Company Interviews

Interview with Oliver Turner, VP, Corporate Development of Americas Gold & Silver Corp.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/americas-gold-silver-tsxusa-undervalued-investment-series-with-oliver-turner-9605

Recording date: 20th April 2026

Americas Gold & Silver Corp. (TSX:USA) is one of the more straightforward turnaround-to-growth stories currently available in the silver sector. The company controls the Galena mine in Idaho's Silver Valley with 190 million ounces of silver in resource at 19% year-over-year increase in M&I mineral resources and 21% increase in M&I grades. After 14 months of operational restructuring under a new management team, the company has moved into active execution of a strategy it spent much of 2025 designing and capitalising.

The operational picture at Galena is improving on several fronts. The introduction of longwall stoping, a more productive mining method than the underhand cut-and-fill technique the mine had used for a century, has already delivered results. In 2025, Galena produced silver at 473 g/t, the highest grade in 20 years. Nine longwall panels have been completed, and the transition to 70% longwall stoping by late 2027 is projected to reduce per-tonne mining costs by 40–50%. At the same time, hoisting upgrades have doubled shaft capacity and are expected to triple skipping speeds by mid-May 2026, while a fibre optic network is being installed to automate mine operations and improve productivity further.

Alongside Galena, the company acquired the Crescent mine, located nine miles away, which produces the same ore type and will begin feeding the Galena mill in H2 2026. With the Galena mill currently running at roughly 55% of capacity, Crescent ore provides a near-term margin improvement by spreading fixed costs across a higher throughput base. Crescent has not seen an exploration drill hole since 2011, and the company plans to drill it aggressively as part of its 64,000-metre, $20 million 2026 exploration programme.

The antimony angle is one that distinguishes Americas Gold & Silver from most silver producers. Galena is the largest producing antimony mine in the Americas and has produced antimony continuously since World War II. Until recently, the company was contractually penalised for this production rather than paid for it. That changed on January 2026 when a renegotiated offtake agreement brought antimony and copper into the revenue column. A joint venture with US Antimony to construct an on-site leaching facility is expected operational within 16 months at a total cost of approximately $50 million which will further maximise the value of that production stream. Americas Gold & Silver's 51% share is fundable from operating cash flow, and US government financing discussions are underway.

From a valuation standpoint, the company currently trades at 0.6–0.7 times NAV based on eight-analyst consensus at spot prices. Comparable silver producers trade at 1.5–2 times NAV. Recent M&A in the silver sector has taken place at approximately 2 times NAV. That gap is the investment opportunity in its simplest form. Closing it requires execution and the first production report of 2026 was received positively by the market.

The risks are real. Underground silver mining ramp-ups are operationally complex, and the antimony leaching facility has not yet broken ground. Investors should treat 2026 quarterly production reports as the primary scorecard. But the resource quality, cost reduction trajectory, byproduct monetisation timeline, and valuation discount to peers combine to make Americas Gold & Silver one of the more compelling risk-reward propositions in the silver producer space today.

View Americas Gold & Silver's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/americas-gold-silver-corporation

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Interview with Scott Lower, President of Trillion Energy

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/trillion-energy-csetcf-presses-ahead-with-turnaround-strategy-to-double-monthly-cashflow-6192-47aa0

Recording date: 15th April 2026

Trillion Energy has executed a transformative strategic pivot, exiting its operationally challenging offshore operations to capitalize on a lucrative onshore light oil discovery in Southeast Turkey’s M47 block.

For years, Trillion faced bureaucratic delays and high costs at its offshore SASB gas field, where it operated as a minority partner. By divesting this asset, the company successfully eliminated over $20 million in accumulated liabilities and cleaned up its balance sheet. Simultaneously, Trillion retained a 7% production royalty that offers future financial upside without ongoing operational risks or burdens.

The company’s new primary focus is the M47 block, an area experiencing an exploration boom. Trillion’s C1 well on the North Lead encountered 38 meters of net pay, testing at high-quality 32.4 API light oil. Independent evaluators have confirmed over 27 million barrels of contingent resources net to Trillion based on its newly acquired 29% working interest, boasting an 81% chance of development and commerciality.

