Gold price, July 9 to October 10, 2025.

The price started to gain traction at the end of August, after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled a change in policy during his remarks at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium. By September 2, the gold price had broken through US$3,500 for the first time, and by September 8 it had climbed above US$3,600.

As the month wore on, gold continued its unprecedented climb. It broke through US$3,700 on September 22, US$3,800 on September 29 and reached its quarterly high of US$3,858.41 on September 30.

The price continued on its upward trajectory as the fourth quarter began, rising above US$3,900 on October 6, and finally setting a new record high of US$4,040.42 on October 8.

Why are investors interested in gold?

Mind Money CEO Julia Khandoshko suggested that geopolitics is a driving force behind gold’s record-breaking run, noting that tensions are high as the world becomes increasingly divided into “risk” and “stability” zones.

While geopolitics may be a primary factor, it’s far from the only one.

The third quarter saw declining yield curves, a weakening US dollar and a 25 basis point interest rate cut from the Fed in September, all of which added tailwinds to the gold price. Looking forward, the expectation is that the Fed will make further rate cuts before the end of the year, which could further fuel a rising gold price.

‘The history of the last hundred years shows that gold grows confidently at low rates. Combine this with stubborn inflation, and we can say with confidence that it will create more space for gold’s price rise,” Khandoshko stated.

Additionally, there is an expectation that a weaker US dollar will help to keep the price of gold elevated. So far this year, the US Dollar Index has declined 8 percent.

“The US dollar is a critical component to what happens to gold, because gold is denominated in US dollars, so the weaker the US dollar, the stronger the commodity price. What we’re expecting to see over the next 12 to 24 months is continued devaluation of the US dollar, which means gold should continue to be stronger going forward,” he said.

Among the recent drags on the dollar is fear of a prolonged shutdown of the US federal government after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to continue funding government agencies and employees.

In the aftermath of the shutdown, the US Dollar Index posted its worst week since July. In an October 3 Reuters article, Thierry Wizman, monetary strategist with Macquarie, suggests that a prolonged shutdown could have a significant impact on trust in the federal government and further impact the strength of the greenback.

Gold price forecast for 2025

Hodaly sees the factors behind gold’s price rise remaining in place for the foreseeable future.

“We are expecting this could go much higher, at least 10 to 20 percent higher in the near term,’ he said.

‘Nothing has changed with the demand outlook for gold and the projected weakness of the US dollar, and that’s what’s going to drive the commodity price higher,’ added the executive.

Gold equities are also expected to benefit as the rising price boosts their margins and share prices.

Leading producers such as Agnico Eagle Mines (TSX:AEM,NYSE:AEM), Newmont (NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) and Barrick Mining (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) have seen their share prices rise by over 100 percent in 2025.

The junior space has also been impacted, with PPX Mining (TSXV:PPX,OTC Pink:SNNGF) posting a year-to-date gain of 642 percent as of October 1, and San Lorenzo Gold (TSXV:SLG,OTC Pink:SNLGF) increasing 629 percent.

With gold now trading above US$4,000, the sector could attract renewed interest and offer new opportunities for investors. Those seeking to include gold or gold stocks in their portfolios might consider options ranging from the relative safety of ETFs and established producers to riskier assets at the development or exploration stages.

Investor Insight

Empire Metals (OTCQB:EPMLF, AIM:EEE) is unlocking one of the world’s largest and purest titanium deposits at its flagship Pitfield project in Western Australia. With growing global demand, a looming supply deficit, and near-term development milestones, Empire offers a compelling investment opportunity in the critical minerals space.

Overview

Empire Metals (OTCQB:EPMLF, AIM:EEE) is an Australian focused exploration and resource development company rapidly gaining international attention for its discovery and rapid development of what is believed to be the world’s largest titanium deposit.

The company is focused on advancing its flagship asset, the Pitfield project, located in Western Australia, a tier 1 mining jurisdiction. With a dominant landholding of more than 1,000 sq km, and a titanium mineral system that spans 40 km in strike length, Pitfield is emerging as a district-scale “giant” discovery with the potential to reshape the global titanium supply landscape.

