Markets and commodities react

In Canada, equity markets were negative this week as Canada was unable to secure a deal with the United States. Although it reached a new all-time high Wednesday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) ultimately declined 1.3 percent over the week to close at 27,020.43 on Friday. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) fell further, moving down 5.08 percent to 761.21. The CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) was the lone gainer, rising 0.76 percent to 134.37.

US equity markets were broadly down on Friday on the new US tariffs and poor job data. The S&P 500 (INDEXSP:INX) fell 2.07 percent to 6,238.00, the Nasdaq 100 (INDEXNASDAQ:NDX) dropped 1.89 percent to 22,763.31 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) shed 2.61 percent to 43,588.57.

In precious metals, after falling mid-week, the gold price rebounded sharply on Friday, ultimately ending the week up 0.77 percent to US$3,362.94 by Friday at 4 p.m. EDT. Meanwhile, the silver price dropped dramatically during the week. While it also bounced Friday, it still fell 5.66 percent to US$37.01.

In base metals, copper prices plummeted 23.16 percent to US$4.48 per pound after President Trump announced refined copper exemptions to the 50 percent copper tariff earlier in the week. The S&P GSCI (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was up mid-week but slumped on Friday, registering a 0.57 percent loss to finish the week at 545.59.

Top Canadian mining stocks this week

How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop?

Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.

Stock data for this article was retrieved at 4 p.m. EDT on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market capitalizations greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.

1. Helius Minerals (TSXV:HHH)

Weekly gain: 72.94 percent
Market cap: C$48.93 million
Share price: C$1.47

Helius Minerals is a precious metals exploration company with a portfolio of assets in Nevada and Brazil.

The company has spent the first part of the year fundraising in support of the acquisition of Colossus Minerals and its 75 percent stake in the Serra Pelada gold-platinum-palladium project in the Para state of Brazil.

In 2009, Colossus reported significant assay results following its early exploration of the site, with one drill hole returning 8.04 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold, 154.5 g/t platinum and 245.8 g/t palladium.

The company had already completed most of the construction for the underground mine in 2013 when its dewatering measures at the site failed to prevent water ingress in the mine. Colossus was not able to finance the work necessary to fix the issues and became insolvent, putting the mine on care and maintenance.

In 2023, Colossus’ former geologist Christian Grainger was named Helius President and CEO.

On May 8, Helius reported that Colossus shareholders approved the sale of the company and its assets. Under the terms of the deal, Helius said it has a 12 month exclusivity period to conduct financing and also to develop a plan that is compliant with local mining laws and regulations. It also stated that it will need to address outstanding debts and a rehabilitation strategy for the site.

Shares gained this week, but the company has not issued further news.

2. Labrador Gold (TSXV:LAB)

Weekly gain: 58.82 percent
Market cap: C$20.4 million
Share price: C$0.13

Labrador Gold is an explorer focused on the advancement of its assets in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario, Canada.

The company owns the Hopedale gold project in Eastern Labrador. The site hosts 998 claims and five licenses covering an area of 249 square kilometers in the Florence Lake greenstone belt.

In an announcement on February 8, the company reported high-grade gold from 2023 rock samples at the Fire Ant target, with grades of up to 106 g/t gold and 20.4 g/t silver. Additional rock and soil samples from other targets at Hopedale show grades of up to 0.28 percent nickel, 0.97 percent zinc and 3,493 parts per million copper.

Labrador also owns the Borden Lake project near Timmins, Ontario. Exploration at the site has been limited, mainly consisting of till samples and geophysical surveys to target areas for drill testing.

In a news release on February 19, Labrador said it was planning to conduct exploration work at both properties in 2025. On June 19 the company announced that it had mobilized to the Hopedale property and would focus on an area along the Thurber Gold trend at the northern portion of the site. It did not provide an update on exploration at the Borden Lake.

The company has not released news in the past week.

3. Torq Resources (TSXV:TORQ)

Weekly gain: 52.94 percent
Market cap: C$21.37 million
Share price: C$0.13

Torq Resources is an exploration company working to advance its Santa Cecilia gold and copper project in Chile.

Torq acquired the property through an option agreement in October 2021. The company can earn a 100 percent stake in the property if it makes a total of US$25 million before October 21, 2028, and exploration expenditures of US$15.5 million by October 21, 2025.

