The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast

The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Resources Rising Stars, hosted by Paul Armstrong, a seasoned expert in the world of finance and resources. With more than 30 years of experience as a finance journalist under his belt, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to his conversations with some of the most prominent figures in the industry. Each episode of The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a deep dive into the inner workings of those resources companies which are making things happen, quizzing those in charge about their projects, their prospects, the challenges they face and the opportunities they offer to investors. Whether you’re an investor, industry professional, or simply interested in the latest developments in mining, energy, and resources, The Hole Truth is the podcast for you. Join Paul and his guests to hear about the latest investment opportunities in the resources sector. Produced by Resource Media ———— The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate. Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.

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Episodes

46 minutes ago

Firefly Metals (ASX: FFM) owns the Green Bay Copper-Gold Project in Canada. It's been one of the great success stories in this space over the past two years. Another resource update and economic studies are pending, and the company has just completed the sale of its Pickle Crow Project to Bellavista. Firefly shareholders will get a chunk of Bella Vista shares, and Firefly will be a major shareholder in Bella Vista.
 
Steve Parsons is the Managing Director of Firefly Metals. He has extensive experience in the mining and resources sector, with a strong track record of advancing high-quality mineral projects through exploration, development, and production stages. Parsons is widely recognised for his operational expertise and his focus on value creation through disciplined capital allocation and aggressive exploration strategies.
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
Key Insights
Aggressive Drilling Strategy Driving Resource GrowthFirefly Metals has rapidly scaled its exploration efforts from a single rig to 10 active drill rigs across the Green Bay project. This includes seven underground rigs focused on infill and step-out drilling, and three surface rigs targeting regional opportunities. The intensity of drilling underpins consistent news flow and resource expansion, a key driver of market re-rating in the resources sector.
High-Grade Core Enhancing Project EconomicsWithin the broader ~80Mt resource base, Firefly has identified a high-grade core approaching 20Mt grading 3–4% copper, with zones exceeding 5–7%. This material is expected to be mined early, significantly boosting project NPV and early cash flow. The presence of such high-grade zones positions Green Bay as a potentially tier-one copper-gold asset.
Clear Development Path with Scalable Production ProfileAn upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) will outline a low-capex, 1.8Mtpa startup operation leveraging existing infrastructure, including hydroelectric power and port access. Importantly, the study will also demonstrate scalability to 3–5Mtpa or beyond, highlighting long-term growth potential and multi-decade mine life.
District-Scale Exploration Upside Remains UnderexploredFirefly controls an entire volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) district, where deposits typically occur in clusters. With regional drilling set to accelerate in the second half of the year, the company is targeting repeat discoveries that could materially expand the resource base and transform the project into a globally significant mining camp.
Bellavista Transaction Unlocks Hidden Value for ShareholdersThe divestment of the Pickle Crow gold project into Bellavista provides Firefly shareholders with direct equity exposure via an in-specie distribution. Firefly retains ~10% ownership, maintaining upside while reallocating capital to Green Bay. The involvement of proven operators and a well-funded exploration plan increases the likelihood of value creation from this secondary asset.

