Digging Deep

The 'Air Pocket' Risk: How Geopolitical Tensions Are Impacting Mining Operations | Neil Adshead

Neil Adshead, Consultant Analyst at the Commodity Discovery Fund, joins Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep with Paul Harris to unpack the recent price slump in precious metals, and how gold and the mining majors are performing amid the Iran war.“The long term supply/demand for commodities is in place, but if this war really does damage the global economy significantly, then we could be in for quite a longer ‘air pocket', let's call it a bit of a trough,” he warned. Adshead also discusses a range of significant recent mining developments, including the impact of Barrick’s production delays in Pakistan, the Newmont-Barrick dispute over the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, the significance of the ongoing buying spree by Chinese mining majors, and which government strategies are most effective for increasing exploration.Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews.00:00 - Introduction00:46 - Metals Price Slump02:20 - Is Gold Still a Safe Haven?04:12 - Barrick Production Delays 07:25 - Newmont-Barrick Nevada Dispute10:42 - Anglo Gold’s Arthur Project16:03 - Chinese Miners’ Buying Spree18:32 - Liberty Gold’s Black Pine Project23:24 - Government Strategies to Increase Exploration__________________________________________________________________Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.comStay connected with usX - https://x.com/KitcoMiningInstagram -   / kitcomining  LinkedIn -   / kitco-mining  Facebook -   / kitcomining  Connect with the Kitco Mining anchorsPaul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/miningDisclaimer: Videos are not trading advice, and the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc.Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

War, Debt, and Energy Shocks Set Up Gold’s Next Move | Rick Rule

Rick Rule, President and CEO of Rule Investment Media, joins Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep with Paul Harris to assess how escalating conflict in the Persian Gulf is exposing deeper risks across energy, debt, and global resource markets. Rule warns that “30 years of underinvestment in natural resources means that we are less able to deal with shocks,” pointing to vulnerabilities across oil, LNG, fertilizer, and industrial supply chains.On markets, Rule says rising war spending and roughly $39 trillion in U.S. debt will ultimately support gold. “Sadly, this will be good for gold,” he said, adding “I welcome a lower gold price” as a buying opportunity. He also warned the U.S. dollar could lose 75% of its purchasing power over the next decade, while underinvestment in energy, running at “over a billion dollars a day,” could drive structurally higher oil prices and mining costs.In this interview, Rick Rule also discusses: • Why gold’s recent pullback may be a long-term opportunity • Structural oil underinvestment and future energy shocks • Why he met more than 90 companies at PDAC in early March and invested in none • BHP’s capital strategy and the Resolution copper project outlook • Argentina’s improving investment caseRecorded March 19, 2026For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/miningDisclaimer: Videos are not trading advice, and the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc.Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Mining’s Political Risk Problem Is Getting Worse | Christopher Ecclestone

Christopher Ecclestone, principal and mining strategist at Hallgarten + Company, joins Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep with Paul Harris to break down a week of major mining developments and what they reveal about jurisdiction risk, politics, and project strategy.Ecclestone discusses SSR Mining’s agreement to sell its 80% stake in the Copler mine in Türkiye for $1.5 billion following the February 13, 2024 heap leach disaster that killed nine workers. He said the company is “getting a good price to get the hell out of Dodge.” He also examines AngloGold Ashanti’s decision to sell the stalled La Colosa gold project in Colombia, arguing that “this gigantism in the mining sector is part of the problem” when large open-pit developments face strong local opposition.Chris Ecclestone also discusses:• Mongolia seeking a larger share of profits from Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi copper mine • Why governments often renegotiate once projects become too large to walk away from • Argentina’s RIGI investment regime and the push to accelerate mine development • AbraSilver’s Diablillos project and the return of precious metals mining to northern Argentina • Lundin Mining’s latest copper expansion in ChileDon’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining YouTube channel to stay up to date on the latest Digging Deep interviews and industry insights.01:17 - Turkey Risk and Copler Tailings Fallout04:25 - AngloGold Sells La Colosa Project06:20 - Open Pit Mining vs Community Pushback10:34 - From Emerging Markets Back to North America13:27 - Panama Lessons and Self-Inflicted Mining Risks15:22 - When Governments Move the Mining Goalposts18:27 - Argentina’s RIGI and Political Risk21:09 - Chile Mining Policy Under President Kast25:46 - Argentina Silver Comeback vs Mexico27:39 - Lundin Expands Chile Copper Exposure__________________________________________________________________Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.comStay connected with usX - https://x.com/KitcoMiningInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kitcominingLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitco-miningFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/KitcoMiningConnect with the Kitco Mining anchorsPaul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/miningDisclaimer: Videos are not trading advice, and the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc.Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Copper Downgrades, Gold at $5,000, and the Risks Investors Miss | Joe Mazumdar