Empire Metals reported a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) at the Pitfield Project in Western Australia, indicating one of the largest and highest-grade titanium resources reported globally, totalling 2.2 billion tonnes grading 5.1percent titanium dioxide (TiO²) for 113 million tonnes of contained TiO2

Empire’s strategic focus on titanium comes at a pivotal time. Titanium is officially recognized as a critical mineral by both the European Union and the United States, owing to its essential role in aerospace, defense, medical technologies, clean energy and high-performance industrial applications. Global demand for titanium dioxide — the most widely used form of titanium — is surging due to its unmatched properties as a pigment and as a feedstock for titanium metal. Titanium supply chains are also increasingly being constrained by geopolitical risks, mine depletion and environmental challenges associated with traditional production. More than 60 percent of the global supply chain is currently concentrated in a handful of countries, notably China and Russia, creating significant vulnerabilities for Western markets.

Titanium has been designated as a critical mineral in both the EU and the US.

Against this backdrop, Empire Metals offers investors a compelling opportunity to gain exposure to a strategically vital metal through a large-scale, high-grade and clean titanium discovery. Unlike many traditional titanium sources, Pitfield’s mineralization is exceptionally pure — free from detrimental amounts of uranium, thorium, chromium and other contaminants — making it ideally suited for premium, high-purity end markets. Furthermore, the mineralized zone is near-surface and laterally extensive, allowing for low-strip and scalable bulk mining with conventional processing technologies.

With more than 22,000 meters of drilling already completed and only a fraction of the mineral system tested, Empire is aggressively advancing Pitfield towards a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate, targeted for H2-2025. Alongside this work, the company is also undertaking bulk sampling and metallurgical processing to advance flowsheet design and optimize product specifications. It is also engaging with industry players to assess product suitability for premium pigment and titanium sponge markets. Empire is planning to finalize, during the current calendar year, a mining study to evaluate the potential for a low-cost strip mining approach, utilizing continuous mining techniques.

The company is supported by a seasoned leadership team with deep expertise in exploration, resource development, mining, metallurgy and capital markets — ensuring that strategic decisions are guided by both technical excellence and a strong track record of value creation.

Company Highlights

• The flagship Pitfield project is the world’s largest known titanium discovery. It’s a district-scale “giant” titanium mineral system, characterised by high-grade, high-purity titanium mineralisation exhibiting exceptional continuity.
• Titanium is in a global supply deficit and recognized as a critical mineral by the EU and US.
• Drill intercepts at Pitfield include up to 202 meters at 6.32 percent titanium dioxide (TiO2) from surface, confirming vast scale and grade.
• Pitfield Project MRE totals 2.2 billion tonnes at 5.1 percent titanium dioxide (TiO₂), containing 113 million tonnes of titanium dioxide, including a substantial indicated resource of 697 million tonnes at 5.3 percent titanium dioxide.
• Empire Metals operates in one of the world’s most secure, mining-friendly jurisdictions: Western Australia.
• The company is led by an experienced, agile team, with proven expertise in exploration, mine development, and value creation across multiple commodities.
• With a number of key development catalysts planned for 2025, including a maiden resource estimate, bulk sampling for scale-up of metallurgical testwork, and product optimisation, Empire remains significantly undervalued relative to its peers.

Key Projects

Pitfield Project – A World-Class Titanium Discovery

Located in Western Australia, the Pitfield project is Empire Metals’ flagship asset and represents one of the most exciting titanium discoveries globally. Spanning an area of approximately 1,042 sq km, the project has revealed a colossal mineral system measuring 40 km in length and up to 8 km in width, with geophysical indications of mineralization extending to at least a depth of 5 km.

Pitfield’s prime location in Western Australia

Extensive drilling across the project has intercepted thick, laterally continuous zones of high-grade titanium dioxide mineralization, highlighting the system’s enormous scale and consistency.

