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Agriculture Market Update: Q2 2025 in Review

Investing 7 Mins Read

Fertilizer prices continued to rise in Q2, driven by supply shortages as well as fallout from US tariffs.

According to data from the World Bank, the average quarterly phosphate price rose to US$673.20 per metric ton (MT) during the April to June period, up from US$600.50 in Q1 and US$536.70 recorded in the second quarter of 2024.

On a monthly basis, the price averaged US$715.40 in June, up from US$582.70 in January.

Potash prices have also gained since the start of the year, with the quarterly average rising to US$359.20 per MT from US$319.20 in Q1. The monthly price posted consistent increases, rising to US$363.13 in June from US$302 in January.

What factors impacted phosphate in Q2?

Phosphate prices have risen over the last several years as China, the world’s largest supplier, continues to impose export restrictions on the amount of fertilizers allowed to leave the country.

Between 2021 and 2024, China’s phosphate exports experienced significant declines, falling from 9 million MT to 6.6 million MT. Then, in December 2024, China halted new export applications for phosphate due to the rising cost of sulfur, which is necessary for separating phosphates from rock.

In an April 22 article, Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at StoneX, noted that during the first three months of 2022, China exported 950,000 MT of phosphate, but only 13,000 MT during the same period in 2025.

At the time, Linville suggested that even if there were to be a shift in Chinese policy during the second quarter, it might not lead to an increase in exports due to a lack of inventory in the country.

“It appears that while they have increased their urea export quota, the same is not expected for phosphate. We continue to believe that domestic demand has been raised due to a combination of agriculture and industrial demand spikes.’

India is among the main drivers of agricultural demand, and the country has been working to rebuild its stockpiles of fertilizer since they reached a low of 1.1 million MT in late 2024. With Chinese supply missing from the equation, importers have had to pay premiums to other major producers in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

The result has led to a 44 percent increase in Indian imports, which are expected to reach 1.09 million MT for July and 2.16 million MT for the April to July period, while also pushing prices for phosphate upward.

Adding to market stressors since the start of the year are tariffs on products entering the US. As Linville pointed out, phosphate production is limited mainly to five countries: China, Morocco, Russia, the US and Saudi Arabia.

The US is not able to meet domestic demand and has been reliant on Saudi Arabia, which was free of tariffs until it came under the umbrella of Trump’s 10 percent baseline tariffs when he announced them on April 1.

However, given the tightness in the phosphate market, suppliers are unlikely to absorb any additional costs.

“Globally, supplies are very tight, and demand continues to be high, so global manufacturers can be picky about where they send their products. Given that they want to make more money, they are likely deciding to send the product to their highest netback location. Saudi Arabia has been heard telling US customers that they have no problem sending products to the US if they pay the tariff rate,” Linville explained. He added that the extra 10 percent on the current phosphate prices is a significant cost, and will ultimately flow down to US farmers.

What factors impacted potash in Q2?

Potash prices have steadily increased since the start of the year, but the market has been relatively quiet.

“Today, potash is seeing a little price support due to perceived tight supplies and large demand,’ said Linville.

Since the start of the year, potash prices have increased by 20 percent, rising to US$363 in June from US$302 in January. On a year-on-year basis, the June price is up 17 percent from the US$310 recorded in 2024. However, prices are far from the all-time high of US$1,200 set in April 2022 as supply lines were disrupted after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

With minimal potash production of its own, the US is reliant on imports. Traditionally, those have come from Canada, which is the world’s top supplier of fertilizer, but also to a lesser extent, Russia, which is number two.

While uncertainty remains about whether tariffs will have a direct effect on prices for potash, Linville suggested that there may be some cost increases stemming from this uncertainty.

“To date, Russia has not had a duty or tariff regarding potash, so the product has been allowed to flow freely. Our belief is that Canadian potash has never been subjected to an actual tariff rate given its standing on the North American trade agreements. However, with so much confusion regarding what is real and what is not out there, the fear that it might be included helped to push prices higher almost constantly since the start of 2025,’ he said.

‘Again, those prices make their way to the farm gate.’

New supply set to come online includes BHP’s (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) Jansen mine in Saskatchewan. It was originally set to start production in 2026; however, in its Q2 operational review, released on July 18, BHP announced that the project costs had ballooned to the US$7 billion to US$7.4 billion range, up from US$5.7 billion.

