120 megawatts of energized capacity and roughly 4.4 exahashes per second of hashrate. The sites operate at an average efficiency of about 25.7 joules per terahash, placing them within competitive industry benchmarks.

                As part of the agreement, Canaan also acquired 6,840 Avalon A15Pro rigs previously deployed at Cipher’s Black Pearl facility. That site is being converted into an artificial intelligence and high-performance computing data center.

                Cipher shares rose more than 6 percent following the announcement, while Canaan gained nearly 8 percent, suggesting investors welcomed the consolidation.

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

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

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                Obonga Project: Wishbone VMS Update

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                Panther Metals Plc (LSE: PALM), the exploration company focused on mineral projects in Canada, is pleased to provide an update for the Obonga Project’s Wishbone Prospect which is an emerging and highly prospective base metal volcanogenic massive sulphide (‘VMS’) system in Ontario, Canada.

                Following the completion of the 2025 high resolution drone based airborne magnetic geophysics survey (‘Magnetics Survey’) over the Wishbone Prospect, the geophysical data has subject to three-dimensional inversion modelling (Figures 1 & 2) with a view to refining the parameters of the permitted drill holes ahead of a diamond drilling programme.

                A video illustrating the results of the Magnetic Survey inversion modelling and the size and morphology of the Wishbone VMS Target and the relationship with highly anomalous copper in lake sediments is available to view on the Panther Metals PLC YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/shorts/POMgfQuSc44?feature=share1

                Figures of the magnetics inversion and structural model are set out below in Figures 1 and 2, whilst the map the processed First Vertical Derivative of the Magnetic Survey data is shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the highly anomalous copper in lake and stream sediments which are located above, and which drain off the site of the Wishbone VMS Prospect. Details of the Magnetic Survey are provided in Table 1.

                The work being planned is covered by Exploration Permit PR-24-000022, which is valid through to 20 June 2027 (Figure 5). This permit authorises a comprehensive exploration programme, including up to 39 diamond core drill holes and down-hole electromagnetic geophysics.

                Darren Hazelwood, Chief Executive Officer commented:

                ‘As move towards and period of intense work activity at the exciting Wishbone VMS Prospect, we would like to provide an update on our geological and magnetic inversion modelling activities which illustrate the scale of the Wishbone system that we will be drill targeting in the coming quarter.

                Panther Chairman Nick O’Reilly and I will be at the PDAC Conference in Toronto next week where we will be meeting with various Wishbone stakeholders, and we look forward to providing further updates as our plans advance.’

                Figure 1: Plan view of modelled Wishbone VMS Target showing magnetic inversion model, geological contacts and location of Panther diamond drillholes (based on magnetic inversion model shells).

                Notes: Scale bar and north arrow in bottom left corner of figure. Coordinates stated in UTM Zone 16N NAD 83 datum. Image highlights the size of the modelled magnetic body at depth. Dark blue dots signify permitted drill pad locations. The figure is overlain by a semi-transparent surface rendering of the topographical map, from which the trace of the Wishbone Lake can be discerned (light blue). The green block model below the topography reflects the greenstone volcanic geology, the beige block model to the north is granitoid. The granitoid/volcanic contacts are interpreted to be faulted. A series of three concave fault/contacts are currently interpreted to dissect the magnetic inversion model. The down-hole traces of Panther’s 2021 and 2022 drilling are shown in plan view. The working model is dynamic and will be updated as the 2026 work programme develops.

                Looking south (180° / 45°)

                Looking north (000° / 45°)

                Looking north-westerly (340° / 45°)

                Looking north-easterly (060° / 45°)

                Figure 2: Series of oblique three-dimensional views of modelled of modelled Wishbone VMS Target showing location of Panther diamond drillholes (based on magnetic inversion model shells).

                Notes: Image highlights the size of the modelled magnetic body at depth. Blue dots signify permitted drill pads. For relative scale and description of other features please see the notes below Figure 1.

