Bitcoin surpasses the gold price for the first time

Bitcoin {BTC} – The price of a Bitcoin has surpassed that of an ounce of gold for the first time ever, as predicted here a few days ago.

A Bitcoin is now worth $1,268, and an ounce of gold, $1,233.

 

 

I personally find it quite astonishing that he price of Bitcoin is now so trusted, that people are buying it and seeing the same store of value as gold.

 

Bitcoin is a crypto currency, gold is a tangible asset you can hold in your hands and store where you want, outside the banking system if you so please.

 

So although I see crypto currencies in the same light as fiat currencies, because neither are backed up by gold, you cannot argue with the fact that investors now trust Bitcoin and are bidding it up, whilst gold treads water despite all the talking up it receives in the metals press.

 

I do wonder how much further Bitcoin can go, but if people have faith I guess the answer is a lot further, if previous manias such as the Dutch tulip investment mania are anything to go by.

 

 



Kootenay announces 2017 exploration program at La Negra

Kootenay Silver Inc. {TSX.V: KTN}  announced plans are underway to proceed with the 2017 exploration program being conducted and operated by Pan American Silver Corp on its La Negra silver discovery in Sonora, Mexico.

The program is part of an option agreement between Kootenay and Pan American Silver.

 

 

Kootenay Silver Inc. {TSX.V: KTN}  is pleased to announce plans are underway to proceed with the 2017 exploration program being conducted and operated by Pan American Silver Corp on its La Negra silver discovery in Sonora, Mexico.

 

The program is part of an option agreement between Kootenay and Pan American that provides Kootenay with a series of work and cash commitments and a carried to production interest on La Negra.

The 2017 program will focus on defining the potential size of the La Negra magmatic hydrothermal silver-lead breccia. The current program budget is US$2.0 million and will entail approximately 6500 meters of diamond drilling, geologic mapping and reconnaissance work to define additional prospective targets proximal to La Negra within the Promontorio project. Drilling is scheduled to start late in the second quarter.

States Kootenay President and CEO James McDonald “We are very pleased to launch with the 2017 drill and exploration program on the La Negra silver discovery. We look forward to this next phase of work in particular to the drill results from the La Negra breccia that in 2016 returned multiple intercepts of high-grade silver mineralization within a 600-meter strike length of the breccia, remaining open at depth.”
Further details will be reported by Kootenay once Pan American confirm the upcoming exploration and drill program has been finalized and a drilling contractor has been engaged.

There are currently 4 additional holes to report from the 2016 Phase I program with Pan American Silver that will be reported once assay results are received and compiled by the Company.
Results from Phase I Exploration and Drilling Program on La Negra:

Pan American began managing the exploration program in April 2016 and commenced re-logging drill core, geological mapping and re-interpretation, and completed 62 km of magnetic ground surveys. Pan American initiated a 3,500 m drilling program in July 2016 with the objective of infilling the La Negra drill coverage to 50-meter center’s and testing the along-strike and down dip extents as well as following up on geophysical and geological anomalies elsewhere within the exploration concessions.

Based on Pan American’s work Kootenay reported that a series of deeper infill drill holes from the first 11 holes of the current program confirmed high-grade results from previous drilling (See Kootenay News release October 25, 2016) Based on the initial success of the Phase I program, in October 2016 Pan American extended the drill program by an additional 3,300 meters.

Results from the most recent 13 holes of the Phase I drill program on La Negra support previous results and look to have defined the strike extent of mineralization with the breccia, remaining open at depth.
For more information, please visit: http://www.kootenaysilver.com



Zenyatta – Lakehead University Scientists have Successfully Produced Functionalised Graphene Oxide

Zenyatta Ventures {TSXV: ZEN} is pleased to announce that a team of scientists under the direction of Dr. Aicheng Chen at Lakehead University (‘Lakehead’) in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, has made significant advancements related to sensing application development with the first graphene oxide (GO) invention produced from the Company’s high-purity Albany graphite.

 

 

 

Zenyatta announces that Lakehead University Scientists have Successfully Produced Functionalised Graphene Oxide from Albany Graphite for Environmental Sensing Applications

 

Thunder Bay, ON – 1 March 2017 – Zenyatta Ventures {TSXV: ZEN} is pleased to announce that a team of scientists under the direction of Dr. Aicheng Chen at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, has made significant advancements related to sensing application development with the first graphene oxide (GO) invention produced from the Company’s high-purity Albany graphite.

 

Dr. Chen and his team have developed a novel one-pot synthesis of fluorine functionalised graphene oxide (F-GO) which can be used in many energy, environmental and electrochemical sensing applications. The produced F-GO has been tested for the simultaneous detection of various toxic metal ions (e.g. mercury, lead, cadmium and copper) and a substantial improvement in the electrochemical sensing performance was achieved in comparison with GO. A patent has been filed by Dr. Chen for this invention and a paper describing the process in more detail was recently published in the latest volume of Electrochemistry Communications.

 

A one-pot synthesis may significantly shorten the number of steps required to produce F-GO. As the world deals with increased pollution and threats to human health due to the increase of various toxic metal ions entering the environment from the expanding industrial and agricultural sectors, there is a need to develop high-performance sensors that can detect and monitor these pollutants. Electrochemical methods are considered to be sensitive, highly reliable and convenient.

 

Dr. Chen commented, “We found Zenyatta’s high-purity Albany graphite to be an ideal material for the production of graphene oxide and subsequent application development. Interestingly, it appears that the distinct particle size and morphology of Albany graphite are important factors in the ease of production of high-quality graphene and GO. These properties are likely the result of the deposit’s unique geological genesis first identified by Lakehead’s geology professor Dr. Andrew Conly in 2012.”

 

In 2015, Dr. Aicheng Chen, Professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Materials and Environmental Chemistry at Lakehead, was awarded a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (‘NSERC’) Collaborative Research and Development (‘CRD’) grant. The two primary focuses of this NSERC CRD project are the characterization of Zenyatta’s graphite and the development of new materials for practical applications derived from it.

 

Since the award of the grant, Dr. Chen and his research group have made significant advances in the development of new materials from Albany high-purity graphite. Dr. Chen’s team has also supplied small samples of GO to selected third parties for testing as a component of advanced anode material for the lithium ion batteries and as a reinforcement additive for high strength composites, in applications where light weight and high strength are critical for success.

 

In addition to its incorporation into advanced batteries, graphite and its derivatives (like graphene and GO) have been employed in the development of various sensors and electronic devices. Recent investigations of graphene derived from graphite have demonstrated significantly improved electrochemical performance in these systems due to its unique electronic properties, enhanced surface area, novel mechanical and thermal properties, and chemical stabilities, when compared to the parent graphite. These qualities are vital for emerging high-tech or cleantech applications.

 

Dr. Bharat Chahar, VP of Market Development for Zenyatta, stated, “The Company is excited with the significant progress that Dr. Chen and his research team have made at Lakehead in their application development which has resulted in their first product-related patent application. The Company is convinced of the importance of graphene and GO materials and is confident that the amount invested globally on R&D by corporations, governments and academics will result in eventual large-scale commercialization. Zenyatta continues to play a very active role in R&D related to graphene research by providing consistent high-purity Albany graphite test samples to collaborative research facilities globally.”

 

Zenyatta is developing its unique Albany graphite deposit in Ontario, Canada. The Company’s highly crystalline graphite deposit is situated 30 km north of the Trans-Canada Highway, power line and natural gas pipeline near the communities of Constance Lake First Nation and Hearst. A rail line is located 70 km away with an all-weather road approximately 10 km from the deposit.

