Coffee with Samso Samso

Samso Insight Episode 118 is with Justin Virgin, Executive Director of Terrain Minerals Limited (ASX: TMX)
Commodity pricing has a history for being volatile and it is especially susceptible to sovereign risks. The ups and downs of the mineral resources sector on the ASX is a direct reflection of the volatile commodity chart. Pricing of commodities are constantly evolving and retreating which makes the fortunes of ASX companies in this sector exciting and depressing, depending on which the investor's circumstances.

In this episode of Samso Insights, we look at Terrain Minerals Limited (ASX: TMX). We speak with Justin Virgin who is the Executive Director of the company. I came across Terrain Minerals at the 2024 RIU Conference in Sydney. What looked like a non-descript booth became an interesting proposition when we Justin explained to me the different views on their projects.

Terrain Minerals main story is the potential for a Gallium player who has been flying under the radar. The Gallium sector is small but lucrative. Figure 1 below highlight the bullish nature of the pricing and it is forecast to continue on that trend in years to come.

 

Figure 1: Gallium price chart. (Source: https://strategicmetalsinvest.com/gallium-prices/)

From an exploration point of view, the projects that Terrain have a grassroots and there is no hiding form the fact that there is a lot of work to do and there are also a lot of room for error. Investors who look at Terrain from rom a valuation point of view and measuring risk as from that angle will like the market capitalisation of the company.

Check out the Samso Insight conversation with Justin and make your own decision.



  Samso's Conclusion
Terrain Minerals is one of those companies that you literally take a "punt". Personally, I like the Gallium but I don't know what is good and what is bad in terms of numbers. At the time of writing this blog, the company has released the results from their latest drilling. The numbers for the REE look ok but not mind blowing but I do not know how to comment on the Gallium numbers.

This would be a great opportunity for readers to give Justin a call and get it from the man himself.


  Chapters: 00:00 Start
00:20 Introduction
00:50 Justin introduce Terrain
02:38 The Gallium Story
03:58 What Kind of results are expected?
05:10 Is Saltbush the main project?
06:48 The Terrain Minerals Projects
09:14 Why Terrain Minerals?
10:30 Conclusion

Samso Insight Episode 119 is with Andrew Sparke, Executive Chair of QMines Limited (ASX: QML)
As the copper price continue to reach all time high status (Figure 1), compnaies such as QMines Limited suddenly comes as an interesting proposition. The resource is small but a recent Pre-Feasibility study is showing that the number could work. In this episode of Samso Insights, we have Andrew Sparke giving us a run down on what could be a copper producer in Queensland, Australia.

Figure 1: Copper price chart. (Source: Trading Economics)

The supply issue for copper has long been talked about and the market seem to have finally caught onto the nearing desperate nature of supply. The aging copper mines are facing rising cost and some of the major mines are also facing sovereign issues. To add to the supply issue, several developing mines are facing question on jurisdiction.

I like companies like QMines as they are always undervalued and are constantly facing funding issues. As the market tightens, these stories begin to get noticed and their valuation begin to move. This is not an endorsement of QMines in any way, as there are still hurdles that could be deal breakers for the company. My comment is merely an observation that has stood the test of time historically.

Check out the Samso Insight conversation with Andrew and make your own decision.



Samso's Conclusion
QMines is a company that may offer investors an opportunity to get in on the copper run.
A rising commodity story that is still early in its journey with many unknowns of trivial hurdles or deal breaker hurdles. Andrew has explained how the story should work but as we know, he is the Executive Chair and his thoughts would deemed to be slightly biased.

That being said, my view is that one has to look at the options out there in the market place for a story that will fit the current narrative of "Need More Copper". QMines, assuming that the numbers continue to stack up will be one of the ones on my watchlist. Fortunately for us punters, the low valuation of companies due to a bearish sentiment in commodities has somewhat naturally reduced our risk.

As for the copper price, if it is to be believed, has a lot of legs to go. Some narratives have gone further and put the copper price at level much higher than Figure 1. I agree that it will go higher but I don't have an understanding on how high.

There are no doubts that the old copper mines are facing rising costs and this is not a small margin. One must remember that if household living expenses are stated to have increased be in the 30% mark, the increase of 30% or more in a mine will make a big difference. I would say that the cost of mining any commodity at the depths that these old copper mines are at will be significant.

At the end of the day, DYOR is the key to any decision making and one has to keep a keen eye on the copper space. When you think about what the implication will mean, the opportunity for shareholder value adding is enormous.