The deal will also see the original owner retain a 3 percent net smelter return, half of which can be purchased by Torq based on the fair value of the project.

The site covers an area of 3,250 hectares and lies adjacent to the Newmont (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM) and Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) owned Norte Abierto project, the fourth largest undeveloped gold project in the world.

In late 2024, Torq entered into a joint venture with Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI), in which Gold Fields can earn up to a 75 percent indirect interest in the project through a US$48 million investment over six years, with minimum annual spending of US$6 million.

On July 17, Torq completed the first drill program at the project under the joint venture, The work consisted of five holes covering 4,062 meters and was designed to test the undrilled Gemelos Norte target and to follow up on the Pircas Norte target discovered during the 2024 drill campaign.

Torq’s most recent announcement came on July 31, when it terminated its option to acquire the Margarita project in Chile due to financial constraints and a shift in focus to Santa Cecilia. It also said it would retain its 100 percent interest in the La Cototuda concession, which is surrounded by Margarita and which it believes would be necessary for any future development at Margarita.

4. Happy Creek (TSXV:HPY)

Weekly gain: 41.18 percent
Market cap: C$18.45 million
Share price: C$0.12

Happy Creek Minerals is an explorer focused on advancing a portfolio of assets in British Columbia, Canada.

Its primary focus has been on its Fox tungsten property located in the South Caribou region of the province. It comprises 135.9 square kilometers of mineral tenure and hosts deposits containing tungsten, molybdenum, zinc, indium, gold and silver. In total, 21,125 meters of exploration drilling have been carried out at the site.

The most recent news came on July 16 when Happy Creek announced a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to C$3.25 million in flow-through units at C$0.07 per share and non-flow-through units at C$0.05 per share. The following day, Happy Creek upsized the offering to C$3.75 million.

The company plans to use the gross proceeds for drilling, exploration and development at Fox, as well as other exploration work in the Caribou.

5. Star Copper (TSXV:STCU)

Weekly gain: 38.78 percent
Market cap: C$58.81 million
Share price: C$2.04

Star Copper is an exploration company with a portfolio of assets in British Columbia.

Its flagship Star project, located in BC’s Golden Triangle, consists of 19 mineral claims covering an area of 6,829 hectares of crown lands. The property hosts five high-priority targets, which have seen exploration dating back to 2013.

The most recent exploration update from Star came on Tuesday, when the company provided a summary of its ongoing drill program at the site and said it was halfway through a six-hole, 4,000 meter drill campaign designed to test mineralized zones laterally and at depth.

The company has also been advancing work at its Indata property, where it holds a 60 percent optioned interest. The site in northern BC consists of 16 mineral claims across 3,189 hectares and hosts mineralization of copper, gold and molybdenum.

In a July 10 news release, the company reported that soil grids that were deployed to test for gold and copper have also returned clusters of anomalous antimony that exceed 100 parts per million over 5 kilometers.

Additionally, the company announced on July 16 that it had entered into an agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in the Copperline property in North-central BC. The project consists of eight mineral claims covering 4,502 hectares and exploration at the site has produced a highlighted assay of 2.54 percent copper, 50.4 g/t silver over 25 meters.

FAQs for Canadian mining stocks

How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?

There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.

The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.

These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.

How do you trade on the TSXV?

Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.

Investor Insight

In the current strong market dynamic for uranium, Skyharbour Resources is a compelling investment opportunity driven by its large portfolio of exploration assets in Canada’s most prolific uranium district in the Athabasca Basin.

Overview

Nuclear energy is a key driver in the transition to net zero, offering clean, reliable, and secure power to meet global electricity demand, which is expected to grow by 50 percent in 2040.

Skyharbour Resources (TSXV:SYH,OTCQX :SYHBF,FWB:SC1P) is strategically positioned to support this growing demand through its high-grade uraniumprojects. As a leading uranium exploration company, Skyharbour partners with industry stakeholders to advance projects that contribute to the secure and sustainable energy future nuclear power promises.

Skyharbour has launched its winter drill program at the Russell Lake uranium project, initiating its planned 16,000–18,000 metre campaign across 35–45 holes at its co-flagship Russell Lake and Moore projects. A total of 11,000 to 12,000 metres will be drilled at Russell Lake, along with an additional 5,000 to 6,000 metres at Moore Lake in 2025. This initial phase at Russell will focus on exploring the project’s significant upside potential, leveraging its widespread uranium mineralization and favorable geology for large, high-grade Athabasca Basin uranium deposits.