Tuesday Apr 14, 2026

As the Western world looks for non-Chinese supplies, Sky Metals has an abundance of both tin and tungsten at the Tallebung Project in New South Wales.
Guest bioMr Davies joined SKY as a geologist in 2019. He was appointed to Exploration Manager in 2021, then to CEO in early 2022 and subsequently to Managing Director in September 2024. Prior to SKY, Mr Davies was in exploration and operational roles with Evolution Mining and Alkane Resources in NSW and Qld. Mr Davies has worked closely on several successful NSW discoveries including Evolution Mining’s significant expansion of the Lake Cowal gold resource and with Alkane’s regional exploration success at Tomingley and Boda.
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
Key Insights
Tallebung is evolving into a dual-commodity development story.What was previously framed primarily as a tin project is increasingly being positioned around both tin and tungsten, with management indicating tungsten could contribute roughly half of future project revenue. That shift matters because Tallebung already reports tungsten in its mineral resource, and Sky says the existing flowsheet can recover both products with only a final dressing stage.
Tin’s supply-demand setup remains central to the investment case.Oliver Davies points to structural supply constraints and growing demand from electronics, data centres, solar technologies, and emerging battery applications as the core drivers behind stronger tin pricing. Sky’s broader corporate positioning is aligned with that thesis, describing tin as essential to semiconductors, electronics, and solar PV, which reinforces the strategic logic behind advancing Tallebung in New South Wales.
Tungsten adds strategic leverage to Western critical minerals supply chains.The episode highlights tungsten’s rising importance in defence and technology markets, particularly as Western buyers seek supply chains with less reliance on China. Sky’s own published Tallebung resource includes WO3 as a likely significant by-product, which gives investors exposure to a second critical mineral without fundamentally changing the project’s development pathway.
Tallebung’s open-pit, ore-sorting-led design points to a lower-cost development model.A key operational advantage discussed in the interview is the project’s shallow, open-pit geometry and the suitability of the mineralisation for XRT ore sorting followed by gravity separation. Sky states this approach can materially upgrade feed grade before concentration, supporting the company’s argument that Tallebung could become a near-term, low-cost tin development with added tungsten and silver credits.
Near-term catalysts are concentrated around resource growth and study work.The interview points to an updated mineral resource estimate and pre-feasibility study work as the main near-term newsflow, alongside ongoing drilling and metallurgical optimisation. That matches Sky’s stated project pathway of advancing drilling, resource confidence, metallurgical testing, and mining studies in parallel, giving the market several potential re-rating milestones rather than a single binary catalyst.

Tuesday Mar 31, 2026

Great Western Exploration is preparing to launch a six-month drilling campaign targeting multiple copper-gold prospects near the legendary DeGrussa discovery in Western Australia.
Managing Director Shane Pike joins The Hole Truth to explain why the Yerrida Basin may host more DeGrussa-style volcanic massive sulphide deposits, and how Great Western has systematically built eight high-priority drill targets across its project portfolio.
With a market capitalisation of roughly $12 million and fresh capital raised, the company is highly leveraged to exploration success. Pike outlines the geological evidence supporting targets such as Oval, Diorama, Juggernaut and Baru, and explains why Great Western believes it may be closing in on the “CBD” — the core of a potentially mineralised system.
If successful, the program could reshape perceptions of the Yerrida Basin and demonstrate that DeGrussa is not a geological orphan.
Guest Bio
Shane Pike is the Managing Director of Great Western Exploration Limited (ASX: GTE), a Western Australian mineral exploration company focused on copper, gold and base metal discoveries in the Yerrida Basin.
He has extensive experience in exploration geology and project development across Western Australia. Under his leadership, Great Western has assembled a portfolio of highly prospective tenements adjacent to the DeGrussa Copper-Gold Mine and is advancing systematic exploration programs targeting volcanic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits.
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
 
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-hole-truth-podcast/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theholetruth
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI4sZkSfEpPi_u7OrD7lQ-tZHbdy6EhCC
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/theholetruth
Company: https://greatwesternexploration.com.au/
Key Insights
A Systematic Search for the Next DeGrussaGreat Western Exploration is targeting DeGrussa-style volcanic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits in the Yerrida Basin of Western Australia. These deposits typically occur in clusters, yet the basin has seen surprisingly limited exploration specifically targeting this style of mineralisation. The company believes this represents a major geological opportunity.
Eight Drill Targets Across a Highly Prospective BasinThe company has identified eight drill targets including Oval, Diorama, Juggernaut and Baru. Each target has been developed through a checklist-driven exploration process incorporating geological modelling, geophysics and geochemistry to confirm the key ingredients associated with VMS mineral systems.
Oval Target: Drilling the ‘CBD’ of the SystemPrevious drilling at the Oval prospect intersected copper-gold mineralisation and pathfinder elements typical of VMS deposits. New gravity geophysics has identified a higher-density zone interpreted as the core of the system — effectively the “CBD” compared with earlier holes drilled in the “suburbs”.
Multiple Untested Copper AnomaliesTargets such as Diorama and Juggernaut exhibit strong surface copper anomalies and favourable volcanic host rocks. Diorama hosts gossanous outcrops that may represent weathered massive sulphides, while Juggernaut contains multiple targets with visible mineralisation and VMS-style textures.
High Leverage Exploration with Tight Capital DisciplineWith a market capitalisation around $12 million, Great Western offers significant leverage to discovery success. More than 80% of company funds are directed into exploration, and non-executive directors receive no cash, shares or options for board roles—aligning management closely with exploration outcomes and shareholder returns.