Transitioning onshore fundamentally streamlines Trillion’s operational efficiency. Unlike the complex logistics of offshore drilling, the M47 block benefits from abundant local infrastructure and active nearby rigs. With production costs estimated at a remarkably low $10 per barrel, the baseline economics are highly favorable. Trillion must complete a two-well work obligation requiring roughly $7 million. However, with analog wells producing strongly, management anticipates a rapid one-to-two-month capital payback, enabling the company to effectively self-fund future expansion.

Despite this massive underlying potential, Trillion remains significantly undervalued, trading at a market capitalization that implies less than $0.50 per barrel. In a Turkish market that heavily imports its oil, Trillion’s M47 project provides a secure, locally produced domestic supply. With aligned private partners and highly favorable project economics, the company is strongly positioned for rapid growth and long-term value creation.

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

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Interview with Nathan Kong, CEO of Bayan Mining & Minerals

Recording date: 17th April 2026

Bayan Mining and Minerals is emerging as a rare earths and critical minerals story built around two themes: geological proximity to a proven U.S. rare earth district and technology that could improve downstream processing economics. Its Desert Star project in California sits just 4.5 km from Mountain Pass, the only producing rare earth mine in the United States, and early surface sampling has returned grades as high as 6.68% total rare earth oxides, giving the company a credible exploration target in a strategically important jurisdiction.

The near-term catalyst is a maiden 1,000-meter reverse circulation drilling program scheduled for June 2026, with results expected in July or August. Bayan says the program will test both shallow high-grade anomalies and deeper extensions, with the geological model suggesting a possible carbonatite system at depth and monazite mineralisation near surface. The company has framed success around meaningful intercepts and retains flexibility to expand drilling quickly if early holes are encouraging.

What differentiates Bayan from a standard junior explorer is its licensing of four rare earth processing patents from Colorado School of Mines. Those technologies include a single-stage leach approach and other separation and recovery methods designed for bastnaesite-dominant ores like those at Mountain Pass, where they were developed and tested. The strategic appeal is not only higher recoveries and lower processing complexity, but also a stronger position for U.S. government support as Washington pushes to rebuild domestic critical minerals supply chains.

Bayan also has portfolio depth. Its Bayan Springs gold-silver project in Nevada’s Carlin Trend provides additional upside and downside protection, while the company’s cash balance of $2.8 million gives it runway for multiple drill campaigns without immediate funding pressure. Overall, the investment case rests on a convergence of location, geology, technology licensing, and policy tailwinds that could make Bayan a notable participant in the U.S. rare earth buildout.

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Interview with Zac Dolesky, Founder & CEO of Super Copper

Recording date: 15th April 2026

Super Copper is a small but increasingly well-defined copper explorer in Chile’s Atacama region, and its story is shifting from groundwork to drilling. The company’s Cordillera project now hosts a kilometre-scale anomaly that could become its first major discovery test, while the Castilla project offers a second pipeline of upside.

Founded by Zac Dolesky after years of direct investing in metals and technology, Super Copper listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and OTCQB in October 2024. Since then, it has assembled a technical team that includes experienced copper specialists and built a portfolio in one of the world’s premier mining belts.

Cordillera is the main focus. Recent IP work outlined an 800m-plus strike anomaly that remains open along strike and at depth, with the target beginning around 200m below surface and extending beyond 400m vertically. Historical core and surface sampling have strengthened the model, including copper grades reaching 10% at surface and broader mineralized intervals that support the geophysical interpretation.

That data is now feeding into an imminent drilling campaign. Super Copper plans about 5,000m across 8 to 10 holes, targeting roughly 500m depth, with drilling expected by the end of Q2 2026 and first assays in Q3 2026.

The company has also shown unusual capital discipline for a junior explorer. It raised only about $3.5 million over several years before closing a recent $9.75 million financing at $0.75 per share, and it has done so with only 54 million shares outstanding.