The increase has impacted the project’s timeline. Up until the announcement, development was ahead of schedule and was expected to start in 2026, but it has since reverted to the original timeline that will see it begin in 2027.

Additionally, BHP said it was considering pushing the second stage of production back to 2031 while it undergoes a CAPEX review, citing the potential for additional potash supply coming to market in the medium term.

“The comment about the medium-term supply outlook was a rather small and inconspicuous part of the announcement, but I continue to believe it says loads more about the outlook,” Linville said about BHP’s decision to review stage two.

Potash and phosphate price forecast for 2025

The phosphate market is unlikely to change in the near term.

There isn’t much expectation that China will increase supply, and while there are some significant projects in the works, how many will enter the production is yet to be seen as demand continues to increase from the battery sector.

Linville sees a continuation of current trends, noting that the market isn’t in a place to recover quickly:

“A major discussion point has been surrounding demand destruction that is anticipated. The hope is that this will help values to fall. Unfortunately, I think the market continues to underestimate how bad of a shape phosphate is in.’

As for potash, Linville expects the market to maintain stability.

“My longer-term outlook is that potash values will see relatively little price volatility, and that lower prices should become common. However, the stage appears set for 2025. Summer fill programs have been successful. Demand continues to look good. Anything is possible, but it appears price structures for potash are stable to higher,” he said.

Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Lode Gold Completes Final Tranche Financing for Total $1.51 Million

Investing 6 Mins Read

Lode Gold Resources Inc. (TSXV: LOD,OTC:LODFF) (OTCQB: LODFF) (‘Lode Gold’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that it has completed the third and final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering for $1 million. In this final tranche, the Company has raised an additional $326,780 through the issuance of 1,815,446 Units at a price of $0.18 per Unit. The Company has now raised a total of $1,513,768 through the issuance of 8,409,825 Units.

Each $0.18 unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of $0.35 per common share for a period of three years following the date of closing.

The Company may accelerate the warrant expiry date if the Company’s shares trade at $0.65 or more for a period of 10 days, including days where no trading occurs. The closing of the offering is expected to occur one business day following receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

The proceeds raised from the offering will go toward execution of the business plans for Lode Gold and its subsidiary, Gold Orogen (BC 1475039 Ltd.).

About Lode Gold

Lode Gold (TSXV: LOD,OTC:LODFF) is an exploration and development company with projects in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions in Canada and the United States.

In Canada Lode Gold holds assets in the Yukon and New Brunswick. Lode Gold’s Yukon assets are located on the southern portion of the prolific Tombstone Belt and cover approximately 99.5 km2 across a 27 km strike. Over 4,500 m have been drilled on the Yukon assets with confirmed gold endowment and economic drill intercepts over 50 m. There are four reduced-intrusive targets (RIRGS), in addition to sedimentary-hosted orogenic exploration gold.

In New Brunswick, Lode Gold, through its subsidiary 1475039 B.C. Ltd., has created one of the largest land packages in the province with its Acadian Gold Joint Venture, consisting of an area that spans 445 km2 with a 44 km strike. It has confirmed gold endowment with mineralized rhyolites.

In the United States, the Company is focused on its advanced exploration and development asset, the Fremont Mine in Mariposa, California. It has a recent 2025 NI 43-101 report and compliant MRE that can be accessed here https://lode-gold.com/project/freemont-gold-usa/.

Fremont was previously mined until gold mining prohibition in WWII, when its mining license was suspended. Only 8% of the resource identified in the 2025 MRE has been extracted. This asset has exploration upside and is open at depth (three step-out holes at 1,300 m hit structure and were mineralized) and on strike. This is a brownfield project with over 43,000 m drilled, 23 km of underground workings and 14 adits. The project has excellent infrastructure with close access to electricity, water, state highways, railhead and port.

The Company recently completed an internal scoping study evaluating the potential to resume operations at Fremont based on 100% underground mining. Previously, in March 2023, the Company completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (‘PEA’) in accordance with NI 43-101 which evaluated a mix of open pit and underground mining. The PEA and other technical reports prepared on the Company’s properties are available on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Company’s website (www.lode-gold.com).

ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY
Wendy T. Chan
CEO & Director

Information Contact:

Wendy T. Chan
CEO
info@lode-gold.com
+1-(604)-977-GOLD (4653)

Kevin Shum
Investor Relations
kevin@lode-gold.com
+1 (604) -977-GOLD (4653)

Cautionary Note Related to this News Release and Figures

This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which the Company has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Company’s properties.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes ‘forward-looking statements’ and ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the use of proceeds, advancement and completion of resource calculation, feasibility studies, and exploration plans and targets. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘potential’, ‘target’, ‘budget’ and ‘intend’ and statements that an event or result ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘could’ or ‘might’ occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: the status of community relations and the security situation on site; general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; the supply and demand for, inventories of, and the level and volatility of the prices of metals; relationships with strategic partners; the timing and receipt of governmental permits and approvals; the timing and receipt of community and landowner approvals; changes in regulations; political factors; the accuracy of the Company’s interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company’s mineral deposits; the availability of equipment, skilled labour and services needed for the exploration and development of mineral properties; currency fluctuations; and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include a deterioration of security on site or actions by the local community that inhibits access and/or the ability to productively work on site, actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, unknown impact related to potential business disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, or another infectious illness, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading ‘Risks and Uncertainties’ in the Company’s most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261839

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Editor's pick

Lawsuit accuses Apple of stealing trade secrets to create Apple Pay

Editor's pick 2 Mins Read

Apple has been sued by a Texas company that accused the iPhone maker of stealing its technology to create its lucrative mobile wallet Apple Pay.

In a complaint made public on Thursday, Fintiv said Apple Pay’s key features were based on technology developed by CorFire, which Fintiv bought in 2014, and now used in hundreds of millions of iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and MacBooks.

Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Fintiv, based in Austin, Texas, said Apple held multiple meetings in 2011 and 2012 and entered nondisclosure agreements with CorFire aimed at licensing its mobile wallet technology, to capitalize on fast-growing demand for contactless payments.

Instead, and with the help of CorFire employees it lured away, Apple used the technology and trade secrets to launch Apple Pay in the United States and dozens of other countries, beginning in 2014, the complaint said.

Fintiv also said Apple has led an informal racketeering enterprise by using Apple Pay to generate fees for credit card issuers such as Bank of America, Capital One, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, and the payment networks American Express, Mastercard and Visa.

“This is a case of corporate theft and racketeering of monumental proportions,” enabling Cupertino, California-based Apple to generate billions of dollars of revenue without paying Fintiv “a single penny,” the complaint said.

In a statement, Fintiv’s lawyer Marc Kasowitz called Apple’s conduct “one of the most egregious examples of corporate malfeasance” he has seen in 45 years of law practice.

The lawsuit in Atlanta federal court seeks compensatory and punitive damages for violations of federal and Georgia trade secrets and anti-racketeering laws, including RICO.

Apple is the only defendant. CorFire was based in Alpharetta, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb.

On August 4, a federal judge in Austin dismissed Fintiv’s related patent infringement lawsuit against Apple, four days after rejecting some of Fintiv’s claims, court records show.

Fintiv agreed to the dismissal, and plans to “appeal on the existing record,” the records show.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Bed Bath & Beyond relaunches with first store in Nashville, plans dozens more

Editor's pick 3 Mins Read

Bed Bath & Beyond is back — kind of.

The bankrupt home goods chain is being resurrected by the owners and licensees of its intellectual property, which opened the first new Bed Bath & Beyond store in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday with potentially dozens of more to come.

This time around, the store has a new name — Bed Bath & Beyond Home — and marks a “fresh start” for the beloved brand, said Amy Sullivan, the CEO of The Brand House Collective, the store’s operator.

“We’re proud to reintroduce one of retail’s most iconic names with the launch of Bed Bath & Beyond Home, beautifully reimagined for how families gather at home today,” Sullivan said in a news release. “With Bed Bath & Beyond Home we’re delivering on our mission to offer great brands, for any budget, in every room. It’s a powerful addition to our portfolio and a meaningful step forward in our transformation.”

In honor of the brand’s legacy, the new store will accept the brand’s famous 20% coupon, regardless of when it expired.

“We encourage guests to bring in their legacy Bed Bath & Beyond coupons which we will gladly honor,” the company said in a news release. “The coupon we all know and love is back and for those who need one, a fresh version will be waiting at the door.”

Bed Bath and Beyond 2.0 has been several years in the making and involved a rigmarole of corporate acquisitions and rebrandings. When the original Bed Bath and Beyond filed for bankruptcy in April 2023 following a string of corporate missteps, it struggled to find a buyer and ended up liquidating and selling off its business in parts. Overstock.com later bought the brand’s intellectual property, rebranded its business to Beyond Inc. and launched an online-only version of Bed Bath and Beyond.