                Figure 3: First Vertical Derivative Magnetic Survey Map data from the 2025 Wishbone Survey.

                Notes: The first vertical derivative map enhances shallow, near-surface geological features by calculating the rate of change of the magnetic field in the vertical direction. This acts as a high-pass filter to sharpen anomaly edges, reduce regional background noise and better resolve closely spaced magnetic bodies.

                Wishbone VMS Target Background

                The Wishbone Drone Magnetic Survey work followed on from the 2022 drill programme to target multiple high priority electromagnetic (‘EM’) and magnetic geophysical anomalies prospective for volcanogenic massive sulphide (‘VMS’) hosted copper / base metal mineralisation. Panther’s two hole 600m drilling programme in autumn 2021 had confirmed Wishbone as a VMS base metals target and the 2022 drilling sought to follow-up on the massive sulphide and zinc / copper intersections as well as to test further coincident magnetic and electromagnetic conductor geophysical anomalies identified by regional airborne surveys.

                Historical drilling in the 1970s intersected massive stringer and disseminated sulphide 800m north of the Wishbone anomaly and drilling by BHP in the 1990s intersected massive stringer and disseminated sulphide 600m south of the anomaly.

                BHP ranked the Wishbone anomaly a high priority for follow up in 1992, however no further work was completed prior to 2021. Airborne geophysics datasets compiled since that time have shown that the historical drilling failed to intersect the major anomalies.

                Wishbone is situated in a similar geological environment to the nearby Sturgeon Lake VMS mining camp, on the Wabigoon Greenstone Belt, approximately 75km due west. The Sturgeon Lake VMS Camp is host to five historic zinc-copper-lead-silver producing mines, with a combined total production of: 19.8Mt @ 8.50% Zn, 1.06% Cu, 0.91% Pb & 119.7g/t Ag.

                In 2021 Panther’s two hole, 600m diamond drilling programme, intercepted multiple lenses of sulphide mineralisation including in drill hole BBR21_WB_001 a 27.3m wide intercept of massive sulphide mineralisation and in hole BBR21_WB_002 51m of sulphide-dominated mineralisation.

                Wide massive sulphide and semi-massive sulphide mineralisation intersections were made in both drill holes:

                • WB001: Three wide sulphide intersections:
                  • 27.3m of massive sulphide from 106.2m (‘Upper layer’), with fault at base;
                  • 2.5m of massive sulphide from 234.8m (‘Mid layer’; and
                  • 1.4m of massive sulphide from 256.6m (‘Lower layer’)
                • WB002: Wide zoned sulphide intersection:
                  • 51m from 174m comprising a wide zone of sulphide dominated mineralisation, including:
                  • 17m from 180m of massive sulphide (‘Upper zone’) and
                  • 7m from 218m of semi-massive sulphide (‘Lower zone’)

                In Panther’s 2022 drill programme, a further three diamond drill holes intersected further massive and semi-massive sulphides, and a zone of zinc mineralisation:

                • Hole BBR22 WB-P1-2: Potentially commercial grades of zinc mineralisation:
                  • 3.6m @ 3.9% Zn from 120m, including
                    • 2m @ 6.8% Zn, 4.3 g/t Ag and anomalous 0.19% Cu from 120m, with
                    • 0.5m @ 11.65% Zn, 4.1 g/t Ag and anomalous 0.14% Cu from 120.2m.
                • Hole BBR22 WB-P2-1: Further wide zones of massive and semi-massive sulphide mineralisation intersected, interpreted to be related to the high temperature pyrrhotite dominant core of the VMS system:
                  • 22.4m of massive and semi-massive sulphide from 127m downhole.
                • Hole BBR22 WB-P3-1 :
                  • 3.8m of semi-massive sulphide from 163.2m downhole.

                The Wishbone discovery was the first significant VMS-style mineralisation to be made on the entire Obonga Greenstone Belt. Given the geological tendency for VMS systems to cluster and repeat and given the presence of highly anomalous copper in lake and stream sediments nearby (see Figure 4).

