TSX Venture Exchange May 30-June 5

While exploration companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange haven’t benefited from the commodity and metals boom as much as senior and mid-tier producers, the fortunate few with significant discoveries have managed to escape the brunt of the mini-corrections that have whipsawed resource-driven markets of late. Prices for metals and commodities are still relatively strong, yet investors seem skittish as they weigh fears of inflation and rising geopolitical risks against the potential for further gains in the resource sector. This mood of uncertainty helped push the S&P-TSX Venture Composite Index down 33.4 points to 2,830.23 over the May 30-June 5 trading session.

Goldmarca shot up 41.5 to 69 based on progress to date at its 70%-held Condor gold property in Ecuador, and took top spot on the most-active list in the process. The Robin Slaughter-led company is proposing to carry out small-scale mining of higher-grade resources and then use the cash flow to define bulk-tonnage deposits. A previous study estimated that the Condor project hosts inferred resources containing about 1.7 million oz. gold.

Plexmar Resources made the most-active list yet again, but lost a fraction of a cent to 32 over the session. The company is exploring for gold mineralization hosted in veins, volcanics and a recently uncovered intrusive unit at the Bolsa del Diablo property in Peru.

Yukon Zinc has been thumped in the market after announcing results of a feasibility study for its remote, zinc-rich polymetallic Wolverine project in the Yukon. The company closed at 32, well below its high of just over $1.00 a few weeks ago.

Aurelian Resources has enjoyed a flurry of investor interest since reporting significant results earlier this year at its Condor project in southeastern Ecuador. Shares in the company shot up $6.35 to close at $13.35 during the recent session. Drilling is generating impressive results, including a 189-metre intersection grading 24 grams of “uncut” gold.

Western Prospector Group shed 27 to $2.01, reflecting concern about the inability of Mongolia’s government to uphold a positive climate for foreign investment in its mineral sector.

Sargold Resource gained 13.5 to 30 after announcing that several former Placer Dome executives had joined its management team. The company is exploring for gold on the island of Sardinia, Italy.

Hyder Gold closed the session at 25.5, up half a cent. The only news released of late reflects a share consolidation, and a 2004 staking effort of potential diatremes and dykes with possible kimberlitic and/or lamproitic affinities in northern British Columbia.

ECU Silver Mining was off 24 at $2.95. The junior is exploring silver prospects in Mexico’s Durango state, a prime hunting ground for the increasingly prized metal.

Uranium-focused companies have come in and out of favour with investors over the past year, but the trend appears positive again, with more news coming from the field. Australian-focused Laramide Resources was up 88 at $6.90, while Nova Uranium gained 52 to $2.31.

TSX-V greatest percentage change

		Volume(000s)	High	Low	Close	Change
Goldmarca	GML	11748	0.69	0.29	0.69	+150.9
Aurelian Res	ARU	2104	13.38	6.70	13.35	+90.7
Sargold Res	SRG	2198	0.35	0.165	0.30	+81.8
Big Red Diamnd	DIA	116	0.13	0.10	0.11	+46.6
Brigadier Gold	BRG	84	0.18	0.17	0.18	+44.0
Sedex Mng	SDN	460	0.18	0.13	0.18	+38.4
GoldQuest Mng	GQC	340	0.355	0.29	0.35	+34.6
Menika Mining	MML	77	0.16	0.105	0.16	+33.3
Bishop Gold	BSG	492	0.08	0.07	0.08	+33.3
Altai Res	ATI	25	0.185	0.17	0.185	+32.1
Coniagas Res	CNY	47	0.15	0.09	0.09	-40.0
Dios Expl	DOS	162	0.31	0.23	0.23	-30.3
First Point	FPX	106	0.32	0.20	0.205	-29.3
J.A.G. Mines	JML	10	0.16	0.115	0.115	-28.1
Colibri Res	CBI	135	0.13	0.105	0.11	-26.6
Sea Green Cap	SGS	425	0.11	0.095	0.095	-24.0
Harte Res	HRT	105	0.27	0.22	0.23	-23.3
Gold World Res	GDW	177	0.36	0.29	0.29	-22.6
Georgia Vent	GVI	84	0.20	0.17	0.175	-22.2
Resolve Vent	RSV	66	0.29	0.25	0.25	-21.8

TSX-V greatest value change

		Volume	Close	Change
Aurelian Res	ARU	2104086	13.35	+6.35
Laramide Res	LAM	1048465	6.90	+0.88
Coral Gold	CGR	28800	4.35	+0.64
Dynasty Met&Mn	DMM	89460	5.29	+0.63
Mansfld Mnrls	MDR	152909	2.84	+0.58
Nova Uranium	NUC	257144	2.31	+0.52
Aranka Gold	ARK	125700	3.15	+0.52
Northern Dyn M	NDM	378519	9.20	+0.49
Norsemont Mng	NOM	315988	2.68	+0.48
Seabridge Gold	SEA	51813	11.58	+0.44
Klondex Mns	KDX	62371	2.35	-0.34
First Majestic	FR	444020	4.94	-0.33
Forsys Metals	FSY	320520	1.82	-0.29
Western Prospc	WNP	561171	2.01	-0.27
Verona Dev	VDC	142000	1.11	-0.26
Adriana Res	ADI	90224	1.10	-0.26
Contl Precious	CZQ	206850	2.90	-0.26
Inspiration Mg	ISM	411721	0.97	-0.25
SilverCrest Mn	SVL	130366	1.25	-0.25
ECU Silver Mng	ECU	1985875	2.95	-0.24

TSX-V most active issues

		Volume(000s)	HIGH	LOW	CLOSE	CHANGE
Goldmarca	GML	11748	0.69	0.29	0.69	+0.415
Plexmar Res	PLE	5299	0.41	0.315	0.32	-0.015
Yukon Zinc	YZC	4044	0.33	0.285	0.31	+0.025
Strateco Res	RSC	3577	1.17	1.00	1.10	-0.03
Hyder Gold	HGI	3377	0.265	0.16	0.255	+0.05
Triumph Gold	TAU	2712	0.14	0.11	0.13	+0.02
Sargold Res	SRG	2198	0.35	0.165	0.30	+0.135
Aurelian Res	ARU	2104	13.38	6.70	13.35	+6.35
North Am Tung	NTC	2010	1.04	0.87	1.02	-0.08
ECU Silver Mng	ECU	1986	3.17	2.82	2.95	-0.24