What followed from there was a dizzying array of corporate deal-making. Ultimately, Beyond took an ownership stake in Kirkland’s Inc., a home decor chain with around 300 stores across the U.S., and gave it the exclusive license to develop and create Bed Bath & Beyond Home stores, as well as Buy Buy Baby stores.

Kirkland’s later rebranded to The Brand House Collective and plans to convert some of its existing Kirkland’s Home stores into more Bed Bath and Beyond shops. Friday’s launch in Nashville is the first of six planned for the market and, pending the results, it plans to convert around 75 additional stores through 2026.

The company said it chose Nashville for the launch because of its proximity to its corporate headquarters, which will allow it to “closely manage every detail and set the standard for future rollouts.”

While the relaunch is exciting for fans of the legacy brand, it comes at a difficult time for the home decor market. In many ways, Bed Bath & Beyond’s bankruptcy was the fault of its management team and execution missteps, but it also faced macro challenges as well, experts said at the time. Competition from players like Amazon, Walmart, Home Goods and Wayfair has made it harder for other brands to capture customer spend, and the overall sector has been soft for several years because of high interest rates and the sluggish housing market.

Even the current leaders in the home decor space have seen soft trends and it’s unlikely that will change until interest rates fall and the housing market picks back up, some analysts have said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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Helium Stocks: 5 Biggest Canadian Companies in 2025

Investing 4 Mins Read

Demand for helium is rising alongside the semiconductor, healthcare and nuclear energy sectors.

Produced from natural gas wells, helium is an odorless, colorless, non-toxic, non-combustible and non-corrosive gas. While it may bring to mind birthday balloons, the element is an important industrial gas due to its cooling properties.

Helium has several critical applications across various industries witnessing market growth, including the manufacturing of semiconductors and electronics, medical imaging and nuclear power generation.

Global helium supply is mainly attributable to production at liquefaction facilities spread across the US, Qatar, Algeria, Russia, Australia, Canada, Poland and China. However, increasing demand for helium as an industrial gas is spurring further exploration and development of helium projects, including in Canada and in the US.

1. Pulsar Helium (TSXV:PLSR)

Market cap: C$46.05 million

Pulsar Helium is a helium project development company with assets in the United States and Greenland.

The company’s Topaz project in Minnesota is the newest helium discovery in the US, and drilling at its Jetstream #1 well in 2024 demonstrated high helium concentrations of 14.5 percent. Pulsar is also the first company in Greenland to obtain a license for helium exploration. According to the company, its Tunu helium-geothermal project in the country is one of just a few primary helium projects in Europe.

At Topaz, Pulsar is conducting a well flow testing program at the Jetstream prospect during the summer to gain data necessary to assess the project’s production potential. As for Tunu, a pre-feasibility study is underway at the project and is slated for completion by the end of August 2025.

2. Desert Mountain Energy (TSXV:DME)

Market cap: C$18.84 million

Next up on this list of top Canadian helium stocks is Desert Mountain Energy, a company engaged in the exploration, development and production of helium, hydrogen, natural gas and condensate projects in the US. Its key helium project is the West Pecos gas field in New Mexico, where it has a fully operational helium processing facility. It also owns the high-grade Holbrook Basin helium project in Arizona.

In 2025, Desert Mountain Energy is expanding into the international market with the formation of its wholly owned subsidiary Desert Energy UK, which has secured a substantial onshore exploration license for helium and hydrogen in Devon, United Kingdom.

3. Helium Evolution (TSXV:HEVI)

Market cap: C$12.07 million

Helium Evolution is a helium exploration company with over 5 million acres of helium land rights in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada. The company holds a 20 percent working interest in helium wells on joint lands with North American Helium, which is advancing the joint 2-31 discovery, with development wells planned for late 2025.

Earlier this year, Helium Evolution formed a collaboration agreement and secured a substantial investment from ENEOS Explora USA, a subsidiary of Japanese energy conglomerate ENEOS Group (TSE:5020), through two private placements. The second, closed in May, brought ENEOS’ total stake in Helium Evolution to about 28 percent.

4. Avanti Helium (TSXV:AVN)

Market cap: C$11.97 million

Avanti Helium’s helium exploration and development assets include approximately 78,000 acres within the Greater Knappen area, which covers land in both Southern Alberta, Canada, and Northwest Montana, US. It also owns approximately 63,000 acres of prospective helium permits within Southwest Saskatchewan.

