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  • The Bill Belichick experiment will be hailed a success so long as North Carolina gets to call its shot in the next round of conference realignment.
  • North Carolina’s brand might be ready for prime time, but its team isn’t on the level of the SEC or the Big Ten.
  • Can Bill Belichick maintain a Deion Sanders-like effect for North Carolina? He electrified UNC football for one night, but will that last?

The luminaries assembled the way luminaries do. Jordan. Roy. The Muse. They gathered in luxury boxes.

They hovered above a sell-out crowd of 50,500 to create a scene worthy to be dubbed college football in the South. Maybe, one day, even worthy to be called college football in the SEC.

Because, that’s what this is about. You didn’t really think North Carolina hired Bill Belichick to deliver national championships, did you? Even university administrators aren’t that stupid.

The Beli Ball experiment and investment will be hailed a success so long as he ensures North Carolina gets to call its shot in the next round of conference realignment.

Which, is probably only a handful of years away. Best prepare now.

And, let’s be real, Belichick probably won’t be coaching North Carolina by then. By 2030, perhaps he’ll be enjoying retirement, unemployment and marital bliss, celebrating his wife’s 29th birthday, and waxing nostalgic about how he rode the coattails of a quarterback named Brady and convinced everyone he’s a coaching savant.

So long as Belichick sufficiently elevated UNC to a place to where the school can name its destination into a “Super Two” conference, where the cash flows, he’ll have achieved a feat. 

UNC’s brand and media market — everyone and your mother is moving to Charlotte — make the Tar Heels appealing to either the Big Ten or the SEC. The football program needs work. Never has that been more apparent than in Belichick’s college football coaching debut.

Belichick, wearing a snug hoodie, watched stoically as TCU humiliated his Tar Heels, 48-14. Belichick’s first impression spoiled before halftime. Behind him, fans filed out in the third quarter, probably with basketball on the brain.

As for UNC football, it looked as reputable as the school’s Afro-American Studies department. 

Never mind UNC’s cheating past, though. A history of academic fraud wouldn’t make it a pariah for the SEC. If anything, its decades-long harborage of phony classes shows the SEC and Big Ten that UNC cares enough about winning to execute an academic sham and then mount a successful defense to justify it to the NCAA.

Tennessee and Michigan could take inspiration from such chicanery.

The SEC and Big Ten won’t be inspired by the football product we saw on Labor Day, though. This team showed it’s not ready for prime time. 

In the short term, Belichick’s hiring galvanized a sleepy program. North Carolina already sold out its home games for the season. How much will those tickets be selling for on resale sites in November?

Because, if the opener is an accurate indication, Belichick’s team stinks.

If only it didn’t, because everything else about North Carolina makes it a slam dunk for either the SEC or the Big Ten the next time the realignment carousel swings into gear. 

North Carolina is one of those AAU schools the Big Ten likes. It would give the Big Ten an entry point into the South, which remains untapped terrain for a conference that spans from Los Angeles to Seattle to New Jersey and many outposts in between — except for lands that say y’all. 

The SEC’s past expansions operated much differently from the Big Ten’s quest to acquire brands from coast to coast. The SEC prefers to move into contiguous states to methodically expand the league’s footprint without betraying its carefully crafted Southern identity or its football fabric. 

The SEC Network is headquartered in Charlotte, and yet North Carolina remains the Southern-most state without an SEC school. For now, anyway.

ACC schools, like North Carolina, will become more accessible once their conference exit fees reduce in 2030.

It’s unrealistic to expect Belichick to turn basketball-forward UNC into Georgia or Ohio State. But, could he do for North Carolina what Deion Sanders did for Colorado?

Sanders supercharged the Buffaloes’ program and brand and helped ensure Colorado did not get left behind in the last round of realignment. The Buffaloes found a home within the Big 12. He made Colorado a television ratings dynamo. Games in Boulder became a party pad for celebrities.

Belichick is no Prime. The latter is a magnetic personality and a cultural icon who brought to Colorado a proven college football coaching record, albeit in the FCS ranks. Sanders benefited from installing his talented son as his quarterback. He also brought along a dual-position superstar, Travis Hunter, who revered Sanders. Hunter would go on to win the Heisman Trophy.

Oh, and Sanders beat TCU in his Colorado debut, too.

Unlike Prime, Belichick is a past-his-prime coach whose winning percentage in games not quarterbacked by Brady leaves a lot to be desired. He installed a son who’s an assistant coach. Steve Belichick is no Shedeur Sanders. None of the scores of transfers North Carolina nabbed this offseason compares to Travis Hunter. Belichick possesses not one-tenth of Coach Prime’s magnetism, nor his experience as a college coach and recruiter.

No matter what Sanders achieves the rest of his Colorado tenure, he’ll have been worth it. Just check out the school’s swelling enrollment, its Power Four status, and its TV ratings that defy gravity. 

For one night, Belichick electrified the place — up to the point TCU began the rout, anyway. How long can that last? Improving the team to the point of competence would help.

