Whilst new discoveries will be in high demand once the deficit sets in for many base metals, it is not getting easier nor cheaper to unlock the value of discoveries, often calling for more intensive exploration programs. The financing strategies to make these discoveries possible are therefore important to analyse. Kura does just that this week as we delve into financings over US$35 million carried out in the last 4 years in the base metals space, and explore how strategic investments can work well for all stakeholders if played right.

Filo Mining Corp. (TSX-V, Nasdaq First North: FIL) seven assays from its Filo del Sol project rank within the top results of the week according to Opaxe and mark the end of the 2019 drill program at the property, which is located on the Chile/Argentina border. All but one of the holes ended in mineralization, which has shown the project’s continued upside potential, complementing the encouraging production outlook from Pre-Feasibility Study.

CONTINENTAL GOLD (TSX: CNL; OTCQX: CGOOF) holds one of the largest and highest grade gold projects globally, the Buriticá Au project in Colombia, which has production scheduled to start in 2020. Once in full production the mine could double formal production levels of gold in Colombia. The team continues to explore upside at the property with recent new discovery at BMZ4 where they will continue to drill.

Great Panther Mining Ltd. (TSX:GPR; NYSE:GPL) have commissioned a supplemental modular liquid oxygen supply system at the Tucano Gold Mine in Brazil to process higher grade sulphide ore, and has to date processed ore as high as 2g/t Au with 94% recoveries. Before the supplemental oxygen, Great Panther were limited to processing lower grade oxide material. With recent reports highlighting the future of new discoveries likely to be fewer and at lower grade, technologies like this one are encouraging for making those new discoveries economic to mine.

Guyana Goldstrike Inc. (TSXV:GYA, OTC:GYNAF, FSE:1ZT) have identified previously unmapped outcrops along 1,100 metres of a magnetic quartzite-metachert trend north of its Mazoa Hill 43-101 resource. This news follows the trend of juniors focussing on brownfield exploration, and is encouraging for the company as they will work to expand the resource with exploratory drilling, adding to the 42,000 m historic drilling and working to add to the three mineralized zones.

Adventus Zinc (TSX-V: ADZN; OTCQX: ADVZF) reported a Mineral Resource Estimate update and robust PEA at their El Domo deposit at the Curipampa project in Ecuador. The PEA outlines development potential for production of copper, gold and zinc by open pit and underground methods. El Domo is economically attractive compared to development project peers and upside potential at Curipampa will continue to be explored by the Adventus team as they evaluate and drill new targets in 2019. Adventus also announced a strategic investment from the Noblis Group of Ecuador as part of a C$12.1 million private placement, see here.