Avanti’s Sweetgrass pool project in Montana is on track to achieve helium production in Q4 of 2025, the company stated in its April investor presentation. The company has two wells at Sweetgrass capable of total gas production of approximately 18,500 million cubic feet per day at 1.1 percent helium.

In August, Avanti announced it signed a multi-year offtake agreement with a global industrial gas supplier for a minimum monthly helium purchase volume equivalent to about one third of Sweetgrass’ initial plant output.

5. Altura Energy (TSXV:ALTU)

Market cap: C$8.21 million

Altura Energy is an exploration and production company which holds 27,000 acres in the Holbrook basin of Arizona, where its wells produce helium at concentrations of 5 percent to 8 percent. The company has a development plan for over 300 wells, with nine wells currently connected to a pipeline and an additional 10 wells at various stages of completion.

Formerly known as Total Helium, the company completed a name change and share consolidation in May 2025. In June, Altura announced it closed an up-sized brokered private placement for C$1.99 million, a quarter of which was used to settle outstanding indebtedness, with proceeds also planned for working capital.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Pinnacle Closes Oversubscribed Non-Brokered Private Placement

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(TheNewswire)

The net proceeds raised from the Offering will be used to advance the high-grade El Potrero gold-silver project in Durango, Mexico, and for general working capital.

All securities to be issued will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance and subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.  The securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 , as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

Insiders subscribed for an aggregate of 3,108,333 Units for a total of $186,500.  As insiders of Pinnacle participated in the financing, it is deemed to be a ‘related party transaction’ within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘MI 61- 101’).  Pinnacle is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, on the basis that the fair market value of the transaction does not exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.  The Company will be filing a material change report in respect of the related party transaction on SEDAR.

About Pinnacle Silver and Gold Corp.

Pinnacle is focused on district-scale exploration for precious metals in the Americas.  The high-grade Potrero gold-silver project in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Belt hosts an underexplored low-sulphidation epithermal vein system and provides the potential for near-term production . In the prolific Red Lake District of northwestern Ontario, the Company owns a 100% interest in the past-producing, high-grade Argosy Gold Mine and the adjacent North Birch Project with an eight-kilometre-long target horizon . With a seasoned, highly successful management team and quality projects, Pinnacle Silver and Gold is committed to building long -term , sustainable value for shareholders.

Signed: ‘Robert A. Archer’

President & CEO

For further information contact :

Email: info@pinnaclesilverandgold.com

Tel.:  +1 (877) 271-5886 ext. 110

Website: www.pinnaclesilverandgold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release .

Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

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Codelco Seeks Partial Restart at El Teniente Mine After Fatal Collapse

Investing 4 Mins Read

Chile’s state-owned copper giant Codelco is seeking approval to restart parts of its flagship El Teniente mine less than a week after a deadly collapse killed six workers and forced a full suspension of operations, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The accident, triggered by a 4.2-magnitude seismic event last Thursday (July 31), halted production at the world’s largest underground copper mine.

Codelco has formally requested Chile’s National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) to allow a partial reopening of the mine, pending approval of safety and technical evaluations, two sources told Reuters.

The cave-in, which was triggered by the earthquake, occurred more than 900 meters underground and initially trapped five miners.

Their bodies were recovered over several days by a rescue team of more than 100 people, including veterans of Chile’s 2010 San José mine rescue. The body of a sixth miner, who was killed at the time of the collapse, was recovered earlier.

“We deeply regret this outcome,” said O’Higgins Region Prosecutor Aquiles Cubillo on Sunday, confirming the final recovery. He offered no additional details on the cause of the collapse, which remains under investigation.

Operations at El Teniente were formally suspended by Sernageomin, Chile’s geology and mining agency, shortly after the incident.

It also instructed Codelco to submit four comprehensive technical reports before any restart can be authorized. The reports must include: an analysis of the collapse’s cause, a recovery plan, an assessment of current fortification systems, and a wider structural evaluation.

While underground mining has stopped, Codelco has maintained limited activity at El Teniente. The company is conducting ongoing maintenance at the processing plant and smelter, including operations at the smelter’s anode furnaces every two hours to keep critical equipment in operable condition.

