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MLB star makes wrong kind of history with 0-for-19, 15-strikeout start

Yet for as much as players and fans and managers are conditioned not to assign undue import to the start of a season, there’s never been a five-game start as astounding – statistically, and circumstantially – as Rafael Devers’ grim 2025 beginning.

Monday afternoon, as the Baltimore Orioles rolled out their orange carpet and heralded their home opener, Devers and the new-look Boston Red Sox aimed to find the individual and collective rhythms that eluded them in losing three of their first four games at Texas.

Instead, nine innings later, the Red Sox were left with another defeat and Devers fell deeper into a hole of historic futility.

He struck out three more times on Monday, leaving him 0-for-19 on this young season, with 15 strikeouts. No batter in major league history has struck out as much in the first five games of their season than Devers, who surpassed the Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ (14 strikeouts in his first five games of 2018) for most punchouts to start a season.

But at least Happ had a base hit to his name. Devers has outdone both him and former Houston Astros slugger Evan Gattis, who in 2017 set the previous high for strikeouts – 12 – in a five-game hitless stretch to start a season.

Devers’ downslide follows switch to DH, Bregman signing

Happ and Gattis certainly didn’t have a cloud of spring training controversy pass over their heads like Devers, who famously was shifted to designated hitter after the Red Sox’s February signing of Alex Bregman to take over third base.

It was a move that challenged Devers’ pride, since the Red Sox did not sign him to a $313.5 million contract extension to swing the bat four or five times a game. But Devers got on board by the end of spring training and assumed his customary No. 2 spot in Boston’s deeper, daunting lineup.

And then proceeded to swing and miss. A ton.

He punched out 12 times in four games against the Texas Rangers, part of an 0-for-16 start during which the Red Sox lost three of those games. Monday, in a ballpark he’s practically owned (13 homers, an .868 OPS in 55 career games), perhaps things might have been different.

Instead, Baltimore’s No. 5 starter, Cade Povich, walked him in the first inning and came back to strike him out in the second. And then caught him looking at a sinker on the outside corner in the fifth, before lefty reliever Keegan Akin got him to flail at a changeup in the seventh.

Devers did draw walks in the first and ninth, the latter plate appearance giving some hope to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, simply because Devers had an encouraging-looking foul ball, down the left field line, against Orioles closer Felix Bautista.

Yeah, it’s to the point they’re trying to find some daylight in a hopefully predictive foul ball.

The rhythm of baseball’s early-season schedule will allow Devers to think about his 0-for-19 a little more, with an off day Tuesday. Or not think. Or relax. Or get mad.

Something.

“I never change the way I hit. I’m still aggressive,” says Devers through a translator after the Orioles held on for an 8-5 victory, dropping Boston to 1-4. “Maybe I’m thinking too much on the plan, on what the pitcher might throw. Otherwise, I feel very good.”

Grinding for answers in the cage also isn’t Devers’ MO.

“I’m trying to not hit that much. I try to focus on the game,” he says. “I feel like when I hit too much, I tend to think even more, so I’d rather simplify things, pay attention to the game and do my hitting during the game.”

And, preferably, get some hits.

Red Sox manager downplays Devers’ slump

It’s certainly out of character: Devers is a career .278 hitter with a .344 OBP, and has hit between 27 and 38 homers the past five full seasons, inspiring the Red Sox to lock him into that extension.

He was slowed during spring training by pain in both his shoulders and unwittingly stole some headlines with the position flap. Cora and Devers insist neither are factors now.

“It’s not the shoulder. It’s not the DH thing,” says Cora. “He was very vocal about it a few days ago. The shoulder is fine. Now, it’s a matter of keep working hard and getting to the point of hitting the ball out in front. It’s a little behind.

“As you know, Raffy’s superpower is left center. He’s never been a pull hitter, except in certain venues. When he drives the ball to left center, that’s when you know he’s locked in.

“He’s going to keep playing. He’s going to hit second for us. He will hit, there’s no doubt about it. It’s just a matter of when.”

Of course, that’s what they said before leaving Texas. Typically, Devers is the most feared dude in the lineup when his name’s in there. Monday, there was a grim sense of inevitability to Devers’ plate appearances, as Orioles pitchers sped him up and slowed him down.

Devers the third baseman never opened a season like this. Devers the DH is still emerging, not that he feels extreme adjustments are in order.

“I feel comfortable with the routine I’m doing right now,” he says. “This is not a position I’ve done in the past so I need to get used to it. I feel good, I feel the team is playing good baseball.

“It’s just things aren’t going our way. I think those things are going to change, for sure.”

With just a few days scratched off the season calendar, Cora isn’t about to consider drastic measures, such as a lineup switch, a day off or a come-to-Alex session. Yet he’s open to anything that might get his slugger off the schneid.

“It’s like kids, right?” he says. “Sometimes you leave them alone so they can think about it, other times you call them into the office. Sometimes we eat, have a drink or something like that.

“There were some positives today.”

Yet still a .000 on the scoreboard.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

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Report: Notre Dame star enters transfer portal, will forgo 2025 WNBA draft

The 2025 WNBA draft has just received a huge shakeup. 

Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles was projected to be the No. 2 overall pick in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft, following UConn’s Paige Bueckers, the consensus No. 1 overall pick, but Miles is reportedly holding off on turning pro. Miles will forgo the 2025 WNBA draft and instead enter the NCAA’s transfer portal using her final season of eligibility, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Monday.

Miles, 22, teamed up with Hannah Hidalgo to form one of the best backcourt duo in the country at Notre Dame this season, nearly two years removed from a season-ending knee injury. Miles averaged a career-high 15.4 points, an ACC-leading 5.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 34 games this season. However, the All-ACC First Team guard struggled to get much going on offense or defense in the 2025 women’s NCAA Tournament, which marked her first since 2022.

Miles averaged just 6.6 points in three March Madness games this season and was regularly sidelined during defensive crunch time. She scored two points in No. 3 seeded Notre Dame’s first-round win over No. 14 seed Stephen F. Austin, but suffered a sprained ankle in the process. Miles played through the injury and had eight points in the Fighting Irish’s second-round win over No. 6 seed Michigan and 10 points in Notre Dame’s loss to No. 2 seed TCU in the Sweet 16. 

‘At the end of the day, my goal coming to Notre Dame was to leave Notre Dame better than I found it and I think I did a pretty good job of that,’ Miles said Saturday after her season ended. ‘I love all my teammates in that locker room. We’ve stayed together. We’ve grown so much through this entire season. We are very proud of the work we’ve done, and ultimately we have had fun. That’s really what this is all about. You sign up as a kid because it’s fun to throw a ball in a hoop and look where it’s gotten us to at this point?’

