Atlas Salt (TSXV:SALT) - Construction Begins at Great Atlantic Project

Recording date: 7th March 2026Olive Resource Capital is off to a strong start in 2026, with the fund up approximately 25% year-to-date following an exceptional 160% return in 2025. The gains have been driven primarily by precious metals holdings, including positions in Omai, Arizona Sonoran, and West Point Gold. Two major portfolio exits have recently validated the fund's investment approach, even as geopolitical tensions introduce near-term volatility.The fund's most significant development was the acquisition of Arizona Sonoran by Hudbay, announced during PDAC week in an all-stock deal valuing Arizona Sonoran at approximately $9.35 per share. Olive had followed the company since its private-stage days, building its position opportunistically over time. Management at Arizona Sonoran executed on every stated objective — maximising the resource and resolving the complex Nuton joint venture — ultimately clearing the path for Hudbay's offer and delivering a substantial multiple on the fund's cost basis.The second exit involved Sailfish Royalties, where Olive realised approximately 4x returns after the company sold its Spring Valley royalty asset. With initial purchases around $1.00 per share and the stock trading near $4.40 following the announcement, the position generated roughly 400% returns over two years — a strong outcome for a lower-risk royalty investment.The annual PDAC mining conference in Toronto drew approximately 42,000 registrants, an all-time high well above the historical range of 20,000–30,000. Beyond the headline numbers, fund managers Samuel Pelaez and Derek Macpherson noted the quality of emerging deal flow: genuinely new companies, freshly acquired projects, and existing stories advanced meaningfully by new exploration results — not simply recycled ideas repackaged for a stronger market.Recent military actions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, combined with softer economic data from China and the U.S., have triggered a flight to liquidity that pulled mining equities down 10–15% across some positions. The fund had proactively raised cash ahead of the weakness using seasonal trading models and currently holds approximately 10% in cash, which it plans to deploy opportunistically into pullbacks.Despite near-term uncertainty, Olive maintains a positive full-year outlook, anticipating a potential rotation into copper later in 2026 as commodity leadership evolves and actively searching for a replacement copper name following Arizona Sonoran's sale.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Nolan Peterson, CEO, Atlas SaltOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/atlas-salt-tsxvsalt-salt-market-insight-with-nolan-peterson-9255Recording date: 5th of March 2026Atlas Salt has commenced construction activities at its Great Atlantic Salt project in western Newfoundland, marking a significant milestone for what could become North America's first new salt mine in over 25 years. CEO Nolan Peterson outlined the company's development progress during the 2026 PDAC conference in Toronto, emphasizing both the advancement of physical construction and an aggressive financing campaign to capitalize on favorable market conditions.The company has initiated a $100 million early works package approved by the Newfoundland government, with current activities including site clearing, ground preparation, and infrastructure development optimized for winter ground conditions. The roadmap for 2026 encompasses establishing site pads, road access, power infrastructure, and preparatory work for underground drift development. This early phase represents the first component of a $600 million CAD total capital program.Atlas Salt is pursuing a financing structure targeting 60% debt from infrastructure banks, sovereign wealth funds, and export credit agencies, with the remaining 40% from equity investors. The company has engaged Endeavour Financial to structure the project financing package, while market interest has created opportunities to accelerate capital raising beyond original timelines. Peterson noted that heightened awareness of salt shortages has prompted earlier engagement from potential financial partners.The project addresses documented supply constraints in North American deicing markets, where no new mine construction has occurred in a quarter-century. The Great Atlantic operation will shorten supply chains to key northeastern markets while offering stable, recession-proof cash flows over a projected 25-year mine life based on current reserves, with potential for an additional 50 years from identified resources.The company benefits from an exceptionally supportive regulatory environment, having secured environmental assessment approval in just two months. With 100% battery-electric operations planned, the project positions as both an infrastructure solution and an environmental showcase. Peterson's focus on strategic partnerships and project de-risking suggests multiple near-term catalysts as the company advances toward production.