Codelco said it had responded to three separate information requests from Sernageomin and Chile’s Labor Inspectorate, but added that it could not yet estimate the financial or operational impact of the suspension.

Scrutiny on safety standards

Mining Minister Aurora Williams ordered the temporary cessation of activities at the mine over the weekend. Meanwhile, Energy and Mining Minister Diego Pacheco said on Sunday that Codelco would commission an international audit to understand what went wrong.

“We’re going to commission an international audit to determine what we did wrong,” Pacheco said. While no formal complaints had been received about the safety conditions of the site, he pledged that a full investigation and appropriate corrective measures are underway.

El Teniente, located about 100 kilometers south of Santiago in the Andes mountains, is a cornerstone of Codelco’s operations and Chile’s mining economy.

It produced 356,000 metric tons of copper in 2024, nearly 7 percent of the country’s total output. The mine has operated for over a century and contains a labyrinth of more than 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) of tunnels.

The seismic event that triggered the collapse, while relatively mild by global standards. has raised questions about the structural integrity of older sections of the mine and the adequacy of current fortification systems.

A blow to expansion efforts

The accident is a significant setback for Codelco as it seeks to modernize its aging infrastructure and boost production after years of underinvestment.

The collapsed area is believed to be part of the Andesita section of the mine, a relatively small but strategically important component of El Teniente’s broader expansion, which includes the Andes Norte and Diamante projects.

The Andesita development is intended to help offset declines in older zones and maintain output levels through the next decade. Its disruption will likely ripple through Codelco’s project pipeline, which is already under pressure due to rising costs.

Though Chile boasts one of the world’s safest mining sectors – a fatality rate of just 0.02 percent in 2024 – the string of incidents at Codelco sites has drawn concern from unions and regulators alike.

The industry’s worst accident remains the 1945 fire at El Teniente, which killed 355 miners and stands as one of the deadliest mining disasters in history.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Sranan Gold Trenching Encounters 36.7 Grams/Tonne Gold over 5 Metres, 150 Metres South of Randy’s Pit at the Tapanahony Project in Suriname

Investing 5 Mins Read

Sranan Gold Corp. (CSE: SRAN) (FSE: P84) (Tradegate: P84) (‘Sranan’ or the ‘Company’) announces three channel samples with an apparent width of 5 metres that averaged 36.7 gramstonne (gt) gold were sampled in trench 25RACH-001, the first trench of an ongoing trenching program at the Tapanahony Project in Suriname.

This initial trench is located 150 metres south of Randy’s Pit, which is the largest artisanal mine within the Tapanahony Project. The previously announced high-grade grab samples from underground workings within Randy’s Pit (76.6 g/t and 23.7 g/t gold – see news release dated July 31, 2025) are located approximately 350 metres to the north.

The mineralization intersected in this generally north-south oriented trench trends to the northwest. These results represent the projection of gold mineralization beyond Randy’s Pit to the south. This high-grade interval was missed in historical drilling. Gold mineralization is hosted within sugary textured transposed quartz veins that are associated with sericite-limonite alteration and oxidized pyrite relics. The trench sampled upper saprolite material at the contact zone between sheared sedimentary and granitic rocks, which is an excellent host for gold as seen at the Antino Project, majority owned by Founders Metals, as well as elsewhere in the Guiana Shield.

Table 1: Recent results of trench 25RACH-001.

Sample ID Easting Northing FROM (m) TO (m) INTERVAL (m) FA Au (g/T)
1862834 766510.6 454973.7 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.3
1862835 766510.6 454973.7 2.0 4.0 2.0 0.2
1862836 766511.1 454974.1 4.0 6.0 2.0 25.1
1862837 766510.4 454975.2 6.0 8.0 2.0 48.1
1862838 766511.9 454974.8 8.0 9.0 1.0 37.3
1862839 766510.8 454974.8 9.0 10.0 1.0 0.5
1862840 766510.8 454975.7 10.0 12.0 2.0 0.3
1862841 766510.0 454975.7 12.0 14.0 2.0 0.7

 

Dr. Dennis LaPoint, Executive VP of Exploration and Corporate Development, commented: ‘This initial trench further confirms the potential to extend the Randy trend. Multiple gold systems in Suriname are related to complex, multi-stage deformation zones that include tension veins that enhance grade. The ongoing trenching program is designed to further extend the strike length of the Randy trend. Trenching will be conducted simultaneously with drilling on the Randy trend.’