Olivia Miles stats at Notre Dame

Miles enrolled early at Notre Dame and joined the team in January 2021 for the 2020-21 season, where she averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in six games. In the 2021-22 season, Miles increased her average to 13.7 points per game, and she recorded an ACC-leading 7.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. She became the first freshman in NCAA tournament history, women’s or men’s, to record a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Notre Dame’s 89–78 first-round victory over UMass.

Miles averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebound and an ACC-leading 6.9 assists her sophomore year in the 2022-23 season. She surpassed Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jackie Young for the most triple-doubles in Notre Dame history with the third of her career on Dec. 10, 2022 vs. Merrimack. Miles’ season ended prematurely, however, after she suffered a season-ending knee injury during the team’s regular-season finale.

She missed the 2023 NCAA Tournament and the entire 2023-24 season as a result of her knee injury.

‘I wouldn’t wish that injury on my worst enemy,’ Miles said Friday following news of USC superstar JuJu Watkins’ ACL tear in the No. 1 seeded Trojans’ second-round win over No. 9 seeded Mississippi State. ‘My heart breaks for anyone that goes through that.’

Miles returned to the lineup this season and made a statement in her first game back with another triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) vs. Mercyhurst to open the season on Nov. 4. She became the first player in ACC history to record consecutive triple-doubles a month later against Loyola (Mayrland) and Virginia. Miles’ three triple-doubles led the nation this season and her six career triple-doubles is tied for 7th all-time in women’s college basketball.

‘They will always have a special place in my heart, because they believed in me when I took over this program and being a first-time head coach’ Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey said on Saturday, referring to Miles and Sonia Citron being part of her first recruiting class as head coach. ‘It just speaks to their loyalty, the vision that they were looking for, for the institution of their choice, being Notre Dame, and the vision I had with them being my premiere guards. I’m just grateful that they trusted in that and, again, there is a bond that I will always have with both of those two.’

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Red Sox agree to $170 million extension with new ace

Days after making his first start for Boston, pitcher Garrett Crochet and the Red Sox agreed on a six-year, $170 million contract extension, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation.

The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t yet been announced.

Crochet’s new contract goes into effect in 2026, what would have been his final year before free agency. The 25-year-old has an opt out after the 2030 season, the fifth year on the new deal.

Coming off an All-Star campaign with the Chicago White Sox, Crochet was sent to Boston in a blockbuster trade in December. The lefty racked up 209 strikeouts in 146 innings and was the subject of trade deadline rumors as his team struggled to the worst record in MLB history. But Chicago chose to wait to move him until the winter with potential summer suitors worried about Crochet’s load management in a pennant race.

The 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Crochet made his big-league debut months later with no minor-league season due to COVID. In 2021, his first full season, Crochet made 59 relief appearances with 73 strikeouts and a 2.54 ERA. Crochet had to undergo Tommy John surgery early in 2022 and missed the whole year, returning to the mound in 2023 before joining the rotation in 2024.

Crochet was Boston’s opening-day starter, giving up two runs in five innings in the Red Sox’s eventual win over the Texas.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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UConn will crush Final Four teams. Bueckers won’t lose again

SPOKANE, Washington — No one is beating UConn.

Not USC on Monday night in the Elite Eight. Not UCLA, South Carolina or Texas in the Final Four, either. There are still three games left in the season, but you can be certain of this: When the buzzer sounds Sunday night, it’ll be Paige Bueckers and UConn cutting down the nets on the Huskies’ 12th national title, and first since 2016.

UConn is simply too good, too deep — two days after Bueckers went off for 40, she had 31 points while freshman Sarah Strong dropped a casual 22 and 17 double-double — and too determined.

‘We’ve got a whole lot of heart and a whole lot of toughness about us,’ Bueckers said after UConn’s 78-64 win over JuJu Watkins-less USC.

‘And we play together as a team. We’re super well connected,’ she added. ‘I feel like every team that I’veplayed on we’ve been super well connected, but just the way — we’ve been through so much adversity asindividuals, as a team, and how much it’s brought us together, how much it’s made us stronger.’

Buy women’s Final Four tickets

UConn is the only non-No. 1 seed to advance to the Final Four. But there is little question the No. 2 seed Huskies are playing better than anyone right now, and it’s not even close. Overall No. 1 seed UCLA had its hands full with LSU. Defending champion South Carolina had to squeak by Duke. Texas got tested by Tennessee.

UConn, meanwhile, rolls into the Final Four with a 14-game winning streak that is best in the country. It has won its four tournament games by an average of 35 points, the ‘closest’ the 14-point win over USC. And if voting for National Player of the Year was done now, it’d be Bueckers. In a landslide.

She’s scored 105 points in her last three games, the most prolific three-game span in UConn history. Given the Who’s Who of players who’ve worn the Huskies uniform, that is a staggering statistic.

‘Without that ‘It’ thing, where one player, in this case Paige and Sarah, without those two players playing to the level that they’re playing at, you wouldn’t get to the Final Four,’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. ‘If you don’t have those players, you’re not going anywhere.’

But Bueckers isn’t simply a scoring machine. She finished with six assists, four steals, three rebounds and two blocks against USC. And when USC pared what had been a 19-point lead to five at the end of the third quarter, Bueckers called game.

After Azzi Fudd opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, snapping an 0-for-9 streak, Bueckers scored on a pull-up jumper. Aubrey Griffin then stole the ball and fed Bueckers, who drained a 3. Then it was Bueckers’ turn to pick USC’s pocket, stripping a Kennedy Smith pass and hitting Fudd, who made another 3 to put UConn up 62-48.

There were still almost seven minutes left, but the game was effectively over. Bueckers finished the fourth quarter with 11 points, on 3-of-5 shooting, as well as three assists, a block and a steal.

‘I think the confidence that we have in Paige and Sarah, specifically, makes everybody on our team feel really, really, really assured that I just have to do my part and it will be good enough,’ Auriemma said.

Maybe this Elite Eight game with USC, a rematch of last year, would have been different if Watkins hadn’t suffered a season-ending knee injury in a second-round game a week earlier. Watkins is, like Bueckers, a generational talent, and she had USC’s last three points, as well as the assist on the Trojans’ final field goal, when they outlasted UConn in December.

‘I think at some point the emotions of the last seven days will kick in more. It was only tonight a week ago that one of the best players in college basketball and someone just so meaningful to everything weare went down,’ USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said, fighting tears. ‘And I’m just so proud of the way thateveryone rallied.’

Even with Watkins, though, it would have been an uphill climb to beat this UConn team.

This is UConn’s 24th Final Four, and the fourth in as many years for Bueckers. (She missed her junior season with a torn ACL. Not coincidentally, UConn didn’t make the Final Four that year, the Huskies’ first absence since 2007.)