 

Dr. Bharat Chahar, P.E., VP Market Development for Zenyatta, is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed, prepared and supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

 

To find out more on Zenyatta Ventures, please visit www.zenyatta.ca

or contact the Company at info@zenyatta.ca or Tel. 807-346-1660.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward looking information and Zenyatta cautions readers that forward looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Zenyatta included in this news release. This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements”, which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, or “plan”. These statements are based on information currently available to Zenyatta and Zenyatta provides no assurance that actual results will meet management’s expectations. This testing does not represent a statistically large sample size. Furthermore, these positive results do not mean that Zenyatta can extract and process Albany graphite for high-purity graphite applications on an economic basis. Without a formal independent feasibility study, there is no assurance that the operation will be economic. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements with respect to Zenyatta’s future plans, objectives or goals, to the effect that Zenyatta or management expects a stated condition or result to occur, including the expected timing for release of a pre-feasibility or feasibility studies, the expected uses for graphite in the future, and the future uses of the graphite from Zenyatta’s Albany deposit. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of metallurgical processing, ongoing exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Zenyatta’s mineral properties, and Zenyatta’s financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as, but are not limited to: failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; the inability to identify target markets and satisfy the product criteria for such markets; the inability to complete a prefeasibility study; the inability to enter into offtake agreements with qualified purchasers; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; political risks; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects; capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry; and those risks set out in Zenyatta’s public documents filed on SEDAR. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Zenyatta’s forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on Zenyatta’s forward-looking statements. Although Zenyatta believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Zenyatta disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

 

Zenyatta Ventures Ltd.
info@zenyatta.ca
+1 807 3461660
www.zenyatta.ca



Strongbow director buys stock

StrongBow Exploration Inc. {TSX.V: SBW} Director David Grenville Thomas bought 100,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 21st.

The shares were bought at an average cost of C$0.15 per share, with a total value of C$15,000.00.

 

 

Comment.

 

It’s always good to see a director putting his hand in his own pocket and paying market prices, so well done to David, it sends the right message.



Bitcoin reaches record high

Bitcoin {BTC} reached a record high when it briefly topped $1,200 this week , and remains close to that point, at $1,175.53 currently.

Since the US dollar fell back slightly Gold and Bitcoin have been the main beneficiaries.

 

 

Bitcoin is reproaching the price of gold, with the price of the two converging, the first time since 2013.

 

In the last few days the price breached the $1,200 level, reaching $1,218 before falling back slightly, closing in on the gold price, $1,253.

 

This is despite the recent actions taken by the Chinese government to limit the use of margin for Bitcoin trading, and to prevent capital flight via the use of Bitcoin.

 

I find it quite incredible that gold is traditionally seen as the store of value of last resort versus the fiat currencies, yet Bitcoin is now being seen in the same light, despite being a fiat currency itself!

 

The obvious question is can Bitcoin exceed the price of gold?   Only time will tell, but on the current trend of both, it is beginning to look likely at some point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Inovio Reports New Positive Clinical Data on Advances in the Fight Against Emerging Infectious Diseases

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. {NASDAQ: INO} announced that Dr. David B. Weiner, Inovio’s co-founder, presented positive clinical data on Inovio’s DNA-based vaccines against MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) (GLS-5300) and Zika (GLS-5700) at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI)’s 1st Scientific Meeting on “Vaccines Against Emerging Infections – A Global Insurance” in Paris, France.

 

 

Inovio Reports New Positive Clinical Data on Vaccine Advances in the Fight Against Emerging Infectious Diseases

Significant immune responses observed in 100% of Zika-vaccinated subjects and 98% of MERS-vaccinated human subjects in separate phase I studies

Data reported at Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI) meeting

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – February 23, 2017 – Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. {NASDAQ: IN}) today announced that Dr. David B. Weiner, Inovio’s co-founder, presented positive clinical data on Inovio’s DNA-based vaccines against MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) (GLS-5300) and Zika (GLS-5700) at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI)’s 1st Scientific Meeting on “Vaccines Against Emerging Infections – A Global Insurance” in Paris, France.

 

Dr. J. Joseph Kim, Inovio’s CEO, said: “Advancing DNA vaccine technology for broadly applicable, rapid response against infectious diseases of epidemic potential is one of Inovio’s priorities. We quickly designed and manufactured vaccines for two recent emerging infectious pathogens, MERS CoV and Zika, and these products join our Ebola program in generating significant immune responses with a favorable safety profile in phase I studies. We are pleased to see CEPI moving forward on its vision for proactive and accelerated vaccine development for epidemic threats and to contribute to their first scientific meeting.”

 

Officially launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, 2017, CEPI received an initial $460 million from the governments of Germany, Japan and Norway, plus the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust, as part of a drive to bring together a total of $1 billion to fund and support its goal of stimulating, financing and coordinating the advancement of safe, effective and affordable vaccines.

 

MERS Vaccine Results

Dr. Weiner noted that in a phase I MERS study, after a three dose vaccine regimen with GLS-5300, high levels of binding antibodies were measured (ELISA) in 92% (57 of 62) of evaluated subjects. Even two doses or a single dose of vaccine generated a robust antibody response in 84% (52 of 62) or 44% (27 of 62) of evaluated subjects, respectively.

 

Significant antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses were also observed. Importantly, all but one evaluated vaccinated subject or 98% (61 of 62) generated an antibody and/or T cell response against the MERS vaccine. Generation of MERS antigen-specific antibody and T cell responses is believed to be important for generating immediate and long-lasting protection against the disease. The vaccine was well tolerated and no significant safety concerns were noted to date.

 

These interim data from the first set of evaluated subjects were from a fully enrolled phase I study of 75 healthy volunteers. Inovio and GeneOne Life Science Inc. (KSE: 011000) are co-developing Inovio’s GLS-5300 in partnership with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Maryland, where the trial was conducted. This trial represents the first and still only MERS vaccine to be tested in humans for this disease that has no approved vaccines or treatments.

 

In preclinical studies of GLS-5300 (data published in the peer reviewed journal Science Translational Medicine, 2015), 100% of vaccinated Rhesus macaques were protected from symptoms of MERS when exposed to the live MERS virus. The animals also generated strong antibody and T-cell responses.

 

Since the virus was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, the World Health Organization has reported almost 2,000 MERS infections and nearly 700 deaths worldwide. Twenty seven countries have reported cases, including Korea where an outbreak in the summer of 2015 resulted in 186 cases and 38 deaths. While the SARS epidemic in 2003 killed 10% of those infected, SARS-related MERS has killed about 36% of people who contracted this communicable virus.

 

Zika Vaccine Results

Dr. Weiner also highlighted that in a phase I Zika study, after a three dose vaccine regimen with GLS-5700, high levels of binding antibodies were measured (ELISA) in 100% (39 of 39) of evaluated subjects. Moreover, two doses or a single dose of vaccine generated a robust antibody response in 82% (32 of 39) or 40% (16 of 40) of evaluated subjects, respectively.

 

T cell immune responses are currently being evaluated. The vaccine was well tolerated and no significant safety concerns were noted. These preliminary data are from a fully enrolled phase I study of 40 healthy volunteers. Inovio and GeneOne are co-developing GLS-5700. This trial represents the first Zika vaccine to be tested in humans for this disease that has no approved vaccines or treatments and also the first human clinical data reported with a Zika vaccine documenting the induction of immune responses following vaccination.

 

Preclinical data published in the peer-reviewed journal npg Vaccines (2016) showed that GLS-5700 generated single-dose protection in 100% of animals against neurologic or testicular effects of the Zika virus.