By 2030, Belichick might be retired to Maine, living as Mr. Hudson. Greatness may have eluded him at North Carolina. It’ll have been worth it for the Tar Heels, though, if they can say that a coach formerly known as an NFL legend helped them take their place at the vanguard of the next realignment rat race.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

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NEW YORK — Venus Williams’ US Open is over after she and her doubles partner, Leylah Fernandez, were routed 6-1, 6-2 in their quarterfinal match by the No. 1 seeds, Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova.

Williams and Fernandez had never played doubles together and entered the tournament as a wild-card entry. They surprised many by winning three matches, including a third-round tilt against the No. 12 seeds, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Shuai Zhang. After that match, Williams implored her younger sister, and former doubles partner, Serena, to show up at Flushing Meadows for additional support.

But this destruction took all of 56 minutes, as Townsend and Siniakova exerted their experience together, powering to the semifinals with 19 winners and an 88% win rate on their first serves.

US OPEN: No. 4 Jessica Pegula powers through Barbora Krejcikova to reach semifinals

INJURY UPDATE: Marketa Vondrousova withdraws from quarterfinal vs. Aryna Sabalenka

Townsend and Siniakova, who won Wimbledon in 2024 and the Australian Open in January, move on to the semifinals to take on No. 4 seed Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, who won their quarterfinal matchup over Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider, the No. 5 seed, in straight sets.

The 45-year-old Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, returned to the court earlier this summer after taking a 16-month break. She had not mentioned retirement and has continued to play competitive tennis, in both singles and doubles, since returning from her hiatus.

‘I don’t know. I was so focused on this tournament here. I really felt like we had a chance to really continue to play into the tournament,’ Williams said when asked about her post US Open plans. ‘So I haven’t given that any thought. I do have commitments, you know, places I said I’d be, people expecting me to be there, like, the next few weeks. So I have to go and show up.

‘But I’m very serious about my commitments. I would never want to cancel now, so I’ll try to keep those. If there is opportunity for me to play, then hopefully I can get back somewhere this year. I just don’t know. I really don’t.’

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PHOENIX The Phoenix Mercury are heating up at the right moment as the WNBA regular season winds down.

The Mercury (26-14) defeated the Indiana Fever (21-20) 85-79 at PHX Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 2 to record their fifth consecutive victory, marking Phoenix’s second longest winning streak of the season. It was a team effort for the Mercury, who move to 13-0 on the season when five or more players score 10 or more points.

Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas finished with a team-high 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in the win, finishing only one rebound and one assist short of her eighth triple-double of the season. Dewanna Bonner had 19 points off the bench, while Satou Sabally added 13 points.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell had 25 points, four assists and four steals in the losing effort. Lexie Hull added 15 points and five rebounds, while Aliyah Boston recorded 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Minnesota Lynx (No. 1 overall seed), Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream and Mercury have all claimed playoff spots. The Fever are among five teams vying for the final four playoff berths with three games remaining in the season.

USA TODAY Sports had full coverage of the game between the Mercury and the Fever. Scroll below for highlights:

WNBA PLAYOFF PICTURE: Who clinched a postseason berth? Who’s in, Who’s out?

End of Q3: Mercury 67, Fever 57

The Fever came out the gate on a 6-0 run to cut the Mercury’s lead to single digits, but Phoenix was able to extend its lead again as the Mercury take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Alyssa Thomas has a team-high 17 points for the Mercury and is two rebounds and two assists away from her eight triple-double of the season. Dewanna Bonner added 13 points off the bench. The Mercury are collectively shooting 50% from the field and 35.3% from three.

Mercury guard Kahleah Copper appeared to go down with a right foot injury with 4:38 remaining in the third quarter. She attempted to play on but couldn’t put pressure on her foot. Copper limped over to the Mercury’s bench after a timeout was called and didn’t return in the quarter. Copper exited with nine points and three rebounds. (She returned in the fourth quarter.)

Kelsey Mitchell leads the Fever with 22 points, three assists and three steals. Lexie Hull added 12 points and four rebounds, while Aliyah Boston recorded 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The Fever’s bench, however, has only contributed four points.

Halftime: Mercury 54, Fever 39

Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani pounded her chest as the crowd at PHX Arena went wild after she knocked down a 3-point shot to extend Phoenix’s lead to 15 points. The Mercury closed the second quarter on a 10-0 run and outscored the Fever 29-16.

Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas is already on triple-double watch. Thomas has recorded 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists through the first half. She has a record-setting seven triple-doubles on the season. The Mercury also got a huge lift off the bench from Dewanna Bonner. Bonner, who started the season with the Fever before joining the Mercury in July, is up to 11 points. The Mercury have the third-highest scoring bench in the league, averaging 24.8 points per game. 

The Fever have conceded 12 points on six turnovers so far. Mitchell was held scoreless in the second quarter after dropping 15 first-quarter points. Aliyah Boston struggled to find her shot and started the game off 0-for-4 before finding net for the first time with 6:30 remaining in the second quarter. She’s up to eight points and four assists. Lexie Hull added 10 points.

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker in the building

The star-studded crowd at PHX Arena includes several Phoenix Suns players. Devin Booker, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks were seated courtside for Tuesday’s matchup.