Thursday Mar 26, 2026

Alicanto Minerals (ASX: AQI) has put its foot on the Mount Henry Gold Project in WA. It has nearly a million ounces in resources already. They only completed the acquisition a month ago, and drilling is already underway. The mineralisation sits within a 16-kilometre corridor, but it's only been drilled to about 150 metres, so it's wide open.
Guest bio
Jeff Sansom is Chief Executive Officer of Alicanto Minerals. He is a mining executive with more than 15 years’ experience across the resources sector, spanning project development, capital allocation, strategy, ESG, and capital markets. Prior to joining Alicanto, he was Head of Investor Relations and External Affairs at Regis Resources, and has also held senior roles with Perenti Group, BHP, OceanaGold, and MOD Resources.
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
 
Resources
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-hole-truth-podcast
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI4sZkSfEpPi_u7OrD7lQ-tZHbdy6EhCC
Website: https://resourcesrisingstars.com.au/the-hole-truth-podcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theholetruthpodcast/
Company website: https://alicantominerals.com.au/
 
Key Insights
1. Mt Henry gives Alicanto an immediate gold growth platform.
The Mount Henry Gold Project already hosts a 915,000-ounce Mineral Resource at 1.2g/t gold across Mt Henry, Selene and North Scotia, giving Alicanto a substantial resource base from day one. In the interview, Jeff Sansom positions the acquisition as a rare chance to secure a near-million-ounce gold project in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields with existing permits and infrastructure access.
2. The core investment thesis is brownfields resource expansion.
Alicanto’s strategy is not built around a greenfields discovery, but around expanding a known mineralised system that has seen relatively shallow drilling. The 16km mineralised corridor remains open along strike and down dip, with historical drilling generally limited to shallow depths, creating a clear pathway for additional ounces through targeted follow-up drilling.
3. Selene and Mt Henry stand out as scalable open-pit style targets.
Sansom highlights the thickness and continuity of mineralisation, particularly at Selene, where broad zones support the case for larger-scale open-pit growth. Alicanto’s ASX materials also show both Mt Henry and Selene remain open at depth, with multiple strong historical intercepts suggesting the current resource may understate the broader system potential.
4. Fast mobilisation reduces execution lag and boosts news flow potential.
Alicanto Minerals (ASX: AQI) moved quickly after the acquisition, with drilling commencing within weeks and a 50,000m multi-rig program designed to test extensions and new targets. In the transcript, Sansom notes the company plans to batch results into regular updates, which should help investors assess scale and continuity rather than isolated drill hits.
5. The valuation upside hinges on proving a multi-million-ounce outcome.
One of the most important signals discussed is the contingent deal structure tied to future resource growth, including a milestone linked to defining a 2Moz resource. That frames the market opportunity clearly: Alicanto is seeking to convert a 915koz starting point into a materially larger Eastern Goldfields gold story, similar in shape to other recent brownfields re-rating successes in WA.