 

Dr. Scott White, Inovio’s Vice President of Infectious Disease Clinical Development, will also present this Zika data on Friday, February 24th at the “First International Conference on Zika Virus,” a worldwide forum sponsored by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Washington, D.C.
About Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Inovio is taking immunotherapy to the next level in the fight against cancer and infectious diseases. We are the only immunotherapy company that has reported generating T cells in vivo in high quantity that are fully functional and whose killing capacity correlates with relevant clinical outcomes with a favorable safety profile. With an expanding portfolio of immune therapies, the company is advancing a growing preclinical and clinical stage product pipeline. Partners and collaborators include MedImmune, The Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania, DARPA, GeneOne Life Science, Plumbline Life Sciences, ApolloBio Corporation, Drexel University, NIH, HIV Vaccines Trial Network, National Cancer Institute, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, and Laval University.

 

For more information, please visit www.inovio.com

 

CONTACT:
Bernie Hertel

+1 858-410 3101

bhertel@inovio.com



Avalon Advanced Materials announces AGM and EGM meeting results

Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.  {TSX: AVL}  is pleased to announce the results of its 2017 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held in Toronto, Ontario on February 22, 2017.

Avalon Announces the Results of its 2017 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders

 

Toronto, ON – Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.  {TSX: AVL}  is pleased to announce the results of its 2017 Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held in Toronto, Ontario on February 22, 2017.

 

At the Meeting, all five director nominees listed in the Company’s information circular dated January 10, 2017 were elected as directors of the Company. The detailed results of the vote are as follows:

 

Director Number of Votes Cast Percentage of Votes Cast
Donald Bubar In Favour:
Withheld: 29,932,828
970,654 96.86
3.14
Brian MacEachen In Favour:
Withheld: 29,927,482
976,000 96.84
3.16
Alan Ferry In Favour:
Withheld: 29,949,291
954,191 96.91
3.09
Jane Pagel In Favour:
Withheld: 29,972,222
931,260 96.99
3.01
Kenneth G. Thomas In Favour:
Withheld: 29,947,401
956,081 96.91
3.09
Former director Peter McCarter has retired from business and, accordingly, chose not to stand for re-election. Avalon President & CEO, Don Bubar, thanks Mr. McCarter for his 10 years of service to Avalon, especially as a member of the Company’s Audit Committee and as chair of the Company’s Compensation, Governance and Nominating Committee.

 

In addition, at the Meeting shareholders appointed Deloitte LLP as auditors of the Company and approved amendments to, as well as all unallocated options, rights or other entitlements under the Company’s stock option plan.

 

About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones.

 

For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at ir@AvalonAM.com

or

phone Don Bubar, President & CEO at +1 416-364-4938

 

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “potential”, “scheduled”, “anticipates”, “continues”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “scheduled”, “targeted”, “planned”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be” or “will not be” taken, reached or result, “will occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Avalon to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. Although Avalon has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to market conditions, and the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses as well as those risk factors set out in the Company’s current Annual Information Form, Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Company’s profile at www.SEDAR.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such forward-looking statements have been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Avalon does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
130 Adelaide St. W, Suite 1901
Toronto, ON M5H 3P5
Tel: (416) 364-4938



Scorpio Gold Signs LOI with Lode Star-Mining for toll milling at Goldwedge

Scorpio Gold Corp. {TSX.V: SGN} announced the signing of a letter of intent (the “LOI”) with Lode-Star Mining Inc.{OTCQB} for a custom milling agreement  to provide custom milling of mineralised material at the Company’s Goldwedge processing facility, located 75 miles north of Goldfield in Manhattan, Nevada.

Scorpio Gold Signs Letter of Intent with Lode-Star Mining Inc. for a Custom Toll Milling Agreement

    Vancouver, February 21, 2017 – Scorpio Gold Corp. {TSX.V: SGN} is pleased to announce the signing of a letter of intent (the “LOI”) with Lode-Star Mining Inc. (“Lode-Star”) for a custom milling agreement (the “Agreement”) to provide custom milling of mineralized material at the Company’s Goldwedge processing facility, located 75 miles north of Goldfield in Manhattan, Nevada.

    The Goldwedge mill is a 400 ton per day facility with an associated gravity recovery circuit. Testing of Lode-Star’s mineralised material is expected to commence in Q1 2017 and is pending receipt of approval from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (“NDEP”). This testing will provide the baselines for metallurgical recoveries and mill throughput data to support Lode Star’s mine permitting with the NDEP.

    The coarse gold component of Lode-Star’s material will be recovered by the gravity circuit. Further testing will be conducted on the tailings to determine the potential economics of shipping tailings to Scorpio Gold’s 70% owned Mineral Ridge heap leach operation for final recovery of cyanide-leachable precious metals. Assaying services can be provided to Lode Star at Mineral Ridge.

    The companies are moving forward with permitting requirements associated with the Agreement. The Agreement requires completion of a cost analysis and other operational details which are expected to be concluded upon completion of the testing. The parties believe this arrangement can be mutually economical and operationally beneficial for their respective operations.

    Lode-Star President, Mark Walmesley, comments, “Lode-Star has been working steadily with Scorpio Gold on this milling solution for well over a year. The results of our metallurgy work through Kappes Cassiday indicate positive compatibility with Scorpio Gold’s existing processes. Utilisation of the Mineral Ridge assaying lab is a key benefit that speeds up our overall production and milling timeline. We look forward to working with the Scorpio Gold team and believe this is a great pairing between our operations.”

    Chris Zerga, President of Scorpio Gold Corporation, comments, “We hope to develop a long-term relationship with the Lode-Star team and we continue to look for other synergistic opportunities within our surrounding area.”

    About Lode-Star Mining Inc.

    Lode-Star Mining Inc. (OTCQB:LSMG) is a U.S. based junior-tier mining company focused on the exploration, development, and production of North American mineral assets.

    Lode-Star is the operator of the Goldfield Bonanza property, acquired under an option for development on December 11, 2014 from Lode-Star Gold, Inc., a private Nevada corporation. The property is located in the historic gold producing district of Goldfield, NV, which at one time was Nevada’s largest gold producing district. Historic production totaled better than 4 million ounces of gold.

    About Scorpio Gold

    Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest in the producing Mineral Ridge gold mining operation located in Esmeralda County, Nevada with joint venture partner Elevon, LLC (30%). Mineral Ridge is a conventional open pit mining and heap leach operation. The Mineral Ridge property is host to multiple gold-bearing structures, veins and lenses at exploration, development and production stages. Scorpio Gold also holds a 100% interest in the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge property in Manhattan, Nevada with a fully permitted underground mine and 400 ton per day mill facility. The Goldwedge mill facility has been placed on a care and maintenance basis and can be restarted upon short notice.

    Scorpio Gold’s Chairman, Peter J. Hawley, PGeo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
    SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION

    Chris Zerga,
    President

    For further information contact:
    Chris Zerga, President
    Tel: +1 819 825 7618



    Barkerville Gold Mines Intersects 11.18 G/T Au Over 6.70 Metres at Island Mountain

    Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. {TSXV: BGM} announced additional results from the ongoing 2017 Phase II Island Mountain and Cow Mountain exploration drilling programs at the Company’s flagship Cariboo Gold Project.

     

    Barkerville Gold Mines Intersects 11.18 G/T Au Over 6.70 Metres 
in Phase II Drilling at Island Mountain

     

    TORONTO, ON– February 22, 2017 – Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. {TSXV: BGM} is pleased to announce additional results from the ongoing 2017 Phase II Island Mountain and Cow Mountain exploration drilling programs at the Company’s flagship Cariboo Gold Project.

     

    The Company is currently exploring and delineating Island Mountain with seven drill rigs and has now mobilized the eighth rig to the untested Tailings Zone which occurs in the valley between Cow and Island Mountains. The Tailings Zone has not been drill tested since production and development ceased circa 1960. Detailed drilling results, drill hole location plan maps and long sections are presented at the end of this release.

