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Major bank CEOs say #blockchain will underpin the financial industry ‘in five years’ $SX $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca $AAO.ca $HPQ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:28 AM on Monday, June 4th, 2018
  • Banks have invested millions in developing blockchain applications in recent years, as part of a broader industry effort to try to cut costs and simplify their back-office processes.
  • Rather than a centralized system, blockchain allows multiple parties to have simultaneous access to a constantly updated ledger that cannot be changed.
  • “We believe there is huge promise in blockchain. It is early times in this technology but it can bring about more efficient processes,” Carlos Torres Vila, CEO of BBVA, told CNBC on Monday

Sam Meredith | @smeredith19

Apple, Facebook and other big tech can be a threat — or a partner: ING CEO   7 Hours Ago | 02:48

Blockchain technology could soon revolutionize the global banking industry, according to the chief executives of two major European lenders.

Banks have invested millions in developing blockchain applications in recent years, as part of a broader industry effort to try to cut costs and simplify their back-office processes. The technology, which is perhaps better known as the software powering cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, was initially treated with skepticism by international lenders.

However, the use of blockchain in the banking industry is increasingly viewed as a proficient way of reducing the risk of fraud, with some banks now hailing its potential.

“So, if you look at blockchain… I think the banks are really working on this now because the potential is so huge and if the top five, six global banks would put their minds to it and agree on a standard, you could force (that) standard onto the globe,” Ralph Hamers, chief executive of ING Group, told CNBC’S Arjun Kharpal at the Money 2020 fintech conference in Amsterdam on Monday.

“And I think that you can actually then get to a timeframe of five or six years in which this will work,” he added.

‘Huge promise’

Rather than a centralized system, blockchain allows multiple parties to have simultaneous access to a constantly updated ledger that cannot be changed. That makes cheating the system by faking documents, transactions or any types of information, nearly impossible.

Fascinating to see crossborder M&A in European banking back on center stage: BBVA   4 Hours Ago | 02:56

“We believe there is huge promise in blockchain. It is early times in this technology but it can bring about more efficient processes,” Carlos Torres Vila, CEO of BBVA, told CNBC on Monday.

When asked whether he was as optimistic as ING’s Hamers in predicting that blockchain technology could be rolled out throughout the industry over the next five years, Torres Vila replied: “I am, I think it does have that promise and I think that timeframe should be about right… but we will see how it develops.”

Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/04/major-bank-ceos-say-blockchain-will-underpin-the-financial-industry-in-five-years.html

FEATURE: American Creek $AMK.ca encounters high grade #Gold / #Silver at Treaty Creek, same system as #Seabridge Gold $SEA $SA $SKE.ca $TUD.ca $PVG

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:26 AM on Monday, June 4th, 2018

AMK: TSX-V, OTCBB: ACKRF

Geology, geophysics, and exploration on Treaty Creek indicate potential for world class deposits.

  • Adjoining Pretivm and Seabridge Gold claims (Snowfield / Brucejack / VOK / KSM)
  • Intersected various mineralized zones
  • Most significant was 337.5m of continuous mineralization grading 0.76 g/t gold from 2 to 339.5m depth,
  • Including a higher grade intercept of 124.5m grading 0.98 g/t gold from 53.0 to 177.5m

Hub On AGORACOM / Corporate Profile

FULL DISCLOSURE: American Creek Resources is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.

$GGX.ca GGX Gold Completes Drill Holes 31 – 37 on the COD Vein, Extends the COD vein an additional 135 Meters South – Greenwood BC

Posted by AGORACOM at 10:05 AM on Monday, June 4th, 2018

https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.agoracom.com/public/companies/logos/564602/hub/ggx_large.png

 

  • Completion of diamond drill holes DDCOD18-31 through DDCOD18-37 on the COD vein
  • DDCOD18-37 extended the COD vein 135m further south, intersecting a 3.16 meter quartz vein
  • 37 diamond drill holes totaling 2,393 meters have been completed during the 2018 program

Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire)GGX Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGX), (OTC Pinks: GGXXF), (the “Company” or “GGX”) is pleased to announce the completion of diamond drill holes DDCOD18-31 through DDCOD18-37 on the COD vein, located in the Southwest Zone at the Company’s Gold Drop Property, southern British Columbia.  To date, 37 diamond drill holes totaling 2,393 meters have been completed during the 2018 diamond drilling program testing the COD structure.