End of Q1: Mercury 25, Fever 23

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell knocked down a 25-foot 3-pointer with 26.6 seconds remaining in the first quarter to give the Fever a one-point lead. Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb answered right back with a three of her own to put Phoenix back up, 25-23.

Mitchell came out red-hot in the first quarter and scored 15 of the Fever’s 23 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from the 3-point line. Despite Mitchell’s first-quarter performance, the Fever find themselves down by two points heading into the second quarter.

Kahleah Copper has a team-high nine points for the Mercury, while Alyssa Thomas, the Western Conference Player of the Week, has eight points, four assists and three rebounds.

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury?

The Phoenix Mercury host the Indiana Fever at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the PHX Arena in Phoenix. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV.

Phoenix Mercury starting lineup

Indiana Fever starting lineup

Fever injury report: Is Caitlin Clark playing?

Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s road matchup against the Mercury on Tuesday, marking her 19th consecutive absence with a right groin injury suffered on July 15. There’s no timetable for her return to the lineup.

Fever forward Chloe Bibby (left knee) will also be sidelined on Tuesday, in addition to guards Aari McDonald (broken right foot), Sydney Colson (left ACL tear) and Sophie Cunningham (right MCL tear), who all suffered season-ending injuries in August.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury: TV, stream

  • Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
  • Location:  PHX Arena (Phoenix)
  • TV channel: NBA TV
  • Streaming: Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

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  • Freshman quarterback Julian ‘Juju’ Lewis will see playing time after not appearing in the season-opening loss.
  • Starting quarterback Kaidon Salter completed 17 of 28 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown against Georgia Tech.
  • Sanders had always planned to play Lewis this season but did not specify if the freshman would start.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders said Tuesday, Sept. 2, that he will introduce a new element to his offense after his team got beat in a season-opening loss against Georgia Tech.

Instead of playing just one quarterback, the Buffaloes seem likely to play two, this time with freshman Julian “Juju” Lewis. Sanders said Lewis would play this Saturday against Delaware (1-0) after he didn’t see the field last week in the 27-20 defeat to the Yellow Jackets.

“He’s playing this week for sure,” Sanders said at his weekly news conference in Boulder. “I know when I’m going to see him. You just don’t know when you’re going to see him.”

Liberty transfer quarterback Kaidon Salter started the season opener and completed 17 of 28 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown. He missed on some key throws and also threw the ball at times when he should have run, as Sanders said after the loss. Salter added 13 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown for Colorado (0-1).

Why is Julian Lewis playing for Colorado this week?

The fact that Lewis is playing this week isn’t an indictment on Salter. Sanders said he had planned to play Lewis at times this season. He said he just didn’t think it was appropriate timing last week.

“Now he’s going to play, so I don’t even care about the flow with nothing,” Sanders said. “He’s playing.”

Sanders declined to say if Lewis might start against Delaware in a 3:30 p.m. ET game Saturday on Fox.

He also didn’t seem overly concerned about Salter being able to learn from his mistakes on Saturday. Sanders said he didn’t need to talk to him about using his legs more often to make gains.

“You don’t think he knows that?” Sanders said. “I’m pretty sure the internet has told him, you know, if I didn’t tell him. I don’t have to babysit. These are some grown men getting handsomely paid. I’m pretty sure they understand what the objective is to win and to exercise their skillset to its best possible usage. He knows what his gifts are. He’s just got to use them.”

Lewis is only 17 years old after graduating high school early in Carrollton, Georgia. He originally committed to play at Southern California before switching to Colorado.

Delaware up next for Colorado

Before the loss to Georgia Tech, Sanders never had lost a season opener as a college head coach. The big question now is how his team responds to it. A loss would be nearly catastrophic against the Blue Hens, a team playing its first season as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). A decisive win could restart the conversation about playing for the Big 12 Conference championship heading into its conference opener Sept. 12 at Houston.

Colorado kicker Alejandro Mata called the season-opening loss a “wake-up call.”

“We know that one game doesn’t define us and that if we want to make the playoff, we’ve got to win out,” Mata said Tuesday. “It’s part of the plan. It’s Plan A. And it hasn’t changed.”

Colorado receiver Omarion Miller has a hamstring injury and might not play. Running back Dallan Hayden also might not play because of injury. But Sanders said both positions have enough depth to be successful.

He also took issue with the first question of the news conference, which was about improving the offense under offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Sanders noted his defense gave up 320 rushing yards vs. Georgia Tech.

“It’s funny that you start out with Coach Shurmur, and we gave up over 300 yards. darn near 400 yards rushing,” Sanders said. “It’s ironic to me. It seems like you guys just pick and choose who you want to target. That’s cool. We didn’t lose the game because of Coach Shurmur, (or defensive coordinator Robert) Livingston or one specific thing. I gotta do a better job.”

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

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The silver price surged on Tuesday (September 2), breaking US$40 per ounce to rise as high as US$40.93.

Silver was last above US$40 in 2011, peaking that year at US$47.94 in April.

Many of the same factors that drove the silver price to that level in 2011 are present in today’s market, including significant uncertainty around the economy, a global debt crisis and a dovish US Federal Reserve policy.

Silver price chart, June 1 to September 2, 2025.

