Newmont Ventures, part of US-based mining firm Newmont, has agreed to make a strategic investment in junior mining company Awalé Resources.

Awalé will receive $500,000 in investment pursuant to a private placement. Newmont will hold a 10.49% stake in Awalé post-completion of the investment.

The junior miner plans to use these proceeds to fund the activities at the Côte d’Ivoire project, which currently has two primary targets including the gold-rich Empire corridor and the Sceptre Iron Oxide Copper Gold target.

Furthermore, Newmont Ventures agreed to sign an exploration agreement with a venture option on Awalé’s Odienné Project in north-west Côte d’Ivoire.

Newmont Ventures will also make staged exploration funding of up to $15m to earn a stake of up to 75% in the Odienné Project.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Under the initial phase, Newmont will fund $5m in exploration expenditures to earn a 51% interest in the Odienné Project within three years from the exploration agreement.

Newmont will make additional funding of $10m in exploration expenditure and define a minimum 2Moz gold resource under the second phase to earn a further 14% interest in the project.

An exclusive option agreement will then be signed by Newmont for an additional 10% interest in the Odienné Project. If the option is exercised, Newmont’s interest in the project will be 75%.

The investment is subject to certain closing conditions, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Awalé Resources CEO Glen Parsons said: “We have always considered Odienné has the potential to produce a Tier One asset which, based on work performed to date, is now supported by Newmont through this transaction.

“The setting of the Odienné Project has striking similarities to major copper-gold producing districts such as the Carajás and Olympic Dam Iron Oxide Copper Gold provinces in South America and Australia.

“The 5km-long Sceptre Cu-Au IOCG anomaly provides Awalé an excellent starting point and places us in a unique position to be drill testing targets that have Tier One potential.”