Critical Minerals Push Drives High-Grade Exploration in BC's Golden Triangle
MWN-AI** Summary
The increasing reliance of the United States on imported critical minerals has sparked a surge in high-grade mineral exploration in British Columbia's Golden Triangle region. As of February 2026, the United States Geological Survey indicated that the country is fully dependent on imports for 16 critical minerals, contributing to a wider strategy focused on domestic production and sustainability. Amid this backdrop, the U.S. State Department held a Critical Minerals Ministerial, resulting in the establishment of multiple bilateral agreements and a significant investment of $10 billion in a strategic critical minerals reserve under Project Vault.
In this environment, several junior mining companies, including GoldHaven Resources, Scottie Resources, Goliath Resources, Sun Summit Minerals, and Thesis Gold, are advancing their high-grade exploration projects. With a focus on jurisdictions with known geological potential and efficient infrastructure, these companies are adopting dual-track strategies that prioritize both exploration and potential near-term production. GoldHaven Resources has made notable progress at its Copeçal West Target in Brazil, confirming gold mineralization in bedrock and reporting promising results from initial drilling.
Scottie Resources has also reported high-grade gold intercepts from its Blueberry Contact Zone, showcasing the strength of mineralization in the area. Meanwhile, Goliath Resources continues to expand its Surebet discovery, highlighting high-grade results that remain open for further exploration. Sun Summit Minerals has established the Finn Zone as a significant target, with impressive gold and silver grades reported.
Overall, the push for critical minerals, combined with the promising results from these junior explorers, positions British Columbia as a key player in meeting global mineral demands while enhancing the sector's investment appeal.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey highlights the growing reliance on critical minerals, particularly amidst increasing demand for refined copper and other commodities. As the U.S. grapples with its 100% import dependency on 16 critical minerals, the establishment of a $10 billion strategic reserve under Project Vault offers a significant boost to domestic exploration projects, especially in strategic jurisdictions like British Columbia’s Golden Triangle.
The emphasis on resilience in supply chains has opened a pathway for junior exploration companies in B.C. to advance high-grade mineral projects. In particular, firms such as GoldHaven Resources, Scottie Resources, and Goliath Resources are strategically positioned to capitalize on heightened investor interest and potential government support. Investors should closely monitor their dual-track strategies, which blend exploration with near-term production potential, effectively mitigating funding risks while enhancing upside prospects.
GoldHaven’s recent confirmation of gold mineralization in Brazil, coupled with favorable results from B.C. projects, signals a promising trajectory. The evolving narrative that surrounds these companies presents opportunities for strategic investments. Scottie Resources and Goliath's impressive high-grade intercepts reinforce their tangible potential in a supply-constrained market where high-quality assets are increasingly coveted.
Investors should also consider the risk factors, including the speculative nature of junior exploration and market volatility. The elevated interest from institutional players, as seen with Thesis Gold’s board appointment of a seasoned capital markets professional, underscores a positive shift towards professionalizing operations in the junior sector.
Overall, while the critical minerals push provides potential tailwinds, investors are advised to conduct thorough due diligence, focusing on exploration outcomes and financial viability, to make informed decisions in this dynamic and rapidly evolving market landscape.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equity-Insider.com News Commentary – The United States is now 100% import-reliant for 16 critical minerals, with over half of 90 tracked commodities sourced predominantly from foreign suppliers, according to the 2026 USGS Mineral Commodities Summary. Global refined copper production of approximately 26.5 million tonnes falls short of demand running at 27.2 million tonnes, a 700,000-tonne deficit before accounting for AI data centre requirements that alone could add 475,000 tonnes this year[1]. In response, the U.S. State Department convened a Critical Minerals Ministerial in February 2026, hosting representatives from 54 countries and the European Commission. Eleven new bilateral frameworks were signed in a single day, and a $10 billion strategic critical minerals reserve was announced under Project Vault[2]. Against that backdrop, GoldHaven Resources (CSE: GOH), Scottie Resources (TSXV: SCOT), Goliath Resources (TSXV: GOT), Sun Summit Minerals (TSXV: SMN), and Thesis Gold (TSXV: TAU) are advancing high-grade gold and polymetallic projects across British Columbia.
For junior exploration companies operating in jurisdictions with proven geology and established infrastructure, the policy shift creates a direct tailwind. Junior gold companies are increasingly adopting dual-track strategies that combine exploration with near-term production potential, reducing funding risk in selective capital markets while preserving the upside that drives the largest re-ratings in junior equities[3].
GoldHaven Resources (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) has confirmed gold mineralization in bedrock at its Copeçal West Target in Brazil, with the first-ever drilling at the high-priority zone returning 39 meters at 0.11 g/t gold from 58 meters depth in unweathered rock. That interval, from hole COPE-PDH-008, included 3 meters grading 0.30 g/t gold and represents the first confirmation that the broad surface gold anomaly at Copeçal is sourced from a mineralized system in fresh bedrock beneath a thick saprolite layer that had previously masked the geology below. All four holes drilled at the Western Target intersected anomalous gold. Hole COPE-PDH-006 returned 7 meters at 0.46 g/t gold, including 1 meter at 1.21 g/t. Hole COPE-PDH-007 cut 28 meters at 0.14 g/t gold with a 1-meter intercept grading 1.04 g/t. Hole COPE-PDH-005 hit 30 meters at 0.16 g/t gold from surface, including 22 meters at 0.20 g/t. The consistency of anomalous gold across all four holes validates the company’s exploration model and provides a strong foundation for follow-up drilling designed to vector toward higher-grade zones at depth and along strike.