To view the graphic in its original size, please click here

The latest series of diamond drill holes were drilled from a pad located 100 m south of the 2017 COD trenches. These holes targeted an area of historical exploratory trenches. The highlight of the latest series of holes is DDCOD18-37 that extended the COD vein 135 meters further south. The hole intersected a 3.16 meter quartz vein intercept.

To view the graphic in its original size, please click here

Listed below are the highlights from the latest series of COD diamond drill holes. All reported widths are core length.

DDCOD18-32:  1.39 meter quartz vein intercept.

DDCOD18-33:  2.52 meter quartz vein intercept.

DDCOD18-35:  2.65 meter quartz vein intercept.

DDCOD18-36:  3.41 meter quartz vein intercept.

DDCOD18-37:  3.16 meter quartz vein intercept

To view the graphic in its original size, please click here

The core is currently being split and securely packaged for shipment to ALS laboratories in Vancouver, BC. There the core will be analyzed for gold by Fire Assay and for 48 multi element Four Acid and ICP-MS. Quality control (QC) samples are being inserted at regular intervals.

To view the graphic in its original size, please click here

David Martin, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, is responsible for the technical information contained in this News Release.

To view the Original News release with photos please go to the website or contact the Company.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Barry Brown, Director

604-488-3900

Office

Investor Relations: Mr. Jack Singh, 604-720-6598   [email protected]

 

“ We don’t have to do this, we get to do this ” 

The Crew

The #blockchain explained for non-engineers $SX.ca $SXOOF $IDK.ca $AAO.ca $HPQ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:27 PM on Friday, June 1st, 2018
  • Blockchain buzz is inescapable
  • While the technology has transformed some companies and minted fresh millionaires in a dazzlingly short period of time,
    • blockchain is as confounding as it is powerful
  • If you’re confused by the hype, you’re not alone

What is blockchain? Is blockchain tech limited to Bitcoin? What is blockchain’s relationship to cryptocurrency? What are blockchain-related jobs? We answer these questions about blockchain and more.

By Dan Patterson | June 1, 2018 — 15:01 GMT (08:01 PDT) | Topic: How Blockchain Will Disrupt Business

Blockchain buzz is inescapable. And while the technology has transformed some companies and minted fresh millionaires in a dazzlingly short period of time, blockchain is as confounding as it is powerful. If you’re confused by the hype, you’re not alone.

This ebook, based on the latest ZDNet/TechRepublic special feature, looks at how blockchain is shaking up the economy and changing the way individuals and enterprises conduct business.

The blockchain is a decentralized, vettable, and secure technology that has, in less than a decade, become a powerful driver of digital transformation poised to help create a new employment economy. Evangelists claim blockchain tech will disrupt industrial supply chains, streamline real estate transactions, and even redefine the media industry. “Think of blockchain as the next layer of the internet,” said Tom Bollich, CTO of MadHive. “HTTP gave us websites … now we have blockchain, which is like a new layer of computing.”

SEE: The executive’s guide to implementing blockchain technology (PDF) (TechRepublic)

Employment data seems to validate blockchain’s current hype cycle. Google search data indicates a cresting wave of interest in the tech, and according to Indeed.com searches for blockchain-related jobs spiked nearly 1000 percent since 2015. Enterprise organizations like Capital One, Deloitte, ESPN, and eBay are hiring blockchain engineers, retraining project managers to facilitate integrations, and even searching for specialized attorneys.