Alongside silver’s move, the gold price reached a fresh all-time high on Tuesday as expectations rose that the Fed will cut interest rates when it meets next from September 16 to 17.

Although inflation has been moving further from the Fed’s 2 percent target, there has been greater uncertainty in the labor force. July’s nonfarm payroll report indicated slowing growth in the jobs market and featured a downward revision of 258,000 fewer jobs in May and June combined. The next report, due on Friday (September 5), has analysts predicting further weakness in the US jobs market, with expectations of 73,000 jobs being added to the economy.

A weak jobs market has been fueled by uncertainty within the economy since the start of the year amid an ever-changing tariff policy under President Donald Trump. On August 29, a federal appeals court struck down the majority of Trump’s tariffs in a seven-to-four ruling, deeming the levies to be unconstitutional.

The tariffs will remain in place until October 14, giving the White House time to mount an appeal of the decision with the Supreme Court of the US. The order adds another level of uncertainty to an already chaotic market, pushing 10 and 30 year bond yields up and driving a selloff in equity markets. Investors are spooked that the ruling may require the government to repay tariffs that have already been collected, adding to the ballooning US federal debt.

The silver price is also benefiting from the high gold price, as some investors look for safe-haven assets at lower entry points. Additionally, silver has increasing industrial applications, which have driven a structural supply deficit in the market, providing underlying fundamental support for investors.

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

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Investor Insight

Empire Metals (OTCQB:EPMLF, AIM:EEE) is unlocking one of the world’s largest and purest titanium deposits at its flagship Pitfield project in Western Australia. With growing global demand, a looming supply deficit, and near-term development milestones, Empire offers a compelling investment opportunity in the critical minerals space.

Overview

Empire Metals (OTCQB:EPMLF, AIM:EEE) is an Australian focused exploration and resource development company rapidly gaining international attention for its discovery and rapid development of what is believed to be the world’s largest titanium deposit.

The company is focused on advancing its flagship asset, the Pitfield project, located in Western Australia, a tier 1 mining jurisdiction. With a dominant landholding of more than 1,000 sq km, and a titanium mineral system that spans 40 km in strike length, Pitfield is emerging as a district-scale “giant” discovery with the potential to reshape the global titanium supply landscape.

Empire’s strategic focus on titanium comes at a pivotal time. Titanium is officially recognized as a critical mineral by both the European Union and the United States, owing to its essential role in aerospace, defense, medical technologies, clean energy and high-performance industrial applications. Global demand for titanium dioxide — the most widely used form of titanium — is surging due to its unmatched properties as a pigment and as a feedstock for titanium metal. Titanium supply chains are also increasingly being constrained by geopolitical risks, mine depletion and environmental challenges associated with traditional production. More than 60 percent of the global supply chain is currently concentrated in a handful of countries, notably China and Russia, creating significant vulnerabilities for Western markets.

Titanium has been designated as a critical mineral in both the EU and the US.

Against this backdrop, Empire Metals offers investors a compelling opportunity to gain exposure to a strategically vital metal through a large-scale, high-grade and clean titanium discovery. Unlike many traditional titanium sources, Pitfield’s mineralization is exceptionally pure — free from detrimental amounts of uranium, thorium, chromium and other contaminants — making it ideally suited for premium, high-purity end markets. Furthermore, the mineralized zone is near-surface and laterally extensive, allowing for low-strip and scalable bulk mining with conventional processing technologies.

With more than 22,000 meters of drilling already completed and only a fraction of the mineral system tested, Empire is aggressively advancing Pitfield towards a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate, targeted for H2-2025. Alongside this work, the company is also undertaking bulk sampling and metallurgical processing to advance flowsheet design and optimize product specifications. It is also engaging with industry players to assess product suitability for premium pigment and titanium sponge markets. Empire is planning to finalize, during the current calendar year, a mining study to evaluate the potential for a low-cost strip mining approach, utilizing continuous mining techniques.

The company is supported by a seasoned leadership team with deep expertise in exploration, resource development, mining, metallurgy and capital markets — ensuring that strategic decisions are guided by both technical excellence and a strong track record of value creation.

Company Highlights

  • The flagship Pitfield project is the world’s largest known titanium discovery. It’s a district-scale “giant” titanium mineral system, characterised by high-grade, high-purity titanium mineralisation exhibiting exceptional continuity.
  • Titanium is in a global supply deficit and recognized as a critical mineral by the EU and US.
  • Drill intercepts at Pitfield include up to 202 meters at 6.32 percent titanium dioxide (TiO2) from surface, confirming vast scale and grade.
  • Empire Metals operates in one of the world’s most secure, mining-friendly jurisdictions: Western Australia.
  • The company is led by an experienced, agile team, with proven expertise in exploration, mine development, and value creation across multiple commodities.
  • With a number of key development catalysts planned for 2025, including a maiden resource estimate, bulk sampling for scale-up of metallurgical testwork, and product optimisation, Empire remains significantly undervalued relative to its peers.

Key Projects

Pitfield Project – A World-Class Titanium Discovery

Located in Western Australia, the Pitfield project is Empire Metals’ flagship asset and represents one of the most exciting titanium discoveries globally. Spanning an area of approximately 1,042 sq km, the project has revealed a colossal mineral system measuring 40 km in length and up to 8 km in width, with geophysical indications of mineralization extending to at least a depth of 5 km.

