Company Interviews

Interview with Rudi Deysel, Managing Director & CEO of West Wits Mining

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/west-wits-mining-asxwwi-delivers-first-gold-and-sets-course-on-expansion-pathway-9773

Recording date: 5th June 2026

West Wits Mining has reached a pivotal stage in the development of its Qala Shallows gold project in South Africa, marking a transition from early-stage infrastructure work to direct ore extraction. The company has successfully completed a key underground decline and broken into Level 2, enabling access to the primary ore body and setting the foundation for improved production performance.

This milestone allows the operation to shift from extracting lower-grade development ore—previously diluted by surrounding waste rock—to higher-grade stoping ore sourced directly from the reef. As stoping activities expand, gold grades are expected to progressively increase toward a target of approximately 3 grams per tonne, improving recoveries, reducing unit costs, and strengthening overall project economics.

Operational readiness has been supported by new mining equipment and an expanded fleet, enabling simultaneous work across multiple mining faces. This enhances flexibility, reduces downtime, and supports consistent production rates while reinforcing safety and operational discipline.

West Wits is also advancing a scoping study, due by the end of July 2026, to define the optimal pathway for scaling the project to a steady-state production target of 70,000 ounces per year by 2028. The study will evaluate mining methods, processing options, and infrastructure requirements, including the potential use of third-party facilities versus a standalone plant.

Financially, the company is nearing closure of a syndicated debt facility that will fund remaining capital requirements through to projected break-even, estimated within 30 months of the feasibility baseline.

Beyond Qala Shallows, West Wits is progressing exploration at its Bird Reef Central project, aiming to establish a resource from a gold-uranium target. Together, these developments position the company for multi-asset growth within the historically significant Witwatersrand Basin.

View West Wits Mining's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/west-wits-mining

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Interview with Heye Daun, President & CEO of Koryx Copper

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/koryx-copper-inc-tsxvkry-institutional-capital-backs-haib-development-pfs-by-year-end-9455

Recording date: 4th June 2026

Koryx Copper is advancing the Haib copper-molybdenum-gold project in Namibia into what could become one of the world’s significant long-life copper operations. The company is targeting annual production of approximately 120,000 tonnes of copper, with a mine life exceeding 30 years, positioning Haib among a limited group of large-scale development-stage projects globally.

A major shift in the project’s economics comes from the introduction of coarse particle flotation (CPF), a proven processing technology that enables early rejection of about 25% of low-grade material while losing only a small fraction of contained copper. This significantly increases the effective grade of processed ore, lifting copper equivalent grades to around 0.5% in the first decade—well above historical perceptions of Haib as a low-grade deposit.

Koryx has also simplified the flowsheet by eliminating heap leaching and moving to a fully flotation-based system. This change not only reduces operational complexity but allows recovery of molybdenum and gold byproducts, adding roughly 15% to project value. Combined with an improved strip ratio and optimized mine plan, these enhancements are expected to increase net present value and key economic metrics by 20–30%.

The project will require an estimated $1.8 billion in capital expenditure, making a strategic partnership the most likely development path. Koryx is actively engaging potential partners, including major mining companies, commodity traders, and institutional investors, with joint ventures or acquisition scenarios viewed as probable outcomes.

Located in Namibia, a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction, Haib benefits from established infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and access to power and water resources. With global copper demand rising due to electrification trends and limited new supply, Haib’s scale, improved economics, and long mine life position it as a compelling asset in the evolving copper market.

View Koryx Copper's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/koryx-copper

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Recording date: 5th June 2026

Global financial markets are exhibiting a striking disconnect between geopolitical risk and investor behavior, as major U.S. equity indices simultaneously reached record highs despite escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ongoing missile exchanges and a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran have done little to unsettle equities, creating what market observers describe as a “Goldilocks” environment where negative macro risks are largely ignored. At the same time, attention has narrowed sharply toward the anticipated $75 billion SpaceX initial public offering, which is drawing liquidity away from bonds, Bitcoin, and commodities.