But UConn has not won a national title since 2016. It is the only accolade missing in Bueckers’ illustrious career, having lost in the title game in 2022 and in the Final Four in 2021 and 2024, and her determination to fill that hole practically oozes off her.

‘I really believe that, as Paige said, having gone through all those things, and our team having to overcome all those issues — How do we get there with only five or six players? How do we get there when everybody’s got to play 40 minutes? How do we get there in spite of everything? — it has toughened us up a little bit and it has made us a little stronger individually and collectively. Believe in each other a little bit more, maybe,’ Auriemma said.

There have been many times in the UConn dynasty when the NCAA title felt inevitable, when the Huskies were simply better than everyone else. That no matter who the opponents were, they were bound to be satellites to UConn’s star. The Huskies simply would not be denied.

This feels very much like one of those times.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

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18 Mins Read

What’s the Next US Copper Mine? 26 Copper Projects to Watch

Companies with upcoming copper mines in the US could be poised to benefit from tailwinds in the sector, including the new administration promising to cut ‘red tape’ for critical minerals projects.

Copper demand is climbing quickly in recent years because of the rapid urbanization of the global south as well as the developing energy transition sectors. However, current copper mines are increasing in age and there is a lack of new copper mines to replace them, both due to limited greenfield exploration and long permitting times.

This has put the world’s copper supply in a difficult situation, and experts expect to see supply deficits begin to emerge in 2025.

Resource nationalism is also increasing in recent times, with countries heavily focused on building their own critical minerals supply chains. This caused the Biden administration to list copper as a critical mineral in late 2024, which would allow projects accelerated permits, investment incentives and national security enhancements.

Additionally, after new US President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, Trump issued an executive order that would slash red tape to increase domestic critical mineral production, including copper. The move has caused significant environmental concerns, but it could support US copper companies that have previously struggled to receive permits.

In this article we dive into more than 25 US copper projects in the construction, restarting or permitting phase, based on data from mine database Mining Data Online (MDO). MDO’s database focuses on publicly traded mining companies, so there may be US copper mines being developed by private companies that are not in this list. This article is based on data provided by MDO as of March 2025.

In this article

    Next US copper mine: Copper mines under construction

    Black Butte project

    Ownership: 87% – Sandfire Resources (TSXV:SFR) –
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: SEDEX, Stratabound

    Once it enters production, the Black Butte copper project in Montana is expected to produce 120,000 metric tons (MT) of copper concentrate annually. The site’s Johnny Lee deposit hosts proven and probable reserves of 8.8 million MT, containing 226,100 MT of copper at a grade of 2.6 percent.

    Sandfire had previously begun Phase I construction to mine the Johnny Lee deposit, but a Montana district court ruling overturned the prior Record of Decision in 2022 halted it. However, the Montana Supreme Court ruled in Sandfire’s favor in Q1 2024. With its mining permit reinstated, the company is now assessing Black Butte’s economics as it moves toward a final investment decision.

    Florence project

    Ownership: Taseko Mines (TSX:TKO,NYSE:TGB)
    Mine type: In-Situ
    Deposit type: Porphyry

    Located in Central Arizona, the Florence project is expected to produce 85 million pounds of copper annually. According to MDO, Florence will be one of the world’s most efficient copper producers, and copper produced on site will meet the London Metal Exchange grade A standard.

    Overall, the site’s proven and probable mineral reserves are 2.32 billion pounds of contained copper from 320 million MT of ore with an average grade of 0.36 percent copper. Construction at the site reached the 56 percent mark in December of 2024 and is on track for its first production by the end of 2025.

    Idaho Cobalt Operation

    Ownership: Jervois Global (ASX:JRV,OTC Pink:JRVMQ)
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Vein / narrow vein, sediment-hosted

    The Idaho Cobalt Operation (ICO) is located in Northern Idaho near the border with Montana. Even though the project is focused on cobalt production, over the seven-year life of the mine, it is planned to produce more than 15,000 MT of copper.

    While the ICO is still listed as under construction, Jervois Global halted development of the mine in March 2023 due to falling cobalt prices. As of Q4 2024, construction activities remain suspended and the company is focused on maintenance and environmental compliance.

    Next US copper mine: Mines being restarted

    Gunnison mine

    Ownership: Gunnison Copper (TSX:GCU,OTCQB:GCUMF)
    Mine type: In-Situ Recovery, Open Pit
    Deposit type: Skarn

    Gunnison Copper, previously named Excelsior Mining, is currently developing its Gunnison mine in Arizona as an open pit mining operation. Gunnison was originally scheduled to begin operating in 2020 as an in-situ recovery project, but startup was delayed due to low flow rates. Gunnison Copper has been evaluating different alternatives to overcome the challenges and obtained permits to begin well simulation using small-scale, shallow-level hydraulic fracking.

    However, the company determined that an open-pit operation has ‘substantially improved viability’ compared to the ISR operation at this time, and is now advancing the permitting process for the open pit. Gunnison intends to maintain the option of its fully permitted ISR operation and well stimulation.

    Once the open-pit mine is in operation, Gunnison estimates an average annual production of 167 million pounds of copper cathode. The probable mineral reserve for the in-situ operation as of 2016 is 4.5 billion pounds of copper from 782.2 million MT of ore with an average grade of 0.29 percent. The open pit’s 2024 mineral resource estimate showed a measured and indicated resource of 5.1 billion pounds of copper from 831.6 million MT of ore with an average copper grade of 0.31 percent.

    Sunshine mine

    Ownership: Sunshine Silver Mining and Refining
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Vein / narrow vein, mesothermal

    The Sunshine mine has seen production dating back to 1904, with the most recent being in 2008. The site sits within one of the most prolific mining areas of the Coeur d’Alene district in Idaho, United States. Since acquiring the project in 2010, Sunshine Silver Mining and Refining has spent more than US$100 million on-site upgrades and developments with the intent of restarting production before the end of the decade.

    According to MDO, the Sunshine property hosts “one of the highest-grade, large primary silver deposits in the world.” Once restarted, it will also produce copper and several other metals as byproducts, with planned average annual copper production of 1.12 million pounds.

    Next US copper mine: Copper mines in the permitting stage

    Antler project

    Ownership: New World Resources (ASX:NWC,OTC Pink:NWCBF)
    State: Arizona
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS)
    Commodities: Copper, zinc, lead, silver, gold

    As of February 2025, New World Resource’s Antler project is on track to begin construction activities in H2 2025 and complete the permitting process by early 2026. Federally, the only permit remaining is the Mine Plan of Operations, which the Bureau of Land Management stated will be evaluated under an Environmental Assessment. If things proceed as planned, the company will begin shipping concentrate by 2027.