The titanium at Pitfield occurs predominantly in the minerals anatase and rutile within a weathered, in-situ cap that begins at surface. These minerals are exceptionally pure, often exceeding 90 percent titanium dioxide. They are free from harmful amounts of contaminants like uranium, thorium, chromium and phosphorus — qualities that are likely to make the deposit uniquely suitable for premium, high-purity titanium applications in aerospace, defense and clean technologies.

Pitfield is strategically located near the town of Three Springs, approximately 150 km southeast of the port city of Geraldton. The project benefits from direct access to essential infrastructure, including sealed highways, rail lines and an available water supply. This connectivity significantly enhances development potential by reducing logistics costs and simplifying future project build-out. Moreover, the Western Australian government actively supports critical mineral development, and Empire is operating within a stable, mining-friendly jurisdiction known for streamlined permitting and investment security.

Empire has completed more than 22,000 meters of drilling, confirming standout titanium dioxide (TiO2) results such as 154 meters at 6.76 percent TiO2, 148 meters at 6.49 percent TiO2, and 150 meters at 6.44 percent TiO2. Notably, mineralization remains open at depth in all tested zones, and to date, only around 5 percent of the interpreted system has been drilled. This underscores the immense upside potential for resource expansion.

The project’s development advantages are equally compelling: the mineralization is near-surface and amenable to simple, bulk mining methods with conventional processing. Its location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction offers access to infrastructure, a skilled workforce and strong regulatory support.

The Pitfield project presents a scalable processing pathway. Photo shows a gravity flotation test in process (left) and a close-up of a flotation test (right)

Pitfield is advancing toward a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate, expected by H2-2025. The project is already being recognized as a potential cornerstone asset in the global titanium supply chain.

In August 2025, Empire Metals achieved a metallurgical breakthrough, confirming that conventional processing can deliver strong results. Testwork returned 77 percent recovery in the rougher stage, 90 percent in cleaning, and 98 percent titanium dissolution, for an overall 67 percent titanium recovery. The process produced a high-purity TiO₂ concentrate grading 99.25 percent with ~5 percent Fe₂O₃, supporting plans for a lower-cost pilot plant.

Empire Metals has announced a maiden JORC (2012)-compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Pitfield Project in Western Australia, confirming one of the world’s largest and highest-grade titanium resources. The MRE totals 2.2 billion tonnes at 5.1 percent titanium dioxide, containing 113 million tonnes of titanium dioxide, including a substantial Indicated Resource of 697 million tonnes at 5.3 percent titanium dioxide.

The resource, defined across the Thomas and Cosgrove deposits, represents less than 20 percent of the known mineralised area, highlighting significant expansion potential. Drilling at Thomas has outlined a continuous 3.6-kilometre high-grade core averaging about 6 percent titanium dioxide, supporting an initial mine life exceeding 30 years.

Other Projects

In addition to Pitfield, Empire Metals maintains a portfolio of early-stage exploration assets offering optionality and exposure to other strategic and precious metals. Empire holds interests in two Western Australian projects — the Walton and Eclipse gold projects — both situated in historically productive mineral belts. While these assets are not the current focus, they contribute exploration upside and optionality within the company’s broader strategy.

Management Team

Neil O’Brien – Non-executive Chairman

Neil O’Brien is the former SVP exploration and new business development at Lundin

Mining, until he retired in 2018. He has an extensive global mining career as a PhD economic geologist, exploration leader and board executive.

Shaun Bunn – Managing Director

Shaun Bunn is a metallurgist based in Perth, Western Australia, with expertise in international exploration, mining, processing and development. He has a successful track record managing mining projects through all stages of development.

Greg Kuenzel – Finance Director

Based in London, Greg Kuenzel is a chartered accountant, and corporate finance and financial management expert. He has extensive experience working with resources-focused AIM listed companies.

Peter Damouni – Non-executive Director

With more than 20 years of corporate and finance experience focused in the natural resources sector, Peter Damouni holds executive and director roles in TSXV and LSE listed companies where he has played key roles in significantly enhancing shareholder value.

