Oxidized Windfall
ores are soft, friable
and easy to recover by cyanide leaching
and easy to recover by cyanide leaching
Windfall Mine, Eureka, Nevada
Latest News
Comments on both the releases are given below in the updates...
Timberline Resources Announces Closing of Non-Brokered Private Placement Financing with Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP (Press release, 09/23/2015)
Timberline Resources Announces Closing of Non-Brokered Private Placement Financing with Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP (Press release, 09/23/2015)
General Moly Receives Ruling on Mt. Hope Water Rights (Press release, 9/21/2015)
Blasts from the Past
The online version is up and running!
Fall 2015 Mining Quarterly
"Click to read" and the online version looks much like the printed magazine. My column on the Windfall Mine starts on page 62 (page 61 printed version). Press "Esc" to return to the Elko Daily Free Press. There is a handy scroll bar to the pages at the bottom of the screen. The same article appeared in the Elko Daily Free Press September 10:
Eureka’s Windfall – Birth of a modern gold district with community spirit
***
Memorable quotes (lately):
With respect to a pending interest rate hike “[The Federal Reserve needs to] get in front of this and to prevent speculative forces in financial markets that could lead to inappropriate risk-taking that might undermine financial stability” - Fed Chair Janet Yellen (09/24/2015)
“Heightened concerns about growth in China and recent global economic and financial developments may restrain economic activity somewhat and are likely to put further downward pressure on inflation in the near term” - Fed Chair Janet Yellen in her comments following a decision to delay rate hikes (09/17/2015)
"Gold has no sponsor" - Jeff Currie, Goldman Sachs Commodity Guru on CNBC Business News, 8/26/2015, Currie reiterates $1,050 per ounce gold target
On the misgivings of lower oil...
“The problem is when people think of consumers saving a few pennies at the pump, they’re not going to take that money and buy a new house or a new car or send their child to college. They’re probably going to buy extra socks and potatoes...” (Walter Zimmermann Jr, vice president and chief technical analyst at United-ICAP, see Guardian article below)
Debbie Carlson of the Guardian explains the recent plunge in oil prices: US crude oil prices hit lowest since 2009, eliminating thousands of jobs (8/21/2015, The Guardian)
Please checkout Mariana's Eureka, Nevada on Facebook
Numbers used for this morning's early analysis:
Goldman Sachs Commodity Index
S&P GSCI 361.0, 10/15 contract (intaday low 339.40 on 8/24/2015)
Nymex/Comex (most active contracts)
Nymex oil (WTI) $46.07 per barrel (intraday low $37.75 on 8/24/2015)
Brent crude $48.85 per barrel
Comex copper $2.2865 per pound (intraday low $2.209 on 8/24/2015)
Comex gold $1,146.5 per ounce (intaday high $1,169.8 on 8/24/2015)
Comex silver $15.165 per ounce
Latest Nevada gasoline prices
Fossil evidence in Dunderberg shale
from late-Cambrian
(500+ million years ago)
Windfall Mine, Eureka, Nevada
Gold regains value on metals and currencies
Market drivers: concerns over China & the timing of a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate rise
Wild Card: possible U.S. government shutdown
Bullish bet for next week: up, $1,160 per ounce.
Morning Miners!
What a news week! The Pope visits Washington and New York in a Fiat, Fed Chair Yellen gives new hints on a pending rate hike yesterday, China's President Xi Jinping arrives at the White House this morning, and Putin talks to President Obama Monday....Oh, and John Boehner just announced that he is resigning from the Senate the end of October with a possible government shutdown in the cards next week.
So what's the future price of gold?
My comments to Kitco News this morning for their Weekly Gold Survey (complete input with charts below):
I must admit gold hit a home run yesterday in a late-season game advancing against not only its US dollar value but showing a respectable step up in value compared to other metals, the euro and the yen.
Although it made a new high for September ($1,156.4) it unfortunately failed to take out its August peak ($1,169.8). With an upward revision to U.S. second quarter GDP and "get in front of this.." comments from Fed Chair Yellen, it is likely the August high will remain unchallenged next week [full quote below headline photo].
Today's wild card is the unexpected resignation of House leader Boehner and what that portends for a possible government shutdown next week. Gold may still have a chance at making the playoffs this month, I'll take the outside bet...
My vote is (an unexpected) up. Target $1,160 per ounce.
I summed up my thoughts on the macro situation for mining and metals for a faithful reader of this report. This is in a partial response to a Wednesday question about General Moly:
Thank you for checking in. I'm not sure anyone has seen this market in recent memory relative to commodities & miners.