    The site hosts numerous targets and a probable copper reserve of 180,000 MT from 11 million MT of ore with an average grade of 1.6 percent copper. The company anticipates a mine life of 12.2 years with an average annual copper production of 36 million pounds and copper equivalent production of 30,100 MT.

    Arctic project

    Ownership:
     50% – Trilogy Metals (NYSE:TMQ)
    50% – South32 (ASX:S32,OTC Pink:SHTLF)
    State: Alaska
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: VMS
    Commodities: Copper, zinc, lead, silver, gold

    The Arctic project is currently in the feasibility stage. Due to its location, the only significant federal permit required is the 404 wetlands permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers. The remaining permits are issued at the state level.

    The site’s indicated copper resource is 2.35 billion pounds from 35.7 million MT of ore with an average grade of 2.98 percent copper. An additional 189 million pounds are inferred from 4.5 million MT of ore with an average grade of 1.92 percent. Once complete, the mine is expected to produce 234,000 MT of copper annually.

    Back Forty project

    Ownership: Gold Resource (NYSEAMERICAN:GORO)
    State: Michigan
    Mine type: Open pit and underground
    Deposit type: VMS, breccia pipe/stockwork
    Commodities: Gold, silver, copper, zinc

    Back Forty is planned as two open pits, an underground mine and a processing plant. Once fully permitted, Gold Resource plans for a 21 month construction period before mining commences at its Pinwheel open pit. In 2021, a judge denied a wetlands permit for Back Forty due to its impact on the surrounding area. MDO reports that Gold Resource’s revised mine plan avoids impact on the region’s wetlands, which should support the mine permitting process.

    Back Forty will have the capacity to produce 6.8 million pounds of copper concentrate annually. The project hosts an open pit indicated copper resource of 74 million pounds from 9.36 million MT of ore with an average grade of 0.36 percent copper, and an underground indicated copper resource of 47 million pounds from 5.1 million MT with an average grade of 0.41 percent.

    Cactus Mine project

    Ownership: Arizona Sonoran Copper (TSX:ASCU,OTCQX:ASCUF)
    State: Arizona
    Mine type: Open pit and underground
    Deposit type: Porphyry
    Commodities: Copper

    Cactus is a brownfield development project in Central Arizona with a 5.5 kilometer mine trend. The site hosts the past-producing Sacaton mine, a mining stockpile and three primary deposits: Cactus East, Cactus West and Parks/Salyer. Arizona Sonoran Copper is working to complete a pre-feasibility study for the second half of 2025.

    A Q3 2024 preliminary economic assessment( PEA) outlined a 31 year mine life with on-site production of 86,000 short tons of LME Grade A copper cathode per year. In total, the site has a measured and indicated resource of 7.29 billion pounds from 632.7 million MT of ore at an average grade of 0.576 percent copper.

    CK Gold project

    Ownership: US Gold (NASDAQ:USAU)
    State: Wyoming
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Porphyry, breccia pipe/stockwork
    Commodities: Copper, gold, silver

    In 2024, the CK Gold project achieved several permitting milestones. In April, US Gold received its mine operating permit, and in November, its subsidiary, Gold King, received its final permit approval from the air quality division of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. These permits were the final hurdles needed before the company began developing the project.

    The company plans to produce a copper concentrate that contains gold, copper and silver. CK has a significant copper resource with proven and probable reserves totaling 248 million pounds from 70.4 million MT at an average grade of 0.18 percent copper. US Gold is working towards a feasibility study, and aims to begin construction in late-2025 or 2026 with first concentrate production in 2027 or 2028.

    Copper Flat project

    Ownership: THEMAC Resources (TSXV:MAC,OTC Pink:MACQF)
    State: New Mexico
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Porphyry, breccia pipe/stockwork, hydrothermal
    Commodities: Copper, molybdenum, gold, silver

    Copper Flat is a brownfield project built on a site that has seen mining dating back to the 1890s, with various companies working to bring the site back online since the 1980s. To date, THEMAC has completed its definitive feasibility and environmental studies and has received several key Federal and State permits. The state mining permit is in the advanced stage.

    The site hosts a proven and probable copper reserve of 579.21 million pounds from 113.08 million MT of ore at an average grade of 0.3 percent copper.

    Copperwood project

    Ownership: Highland Copper (TSXV:HI,OTCQB:HDRSF)
    State: Michigan
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Sediment-hosted
    Commodities: Copper, silver

    Copperwood is a fully permitted project and is in active development. Highland spent much of 2024 working to fulfill its obligations to prepare the site as required under the terms of the wetlands and streams permit. Its next development steps are metallurgic testing using ultra-fine flotation technology and community engagement as it moves towards a construction decision.

    Copperwood hosts proven and probable reserves of 25.7 million MT of ore at an average grade of 1.45 percent copper for 820 million pounds of contained copper. Highland expects to produce 65 million pounds of saleable copper per year for a total of 675 million pounds over the mine’s 10.3 year life.

    Copper World Complex

    Ownership: Hudbay Minerals (TSX:HBM,NYSE:HBM)
    State: Arizona
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Porphyry, skarn
    Commodities: Copper, molybdenum, silver, gold

    Copper World is one of the largest copper projects in development in the United States, according to Hudbay. The company is currently in the permitting stage for Phase 1 at Copper World, which will consist of four open pits with an expected mine life of 20 years. The second phase will expand the operation and extend the life of the mine further.

    The site has received all necessary state permits to begin construction and operation after it received its air quality permit in January 2025. Hudbay is expecting annual average copper production of 92,000 MT during the first 10 years and 85,000 MT over the 20 year mine life. In year five, it plans to begin copper cathode production to supply the US market.

    CuMo project

    Ownership: Idaho Copper (OTC Pink:COPR)
    State: Idaho
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Porphyry, vein/narrow vein, breccia pipe/stockwork
    Commodities: Molybdenum, copper, silver, tungsten, rhenium, sulfuric acid

    While Idaho Copper’s focus with CuMo is developing one of the world’s largest molybdenum mines, the company also plans to produce an average of 84 million pounds of copper metal in concentrate per year. CuMo hosts a significant measured and indicated copper resource of 3.81 million pounds.

    Idaho Copper is working towards releasing an updated PEA during the first half of 2025. Additionally, the company expects to begin environmental work for its environmental impact statement sometime this year.

    Empire project

    Ownership:
    80% – Phoenix Copper (LSE:PXC,OTCQB:PXCLF)
    20% – ExGen Resources (TSXV:EXG,OTC Pink:BXXRF)
    State: Idaho
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Skarn, vein/narrow vein, breccia pipe/stockwork
    Commodities: Copper, gold, silver

    Empire is a brownfield project planned as an open-pit mine atop historic underground workings. Phoenix Copper is developing its mine plan for the Idaho Department of Lands and for federal review by the National Environmental Policy Act. The company is aiming to complete the permitting project in 2025 and begin production in 2026 using on-site, pre-owned milling equipment it purchased in 2024.

