Mark Brennan,  Founder, CEO, and Director of Cerrado Gold Inc (TSX.V: CERT) (OTCQX: CRDOF), joins me to review their Q1 2025 operations and financials at Minera Don Nicolas in Argentina, the transformative recent acquisition of Ascendant Resources and the value proposition at the Lagoa Salgada VMS Project in Portugal, along with the further value and optionality at the Mont Sorcier Iron-Vanadium project in Quebec.

 Q1 2025 M.D.N. Operating Highlights:

Adjusted EBITDA of $4.8 million for Q1, 2025 and Cash balance over US$20m

AISC of $1,932/oz; Unit costs set to decline as production increases (target AISC US$1,500-1,700/oz )

Record heap leach production of 6,897 GEO During the Quarter

Mark and I review their Minera Don Nicolas producing gold project in Argentina, and the record heap leach gold equivalent ounce production for the quarter. We discuss the positive impact that the newly installed secondary crusher will bring to production starting at the tail-end of Q2, but then on a move-forward basis in Q3 and beyond, with the quantity of ore being placed on the pad having increased.

The production profile will start growing in Q3 with the underground mining having now commenced.  With higher gold prices, the CIL plant continued to process lower-grade stockpiles and is planned to continue processing low grade stockpiles through Q2/25, after which it will be blended with new high-grade material from the underground mining operations, and this will increase the average grade throughput at the mill.

Another area of future growth will be the 20,000 meter drill program to start exploring the open pit resources, as well as identifying for more satellite open-pits at surface.   Having gone underground, there is also now the potential for underground exploration work to begin targeting new areas of mineralization or further defining existing areas of mineralization.

Next we unpacked the recent Ascendant Resources Inc. (TSX: ASND) for their 80% interest in the robust Lagoa Salgada VMS Project with a Post-tax NPV of US$147 million and a 39% IRR in the current Feasibility Study. This Project adds both substantial precious metals resources along with critical minerals exposure (42 % Gold & Silver, 24% zinc, 14% copper, and 5% tin) to the future production profile. The Environmental Impact Assessment approval expected imminently, and there will be an optimized Feasibility Study released in Q3, a construction decision in Q4 of 2025.  Construction is targeted for early 2016, with first production slated for H2 2027.

We wrap up discussing the underappreciated value and ongoing derisking work that is moving towards a Bankable Feasibility Study in Q1 of 2026 at the Mont Sorcier Iron-Vanadium in Quebec. Recent metallurgical test work, has reaffirmed the potential to produce high-grade and high-purity iron concentrate grading in excess of 67% iron with silica and alumina content below 2.3%.

If you have questions for Mark regarding Cerrado Gold, then please email those to me at [email protected].

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