Samples were prepared and assayed by Filab in Paramaribo, Suriname. All samples >2 g/T were re-assayed with 50-gram re-assay and gravimetric assay. Standard QA/QC procedures were followed which showed a satisfactory level of reproducibility. Reject samples will be sent to an independent lab for confirmation of assay results following standard procedures. Channel sampling, trenching and drilling are used to determine average grade and thickness. The Company notes that the channel samples may not represent true thickness of mineralization.

About Sranan Gold

Sranan Gold Corp. is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Suriname. The highly prospective Tapanahony Project is located in the heart of Suriname’s modern-day gold rush. Tapanahony covers 29,000 hectares in one of the oldest and largest small-scale mining areas in Suriname.

Sranan Gold also owns the Aida Property consisting of five mineral claims covering an area of 2,335.42 hectares on the Shuswap Highland within the Kamloops Mining Division.

For more information, visit sranangold.com.

Qualified Person

Dr. Dennis J. LaPoint, Ph.D., P.Geo. a ‘qualified person’ as defined under National Instrument 43‐101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this release. Dr. LaPoint is not independent of Sranan Gold, as he is the Company’s Executive VP of Exploration and Corporate Development.

Information contact
Oscar Louzada, CEO
+31 6 25438975

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this release constitute ‘forward-looking statements’ or ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, without limitation, the timing, nature, scope and details regarding the Company’s exploration plans and results at its projects. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as ‘may’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘will’, ‘intend’, ‘expect’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘scheduled’, ‘forecast’, ‘predict’ and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results ‘may’, ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or ‘will’ be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company’s current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release. Further details about the risks applicable to the Company are contained in the Company’s public filings available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), under the Company’s profile.

Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261600

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

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Claire’s, known for piercing millions of teens’ ears, files for Chapter 11

Editor's pick 3 Mins Read

Mall-based teen accessories retailer Claire’s, known for helping usher millions of teens into an important rite of passage — ear piercing — but now struggling with a big debt load and changing consumer tastes, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Claire’s Holdings LLC and certain of its U.S. and Gibraltar-based subsidiaries — collectively Claire’s U.S., the operator of Claire’s and Icing stores across the United States, made the filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware on Wednesday. That marked the second time since 2018 and for a similar reason: high debt load and the shift among teens heading online away from physical stores.

Claire’s Chapter 11 filing follows the bankruptcies of other teen retailers including Forever 21, which filed in March for bankruptcy protection for a second time and eventually closed down its U.S. business as traffic in U.S. shopping malls fades and competition from online retailers like Amazon, Temu and Shein intensifies.

Claire’s, based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois and founded in 1974, said that its stores in North America will remain open and will continue to serve customers, while it explores all strategic alternatives. Claire’s operates more than 2,750 Claire’s stores in 17 countries throughout North America and Europe and 190 Icing stores in North America.

In a court filing, Claire’s said its assets and liabilities range between $1 billion and $10 billion.

“This decision is difficult, but a necessary one,” Chris Cramer, CEO of Claire’s, said in a press release issued Wednesday. “Increased competition, consumer spending trends and the ongoing shift away from brick-and-mortar retail, in combination with our current debt obligations and macroeconomic factors, necessitate this course of action for Claire’s and its stakeholders.”

Like many retailers, Claire’s was also struggling with higher costs tied to President Donald Trump’s tariff plans, analysts said.

Cramer said that the company remains in “active discussions” with potential strategic and financial partners. He noted that the company remains committed to serving its customers and partnering with its suppliers and landlords in other regions. Claire’s also intends to continue paying employees’ wages and benefits, and it will seek approval to use cash collateral to support its operations.

Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, a research firm, noted in a note published Wednesday Claire’s bankruptcy filing comes as “no real surprise.”

“The chain has been swamped by a cocktail of problems, both internal and external, that made it impossible to stay afloat,” he wrote.

Saunders noted that internally, Claire’s struggled with high debt levels that made its operations unstable and said the cash crunch left it with little choice but to reorganize through bankruptcy.

He also noted that tariffs have pushed costs higher, and he believed that Claire’s is not in a position to manage this latest challenge effectively.

Competition has also become sharper and more intense over recent years, with retailers like jewelry chain Lovisa offering younger shoppers a more sophisticated assortment at low prices. He also cited the growing competition with online players like Amazon.

“Reinventing will be a tall order in the present environment,” he added.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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