    Empire’s proven and probable copper reserves are 109.45 million pounds from 10.1 million MT of ore with an average grade of 0.49 percent copper. The mill will produce a copper-gold-silver concentrate and cement copper stream, combining for 89.1 million pounds of payable copper over the nine-year life of mine.

    Mason project

    Ownership: Hudbay Minerals
    State: Nevada
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Porphyry, vein/narrow vein
    Commodities: Copper, molybdenum, gold, silver

    Planned for a mine life of 27 years, Mason is a significant greenfield copper deposit and one of the largest undeveloped porphyry copper deposits in North America, according to MDO. Hudbay considers Mason a ‘long-term future development asset’ and is working on enhancing project economics through metallurgical studies.

    Based on its 2021 PEA, Hudbay expects the mine to produce an average of 112,000 MT of copper concentrate per year and deliver more than 10 million MT over its lifetime.

    NorthMet project

    Ownership:
    50% – Teck (TSX:TECK.A,TECK.B,NYSE:TECK)
    50% – Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF)
    State: Minnesota
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Magmatic
    Commodities: Copper, nickel, palladium, gold, platinum, cobalt, silver

    The Teck and Glencore NewRange joint venture consists of two deposits: NorthMet and Mesaba. Permitting for NewRange is stalled in part due to concerns with the mine’s tailings plan. In 2025, the companies plan to advance engineering studies at NorthMet and secure updated development permits.

    The Trump administration’s executive order to speed approvals of critical minerals projects could potentially help the project clear regulatory hurdles. If it is fully permitted, NorthMet is expected to deliver an average of 60 million pounds of copper concentrate per year over a 20 year mine life.

    Palmer project

    Ownership: American Pacific Mining (CSE:USGD,OTCQX:USGDF)
    State: Alaska
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: VMS
    Commodities: Copper, zinc, silver, gold, barite, lead

    American Pacific Mining is assessing its Palmer project through its five-year plan that ends in 2028. In 2024, work included environmental and permitting activities, a variety of studies in preparation for future feasibility plans and drilling to expand the mineral resource.

    As of 2018, the site hosts an indicated copper resource of 154 million pounds from 4.68 million MT of ore at an average copper grade of 1.49 percent, and an inferred copper resource of 124 million pounds from 9.6 million MT of ore at an average grade of 0.59 percent.

    Pebble project

    Ownership: Northern Dynasty Minerals (TSX:NDM,NYSE:NAK)
    State: Alaska
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Porphyry
    Commodities: Copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, rhenium

    According to MDO, Pebble is the world’s largest known undeveloped resource of copper as well as gold. The project has been stalled since November 2020, when the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) rejected its permit applications due to environmental concerns. Since then, Northern Dynasty has been suing to overturn the rejection.

    In February 2025, court proceedings were suspended for 90 days at the request of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the USACE. This followed the confirmation of a new EPA administrator and Trump’s executive order supporting critical mineral projects. However, it still remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will support Pebble this time around, as the previous rejection was made during his first term.

    Pebble is planned to produce an estimated average of 320 million pounds of copper concentrate annually, from a measured and indicated resource base of 52.99 billion pounds of copper.

    Pumpkin Hollow

    Ownership: Kinterra Capital
    State: Nevada
    Mine type: Open pit
    Deposit type: Skarn, breccia pipe/stockwork, iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG)
    Commodities: Copper, gold, silver

    The Pumpkin Hollow project hosts a fully permitted open pit project and a fully permitted and constructed underground mine. Production and development were suspended at the operations after its previous owner Nevada Copper filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2024. That October, Pumpkin Hollow was acquired for US$128 million by an affiliate company of private equity firm Kinterra Capital, which plans to advance the assets.

    Proven and probable copper reserves at Pumpkin Hollow’s open pit project total 3.59 billion pounds from 385.7 million MT of ore with an average grade of 0.47 percent copper. The open pit is expected to produce an annual average of 163 million pounds of payable copper. Additionally, the underground mine is projected to produce 50 million pounds of payable copper annually once it is restarted.

    Resolution project

    Ownership:
    55% – Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO)
    45% – BHP Group (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP)
    State: Arizona
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Porphyry
    Commodities: Copper, molybdenum, silver

    The Resolution project has the potential to supply 25 percent of the total US copper demand, with planned production of 40 billion pounds of copper over its 40 year mine life.

    Permitting for the project has been underway for over a decade, and the US Forest Service published and then rescinded the project’s final environmental impact statement in early 2021. The local Apache Tribe has taken legal action to stop the proposed mine as the deposit sits under a site of religious importance.

    According to BHP’s 2024 annual report, the Resolution joint venture and the US Forest Service are focused on further consultation with Native American Tribes to mitigate harm to the region. The agency has said there is currently no timeline for republication of the final environmental impact statement. After Trump took office in January, Rio Tinto’s CEO said he is optimistic the president will grant Resolution’s final permits.

    Tamarack North project

    Ownership:
    51% – Talon Metals (TSX:TLO,OTC Pink:TLOFF)
    49% – Rio Tinto
    State: Minnesota
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Porphyry
    Commodities: Nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, gold

    Tamarack is one of only three high-grade nickel sulfide deposits discovered in this century. Due to its significance, the US Department of Energy has selected it to receive a US$114.8 million grant for the construction of a battery mineral processing facility.

    Despite its nickel primary status, the project will produce 24,000 MT of copper concentrate annually as a by-product material from an indicated resource of 8.56 million MT of ore grading 0.92 percent copper. Talon currently plans to begin construction in 2026, with production beginning in late 2027.

    Twin Metals Minnesota project

    Ownership: Antofagasta (LSE:ANTO,OTC Pink:ANFGF)
    State: Minnesota
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Magmatic
    Commodities: Copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, gold, silver, cobalt, lead

    Twin Metals Minnesota’s development is currently on hold after hitting multiple roadblocks, including the rejection of its mine plan and cancelling of two federal mining leases due to concerns tailings from the mine will impact the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

    In 2022, Antofagasta’s subsidiary Twin Metals engaged in litigation against the US government over the actions, and in September 2023, the district court dismissed the company’s claims, siding with the government. Twin Metals filed an appeal in November of that year.

    If approved, the mine is expected to produce 158,000 MT of copper annually. The company said it is studying the possible impact of Trump’s executive order.