Phil Brumit – Non-executive Director

Phil Brumit is a veteran mining engineer and operations expert, delivering major global operations. His previous roles include international leadership positions at Freeport-McMoRan, Lundin Mining and Newmont Corporation.

Narelle Marriott – Process Development Manager

Narelle Marriott is a former BHP senior process engineer. Most recently, she was the general manager for process development for Hastings Technology Metals.

Andrew Faragher – Exploration Manager

Andrew Faragher is a former Rio Tinto exploration manager with more than 25 years of experience working across multiple commodities.

Arabella Burwell – Corporate Development

Arabella Burwell is a former Senior Director Corporate Development at NASDAQ-listed GoDaddy and a Partner, Capital Raising and Strategic Partnerships, at Hannam & Partners in London and South Africa.

Carrie Pritchard – Environmental Manager

Carrie brings over 20 years of international experience in environmental management, project development, regulatory approvals, and impact assessment. Her expertise spans mine closure and reclamation, stakeholder engagement, and the remediation of contaminated sites. She has led projects across Australia (Western Australia and Victoria) and New Zealand and has also contributed to initiatives in Malawi and Greenland.

David Parker – Commercial Manager

David Parker brings over 20 years of experience in equity capital markets, with a strong focus on the mining, industrial, and technology sectors. He has held senior roles as director and company secretary for several ASX-listed companies, providing strategic leadership and commercial oversight across diverse corporate environments.

Investor Insight

Prismo Metals’ high-grade silver and copper assets in Arizona, anchored by the Silver King project, offer investors exposure to near-surface polymetallic mineralization and large-system copper potential in a tier-one US jurisdiction, guided by an accomplished technical team. Prismo also retains strategic silver-gold leverage through its Palos Verdes joint program with Vizsla Silver in Mexico, creating a balanced portfolio designed for discovery and growth.

Overview

Prismo Metals (CSE:PRIZ,OTCQB:PMOMF,FSE:7KU) is a North American exploration company focused on advancing high-grade silver, gold and copper discoveries in Arizona, one of the world’s most productive and mining-friendly jurisdictions. The company’s projects, Silver King, Ripsey and Hot Breccia, position Prismo at the forefront of exploration in the Arizona Copper Belt, an area that hosts some of the largest copper deposits on Earth.

The historic Silver King mine produced nearly 6 million ounces of silver during the 1880s.

At the center of Prismo’s focus is the Silver King project, a historic silver mine adjacent to BHP and Rio Tinto’s giant Resolution Copper operation. Along with the nearby Ripsey Mine and Hot Breccia project, these assets form a complementary pipeline targeting both bonanza-grade gold and district-scale copper systems.

In Mexico, Prismo continues to advance its Palos Verdes project through a strategic partnership with Vizsla Silver, Prismo’s largest shareholder, providing investors exposure to one of the richest silver-gold districts in the Americas.

Prismo’s business strategy combines technical excellence, modern exploration technologies and disciplined capital allocation to advance near-term drilling and long-term discovery growth across its portfolio.

Company Highlights

• Arizona-focused Exploration: Advancing a portfolio of high-grade silver, copper and gold projects – Silver King, Ripsey and Hot Breccia – in the heart of the Arizona Copper Belt.
• Exceptional Grades and Momentum: Sampling at Silver King returned 619 g/t silver and 511 g/t silver, as well as 757 g/t silver, 1.5 percent copper, 6.7 percent lead, and 11.5 percent zinc from a newly identified polymetallic vein. An expanded 1,000-meter Phase 2 drill program is planned.
• Strategic Land Position: Projects are surrounded by major producers, including BHP/Rio Tinto’s Resolution Copper and Freeport’s Christmas Mine, offering unmatched geological and infrastructure advantages.
• AI-driven Copper Discovery: Hot Breccia, a large-scale copper-gold target, combines historic Kennecott and Phelps Dodge drilling with new ZTEM geophysics and AI-based drill targeting for a 5,000 m program.
• Partnership Strength: In Mexico, Prismo maintains silver-gold exposure through its Palos Verdes project in collaboration with Vizsla Silver, which is also Prismo’s largest shareholder holding 6.1 percent ownership.
• Tight Share Structure: With only 83.6 million shares outstanding, a market cap of $12.1 million (as of October 14th, 2025) and 28.7 percent insider and advisor ownership, Prismo’s management is closely aligned with shareholders