That combination of a tight share structure, a funded drill program, and a large target in Chile’s Atacama copper belt gives Super Copper near-term catalyst potential. The main risk is still exploration success, but the company has moved far enough along that the next round of drilling should provide a meaningful read on whether Cordillera is a genuine copper discovery.

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Interview with Keith Boyle, Director & CEO of New Found Gold

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsxvnfg-announces-75-million-loan-facility-agreement-for-queensway-9477

Recording date: 15th April 2026

New Found Gold Corporation is officially making the leap from an exploration company to an active gold producer. The company recently secured a robust new financing package that replaces a previous debt agreement, signaling strong institutional confidence. This unsolicited deal matches the original debt terms but adds a significant equity investment priced at the current market value with zero discount. This long-term partnership fully funds the CA$155 million capital cost for their flagship Queensway project in Newfoundland and includes a safety net for potential construction overruns.

The company's development timeline is moving aggressively to capitalize on this funding. Right now, New Found Gold is expanding its existing Pine Cove Mill processing capacity to handle upcoming production rather than building an entirely new facility. Their secondary Hammerdown project is already ramping up and is expected to hit commercial production in the second half of this year, generating steady interim cash flow. Meanwhile, construction at the primary Queensway site kicks off this summer. With engineering contractors already on site and permits expected shortly, Queensway remains perfectly on track to deliver its first gold by the end of 2027.

Financially, the Queensway project offers massive upside. The mine targets an initial annual output of roughly 100,000 ounces of gold. Thanks to an estimated all-in sustaining cost of just $1,300 per ounce, the project could generate over $300 million in free cash flow every year at current gold prices. By balancing debt and equity, CEO Keith Boyle and his team deliberately chose to limit financial strain, prioritizing guaranteed execution over avoiding minor shareholder dilution. Ultimately, this strategic funding ensures New Found Gold can comfortably build its operational future while leveraging strong margins in today's thriving market.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/new-found-gold

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Interview with Luke Norman, Executive Chairman of US Gold Corp.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/us-gold-corp-nasdaqusau-fully-permitted-fs-imminent-2027-28-target-9430

Recording date: 15th April 2026

US Gold Corp (NASDAQ:USAU) has unveiled a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for its CK Gold project in Wyoming, confirming robust economics and a clear path toward production. At a base gold price of $3,250 per ounce, the study outlines an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of $635 million and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 27%, nearly triple the value from the previous prefeasibility analysis. At current spot prices near $4,500, the project’s potential soars to a $1.4 billion NPV with a 50% IRR, underscoring exceptional leverage to gold markets.

The 11-year open-pit mine will produce roughly 90,000 ounces of gold equivalent annually, supported by strong copper demand, simple near-surface mining conditions, and full permitting. All operational licenses including mine, industrial, and environmental permits are secured and non-revocable under Wyoming law, removing a major development risk.

Capital expenditure is projected at $400 million, including a healthy contingency buffer. US Gold plans to lower costs through used equipment purchases and contractor negotiations, taking advantage of abundant local mining services. Debt financing proposals cover up to 80 percent of the required capital, with favorable terms reflecting the project’s de-risked status.

Further upside includes recovering 300,000 ounces of gold from tailings boosting recoveries from 70% to over 97% and monetizing waste rock valued at $800 million to $1 billion as construction aggregate. The company is also examining cyanide-free processing alternatives to improve sustainability.

With commodity prices near record highs and North American mining assets in short supply, Copper King stands out as a shovel-ready, financed, and fully permitted project. Executive Chairman Luke Norman calls it “a uniquely de-risked opportunity” poised to benefit from a mining sector hungry for secure, high-return developments.

View U.S. Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/us-gold-corp

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Interview with Arturo Préstamo Elizondo, Executive Chairman & CEO of Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/santacruz-silver-tsxvscz-2026-set-for-more-gains-as-large-treasury-builds-9260

Recording date: 15th April 2026

Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV:SCZ) is a multi-asset, multi-metal producer operating across Mexico and Bolivia, with silver as its primary revenue metal. Having closed 2025 with revenues of $326 million and EBITDA of $104 million, the company's strongest financial results in recent years, the company is now entering what management believes will be a year of accelerating operational recovery and earnings growth.