    Van Dyke project

    Ownership: Copper Fox Metals (TSXV:CUU,OTCQX:CPFXF)
    State: Arizona
    Mine type: In-situ
    Deposit type: Porphyry, breccia pipe/stockwork, vein/narrow vein
    Commodities: Copper

    The Van Dyke project covers a project area of 531.5 hectares and hosts historical mine workings, which produced 11.5 million pounds of copper between 1929 and 1945 and an additional 5 million pounds between 1988 and 1989.

    In a 2020 PEA, Copper Fox reported an after-tax net present value of US$644.7 million, an internal rate of return of 43.4 percent and a payback period of 2.1 years. The company forecasts a mine life of 17 years and annual average copper production of 85 million pounds. Copper Fox is currently advancing the project towards a pre-feasibility study.

    White Pine North project

    Ownership:
    66% – Kinterra Capital
    34% – Highland Copper
    State: Michigan
    Mine type: Underground
    Deposit type: Sediment-hosted
    Commodities: Copper, silver

    Kinterra Capital is the operator of White Pine North as of 2023, when Highland sold it 66 percent of the project. In June 2024, the company initiated an environmental baseline study for White Pine North that would be key to supporting its ongoing permitting operations. Using room-and-pillar mining, the partners plan to use begin production at the first panel in 2027 and expect a four-year ramp-up to full plant throughput.

    The project hosts a measured and indicated copper resource of 3.5 billion pounds from 133.4 MT of ore with an average grade of 1.05 percent copper and an additional inferred copper resource of 2.18 billion pounds from 97.2 MT of ore with an average grade of 1.03 percent. Average annual payable copper metal production is projected at 94 million pounds.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, have an investment in Northern Dynasty.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Alvo Minerals to Acquire Pan American’s Lavra Velha Gold-Copper Project

    Brazil-focused explorer Alvo Minerals (ASX:ALV,OTC Pink:ALVMF) has signed a non-binding letter of intent with Pan American Silver (TSX:PAAS,NYSE:PAAS) to acquire the Lavra Velha gold-copper project.

    According to Alvo, the project and surrounding exploration ground were considered by Pan American to be ‘non-core’ after the company completed its acquisition of Yamana Gold in 2022.

    Mineralization was discovered at Lavra Velha in 2010, and the site was explored from 2010 to 2013, and then from 2018 to 2022. The project covers 55,000 hectares in Brazil’s Bahia state.

    Lavra Velha has a NI 43-101 resource estimate of 9.2 million tonnes at 1.76 grams per tonne (g/t) gold for 520,000 ounces. That includes an indicated resource of 4.5 million tonnes at 1.96 g/t gold for 282,000 ounces, as well as an inferred resource of 4.7 million tonnes at 1.56 g/t gold for 238,000 ounces.

    “We are very excited about the proposed acquisition of the Lavra Velha Gold-Copper Project,’ Alvo Managing Director Rob Smakman said in a Monday (March 31) announcement, adding that the property is complementary to the company’s Palma copper-zinc project. He also commented positively on current gold and copper market dynamics.

    The company plans to update Lavra Velha’s NI 43-101 resource to meet JORC standards. Among other adjustments, it will use the current gold price instead of the previous US$1,650 per ounce price.

    As part of the acquisition plan, Alvo will be opening an entitlement offer to raise up to AU$3.5 million among its shareholders, with each share priced at AU$0.06. Once raised, the amount is proposed to cover the US$1 million upfront cash payment portion of the transaction, along with initial exploration of Lavra Velha.

    The entitlement offer is set to open to eligible Alvo shareholders on Friday (April 4).

    Completion of the transaction with Pan American is subject to Alvo’s satisfaction of due diligence and the execution of an asset purchase agreement. The due diligence completion has a 45 day exclusivity period.

    Shares of Alvo rose as high as AU$0.066 following the announcement, up 10 percent from the firm’s previous AU$0.06 close. Pan American finished at US$25.55, a 1.47 percent dip from its US$25.94 close last week.

    According to Global Business Reports’ Brazil Mining 2024 report, mining in Brazil continues to be fueled by iron ore, but is slowly seeing diversification through a growing number of gold, rare earths and lithium projects.

    Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Quimbaya Gold Announces Annual General Meeting Results and Board Changes

    Quimbaya Gold Inc. (CSE: QIM) (OTCQB: QIMGF) (FSE: K05) (‘Quimbaya Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that shareholders voted to approve all items of business put forth to shareholders at the Company’s Annual General and Special Meeting (‘AGSM’) held on March 28, 2025, including the election of directors, fixing the number of directors, appointment of the Company’s auditor, approval of the equity incentive plan, and the continuation of the Company under the British Columbia Business Corporations Act.

    The board of directors and the Company would like to thank Mr. Bayona, who did not run for re-election, for his service to the Company and would like to wish him well in his future endeavors.

    Additionally, at the AGSM, Sebastian Wahl was elected as new independent director of the Company. Sebastian Wahl brings over 15 years of experience in the mining industry, specializing in precious metals trading and corporate development. As a co-founder and former Vice President of Corporate Development at Silver X Mining Corp., he played a pivotal role in consolidating assets and advancing projects in South America. Mr. Wahl holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business Administration in Zurich and a Financial Modelling certification from the Corporate Finance Institute. Fluent in Spanish, he possesses extensive expertise in South American mining operations and capital markets.

    Mr. Alexandre P. Boivin, President & CEO stated, ‘We are excited to bring Sebastian on as an independent board member. His strong experience in South America and European connections will complement the Company as we strive to become an established player in the Colombian mining exploration space.’

    About Quimbaya

    Quimbaya aims to discover gold resources through exploration and acquisition of mining properties in the prolific mining districts of Colombia. Managed by an experienced team in the mining sector, Quimbaya is focused on three projects in the regions of Segovia (Tahami Project), Puerto Berrio (Berrio Project), and Abejorral (Maitamac Project), all located in Antioquia Province, Colombia.

    Contact Information

    Alexandre P. Boivin, President and CEO apboivin@quimbayagold.com
    Jason Frame, Manager of Communications jason.frame@quimbayagold.com

    Quimbaya Gold Inc.
    Follow on X @quimbayagoldinc
    Follow on LinkedIn @quimbayagold
    Follow on Instagram @quimbayagoldinc
    Follow on Facebook @quimbayagoldinc

    Cautionary Statements

    Certain statements contained in this press release constitute ‘forward-looking information’ as that term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ‘intends’, ‘expects’ or ‘anticipates’, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘should’, ‘would’ or ‘occur’. Forward-looking information by its nature is based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Quimbaya to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Although Quimbaya’s management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Quimbaya as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Except as required by law, Quimbaya does not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change.

    Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246745

    News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

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    Top 5 Canadian Mining Stocks This Week: Euro Sun Gains 54 Percent as Copper Hits New High

    The US Bureau of Economic Analysis released February personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index data on Friday (March 28). The figures show inflation increased 2.5 percent on an annualized basis in February, aligning with analyst expectations and reflecting no change from the 2.5 percent recorded in January. On a monthly basis, inflation rose by 0.3 percent, also matching January’s increase.

    However, core PCE, which excludes the volatile food and energy prices, increased 2.8 percent year-over-year and 0.4 percent month-over-month. Both came in above analyst expectations of 2.7 and 0.3 percent, respectively.

    The PCE is the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure for tracking inflation and will be significant when it meets next in May. Combined with recent consumer price index figures, the data indicates progress has stalled in bringing inflation to the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target rate.

    To the north, Statistics Canada released January gross domestic product (GDP) numbers on Friday. The report shows that GDP grew by 0.4 percent in January, up from a 0.3 percent increase in December.

    The largest gain was observed in goods-producing industries, which rose 1.1 percent, marking the highest increase since October 2021. As for Canada’s resources, the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector increased by 1.8 percent during the first month of the year. This increase was driven by a 2.6 percent rise in the oil and gas extraction subsector. However, metal ore mining declined by 1.2 percent.

    The agency also provided a brief estimate of February’s GDP numbers, as well as a look at Canada and the US’s metal manufacturing trade. Tariff threats from the United States appear to have kept numbers flat, as preliminary real GDP data is “essentially unchanged in February.” Official data for February will be released on April 30.

    Markets and commodities react

    In Canada, markets were in the red this week. The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) fell 1.2 percent during the week to close at 24,759.15 on Friday, the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) decreased 1.04 percent to 633.63 and the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) dropped 2.43 percent to 121.13.

    US equity markets fell even further this week. The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) lost 2.4 percent to close at 5,5680.95, the Nasdaq 100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) dropped 3.79 percent to 19,281.40 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) shed 1.41 percent to 41,583.91.

    The gold price climbed to fresh all time highs this week gaining 2.02 percent to US$3,084.48 per ounce at 5:00 p.m. EDT Friday. The silver price rose higher with a 3.29 percent increase during the period to US$34.10.

    In base metals, the copper price set an all time high of US$5.32 per pound on Wednesday before finishing the week flat to close out Friday at US$5.13 per pound on the COMEX. Meanwhile, the S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was up 0.41 percent to close at 560.50.

    Top Canadian mining stocks this week

    So how did mining stocks perform against this backdrop? We break down this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

    Stock data for this article was retrieved at 2:00 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Companies within the non-energy minerals and energy minerals sectors were considered.

    1. Euro Sun Mining (TSX:ESM)

    Company Profile

    Weekly gain: 53.85 percent
    Market cap: C$30.94 million
    Share price: C$0.10

    Euro Sun Mining is a copper and gold development company focused on advancing its Rovina Valley project in Romania.

    The project’s mining license received full approval for 20 years in 2018, with the option to renew it in five-year increments.

    An updated feasibility study from March 2022 demonstrated the project’s economics, showing a post-tax net present value of US$512 million and an internal rate of return of 20.5 percent, assuming a base case gold price of US$1,675 per ounce and a copper price of US$3.75 per pound.

    Proven and probable mineral reserve estimates for the site show contained quantities of 197,522 metric tons of copper with an average grade of 0.16 percent, along with 1.84 million ounces of gold with an average grade of 0.47 grams per metric ton (g/t) from 123.3 million metric tons of ore.

    Although Euro Sun did not release news this week, shares increased alongside a rising copper price.

    2. Rackla Metals (TSXV:RAK)

    Company Profile

    Weekly gain: 50 percent
    Market cap: C$22.58 million
    Share price: C$0.225

    Rackla Metals is a gold exploration company with a significant land package covering 59,000 hectares in the Eastern Yukon and Western Northwest Territories, Canada. The firm is specifically targeting properties within the Tombstone Gold Belt, which hosts a gold system that tends to produce deposits in clusters.

    Among its key projects is the Astro plutonic complex in the Northwest Territories, which is in close proximity to significant discoveries at Snowline Gold’s (TSXV:SGD,OTCQB:SNWGF) Rogue plutonic complex and Fireweed Metals’ (TSXV:FWZ,OTCQX:FWEDF) Macmillan Pass project.

    Besides Astro, Rackla has been exploring its Grad property, which it initially staked in August 2024. Work at the 4,000 hectare site has focused on anomalies identified in a government regional geochemical survey. In October 2024, the company reported that grab samples from the BiTe zone yielded grades of up to 92 g/t gold in its season-end exploration update.

    The company’s latest release came on Tuesday (March 24), when it announced a non-brokered private placement to raise total gross proceeds of C$2.45 million. The company intends to use proceeds to advance work at its Tombstone gold belt properties.

    3. Tidewater Renewables (TSX:LCFS)

    Company Profile

    Weekly gain: 49.55 percent
    Market cap: C$112.45 million
    Share price: C$3.35

    Tidewater Resources is focused on the production of low-carbon fuels from facilities in British Columbia, Canada.

    Its sole operation is a renewable diesel and hydrogen complex located near Prince George. The project has a nameplate capacity of 3,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel and 23.7 metric tons per day of hydrogen. The plant began production during Q4 2023 using feedstock that included soybean and canola oil.

    The company is expanding the site to produce sustainable aviation fuel, which it plans to start producing in 2028.

    On March 6, Tidewater announced that it had advised the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to initiate an anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duty investigation into imports of renewable diesel from the US. The release indicated that the CBSA confirmed that Tidewater had provided sufficient evidence to support the allegations.

    Tidewater expects that additional duties of between C$0.50 and C$0.80 will be applied to renewable diesel imports originating from the US, which would provide increased market stability for Tidewater products.

    The company released its financial results for 2024 on Thursday, March 27. In the announcement, the company stated that its renewable diesel and hydrogen complex achieved an average daily throughput of 2,677 barrels per day in the fourth quarter, marking a significant increase from the 1,700 barrels per day throughput in Q4 2023.

    4. Titan Mining (TSX:TI)

    Company Profile

    Weekly gain: 48.28 percent
    Market cap: C$57.27 million
    Share price: C$0.43

    Titan Mining is a critical mineral mining and development company focused on advancing and exploring its zinc and graphite assets in New York, US.

    Its Empire State Mines (ESM) zinc operations include ESM 4, which restarted production in January 2018, along with six past-producing mines capable of supplying additional feedstock for its onsite mill.

    On January 7, Titan released an updated life of mine plan for its ESM properties, which projected a 35 percent increase in production compared to its previous plan released in 2021. The new plan extends the mine’s operational life to nine years, up from seven, and anticipates the production of 636 million pounds of zinc, increased from 470 million pounds in the prior plan.