Joe Mazumdar, Editor of Exploration Insights, joins Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep, to break down a pivotal stretch for mining as copper consolidation stalls, major producers downgrade output, and gold trades above $5,000 per ounce.On Rio Tinto walking away from Glencore, Mazumdar says, “It’s almost cheaper to merge and generate more copper for the combined entity than it is to build a new project,” highlighting how capital intensity and permitting delays are reshaping the copper growth playbook. He explains why lower grades, aging infrastructure, and technical constraints are pressuring guidance across the sector.Turning to gold, Mazumdar cautions that price alone does not fix structural problems, noting that “the gold price may not change” if there’s a fatal flaw, pointing to metallurgy, permitting, and security risk as factors that can override a bull market.Mazumdar also discusses:- Reserve price decks averaging about $1,660 per ounce, and the valuation gap versus spot gold- Why producers are preserving leverage by avoiding streams and royalties in a bull market- The strategic positioning around Barrick’s planned North American IPO- How higher commodity prices can elevate security and extortion riskDon’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews.Recorded on February 12, 202600:18 - Rio Tinto, Glencore, and Copper M&A Strategy06:53 - Copper Production Downgrades and Supply Constraints09:44 - Nevada Gold Mines, Four Mile, and Barrick IPO Strategy21:08 - Critical Minerals Processing and Antimony Supply Chains29:12 - Gold Reserve Price Decks vs $5,000 Spot Gold36:52 - Mexico Security Risk and Investor Repricing41:08 - PDAC 2026 and Mining Sector Sentiment__________________________________________________________________Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.comStay connected with usX - https://x.com/KitcoMiningInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kitcominingLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitco-miningFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/KitcoMiningConnect with the Kitco Mining anchorsPaul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/miningDisclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Are Gold Miners Leaving Value Undisclosed? | Neil Adshead

Neil Adshead, Consultant Analyst at the Commodity Discovery Fund, joins Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep with Paul Harris to examine how new US policy initiatives and price volatility are shaping mining and critical minerals in 2026. Discussing the Trump administration’s $12 billion “Project Vault” initiative and Vice President JD Vance’s proposal for enforceable price floors, Adshead explains how smaller commodity markets can experience extreme price swings that complicate financing decisions.Adshead also discusses why higher gold prices are prompting producers to reassess mine plans, expansions, and reserve assumptions, while new supply remains slow to respond. Pointing to World Gold Council data, he said there is “a significant multi-year lag to bring new production on.” The conversation also touches on permitting progress in Canada, expansion studies at producing mines, and how new technologies are being used to improve exploration targeting.Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews.01:01 – Trump’s Strategic Mineral Reserve and Project Vault Explained01:37 – Critical Minerals Preferential Trade Zone and Price Floor Proposal02:34 – US Mineral Stockpiles, Refining Gaps, and Processing Bottlenecks06:51 – Commodity Pricing, Volatility, and Financing New Mining Projects09:53 – Company Updates: Skeena Eskay Creek Permits and Alamos Gold Expansion19:19 – Eldorado Gold Deal and Gold Miners’ Copper Exposure22:25 – AI in Mineral Exploration and Equinox Gold’s Valentine Discovery26:41 – Barrick Mining Full-Year Results and North American IPO Plans__________________________________________________________________Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.comStay connected with usX - https://x.com/KitcoMiningInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kitcominingLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitco-miningFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/KitcoMiningConnect with the Kitco Mining anchorsPaul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/miningDisclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.