The most significant near-term catalyst is the recovery of the Bolivar mine in Bolivia which suffered flooding of two key veins and resulting in a cumulative loss of approximately 600,000–660,000 silver equivalent ounces over the affected period. The dewatering programme is progressing on schedule, with Q4 2025 silver production at Bolivar already up 34% quarter-on-quarter. Full capacity restoration representing a quarterly run rate of 1.0–1.2 million silver equivalent ounces from Bolivar mine is targeted for Q4 2026. This recovery alone represents a material production and cash flow uplift for the group, requiring no new capital expenditure or exploration success.

Beyond Bolivar, management has guided for approximately 10% group production growth in 2026, supported by throughput and recovery improvements at Zimapan in Mexico, incremental output from the newly opened Esperanza area at Caballo Blanco, and the initial production contribution from Soracaya in Bolivia, which is expected to begin at approximately 200–250 tonnes per day in Q4 2026 ahead of a full ramp-up in 2027.

On the financial side, Santacruz ended 2025 with approximately $70 million in cash achieved after paying down $40 million in Glencore debt and settling $27 million in deferred taxes during the year. The balance sheet is clean, working capital has improved materially, and the company is generating cash at a growing rate. Management's approach to capital deployment is conservative, prioritising treasury strength while exploring accretive M&A opportunities across the Americas.

Two near-term transparency improvements are worth noting. First, the company is restructuring its AISC reporting to separate San Lucas from consolidated mine-level cost figures, which will give investors a significantly cleaner view of operating economics. Second, Santacruz is pursuing a graduation from the TSXV to the TSX main board, which management has identified as the trigger for launching a formal share buyback programme. Management has been explicit that it views the current share price as undervalued relative to fundamentals.

The silver macro backdrop adds further support with silver demand structurally expanding due to its role in solar photovoltaics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale storage, while supply growth remains constrained by long project development timelines and the predominantly by-product nature of silver mining. Santacruz, as a primary silver producer operating exclusively in the Americas, is well-positioned to benefit from both the commodity trend and the growing Western preference for supply chain diversification.

For investors, the combination of a defined operational recovery timeline, guided production growth, a strengthening balance sheet, and multiple identifiable re-rating catalysts makes Santacruz Silver a company worth following closely as 2026 progresses.

View Santacruz Silver's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/santacruz-silver-mining

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Interview with Dan Sutton, CEO of Syntholene Energy

Recording date: 14th April 2026

Syntholene Energy is pioneering a cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by integrating geothermal waste heat into its production process. This strategy aims to drastically reduce the cost of synthetic fuels, targeting price parity with fossil fuels within the next five years.

Syntholene reduces the electricity required for hydrogen production—which typically accounts for 70% of synthetic fuel costs—by utilizing high-temperature geothermal or nuclear waste heat. By co-locating with stranded energy assets, the company projects its first 20,000-ton commercial facility can produce fuel at $1.24 per liter, significantly narrowing the gap with the $0.80 to $0.90 fossil fuel average. The resulting product is a "drop-in" replacement fuel that seamlessly utilizes existing petroleum infrastructure without requiring airlines to upgrade their fleets.

The company is currently constructing a 250-kilowatt demonstration facility at a preserved geothermal power station in Húsavík, Iceland. Scheduled for operation in 2026, the site leverages Iceland's massive, unexportable geothermal resources to validate the lab-scale successes previously achieved at the Idaho National Lab in 2022. Following a brief commissioning period, a major petroleum engineering firm will conduct a third-party techno-economic validation in early 2027 to unlock project financing and strategic partnerships.

Recently listed on public exchanges and backed by multi-billion-dollar family offices, Syntholene is strategically targeting mandated SAF markets across the EU, the UK, and Asia. The company relies on a modular scaling strategy and patented supply chain integrations to protect its cost advantages as it shifts from demonstration to commercial scale. If successful, this thermal integration model could eventually provide low-cost synthetic fuels for marine shipping, long-haul trucking, and the broader liquid fuel market.