Tuesday Mar 17, 2026

Great Boulder Resources has just unveiled a whopping 4,434g/t gold assay at its Side Well Gold Project in Western Australia. The company already has a 1 million ounce resource and has outlined a plan to increase this to 1.5 million ounces, located right on the edge of three processing plants.
Guest Bio
Andrew Paterson is the Managing Director of Great Boulder Resources. He is a geologist with more than 25 years of experience in the mining industry, spanning exploration, resource development and project generation across Australia and internationally. Prior to joining Great Boulder, he held senior roles with several exploration and mining companies where he was responsible for discovery and advancement of gold projects in Western Australia. At Great Boulder, he is leading the company’s exploration and development strategy at the Side Well Gold Project near Meekatharra.
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
Key Insights
1. Exceptional High-Grade Assay Highlights Depth PotentialGreat Boulder recently reported an extraordinary 4,434g/t gold intercept at the Side Well Gold Project, one of the highest-grade hits recorded in the industry this year. While extremely high-grade zones are typically small, they demonstrate the presence of rich gold-bearing structures at depth and reinforce the potential for continued discovery beneath the existing resource. These “bonanza” zones occur in structural dilation points where coarse gold accumulates.
2. A 2.5km Resource Corridor With Potential to Become a Regional Super PitThe current resource extends across approximately 2.5 kilometres of strike between the Mulga Bill and Eaglehawk deposits. With only a narrow gap of limited drilling between the two areas, upcoming drilling programs aim to confirm continuity that could effectively link the deposits into a single large open pit system. At current gold prices, conceptual pit optimisations already suggest a large combined mining footprint.
3. Targeting Growth From 1Moz to 1.5Moz ResourceGreat Boulder currently hosts a 1 million ounce resource at Side Well, with roughly 62% in the indicated category. The company’s next strategic objective is to increase the total resource to around 1.5 million ounces, which could translate to roughly 1 million ounces of mineable inventory after studies and conversions. Achieving that scale would significantly enhance development and partnership options.
4. Strategic Location Near Multiple Processing MillsA major advantage for the project is its proximity to several operating or proposed processing facilities in the Meekatharra region. Within trucking distance are three potential mills, including Westgold’s Bluebird facility only about 25km away. This infrastructure access creates multiple potential development pathways, including toll treatment or acquisition interest from nearby operators seeking additional feedstock.
5. Accelerated Drilling and Development Pathway UnderwayGreat Boulder is ramping up exploration with multiple drilling rigs targeting both resource expansion and new discoveries around the existing corridor. The company is simultaneously advancing mining leases, approvals and development studies to shorten the timeline from exploration success to production readiness. As resource growth and permitting progress in parallel, the project could become increasingly attractive to strategic partners or regional consolidators.

Tuesday Mar 10, 2026

Minerals 260 (ASX: MI6) has had a stunning ten months since acquiring the Bullabulling Gold Project in Western Australia. The stock has soared on the back of its exploration success and its recent funding deal.
Guest Bio
Luke McFadyen is Managing Director of Minerals 260. He is a mining industry executive with more than 15 years’ experience across several commodities including copper, nickel, gold, graphite, aluminium and iron ore, and has worked in multiple jurisdictions including Australia, Singapore, Brazil and Mozambique. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and holds a Master of Science (Mineral and Energy Economics) and MBA from Curtin University, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame Australia. Mr McFadyen has previously worked at OZ Minerals, Syrah Resources, South32, BHP, KPMG and Deloitte.
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
Key Insights
Rapid Resource Growth at BullabullingMinerals 260 has rapidly expanded the Bullabulling Gold Project to a resource of approximately 4.5 million ounces, including around 3 million ounces in the indicated category. Located just 45 minutes from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, the project has quickly emerged as one of the more significant undeveloped gold assets on the ASX.
A Transformational AcquisitionThe company acquired Bullabulling for around $166 million, and in less than a year the market has re-rated the company dramatically as exploration success and development progress have strengthened the investment case. This rapid value creation reflects both the scale of the asset and strong investor demand for large gold development projects.
Franco-Nevada Deal Provides Validation and FundingMinerals 260 secured a $120 million royalty funding package with Franco-Nevada, one of the world’s largest precious metals royalty companies. The deal followed extensive technical due diligence and provides development capital while reducing near-term dilution, representing a major validation event for the project.
Large-Scale Open Pit Development PotentialCurrent planning outlines a potential 4–5km long open pit, approximately 600 metres wide and 300 metres deep, positioning Bullabulling as one of Australia’s largest future gold pits. Ongoing drilling is focused on improving project economics by targeting shallower and higher-grade mineralisation.
Fast-Tracked Path to DevelopmentMinerals 260 is progressing rapidly toward development, with reserve work, resource updates and feasibility studies advancing through 2026. Early site infrastructure work — including accommodation and water infrastructure — is already underway ahead of a final investment decision, reflecting strong confidence in the project’s economics and the supportive gold macro environment.
Resources
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-hole-truth-podcastYouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI4sZkSfEpPi_u7OrD7lQ-tZHbdy6EhCCWebsite: https://resourcesrisingstars.com.au/the-hole-truth-podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theholetruthpodcast/Company Website: https://minerals260.com.au/