Company Highlights

• Skyharbour Resources is a junior mining company with an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin. They comprise 37 uranium projects, totaling over 616,000 hectares.
• The Athabasca Basin is the world’s most prolific uranium jurisdiction, boasting uranium grades averaging over 10-20 times higher than those found elsewhere.
• The company employs a multi-faceted strategy of focused mineral exploration at its core projects (Russell and Moore) while utilizing the prospect generator model to advance its secondary projects with strategic partners.
• The company’s co-flagship Moore project is an advanced-stage uranium exploration asset featuring high-grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone. Previous drilling has returned results of 6 percent U3O8 over 5.9 meters, with a notable intercept of 20.8 percent U3O8 over 1.5 meters, at a vertical depth of 265 meters.
• Adjacent to the Moore project is Skyharbour’s second core project, the Russell Lake uranium project, wherein Skyharbour has completed the acquisition of 57.7 percent interest from Rio Tinto. The Russell Lake uranium project is a large, advanced-stage uranium exploration property totaling 73,314 hectares.
• The 2024 winter drill program at the Russell Lake uranium project led to a new discovery of high-grade, sandstone-hosted mineralization up to 2.99 percent U3O8 intersected over 0.5 meters.
• Skyharbour has commenced its 2025 winter drill program at the Russell Lake uranium project with plans to complete an initial 5,000-metre diamond drilling program in 10 to 12 holes at the project
• Fully-funded for combined drilling of 16-18,000m in 35-45 drill holes across Russell and Moore Lake Projects
• 15-16,000 metres of additional drilling funded by partner companies at other projects in the Skyharbour’s prospect generator business including 6-7,000m of drilling by strategic partner Orano at the Preston project
• Management intends to continue building the prospect generator business by offering projects to partners who will fund the exploration and provide cash/stock to Skyharbour for an ownership interest in the projects; Skyharbour typically retains minority interests in the projects and equity holdings in the partners.
• The increasing focus on nuclear energy by governments globally to achieve decarbonization goals bodes well for uranium prices. Skyharbour, with key uranium assets in a top mining jurisdiction, stands to benefit from this shift in the global energy mix.

Flagship Projects

The Moore Project

This project covers an area of 35,705 hectares, located in the eastern Athabasca Basin near existing infrastructure with known high-grade uranium mineralization and significant discovery potential. Skyharbour acquired the project from Denison Mines (TSX:DML), a large strategic shareholder of the company. The project can be easily accessed year-round via winter and ice roads, streamlining logistics and reducing expenses. During the summer months, a significant portion of the property remains accessible as well. The property has been the subject of extensive historic exploration with over $50 million in expenditures, and over 140,000 meters of diamond drilling completed historically.

Moore hosts high-grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick zones. Over the past few years, Skyharbour Resources has conducted diamond drilling programs, resulting in the intersection of high-grade uranium mineralization in numerous drill holes along the 4.7-kilometer-long Maverick structural corridor. Some of the high-grade intercepts include:

• Hole ML-199 which intersected 20.8 percent U3O8 over 1.5 meters at 264 meters,
• Hole ML-202 from the Maverick East Zone which intersected 9.12 percent U3O8 over 1.4 meters at 278 meters.
• Hole ML20-09 which intersected 0.72 percent U3O8 over 17.5 meters from 271.5 meters to 289.0 meters, including 1 percent U3O8 over 10.0 meters represents the longest continuous drill intercept of uranium mineralization discovered to date at the project.
• Drill hole ML-61 returned 4.03 percent eU3O8 over 10 meters;
• Drill hole ML -55 encountered high-grade mineralization, returning 5.14 percent U3O8 over 6.2 meters
• Drill hole ML -47 intersected 4.01 percent U3O8 over 4.7 meters

Merely 50 percent of the total 4.7-kilometer promising Maverick corridor has undergone systematic drilling, indicating significant discovery potential both along its length and within the underlying basement rocks at depth. Skyharbour completed a 2024 winter drill program which consisted of 2,800m of drilling at the project which focused on infill/expansion drilling at the Main Maverick Zone. Assay results from the program intersected 5 metres of 4.61 percent U3O8 from a relatively shallow downhole depth of 265.5 metres to 270.5 metres including 10.19 percent U3O8 over 1 metre at the Main Maverick Zone from hole ML24-08. The Company recently received the remaining assay results from its late 2024 diamond drilling program, which totaled 2,759 metres in nine holes. Of the nine holes, four holes (ML24-10 to -12 and ML24-18) focused on the Main Maverick Zone and five holes (ML24-13 to -17) on the Maverick East Zone.

