Cerrado Gold – Production And Exploration Update At Minera Don Nicolas, Acquisition Of Ascendant Resources, and Value Proposition At Mont Sorcier
Mark Brennan, Founder, CEO, and Director of Cerrado Gold Inc (TSX.V: CERT) (OTCQX: CRDOF), joins me to review a production and exploration update at Minera Don Nicolas in Argentina, the transformative acquisition of Ascendant Resources and their Lagoa Salgada VMS Project in Portugal, and the optionality and value proposition in the Mont Sorcier Iron-Vanadium project in Quebec.
We start off digging into an operations update and review of their Minera Don Nicolas producing gold project in Argentina, and how the production profile can grow by eventually going underground, as well as find more satellite open-pits at surface. The higher gold prices are allowing for a faster repayment of debt along with an aggressive exploration program underway in 2025 to expand resources at depth and at key surface targets.
Next we unpack the key news announced on February 3rd, on the transaction to acquire Ascendant Resources Inc. (TSX: ASND) for their 80% interest in the robust Lagoa Salgada VMS Project with a Post-tax NPV of US$147 million and a 39% IRR in current Feasibility Study. This adds substantial precious metals and critical minerals exposure (34% silver & Gold, 30% Zinc, 15% copper, 14% lead, 7% tin) to the future production profile, with expected lowest cost quartile production with US$0.59/lb Zinc Equivalent All in sustaining cost (AISC) for the first 5 years. Mark also highlights how there is extensive exploration potential to keep expanding resources at this Project. There will be an optimized Feasibility Study due in Q3, construction decision by year end 2025 and initial production expected in second half of 2027.
We wrap up discussing the underappreciated value and ongoing derisking work that is moving towards an updated economic study at the Mont Sorcier Iron-Vanadium in Quebec. The company will have a stronger balance sheet at the end of 2025, growing production and revenues, and 3 strong projects each with key news catalysts for the balance of this year.