The scale of the SpaceX IPO is expected to have meaningful mechanical effects on markets. With rapid inclusion into major indices, institutional investors are likely to position ahead of forced index buying, potentially diluting existing index constituents. This dynamic has contributed to strong performance in select equity sectors, particularly technology, while other asset classes lag.

In contrast to declining gold and oil prices, copper has emerged as a standout performer. Supply-side constraints - including reduced production guidance from major miners such as Freeport-McMoRan, Ivanhoe Mines, and Codelco - have tightened the market. Additional risks stem from the Strait of Hormuz, a critical transit route for sulfuric acid used in copper processing. Stronger-than-expected industrial data from both the United States and China has further reinforced demand for the metal.

Meanwhile, developments in the mining sector highlight emerging friction in global dealmaking. Chinese regulators have raised concerns that Zijin Mining’s proposed acquisition of Allied Gold is overpriced, signalling potential constraints on future outbound mergers and acquisitions.

Against this backdrop, investors are adopting a cautious stance. Elevated cash positions and expectations of summer volatility - driven by geopolitical uncertainty, IPO-related liquidity shifts, and seasonal commodity weakness - suggest that while markets appear calm, underlying risks remain significant.

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Interview with William Sheriff of Manhattan Metals

Recording date: 22nd May 2026

Manhattan Metals Corp is a pre-IPO gold and silver company with a business model that is straightforward in concept but rare in practice: acquire small, high-grade gold deposits in Nevada that major mining companies overlook, and process them through a centrally owned mill to generate near-term cash flow. The company was founded by Bill Sheriff, a veteran geologist with decades of exploration experience in Nevada and a track record of executing this exact model in the Yukon.

The core insight behind Manhattan Metals is that Nevada, one of the most gold-rich states in the US, with more than 300 identified gold districts, contains hundreds of viable deposits that sit idle because they do not meet the scale requirements of major producers. A deposit of 250,000 ounces of gold is worth over one billion dollars at current prices. Yet without a mill and without institutional-scale tonnage, it generates nothing. Manhattan Metals is positioning itself as the entity that provides the missing infrastructure.

The company has already acquired a 400-ton-per-day gravity flotation mill which is a tangible hard asset that distinguishes it from the majority of junior mining companies whose primary asset is a future promise. The mill needs to be relocated and repermitted, a process expected to take approximately two years, and site selection is the near-term priority before a public listing proceeds. A smaller 20-to-25-ton-per-day circuit is also planned for exceptionally high-grade, low-tonnage material.

Manhattan Metals currently controls seven Nevada properties, including one with a historic resource of several hundred thousand ounces and an underexplored high-grade vein system with only three drill holes completed. Beyond its owned assets, the company has identified more than 50 additional candidate deposits and owns an in-house reverse circulation drilling rig to validate them cost-effectively. The technical team includes a senior metallurgist with international milling and heap-leach experience which Sheriff acknowledges is in short supply across the industry.

The investment case rests on several distinct pillars. First, the strategy addresses a segment of the market with no meaningful competition, as both major miners and conventional juniors are oriented toward different scale targets. Second, the model is designed to generate revenue relatively quickly compared to traditional junior mining timelines, reducing the dilution risk that characterizes most early-stage resource companies. Third, management has signaled a long-term intention to pay dividends, an unusual and investor-friendly commitment in this sector.

The primary risks are permitting timeline uncertainty, the pre-revenue nature of the company, and the operational complexity of moving and reestablishing a milling facility. These are real and material considerations. However, the combination of a proven operator, owned infrastructure, an in-house drilling capability, and a clearly defined pipeline of assets positions Manhattan Metals as one of the more substantively prepared pre-IPO mining companies currently approaching public markets.

For investors seeking gold exposure grounded in operational execution rather than speculative exploration, Manhattan Metals represents a proposition worth evaluating closely as it moves toward its public listing.

