Mark Brennan, Founder, CEO, and Director of Cerrado Gold Inc (TSX.V: CERT) (OTCQX: CRDOF), joins me to review the Q2 2025 operations and 20,000 meter expansionary exploration program at the producing Minera Don Nicolas gold mine in Argentina, and the value proposition key upcoming development catalysts at the Lagoa Salgada VMS Project in Portugal and the Mont Sorcier Iron-Vanadium project in Quebec.
Q2 2025 M.D.N. Operating Highlights:
- Gold Equivalent Ounce (“GEO”) Production of 11,437 GEO for the 2nd Quarter 2025
- Underground Development has commenced and production set to ramp up in H2/2025
- Expanded crushing and agglomeration capacity should expand tonnages to the leach pads and improve recoveries at the Heap Leach operation
- 2025 Production Guidance of 55,000 – 60,000 GEO remains in place, production weighted to H2 2025 as underground ramps up
- 20,000m Exploration Program underway at MDN targeting potential significant resource growth opportunities
Mark and I review their Minera Don Nicolas producing gold project in Argentina, and the record heap leach gold equivalent ounce production for the quarter. We discuss the positive impact that the newly installed secondary crusher has brought to production starting at the tail-end of Q2, but then will continue to be impactful on a move-forward basis in Q3 and beyond, with the quantity of ore being placed on the pad having increased.
The production profile will also keep growing in Q3 with the underground mining having now commenced. With higher gold prices, the CIL plant continued to process lower-grade stockpiles and is planned to continue processing low grade stockpiles through Q2/25, after which it will be blended with new high-grade material from the underground mining operations, and this will increase the average grade throughput at the mill.
Another area of future growth will be the 20,000 meter drill program that is exploring the open pit resources, as well as identifying for more satellite open-pits at surface. Having gone underground, there is also now the potential for underground exploration work to begin targeting new areas of mineralization or further defining existing areas of mineralization.
Next we unpacked the growing value proposition at the Lagoa Salgada VMS Project in Portugal, with a Post-tax NPV of US$147 million and a 39% IRR in the current Feasibility Study. This Project adds both substantial precious metals resources along with critical minerals exposure (42 % Gold & Silver, 24% zinc, 14% copper, and 5% tin) to the future production profile. We also discuss the 2 areas that will be addressed in the resubmission of their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) where approval is expected after upcoming political elections, and there will be an optimized Feasibility Study released in Q3, a construction decision by year end or early next year. Construction is targeted for Q2 of 2026, with first production slated for H2 2027.*
We wrap up discussing the underappreciated value and ongoing derisking work that is moving towards a Bankable Feasibility Study in Q1 of 2026 at the Mont Sorcier Iron-Vanadium in Quebec. Recent metallurgical test work, has reaffirmed the potential to produce high-grade and high-purity iron concentrate grading in excess of 67% iron with silica and alumina content below 2.3%.
If you have questions for Mark regarding Cerrado Gold, then please email those to me at Shad@kereport.com.
* In full disclosure, Shad is a shareholder of Cerrado Gold at the time of this recording, and may choose to buy or sell shares at any time.
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