                An important characteristic of VMS deposits is that they typically display a zonation of metals within the massive sulphide body from Fe+Cu at the base to Zn+Fe±Pb±Ba at the top and margins, related to differing temperature and chemical conditions at mineral deposition. The major observed mineral component of the Wishbone massive sulphide mineralisation is pyrrhotite with less common pyrite and minor sphalerite and chalcopyrite in distinct zones.

                The Wishbone assay result suite, including rare earth element (‘REE’) analyses, has yielded important geochemical information allowing the classification of the mineralisation, alteration ratios and the development of exploration vectors towards zones of potential economic interest. Wishbone has been classified as a bimodal type deposit, the same type as Canada’s Kidd Creek (Ontario) and Noranda (Quebec) VMS deposits.

                A map of the north Description automatically generated

                Figure 4: Lake Sediment Sample Assays Show Very Strong Copper Anomalism Downstream of the Wishbone VMS system

                Table 1: Wishbone VMS Prospect UAV Magnetic Survey Details

                UAV Magnetics Survey Rational

                Survey Equipment

                Survey Size

                (25m line & 250m tie line spacing)

                (line- kilometre)

                Flight Line Azimuth (degrees)

                Survey Data Products

                Targeting VMS style base metal mineralisation at depth.

                3D Inversion modelling will facilitate drill hole orientation planning to target the expected high base metal grade parts of the targeted VMS systems.

                Unmanned Airborne magnetometer survey system incorporating:

                Base station magnetometer GSM-19W Overhauser

                Airborne magnetometer Gem Systems GSMP-35U potassium vapor magnetometer & ancillary electronics.

                25m line & 250m tie line spacing

                Total line kilometres:

                190.11 km

                090°

                · Final Total Magnetic Intensity

                · First Vertical derivative

                · Second Vertical Derivative

                · Horizontal Derivative

                · Analytic Signal

                · 3D Inversion Models

                Figure 5: Wishbone Exploration Permit PR-24-000022 Permitted, Claim Cells, Drill Pads, Camp and Access

                Note: Map from Permit issued on 21 June 2024

                References

                1. Panther Metals PLC, YouTube channel video: Wishbone VMS Target

                ( https://youtube.com/shorts/POMgfQuSc44?feature=share )

                For further information, please contact:

                Panther Metals PLC:

                Darren Hazelwood, Chief Executive Officer:

                +44 (0)1462 429 743
                +44 (0)7971 957 685

                Brokers:

                Optiva Securities Limited

                Christian Dennis

                Mick McNamara

                +44 (0)20 3137 1902

                Hybridan LLP

                Claire Louise Noyce

                +44 (0)20 3764 2341

                SI Capital Limited

                Nick Emerson

                +44 (0)1438 416 500

                Obonga Project – Advancing a High-Impact VMS and Critical Minerals District

                Panther Metals’ Obonga Project in Ontario continues to demonstrate strong potential as a district-scale exploration opportunity targeting base and critical minerals. Since acquiring the Obonga Greenstone Belt in July 2021, the Company has advanced multiple high-priority targets including Wishbone, Awkward, Survey, Ottertooth, and Silver Rim.

                On 9 February 2026 Panther announced plans for an approximately 2,000-metre diamond drilling program at the Wishbone Prospect, following the grant of an Exploration Permit in June 2024 valid through 2027. Previous work confirmed compelling VMS-style mineralisation, including 27.3m of massive sulphide and 51m of sulphide-dominated mineralisation across multiple lenses, supported by high-grade copper anomalies in lake sediments.

                In July 2024, Panther secured an Exploration Permit for Awkward West, enabling up to 31 drill holes. Historic drilling returned 27.2m at 2.25% TGC, with zones exceeding 5% TGC, alongside indications of nickel, copper, and platinum group elements, aligning with the Company’s critical minerals strategy.