Chapters: 00:00 Start
00:20 Introduction
00:57 Andrew introduce QMines
02:45 Going through the details of PFS
07:05 The upside of Mt Chalmers.
09:36 Any Metallurgical Issues?
11:25 The Products
11:37 The Pyrite Value Story
12:57 Where is the disconnect with value and share price?
15:19 The issue of using Copper Equivalent number.
17:30 The Pros and Cons of taking a position in QMines.
23:17 The Copper Market
26:06 Why QMines?
20:57 Timing for Investors Exit?
27:43 THE CAPEX Advantage
28:45 Conclusion

Coffee with Samso 195 is all about the accessibility of the Jupiter Rare Earth project. This episode comes from the site of the project and lets audiences see why Jupiter is all about Location, Location, Location.
Venture Minerals Limited (ASX: VMS) is now finalising a drilling program to infill the Jupiter project as they work to build a maiden JORC resource for the project. It is also now brining management to site to see for themselves the ease of having a potential mining proposition.

Managing Director, Andrew Radonjic and the Chair, Mel Ashton is sharing with us their thought on this episode of Coffee with Samso. There are no revelations but a reinforcement to investors and shareholders that the potential for a mining operation will come with Tier 1 infrastructure and potential partners or off-takers.

Remembering the Reasons to Focus on the Jupiter REE project.
The fanfare on the Jupiter Rare Earth project is all about the ASX release by Venture Minerals on the 29th November 2023 (Jupiter Delivers over 7,000 ppm TREO assays from Maiden RC Drill Program) and the second round of results that was released on the 8th March 2024 (Jupiter Drilling Continues to Deliver Broad High-Grade REE Mineralisation including a Record NdPr Intersection of over 5,000 ppm). The investor interest that followed is now a

The share price has been very buoyant and when taken into context of the Rare Earth sector in general, Venture Minerals is doing very well. There is a keen interest in the market to see where this story will end up.


Check out the conversation with Andrew Radonjic below: Samso's Conclusion
In the lead up to the trip to the project, Andrew Radonjic had been taking a position that the location of the project could be a game changer and I have to say that it does make sense. The highway is within 2km from the edge of the tenement boundary, there is a gas

Chapters:
00:00 Start
00:55 Introduction to Mel Ashto3
00:53 Updates on Jupiter
04:34 The Potential Size of the Jupiter Resource
08:55 Potential Strategy for Jupiter Project
11:52 Could there be other High-Grade "Cores"?
17:54 Discussion on Metallurgy
20:52 Location, Location Location
23:56 How can Venture take advantage of the REE Market?
25:57 What would the Exit look like for potential investors?
26:58 View on the Rare Earth Market over the next 12 months?
34:41 News Flow
38:00 Tin
39:11 Conclusion

Coffee with Samso Episode 196 is with Matt Szwedzicki, Managing Director of West Cobar Metals Limited (ASX: WC1)
In my first conversation in June 2023 with West Cobar Metals Limited, I noticed the amphibolite basement for the Salazar project and asked how this could affect the mineralogy of the project. With nearly 12 months of work since that time, the benefits of the Newmont deposit are now coming to light.

In this episode of Coffee with Samso, Matt Szwedzicki shares with us the potential multi-commodity aspect of the Newmont deposit. The company has come a long way in substantiating its view on the new strategy in bringing light to the Titanium and Scandium part of the flow chart.
This is an unfolding story and credit goes to the management for looking at the alternative value of the Newmont project. The increasing tenure of the project means that the protection of the potential value adding process is now in safekeeping.

The potential extension of the amphibolite is now for West Cobar Metals to discover and if the Scandium and Titanium strategy holds ground, the shareholder value will be very interesting. Time will tell, but at least it is up to the company to find it.

Samso's Conclusion
I have been fascinated with the West Cobar story as it is the only Rare Earth project that I have come across that has a amphibolite basement, or rather, one that has a non-granitic basement. This stands out even more when you know that the Esperance region does not appear to have an equivalent.

When I first talked to the company, I posed the question to management, what is the significance of the amphibolite? Does it come with other commodities (at that time they had a HPA resource sitting on top of the Newmont project)?

There is now a pathway for the company and it will be interesting where this leads to in terms of shareholder value. The scandium story is very interesting as I have had some experience of that sector nearly a decade ago.

If you watch the video and listen to Matt when he talks about the Scandium pricing mechanism, it is a revelation. For once, we have a market that is priced so high that it needs new supply to bring the pricing down so that it can create more supply and more use. It is not a matter of lack of demand, but that the sector needs supply.

When you think about what the implication will mean, the opportunity for shareholder value adding is enormous.