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/atlas-saltSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Brian Miller, Director & CEO of Astra ExplorationOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/astra-exploration-tsxvastr-high-grade-argentine-discovery-opens-in-multiple-dimensions-9016Recording date: 5th March 2026Astra Exploration (TSXV: ASTR) is a junior precious metals company with a focused two-country portfolio in Chile and Argentina, and a clear near-term strategy centred on its La Manchuria gold-silver project in Santa Cruz province. Following a strong PDAC 2026, the company is well positioned heading into what could be a transformational period of exploration.La Manchuria is a low sulphidation epithermal system with a dual-target structure. Near surface, the company has confirmed an expanding bulk disseminated gold-silver system — one that has grown with every drill programme conducted to date. Deeper in the system lies the primary prize: a potential high-grade feeder zone, the kind of structure that drives the most significant epithermal discoveries in Patagonia. Astra has been methodically building toward testing that target, beginning with near-surface drilling to establish scale and validate the geological model before committing capital to deeper holes.Two programmes have now been completed, totalling 7,500 metres across 36 holes. Of the 25 holes drilled in the second programme, 13 have been released with results. Twelve remain pending from the laboratory and are expected to be published by the end of March 2026. These represent a near-term, defined news pipeline that does not require the company to raise capital or commence new fieldwork to deliver.The third programme — another 5,000 metres — is set to begin within approximately one month. Astra holds roughly $4 million in cash, sufficient to fund this programme in full. The budget was structured at the time of the company's $6.2 million raise to ensure exactly this kind of operational continuity. The third programme will begin to shift focus toward deeper targets, moving the company closer to the high-grade feeder discovery scenario that underpins its long-term investment case.Argentina's operating environment has also improved significantly. Under President Milei's administration, permitting has accelerated and foreign investment capital is flowing into the country at a pace not seen in recent years. Santa Cruz province permits year-round drilling, removing the seasonal constraints that limit many other jurisdictions and enabling a consistent cadence of results throughout 2026.Beyond Argentina, Astra holds two Chilean projects — Pampa Paciencia, adjacent to two operating copper mines, and a high sulphidation target in the active Maricunga belt — that provide strategic optionality without requiring meaningful near-term capital. Pre-drill work is planned at Cerobio in Chile in the coming weeks, with the potential to unlock value through partnership or joint venture as the belt attracts renewed attention following Chile's improved political backdrop.For investors, the proposition is straightforward: a funded explorer with an expanding near-surface discovery, a high-grade feeder thesis yet to be tested at depth, a defined catalyst schedule across the next 60 to 90 days, and a macro tailwind from both gold prices and an improving Argentine investment climate. Astra enters the next phase of its programme with momentum, capital, and a story that is only beginning to register with the wider market.View Astra Exploration's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/astra-explorationSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Derek Iwanaka, CEO, Prince Silver Corp Recording date: 5th of March 2025Prince Silver Corp is advancing a historic Nevada silver mine toward a maiden resource estimate, with new leadership targeting a substantial 100 million ounce silver equivalent milestone within months. The company represents an early-stage exploration opportunity in one of North America's premier mining jurisdictions, underpinned by a significant historical dataset and recent unexpected discoveries.Derek Iwanaka, who assumed the CEO role three months ago, brings a proven track record from BeMetals, First Mining Gold, and Uranerz Energy. His previous companies have grown to substantial valuations, with First Mining approaching a billion-dollar market cap and Energy Fuels now worth approximately $5 billion following its acquisition of Uranerz.The Prince project operated as a producing mine from 1912 to 1949 before shutting down when silver prices fell to $0.79 per ounce. Prince Silver acquired the asset in 2025 and immediately commenced drilling below the historical workings. The results have revealed significant gold mineralization that was neither previously mined nor documented in exploration records, adding an unexpected value component beyond the silver-focused thesis.Management is pursuing an aggressive timeline, targeting a resource estimate by July 2026 with a fallback to Q4. The strategy leverages 130 historical drill holes from previous operators, allowing the company to accelerate development by several years compared to typical greenfield exploration. With $8 million in cash, Prince Silver has adequate