Image: Google Search Trends

But while the technology’s applications seem nearly limitless, understanding how the blockchain works and why it’s important is challenging, even for technology and IT professionals. The blockchain is, fundamentally, an ever-expanding database. Just like a bank record, every transaction is logged and then made available to the public. The database relies on a novel method of encryption, allowing developers to verify the authenticity of each transaction.

The database is strengthened with each transaction, so to incentivize so-called ‘miners’ — individuals or organizations that use powerful GPUs to solve algorithmic challenges — each chain releases a digital ‘coin’, commonly referred to as cryptocurrency. The Bitcoin blockchain releases nodes — or, blocks — of transaction data every 8 to 10 minutes. Miners receive a portion of a coin for their effort, and the chain’s encryption is strengthened. Because the code is open and viewable by anyone with a computer, blockchain tech is often referred to as a ‘public ledger’ of activity.

Although most often associated with Bitcoin, the blockchain can be stamped with a vast spectrum of data, said Bollich’s co-founder and Riot Blockchain’s CEO John O’Rourke in an interview with TechRepublic. “It’s basically basing your faith in math [as opposed to] faith in some other trusted party that could potentially be hacked,” he said. “The blockchain allows all of that [activity] to be digitized, and secured with every single transaction on that ledger.”

Image: Satoshi NakamotoDigital currency is attractive to some because the coins are algorithmically dispensed and not controlled by a government. In the latter half of 2017 and first half of 2018 initial coin offerings — ICOs — raised billions in speculative funding.

SEE: What is blockchain? Understanding the technology and the revolution (PDF) (TechRepublic)

However, a wise man once said, “Don’t believe the hype.” When it comes to cryptocurrency and blockchain hype, we should all learn from Flavor Flav’s immutable wisdom. It’s nearly impossible to accurately value cryptocurrency. Some currencies are easy to hack. Most coins falter or never gain market traction, and established coins like Bitcoin and Ether often fluctuate wildly in price. Government regulation seems inevitable, and the SEC is cracking down on fraudulent traders.

Analysts at research firm Gartner, though still bullish on the long-term future of blockchain tech, are quick to caution that enterprise integration is not as easy as the hype might imply. According to a recent report, 14 percent of CSOs expressed concern that the technology will require significant organizational and cultural changes of the IT department. Another 77 percent of CIOs said their organization has no short-term interest in blockchain technology.

Alex Feinberg, a former Google exec and COO of Petram Security, remains confident in the long-term future of blockchain tech. Blockchain startups are on the rise, he noted, and the employment landscape is rosy for talented programmers and integration experts.

“As I started understanding what investment banks did and as I started understanding how the banking system was constructed, and as I understood how money was created,” Feinberg said, “it became apparent to me that the US government, the US banking system was in a bind.” The solution, he said, was decentralization. And the technological key to innovative decentralization? “The blockchain.”

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-blockchain-explained-for-non-engineers/

FEATURE: Peeks Social $PEEK.ca Live Streaming App Allowing Users to Interact in Real-time, $2.9M in 9 Month Revenues, 5.8M Quarterly User Sessions $BCOV $AVID

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:00 PM on Friday, June 1st, 2018

WHAT IS PEEKS?

Peeks is a new live streaming app where people can interact and transact in real time by sending cash tips as appreciation for content and or selling goods and services to their live viewers.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

  • $2,980,842 of gross revenue for nine months ended Sept. 30, 2017
  • Q3 2018 user sessions on the Peeks Social platform grew to 5.8 million,
    • Up from 4.6 million in Q2 2018
  • Peeks Social app set additional monthly deposit records in each month from September 2017 to January 2018
  • Completed Personas Acquisition Read More
  • Reported on next phase of Peeks Social branded VisaTM prepaid card Read More

FULL DISCLOSURE: Peeks Social is an advertising client of AGORA Internet Relations Corp.