The primary objective of the summer program was to extend and expand the boundaries of the Main Maverick and Maverick East Zones with all but one hole successfully intersecting uranium mineralization. Drill hole ML24-15 which intersected 6.4 m of 1.50% U3O8 successfully expands the Maverick East zone over 40 metres along strike to the northeast with more drilling warranted in the area.

Skyharbour is planning for an additional, fully-funded 4,500 – 5,000 metres of drilling at the Main Maverick and Maverick East Zones to further expand, characterize and define the extents of the mineralized zones.

Apart from the Maverick Zone, diamond drilling in various other target areas has encountered multiple conductors linked with notable structural disturbances, robust alteration, and anomalous concentrations of uranium and associated pathfinder elements.

Russell Lake Uranium Project

The Russell Lake project is a large, advanced-stage uranium exploration property spanning 73,314 hectares, strategically positioned between Cameco’s Key Lake and McArthur River projects. Skyharbour has completed its earn-in requirements for an option agreement with Rio Tinto and has now acquired 57.7 percent ownership interest in the Russell Lake project.

The project is adjacent to Denison’s Wheeler River project and Skyharbour’s Moore uranium project. It is supported by excellent infrastructure in terms of highway access as well as high-voltage power lines. The project has undergone a significant amount of historical exploration which includes over 95,000 meters of drilling in over 220 drill holes. The exploration identified numerous prospective target areas and several high-grade uranium showings as well as drill hole intercepts.

The property hosts several noteworthy exploration targets, including the Grayling Zone, the M-Zone Extension target, the Little Man Lake target, the Christie Lake target, and the Fox Lake Trail target. Skyharbour completed a 19-hole drilling program totaling 9,595 meters in three phases in 2023. The initial drilling phase encompassed 3,662 meters across eight completed holes at the Grayling Zone, followed by a second phase involving four holes totaling 2,730 meters drilled at the Fox Lake Trail Zone. The third drilling phase involved 3,203 meters across seven holes targeting additional areas within the Grayling Zone.

Drilling at Russell in 2024 was completed in two separate phases with a total of 3,094 metres drilled in six holes. Phase One of drilling resulted in the best intercept of uranium mineralization historically on the property from hole RSL24-02, which returned a 2.5 metre wide intercept of 0.721 percent U3O8 at a relatively shallow depth of 338.1 metres, including 2.99 percent U3O8 over 0.5 metres at 339.6 metres just above the unconformity in the sandstone. The second phase of drilling was recently completed which totalled approximately 4,500 metres, with assays pending.

Skyharbour has recently commenced its 2025 drilling program at the Russell Lake project with a first phase consisting of approximately 5,000 metres to follow up on notable recent exploration success and to test new targets developed by the geological team. The focus for this phase of drilling will be on the Fork and Sphinx targets within the broader Grayling target area, as well as the M-Zone Extension target and the Fox Lake Trail target. This initial winter program will consist of 10 to 12 drill holes, with most of the targets being road accessible and near the exploration camp, bringing the drill costs down.

Prospect Generator Strategy

In addition to being a high-grade uranium exploration and early stage development company, Skyharbour utilizes a prospect generator strategy by bringing in partner companies to acquire interests in some of our secondary projects by funding exploration at these projects and making cash and share payments to Skyharbour over a period of time. This model allows the Company to focus efforts and capital at our core projects which include the Moore Lake and Russell Lake Projects, while having our JV and option partner companies fund and advance our secondary projects.

Skyharbour partner companies include Orano Canada, Azincourt Energy, Thunderbird Resources, Basin Uranium Corp., North Shore Uranium and Terra Clean Energy, advancing the Preston, East Preston, Hook Lake, Mann Lake, Falcon and South Falcon East Projects, respectively. More recently, three new earn-in option agreements have been signed with UraEx Resources at the South Dufferin and Bolt Projects, Hatchet Uranium at the Highway Project, and Mustang Energy at the 914W Project, bringing the total partner companies to nine. Skyharbour now has option agreements that total over CAD $36 million in exploration expenditures, over $20 million in stock being issued and $14 million in cash payments coming into Skyharbour, assuming that these partner companies complete their full earn-ins at their respective projects.