capital to complete its current 9,000-meter drilling program plus an additional phase if required.The company currently trades at a market capitalization below $40 million, representing a significant discount to peers with similar resource sizes that typically command valuations exceeding $100 million. This valuation gap suggests potential for substantial rerating upon successful delivery of the resource estimate.The Nevada location provides critical advantages, including streamlined permitting processes and potential fast-track treatment due to the presence of federally designated critical minerals. Nine drill holes are expected to be announced within weeks, providing near-term validation of the investment thesis ahead of the formal resource calculation.Sign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with David Christie, President and COO, Globex MiningOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/globex-mining-gmx-unique-project-generator-and-royalty-company-3060Recording date: 5th of March 2026Globex Mining Enterprises is executing a distinctive strategy in the resource sector, operating as a royalty generator that creates its own revenue streams through counter-cyclical property acquisitions. With 107 royalties across 270 mineral assets, the company is transitioning from opportunistic project generator to established royalty company as multiple properties advance toward production.President and COO David Christie articulates the company's approach: acquiring undervalued properties during commodity downturns, developing them through exploration, and selling to operators while retaining royalty interests. The antimony properties in New Brunswick exemplify this strategy—acquired when the metal received minimal investor attention, these assets now benefit from heightened strategic interest as they advance toward production.Globex's financial position distinguishes it from typical junior resource companies. The firm holds over $40 million in cash and securities, split evenly between liquid cash and equity positions in senior producers including Eldorado Gold, Pan American Silver, and Alamos Gold. This balance sheet strength, combined with approximately $5 million in annual revenue from option payments and advance royalties, eliminates dilution pressure and provides strategic flexibility.The company maintains a commodity-agnostic portfolio spanning precious metals (50%), base metals (25%), and specialty commodities (25%) including manganese, fluorspar, and rare earths. Over 300,000 meters of drilling are planned across Globex properties this year, primarily funded by option partners, including 140,000 meters at the O'Brien project and 250,000 meters at Cadillac.Multiple production catalysts are emerging within a 1-5 year timeframe. Bell Mountain heap leach gold operation targets late 2026 production, while Mont Sorcier iron ore project advances toward feasibility study completion in summer 2026. New Brunswick antimony-gold and manganese projects are progressing rapidly toward development.With only 56 million shares outstanding and no rollbacks since its 1987 founding, Globex has demonstrated disciplined capital management. As royalty cash flows materialize, the company maintains optionality for acquisitions, asset spin-outs, or potential acquisition by larger royalty consolidators seeking growth and commodity diversification.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/globex-miningSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Alberto Orozco, CEO, Capitan SilverOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/capitan-silver-tsxvcapt-60000m-drill-blitz-targets-20km-mexican-silver-system-in-2026-9013Recording date: 5th of March 2026Capitan Silver Corp is executing an aggressive exploration strategy at its Cruz de Plata project in Durango, Mexico, following a transformative 2025 that repositioned the company from dormancy to active development with institutional backing and expanded geological understanding.The company's resurgence began when Jupiter Gold and Silver Fund led a financing round at a 30% premium to market—a rare achievement for junior miners—providing capital to restart operations. CEO Alberto Orozco explained that management deliberately waited for favorable market conditions and the right institutional partner rather than advancing exploration during a weak silver market.The second critical catalyst was acquiring surrounding land from Fresnillo, which fundamentally changed the project's geological interpretation. What initially appeared to be a silver vein evolved into a complete mineral system, tripling high-grade silver structure targets from 7 kilometers to over 21 kilometers of cumulative strike length. The expanded land package revealed consistent surface expressions of mineralization around an intrusive body, supported by early geophysical data.Capitan Silver employed a strategic drilling approach focused on capital efficiency, using shallow reverse circulation drilling to maximize drill holes and data density rather than expensive deep holes. This methodology delivered high-resolution geological understanding, identified continuity along strike, and discovered