Tuesday Mar 03, 2026

PolarX has unveiled a gold discovery at its Humboldt Range project in Nevada. The question is how big it is defined. The company is now planning more drilling to see how far it extends, raising the possibility that the company could sell the project entirely to one of its big neighbours nearby.
Guest: Mark BojanjacCompany: PolarX
Guest Bio
Mark Bojanjac is Managing Director of PolarX Limited. He is a geologist with more than 30 years’ experience in the exploration and mining industry. Mr Bojanjac has held senior executive and board positions with several ASX-listed resource companies and has been directly involved in exploration, project acquisition, development strategy and capital markets transactions across multiple jurisdictions. His experience spans gold, copper and base metals projects, with a focus on advancing assets from discovery through to development and potential monetisation.
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
Links
The Hole Truth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-hole-truth-podcastThe Hole Truth YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI4sZkSfEpPi_u7OrD7lQ-tZHbdy6EhCC&si=iOcGscff7kMSw8c7The Hole Truth Website: https://resourcesrisingstars.com.au/the-hole-truth-podcast/The Hole Truth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theholetruthpodcast/Company Website: https://polarx.com.au/
 
Key Insights
Large-Scale Gold Anomaly Emerging at Humboldt Range
PolarX’s Humboldt Range project in Nevada has delivered gold in every hole drilled across an initial 800-metre section of a 3.8-kilometre-long IP and soil anomaly. Importantly, the area drilled was not selectively targeted but accessed via existing tracks, suggesting significant blue-sky potential across the broader 4km strike extent. The scale of the anomaly positions the project as a potentially material new gold system in a proven mining district.
Tier-One Mining Neighbourhood Strengthens Strategic Value
The project is surrounded by long-life, multi-million-ounce gold operations, including Florida Canyon and the Rochester expansion. With comparable host geology and open-pit cut-off grades around 0.13 g/t Au in the district, even moderate grades at Humboldt could be economically meaningful. Proximity to infrastructure and processing capacity enhances optionality, including potential corporate interest.
Mineralogical Similarities to Producing Operations
Management notes geological similarities to nearby operations in the Rochester-style host rocks, with head grades in the district averaging approximately 0.45 g/t Au. PolarX believes its discovery could deliver higher grades, though drilling remains at an early stage. The geological setting supports the thesis that Humboldt Range may represent a scalable, heap-leach style gold system.
Northern Star Strategic Backing and Alaska Range Upside
Northern Star Resources holds approximately 14% of PolarX and is earning into the Alaska Range Project under a five-year farm-in agreement. Year one drilling has been completed, with US$2 million remaining in the joint venture budget and US$6 million scheduled to be contributed at the end of March. Technical collaboration, including comprehensive historical core logging, reflects a systematic approach to unlocking value at Caribou Dome and across the broader Alaska Range tenure.
Aggressive 20,000-Metre Drilling Campaign Planned
PolarX is planning at least 10,000 metres of drilling in Nevada and a further 10,000 metres in Alaska during the upcoming field season. With approximately US$8 million (~A$12 million) available across programmes, the company is well-funded to accelerate discovery definition and resource potential. The scale of planned activity signals a transformational period over the next 12 months

