As the Yukon as a mining and exploration jurisdiction is becoming more and more attractive, it is also home to one of the, if not the, hottest gold exploration story at the moment (Snowline Gold, SGD.CSE), which certainly helps numerous other explorers in the region.

As the world is battling record inflation at the moment, and central banks across the globe are rising rates left, shortages keep increasing, consumer confidence is sinking, and in the background the Russia-Ukraine conflict seems to have entered a new phase as the Ukraine just liberated several thousands of square kilometers, Gold Terra Resource (TSXV:YGT)(OTCQX:YGTFF) (FRA:TXO) surprisingly announced a 541koz Au maiden resource estimate on their Con Mine property, more specifically on Yellorex.

1. Introduction

In a time where sizable gold deposits are becoming increasingly rare, and Tier I deposits not in the hands of majors are almost unheard of, Banyan Gold (TSXV:BYN)(OTCQB:BYAGF) is quietly expanding an already delineated 4Moz Inferred gold deposit at their Aurmac project in the Yukon.

With gold slightly recovering from its US$1700/oz lows, as it trades at US$1782/oz at the time of writing, it seems traders liked to see the Federal Reserve backing down from a very aggressive rate hike policy, as the world economy continues to weaken, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict still being far from over, shortages are everywhere, and inflation continues to be at extremely high levels.

Times are becoming pretty challenging around the world, as inflation gears up to levels not seen in 40 years, as supply chains across the entire economy are increasingly being disrupted through the Russia-Ukraine invasion and COVID-19 related lack of investments, while at the same time demand is recovering after COVID-19.

With the uranium spot prices reaching multi-year highs at the moment, probably with the help of the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust which keeps on buying at the spot market in order to kickstart utility buying, Blue Sky Uranium (TSXV: BSK; US-OTC: BKUCF) is finding new mineralization at Ivana targets at their flagship Amarillo Grande uranium project in Argentina.

After announcing a C$5.3M investment at February 23, 2022 at a share price of C$0.59 in Dolly Varden Silver (DV.V)(DOLLF.US), maintaining their equity interest at 10.25%, Hecla Mining (HL.US) decided to invest further in the company, as part of a larger round led by Eventus Capital and Research Capital, which also saw other existing shareholder Eric Sprott participating again.

After a failed hostile take over attempt of Dolly Varden Silver (DV.V)(DOLLF.US) in in the past, Hecla Mining (HL.US) now resorts to maintaining their pro-rata equity interest in the company these days, as it exercised its anti-dilution right regarding the Homestake Ridge transaction.

During times of relative stockmarket unrest, caused by more hawkish Fed policies regarding potential interest rate hikes and reduction of bond buying programs, Blue Sky Uranium (TSXV: BSK; US-OTC: BKUCF) is busy drilling several Ivana targets at their flagship Amarillo Grande uranium project in Argentina.

At a point where the COVID-19 pandemic is playing out the Omicron variant, inflation is reaching levels not seen in decades, the Fed surprising the markets with a more hawkish stance than anticipated, with metal prices at very high levels although gold and silver seem to be consolidating and setting up for a breakout, The Critical Investor was asked again by Streetwise Reports to provide his top picks for the new year.