Key Projects

Silver King

The 125-hectare Silver King project lies entirely within the Resolution Copper claim block, about 3 km from the main Resolution shaft and 1 km from the historic Magma mine. Discovered in 1875, it produced roughly 6 million ounces of silver between 1875 and 1928 at grades up to 61 ounce per ton (oz/t) silver. Small-scale production in the 1990s returned up to 644 oz/t silver and 0.53 oz/t gold.

Recent sampling by Prismo confirmed strong silver-copper-lead-zinc mineralization, including 619 grams per ton (g/t) silver and 511 g/t silver from the Silver King shaft area, and 757 g/t silver, 1.5 percent copper, 6.7 percent lead, and 11.5 percent zinc from a newly identified polymetallic vein. The assay results for both silver and copper demonstrate the high-grade nature of the system.

Following these recent results, Prismo plans a second-phase drill program totaling approximately 1,000 meters to test new polymetallic and copper-bearing targets as well as a large replacement-style zone. The company has submitted a plan of operations for drilling to the US Forest Service, with additional site permits in progress.

Ripsey Mine

Located 20 km west of Hot Breccia and south of the Ray mine, the Ripsey mine covers 30 hectares of patented claims and hosts a historic gold-silver-copper vein system traced over 400 meters along strike and 160 meters vertically. The property saw limited production in the early 20th century and has never been explored with modern methods.

View of open stope on the Ripsey vein near the main shaft

Sampling by Dr. Craig Gibson returned values up to 15.9 g/t gold and 275 g/t silver over 0.75 meters, confirming strong near-surface mineralization with significant expansion potential. Further surface exploration at Ripsey is planned..

Hot Breccia

The Hot Breccia Project, spanning 1,420 hectares, provides Prismo with large-scale copper-gold optionality in the heart of Arizona’s Copper Belt. The project is located 40 km south of Resolution Copper and 35 km north of the San Manuel-Kalamazoo deposit. It hosts the same productive units as Freeport’s nearby Christmas mine, which historically produced high-grade copper skarn ore.

Historic drilling by Kennecott and Phelps Dodge intersected copper-rich skarn mineralization, including 77 ft of 0.54 percent copper, 60 ft of 1.4 percent copper and 4.65 percent zinc, and 25 ft of 1.73 percent copper. A 2023 ZTEM survey and subsequent AI analysis identified a large conductive anomaly at depth, consistent with a porphyry copper system.

Located near major infrastructure, including highways, power, water and the Hayden smelter, Hot Breccia is Prismo’s largest-scale copper discovery opportunity.

Palos Verdes

The Palos Verdes project provides Prismo with strategic exposure to silver and gold in Mexico’s prolific Panuco-Copala district, where Vizsla Silver (TSXV:VZLA) is advancing a billion-dollar silver resource. Prismo’s concession sits at the northeastern end of the district and is fully surrounded by Vizsla’s ground.

Drill site for hole PV-24-34 of the current drill program

To date, Prismo has drilled approximately 6,052 meters across 33 holes, identifying a near-surface, high-grade ore shoot within the Palos Verdes vein. Results include 102 g/t gold and 3,100 g/t silver (11,520 g/t silver equivalent over 0.5 m), comparable to some of the best intercepts in the district.

Future exploration will focus on deeper drilling and potential extensions of the vein system into adjacent Vizsla concessions, as guided by the joint Prismo-Vizsla technical committee chaired by Dr. Peter Megaw and Dr. Craig Gibson.

Management Team

Alain Lambert – CEO and Co-founder

Alain Lambert is a lawyer with over 35 years of experience financing and advising small and mid-sized companies across technology, manufacturing and natural resources. He has participated in private and public financings exceeding $1 billion and built an extensive network of investors, bankers, analysts and IR professionals. Lambert has served as a director and on audit and governance committees for several public and private companies. He holds an LL.B. from the University of Montréal and a diploma in administration from College Jean-de-Brébeuf, Montréal.