     

    Island Mountain Delineation Drilling

    The Phase II delineation drill program at Island Mountain continues to yield high grade intersections of vein hosted gold mineralisation as demonstrated by drillhole IM-17-007 which intersected 11.18 g/t Au over 6.70 metres and IM-17-008 which returned 12.40 g/t Au over 4.50 metres.

    These new occurrences of auriferous veining occur in the near surface proximal to the historic Mosquito Creek Mine. Approximately 70 metres down dip of the mine development, drillhole IM-17-013 intersected additional veining grading 34.06 g/t Au over 2.05 metres. The newly discovered Shaft Zone continues to expand as drillhole IM-17-010 intersected auriferous veining grading 7.60 g/t Au over 5.40 metres approximately 20 metres below surface.

     

    Cow Mountain Drilling

    Ten large diameter drillholes totaling 1,168 metres have now been completed on Cow Mountain. These holes were specifically designed to collect material for an upcoming metallurgical test as well as providing a basis to ascertain the short-range variability of the vein hosted gold mineralisation and to optimise drillhole spacings for future resource estimations.

    Gold assays for drillholes CM-17-001 through to CM-17-004 are detailed in Table 2, with the results of the remaining holes to be disclosed once available. Notable intersections include CM-17-002 which returned 7.10 g/t Au over 10.70 metres and CM-17-003 which intersected 3.59 g/t Au over 11.50 metres. Now that the material for the metallurgical test has been collected, the rig has been mobilised to the Tailings Zone and will be the first phase of drilling initiated in this area since it was last drilled in 1958. The Tailings Zone represents the deepest development in the historic Cariboo Quartz Gold Mine and was host to not only quartz vein hosted gold but also the higher gold tenor sulphide replacement bodies akin to those observed at Island Mountain.

     

    “These results continue to demonstrate the validity of the geologic model developed by the exploration team resulting in the definition of new areas of mineralization at Island Mountain”, commented Chris Lodder, President and CEO of Barkerville.

     

    Qualified Persons

    Exploration activities at the Cariboo Gold Project are administered on site by the Company’s Exploration Manager, Maggie Layman, P.Geo. As per National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on the Cariboo Gold Project.
    Quality Assurance – Quality Control

    Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labelled and bagged. The remaining drill core is subsequently stored on site at the Company’s secure facility in Wells, BC. Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Company’s Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration.

     

    Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry’s analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 250 grams is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100 ppm are re-analyzed using a 1,000g screen metallic fire assay. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-elemental geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS).

     

    For further information on Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. please contact:

    Chris Lodder
    President & Chief Executive Officer
    Suite 400-365 Bay Street
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    clodder@barkervillegold.com



    Neometals completes lithium battery recycling study highlights

    Neometals Ltd {ASX: NMT} announced that, in line with its strategy to diversify into the downstream lithium/battery material supply chain, it will continue to advance its opportunity to focus on processing used lithium ion batteries to recover high value materials.

     

     

    NEOMETALS COMPLETES LITHIUM BATTERY RECYCLING STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

    Neometals completes ‘proof of scale’ test work at its facilities in Montreal, Canada on co‐developed, proprietary process to recover Cobalt from Lithium Ion Batteries from consumer electronic devices.
    Preliminary Engineering Cost Study supports business case to accelerate commercialisation of the technology
    Projected operating cost of US$4.45/lb contained Cobalt.

    Neometals Ltd {ASX: NMT} is pleased to announce that, in line with its strategy to diversify into the downstream lithium/battery material supply chain, it will continue to advance its opportunity to focus on processing used lithium ion batteries to recover high value materials.

     

    With rapid increases in global production of lithium‐ion batteries, of which more than 50% contain lithium‐cobalt chemistry, Neometals has co‐developed a technology to economically recover high‐ value cobalt (99.2% recovery) as a material that can be re‐cycled within the battery manufacturing chain. The cobalt supply chain is under some stress due to the rapid increase in demand from battery manufacturing and a supply chain that is dominated by co‐production and high sovereign risk resource locations. Currently less than 5% of used lithium‐ion batteries are recycled as disposal is typically either paid‐for recycling or landfill.

     

    Neometals completed laboratory scale test work on 100kg of spent lithium‐ion laptop and phone batteries (containing an average of 19.8% Co) and engaged Sedgman to complete an Engineering Cost Study on a small scale plant using the technology. Results from the study, outlined in Appendix 1, have indicated strong potential for a viable processing operation via a modular plant to initially recover saleable Cobalt product from used lithium‐ion batteries.

     

    Neometals has a dedicated subsidiary, Urban Mining Pty Ltd, to hold its interest in the intellectual property and manage the commercialisation of the technology.

     

    Immediate plans involve investing in a continuous operation, pilot‐scale hydrometallurgical plant at NMT’s Montreal laboratory to accelerate the evaluation of the recovery of high‐purity Cobalt and future recovery of lithium, nickel, copper and aluminium.

     

    Subject to the success of the mini‐pilot/pilot scale testwork, it is Neometals’ intention to proceed with a feasibility study as recommended by Sedgman in the Engineering Cost Study. The proposed work plan will be funded internally, with an expected date of completion in December 2017.

     

    The currently preferred project development strategy is to advance the technical and economic evaluation in parallel with ongoing discussions with potential partners to fast track the development of a commercial scale plant. Neometals has internal financial resources with which to fund evaluation, construction and commissioning of the commercial‐scale plant and will seek partners with complementary skill sets.

     

    The Scoping Study has identified many opportunities to further improve the economics by optimising factors such as recovery of other battery materials beyond cobalt such as lithium, nickel, copper and aluminium oxide products.

     

    Neometals Managing Director, Chris Reed, commented: “With the Mt Marion Lithium Project successfully in production, Neometals’ can extend its strategic focus to opportunities in the higher margin, downstream opportunities in the lithium value chain where we can apply our knowledge and technology portfolio. Here the opportunity is to provide an environmentally and ethically responsible, end‐of‐life solution ‐ by recycling the lithium units we produce – urban mining.

    ENDS

    For further information, please contact:

    Competent Persons Statement

    Chris Reed Managing Director Neometals Ltd
    +61 8 9322 1182

    info@neometals.com.au



    Condor Gold raises £5.242 million. Lead Investor Ross Beaty

    Condor Gold {AIM: CNR}  announced a placing of 8,293,443 Units at a price of 62p per Unit together with a proposed Director’s subscription of 161,290 Units  to raise in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately £5.242 million.

    Lead investor Ross Beaty invested £1 million.


    20th February 2017
    Condor Gold plc

    Condor Gold raises £5.242 million. Lead Investor Ross Beaty

    Condor {AIM:CNR}, is pleased to announce a placing (“the Placing”) of 8,293,443 Units at a price of 62p per Unit (the “Placing Price”) together with a proposed Director’s subscription of 161,290 Units (“Director’s Subscription”) to raise in aggregate gross proceeds of approximately £5.242 million.