new high-grade zones while maintaining budget discipline.For 2026, the company launched a 60,000-meter drill program, ramping from one rig to four with continuous operation. The expanded campaign will test depth extensions of known zones and evaluate new targets across the consolidated property, aiming to demonstrate the scale potential of what management describes as a rare, high-grade silver system.A distinguishing factor is management's operational pedigree. The core team previously built and operated three mines on time and on budget at Argonaut Gold in the same Mexican region, bringing mine-building expertise to an exploration-stage company. This experience informs their evaluation of Cruz de Plata's development feasibility, considering the project's easy access, nearby infrastructure, and favorable topography alongside its geological merit.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/capitan-silverSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Allen Sabet, CEO of Mogotes Metals Inc.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mogotes-metals-tsxvmog-26m-treasury-funds-drilling-in-one-of-worlds-largest-copper-discoveries-7941Recording date: 4th March 2026Mogotes Metals entered 2026 as an exploration company ready to drill. After three years and approximately C$25 million spent building geochemical, geophysical, and geological datasets across its Filo Sur project in Argentina's Vicuña district, the company now has three rigs operating along the same structural corridor that hosts Filo del Sol — the deposit that its joint venture owners describe as the largest copper discovery in 30 years.The drilling programme targets 6,000–8,000 metres this austral summer season across multiple ranked and permitted targets, with approximately 3,000 metres already completed. The season budget is approximately C$20 million, funded from a C$55 million treasury. That treasury was built with the participation of two strategically significant investors: CD Capital, a London-based fund that previously made approximately 15 times its money investing in Filo del Sol, and the Braun family of Argentina, a family office with direct regional knowledge. CD Capital's Carmel Daniele has joined the Mogotes board — the same role she held at Filo del Sol.The geological case rests on the north-south structural belt that connects Filo del Sol, Altar, Valeriano, and now Filo Sur. Mogotes holds the full strike projection of Filo del Sol's known mineralisation. The geophysical programme identified multiple high-chargeability, low-resistivity anomalies consistent with the subsurface signatures that defined the early drilling success at Filo del Sol and Valeriano. These are the targets now being drilled. CEO Alan Sabet has been measured in framing expectations — proximity to a tier-one discovery does not guarantee replication — but the technical approach mirrors the methodology that worked at comparable deposits across the Andes.The company's second announcement at PDAC 2026 was the option agreement on a copper-gold asset in Kazakhstan. The asset hosts an historic resource of approximately six million gold-equivalent ounces, with mineralisation beginning at approximately 40 metres depth and remaining open at depth and laterally. Drilling costs run at approximately US$80 per metre — a fraction of typical Andean costs — and the permitting environment supports a mining licence application within six months.For Mogotes, the strategic logic is clear. Filo Sur is a seasonal operation confined to the austral summer. Kazakhstan can be drilled year-round and provides continuous news flow during the months when Andean operations are dormant. It also provides a second value creation pathway: integrating existing unincorporated drilling data into a new resource estimate, step-out and depth drilling, and testing a separate porphyry target with potential high-grade gold.For investors, the near-term calendar is defined. Filo Sur drill results are expected in May and June 2026, representing the first direct geological test of the project's multi-year dataset. Kazakhstan work will begin in parallel, providing additional news flow through the second half of the year. The company enters this period with a well-funded treasury, institutional validation from directly comparable capital, and a disciplined deployment plan that preserves follow-up capacity regardless of what the first drill holes return.View Mogotes Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/mogotes-metalsSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Interview with Jean-Paul Tsotsos, CEO & Justin Black, CMO, Chesapeake GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/chesapeake-gold-tsxvckg-proprietary-oxidation-process-could-help-unlock-15t-in-stranded-gold-6963Recording date: 4th March 2026Chesapeake Gold Corp. is advancing Metates, one of the world's largest undeveloped precious metals deposits, through a proprietary oxidative leach technology that has solved a four-decade metallurgical challenge while slashing capital requirements by 90%.The Metates deposit in Mexico hosts over 500 million ounces of silver (ranked first globally) and 19 million ounces of gold (18th globally). Discovered in 1980, the project's refractory ore—where precious metals are locked within sulfide minerals resistant to conventional processing—prevented successful development by multiple major mining companies despite decades of attempts.Chesapeake's breakthrough came through acquiring and advancing oxidative leach technology originally developed at Hycroft over nearly a decade with $50 million in combined investment. The technology operates at ambient temperature in heap leach pads, eliminating the need for expensive autoclaves, extensive water infrastructure, and on-site power generation.The economic transformation is dramatic. Chesapeake's initial 2016 prefeasibility study using conventional pressure oxidation envisioned a $3.5 billion capital expenditure for a 90,000 ton-per-day operation requiring a desalination plant, water pipelines, and power plant. The oxidative leach approach reduces capex to $360 million for a 15,000 ton-per-day starter operation while improving gold recovery from 33% to 74% and silver recovery from 35% to 50%. Phase 3 testing shows further improvements, with results expected in Q1-Q2 2026.Beyond Metates, Chesapeake is pursuing a technology licensing strategy targeting 200+ identified refractory deposits globally. Three companies are currently conducting amenability testing, with results expected within two months. These third-party implementations serve dual purposes: validating the technology at operating sites ahead of Metates development while creating revenue potential through royalties or equity positions.Mexico's regulatory environment has improved significantly under President Sheinbaum, with two-thirds of 170 backlogged permits resolved. The prefeasibility study for Metates is underway, with completion dependent on regulatory progress rather than remaining technical uncertainties.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/chesapeake-goldSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

 Interview with Rupert Verco, CEO & Managing Director of Cobra Resources PLCOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/cobra-resources-lsecobr-targeting-low-cost-rare-earths-through-isr-extraction-9181Recording date: 6th March 2026Cobra Resources has reported a strong start to drilling at the Manahill Copper Project in South Australia, delivering wide, high-grade copper intersections that materially strengthen the exploration case for a potentially significant porphyry-related system. For investors, the early results suggest the project could host both near-surface economic mineralisation and the potential for a larger copper system at depth.The drilling program followed Cobra’s option agreement over the Manahill project signed in mid-2025. Initial exploration began with geophysical work, including induced polarisation (IP) surveys designed to identify sulphide-rich zones associated with porphyry copper systems. Based on these targets, the company completed an 18-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program, with the first four holes now reported.Two standout intersections were returned from the same drilling transect. The first hole intersected 74 metres grading just over 1% copper with approximately 0.25 g/t gold, while another returned 84 metres of copper mineralisation with associated gold. Importantly, these are thick mineralised zones interpreted to represent a true mineralised width of roughly 70 metres. Such broad intercepts are considered highly encouraging at this stage of exploration because they suggest the presence of a substantial mineralised body rather than narrow vein systems.The mineralisation occurs from shallow depths, beginning only tens of metres below surface. This is significant from a potential development perspective, as shallow mineralisation can support lower strip ratios and improve the economics of future open-pit mining scenarios. Historical drilling in the area had already identified oxide copper mineralisation, including intersections such as 48 metres grading 2.2% copper with gold credits, but the latest drilling confirms that the mineralisation continues into the deeper primary sulphide zone.This distinction is important because oxide copper can often be processed using relatively low-cost heap leaching, while deeper sulphide mineralisation is typically processed through conventional flotation circuits. A project containing both zones can benefit from a phased development approach—starting with lower-capex oxide production before transitioning to sulphide processing as the operation expands.Geologically, Cobra believes the mineralisation may represent a skarn-style system linked to a larger porphyry copper intrusion. Evidence supporting this model includes the presence of intrusive rocks such as quartz monzonite and diorite dykes intersected in drilling. In addition, the company has identified molybdenum mineralisation, with standalone intersections up to 10–12 metres grading around 0.1% molybdenum. Molybdenum is commonly associated with fertile porphyry systems and may act as a vector toward the core of a larger copper deposit.The broader exploration footprint also supports the potential scale of the