There is an interesting contrast with the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis. Benchmark miner Freeport-McMoran (FCX) put in its low in December 2008 but was well on its way up when the S&P 500 made its low in March 2009. For that period, BRICs [Brazil, Russia, India, China] were on the rise with China demand broadly fueling recoveries. This time around FCX fell just below its 2008 low (on a split-adjusted basis, 8/26) and has compounded problems by now having an oil component. The BRICs are in disarray with the exception of India which has been lifted by low oil prices & new government. A real flip-side.
Everything commodities turns on China and I believe the jury is still out. Dismal PMI today [Wednesday, 9/23. PMI =47.0 versus 47.5 expected; a PMI less than 50 indicates contraction] isn't encouraging. We need to see a bottom in copper & oil...
The remainder of my response and thoughts on General Moly is continued in the update below...
Update on General Moly (GMO)
Update on Timberline Resources (TLR)
Timberline Resources Corp. (TLR) owns a 23 square-mile South Eureka land package which includes the old Windfall mine properties - the subject of my recent Mining Quarterly column (below headline photo).
South Eureka also features Timberline's flagship Lookout Mountain Project along with a pipeline of earlier-stage projects. Timberline describes South Eureka as one of the largest undeveloped gold properties in Nevada.
Timberline made this announcement Wednesday:
Timberline Resources Announces Closing of Non-Brokered Private Placement Financing with Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP (Press release, 09/23/2015)
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - September 23, 2015 (click here to view this press release in pdf format) - Timberline Resources Corporation (NYSE MKT: TLR; TSX-V: TBR) ("Timberline" or the "Company"), announced today that it has closed the previously announced non-brokered private placement of 1,331,861 shares of common stock of the Company at a price of US$0.375 per share to Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP, for total proceeds of US$499,447.87...Timberline intends to use the net proceeds from the private placement for the continued advancement of the Company's projects in Nevada and for general working capital purposes.
Last week Timberline made the initial announcement:
Timberline Announces Non-Binding Letter Agreement for Acquisition by Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP and Private Placement Financing (Press release, 09/15/2015)
TLR is presently trading at $0.475 [09:13 AM PDT]
Another chapter to the Windfall story? Stay tuned, pardner.
Here's the scorecard on the stock market, S&P 500 is presently trading at 1,946.23 [8:56 AM PDT]:
Market corrections are generally defined as a 10% or greater move to the downside from the top of a key index. I like to use the S&P 500 (.SPX) because it includes a broader swath of America' best companies than the Dow Jones Industrial (.DJIA) - five hundred compared to thirty. Here is the score sheet of ups and downs on an intraday basis:
S&P 500 high: 2,134.72, 5/20/2015
S&P 500 10% correction 1,921.25
S&P 500 low: 1,867.01, on Monday 8/24/2015 down 12.5%
S&P 500 bear market begins below 20% at 1,707.78
Key "next level" to watch going down is 1,820.66 (low on 10/15/2014, down 14.7%)
For Fibonacci folks the "fib box" is:
50.0% retracement from 8/24 low = 2,000.87
61.8% retracement from 8/24 low = 2,032.45
In the coming weeks, getting inside the "fib box" is generally considered a "bullish" move to the upside; failing the "fib box" is a bearish indication.
Sept. 17, the S&P 500 bullishly entered the box after the Fed announcement touching 2,020.86 but then bearishly closed out of the box at 1,990.20. Last Friday's's close put us further away from redemption at 1,958.03 [Today's close at 1,931.43, even further away]
Kitco News Gold Survey
My (full) input to the Kitco News Weekly Gold Survey:
I must admit gold hit a home run yesterday in a late-season game advancing against not only its US dollar value but showing a respectable step up in value compared to other metals, the euro and the yen (chart).
Although it made a new high for for September ($1,156.4) it unfortunately failed to take out its August peak ($1,169.8). With an upward revision to U.S. second quarter GDP and "get in front of this.." comments from Fed Chair Yellen, it is likely the August high will remain unchallenged next week. Today's wild card is the unexpected resignation of House leader Boehner and what that portends for a possible government shutdown next week. Gold may still have a chance at making the playoffs this month, I'll take the outside bet...
My vote is (an unexpected) up. Target $1,160 per ounce.
Discussion:
A comparison of gold's rally with last Friday's numbers.
This morning's trades (click on chart for larger image):
With the exception of its comparison to oil, gold made considerable progress this week. A future of rising rates and low inflation with a possible resumption of losses to key commodities and major currencies still weighs on the yellow metal.
Bullish for gold, the gold/copper ratio on the Shanghai futures exchange remains above 400 lb per ounce today at 417.1 (401.4 last week, units chosen for comparison to the above chart). The Chinese hold gold less dear relative to copper (e.g., today's 501.4 on the Comex compared to 417.1 on the SHFE). Nonetheless, the ratio was above 400 for some time until the dipping bearishly below 400 two weeks ago.