     

    The Placing has been undertaken by the Company with institutional
    and other investors. The completion of the Placing and proposed Director’s Subscription is conditional, inter alia, upon admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM.
    Each Unit comprises one ordinary share of 20p each in the Company (“Placing Share”) and half of one share purchase warrant of the Company (a “Warrant”). Each Warrant, which is unlisted and fully transferable, will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one ordinary share at a price of 93p (which is at a 50% premium to the Placing Price) for a period of 24 months from the date on which the shares issued pursuant to the Placing are admitted to trading on AIM (the “Closing Date”).
    The Company is pleased to announce that Ross Beaty has subscribed for £1 million worth of Units and will increase his shareholding to 8.74% in the Company’s share capital on a post placement undiluted basis. Mr Beaty is a Canadian mining entrepreneur with a successful track record of both building mining companies and developing mineral deposits for sale.
    Background to and reasons for the Placing
    The net proceeds of the Placing and proposed Director’s Subscription amounts to approximately £4.9 million. It will be used for general working capital purposes and to continue with the strategy to fully permit Mina La India in Nicaragua for a 2,800 tpd processing plant with capacity to produce 100,000 oz gold p.a., secure the surface rights for the rural land that host and surround the future mine infrastructure and continue work to demonstrate the significant exploration upside of the 2.4
    million oz gold resource at 4.0 g/t gold at La India Project via scout drilling on new exploration targets that have never been drilled and expand some of the existing resource areas.
    Details of the Placing and proposed Director’s Subscription
    The Company has conducted the Placing as principal. A total of 8,454,733 Units (comprising of 8,454,733 ordinary shares and 4,227,364 Warrants) have been placed with placees and are proposed to be subscribed at the Placing Price to raise gross proceeds of GBP 5,241,934.46.
    The completion of the Placing is conditional, inter alia, upon admission of the Placing Shares to trading on AIM. The Placing Price of 62 pence per share represents a discount of 4.6% percent to the closing price of 65 pence per share on 17th February 2017.
    Condor Gold plc
    7th Floor 39 St. James’s Street
    London SW1A 1JD
    Telephone 020 74932784

    In addition, the Company advises that one director of the Company, namely Jim Mellon, intends to subscribe for a total of 161,290 shares on the same terms (the “Director’s Shares”) for a further sum of £99,999.80 following the announcement of the Placing.

    Application is being made for the Placing Shares and Director’s Shares, to be admitted to trading on AIM (“Admission”), such Admission is expected to occur on or around 28th February 2017.

     

    On Admission the Placing Shares and Director’s Shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares of the Company, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared after the date of their issue.
    Following Admission of the Placing Shares and Director’s Shares, the Company will then have 61,365,382 ordinary shares of 20p each in issue with voting rights and admitted to trading on AIM.
    This figure may then be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculation by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority’s Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
    Special note concerning the Market Abuse Regulation
    This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (“MAR”). Market soundings, as defined in MAR, were taken in respect of the Placing, with the result that certain persons became aware of inside information, as permitted by MAR. That inside information is set out in this announcement. Therefore, those persons that received inside information in a market sounding are no longer in possession of inside information relating to the Company and its securities.
    A further announcement will be made shortly.
    – Ends –

    For further information please visit www.condorgold.com

    or contact:
    Mark Child, Executive Chairman and CEO Condor Gold plc
    020 7493 2784
    About Condor Gold plc:
    Condor Gold plc was admitted to AIM on 31st May 2006. The Company is a gold exploration and development company
    with a focus on Central America.

    Condor completed a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and two Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEA) on La India Project
    in Nicaragua in December 2014. The PFS details an open pit gold mineral reserve of 6.9 Mt at 3.0 g/t gold for 675,000
    oz gold producing 80,000 oz gold p.a. for 7 years. The PEA for the open pit only scenario details 100,000 oz gold
    production p.a. for 8 years whereas the PEA for a combination of open pit and underground details 140,000 oz gold
    production p.a. for 8 years. La India Project contains a total attributable mineral resource of 18.08 Mt at 4.0 g/t for 2.31 M
    oz gold and 2.68 M oz silver at 6.2 g/t to the CIM Code.

    In El Salvador, Condor has an attributable 1,004,000 oz gold equivalent at 2.6 g/t JORC compliant resource. The
    resource calculations are compiled by independent geologists SRK Consulting (UK) Limited for Nicaragua and
    Ravensgate and Geosure for El Salvador.
    Disclaimer
    Neither the contents of the Company’s website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on the
    Company’s website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.



    Japanese banks invest in their local Bitcoin exchange bitFlyer

    Bitcoin – The three largest Japanese banks have all recently made investments into the Japanese Bitcoin Exchange, bitFlyer.

    The Japanese government recognised Bitcoin and other virtual monies as the same as currency in 2016.

     

     

     

    To read the full article please CLICK HERE

     

    or paste the following code into a browser –

     

    https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/japanese-megabanks-invest-bitcoin-exchange/

     



    Neometals – Euroz Securities issue a new reseach note

    Neometals {ASX: NMT} – New research report issued.

    Euroz Securities have issued a new report and updated their target price for Neometals based upon the company now being in production.

     

    To read the full article please CLICK HERE

     

    Or paste the following into a browser:

     

    http://www.neometals.com.au/reports/700-NMT_17Feb17.pdf

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     



    Neometals Update ‐ Mt Marion Lithium Operations

    Neometals Ltd {ASX: NMT} and Mineral Resources Limited {ASX: MIN}
    provided an update on the status of operations at Mt Marion and related commercial arrangements.
    The plant has successfully reached throughput at rates of 280 tonnes per hour. Recoveries and product grades are in line with the ramp‐up plan.

     

     

    16 February 2017
    Update ‐ Mt Marion Lithium Operations  

     
    Neometals Ltd {ASX: NMT} and Mineral Resources Limited {ASX: MIN}
    wishes to provide an update on the status of operations at Mt Marion and related commercial arrangements.
    The plant has successfully reached throughput at rates of 280 tonnes per hour. Recoveries and product grades are in line with the ramp‐up plan.

    The construction of the fines flotation circuit is expected to be completed by the end of February 2017 with commissioning scheduled to commence immediately.
    The second lithium concentrate shipment is scheduled for mid‐March, with anticipated tonnage of approximately 15,000 t with product grades of +6 and +4% Li2O.
    The shareholders, Ganfeng Lithium, MIN and Neometals have finalised negotiations and expect execution of formal documentation by end February 2017, for the following:

     

    Offtake Arrangements
     fix the 6% Li2O pricing (US$750 per dry metric tonne, CFR China) for shipments departing before 30 June 2017.
     pricing of subsequent shipments is to be set on a 6‐month basis by a formula based on a weighted average price of Chinese imports of Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide (based on published import statistics) plus a floor price consistent with original offtake agreement.
     expand the scope of the offtake agreements for the Mt Marion Project to 400,000 tpa of spodumene concentrates to include any sub‐6% Li2O production (as set out in the 31 May 2016 announcement).

     
    Mining Services Arrangements
     to vary the existing Mining Services Agreement to cover production of coarse and fine sub‐6% Li2O products in line with above offtake arrangements.
     subject to agreement on final commercial pricing, to further vary the Mining Services
    Agreement to upgrade sub‐6% Li2O products to all +6% Li2O product, resulting in 400,000tpa of +6% Li2O concentrates.

    MIN have ordered long lead items.

    It is expected that construction will commence in March 2017 without negative impact on production and with  transition to all 6% Li2O production by the end of CY2017.
    The market will be informed upon execution of the formal agreements.

    ENDS
    For further information, please contact:
    Chris Reed
    Managing Director
    Neometals Ltd
    +61 8 9322 1182
    info@neometals.com.au

     

    Bruce Goulds
    CFO/Company Secretary
    Mineral Resources Limited
    +61 8 9329 3600
    bruce.goulds@mineralresources.com.au
    Media
    Richard Glass / Michael Weir
    Citadel‐MAGNUS
    +61 8 6160 4900



    Scorpio Gold reaches litigation settlement

    Scorpio Gold Corp. {TSX.V:SGN} announced it has reached a settlement with National EWP, Inc.to end the court proceedings involving its 70% indirectly owned subsidiary Mineral Ridge LLC  the operator of the Company’s Mineral Ridge gold operation.

    This releases $1.3 million escrowed cash back to Scorpio, a useful addition to treasury.

     

    VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA- Scorpio Gold Corp. {TSX.V:SGN} announces it has reached a settlement with National EWP, Inc.to end the court proceedings involving its 70% indirectly owned subsidiary Mineral Ridge LLC (“MRG”), the operator of the Company’s Mineral Ridge gold operation.