                High-resolution magnetic and electromagnetic surveys continue to refine drill targeting across Obonga. Survey and Ottertooth remain highly prospective, hosting multiple untested geophysical anomalies and historic massive sulphide intercepts.

                Winston Project – Tailings Evaluation and MRE Pathway

                Panther Metals’ Winston Project represents a near-term, development-focused opportunity centred on the evaluation of historic mine tailings and has been the subject of prior technical and commercial assessment involving Extrakt.

                Current work is focused on tailings sampling, metallurgical testing, and data validation to define metal content, recoverability, and support the preparation of a Mineral Resource estimate (MRE). This approach provides a clear value-creation pathway with lower geological risk than greenfield exploration and aligns with modern reprocessing and critical mineral’s themes.

                Dotted Lake Project – Hemlo-Adjacent Polymetallic Opportunity

                Panther Metals’ Dotted Lake Project, acquired in July 2020, is located approximately 16km from the Hemlo Mining Corp.’s Hemlo Mine, within a well-established mining region.

                Early exploration identified multiple gold and base metal anomalies, with initial drilling confirming gold mineralisation. In early 2025, follow-up drilling materially advanced the project, confirming nickel and magnesium mineralisation within an ultramafic intrusion and identifying a VMS-style system, significantly expanding the project’s polymetallic potential.

                The programme refined structural controls, extended mineralisation, and identified multiple new drill targets, positioning Dotted Lake as a high-upside, multi-commodity exploration asset.

                Commercial Strategy – Focused Value Creation

                Panther Metals is focused on disciplined, discovery-driven value creation through efficient capital deployment and technical execution. With Obonga delivering high-impact exploration, Winston providing a resource-focused development pathway, and Dotted Lake offering polymetallic upside, the Company maintains a balanced portfolio aligned with favourable commodity market conditions.

                The Company’s strategy is to advance high-quality assets along the most efficient technical pathway, delivering tangible milestones that underpin long-term shareholder value.

                Source

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                Lahontan Gold Eyes Resource Update as Production Nears

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                Lahontan Gold (TSXV: LG,OTCQB:LGCXF) is drawing investor attention as it advances toward renewed production at its historic Santa Fe Mine in Nevada. A revised mineral resource estimate is expected soon, offering a potential catalyst, according to a recent report by News Financial.

                Highlights:

                • Resource update expected imminently
                • Santa Fe Mine advancing toward production
                • Strong drill results at West Santa Fe project

                The Santa Fe Mine, which produced gold and silver from 1988–1994, comes with existing infrastructure and proven mineralization.

                “Lahontan will incorporate these new drill holes into an updated MRE for Slab and the entire Santa Fe project. With a new MRE, combined with updated metallurgy and rising metal prices, the company will also complete an updated preliminary economic assessment,” stated CEO Kimberly Ann in the report. The update could significantly reshape market perception of the company’s asset base.

                Recent drilling at the nearby West Santa Fe project delivered 36.6 m grading 3.11 g/t Au Eq, including a high-grade interval of 10.7 m at 5.75 g/t Au Eq from surface, highlighting the exploration upside of Lahontan’s satellite assets. These results may contribute to future resource growth and bolster the company’s transition from explorer to producer.

                With drilling underway and key technical milestones approaching, Lahontan is positioning itself to move from exploration to development and production. Investors are watching closely, as the upcoming resource update and advancing mine infrastructure may mark the start of a new chapter for the historic Santa Fe operation.

                Read the full study here.

                Click here to connect with Lahontan Gold for an Investor Presentation

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                US-Iran Tensions Put Europe’s Gas Storage Plans at Risk

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                Escalating tensions between the United States and Iran are reviving a risk energy markets have long feared: a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Gulf passage that carries roughly 20 percent of global LNG trade and 25 percent of seaborne oil.