Market drivers: concerns over China & the timing of a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate rise
Wild Card: possible U.S. government shutdown
Bullish bet for next week: up, $1,160 per ounce.
Morning Miners!
What a news week! The Pope visits Washington and New York in a Fiat, Fed Chair Yellen gives new hints on a pending rate hike yesterday, China's President Xi Jinping arrives at the White House this morning, and Putin talks to President Obama Monday....Oh, and John Boehner just announced that he is resigning from the Senate the end of October with a possible government shutdown in the cards next week.
So what's the future price of gold?
My comments to Kitco News this morning for their Weekly Gold Survey (complete input with charts below):
I must admit gold hit a home run yesterday in a late-season game advancing against not only its US dollar value but showing a respectable step up in value compared to other metals, the euro and the yen.
Although it made a new high for September ($1,156.4) it unfortunately failed to take out its August peak ($1,169.8). With an upward revision to U.S. second quarter GDP and "get in front of this.." comments from Fed Chair Yellen, it is likely the August high will remain unchallenged next week [full quote below headline photo].
Today's wild card is the unexpected resignation of House leader Boehner and what that portends for a possible government shutdown next week. Gold may still have a chance at making the playoffs this month, I'll take the outside bet...
My vote is (an unexpected) up. Target $1,160 per ounce.
I summed up my thoughts on the macro situation for mining and metals for a faithful reader of this report. This is in a partial response to a Wednesday question about General Moly:
Thank you for checking in. I'm not sure anyone has seen this market in recent memory relative to commodities & miners.
There is an interesting contrast with the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis. Benchmark miner Freeport-McMoran (FCX) put in its low in December 2008 but was well on its way up when the S&P 500 made its low in March 2009. For that period, BRICs [Brazil, Russia, India, China] were on the rise with China demand broadly fueling recoveries. This time around FCX fell just below its 2008 low (on a split-adjusted basis, 8/26) and has compounded problems by now having an oil component. The BRICs are in disarray with the exception of India which has been lifted by low oil prices & new government. A real flip-side.
Everything commodities turns on China and I believe the jury is still out. Dismal PMI today [Wednesday, 9/23. PMI =47.0 versus 47.5 expected; a PMI less than 50 indicates contraction] isn't encouraging. We need to see a bottom in copper & oil...
The remainder of my response and thoughts on General Moly is continued in the update below...
Hematite slickensides
show evidence of internal faulting
and oxidation of the ore body
and oxidation of the ore body
Windfall Mine, Eureka, Nevada
Update on General Moly (GMO)
This morning General Moly stock (GMO) stock opened at $0.29 per share and is presently trading at $0.3150 (0838 PDT) down 36% from last Friday's close ($0.490). The downturn this week was caused by Monday's press release:
General Moly Receives Ruling on Mt. Hope Water Rights (Press release, 9/21/2015)
With respect to [General Moly] GMO, I'd like to see the reaction of AMER to the water rights ruling. I reduced my GMO position by 1/2 but would probably go back in if positive words are forthcoming come from AMER and/or POSCO.
Other than a timeline issues (which, of course, will be resolved eventually - shortages follow gluts, gluts follow shortages) all the fundamentals remain unchanged - Mt. Hope remains a terrific resource for molybdenum and other critical/strategic minerals, POSCO is the highest tech steel manufacturer in the world & GMO has overcome major obstacles.
No real answers here, but these are my thoughts. As a proxy for the fate of the mining sector, I believe it was encouraging to see Carl Icahn invest in FCX and then increase his position recently.
The price for a pound of moly oxide is still competing with a pound of hamburger. On the LME futures exchange (9/24):
3-month seller $12,300 per tonne ($5.58 per pound)
15-month seller $13,025 per tonne ($5.91 per pound)
$5.85 (Metals Weekly, 9/18)
Please do your own research, markets can turn on you faster than a feral cat.
General Moly Receives Ruling on Mt. Hope Water Rights (Press release, 9/21/2015)
Bruce D. Hansen, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are surprised and disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision given the level of analysis and diligence performed prior to the granting of these permits and 3M Plan and the detailed and positive rulings the Company received at the State District Court level..."
This is what I wrote a longtime Eureka Miner follower after the press release (continued from headline discussion):
This is what I wrote a longtime Eureka Miner follower after the press release (continued from headline discussion):
With respect to [General Moly] GMO, I'd like to see the reaction of AMER to the water rights ruling. I reduced my GMO position by 1/2 but would probably go back in if positive words are forthcoming come from AMER and/or POSCO.
Other than a timeline issues (which, of course, will be resolved eventually - shortages follow gluts, gluts follow shortages) all the fundamentals remain unchanged - Mt. Hope remains a terrific resource for molybdenum and other critical/strategic minerals, POSCO is the highest tech steel manufacturer in the world & GMO has overcome major obstacles.