     

    In its prior ruling, the Second Judicial District Court of Washoe County, Nevada issued a judgment awarding National US$2.3 million in its lawsuit against MRG. The Company and its legal advisors disagreed with both the Court’s legal conclusions and its factual findings and began the appeals process.

     

    To prevent any collection activities during the pendency of the appeal, MRG was required to provide cash security to the court in the amount of the judgment. During the early stages of the appeal, Nevada court rules required both parties to attend a settlement conference with a court-appointed mediator to seek agreeable settlement terms. After negotiation with National, the Company determined that it was in its best interest to settle the case for an amount of US$1 million and end the costly litigation.

     

    This settlement allows Scorpio Gold to avoid significant legal fees during a potentially lengthy appeals process and provides for return of $1.3 million of the $2.3 million cash security posted with the court. MRG can thereafter use the freed up funds to further advance its Nevada properties.
    About Scorpio Gold

    Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest in the Mineral Ridge gold mining operation located in Esmeralda County, Nevada with joint venture partner Elevon, LLC (30%). Mineral Ridge is currently in production as a conventional open pit mining and heap leach operation.

    The Mineral Ridge property is host to multiple gold-bearing structures, veins and lenses at exploration, development and production stages. Scorpio Gold also holds a 100% interest in the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge property in Manhattan, Nevada, with a fully permitted underground mine and 400 ton per day mill facility. The Goldwedge mill facility has been placed on a care and maintenance basis and can be restarted immediately when needed.

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

    SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION

    Brian Lock, Interim CEO

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company’s current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “suggest”, “indicate” and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements, including the outcome of the litigation and those risk factors outlined in the Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.



    Radisson intersects 5.0 g/t gold over 6.0 m outside current resources, expands drill program at O’Brien

    Radisson Mining Resources Inc. {TSX.V: RDS} is pleased to provide an update on the exploration program at it’s 100% owned O’Brien gold project located in the heart of the Cadillac mining camp along the Larder Lake-Cadillac fault in Quebec, Canada.

    Since the last update on December 5th, 2016, assay results have been
    received for three holes.

     

    RADISSON INTERSECTS 5.0 G/T GOLD OVER 6.0 METRES OUTSIDE CURRENT
    RESOURCES AND EXPANDS DRILL PROGRAM TO 20,000 METRES AT O’BRIEN

    Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, February 14, 2017: Radisson Mining Resources Inc. {TSXV: RDS} is pleased to provide an update on the exploration program at it’s 100%
    owned O’Brien gold project located in the heart of the Cadillac mining camp along the LarderLake-Cadillac fault in Quebec, Canada.

    Since the last update on December 5th, 2016, assay results have been
    received for three holes.

    Highlights:
     Drill hole OB-16-15 intersected 5.0 g/t Au over 6.0 m; this intercept occurs 100 metres updip of intercept which ran hole 5.0g/t Au over 5.0 m in hole OB 16-12 and 25 metres west of the currently defined resource envelope of the 36E Area.
     Drill hole OB-16-15 also intersected 4.9 g/t Au over 1.5 m in the Cadillac sediments, north of the Cadillac Fault.
     Drill hole OB-16-17 intersected 11.5 g/t Au over 0.6 m at a depth of 125 metres in the Pontiac Group sedimentary package south of current mineral resources.
    Mario Bouchard, President and CEO commented: “We are very excited with the results obtained in the current exploration program, as we continue to encounter mineralization outside of the existing resource, as for example, in the “F Zone”. The synergies derived from the ongoing historical data compilation exercise combined with insights gleaned from the ongoing drilling program will help drive our exploration program. The upside has never looked better on this property which was mined from 1926 to 1957; finding gold in multiple host rock types – to the west, north, and south of the existing resource – is a potential game changer.”
    Drill program expanded to 20,000 metres
    Given the positive results obtained during the 2016-2017 drilling campaign the company has decided to expand the ongoing drilling program to 20,000 m.
    One drill rig is currently operating at the O’Brien project and completing step-out and shallow depth extension drilling on the F Zone, 36E and Kewagama areas. The company will mobilise a second drill rig on the property by the end of March. With results obtained in the Pontiac Group and Cadillac Group sediments the expanded drilling program will include shallow depth extension drilling and also exploration drilling on numerous high priority targets generated from our historic data compilation program, “Orevision IP” (induced polarization) survey and the 2016-
    2017 drilling program.
    Geophysics survey and historic data compilation
    Earlier in January, the company received results from Abitibi geophysics Inc.’s “Orevision IP” survey completed on the southern portion of the O’Brien property. Multiple high priority targets were defined in the Pontiac Group sediments, south of the current and historical resources.
    Simultaneously, Radisson is advancing a historic data compilation program at the O’Brien project, which it expects to complete by the end of March. These initiatives will potentially allow the company to identify additional high priority exploration drill targets outside of current resources.
    2016 step-out drilling and ore shoot extension results summary (see figure 1)
     3.0 metres grading 16.2 g/t gold including 1.0 metre grading 44.7 g/t gold (See OB 16-7)
     2.5 metres grading 20.2 g/t gold including 0.5 metre grading 93.7 g/t gold (See OB 16-14)
     1.4 metres grading 17.6 g/t gold including 0.5 metre grading 44.2 g/t gold (See OB 16-5)
     16.0 metres grading 3.0 g/t gold including 5.0 metres grading 5.0 g/t gold (See OB 16-12)
     6.0 metres grading 5.0 g/t gold (See OB 16-15)
     2.0 metres grading 3.0 g/t gold (See OB 16-3)
     7.0 metres grading 3.1 g/t gold (See OB 16-4)
     1.0 metre grading 5.0 g/t gold (See OB 16-5)
     2.0 metres grading 5.9 g/t gold (See OB 16-8)
    2016 drill results in Pontiac and Cadillac Sedimentary group (see figure 2)
     1.5 metres grading 10.0 g/t gold (See OB 16-13)
     1.0 metre grading 12.8 g/t gold including 0.5 metre grading 23.8 g/t gold (See OB 16-3)
     2.0 metres grading 8.6 g/t gold (See OB 16-10)
     3.0 metres grading 6.3 g/t gold (See OB 16-14)
     0.6 metre grading 11.0 g/t gold (See OB 16-5)
     0.6 metre grading 11.5 g/t gold (See OB 16-17)
     2.0 metres grading 4.3 g/t gold including 1.0 metre grading 6.2 g/t gold (See OB 16-5)
     1.5 metres grading 10.0 g/t gold (See OB 16-13)
    Note; Results are presented as downhole width; true widths are estimated to be between 55 to 70% of downhole thickness.
    All drill cores in this campaign are NQ in size. Analyses were completed on sawn half-cores, with the second half kept for future reference. The samples were analyzed using standard fire assay procedures with AA finish at Techni-Lab Actlabs in Ste-Germaine-Boulé in Abitibi, Quebec.
    Samples yielding a grade higher than 5 g/t were analyzed a second time by fire assay with gravimetric finish at the same laboratory. Samples containing visible gold were analysed with metallic sieve procedure. Standard reference materials and blank samples were inserted prior to shipment for quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program.
    Finally, Radisson would like to announce the resignation of Marianna Simeone as a director of the company. Marianna Simeone has been a valuable member of the Board of Directors since 2015. The Company would like to thank Ms. Simeone for her valuable contribution as a director and wishes her well in her future endeavours.
    Qualified Person
    Tony Brisson, P. Geo, independent consultant, acts as a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.
    About Radisson Mining Resources Inc.
    Radisson is a Quebec-based mineral exploration company. The O’Brien project, cut by the regional Larder-Lake-Cadillac Fault, is Radisson’s flagship asset. The project hosts the former O’Brien Mine, considered to have been the Abitibi Greenstone Belt’s highest-grade gold producer during its production (1,197,147 metric tons at 15.25 g/t Au for 587,121 ounces of gold from 1926 to 1957; InnovExplo, April 2015).
    For more information on Radisson,  please visit  www.radissonmining.com

    or contact:
    Mario Bouchard
    President and CEO
    +1 819 277 6578
    mbouchard@radissonmining.com
    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
    Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain certain forward-looking
    information. All statements included herein, including the scheduled Closing date, but other than statements of historical fact, is forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward looking information can be found in Radisson’s disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com



    Minera IRl release final 2016 drill results

    Minera IRL Limited {CSE: MIRL} announced the final assay results of its 2016 Minapampa Far East drill program, at its Ollachea flagship gold project in Puno, Southern Peru.