Explor $EXS.ca Completes Preliminary Metallurgical Testwork on #Timmins Porcupine West #Gold Property $EXN.ca $HBE.ca $OSK.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:18 PM on Thursday, May 31st, 2018

Exs logo

  • Announced completion of Preliminary Metallurgical Testing on the low grade near surface gold ore on the Timmins Porcupine West Property
  • Selected a representative sample from diamond drill holes in the area of the potential open pit
  • 5 kilogram composite sample of mineralized diamond drill core was sent to SGS Minerals Services in Lakefield, Ontario for metallurgical test-work

ROUYN-NORANDA, Quebec, May 31, 2018 – Explor Resources Inc. (“Explor” or “the Corporation”) (TSX-V:EXS) (OTCQB:EXSFF) (FSE:E1H1) (BE:E1H1) is pleased to announce the completion of Preliminary Metallurgical Testing on the low grade near surface gold ore on the Timmins Porcupine West Property (the “TPW Property” or  the “Property”). Explor selected a representative sample from diamond drill holes in the area of the potential open pit. A 45 kilogram composite sample of mineralized diamond drill core was sent to SGS Minerals Services in Lakefield, Ontario for metallurgical test-work.

The test program included sample preparation, characterization, and flowsheet development testing. Ore characterization included grindability, mineralogy by QEM-RMS (QEMSCAN) rapid mineral scan, and chemical head grade analysis. Flowsheet development testwork focused on gravity separation, as well as flotation and cyanidation of gravity separation tailing.

In summary, the composite sample was analyzed by a screened metallics protocol and resulted in a head grade of 2.64 g/tonne gold. Testing indicated very little silver and negligible arsenic in the composite sample. It was noted that most of the sulphide sulfur was present as Pyrite (3.07%), Chalcopyrite (approximately 0.12%) and Pyrrhotite (0.02%). The Bond Mill work index was determined to be 13.1 Kwh/tonne. A gravity test was conducted and it was determined that the 37.5% of the gold exists as microscopic free gold, indicating that in any future mill design a gravity circuit will be necessary at the front end of the concentrator. Flotation testing indicated that up to 93% of the gold can be recovered as a pyrite concentrate. Cyanide leach test were conducted on the pyrite concentrate and greater than 94% gold extraction was achieved over a 24 hour period. The gold is not refractory and is not locked within the pyrite. A testing of the tailings product (ABA and NAG testing) indicates that there is no potential for acid generation in the flotation tailings material.

Chris Dupont, President and Chief Executive Officer of Explor Resources Inc. commented: “We are very excited about these preliminary Metallurgical results. The low Bond work index combined with the high percentage of free gold and potential greater than 93% gold recovery and with the fact that there is no potential for acid generation in the tailings material make this property very valuable from a development perspective.”

The highlights of the reported test-work includes the following results:

  • Gold analysis by screened metallics protocol at +/-150 mesh (106 μm) yielded a head grade of 2.64 g/t Au with >20% of the gold in the coarse fraction indicating favorable recovery by gravity.
  • Silver reported at less than the AAS detection limit of +/-0.5 g/t while sulphide sulphur, total carbon and arsenic were assayed at 1.48%, 0.7% and <0.001%, respectively.
  • Based on the semi-quantitative QEM-RMS analysis, most of the sulphide sulphur was present as pyrite (3.07%). Chalcopyrite was the second most abundant sulphide mineral at ~0.12% and pyrrhotite was third at 0.02%.
  • The Bond ball mill grindability test results indicated that the ore fell in the low medium range of hardness, at 13.1 kWh/tonne. The ore fell at the 36th  percentile compared to the SGS database.
  • In a batch gravity separation test completed, gravity gold recovery to a low mass concentrates (~0.04% of the feed mass) yielded a gold recovery of 37.5% at a primary grind size P80 of ~130 μm. These initial results suggest a high probability of significant potential for the use of gravity circuit at the front end of the mill. Additional gravity separation testwork is recommended in any future studies.
  • Rougher flotation tests on gravity separation tailings indicated that gold recoveries in the ~93% range (including the gold recovered by gravity separation) were achievable in ~5% mass pull at a P80 of ~130 μm. There appeared to be an improvement in gold recovery with finer grinding (to P80 = 59 μm).
  • Additional testing will be required to optimize the primary grind size for optimal rougher flotation performance. Additional test work is recommend, examining the cleaning characteristics of the rougher concentrate. It may be possible to generate a cleaner flotation concentrate approaching 50 g/tonne Au, compared to the ~30 g/t generated preliminary metallurgical in the preliminary rougher flotation testwork. Locked cycle flotation testing is also recommended to establish a more realistic understanding of potential gold recovery in closed-circuit in a flotation plant.
  • Cyanide leach tests examining the impact of grind size on gold recovery from the gravity separation tailings indicated gold extractions >94% (including gravity separation gold recovery) at P80’s of 74 μm or finer. Although the gold appears to be associated with pyrite and floats well with pyrite, it is not refractory and locked in the pyrite. Gold leaching appeared to be essentially complete within 24 hours.
  • Further testing to optimize cyanide leach parameters is recommended. This testing should address the optimization of feed particle size, leach retention time, pulp density, and cyanide dosage. This testing should encompass leaching of both whole ore (gravity tailings) as well as float concentrates. Subsequent work is recommended to evaluate the gold recovery circuit (CIP or CIL) and establish preliminary design criteria.
  • Baseline environmental evaluation (ABA and NAG testing) of a tailing representing a gravity +rougher flotation flowsheet indicated there is no potential for acid generation in flotation tailings material.

Chris Dupont, P.Eng is the qualified person responsible for the information contained in this release.

Explor Resources Inc. is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture (EXS), on the OTCQB (EXSFF) and on the Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges (E1H1).

This Press Release was prepared by Explor. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Explor Resources Inc.

Explor Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based natural resources company with mineral holdings in Ontario, Québec, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Explor is currently focused on exploration in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The belt is found in both provinces of Ontario and Québec with approximately 33% in Ontario and 67% in Québec. The Belt has produced in excess of 180,000,000 ounces of gold and 450,000,000 tonnes of Cu-Zn ore over the last 100 years. The Corporation was continued under the laws of Alberta in 1986 and has had its main office in Québec since 2006.

For further information please contact:            

Christian Dupont, President    
Tel: 888-997-4630 or 819-797-4630    
Fax: 819-797-1870    
Website: www.explorresources.com    
Email: [email protected]

 

Sales of electric cars #EV soar – over 3 million on the road! #Tesla $TSLA $NAM.ca $LIC.ca $LIX.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 11:05 AM on Thursday, May 31st, 2018

By Matthew H Tong / 31 May 2018 7:32 pm

  • Demand for cobalt and lithium is increasing and could rise tenfold unless technological advances reduce that figure
  • Over 60% of cobalt in the world is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where child labour still occurs.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its Global Electric Vehicles Outlook report for this year, which stated that there are currently 3.1 million electric vehicles (EV) on the road today. In fact, the encouraging uptake of EVs over the past year has become the basis for the IEA’s projection that, by 2030, there will be 220 million of such vehicles on public roads.

According to the report, about 1.1 million electric cars were sold in 2017, representing a 54% jump from 2016. Interestingly, over 50% or approximately 580,000 units were sold in China alone. The US also showed significant growth – EV sales more than doubled in 2017 compared to 2016, with over 280,000 units sold in the course of 12 months. In 2016, the figure stood at 120,000 units.

In terms of market share for new sales, Norway tops the chart with 39%, followed by Iceland with 11.7% and Sweden with 6.3%. However, over 99% of electric bus and electric two-wheelers were sold in China.

Given the growth in demand for electric vehicles, it’s not surprising that the demand for charging stations have also been on the rise. In 2017, approximately three million private chargers have been installed at residential and commercial/business properties, whereas nearly 430,000 public charging stations – 25% of which are fast chargers – have been installed as well.