Pitfield’s prime location in Western Australia

Extensive drilling across the project has intercepted thick, laterally continuous zones of high-grade titanium dioxide mineralization, highlighting the system’s enormous scale and consistency.

The titanium at Pitfield occurs predominantly in the minerals anatase and rutile within a weathered, in-situ cap that begins at surface. These minerals are exceptionally pure, often exceeding 90 percent titanium dioxide. They are free from harmful amounts of contaminants like uranium, thorium, chromium and phosphorus — qualities that are likely to make the deposit uniquely suitable for premium, high-purity titanium applications in aerospace, defense and clean technologies.

Pitfield is strategically located near the town of Three Springs, approximately 150 km southeast of the port city of Geraldton. The project benefits from direct access to essential infrastructure, including sealed highways, rail lines and an available water supply. This connectivity significantly enhances development potential by reducing logistics costs and simplifying future project build-out. Moreover, the Western Australian government actively supports critical mineral development, and Empire is operating within a stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction known for streamlined permitting and investment security.

Empire has completed more than 22,000 meters of drilling, confirming standout titanium dioxide (TiO2) results such as 154 meters at 6.76 percent TiO2, 148 meters at 6.49 percent TiO2, and 150 meters at 6.44 percent TiO2. Notably, mineralization remains open at depth in all tested zones, and to date, only around 5 percent of the interpreted system has been drilled. This underscores the immense upside potential for resource expansion.

The project’s development advantages are equally compelling: the mineralization is near-surface and amenable to simple, bulk mining methods with conventional processing. Its location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction offers access to infrastructure, a skilled workforce and strong regulatory support.

The Pitfield project presents a scalable processing pathway. Photo shows a gravity flotation test in process (left) and a close-up of a flotation test (right)

Pitfield is advancing toward a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate, expected by H2-2025. The project is already being recognized as a potential cornerstone asset in the global titanium supply chain.

In August 2025, Empire Metals achieved a metallurgical breakthrough, confirming that conventional processing can deliver strong results. Testwork returned 77 percent recovery in the rougher stage, 90 percent in cleaning, and 98 percent titanium dissolution, for an overall 67 percent titanium recovery. The process produced a high-purity TiO₂ concentrate grading 99.25 percent with ~5 percent Fe₂O₃, supporting plans for a lower-cost pilot plant.

Other Projects

In addition to Pitfield, Empire Metals maintains a portfolio of early-stage exploration assets offering optionality and exposure to other strategic and precious metals. Empire holds interests in two Western Australian projects — the Walton and Eclipse gold projects — both situated in historically productive mineral belts. While these assets are not the current focus, they contribute exploration upside and optionality within the company’s broader strategy.

Management Team

Neil O’Brien – Non-executive Chairman

Neil O’Brien is the former SVP exploration and new business development at Lundin

Mining, until he retired in 2018. He has an extensive global mining career as a PhD economic geologist, exploration leader and board executive.

Shaun Bunn – Managing Director

Shaun Bunn is a metallurgist based in Perth, Western Australia, with expertise in international exploration, mining, processing and development. He has a successful track record managing mining projects through all stages of development.

Greg Kuenzel – Finance Director

Based in London, Greg Kuenzel is a chartered accountant, and corporate finance and financial management expert. He has extensive experience working with resources-focused AIM listed companies.

Peter Damouni – Non-executive Director

With more than 20 years of corporate and finance experience focused in the natural resources sector, Peter Damouni holds executive and director roles in TSXV and LSE listed companies where he has played key roles in significantly enhancing shareholder value.

Phil Brumit – Non-executive Director

Phil Brumit is a veteran mining engineer and operations expert, delivering major global operations. His previous roles include international leadership positions at Freeport-McMoRan, Lundin Mining and Newmont Corporation.

Narelle Marriott – Process Development Manager

Narelle Marriott is a former BHP senior process engineer. Most recently, she was the general manager for process development for Hastings Technology Metals.

Andrew Faragher – Exploration Manager

Andrew Faragher is a former Rio Tinto exploration manager with more than 25 years of experience working across multiple commodities.

Arabella Burwell – Corporate Development

Arabella Burwell is a former Senior Director Corporate Development at NASDAQ-listed GoDaddy and a Partner, Capital Raising and Strategic Partnerships, at Hannam & Partners in London and South Africa.

Carrie Pritchard – Environmental Manager

Carrie brings over 20 years of international experience in environmental management, project development, regulatory approvals, and impact assessment. Her expertise spans mine closure and reclamation, stakeholder engagement, and the remediation of contaminated sites. She has led projects across Australia (Western Australia and Victoria) and New Zealand and has also contributed to initiatives in Malawi and Greenland.

David Parker – Commercial Manager

David Parker brings over 20 years of experience in equity capital markets, with a strong focus on the mining, industrial, and technology sectors. He has held senior roles as director and company secretary for several ASX-listed companies, providing strategic leadership and commercial oversight across diverse corporate environments.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

During 2025, silver has continued to build on gains made in the previous year, soaring above US$40 per ounce in early September.