Tuesday Feb 24, 2026

Venari Minerals is advancing what could become the third highest-grade lithium resource in the United States — and the company is focused on building 20 high-margin years, not a century-scale operation.
Managing Director Matt Healy joins The Hole Truth to unpack the scale and grade of the resource, including a 47.9Mt high-grade zone grading just under 2,200ppm lithium. He explains why beneficiation and 98% leach recoveries could materially reduce acid consumption — the key operating cost lever in sedimentary lithium — and how upcoming infill drilling aims to convert the current Inferred resource to higher-confidence categories.
The discussion also explores the accelerating U.S. critical minerals policy backdrop, shortened permitting timeframes, and growing strategic interest from Japan and South Korea as global lithium supply chains realign.
For investors, the pathway is clear: resource upgrade, metallurgy, scoping study financials — and potential re-rating catalysts along the way.
 
Guest: Matt Healy
Company: Venari Minerals
Matt Healy is Managing Director of Venari Minerals, a U.S.-focused lithium exploration and development company advancing a high-grade sedimentary lithium project. Healy has extensive experience in resource project development, capital markets, and corporate strategy, with a focus on identifying and advancing critical minerals assets with strong geological fundamentals and strategic positioning.
 
 
Produced by Resource Media
 
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
 
The Hole Truth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-hole-truth-podcast
The Hole Truth YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI4sZkSfEpPi_u7OrD7lQ-tZHbdy6EhCC&si=iOcGscff7kMSw8c7
The Hole Truth Website: https://resourcesrisingstars.com.au/the-hole-truth-podcast/
The Hole Truth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theholetruthpodcast/
Company Website: https://venariminerals.com
Key Insights
High-Grade Lithium Resource Positioned Among the Top in the U.S.
Venari Minerals’ project ranks as the sixth highest-grade lithium resource in the United States on a headline basis. More notably, its northern high-grade zone—at 47.9Mt grading just under 2,200ppm lithium at a higher cut-off—would rank as the third highest-grade lithium resource in the country if standalone. Grade concentration at scale is a critical differentiator in sedimentary lithium economics.
Targeting 20 High-Margin Years Rather Than Maximum Scale
While mega-projects such as Thacker Pass host more than 60Mt of contained lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), Venari’s strategy is capital discipline over size. The company is targeting approximately 20 high-grade, high-margin production years rather than pursuing century-scale mine life. This approach aligns capital intensity with realistic financing pathways and return optimisation.
Metallurgical Results De-Risk Operating Cost Profile
Scoping-level leachability testwork has achieved up to 98% lithium recovery, an exceptional outcome for sedimentary-hosted lithium. Beneficiation testwork upgraded material from ~1,000ppm to ~2,400ppm lithium while retaining 85% of contained lithium and rejecting 65% of waste. Critically, this has the potential to halve acid consumption—typically the largest operating cost line item—materially improving project economics.
Clear Pathway to Resource Upgrade and Re-Rating Catalysts
The current resource is entirely Inferred, presenting a clear pathway for value creation through infill drilling and conversion to Indicated and Measured categories. Resource confidence upgrades historically support market re-ratings, particularly when coupled with additional metallurgical validation. A scoping study targeted by year-end is expected to deliver the project’s first financial framework.
Strategic Tailwinds from U.S. Critical Minerals Policy
Recent U.S. executive actions focused on energy security and critical minerals are accelerating permitting and unlocking government-backed financing channels. Institutions such as the Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank are increasingly active in critical minerals funding, while strategic stakes in domestic producers signal policy support. Growing investment interest from Japan and South Korea—particularly amid tariff-driven supply chain realignment—further enhances the strategic optionality of high-grade U.S. lithium assets like Venari’s.