On average, EV sales could climb by 24% each year till 2030. The problem is keeping up with demand – to keep up, the world requires at least 10 more battery gigafactories, Bloomberg said. Demand for cobalt and lithium is increasing and could rise tenfold unless technological advances reduce that figure. Over 60% of cobalt in the world is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where child labour still occurs.

The IEA credited the growth of EV to “government policy, including public procurement programs, financial incentives reducing the cost of purchase of EVs, tightened fuel-economy standards and regulations on the emission of local pollutants, low- and zero-emission vehicle mandates and a variety of local measures.”

Source: https://paultan.org/2018/05/31/sales-of-electric-cars-soar-over-3-million-on-the-road/

St-Georges Eco-Mining $SX.ca $SXOOF Signs Agreement to Spin-Out Subsidiary #ZeU $HIVE.ca $BLOC.ca $CODE.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:50 AM on Thursday, May 31st, 2018

Sx large

  • Announced the signing of an arrangement agreement providing for the spin-out of its subsidiary ZeU Crypto Networks Inc
  • Intend to list ZeU on the Canadian Securities Exchange
  • Shareholders will receive 11,249,825 shares of Zeu,
    • representing one share of ZeU for every eight common shares of St-Georges held

Montreal, QC / May 31, 2018 – St-Georges Eco-Mining Corp. (CSE: SX) (OTC: SXOOF) (FSE: 85G1) is pleased to announce the signing of an arrangement agreement providing for the spin-out of its subsidiary ZeU Crypto Networks Inc. with the intent of listing ZeU on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, shareholders of St-Georges at the time of the completion of the Spin-Out, anticipated to be the latter part of July, will receive 11,249,825 shares of Zeu, representing one (1) share of ZeU for every eight (8) common shares of St-Georges held based on the current issued and outstanding share capital. A St-Georges Shareholders’ meeting to approve the Arrangement Agreement is set for July 5, 2018 and proxy materials related to the meeting will be delivered to shareholders and made available on SEDAR in June 2018. A copy of the Arrangement Agreement will also be filed on SEDAR. The Arrangement Agreement is subject to the acceptance of the CSE.

ZeU holds an exclusive license to use Qingdao Tiande Technologies Limited and Beijing Tiande Technologies Limited’s (collectively “Tiande”) proprietary technologies, patents and know-how to develop and commercialize novel mineral commodity production chain control, tracking and trading exchanges, and has entered into a binding asset purchase agreement with Tiande, and the intervention Guiyang Tiande Technologies Limited, to acquire substantially all the intellectual property of Tiande, as more particularly described in St-Georges February 26 and May 22, 2018 press releases.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

“Frank Dumas”

FRANK DUMAS, PRESIDENT & CEO

About St-Georges

St-Georges is developing new technologies to solve the some of the most common environmental problems in the mining industry.

The Company controls directly or indirectly, through rights of first refusal, all of the active mineral tenures in Iceland. It also explores for nickel on the Julie Nickel Project & for industrial minerals on Quebec’s North Shore and for lithium and rare metals in Northern Quebec and in the Abitibi region. Headquartered in Montreal, St-Georges’ stock is listed on the CSE under the symbol SX, on the US OTC under the Symbol SXOOF and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 85G1.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.

The release contains forwarding looking information and statements as defined by law including, without limitation, Canadian securities laws and the “safe harbor” provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“forward-looking statements”), respecting St-Georges’ plans to spin-out its subsidiary ZeU. which is intended to be listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements including that the spin-out may not be completed as planned or at all due to failure to obtain shareholder or regulatory approval ,the inability to complete the Acquisition, raise sufficient capital to adequately fund ZeU or a decision of the board of St-Georges not to proceed, which decision can be made at any time prior to closing. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including, without limitation, assumptions about general business and economic conditions, the timing and receipt of required approval and continued availability of capital and financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein. The foregoing list is not exhaustive and St-Georges undertakes no obligation to update any of the foregoing except as required by law.