    The results have demonstrated that gold mineralisation at Minapampa continues over 500m to the east and remains open to the east and at depth. The results announced today are from 5,421 m (23 drill holes) of drilling conducted in 2016 at Ollachea.

     

     

     

    LIMA, PERU–Feb 13, 2017) – Minera IRL Limited {CSE: MIRL} is pleased to announce the final assay results of its 2016 Minapampa Far East drill program, at its Ollachea flagship gold project in Puno, Southern Peru.

     

    The results have demonstrated that gold mineralisation at Minapampa continues over 500m to the east and remains open to the east and at depth. The results announced today are from 5,421 m (23 drill holes) of drilling conducted in 2016 at Ollachea.

     

    The drill hole results have been used to outline an exploration target in the Minapampa Far East mineralised zone of 370,000 to 550,000 ounces of gold contained within 3.1 to 4.6 million tonnes, grading 2.9 to 4.3 g/t gold, (this tonnes/grade range is reported within the framework of the N.I. 43-101 Restricted Disclosure Section 2.3(2)).

     

    The potential tonnages and grades are conceptual in nature and are based on drill results that define the approximate length, thickness, depth and grade of mineralisation in the Minapampa Far East mineralized zone. The exploration results from the 2016 together with this interpretation will be used as the basis for estimating a maiden Mineral Resource estimate on the zone.

     

    “We achieved our goal of proving that the mineralisation continues well beyond the existing 43.101 compliant Mineral Resource. We expect that the results will expand the Ollachea Mineral Resources and will likely extend the Minapampa mine life. We believe the Ollachea Project is still significantly underexplored, with considerable potential to add to the Mineral Reserves, which are currently over 1 million ounces1”, said Diego Benavides, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company.

     

    1 Refer to previous press release dated 4 June 2014

     

    The Company’s primary objective are to advance the Ollachea Project to a construction decision and to expand the resource base through ongoing exploration. To that end, the Company expects to release a new Mineral Resource Estimate for the Minapampa Far East Area, combined with an update to the Minapampa Feasibility Study by mid-year, 2017.

     

    Significant drill hole intercepts from the program are:

    DDH16-T06 8 m downhole @ 3.69 g/t from 122 meters of depth
    DDH16-T07 13 m downhole @ 6.34 g/t from 143 meters of depth
    DDH16-T10 4 m downhole @ 11.23 g/t from 217 meters of depth
    DDH16-T11 21 m downhole @ 3.61 g/t from 96 meters of depth
    DDH16-T12 18 m downhole @ 3.4 g/t from 122 meters of depth
    DDH16-T14 22 m downhole @ 2.41 g/t from 176 meters of depth
    DDH16-T16 4 m downhole @ 16.8 g/t from 294 meters of depth
    DDH16-T18 10 m downhole @ 2.59 g/t from 186 meters of depth
    DDH16-T18 10 m downhole @ 2.65 g/t from 198 meters of depth
    DDH16-T19 19 m downhole @ 2.96 g/t from 188 meters of depth
    DDH16-T24 18 m downhole @ 2.1 g/t from 190 meters of depth
    DDH16-T24 7 m downhole @ 4.05 g/t from 213 meters of depth
    Technical details: Minapampa Far East Drill Results

    Minera IRL geologists undertook detailed two dimensional geological interpretations on cross section and in plan upon receipt of the final assay results. Mineralized zones were delimited an a nominal grade threshold of 1 g/t gold. This updated interpretation attributes mineralized intercepts to different mineralized zones when compared to the initial interpretation presented in the November 28, 2016 press release.

     

    Figure 1 displays a plan view of the project area, while figure 2 displays a longitudinal projection of the interpreted 202 mineralized zone 202, which is the dominant mineralized structure in the Minapampa Far East zone.

     

    Figure 1. Plan view showing Minapampa Far East drill hole traces and interpreted mineralisation.

     

    To view the figure associated with this release, please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/MINERA-Fig%201.pdf



    Inovio and ApolloBio to Collaborate on Development of HPV Pre-cancer Immunotherapy

    Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. {NASDAQ: INO} today announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement providing ApolloBio Corporation (NEEQ: 430187) with the exclusive right to develop and commercialise VGX-3100, Inovio’s DNA immunotherapy product designed to treat pre-cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), within Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan).

     

     

     

    Inovio and ApolloBio to Collaborate on Development and Commercialization of HPV Pre-cancer Immunotherapy VGX-3100 in Greater China

    Inovio to receive up to $50 million in upfront and near term payments and equity investment
    PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. – February 13, 2017 – Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. {NASDAQ: INO} today announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement providing ApolloBio Corporation (NEEQ: 430187) with the exclusive right to develop and commercialise VGX-3100, Inovio’s DNA immunotherapy product designed to treat pre-cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), within Greater China (China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan). The agreement provides for potential inclusion of the Republic of Korea three years following the effective date.

     

    Under the collaboration and license agreement, Inovio will receive $15 million in upfront and near term payments comprising an initial $3 million signing fee and a $12 million milestone upon lifting of the VGX-3100 phase 3 pre-initiation clinical hold by the FDA. Under a separate equity agreement, ApolloBio will invest in Inovio common stock subsequent to lifting of the clinical hold at a volume weighted average price encompassing a trading period prior to and following the lifting of the clinical hold.

     

    The aggregate investment, which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2017, will not exceed $35 million and may be a lower amount such that ApolloBio will not be the largest shareholder in Inovio. ApolloBio will fund all clinical development costs within the licensed territory, and will pay Inovio up to $20 million based upon the achievement of certain regulatory milestones in the US, China and Korea, and double digit royalties on net sales of VGX-3100. The agreements are subject to People’s Republic of China (PRC) corporate and regulatory approvals, and payments are subject to PRC currency approvals.

     

    This collaboration on VGX-3100 encompasses the treatment and/or prevention of pre-cancerous HPV infections and HPV-driven dysplasias, and excludes HPV-driven cancers and all combinations of VGX-3100 with other immunostimulants.

     

    Dr. J. Joseph Kim, Inovio’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “As Inovio continues to focus on the path to regulatory approvals and commercialization strategies in the U.S. and European countries, this agreement opens up Greater China for our lead program and first phase III product. We believe that ApolloBio is a strong partner that brings significant capabilities and expertise relating to product development, the Chinese regulatory landscape, and the healthcare market in China.”

     

    Dr. Weiping Yang, Chief Executive Officer of ApolloBio Corporation, said, “We are delighted to begin 2017 with a strategic collaboration with Inovio. VGX-3100 is the world’s first therapeutic vaccine being developed for HPV pre-cancers. This collaboration, license and equity investment marks our determination to introduce late stage innovative new drugs to meet severely unmet medical needs within the Greater China region.”