Furthermore, Skyharbour’s project portfolio is bolstered by several other 100% owned projects scattered throughout the Athabasca Basin that they can look to option/JV or sell to grow their robust model.

Management Team

Jordan Trimble – President and CEO

With a background in entrepreneurship, Jordan Trimble has held various positions in the resource industry, focusing on management, corporate finance, strategy, shareholder communications, business development, and capital raising with multiple companies. Prior to his role at Skyharbour, he was the corporate development manager at Bayfield Ventures, a gold company with projects in Ontario. Bayfield Ventures was subsequently acquired by New Gold (TSX:NGD) in 2014. Throughout his career, Trimble has established and assisted in the management of numerous public and private enterprises. He has played a pivotal role in securing significant capital for mining companies, leveraging his extensive network of institutional and retail investors.

Jim Pettit – Chairman of the Board

Jim Pettit currently serves as a director on the boards of various public resource companies, drawing from over 30 years of experience in the industry. His expertise lies in finance, corporate governance, management and compliance, particularly in the early-stage development of both private and public enterprises. Over the past three decades, he has primarily focused on the resource sector. Previously, he served as chairman and CEO of Bayfield Ventures, which was acquired by New Gold in 2014.

David Cates – Director

David Cates currently serves as the president and CEO of Denison Mines (TSX:DML). Before assuming the role of president and CEO, Cates was the vice-president of finance, tax, and chief financial officer at Denison. In his capacity as CFO, he played a pivotal role in the company’s mergers and acquisitions activities, including spearheading the acquisition of Rockgate Capital and International Enexco. Cates joined Denison in 2008, initially serving as director of taxation before he was appointed CFO. Prior to joining Denison, he held positions at Kinross Gold and PwC with a focus on the resource industry.

Joseph Gallucci – Director

Joseph Gallucci was previously a senior manager at a leading Canadian accounting firm. He possesses more than two decades of expertise in investment banking and equity research, specializing in mining, base metals, precious metals, and bulk commodities worldwide. He serves as a senior capital markets executive and corporate director. Presently, Gallucci is the managing director and head of investment banking at Laurentian Bank Securities, where he assumes responsibility for overseeing the entire investment banking practice.

Brady Rak – VP of Business Development

Brady Rak is a seasoned investment professional who has focussed on the Canadian capital markets over his 13-year career at several independent broker dealers including Ventum Financial, Salman Partners and Union Securities. As a registered investment advisor in the private client division of Ventum Financial, Brady has been involved in advising high-net-worth and corporate clients, structuring transactions, raising capital and navigating global market sentiment. Brady graduated from Northwood University with a BBA in Management and holds his Options license.

Serdar Donmez – Vice-president of Exploration

A recognized geoscientist with decades of experience in uranium exploration and development, Serdar Donmez has played an active role in numerous grassroots and advanced uranium exploration projects in northern Saskatchewan and Zambia. Donmez has an engineering degree in geology and is a registered professional geoscientist with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. During his 17-year tenure at Denison Mines, Donmez was pivotal in advancing numerous uranium exploration and development projects. He was involved in various capacities with the Phoenix and Gryphon uranium deposits on Denison’s Wheeler River project, from initial discovery to the completion of the feasibility study in 2023. As resource geology manager, he was integral to the development of mineral resource estimates and NI 43-101 technical reports for several advanced exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin. Additionally, he was part of a team exploring the application of in-situ recovery mining techniques for high-grade uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin.

Dave Billard – Head Consulting Geologist

Dave Billard is a geologist with over 35 years of experience in exploration and development, focusing on uranium, gold and base metals in western Canada and the western US. He served as chief operating officer, vice-president of exploration, and director for JNR Resources before its acquisition by Denison Mines. He played a crucial role in the discovery of JNR’s Maverick and Fraser Lakes B zones. Earlier in his career, he contributed to the discovery and development of several significant gold deposits in northern Saskatchewan. Prior to joining JNR, Billard worked as a geological consultant specializing in uranium exploration in the Athabasca Basin. He also spent over 12 years with Cameco Corporation.