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Interview with Darrin Campbell, President & CEO of Namibia Critical Minerals Inc.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/namibia-critical-metals-tsxvnmi-japanese-govt-backed-heavy-rare-earth-play-7490

Recording date: 14th April 2026

As Western nations seek independent critical mineral supply chains, Namibia Critical Metals’ Lofdal project has emerged as a globally significant heavy rare earth asset. Located in Namibia, a stable mining jurisdiction, the fully-permitted project is uniquely positioned to reduce global reliance on Chinese market dominance.

Lofdal is one of only two xenotime-type rare earth deposits currently under development worldwide. The shovel-ready site targets the annual production of 120 tons of dysprosium, 25 tons of terbium, and 800 tons of yttrium. Unlike light rare earth projects, this exceptional heavy rare earth concentration creates substantial value density, making its output essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Lofdal currently holds a 25-year mining license, effectively de-risking its operational timeline.

The project's January 2026 Prefeasibility Study outlines a highly profitable financial trajectory. With an estimated capital expenditure of $350 million, the base case yields a pre-tax net present value (NPV) of $390 million. However, the current bifurcated global market—where Western contracted prices far exceed Chinese spot rates—pushes the divergent scenario's after-tax NPV to $750 million. For instance, contracted North American yttrium prices have recently soared to $1,400 per kilogram, compared to roughly $10 to $20 in Chinese spot markets.

Lofdal's strategic importance was cemented in March 2026 when Toyota Tsusho joined the project alongside Japanese government agency JOGMEC. Selected through a public tender, Toyota Tsusho guarantees offtake and provides direct downstream integration into Japan's permanent magnet supply chains. This consortium fully funds the project through its Definitive Feasibility Study, which is expected to conclude in mid-2027. Because of this structure, Namibia Critical Metals benefits from interest-free, non-dilutive funding, allowing the company to securely retain up to a 44% ownership stake while advancing the critical global asset.

View Namibia Critical Metals' company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/namibia-critical-metals-inc

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Interview with Ian E Nielson, Technical Advisor of Golden Cross Resources
 
Recording date: 14th April 2026

Golden Cross Resources has successfully completed its inaugural drilling program at Aurora in Eastern Victoria, intersecting high-grade gold mineralisation up to 27 grams per ton. The results validate the company's structural geological model and confirm the presence of narrow high-grade orogenic gold deposits similar to the world-class Fosterville mine.

The exploration program represents a methodical approach to unlocking what could be a significant gold system. Technical Advisor Ian Nielson emphasized that all four drill holes intersected anticipated mineralised zones, demonstrating the accuracy of the company's geological hypothesis. The focus centers on the Welcome trend corridor, which extends through Aurora, Charlotte's, and Prince of Wales prospects.

A key advantage is Golden Cross's access to historical artisanal workings throughout the area. These underground excavations serve as "free 3D drill holes," providing invaluable three-dimensional geological information that would otherwise require expensive drilling. By mapping these historical sites and integrating surface data, the company is building a comprehensive structural model extending beyond where nineteenth-century miners worked.

The company is employing a multi-disciplinary strategy, integrating geochemistry, geophysics, lidar scanning, and detailed geological mapping to reduce uncertainty before committing significant capital to drilling. This approach leverages newly released Victorian government datasets, providing additional layers of information at no cost to the company.

Rather than pursuing aggressive drilling, Golden Cross will spend the next twelve months collecting geophysical data and refining its structural model. This systematic methodology aims to optimize future drilling efficiency by better understanding fault planes and shoot geometries—the architectural features controlling high-grade gold deposition.

Historical intercepts at nearby Reedy Creek, which returned approximately 11 meters at 10-12 g/t gold, demonstrate the district's potential. With experienced leadership, cost-effective de-risking strategies, and a disciplined exploration approach, Golden Cross offers investors early-stage exposure to potential high-grade gold discovery in an underexplored Victorian goldfield.

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