As lithium product prices keep rising, and recently reached not too long ago unimaginable heights of US$34,000/t lithium carbonate at battery grade, Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (TSX-V: LIT, FSE: OAY1, OTC: PNXLF) hasn’t been sitting on their hands, raised almost C$6M in an oversubscribed financing last month, and announced further acquisitions of lithium projects in Argentina, in the heart of the Lithium Triangle, hotspot of brine deposits and operations in Latin America.

After completing their latest 17,792m 2021 summer drill program at their Regnault target, part of their Frotet project in Quebec, Kenorland Minerals (KLD.V)(3WQO.FSE) announced a large batch late December last year with the results of the first 32 holes (9,824m), with assays from the last 25 holes remaining once received back from the labs and interpreted properly.

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.

After a year of slow progress for Avrupa Minerals (TSXV:AVU)(OTC:AVPMF) and JV partner MATSA at the Sesmarias target, part of their flagship Alvalade project in Portugal, it is refreshing to see Avrupa somewhat diversifying away by acquiring four exploration properties in Finland, with some of them even having a historic resource.

As inflation grows rampant across many sectors, to levels not seen in decades, it only seems a matter of time before gold leaves its side ranging pattern of late. Gold Terra Resource (TSXV:YGT)(OTCQX:YGTFF) (FRA:TXO) aims at making the most of it, as the current President and CEO David Suda is stepping down on December 31, 2021 to pursue other opportunities.  

Against a backdrop of massive inflation, at highest levels in decades and initiated by COVID-19 related disruptions of supply chains, Golden Independence Mining (CSE: IGLD, OTCQB:GIDMF, FRA:6NN) is working diligently in order to activate a few important catalysts. The first of those that can be expected before year end is the upcoming Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), the other one is the renegotiation of the JV terms with vendor America’s Gold Exploration (AGEI), which could increase the very recently earned-in ownership from 51% to 100%.

Mount Haldane, Yukon

After Alianza Minerals (ANZ.V, TARSF.US) successfully completed the 2021 drilling campaign at their flagship Haldane silver project in the historic Keno Hill Mining District, it has more time on its hands to branch out into other projects. Under the Southwest US Copper Alliance, Alianza acquired, together with partner Cloudbreak Discovery, the Stateline Copper project, located in Colorado and Utah, announced on November 29, 2021.

Salar de Rincon; Salta province, Argentina

Argentina Lithium & Energy Corp. (TSX-V: LIT, FSE: OAY1, OTC: PNXLF) seems to be capitalizing nicely on the unstoppable all time high lithium prices, as it is raising significant amounts of cash at the moment, currently standing at C$4.99M and not done yet.

After severe summer doldrums, not only metal prices have picked up again, but also a decent part of mining stocks became energized again, including Meridian Mining (TSXV:MNO).  After the North American Labour Day holiday, the traditional end of the summer session, Meridian began publishing a series of impressive step out high-grade gold drill results that showed a positive market response, enabling an oversubscribed C$10.38M financing supporting the further expansion of the ongoing resource development program at Cabaçal.

After lots of reconnaissance exploration at several of their projects, Golden Arrow Resources (GRG.V, GARWF.US, G6A.FSE) is ready for the follow-up, and recently commenced drilling at two different projects. These are the Rosales Copper project in Chile, and the Terra Dorada gold project in Paraguay.