                New modelling from energy analytics firm ICIS suggests that a three-month disruption would send European benchmark gas prices sharply higher and strain storage levels heading into winter.

                US-Iran nuclear talks are continuing this week after previous meetings failed to produce a breakthrough.

                Meanwhile, the US has increased its military posture in the Gulf region, redeploying a carrier strike group to the Northern Arabian Sea. Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces have conducted drills in the Strait of Hormuz and tested a temporary blockage of the sea passage, with officials publicly raising the possibility of closing the route to international traffic.

                Oil markets have already begun reacting to the rising geopolitical risk.

                Prices climbed to seven-month highs as traders positioned ahead of renewed US-Iran nuclear talks. US crude futures rose to as high as US$67.28 per barrel to start this week, while Brent crude reached US$72.50, its highest level since July 31, 2025, before easing later in the session.

                Disruption scenario points to sharp market shock

                The ICIS postures that the strategic importance of the strait is difficult to overstate. A prolonged closure would disrupt a quarter of global seaborne oil flows and a fifth of LNG trade. For Europe, the most immediate impact would be the loss of Qatari LNG volumes that transit the Gulf.

                To assess the potential impact, ICIS modelled two scenarios: a base case reflecting current market conditions, and a disruption case assuming no contracted Qatari LNG imports to Europe until the end of May—a 102-day halt combined with a 131 terawatt-hour (TWh)reduction in spot LNG volumes over 90 days.

                Under the disruption scenario, the Dutch TTF front-month contract, which is Europe’s gas benchmark, would jump toward 92 euros per megawatt hour, averaging around 86 €/MWh during the 90-day blockade.

                This price point hovers substantially above the base case and far exceeds the price response in ICIS’ cold-winter scenario, which resulted in roughly a 20 percent increase in some Eastern European markets.

                Furthermore, a three-month interruption of Qatari LNG would represent a supply shock of roughly 14 percent during the period, even before accounting for missing spot cargoes.

                According to ICIS, that scale of disruption would likely drive the European gas balance into shortage territory.

                “We see Europe has simultaneously allowed strategic buffers like gas storage levels to erode to dangerously low levels at a critical moment in global affairs,” said ICIS editor Ghassan Zumot.

                Even with elevated prices, not all demand in Central and Eastern Europe could be easily met while still complying with mandated EU storage targets. In the disruption scenario, end-of-winter storage levels fall to about 244 TWh, compared with 275 TWh in the base case .

                Under such conditions, the ICIS noted that competition between Asia and Europe for flexible LNG cargoes would also intensify.

                Its modeling suggests that the marginal price during the blockade would be determined by the relative willingness-to-pay of Asian power systems during the summer cooling season versus Europe’s need to secure LNG for storage injections ahead of winter.

                Volatile market meets gulf risk

                The prospect of disruption in the Gulf adds fresh uncertainty to energy markets that have yet to stabilize.

                “Throughout the year, prices have continued the downtrend they began in April (2024) as OPEC+ continued to hike output and China’s economy continued to struggle under the weight of a flailing property sector, downbeat consumer confidence, overindebted local governments and flagging external demand,” he added.

                US President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs also injected uncertainty into markets. “We can see that Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs pushed prices down to a level from which they’ve not recovered from, barring a spike in June as a result of the 12 day Iran-Israel war,” Cunningham said.

                Despite current perceptions of abundant oil supply with floating inventories hovering around a billion barrels, analysts caution that geopolitical disruptions could quickly alter the balance.

                “The real question is not if oil and gas production will increase, but by how much,” Cunningham said, noting that production forecasts have been revised higher in response to OPEC+ output hikes and strong US LNG demand. At the same time, tensions within OPEC+ and sanctions on Russia could complicate supply trajectories.

                For Europe, the immediate vulnerability lies in gas. The continent has made significant strides since 2022 in diversifying supply routes and expanding LNG import infrastructure.

                However, a closure of the Strait of Hormuz would instantly test those gains.

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

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