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Interview with Janet Lee Sheriff, Director & CEO of Verdera Energy

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/verdera-energy-tsxvv-premium-uranium-portfolio-with-20m-to-spend-9385

Recording date: 22nd May 2026

Verdera Energy is emerging as a uranium development company focused on unlocking the potential of New Mexico, a jurisdiction that management believes could play an increasingly important role in future US uranium supply. At a time when energy security, nuclear power expansion, and artificial intelligence-driven electricity demand are becoming major investment themes, the company is positioning itself to benefit from a growing emphasis on domestic uranium production.

The foundation of the investment case is the company's substantial resource base at approximately 88 million pounds of historic and known uranium resources across multiple projects in New Mexico. The flagship West Largo project is currently undergoing modernization through an updated NI 43-101 technical report, while additional work is being completed to evaluate resource expansion opportunities and future development pathways.

A key differentiator for the company is its focus on in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium projects. ISR has become one of the preferred uranium extraction methods due to its potential for lower capital requirements and reduced environmental disturbance compared to conventional mining techniques. Management believes West Largo represents one of the most attractive ISR opportunities in the United States and could become a significant asset as domestic uranium demand grows.

Beyond its resource base, Verdera possesses a potentially valuable strategic asset in the form of historical geological information. According to management, the company controls more than 90% of the proprietary uranium exploration data available in New Mexico. This extensive database, accumulated from previous operators including Kerr-McGee and URI, may help reduce exploration risk, improve targeting efficiency, and accelerate project advancement.

The broader opportunity extends beyond individual projects. Management believes New Mexico remains an underappreciated uranium jurisdiction despite hosting substantial uranium resources and important nuclear-related infrastructure. As the United States seeks to reduce dependence on imported uranium and strengthen domestic supply chains, jurisdictions capable of supporting large-scale uranium production may receive increasing attention from investors, industry participants, and policymakers.

Another important aspect of Verdera's strategy is its emphasis on community engagement and social licence. The company recognizes that historical uranium mining activities created concerns among local communities and Indigenous groups. CEO Janet Lee Sheriff brings approximately three decades of experience working with Indigenous communities in Canada's Yukon and is applying a similar relationship-based approach in New Mexico. Through educational initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and industry conferences, management is seeking to build trust and support for future development activities.

Looking ahead, investors should monitor several potential catalysts. These include updated resource estimates, technical studies, permitting milestones, drilling programs, infrastructure planning, and potential strategic partnerships. The company is also evaluating opportunities involving central processing facilities and possible joint ventures that could support future project development.

As nuclear energy continues to gain support as a reliable, low-carbon power source and as electricity demand rises from emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, domestic uranium production is becoming increasingly important. With a large resource base, significant proprietary data holdings, experienced leadership, and exposure to a strategic uranium jurisdiction, Verdera Energy offers investors a way to participate in the evolving US  uranium development story.

View Verdera Energy's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/verdera-energy

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Interview with 
Hugh Agro, President & CEO of Revival Gold Inc.
Debra Struhsacker, US Permitting & Public Policy Advisor

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/revival-gold-tsxvrvg-funded-to-2028-decision-targets-2029-output-up-to-350m-cash-flow-10284

Recording date: 27th May 2026

Revival Gold, a Canadian-listed junior mining company, is advancing two gold projects in the United States—Mercur in Utah and Beartrack-Arnett in Idaho—with a combined resource of approximately 6 million ounces. Despite an estimated net asset value of around $1.3 billion, the company’s market capitalization remains near $200 million, highlighting a significant valuation gap that underpins its investment case.

The Mercur project is the company’s primary near-term focus and is positioned as a potential low-cost, high-cash-flow operation. Located on private land in Utah, Mercur benefits from simplified permitting under state jurisdiction, reducing regulatory complexity and timelines. The project also has strong infrastructure advantages, including existing power, road access, and water resources. Revival Gold is targeting a preliminary feasibility study by the first quarter of 2027, followed by a full feasibility study by year-end and a construction decision in early 2028. At current gold prices, Mercur is to generate annual free cash flow of $300–$350 million.