    In addition to zinc, the company also owns the Kilbourne graphite deposit located 4,000 feet from the existing mill at its Empire Mines operation.

    A December 2024 maiden mineral resource estimate demonstrated an open pit inferred resource of 653,000 short tons of contained graphite from 22.42 million short tons of ore with an average grade of 2.91 percent copper.

    Titan’s most recent news came on March 20, when it released its full-year 2024 results. In the announcement, the company stated it had achieved the upper end of production guidance with 59.5 million pounds of payable zinc. It also reported C1 cash costs of US$0.91 per payable pound sold, which was below the guidance range of US$0.98 to US$1.02.

    5. Supernova Metals (CSE:SUPR)

    Company Profile

    Weekly gain: 39.71 percent
    Market cap: C$14.1 million
    Share price: C$0.475

    Supernova Metals is an exploration company with rare earth mineral claims in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, as well as petroleum interests in Namibia.

    Its TT rare earth claims comprise two licenses spanning 825 hectares in central Labrador and are adjacent to Canada Rare Earth’s (TSXV:LL,OTC Pink:RAREF) Two Tom project. The company shared plans to begin exploration in February.

    In addition to its TT Claims, the company announced on January 31 that it had successfully completed its acquisition of NamLith Resources. The purchase provides Supernova with an 8.75 percent indirect ownership interest in Block 2712A and petroleum exploration license 107 in Namibia’s offshore Orange Basin.

    In a follow-up on February 6, Supernova reported that a NI51-101 technical report is being prepared for the block. The company has since added two senior strategic advisors with experience in the energy industry.

    The company has not released any project updates in the past week.

    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 companies are listed on the TSXV?

    As of June 2024, there were 1,630 companies listed on the TSXV, 925 of which were mining companies. Comparatively, the TSX was home to 1,806 companies, with 188 of those being mining companies.

    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.

    This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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    Amazon’s Nova AI agent launch puts it up against rivals OpenAI, Anthropic

    Amazon on Monday released a new AI model that can take actions in a web browser on a user’s behalf, a move that puts it in more direct competition with OpenAI, Anthropic and other companies that have developed the so-called “agents.”

    The new model, called Nova Act, is designed to help developers build agents, or AI software that can complete multi-step tasks for users without supervision. Amazon showed Nova Act searching for “apartments by biking distance to the train station” as one example of a task it can complete.

    A growing number of companies are building AI agents as they look beyond text and image generators.

    Anthropic, the Amazon-backed AI startup founded by ex-OpenAI research executives, released its Computer Use tool in October. The startup said the tool can interpret what’s on a computer screen, select buttons, enter text, navigate websites and execute tasks through any software and real-time internet browsing.

    In January, OpenAI released a similar feature called Operator that will automate tasks such as planning vacations, filling out forms, making restaurant reservations and ordering groceries. The Microsoft-backed startup described Operator as “an agent that can go to the web to perform tasks for you.”

    OpenAI followed up that release in February with another tool called Deep Research, which allows an AI agent to compile complex research reports and analyze questions and topics of the user’s choice. 

    Google launched a similar tool of the same name last December, which acts as a “research assistant, exploring complex topics and compiling reports on your behalf.”

    Nova Act is initially launching in research preview for developers, Amazon said. The company is also launching a website that lets users experiment with its Nova AI models.

    The release is part of a broader strategy within Amazon to invest heavily in generative AI software. Amazon has introduced a flurry of AI products, including its own set of Nova models, Trainium chips, shopping and health assistants, as well as a marketplace for third-party models called Bedrock. It’s also overhauling Alexa, the digital assistant it launched more than a decade ago, with AI capabilities.

    Earlier this month, Amazon’s cloud unit said it’s forming a group dedicated to developing agentic AI that’s being led by longtime Amazon Web Services executive Swami Sivasubramanian. It’s also created an internal team focused on building artificial general intelligence, or AGI, which broadly refers to AI that is as smart or smarter than humans. The team reports directly to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.

    This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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    AMC bets on premium screens as Hollywood slate boasts big blockbuster titles

    Hollywood’s blockbuster slate is heating up, and AMC Entertainment is increasing the number of its premium screens to meet demand.

    The world’s largest cinema chain is adding 40 Dolby Cinema theaters to its U.S.-based AMC locations through the end of 2027. It marks a 25% increase in the number of the branded premium screens, bringing the company’s total number to more than 200.

    “Premium moviegoing is defining the modern box office,” said Kevin Yeaman, president and CEO of Dolby Laboratories. “In expanding our longstanding partnership with AMC, we look forward to providing even more audiences with access to the most immersive film experiences that you can only get at Dolby Cinema.”

    The announcement comes just days after AMC revealed a partnership with CJ 4DPLEX to add 65 Screen X auditoriums and 40 4DX theaters to its theaters around the globe.

    Premium large format screens, often referred to as PLFs, are elevated viewing experiences that come with a higher ticket price. The physical screens are often bigger than traditional movie screens or have auditoriums that feature higher-quality sound systems or seating options.

    Dolby Cinemas are specially designed auditoriums with plush, reclining seats and a combination of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, which deliver crisp visuals and immersive sound. Screen X theaters feature a 270-degree panoramic screen that extends the movie image onto the side walls using multi-projection technology, and 4DX is a premium experience that features gyroscopic seats and practical effects like fog, water and wind that play in time with the movie.

    The films that benefit the most from PLF ticket sales have been Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, as audiences want to see explosive action movies and dazzling spectacles in the most state-of-the-art locations. It’s why films like Universal’s “Oppenheimer,” Disney’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” and Warner Bros.′ “Dune” and “Dune: Part Two” captured a significant portion of the PLF box office during their runs.

    The 2025 and 2026 box offices are packed with blockbuster features from major franchises like Avatar, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC comics and Mission Impossible.

    “The expansion of this partnership is a powerful demonstration of AMC’s ongoing commitment to deliver this premium experience — sought out by filmmakers, studio partners, and our guests — to even more of our theaters and AMC moviegoers around the United States,” Adam Aron, AMC’s CEO, said in a statement Monday about the Dolby expansion.

    As of 2024, there were more than 950 theaters in North America that had PLF screens, a 33.7% jump from just five years ago, according to data from Comscore. These screens accounted for 9.1% of the domestic box office, around $600 million in 2024.

    Premium ticket prices average just under $17 apiece, according to movie data firm EntTelligence, an 8% increase since 2021, when the company first started reporting these figures.

    PLF receipts still represent a small portion of the overall box office, with most audiences seeing films on traditional digital screens. However, the PLF box office has grown 33% in just five years.

    Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC.

    This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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