After a period of relative quietness for Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF), things are becoming more active again as Alvalade drilling is completed with results coming from the labs soon.  Exploration planning including first drilling on the first Finnish project will be commencing in June, as the company was recently granted permits.

Ice drilling at Regnault target, Frotet project, Quebec

As we seem to be at a pivotal point in the economy, with the Federal Reserve contemplating a halt in rate hikes, and potentially a more dovish stance for the second half of this year as a recession seems to be coming our way, sending the gold price to all-time highs recently, Kenorland Minerals (KLD.V)(3WQO.FSE)

During the last PDAC, CEO Greg Ferron of Platinex (PTX:CSE)(9PX:FRA) was busy working with the regulators, Fancamp and investors to close the South Timmins JV and the C$2.5M financing as soon as possible. As there were lots of moving parts at work, CEO Ferron preferred to come out with all relevant news at once, but as the first tranche (C$1.25M) of the financing closed on March 10, 2023, 2 weeks after the intended (and disclosed) closing date but before the Fancamp transaction could be closed, separate news releases had to be announced.

Although the markets are giving back some of the recent gains after the Fed indicated we aren’t done yet with the high inflation, combined with the slow escalation of the Russia invasion of the Ukraine and the strange incident with the shooting down of the Chinese spy balloon hovering over the US, sentiment for metals and miners seems to be in a recovering trend after a disastrous H2 of 2022.

After acquiring the Muskrat Dam Critical Minerals project in Ontario, with a focus on the extremely hot metal lithium, it was good to see Platinex (PTX:CSE)(9PX:FRA) bringing in Fancamp Exploration (FNC.V) as a partner for the Shining Tree gold project in the same state, as it had 3 district-scale exploration projects in its portfolio by then, which is a bit much for the average C$8-10M market cap.

After adding more claims to the highly prospective and strategically located district-scale Shining Tree Gold project and W2 Copper-Nickel-PGE project, both located in mining-friendly Ontario, Platinex Inc (PTX:CSE)(9PX:FRA) decided to expand their horizon, and acquired the Muskrat Dam Critical Minerals project, also located in Ontario.

After raising C$1.25M in March this year, and acquiring several early stage copper-zinc and gold projects in Finland, Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF) didn’t have spectacular news to report this summer, as it had to wait on Sandfire (new owner of JV partner MATSA) scheduling/financing covenants for further exploration and upgrade of the Alvalade copper-zinc VMS project in Portugal.

Klondike Copper Project, Colorado (US)

After receiving their exploration permits for the Klondike Copper project on June 22, 2022, Alianza Minerals (ANZ.V, TARSF.US) wasted no time and will commence drilling in the first week of August, 2022. Drilling was planned to start mid July, but according to CEO Jason Weber this was delayed last minute, in order to accommodate one additional (unplanned) hole at another project the rig was coming from, and the contractor also wanted to get the rig in for some maintenance before mobilizing to Klondike – Alianza agreed to the short delay.

After  a relatively quiet winter season with no drilling news, hybrid prospect generator Alianza Minerals (ANZ.V, TARSF.US) is gearing up to getting ready for potentially up to 5 drill programs this year at their various projects. The optioned out (Allied Copper) Klondike and Stateline copper projects in Colorado, operated by Alianza, are both in the targeting phase now, with exploration permits expected in a few weeks.

Platinex Inc (PTX:CSE)(9PX:FRA) doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, as it has been adding more claims to the highly prospective and strategically located district-scale Shining Tree gold project and recently acquired W2 Copper-Nickel-PGE project, both located in mining-friendly Ontario.