Smallcap Recap Report

Why rare earth miners are different from other miners

laltman — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:13:31 +0000

The rare earth miner needs to understand the entire production chain. Here’s how Byron King puts it:

“Rare earth miners are distinct from gold miners, who don’t really care what ultimately happens to the gold they produce. That is, if you mine gold, it could wind up in a gold bar, a gold coin or a gold dental filling. But rare earth miners need to know where those rare earth atoms are going to wind up. Are they going to wind up as zeolite catalyst in an oil refinery, or as part of a battery pack of an electric car, if not a battery in a cell phone or a computer? The rare earth miner is putting the initial raw material into an entire, distinct production chain that needs to be understood from the refining and processing to the end user.”

From the The Gold Report

http://www.theaureport.com/pub/na/12440

Shares of Canadian Miner Avion Gold climbing

laltman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:27:22 +0000

Avion Gold (AVR) a Canadian mining company is focused on West Africa. and holds 80% of two important gold projects in Mali. Production has recently started at its Tabakaoto underground gold mine in Mali.. “It (commencement of production) is an important step in the company’s goal of achieving 4,000 tonnes per day of process plant capacity in 2012,” Chief Operating
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Small-cap stocks star in 2012 rally

laltman — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:45:08 +0000

Small-cap stocks have been the stars of the rally so far in 2012. The Russell 2000 index, which tracks stocks with a small market capitalization, is nearing its record high with a rise of about 11% in the year to date.

Pharmaceuticals, materials and technology have been particularly strong. High performing small-caps include Inhibitex, a biopharmaceutical company, up more than 130% percent and FriendFinder, an onbline dating and matchmaking company, is up more than 200%.

Source: New York Times, Feb, 13, 2012

Exploration paying off for Calico Resources (CKB.V) with increases in gold and silver

laltman — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:27:41 +0000

Calico’s 2011 exploration program is paying off. It just announced significant increases in gold and silver in its Grassy Mountain resource. The increase includes 1,250,000 ounces of Gold and 4,100,000 ounces Silver.

Aastrom Biosciences(ASTM) stock gaining momentum

laltman — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:01:05 +0000

2011 was not a good year for the stock prices of stem cell companies. That dropped Aastrom’s price well below fair market valuation. Now momentum seems to be gathering for the stock.

Here’s what Henry McCusker, Director of Research at Scimitar Equity, said on Seeking Alpha:
“Another interesting statistic is that over the past year, CEO Tim Mayleben has bought personally (open market purchase) 133,000 shares.

The Bottom Line: I believe the current market pricing is just beginning to re-actualize ASTM’s valuation and share price’s potential….”

Stans Energy (HRE.V) stock rising on mining discovery

laltman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:36:47 +0000

Stans Energy’s (HRE.V) stock is rising on news of finding a new mineralized zone in its rare earth mine – Kutessay II. For over 30 years, Kutessay II produced 80% of the rare earth metals for the former Soviet Union.

What the natural resource boom means to smallcap and microcap stocks

laltman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:30:01 +0000

The natural resource boom is heating again up as both mature and emerging economies look to grow. According to the Wall Street Journal, it looks like M&A activity is on the rise and the mining sector “may be poised for another round of deals.” Of course the big one everyone is talking about is Glencore and Xstrata.

But there’s more coming. And M&A activity among the big boys may foreshadow more aggressive attempts to acquire junior miners especially those that have either discovered productive mines or have started drilling.

The big miners are looking for new sources wherever they can find it. And the juniors need the cash to pay for extensive infrstructure. So the big boys are looking either to buy bigger stakes in the companies they have in their sights (witness Rio Tinto’s purchase more Ivanhoe’s shares) or buying them outright.

Either way it means good news for shareholders in sought-after juniors. To stay on top of new M&A activity in the sector that could put you in the catbird’s seat, sign up to receive the Smallcap Recap Letter

Crocodile Gold to start more productive bulk mining

laltman — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:16:43 +0000

Crocodile Gold (CRK.TO) expects to produce 75,000 to 85,000 ounces of gold this year. Underground delineation drilling shows that its flagship mine will support the introduction of more productive bulk mining methods.

Scorpio Rising

laltman — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:50:29 +0000

Scorpio Gold (SGN.V) expanding production and improving the overall operating efficiency of the Mineral Ridge project in western Nevada.

Alix Resources climbing

laltman — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:54:20 +0000

Alix resources (AIX.V)up 16% so far today. Up 37% in past few days. Could mean good news at its gold-silver-copper property in the Valdez Creek Mining District in Alaska.