Video News/Digging Deep

Veteran geologist Jeff Pontius says the gold sector is entering a new phase of discovery and consolidation as exploration spending rebounds and quality assets attract fresh capital. Speaking with Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep, the former Corvus Gold CEO said mid-tier producers “might be the ones that are the real driving force in M&A going forward in the next two or three years.” Pontius led Corvus until its 2022 sale to AngloGold Ashanti for C$570 million and now advises exploration ventures. “It looks like the sector’s taking off again,” he said, noting AngloGold’s continued progress in Nevada. “They’ve done a very good job of advancing that, keeping the locals on side, pushing the permitting forward.” Pontius also highlighted Barrick’s Four Mile discovery as a cornerstone asset and said majors must balance acquisitions with early-stage investment. “You keep your fingers in the juniors, particularly with strategic investments like Anglo did with us, and you also drive your own Greenfields program forward,” he said. Pontius believes the market remains early in the cycle, adding, “I look for two to three more years of pretty strong moves in the commodity price.”