Christine McKechnie – Senior Project Geologist

Christine McKechnie is a geologist with a specialization in uranium deposits, particularly those hosted in the basement and associated with unconformities in the Athabasca Basin and its vicinity. Throughout her career, she has worked with various companies such as Claude Resources, JNR Resources, CanAlaska Uranium and Cameco, engaging in gold and uranium exploration activities. She completed her B.Sc. (High Honors) in 2008 from the University of Saskatchewan and completed a M.Sc. thesis on the Fraser Lakes Zone B deposit at the Falcon Point project. She also received the 2015 CIM Barlow Medal for Best Geological Paper.

1. Talon Metals (TSX:TLO)

Year-to-date gain: 205.88 percent
Market cap: C$239.45 million
Share price: C$0.26

Talon Metals is focused on developing high-grade nickel resources for the US domestic battery supply chain. The company has partnered with mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) on the Tamarack nickel-copper project located in Minnesota, US. Talon has an earn-in right to acquire up to 60 percent of Tamarack and currently owns 51 percent.

An environmental review process is underway for the proposed Tamarack underground mine. The company plans to process ore from the mine at a proposed battery mineral processing facility in North Dakota. Talon has said it intends to initiate the permitting process for the processing facility in 2025.

Talon has a six year offtake deal with Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) set to commence once Tamarack enters commercial production, for a total of 75,000 metric tons, or 165 million pounds, of nickel concentrate, as well as cobalt and iron by-products, from Tamarack once it’s in commercial production.

The company is also the operator of the Boulderdash nickel-copper discovery and numerous high-grade nickel-copper prospects in Michigan, which it optioned to Lundin Mining (TSX:LUN,OTC Pink:LUNMF) in early March.

Talon has made multiple significant discoveries at Tamarack in 2025 that supported its share price. In late March, the company announced a significant massive sulfide discovery at Tamarack with an intercept measuring over 8.25 meters logged as 95 percent sulfide content.

After starting Q2 at C$0.12, Talon’s share price took off in earnest after the May 12 news of another massive sulfide discovery with this one measuring a cumulative 34.9 meters over 47.33 meters in total length starting at a depth of 762.34 meters — the thickest in the project’s history.

On June 5, Talon reported record assays from the new discovery at Tamarack, with the 34.9 meter intercept grading 57.76 percent copper equivalent or 28.88 percent nickel equivalent. Later that month, the company completed a C$41 million financing, with proceeds to be used to advance Tamarack.

After climbing through Q2, Talon shares hit a year-to-date high of C$0.28 on July 2.

2. Homeland Nickel (TSXV:SHL,OTCQB:SRCGF)

Year-to-date gain: 140 percent
Market cap: C$13.38 million
Share price: C$0.06

Homeland Nickel has a portfolio of nickel projects in Oregon, US: Red Flat, Cleopatra, Eight Dollar Mountain and Shamrock. Previously named Spruce Ridge Resources, the company changed its name in mid-2024 in a vertical amalgamation after acquiring Homeland Nickel, which owned the Red Flat and Cleopatra nickel projects.

Benton Resources (TSXV:BEX) completed an earn-in agreement for a 70 percent interest in Homeland’s Great Burnt copper and South Pond gold projects in Newfoundland, Canada, last year.

In addition, the company holds investments in mining companies with nickel projects, including Benton Resources Canada Nickel Company (TSXV:CNC,OTCQX:CNIKF), Noble Mineral Exploration (TSXV:NOB,OTCQB:NLPXF) and.

Shares in Homeland Nickel reached their year-to-date high of C$0.07 a few times this year between March 18 to April 16.

In early April, the company released an exploration update for its properties. At its Oregon nickel properties, a bulk sample program is being planned at Red Flats, an exploration program is planned for this year at Shamrock and a sampling program was upcoming at Eight Dollar Mountain.

On July 17, Homeland shared results from its Eight Dollar Mountain sampling program, with assays indicating the presence of nickel laterite in values ranging from 0.21 percent to 2.21 percent nickel with an average of 0.67 percent nickel across 56 samples.

3. Stillwater Critical Minerals (TSXV:PGE)

Year-to-date gain: 91.67 percent
Market cap: C$53.61 million
Share price: C$0.23

Stillwater Critical Minerals’ flagship asset is its Stillwater West polymetallic project in Montana, US. In addition to the platinum-group elements, copper, cobalt and gold resources identified on the property, a January 2023 inferred mineral resource estimate on Stillwater West shows it has the largest nickel resource in an active US mining district.