system. Cobra has already identified approximately 1.6 kilometres of mineralised strike length and mineralisation extending 300–400 metres vertically. Based on the mineralised widths and grades encountered so far, management estimates that the currently intersected zone alone could host around 500,000 tonnes of contained copper metal if continuity is confirmed.Importantly, Manahill appears to be part of a larger porphyry province, and Cobra has several additional targets across the project area. These include Netley Hill, where a previous drill hole intersected 350 metres grading 0.1% copper from surface, suggesting the possibility of large-scale bulk-tonnage mineralisation. Another target, Annabella, also shows promising geological indicators.Cobra still has results pending from the remaining 14 holes in the current drilling program, which will help refine the geological model and guide the next phase of drilling. The company already holds permits for 29 additional RC holes and three diamond holes, allowing it to quickly follow up on the discovery and test deeper targets.For investors, the key next steps will be confirming the scale and continuity of the mineralised system. If drilling continues to deliver similar widths and grades, Manahill could evolve into a multi-million-tonne copper system within a highly favourable mining jurisdiction.—View Cobra Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/cobra-resourcesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com 

Interview with Max Porterfield, President & CEO of Visionary Copper & Gold Inc.Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/visionary-copper-gold-mines-tsxvvgc-pitch-perfect-9001Recording date: 4th March 2026Visionary Copper & Gold is focused on unlocking the value of Point Leamington, a polymetallic VMS deposit in Newfoundland, Canada, that holds over 20 million tonnes of gold, silver, copper, and zinc mineralisation and has seen no modern exploration since 2004. The company's current Phase 1 drilling programme is delivering early results that management believes confirm the deposit's potential to grow significantly from its existing resource base.The deposit's existing pit-constrained resource contains approximately 500,000 ounces of gold, 8 million ounces of silver, 170 million pounds of copper, and 700 million pounds of zinc. Gold currently accounts for approximately 55% of contained metal value. However, the most consequential development from recent drilling is not within the known resource but within the footwall beneath it.Visionary has confirmed a new copper zone, named Kraken, in the footwall to Point Leamington's main massive sulphide lens. This type of structure is a defining characteristic of the world's largest VMS deposits. At Ming in Newfoundland, a copper stringer zone sits below the main lens. At Flin Flon Bay in Manitoba, the copper-rich footwall accompanies a zinc-dominant main horizon. The first Kraken hole returned a 76-metre interval at 0.45% copper and a second intersection of 23 metres at 1.5% copper which are consistent with the early-stage definition of footwall zones that have materially expanded comparable systems.Alongside the Kraken results, the company has extended the confirmed strike length of Point Leamington to over one kilometre. This is an important structural distinction. Most large VMS systems — including Ming, Lalor, and 777 in Manitoba — have strike extents of 200 to 250 metres, with their tonnage coming primarily from depth. The small number of VMS systems with significantly longer strike extents, such as Kidd Creek and Flin Flon, have produced some of the largest total resource outcomes globally. Point Leamington's confirmed kilometre-plus strike places it in this rarer category.The development plan for 2026 is clear and sequenced. Phase 1 drilling will continue stepping out around the Kraken intersection. Phase 2 will follow after ground conditions improve, targeting resource upgrades and further Kraken delineation. A two-phase metallurgical programme will collect data to support economic studies, and the company is targeting an updated resource estimate and a preliminary economic assessment within the year.Beyond Newfoundland, Visionary holds the Rainbow/Pine Bay copper asset in Manitoba. An advanced exploration permit application is currently under review, and an Environmental Act licence for full-scale production is being prepared. The asset sits within trucking distance of three concentrators and approximately 30 minutes from a rail line linked to Canada's proposed Churchill port export corridor — a route that has attracted attention from federal and provincial governments in the context of critical mineral supply chain security.The entire Eastern Canada portfolio was assembled in 2016 for $1.1 million. With gold above $3,000 per ounce and structural copper deficits widening, Visionary is positioned at an early stage of what could be a significant resource expansion cycle at one of Canada's most overlooked large-scale VMS systems.View Visionary Copper & Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/visionary-copper-gold-minesSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com