Interview with Robin Tolbert, VP Exploration, and Sam Lee, President & CEO of NorthIsle Copper & Gold Inc.
Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/northisle-copper-gold-tsxvncx-leveraging-the-rising-copper-gold-market-on-path-to-production-5205
Recording date: 29th May 2024
NorthIsle Copper and Gold is advancing a significant copper-gold porphyry project on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia. The project boasts an impressive resource base, with over 4.9 million ounces of indicated gold resources and approximately 2.5 billion pounds of indicated copper resources. This forms a strong foundation to build upon in a rising commodity price environment.
With copper and gold prices at attractive levels, NorthIsle is taking steps to grow the project further and optimize the potential development scenario. The company is currently undertaking trade-off studies to determine the optimal path forward, with a focus on delineating a potential starter pit operation on the higher-grade Red Dog and Northwest Expo zones.
CEO Sam Lee highlighted the opportunity in a recent interview, stating, "We obviously saw recent highs on not only copper and gold, it's to grow the project right, it's to make it bigger, it's to make it obviously better, and that's what we are doing through the drill right now."
This year's 10,000 meter drill program is following up on successful programs in 2022 and 2023 and will target high-grade zones that could enhance the overall project economics. VP Exploration Robin Tolbert sees big potential, especially at Northwest Expo.
"At Northwest Expo, we have of course the resource in there, which is where those red drill holes are," said Tolbert. "What we find is the mineralization to the south, which is to the left, is very high grade but that currently is in the inferred category. We are planning to drill seven holes through this red area which is the high grade, and that will increase the grade and tonnage of high grade."
A key advantage for NorthIsle is the existing infrastructure in the area, including power, roads, and port facilities, thanks to the historical BHP Island Copper mine that operated in the 1970s. This is a major benefit that could allow the project to be advanced efficiently. While a lot of work is going into expanding and upgrading resources at known zones, NorthIsle also sees tremendous blue sky exploration potential on the wider property package. Initial drilling at the Pemberton Hills target indicates a very large porphyry system could be present, and this area will see more drilling in 2024.
For investors bullish on copper and gold, NorthIsle presents a compelling opportunity, with a large existing resource base in a top-tier jurisdiction, ongoing drilling to expand high-grade zones, and district-scale upside potential. With demand for copper forecast to grow significantly in the coming years, NorthIsle is well positioned to create value as it continues to advance and de-risk this major project.
View NorthIsle Copper & Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/northisle-copper-gold
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What is Company Interviews?
An insight into junior mining and opportunities to invest.
Company Interviews, a Crux Investor show, exists to cut through the jargon, bias and bluster.
Matthew Gordon, and guest host Merlin Marr-Johnson hone in on the important factors that indicate a company's strong footing for growth and success.