Monarques $MQR.ca Undertakes a Feasibility Study for its Wasamac #Gold Project $MUX.ca $SII.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:50 AM on Thursday, May 31st, 2018

Monarquesgold hub large

  • The BBA study for the custom milling option was positive and identified several processing plants able to provide the service.
  • Based on those results, the Corporation has retained BBA to conduct a feasibility study whose base scenario includes a mill and tailings facility near Wasamac, which will also allow to better assess the custom milling option.
  • The goal is to maximize the value of the Wasamac deposit, which contains a measured and indicated resource of 2,587,900 ounces of gold, and to bring it into production at the lowest possible cost.

MONTREAL, May 31, 2018 – MONARQUES GOLD CORPORATION (“Monarques” or the “Corporation”) (TSX-V:MQR) (OTCMKTS:MRQRF) (FRANKFURT:MR7) is pleased to announce that it has retained BBA to conduct a feasibility study for its Wasamac gold project. The study will cover the assessment, design, engineering and costing of the mine, mill, tailings management facility and all related services and infrastructure needed to develop and mine the Wasamac deposit. This new feasibility study will be based on an upgraded measured and indicated resource of 2,587,900 ounces of gold (see press release of October 26, 2017).

Monarques management’s priority is to examine every possible way of making Wasamac profitable at a gold price significantly lower than the scenario contemplated by the previous owner. The feasibility study will therefore consider the option of hauling the mineralized material underground to the vicinity of the rail line using the Rail-Veyor transport system, a promising technology currently in use at Agnico Eagle’s Goldex operation in Val-d’Or (see a Goldex Rail-Veyor system), which would eliminate the significant capital expenditures required to sink a shaft.

“The results of the updated Wasamac resource estimate were very positive and compare favourably with other similar deposits currently in production,” said Jean-Marc Lacoste, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monarques. “We have therefore decided to proceed to the next stage with this feasibility study, which will include a base scenario of a mill and tailings facility near Wasamac and several options for hopefully improving mine profitability, including custom milling at one of the sites identified in the BBA study (see map of potential sites). We will then decide on the best strategy for Monarques. With a measured and indicated resource of 2,587,900 ounces of gold, the Wasamac gold project is the crown jewel of our transaction with Richmont Mines, and we are committed to putting it into production at the best possible cost, which could be a game-changer for Monarques in the long term.”

The Corporation expects to receive the results of the feasibility study by the end of 2018.

The technical and scientific content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Marc-André Lavergne, P.Eng., the Corporation’s qualified person under National Instrument 43‑101.

ABOUT MONARQUES GOLD CORPORATION

Monarques Gold Corporation (TSX.V:MQR) is an emerging gold producer focused on pursuing growth through its large portfolio of high-quality projects in the Abitibi mining camp in Quebec, Canada. The Corporation currently owns close to 300 km² of gold properties (see map), including the Beaufor Mine, the Croinor Gold (see video), Wasamac, McKenzie Break and Swanson advanced projects, and the Camflo and Beacon mills, as well as six promising exploration projects. It also offers custom milling services out of its 1,600 tonne-per-day Camflo mill. Monarques enjoys a strong financial position and has more than 150 skilled employees who oversee its operating, development and exploration activities.

ABOUT BBA

BBA is a Canada-wide consulting engineering firm that offers multidisciplinary consulting services in engineering, project management and environment. Thanks to its cutting-edge expertise in the energy, mining and metals, biofuels, and oil and gas sectors, BBA is now recognized for the excellence of its services, from pre-study to onsite commissioning support and detailed engineering.

The firm relies on a team of over 750 professionals from its 11 offices across Canada to carry out local, national and international mandates, thereby helping its industrial clients implement the most reliable, profitable and eco-friendly solutions.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Monarques’ actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied therein. 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 press release.