The broader regulatory environment in the United States has become increasingly supportive of domestic mining. Recent reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act, alongside federal policy shifts prioritizing mineral security, have streamlined permitting processes and improved project visibility. These changes are expected to benefit companies like Revival Gold operating in mining-friendly jurisdictions.

Beartrack-Arnett, the company’s second asset in Idaho, already has a completed feasibility study and existing infrastructure. However, management believes it is largely unrecognized in the current valuation, offering additional upside potential as exploration continues to expand the resource at depth.

With a clear development timeline, favorable jurisdictional dynamics, and significant leverage to rising gold prices, Revival Gold represents a leveraged play on U.S.-based gold development, with substantial re-rating potential as key milestones are achieved.

View Revival Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/revival-gold-inc

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Recording date: 26th May 2026

Olive Resource Capital views the current phase in commodity markets as a healthy, seasonal consolidation following a strong start to the year. While metals and mining equities have largely moved sideways, this reduced volatility is seen as constructive rather than concerning. According to President and CEO Samuel Pelaez and Executive Chair Derek Macpherson, calmer market conditions often create a gradual upward bias, even as broader investor attention shifts toward high-performing sectors like technology.

Olive Resource adjusted its portfolio to reflect rising geopolitical risks, particularly those linked to supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, exposure to Australia and Asia-Pacific mining equities has been significantly reduced, with capital redirected toward cash or regions offering stronger supply-chain reliability. This shift reflects a broader conviction that deglobalisation is accelerating, increasing the strategic importance of mining assets located in politically aligned and stable jurisdictions.

Deglobalisation trends driven by pandemic-era disruptions, geopolitical conflicts, and export restrictions on critical minerals are reshaping investment priorities. Assets in Western countries, even for commodities once considered uneconomic to produce domestically, are gaining value due to their security of supply.

Within this context, Olive Resource Capital is emphasizing company-specific opportunities over macro-driven bets. Recent portfolio additions, including White Gold Corp, Prospector Metals, Goldsky Resources, Valhalla Metals, and ValOre Metals, were selected for strong management teams and near-term catalysts such as drill results, resource estimates, and project advancements.

Macpherson and Pelaez also highlighted a consistent seasonal strategy in junior mining equities: accumulating positions in the spring as exploration begins, and trimming exposure in the fall when results are released and financing activity increases. Overall, the firm’s approach centers on jurisdictional reliability, operational catalysts, and disciplined timing in a market where broad momentum remains limited.

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 Interview with Stephen Soock, VP Investor Relations & Development, Heliostar Metals

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/heliostar-metals-tsxvhstr-self-funded-growth-fuels-push-to-300000-gold-ounces-per-annum-9450

Recording date: 20th May 2025

Heliostar Metals is advancing a multi-phase strategy to transform itself into a mid-tier gold producer, targeting annual output of 300,000 ounces by the end of the decade. The company’s recent performance highlights both operational momentum and financial strengthening, supported by three producing assets and a growing development pipeline.

In the first quarter of 2026, Heliostar produced 11,743 ounces of gold at all-in sustaining costs of $1,996 per ounce, generating $14 million in net income. Working capital increased significantly from $40 million to $70 million, reflecting strong cash flow even as the company continued investing in exploration and development. While costs benefited from temporary by-product credits, full-year guidance remains around $2,100 per ounce.

San Agustin has returned to production and is expected to deliver 50,000 to 55,000 ounces annually, with potential to extend its current 14-month mine life through ongoing drilling. At La Colorada, the company is transitioning to higher-grade sources while using innovative leaching techniques to extract additional value from existing material.

Heliostar’s flagship Ana Paula project in Mexico is central to its long-term growth. The underground development is advancing toward a feasibility study in mid-2027, with a construction decision to follow. The project targets annual production of 100,000 ounces by late 2028 and benefits from strong local support and existing infrastructure.

The recent acquisition of the Goldstrike project in Utah adds one million ounces of measured and indicated resources, enhancing future production optionality while preserving near-term capital through deferred payments.