No real answers here, but these are my thoughts. As a proxy for the fate of the mining sector, I believe it was encouraging to see Carl Icahn invest in FCX and then increase his position recently.
The price for a pound of moly oxide is still competing with a pound of hamburger. On the LME futures exchange (9/24):
3-month seller $12,300 per tonne ($5.58 per pound)
15-month seller $13,025 per tonne ($5.91 per pound)
$5.85 (Metals Weekly, 9/18)
Please do your own research, markets can turn on you faster than a feral cat.
Timberline Resources Corp. (TLR) owns a 23 square-mile South Eureka land package which includes the old Windfall mine properties - the subject of my recent Mining Quarterly column (below headline photo).
South Eureka also features Timberline's flagship Lookout Mountain Project along with a pipeline of earlier-stage projects. Timberline describes South Eureka as one of the largest undeveloped gold properties in Nevada.
Timberline made this announcement Wednesday:
Timberline Resources Announces Closing of Non-Brokered Private Placement Financing with Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP (Press release, 09/23/2015)
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - September 23, 2015 (click here to view this press release in pdf format) - Timberline Resources Corporation (NYSE MKT: TLR; TSX-V: TBR) ("Timberline" or the "Company"), announced today that it has closed the previously announced non-brokered private placement of 1,331,861 shares of common stock of the Company at a price of US$0.375 per share to Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP, for total proceeds of US$499,447.87...Timberline intends to use the net proceeds from the private placement for the continued advancement of the Company's projects in Nevada and for general working capital purposes.
Last week Timberline made the initial announcement:
Timberline Announces Non-Binding Letter Agreement for Acquisition by Waterton Precious Metals Fund II Cayman, LP and Private Placement Financing (Press release, 09/15/2015)
TLR is presently trading at $0.475 [09:13 AM PDT]
Another chapter to the Windfall story? Stay tuned, pardner.
Market Stats
Here's the scorecard on the stock market, S&P 500 is presently trading at 1,946.23 [8:56 AM PDT]:
Market corrections are generally defined as a 10% or greater move to the downside from the top of a key index. I like to use the S&P 500 (.SPX) because it includes a broader swath of America' best companies than the Dow Jones Industrial (.DJIA) - five hundred compared to thirty. Here is the score sheet of ups and downs on an intraday basis:
S&P 500 high: 2,134.72, 5/20/2015
S&P 500 10% correction 1,921.25
S&P 500 low: 1,867.01, on Monday 8/24/2015 down 12.5%
S&P 500 bear market begins below 20% at 1,707.78
Key "next level" to watch going down is 1,820.66 (low on 10/15/2014, down 14.7%)
For Fibonacci folks the "fib box" is:
50.0% retracement from 8/24 low = 2,000.87
61.8% retracement from 8/24 low = 2,032.45
In the coming weeks, getting inside the "fib box" is generally considered a "bullish" move to the upside; failing the "fib box" is a bearish indication.
Sept. 17, the S&P 500 bullishly entered the box after the Fed announcement touching 2,020.86 but then bearishly closed out of the box at 1,990.20. Last Friday's's close put us further away from redemption at 1,958.03 [Today's close at 1,931.43, even further away]
Kitco News Gold Survey
My (full) input to the Kitco News Weekly Gold Survey:
I must admit gold hit a home run yesterday in a late-season game advancing against not only its US dollar value but showing a respectable step up in value compared to other metals, the euro and the yen (chart).
Although it made a new high for for September ($1,156.4) it unfortunately failed to take out its August peak ($1,169.8). With an upward revision to U.S. second quarter GDP and "get in front of this.." comments from Fed Chair Yellen, it is likely the August high will remain unchallenged next week. Today's wild card is the unexpected resignation of House leader Boehner and what that portends for a possible government shutdown next week. Gold may still have a chance at making the playoffs this month, I'll take the outside bet...
My vote is (an unexpected) up. Target $1,160 per ounce.
Discussion:
A comparison of gold's rally with last Friday's numbers.
This morning's trades (click on chart for larger image):
Last Friday AM:
With the exception of its comparison to oil, gold made considerable progress this week. A future of rising rates and low inflation with a possible resumption of losses to key commodities and major currencies still weighs on the yellow metal.
Bullish for gold, the gold/copper ratio on the Shanghai futures exchange remains above 400 lb per ounce today at 417.1 (401.4 last week, units chosen for comparison to the above chart). The Chinese hold gold less dear relative to copper (e.g., today's 501.4 on the Comex compared to 417.1 on the SHFE). Nonetheless, the ratio was above 400 for some time until the dipping bearishly below 400 two weeks ago.
Cheers - Colonel
Photos by Mariana Titus with Nevada geologist Larry McMaster
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