Tuesday Feb 10, 2026

In this episode of The Hole Truth, Bellavista Resources Managing Director Glenn Jardine outlines the investment case for the Pickle Crow Gold Project in Ontario, Canada.
With 2.8 million ounces in current resources and 1.5 million ounces historically produced, Pickle Crow is already a large-scale gold system. Glenn discusses why the next phase of value creation lies in near-mine resource extensions, underexplored regional targets, and the application of modern exploration techniques across a historically rich gold belt.
The conversation also covers Bellavista’s A$35 million funding position, strong institutional backing, and how the company is positioning itself for resource growth and value accretion in one of Canada’s most prolific gold districts.
 
Guest Bio
Glenn Jardine is a mining executive with experience across gold exploration, project acquisition, and capital markets. He is the Managing Director of Bellavista Resources, where he is leading the acquisition and advancement of the Pickle Crow Gold Project in Ontario, Canada, with a focus on resource growth, near-mine extensions, and regional exploration upside.
 
 
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
Links
The Hole Truth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-hole-truth-podcast
The Hole Truth YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI4sZkSfEpPi_u7OrD7lQ-tZHbdy6EhCC&si=iOcGscff7kMSw8c7
The Hole Truth Website: https://resourcesrisingstars.com.au/the-hole-truth-podcast/
The Hole Truth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theholetruthpodcast/
Company Website: https://bellavistaresources.com.au/
Key Insights
Established Gold Asset with Significant Scale
The Pickle Crow Gold Project already hosts a 2.8Moz gold resource, with a further 1.5Moz historically produced between 1935 and 1966 at grades of approximately 0.5oz/t. This places the project’s combined gold endowment above 4Moz, providing a strong platform for future resource growth.
Near-Mine Extensions Offer Immediate Upside
Initial drilling is expected to focus on areas close to existing workings, targeting resource extensions and potential new discoveries. This strategy allows Bellavista to pursue relatively low-risk growth while building momentum early in the exploration program.
Underexplored Regional Potential
Large portions of the broader landholding remain lightly drilled, despite sitting within a highly mineralised gold belt. Modern aeromagnetic and LIDAR surveys completed in 2023 represent the first systematic application of contemporary exploration tools, highlighting early-stage but material discovery potential.
Well-Capitalised Exploration Strategy
Bellavista completed a two-stage capital raise totalling approximately A$35 million as part of the acquisition, exceeding its original funding target. Strong institutional support provides the balance sheet capacity to fund both near-mine drilling and later-stage regional exploration.
Strategic Positioning in a Prolific Gold Belt
The project is located within a gold belt that has produced or hosts more than 40Moz of gold, reinforcing its geological credentials. Relative to peers, the company offers leverage to exploration success and potential valuation uplift as drilling results and resource growth are delivered.

Tuesday Feb 03, 2026

Trek Metals could be on the cusp of a world-class manganese discovery in WA's
Kimberley region. Extremely high-grade manganese has already been outlined
over 750 metres, and geophysics suggests it could be much, much bigger than
that.
The company is working through an exploration program that will culminate in
a drilling program in the next three months.
Produced by Resource Media
The Hole Truth: Mining Investment Podcast is a product of Read Corporate.
Please note that Read Corporate does not provide investment advice and investors should seek personalised advice before making any investment decisions.
Links
The Hole Truth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-hole-truth-podcastThe Hole Truth YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI4sZkSfEpPi_u7OrD7lQ-tZHbdy6EhCC&si=iOcGscff7kMSw8c7The Hole Truth Website: https://resourcesrisingstars.com.au/the-hole-truth-podcast/The Hole Truth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theholetruthpodcast/Company Website: https://trekmetals.com.au

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