Joe Mazumdar, editor of Exploration Insights, joins Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep with Paul Harris to unpack a record-setting earnings season for gold producers, where higher margins, stronger free cash flow, and rising shareholder returns are reshaping the sector.

Mazumdar highlights Newmont and Lundin Gold as standout performers, but says the bigger issue is that organic production growth remains constrained despite higher gold prices. With producers trading at a premium to the assets they are acquiring, he argues M&A may be more attractive than building new mines in a high-cost environment. “Why take the permitting risk? Why take the capital escalation risk that we're seeing in some of these underground projects when you could just get a producing asset that you like?”

The discussion also covers exploration spending discipline, risks behind aggressive junior drilling programs, assay delays, rising drilling costs, Cameco’s downstream nuclear strategy, and why companies are packaging non-core assets into more focused vehicles.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews.

Recorded May 07, 2026

00:24 - Q1 Gold Earnings Surge and Record Margins
03:41 - Cost Pressures, Streams, and Weak Performers
06:08 - Divestments, Debt Paydown, and Project Builds
08:05 - Growth Constraints and Exploration Spending
11:57 - Why M&A Is Cheaper Than Building Mines
15:50 - Junior Drilling Boom and Execution Risks
19:23 - Rigs, Labor Shortages, and Assay Delays
22:28 - Australia Gold Deal and Reporting Differences
27:12 - Uranium Momentum and Cameco Strategy
31:45 - Spinouts and the Non-Core Asset Shift
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Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.

Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.com

Stay connected with us
X - https://x.com/KitcoMining
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Connect with the Kitco Mining anchors
Paul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold

For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/mining

Disclaimer: Videos are not trading advice, and the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

John Feneck, Founder & CEO of The Feneck Commodities Report, joins Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep as gold and mining equities pull back amid ongoing geopolitical tension in the Middle East. Speaking with Paul Harris, Feneck said the recent weakness does not signal a breakdown in the trend, but a buying opportunity within a broader bull market. “This is a buying opportunity,” he said.

Feneck highlighted a growing disconnect across the sector, with major producers like Newmont and Kinross generating record free cash flow, while many junior gold stocks are down 25% to 40% since early March. He said that gap, combined with constrained global gold production, could drive increased M&A activity as majors look to secure new ounces. At the same time, some major banks continue to forecast gold in the $5,300 to $6,000 range over the next 9 to 12 months, while larger-scale deposits are increasingly required to attract serious interest.

The discussion also covers silver supply deficits, China’s growing role in critical minerals, and the return of capital to the sector through major financings and IPOs.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews.

00:23 - Geopolitics and Gold Pullback
01:48 - Record Producer Cash Flow Surge
03:54 - Flat Supply and Rising M&A Pressure
05:15 - Yukon Turnaround and Undervalued Juniors
07:52 - Why 5Moz Is the New Benchmark
09:09 - Permitting Risks and PEA Pitfalls
12:14 - Ross Beaty IPO and Capital Return
15:04 - Nickel Market Rebound and Supply Shifts
17:56 - Rare Earth Deal and Strategic Demand
__________________________________________________________________

Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.

Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.com

Stay connected with us
X - https://x.com/KitcoMining
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kitcomining
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitco-mining
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KitcoMining

Connect with the Kitco Mining anchors
Paul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold

For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/mining

Disclaimer: Videos are not trading advice, and the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

Rick Rule, President and CEO of Rule Investment Media, joins Kitco Mining’s Digging Deep with Paul Harris to break down escalating geopolitical risk and what it means for energy, commodities, and mining. Rule says recent oil and LNG price moves tied to the Persian Gulf conflict are “anticipatory rather than reactive,” warning that markets are still pricing anticipatory shortages rather than real rationing. If supply disruptions materialize, he said, “the price impact is going to be very different than the price impact that we've seen,” pointing to potential sharp repricing within two or three weeks.

Rule identifies uranium as a key strategic winner as countries prioritize energy security, saying “the real unsung beneficiary will be the nuclear power industry and by proxy the uranium companies.” He also argues resource nationalism and government intervention are likely to continue, with growing pressure on mining assets across key jurisdictions.

In this interview, Rick Rule also discusses:
• Why energy markets could reprice sharply if real shortages emerge
• Uranium’s advantage in a shifting global energy system
• Resource nationalism and government pressure on mining assets
• G Mining’s $3B deal and why consolidation can still be accretive
• Rare earth supply chains and rising government-backed capital

Recorded April 22, 2026

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.