The gains have been driven by several factors, most notably the tightening of supply and demand fundamentals, resulting from higher demand from industrial sectors and its use in photovoltaics.

Additionally, prices have found tailwinds from safe-haven investors who find silver’s lower entry price compared to gold appealing. The moves have been fueled by uncertainty in the global financial markets as the United States implements its new trade and tariff policies. Investors have also been unsettled by an escalating tension in the Middle East and the unresolved conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Below is an overview of the five largest silver-mining stocks by market cap as of August 25, 2025, as per data gathered using TradingView’s stock screener. Read on to learn more about the activities and operations of these large-cap silver stocks.

1. Pan American Silver (TSX:PAAS)

Market cap: C$16.35 billion
Share price: C$45.06

Pan American Silver is among the world’s largest primary silver producers, with silver assets located throughout the Americas and operations in Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

According to its Q2 report, released on August 6, overall, the company produced 5.1 million ounces of silver during the period. Its largest silver-producing asset is the La Colorada mine in Mexico, which produced 1.51 million ounces of silver during the quarter.

Other significant contributors to its silver production were its El Peñon gold-silver mine in Chile at 968,000 ounces of silver, Huaron in Peru at 844,000 ounces, San Vicente in Bolivia at 755,000 ounces, Cerro Moro in Argentina at 488,000 ounces and Dolores in Mexico at 291,000 ounces.

The company also reaffirmed its 2025 operating outlook and expects full year silver production in the 20 million to 21 million ounce range, with all in sustaining costs in the US$16.25 to US$18.25 per ounce range.

Additionally, the company announced on May 11 that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of MAG Silver (TSX:MAG,OTC Pink:FNLPF). Under the terms of the US$2.1 billion deal, MAG shareholders will be paid out a mix of cash totaling US$500 million and 0.755 shares in Pan American per MAG share.

Once complete, Pan American will control 44 percent of the Juanicipio mine in Central Mexico. The mine is operated by Fresnillo (LSE:FRES), which holds the remaining 56 percent.

Pan American announced on August 25 that the Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission approved the deal and expects the acquisition to be completed on approximately September 4.

2. First Majestic Silver (TSX:AG)

Market cap: C$6.03 billion
Share price: C$12.36

First Majestic has three wholly owned silver-producing mines in Mexico: San Dimas in Durango, Santa Elena in Sonora and La Encantada in Coahuila. The first two also produce gold.

The company holds a 70 percent stake in the Los Gatos silver mine in Chihuahua as well. First Majestic acquired the property in January 2025 through a merger with Gatos Silver. Japan’s Dowa Holdings (TSE:5714) holds the remaining 30 percent interest.

In addition to its producing assets, First Majestic commenced bullion sales from its own minting facility in Nevada, US, named First Mint, in March 2024.

According to its Q2 2025 report, the company produced 3.7 million ounces of silver during the quarter, a 76 percent increase year-over-year, and set a record quarterly revenue of US$264.2 million.

Its recently acquired Los Gatos was its largest producer, delivering more than 1.52 million ounces of attributable silver. San Dimas took second place at 1.24 million ounces, while La Encantada and Santa Elena produced 628,105 ounces and 306,224 ounces respectively.

3. MAG Silver (TSX:MAG)

Market cap: C$3.39 billion
Share price: C$32.71

MAG Silver is a silver production company that has a 44 percent stake in the Juanicipio mine in Zacatecas, Mexico. Fresnillo owns the remaining 56 percent of the operation.

In addition to Juanicipio, the company also has two exploration projects, Deer Trail and Larder. Deer Trail is a silver, gold, lead, zinc and copper property in Utah, US, that hosts a historic mine, and Larder is a gold project located in Ontario, Canada.

In the company’s Q2 2025 financial results on May 8, MAG Silver reported mining operations at Juanicipio had produced 4.3 million ounces of silver during the second quarter of the year. Additionally, ongoing optimizations at the site’s processing plant boosted silver recovery to 94.6 percent in Q2, up from 92.4 percent during the same period last year.

On May 11, MAG announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Pan American Silver in a US$2.1 billion deal. According to an announcement from Pan American, it is expected to close in September 2025.

4. Endeavour Silver (TSX:EDR)

Market cap: C$2.3 billion
Share price: C$7.99

Endeavour Silver is a silver company with two operating silver-gold mines in Mexico — Guanaceví and Bolañitos — plus the commissioning-stage Terronera project and several exploration properties.

On May 1, the company announced that it had completed the acquisition of Compañia Minera Kolpa and the Huachocolpa Uno mine in Peru. The terms of the deal will see Endeavour pay total considerations of US$145 million in a combination of cash and Endeavour shares to Kopla shareholders.

Endeavour has also agreed to pay an additional US$10 million in cash in contingent payments if certain events are met, and will add US$20 million in net debt, which will remain outstanding and repayable by Minera Kolpa.

In the company’s Q2 earnings report, Endeavour reported silver production of 1.48 million ounces, 13 percent higher than during the second quarter of 2024. The company attributed the increased production to the acquisition of Kolpa.