     

    About VGX-3100

    VGX-3100 is an HPV-specific immunotherapy that is being developed as a non-surgical treatment for high-grade cervical dysplasia and related underlying persistent HPV infection. VGX-3100 works in vivo to activate functional, antigen-specific, CD-8 T-cells to clear persistent HPV 16/18 infection and cause regression of pre-cancerous cervical dysplasia. In a phase II trial, VGX-3100 demonstrated clinical efficacy and was generally well tolerated, without the side effects and obstetric risks associated with surgical excision. VGX-3100 is a first-in-class HPV-specific immunotherapy that targets the underlying cause of cervical dysplasia, providing an opportunity for women to reduce their risk of cervical cancer without undergoing an invasive surgical procedure.

     

    About HPV and Cervical Dysplasia

    HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and is the main cause of cervical cancer, which kills more than 250,000 women every year worldwide. Among the 300 million women currently infected with HPV, 500,000 will be diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. Two types of HPV (HPV 16 and HPV 18) cause 70% of cervical cancer cases. High-grade cervical dysplasia is also caused by persistent HPV infection and is a pre-cancerous condition that can progress to cervical cancer if left untreated. Globally the number of high-grade cervical dysplasia cases is estimated to be in the range of 10 million.

     

    Currently there are no approved medical treatments for persistent HPV infection or cervical dysplasia. The primary treatment for high-grade cervical dysplasia is surgical excision of the pre-cancerous lesion and a margin of healthy cervical tissue. Because surgical excision does not treat the underlying HPV infection that causes cervical dysplasia, there is a 10-16% risk of disease recurrence. Women with persistent HPV infection after surgical excision remain at high risk for cervical cancer. In addition, surgical treatment is associated with pain and cramping, and a risk for post-surgical bleeding, infection, and pre-term delivery and miscarriages during future pregnancies.

     

    About ApolloBio Corporation

    ApolloBio Corporation (NEEQ: 430187) is a leading Chinese biomedical company committed to research and development of innovative new medicines, accessing such new medicines through in-licensing, and additionally providing medical services. ApolloBio Corp. is focused on pharmaceutical products with significant market potential in China in the three major fields of oncology, liver disease, and cardio-cerebrovascular disease; providing efficient access for American biomedical companies to enter into the Chinese market; and aiming to bring the newest and best medicines across the globe to the Chinese people.

     

    For more information, please visit www.apollobio.com

     

    About Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    Inovio is taking immunotherapy to the next level in the fight against cancer and infectious diseases. We are the only immunotherapy company that has reported generating T cells in vivo in high quantity that are fully functional and whose killing capacity correlates with relevant clinical outcomes with a favorable safety profile. With an expanding portfolio of immune therapies, the company is advancing a growing preclinical and clinical stage product pipeline. Partners and collaborators include MedImmune, The Wistar Institute, University of Pennsylvania, DARPA, GeneOne Life Science, Plumbline Life Sciences, Drexel University, NIH, HIV Vaccines Trial Network, National Cancer Institute, U.S. Military HIV Research Program, and Laval University.

     

    For more information, please visit www.inovio.com

    CONTACTS:
    Investors: Bernie Hertel

    +1 858-410-3101

    bhertel@inovio.com

    # # # #

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to our business, including the agreements with ApolloBio, our plans to develop electroporation-based drug and gene delivery technologies and DNA vaccines, our expectations regarding our research and development programs and our capital resources. Actual events or results may differ from the expectations set forth herein as a result of a number of factors, including the timing of the lifting of the VGX-3100 phase 3 pre-initiation clinical hold, receipt of by ApolloBio of corporate and PRC regulatory approvals, uncertainties inherent in pre-clinical studies, clinical trials and product development programs, including VGX-3100, the availability of funding to support continuing research and studies in an effort to prove safety and efficacy of electroporation technology as a delivery mechanism or develop viable DNA vaccines, our ability to support our broad pipeline of SynCon® active immunotherapy and vaccine products, the ability of our collaborators to attain development and commercial milestones for products we license and product sales that will enable us to receive future payments and royalties, the adequacy of our capital resources, the availability or potential availability of alternative therapies or treatments for the conditions targeted by the company or its collaborators, including alternatives that may be more efficacious or cost effective than any therapy or treatment that the company and its collaborators hope to develop, issues involving product liability, issues involving patents and whether they or licenses to them will provide the company with meaningful protection from others using the covered technologies, whether such proprietary rights are enforceable or defensible or infringe or allegedly infringe on rights of others or can withstand claims of invalidity and whether the company can finance or devote other significant resources that may be necessary to prosecute, protect or defend them, the level of corporate expenditures, assessments of the company’s technology by potential corporate or other partners or collaborators, capital market conditions, the impact of government healthcare proposals and other factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, and other regulatory filings from time to time. There can be no assurance that the approvals required under the ApolloBio agreements will be obtained, that VGX-3100 or any other product in Inovio’s pipeline will be successfully developed or manufactured, that final results of clinical studies for VGX-3100 will be supportive of regulatory approvals required to market licensed products, including in Greater China, or that any of the forward-looking information provided herein will be proven accurate.



    Is Bitcoin an investment?

    Bitcoin {BTC} Is it an investment?

    New article likens investing in Bitcoin as “forex trading on steroids”

     

     

    Bitcoin {BTC} – Is it really an “investment”?

     

    I personally see Bitcoin as a Ponzi scheme, in the same way as national currencies are Ponzi schemes, I.E. not backed up with a tangible asset, namely gold, as they previously were.

     

    A new article likens Bitcoin ‘invesmtent’ to “forex trading on steroids”, and it’s hard to disagree with that statement, IMO.

     

    To read the full article please CLICK HERE

     

    Or paste this code into a browser:

    http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2017/02/04/bitcoin-fast-lane-to-billions-or-bankruptcy/

     

     



    Cascadero Copper – Taron cesium drill permit issued, program ready to start

    Cascadero Copper {TSX.V: CCD} announced the drill permit required for their next drill program has been issued, and they are ready to commence the program.

    This work is for the Taron Cesium showing, and should commence 26th February 2017.

     

     

     

    Taron Cesium drill permit issued – program scheduled to start

    february 9, 2017

     

    Cascadero Copper {TSX.V: CCD} – The Company has received notice that work can start on the Taron cesium showing. The advance payment to the drill Contractor is in process and the Contractor will mobilise the required equipment to rehabilitate the access roads to the property to the drill hole collar locations. The camp for 18 workers should be on site within 7 days and the drill is expected to be on site February 26.

     

    The Company is planning to drill 29 vertical HQ3 core holes to a depth of 75 metres for a total of 2,175 metres in a grid style pattern that will test an area of about 1.30 square kilometers in the southwest portion of the property. This is an area that has three previous drill holes (2009) and several hundred metres of hand and excavator trenches (2005 to 2007). Additionally, the area has variable outcrops that all assayed cesium.

     

    The Program is expected to take 50 days to complete. The Company has retained GeoSim Services Inc who will act as the Qualified Person (QP) for the program.

     

    About Cesium

    Cesium (chemical symbol Cs) is a rare metal best known for its extreme chemical reactivity. Cesium hydroxide forms the start point of myriad end uses, including Cesium Formate (CsCHO2), the industries premium drilling and completion fluid. Cesium Formate is an environmentally benign solution with a high-density and low-viscosity used to control formation pressures and temperatures in drilling of deep oil wells (HPHT).

    As a dense medium, cesium formate is used to separate DNA and in metallurgical testing and is also well known for artificially produced radioactive isotopes used to treat various types of cancer. Cesium compounds and chemicals are used in photo-emissive devices, experimental magneto-hydrodynamic electricity generation, atomic clocks for telecommunications and GPS navigation systems, catalysts in plastic manufacturing, specialty glasses, ion propulsion rocket motors, high-density alkaline batteries, coatings for solar cells, and petroleum refining. Research continues to generate new applications for cesium compounds.

     

    Bill McWilliam. CEO Cascadero Copper Corporation

    Email = bill@cascadero.com

    +1 604.924.5504

     

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.