Heliostar expects to generate approximately $150 million in internal cash flow over the next 2.5 years, funding much of its development pipeline. Combined with disciplined execution and selective financing, the company is positioning itself for sustained, self-funded growth.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/heliostar-metals

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 Interview with Gary Lohman, COO & VP Exploration, and Patrick J. Cruickshank, President & CEO of Thistle Resources

Recording date: 20th May 2026

Thistle Resources Inc., a recently listed explorer on the TSX Venture Exchange, is positioning itself at the crossroads of rising demand for gold and critical minerals through a diversified portfolio in Canada’s Bathurst Mining Camp. The company controls five projects, with a strategic focus on three key assets: the Middle River Gold deposit, a large volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) target, and the high-grade Brunswick Antimony project. This multi-commodity approach reduces reliance on a single resource while offering multiple pathways for value creation.

The flagship Middle River Gold project demonstrates strong scale potential. It hosts two distinct zones: a near-surface system extending to 130 meters depth with approximately 7 kilometers of mineralized folding—largely untested—and a deeper zone at 400 meters that exhibits one of the strongest geophysical conductive responses recorded in the region. Early drilling has confirmed consistent gold mineralization, while advanced surveys by two independent geophysical firms have significantly improved targeting confidence. The company is aiming to define a resource of up to 2 million ounces through systematic drilling.

Equally compelling is the Brunswick Antimony project, որտեղ exceptionally high-grade mineralization occurs at surface, including antimony exceeding 10%, along with significant silver and gold values. Located near historic producing mines, the project benefits from existing infrastructure and growing geopolitical interest in securing non-Chinese sources of critical minerals. Antimony prices have surged in recent years, enhancing the project’s economic potential even at modest scale.

Operationally, Thistle benefits from a favorable jurisdiction with rapid permitting, strong infrastructure, and low drilling costs of roughly CAD 100 per meter. Fully funded for two years and equipped with active drill programs through 2026, the company is well positioned to advance its assets. With multiple catalysts ahead and exposure to both precious and critical minerals, Thistle represents a diversified exploration opportunity in a proven mining district.

View Thistle Resources' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/thistle-resources

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Interview with Allen Sabet, CEO of Mogotes Metals Inc.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mogotes-metals-tsxvmog-drilling-filo-sur-along-filo-del-sol-trend-results-in-may-june-9532

Recording date: 19th May 2026

Mogotes Metals has reported a significant high-grade copper-gold discovery at its Filo Sur project in Argentina, marking a pivotal step in advancing the largely underexplored property. Drilling at the Albor target intersected 86 meters grading 0.7% copper, 0.55 g/t gold, 2.7 g/t silver, and 169 ppm molybdenum, including a higher-grade core of 43 meters at 1.1% copper and 0.82 g/t gold. These results exceed all previous drilling on the property and confirm the presence of robust mineralisation near surface, a key factor for potential open-pit development.

The project lies directly adjacent to the Filo del Sol deposit, one of the most important copper discoveries in recent decades. Geological features at Albor, including multiple mineralisation phases and hypogene epithermal overprinting, closely resemble those observed at Filo del Sol. Mineral assemblages and alteration patterns suggest proximity to a porphyry center, indicating potential for a much larger system.

Despite this progress, the property remains in an early exploration stage. Mogotes has drilled only 6,800 meters across an 8-kilometer strike length, with approximately half of assay results still pending. Multiple additional targets identified through geophysical and geochemical surveys remain untested, highlighting substantial upside potential.

The company is well funded, with $42 million in cash to support aggressive follow-up drilling. A new campaign is scheduled for November 2026, allowing rapid advancement of priority targets once remaining results are received. Beyond Argentina, Mogotes has also acquired projects in Kazakhstan and Montana to enable year-round exploration and reduce reliance on a single asset.

Overall, the discovery at Albor strengthens the company’s geological thesis and positions Mogotes Metals as an emerging player in a highly prospective copper district at a time of growing global demand for the metal.

View Mogotes Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/mogotes-metals

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