Gordon Aldcorn – President

Gordon Aldcorn brings more than 20 years of experience in capital markets and junior public company development. Over the past five years, he has focused on the corporate management of copper and gold exploration projects, with a strong track record of advancing early-stage assets. Committed to responsible mineral exploration and long-term stakeholder engagement, Aldcorn now leads Prismo Metals through a pivotal growth phase, advancing its high-potential projects in Arizona and Mexico.

Craig Gibson – Co-founder and Chief Exploration Officer

Dr. Craig Gibson has extensive experience in the minerals industry. He received his Bachelor of Science (1984) in Earth Sciences from the University of Arizona and Master of Science (1987) and PhD (1992) in Economic Geology and Geochemistry from the Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno. He co-founded Prospeccion y Desarrollo Minero del Norte, S.A. de CV (ProDeMin) based in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2009. ProDeMin is a consulting firm providing a broad spectrum of exploration-related services to the mining industry and has been involved in several major precious metal discoveries in Mexico. Gibson is also a director of Garibaldi Resources, a Vancouver-based junior exploration company; a certified professional geologist of the American Association of Professional Geologists; and a qualified person under NI 43-101.

Carmelo Marelli – CFO and Corporate Secretary

Carmelo Marrelli is the principal of the Marrelli Group, comprising Marrelli Support Services, DSA Corporate Services, DSA Filing Services, Marrelli Press Release Services, Marrelli Escrow Services, and Marrelli Trust Company. The Marrelli Group has delivered accounting, corporate secretarial and regulatory compliance services to listed companies on various exchanges for over 20 years. Marrelli is a chartered professional accountant (CPA, CA, CGA), and a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, a professional body that certifies corporate secretaries. He received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto. Marrelli acts as the chief financial officer to several issuers on the TSX, TSX Venture Exchange and CSE, as well as non-listed companies, and as a director of select issuers.

Martin Dupuis – Director

Martin Dupuis has over 25 years of experience covering all stages of a project’s life, from exploration through feasibility and engineering studies, construction, mine expansion and operations. Dupuis serves as Vizsla Silver’s chief operating officer. He was instrumental in the oversight and delivery of the company’s maiden resource estimate. Before joining Vizsla Silver, Dupuis was director of geology for Pan American Silver, technical services manager for Aurico Gold, and chief geologist at several other operations.

Louis Doyle – Director

Louis Doyle has over 30 years of experience in capital markets and public companies. Since 2016, he has served as executive director of Québec Bourse and has advised private companies seeking Canadian exchange listings. Previously, he was vice-president, Montréal at the TSX Venture Exchange (1999–2015), where he oversaw business development and listings in Québec and Atlantic Canada, chaired the listing committee, served on the policy committee, and led the national mentorship program. Doyle also holds directorships with two other public companies.

Peter Megaw – Advisor and Significant Shareholder

Dr. Peter Megaw is best known as co-founder of MAG Silver and Minaurum Gold. He and his team are credited with MAG Silver’s Juanicipio discovery in the famous Fresnillo District, for which he received the Thayer Lindsley Award in 2017. He received his doctorate from the University of Arizona and has more than 35 years of experience exploring silver and gold in Mexico. Megaw is a certified professional geologist by the American Institute of Professional Geologists and an Arizona registered professional geologist. He is the author of numerous scientific publications on ore deposits and is a frequent speaker at academic and international exploration conferences. Megaw also received the Society of Mining Engineers 2012 Robert M. Dreyer Award for excellence in applied economic geology.

Steve Robertson – Advisor

Steve Robertson brings 35 years of mining industry experience, with a focus on precious metals and copper exploration in North America. He has co-founded and managed multiple exploration companies, including Infinitum Copper, where as CEO he led the public listing and project acquisitions in Sonora, Mexico, and Arizona, USA. Previously, he founded Sun Metals, where his team made a significant copper-gold discovery and completed two corporate mergers.