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/monarques-undertakes-a-feasibility-study-for-its-wasamac-gold-project-300657127.html

SOURCE Monarques Gold Corporation

#Gold Market Will Remain Healthy In The Next 30 Years; Investors Won’t Be Disappointed – WGC $AMK.ca $EXS.ca $GZD.ca $GGX.ca $GR.ca $MQR.ca $HPQ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 4:56 PM on Wednesday, May 30th, 2018
Wednesday May 30, 2018 09:23

  • While the face of the gold market might change in the next 30 years as technology develops, the asset class and its safe-haven appeal will remain solid
  • Kitco News, John Reade head of market research said that he does not expect gold’s role as an alternative asset and portfolio diversifier to be replaced by another asset like a cryptocurrencies within the next 30 years.

(Kitco News) – While the face of the gold market might change in the next 30 years as technology develops, the asset class and its safe-haven appeal will remain solid, according to the World Gold Council (WGC).

In an exclusive interview with Kitco News, John Reade head of market research said that he does not expect gold’s role as an alternative asset and portfolio diversifier to be replaced by another asset like a cryptocurrencies within the next 30 years. Reade added that it would take a complete disruption of the entire financial marketplace before gold is usurped as a world-class asset.

“The capital market structure as we see it will probably continue,” he said. “Gold is part of the financial system. It is a mainstream financial asset and it too will continue.”

Reade noted that the remaining question is around the venue where gold is traded – whether its traded in over-the-counter markets, through futures contracts or something else. Reade’s comments come as fin-tech firms develop new platforms for gold, including Tradewind, which has created a new digital platform Vaultchain Gold, which allows investors to buy fractional quantiles of gold. While the market is digital, the platform is backed 100% by physical gold, held by the Royal Canadian Mint.

In a WGC report that looks at the gold market all the way up to 2048, Reade said that so far there is no front runner in the digital gold market but there is growing potential.

“If one (or more) is successful, it could be as big a change to the gold markets as the development of ETFs, but with the added advantage of appealing to younger generations too,” he said.

Not only can digital gold markets help to democratize the precious metal, Reade said that they are seeing evolving technology in mobile application space that could be a game-changer for consumers in developing nations.

Reade noted that app-based saving accounts that let people store their savings in gold, is growing in popularity, especially in regions that have an under-developed banking system.

“I think opening up the gold market for investment purposes to the billions of people… who don’t have wide access to financial products is going to be a major development for the market,” he said.

China Will Play An Important Role In Gold And Global Financial Markets

While access to the gold market is expected to enter the digital realm, Reade said that they still expect to see a healthy physical demand, especially as China and India become more prominent players in the global marketplace with its growing middle class.

In his report, Reade said that the WGC expects the Chinese economy to surpass the U.S. and become, with its growing consumer sector, the biggest influence on global markets.

“Our research has shown that as nations become wealthier, consumers spend more money on gold,” he said. “The growth we see out of China is going to be good for gold demand. The U.S.’s loss in dominance will lead to a weaker currency that will also be good for gold.”

However, while, Reade sees potential for the U.S. dollar to lose some influence in the global market, he does not expect the greenback to completely lose its reserve currency status. China’s closed capital markets and currency restrictions make it impossible for the yuan to be a reserve currency, he added.

“If you want to become a reserve currency you have to allow people to hold that currency in size and let them transact freely. Until we get to that stage, there is no way China can take over as the new reserve currency of the world,”

Ultimately, while the market will see ebbs and flows in investor demand, Reade said that the gold market will remain healthy through the next 30 years. Not only will the yellow metal see consistent demand but, Reade added that the WGC’s research shows declining supply through the next 30 years.

“I don’t think people will be disappointed in the gold market 30 years from now,” he said. “You [can’t] take something that has 6,000 years of value and replace it with something new,” he added in his interview.

Source: http://www.kitco.com/news/2018-05-30/Gold-Market-Will-Remain-Healthy-In-The-Next-30-Years-Investors-Won-t-Be-Disappointed-WGC.html