TSX Venture in the black, Dec. 27-29

The S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index gained 40.42 points to a 850.72-point close, as spot gold prices gained US$28.64 to US$1,302.8 per oz. gold on a weakening U.S. dollar. Comex copper prices gained US6¢ to US$3.30 per lb. following further curbs on domestic production in China.

Liberty One Lithium has decided to forgo exploration at its flagship Pocitos West lithium property in Argentina, stating in a Dec. 22 press release that the property “falls short of the viability we require to move ahead based on our current economic projections.” In late October, the company drilled a thick, low-resistivity geophysical anomaly believed to represent a lithium-enriched brine along the length of the property package. Two of the three holes proved the anomaly was a clay-dominated sequence and has no potential to host brine. Liberty One confirmed 2018 plans to evaluate its North Paradox lithium property, which covers 18.1 sq. km within the Paradox basin in Grand County, Utah, and examine properties in Latin America and U.S. for acquisition. The news drove shares of the company up 35¢ to $1.05.

Shares of U.S. coal miner Corsa Coal gained 30¢ to $2.05 on rising metallurgical coal prices. On Dec. 14, the company  stated that a ramp up at its Acosta mine, and start of production at its Horning mine — both in Pennsylvania — could increase coal production between 1.2 million and 1.4 million short tons, and increase coal sales between 2.1 million and 2.8 million short tons, up 60% and 50%, respectively, compared to 2017 forecasted levels. Corsa’s coal sales are comprised of three types: coal that Corsa produces; coal that is purchased and resold after storing, washing, blending and loaded; and coal that Corsa purchases on a clean or finished basis from suppliers outside the Northern Appalachia region.

Greenfield explorer Crystal Lake Mining gained 30¢ to 92¢ per share after completing a $700,000, non-brokered private placement towards advancing the company’s Emo nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group metals properties in northwestern Ontario. The financing consists of 1.4 million units at 50¢ per unit, with each unit comprised of a share and a warrant exercisable within 2 years at 50¢ a share. Shares of Crystal Lake have risen from 20¢ per share since November, triggered by a series of private placements following the retaining of nickel expert Peter Lightfoot to provide the company with technical services, and an earlier appointment of Richard Savage as the company’s new president and CEO. Lightfoot also serves on the advisory board of nickel explorer Garibaldi Resources, a junior explorer focused on magmatic nickel-copper exploration in northwestern B.C.