The company also provided an update on development at Terronera, which is nearing commercial production. As of the end of July, milling rates had increased to 1,900 and 2,000 metric tons per day, with average silver recoveries of 71 percent.

5. Vizsla Silver (TSX:VZLA)

Market cap: C$1.66 billion
Share price: C$4.83

Vizsla Silver is advancing its Panuco silver-gold project in Sinaloa, Mexico, toward production with the development of the Copala test mine.

Viszla released an updated preliminary economic assessment for the Panuco project on February 20, suggesting a post tax net present value of US$1.14 billion with an internal rate of return of 85.7 percent and a pay back period of less than 1 year.

Measured and indicated silver resources at the site totaled 127.82 million ounces of contained silver from 12.96 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 307 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver. Its inferred resource totals 73.62 million ounces of silver from 10.47 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 219 g/t.

On June 18, Vizsla reported that it had advanced 125 meters at its Copala test mine and is progressing at a rate of 4 meters per day. Once the development reaches the main deposit, Vizsla will take a 10,000 metric ton bulk sample. The portal will also serve as the primary access for underground mining operations once a construction decision is made.

Additionally, in May, the company entered into an agreement to acquire the producing Santa Fe silver-gold mine and property located to the south of Panuco.

The property hosts operating mining infrastructure, including a processing plant and an underground mine built in 2018. Between 2020 and 2024, the mine processed 370,366 metric tons of ore, with an average head grade of 203 g/t silver and 2.17 g/t gold.

Under the terms of the agreement, Vizsla will have the option to acquire a 100 percent interest in the Santa Fe producing concessions for US$4 million in exploration expenditures, along with cash considerations of US$1.5 million and 1.37 million Vizsla shares over five years. It also entered a purchase agreement to buy the Santa Fe exploration concessions for a further US$1.43 million and 2.75 million common shares.

FAQs for silver investing

Is silver a good investment?

Silver comes with many of the same advantages as its sister metal gold. Both are considered safe-haven assets, as they can offer a hedge against market downturns, a weakening US dollar and inflation.

Additionally, many investors like being able to physically own an asset, and with its lower price point, buying silver coins and bars is an accessible option for building a precious metals portfolio. Of course, physical silver isn’t the only way to invest in the metal — there are also silver stocks and various silver exchange-traded funds.

It’s up to investors to do their due diligence and decide whether silver is the right match for their portfolio.

Does silver go up when the stock market goes down?

Historically, silver has shown some correlation with stock market moves, although it’s not consistent. When the stock market has seen its worst crashes, silver has moved down, but by a less significant amount than the stock market has, showing that it can act as a safety net to lessen losses in tough circumstances.

However, silver is also known for its volatility. What’s more, because it has industrial applications as well as a currency side, silver is less tied to the stock market than gold is.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold an investment in Vizsla Silver.

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Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ,OTC:QQCMF) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Questcorp’) is pleased to announce it has received a permit exemption under the British Columbia Mines Act to undertake a 10 to 15 line km induced polarization (IP) survey at the Company’s 1,168 hectare North Island Copper project near Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Surface sampling and a preliminary 12.3-line km Induced Polarization (IP) survey in the 1990’s identified an interesting chargeability anomaly at the historic Marisa Zone that was followed up by a five hole, 376.43 diamond drilling program. Two of the five holes hit interesting copper values including down hole intervals of 0.078% copper over 56.39 metres in DDH92-01 and 0.041% copper over 70.71 metres in DDH92-03 in an altered quartz diorite. Copper grades were increasing with depth in DDH92-03. The Company plans to follow up these historic results.

‘NorthIsle Copper and Gold Inc. continues to produce excellent exploration results 15km to the west in the same belt of rocks that also hosts the past producing Island Copper Mine 7.5km to the southeast attesting to the tremendous exploration potential of the area’, commented Questcorp, President & CEO, Saf Dhillon. ‘The Marisa Zone displays a strong historic IP signature and anomaly carrying encouraging copper numbers from very limited drilling, begging for a second pass with modern geophysical equipment and processing,’ he concluded.

Questcorp has received quotes from three different geophysical contracting firms to update the 35 year old IP survey utilizing modern equipment and data processing. The Company is reviewing the quotes and plans to select the contractor shortly.

Questcorp cautions investors a Qualified Person has not verified the historical exploration data and further cautions, the presence of copper mineralization on the NorthIsle Copper and Gold and the BHP properties is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the North Island Copper property.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry’, P.Geo (BC) a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Questcorp Mining Inc.

Questcorp Mining is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metals properties of merit. The company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island copper property, on Vancouver Island, B.C., subject to a royalty obligation. The company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Saf Dhillon
President & CEO

Questcorp Mining Inc.
saf@questcorpmining.ca
Tel. (604-484-3031)

Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C 2V6.

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding completion of survey work at the North Island Copper project. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264915

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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A new push by states to tax the real estate of the wealthy has sparked a backlash among brokers and potential buyers, who say the taxes punish the most important local spenders.

From tax hikes on pricey second homes in Rhode Island and Montana to Cape Cod’s proposed transfer tax on homes over $2 million and the L.A. mansion tax, state and local governments see a revenue gold mine in the pricey properties of the wealthy.