In late March, the company reported multiple large-scale magmatic sulfide targets following analysis of a property-wide third-party MobileMtm magneto-telluric geophysical survey completed in late 2024.

The data from the survey was also used to build a new 3D geological model of the lower Stillwater Igneous Complex that the company used to further prioritize targets at Stillwater West for its 2025 drill campaign.

Stillwater Critical Minerals’ share price reached a year-to-date high of C$0.28 on June 2.

Drill rigs were mobilized in mid-June for the company’s 2025 drill program Stillwater West project, which aims to expand drill-defined high-grade sulfide mineralization in its advanced project areas and test priority targets identified with its earlier geophysical survey. The campaign will be conducted in collaboration with Glencore and technical partners ALS GoldSpot.

Stillwater competed a C$7 million financing in mid-July.

4. Magna Mining (TSXV:NICU)

Year-to-date gain: 32.96 percent
Market cap: C$345.71 million
Share price: C$1.80

Magna Mining is a base metals exploration and development company based in Sudbury, Ontario. The company’s key assets are the Crean Hill project and the formerly producing Levack and Shakespeare mines. In July, Magna also recently acquired a portfolio of projects including past-producing assets from NorthX Nickel (CSE:NIX).

Shakespeare is a past-producing nickel, copper and platinum-group metals mine with major permits in place. The property hosts an indicated open-pit resource of 16.51 million metric tons at 0.56 percent nickel equivalent. Crean Hill also hosts a past-producing mine that produced the same resources.

Magna’s share price started off the year at C$1.42, and gradually climbed throughout the following weeks to reach a year-to-date high of C$1.84 on February 5.

Its share price was supported by continued positive updates on its acquisition of a portfolio of base metals assets in the Sudbury Basin, including the producing McCreedy West copper-nickel mine, through a share purchase agreement with a subsidiary of KGHM Polska Miedz (FWB:KGHA). The company closed the deal at the end of February.

Magna was included in the 2025 TSX Venture 50 list, which was released in mid-February, and closed a C$33.5 million private placement in early March.

The Ontario government awarded Magna C$500,000 in funding for the Crean Hill project in late June from the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund.

At Levack, the company reported significant drill results in July, highlighting a 2.9 meter interval of high-grade mineralization that included a 0.6 meter interval grading 2.6 percent copper, 8.1 percent nickel and 17.8 grams per metric ton combined platinum, palladium and gold.

5. Power Metallic Mines (TSXV:PNPN)

Year-to-date gain: 23.85 percent
Market cap: C$303.04 million
Share price: C$1.35

Power Metallic Mines, formerly Power Nickel, is developing its 80 percent owned Nisk polymetallic property near Nemaska in Québec, Canada, which hosts high-grade nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, gold and silver mineralization.

The company was recognized as one of 2024’s top 50 performers on the TSX Venture Exchange, ranking as the top mining company and fourth overall company due to its 365 percent share price appreciation for the year.

Ongoing work at the Nisk project has generated positive news flow for Power Metallic in 2025. After starting the year at C$1.07, the company’s share price climbed to C$1.49 by January 30 following two key announcements.

First, the company released drill results from a 2024 fall campaign at Nisk’s Lion zone and said it was starting a winter 2025 drill campaign at the site. Shortly after, it announced the discovery of Tiger, a new find located 700 meters east of the Lion zone; it said it would target Tiger during winter drilling.

From there, Power Metallic shares jumped more than 26 percent to reach C$1.88 on February 6, its year-to-date high. This followed further drill results out the 2024 fall campaign, with notable assays further demonstrating the high-grade nature of the mineralization.

Other notable news supporting the company’s share price in Q1 included the closing of a C$50 million private placement and plans to scale up the 2025 winter drill campaign from three to six rigs in the second quarter. Additionally, further results from the 2024 fall campaign expanded the Lion zone with the deepest assayed intersection to date, plus initial nickel-copper assays from the new Tiger zone.

While its share price trended downwards through mid-May, it began moving back up in the second half of Q2, during which time the company expanded the Nisk and Lion deposit areas with the acquisition of 167 square kilometers of claims from Li-FT Power (TSXV:LIFT,OTCQX:LIFFF).

In July, Power Metallic announced that its summer to fall drilling program was well underway, with four drill rigs targeting the Lion, Tiger and Nisk deposits.

FAQs for nickel investing