“These latest drill results represent a major milestone for the Copeçal Project,” stated Robert Birmingham, CEO of GoldHaven. “For the first time, we have confirmed gold anomalism in fresh bedrock beneath the thick saprolite profile that previously masked the system. Importantly, these are the first holes ever drilled at the Western Target, and the results provide strong confidence that the robust surface geochemical anomaly is sourced from an underlying mineralized system.”
The Copeçal Gold Project sits within the Alta Floresta Mineral Province, a Paleoproterozoic belt in Brazil’s Juruena Gold Province where GoldHaven Resources holds 3,681 hectares. The region is recognized for hosting multiple gold and copper occurrences, and the company previously completed its inaugural diamond drilling program at Copeçal’s East Target, where nine holes totaling 1,085.7 meters discovered bornite, suggesting potential for a substantial gold-copper system.
Beyond Brazil, GoldHaven Resources has confirmed anomalous tungsten mineralization at its Magno Property in British Columbia, where the 2025 surface program returned bonanza silver grades up to 2,370 grams per tonne and tungsten values reaching 6,550 ppm across multiple skarn zones. The company also confirmed high-grade copper at its Three Guardsmen Project, with surface sampling returning up to 15.85% copper. GoldHaven now controls 133,186 hectares across proven mining jurisdictions, with all projects supported by a comprehensive 43-101 Technical Report.
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Scottie Resources (TSXV: SCOT) has reported multiple high-grade gold intercepts from its Blueberry Contact Zone in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle. Drill hole SR25-420 returned 34.3 g/t gold over 3.30 metres, including 90.8 g/t gold over 1.0 metre within the Lemoffe vein zone. A second hole, SR25-424, intersected 9.97 g/t gold over 9.70 metres, including 21.1 g/t gold over 2.45 metres.
“These results reinforce the strength and continuity of high-grade gold mineralization at Blueberry,” said Dr. Thomas Mumford, President of Scottie Resources. “With 27,000 meters drilled in 2025 we are well positioned to continue expanding this high-grade predictable system.”
The company drilled 27,000 metres in 2025, with approximately 16,000 metres of results reported to date and additional assays pending. Scottie Resources recently released a PEA outlining an after-tax NPV5% of $215.8 million CAD with a 60.3% IRR under a direct shipping ore scenario. The company is fully funded for 2026 drilling.
Goliath Resources (TSXV: GOT) has reported high-grade drill results from its Golddigger property at the Surebet discovery in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle. Highlights from the 2025 program include 19.13 g/t gold over 6.10 metres in the Golden Gate Zone, with 76% of drill holes encountering visible gold. The property hosts five mineralized zones containing 46 identified lodes, all of which remain open for expansion.
“The Surebet high-grade gold discovery continues to grow during every new season of drilling,” said Roger Rosmus, Founder & CEO of Goliath Resources. “We have yet to find the limits of the stacked veins and RIRG dykes, which all remain open, or the source of where they come from, but we are excited about using them to vector into the Motherlode source.”
A total of 110 holes from the 2025 campaign remain pending assay results for gold-equivalent values. The company drilled 64,364 metres in 2025 and is fully funded for a similar program in 2026, with drilling focused on expanding the five main mineralized zones and testing the causative intrusive source of the high-grade system.
Sun Summit Minerals (TSXV: SMN) has confirmed high-grade gold and silver potential at the Finn Zone within its JD Project in British Columbia. Drill hole FZ-25-002 returned 46.0 metres of 1.03 g/t gold with 44.9 g/t silver from 38.0 metres downhole, including a high-grade interval of 6.0 metres grading 5.30 g/t gold with 157.9 g/t silver. An exceptional one-metre interval returned 784.0 g/t silver.
“Results from our late-season, modest, four drill hole program at the Finn Zone in 2025 have exceeded expectations and firmly establish the zone as a high-priority target for significant drilling in 2026,” said Niel Marotta, CEO of Sun Summit Minerals.
The company is fully funded for a minimum 10,000-metre drill program in 2026 following completion of an oversubscribed $11.5 million private placement. Both high-grade and near-surface bulk-tonnage style gold-silver mineralization with strong continuity have been identified at the Finn Zone.
Thesis Gold (TSXV: TAU) has appointed Coille van Alphen to its Board of Directors as the company transitions from advanced exploration into project development at its Lawyers-Ranch gold project in British Columbia. Van Alphen serves as Mining & Metals Portfolio Manager at Equinox Partners, the company’s largest institutional shareholder, and brings over 15 years of experience across public equities, capital markets, and strategic investing.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coille to the Thesis Board of Directors,” said Dr. Ewan Webster, President & CEO of Thesis Gold. “Her disciplined long-term investment approach and deep capital markets expertise will be invaluable as we move Lawyers-Ranch through feasibility, permitting, and into development.”
The appointment follows the release of a Prefeasibility Study outlining an after-tax IRR of 54.4% and after-tax NPV5% of C$2.37 billion at US$2,900 per ounce gold and US$35 per ounce silver.
Article Source: https://equity-insider.com/goh-profile/
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SOURCES:
3. https://investingnews.com/how-near-term-production-is-changing-the-junior-gold-exploration-model/
FAQ**
How do the recent drilling results from GoldHaven Resources Corp GHVNF contribute to investor confidence in its Copeçal Project and its overall market position in British Columbia's mining sector?
What specific factors are driving the recent price movements for GoldHaven Resources Corp GHVNF, and how might the strategic critical minerals reserve impact its operations in the coming years?
Considering the competitive landscape, how does GoldHaven Resources Corp GHVNF plan to differentiate itself from other junior exploration companies advancing projects in British Columbia?
How might the outcomes of the Critical Minerals Ministerial influence future exploration strategies for companies like GoldHaven Resources Corp GHVNF, especially in the context of U.S. import reliance on critical minerals?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Scottie Resources Corp. (TSXVC: SCOT:CC).
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