“It’s a smack in the face to people who just spend money here,” said Donna Krueger-Simmons, sales agent with Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.

The tax hikes are being driven by tighter state budgets and populist anger over housing costs. States are looking to offset budget cuts expected from the new tax and spending bill in Washington. At the same time, the housing market has become a tale of two buyers, with the middle class and younger families struggling to afford homes while the luxury housing market thrives from wealthy all-cash buyers.

The solution for many states: tax the homes of the rich.

Rhode Island’s new levy, nicknamed “The Taylor Swift Tax,” is among the most extreme. The popstar bought a beach house in the state’s elite Watch Hill community in 2013.

The measure imposes a new surcharge on second homes valued at more than $1 million. For non-primary residences, or those not occupied for more than 182 days a year, the state will charge $2.50 for every $500 in assessed value above the first $1 million. That charge is on top of existing property taxes and will add up to big increases for luxury homes in Newport, Watch Hill and other well-heeled, summer communities in the state.

A version of this article appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.

Swift’s house, for instance, is assessed at around $28 million, according to local real estate records. Her current property taxes are estimated at around $201,000 a year. The new charges will add another $136,442 to her annual taxes, bringing her yearly total to $337,442 — even though locals say she rarely visits.

Real estate brokers say the increase targets the very taxpayers who already contribute the most. Wealthy second-homeowners pay hefty property taxes but don’t use many local services, since their primary residences are in New York; Boston; Palm Beach, Florida; or other locales. Their kids typically don’t attend the local schools, and they’re infrequent users of the police, fire, water and other municipal services since most stay for only 10 to 12 weeks out of the year.

“These are people who just come here for the summer, spend their money and pay their fair share of taxes,” said Krueger-Simmons. “They’re getting penalized just because they also live somewhere else.”

Brokers and longtime residents say the summer residents of Newport, Watch Hill and other seasonal beach towns are the economic engines for local businesses, restaurants and hotels.

“You’re just hurting the people who support small business,” said Lori Joyal, of the Lila Delman Compass office in Watch Hill. “You’re chasing away the people who spend most of the money in these towns.”

Rhode Island is also hiking its conveyance tax on luxury real estate starting in October. The tax on real estate sales will be an additional $3.75 for each $500 paid above $800,000 for a real estate purchase. At the same time, the state’s steep estate tax deters many of the ultra-wealthy from living there full-time.

Brokers say some second-home owners are considering selling and many would-be buyers are pausing their purchases. While the tax hike alone isn’t expected to lead to any significant wealth flight, Joyal said potential buyers in Rhode Island are already looking at coastal towns in Connecticut as alternatives.

“It’s always about choices,” she said. “At the end of the day it’s about how they can choose to spend their discretionary dollars. Connecticut has some beautiful coastal towns without some of these other high taxes.”

Montana has passed a similar tax. The influx of Californians and other affluent newcomers who poured into the state during Covid has led to soaring home prices and growing resentment over gentrification. Meanwhile, the state’s low income tax rate and lack of a sales tax has left it little room for revenue increases to handle the necessary increase in services.

In May, the state passed a two-tier property tax plan, lowering rates for full-time residents and raising taxes on second homes and short-term rentals. For primary residences and long-term rentals valued at or below the state’s median home price, the tax rate will be 0.76%. Homes worth more than that will face a tiered-rate system of up to 1.9% on any value over four times the median price.

The Montana Department of Revenue expects the changes, which will start next year, will hike second-home taxes by an average of 68%. Brokers say some buyers are waiting to see the tax bills next year before making any decisions about whether to buy or sell.

“I’ve heard about some buyers who have put on the brakes to wait for the dust to settle and see what happens,” said Valerie Johnson, with PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate in Bozeman, Montana.

Johnson said that while the tax was touted by legislators as hitting wealthy second-home owners, it will also hit longtime locals who own investment homes and rent them out for income.

“These are small businesses for many people,” she said.

Manish Bhatt, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, said tax hikes aimed at wealthy second-home owners may be popular politically, but they rarely make for successful or efficient tax policy. Real property tax reform should be broad based, rather than focused on taxpayers who are singled out just because they don’t live in a community full-time, he said.

“There is a grab to find revenue right now,” he said. “But taxing second-home owners could have the opposite impact — dissuading people from owning a second home or continue to own in those communities.”

While the new taxes alone might not drive out the wealthy, “we do know that taxes are important to businesses and individuals and could cause people to make a decision to buy in another nearby state,” Bhatt said.

The projected revenue from the new taxes may also disappoint. When Los Angeles passed its so-called “mansion tax” in 2022, proponents touted revenue projections of between $600 million to $1.1 billion a year. The tax, imposed on real estate sales over $5 million, has only raised $785 million after more than two years, according to the Los Angeles Housing Department.

Higher interest rates that hurt the housing market have played a role, experts say. Yet Michael Manville, professor of urban planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, said wealthy buyers and sellers also reduced transactions in response to the tax.

“The lower revenue is a reason to be concerned because it suggests that the tax might actually be reducing transactions, which in turn can reduce housing production and property tax revenue,” he said.

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