- Gold prices continue to break record highs with silver also enjoying a renaissance.
- Nicola Mining has begun processing high-grade gold-silver ore from Talisker Resources Inc.
- Nicola is determined to process 60,000 tonnes (tn) of ore and produce 21,000 ounces (oz) of gold-equivalent per year at full-production rate.
Global demand for gold and silver continues to surge as investors and central banks race for protection in unstable economic terrain. As the value of precious metals surges amid rising demand, junior miner Nicola Mining (TSX.V: NIM) (OTCQB: HUSIF) began processing high-grade gold and silver ore at its Merritt Mill facility, highlighting a key step forward in its growth (https://ibn.fm/Vs8Tt).
Central banks purchased more than 1,000 tn of gold in 2024 — double the decade’s average — lifting reserves to nearly 36,000 tn, the highest since the Bretton Woods era (https://ibn.fm/Kk8mC). Gold prices continue to break record highs, with April 2025 seeing levels exceed US$3,500/oz, an all-time high reflecting investors’ growing uncertainty about the global economy.
Demand for gold-backed exchange-traded funds and physical bullion surged more than 170% year-over-year in first quarter 2025, marking the highest first-quarter investment into gold since 2016, according to World Gold Council data. Institutional and retail investment demand remains strong, as demand for bullions rose 15% above the five-year average (https://ibn.fm/pu22b). Nicola seeks to continue growing its key regional role within the precious metal economy and to welcome new mining partners.
Silver is also enjoying a renaissance, with spot prices hovering around US$36 per ounce — levels unseen in more than 13 years — as industrial demand for the metal expands in green-tech and 5G applications (https://ibn.fm/b9JaY). Back-to-back supply deficits across five years, driven by structural demand in sectors such as photovoltaics, fuel silver’s tight market. Analysts predict further upside, projecting forward 12-month silver prices reaching US$50, as industrial and investment demand converge. Treasure Mountain, an underground permitted silver mine located near Hope, is 100%-owned by Nicola.
Against these backdrops, Nicola Mining’s announcement highlights its continued growth trend. The company’s crucial third-party mill operation has begun processing high-grade gold-silver ore from Talisker Resources Inc. at its facility in Merritt, British Columbia.
Nicola expects to cumulatively process 60,000 (tn) of ore and produce 21,000 (oz) of gold-equivalent concentrate at full production capacity annual rate. The Merritt Mill provides accessible, reliable revenue to not only its British Columbian partners, but it also sustains its own copper, gold and silver projects across the province.
The Merritt Mill is strategically located within a growing community that serves as a regional logistics hub, providing efficient and reliable access to road transportation, water, power, tailings capacity and experienced operational personnel — key elements that often delay new mining developments. Nicola looks forward to minimizing per-tonne operating costs by maintaining high throughput.
“We are excited to realize that Nicola is morphing into a steady and long-term producer,” said Nicola CEO Peter Espig. “It is rare for junior miners to reach the production pinnacle and to monetize current precious metal prices with our partners.”
“We are also witnessing firsthand augmented efficiencies in British Columbia’s permitting of underground mining operations, which characteristically minimize environmental impact, as well as the strategic significance of our fully-permitted mill,” Espig continued. “In addition to production, we have boosted our geological team and are ramping up activities for what we believe to be an exciting exploration campaign, not only at the New Craigmont Project, but also our fully permitted silver mine, Treasure Mountain.”
As demand for precious metals continues to rise, underpinned by macroeconomic instability and green-energy growth, Nicola Mining is positioning itself as a nimble, capital-efficient player. The company’s decision to partner with Talisker and leverage the Merritt Mill is more than operational — it’s strategic. The ability to efficiently convert mined ore to immediate liquidity not only builds a foundation for Nicola’s financial stability but also highlights the company’s role in BC’s junior mining sector.
With gold and silver global demand unlikely to wane — supported by central bank purchases, inflation hedging and expanding industrial usage — Nicola Mining stands ready to capitalize. By prioritizing its mill facility preparation, operational efficiency and a clear path to meaningful cash flow, Nicola aims to fast-track toward its broader resource development goals, offering investors exposure to a precious metals company with a strong balance sheet.
For more information, visit www.NicolaMining.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to HUSIF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HUSIF