Chapters:
00:00 Start
00:20 Introduction
01:23 Update from Matt
01:43 More ground for Salazar
01:56 An updated exploration target
02:22 Realisation that Newmont is different
02:40 The Titanium Factor
02:59 Titanium Exploration Target
03:06 Presence of HPA
03:30 Flow Sheet
04:52 Titanium Mineral Study
06:05 What about this Scandium in Salazar?
07:32 Is Newmont more of a Critical Minerals project as opposed to a Rare Earth project?
09:02 Is there enough volume for the other commodities to be economical?
10:47 What triggers should investors look for to take a position in companies like WC1?
12:55 All about Scandium
14:40 Why is Scandium exciting?
15:43 The high pricing of Scandium.
16:41 Supply bottleneck may be changing
17:50 US Defense Department looking out for Scandium
18:24 Solid oxide fuel cell use of Scandium - green fuel transition
19:13 Where will the new mines come from - reasons why Newmont is the front runner
19:46 Newmont may have a potential positive metallurgical pathway
21:17 High grade vs. normal grade of Scandium
22:48 News Flow
24:43 A Natural pivot for WC1
25:49 Last words from Matt
26:57 Conclusion

Coffee with Samso 194 is all about the Jupiter Rare Earth project and what a way for Andrew Radonjic to start the year 2024.
Venture Minerals Limited (ASX: VMS) has an extremely well-rounded portfolio of projects and the inception of the Rare Earth project a couple of years ago has worked extremely well for the company. The Rare Earth sector may have come and gone for the ASx but it is a breath of fresh air to see the technical success of the Jupiter REE project.

Anyone who has been following the ASX REE sector recently will know very well the bearish tone but those who have been on the Venture Minerals wagon, will think differently. You could put Venture Minerals on the top of the list for generating the most interest in the small-cap mineral explorers list.

The interest in Venture started with the ASX release on the 29th of November 2023 (Jupiter Delivers over 7,000 ppm TREO assays from Maiden RC Drill Program) and the much anticipated second round of results was released on the 8th of March 2024 (Jupiter Drilling Continues to Deliver Broad High-Grade REE Mineralisation including a Record NdPr Intersection of over 5,000 ppm) which generated another rush on the share price.



 

Figure 1: The Venture Minerals Limited (ASX: VMS) share price. (Source: Commsec)

In this episode, Andrew Radonjic gives us an update on the Jupiter Rare Earth project and we discuss why he feels the project stands out from the crowd.




Samso's Conclusion
The Samso platform has had the majority of the clay rare earth story on the ASX for the last couple of years. It has been a great journey from the beginning to now where I could effectively call a mature understanding of the industry. If we are all on the same page, the understanding now is all about the metallurgical results, and the chemistry of extraction.

In some way, we all know that the range of results from all the other clay REE players has been pretty consistent. There have not been too many outliers on the good or the bad end of the spectrum. If we consider this thought, the metallurgical results for Jupiter will be within range and there are some similarities to Mt. Weld, then Venture may have found themselves a project that could be more than interesting.

As Andrew pointed out in the end, it is all about the location. The drilling results are on the top end of the scale, the location is in proximity to Mt. Weld and the plant by Iluka, the metallurgical results which are still outstanding will most likely come within range or better and there are no logistical nor administrative obstacles in sight. With all that in mind, the Jupiter project must surely become a jewel in the DYOR category for ASX investors wanting an REE play in their portfolio.

I encourage you to watch and take notes because as I have always mentioned on the Samso platform, the one economical project in many non-economical projects that are in the market comes once in a while and if you can take the risk, do big-time DYOR.

Chapters:
00:00 Start
00:20 Introduction
00:53 Updates on Jupiter
02:46 Discussion about the next drilling phase
04:04 What makes Jupiter stand out?
09:25 VMS in the current market
15:44 About the metallurgy
21:06 What could lift the REE market?
23:53 For investors looking to position themselves in VMS
29:01 Other VMS projects
32:45 News flow
35:59 Conclusion

Rooster Talk Episode 55 is with Nicole Galloway Warland, Managing Director - Thor Mining Plc (ASX: THR)
 
Thor Mining is a updating us on the Ragged Range and the Uranium projects. The scene is set for exploration to begin.
 

Our first encounter with Thor Mining was in February 2021 at a Coffee with Samso - A Potential ESG compliant Copper-Gold Producer: Thor Mining Plc (ASX:THR) - and the current Managing Director, Nicole Galloway Warland was the company's Exploration Manager then. The projects that were just being worked on then had just as much potential as the story.

 

In this episode of Rooster Talk, Nicle gives us an update on the Ragged Range project which has a Lithium, Copper and Gold flair. The project is intriguing as it appears to have all three commodities in play.
 
As Nicole begins to explain, the Ragged Range is very under explored with potentials that have yet to be realised or sterilised. As the exploration work begins to take hold, new will be flowing and a time for some serious work to be completed.

 

Chapters
 

00:00 Start

00:20 Introduction

01:19 Update from Nicole.

02:10 Ragged Range

04:52 What has the historical information taught you about Ragged Ramge.

06:17 The Uranium and Vanadium update.

08:16 A well known uranium and vanadium area.

09:15 The acceptance of Uranium and Implications.

10:35 Uranium and the "No Emission" world.

11:24 Conclusions