Discovering Gold in Peru like it's 1996.
35 years ago, the golden age of Peruvian exploration ignited with the discovery of the Yanacocha gold district, whose global gold endowment has surpassed 70 million ounces. Ten years later, legendary geologist, David Lowell, discovered the Pierina deposit, which famously sold for a 2200% return to Barrick Gold just 12 months later. At Pucara Gold, our seasoned leadership team is building on this legacy and applying its expertise to our multi-target portfolio.
Peru
As one of the top six gold producers in the world, some experts speculate that Peru has the largest non-discovered gold resources on earth. In addition to the country’s rich geology, Peru has a modern legislative framework, creating a more attractive environment for investors than its South American neighbors. Pucara’s high sulfidation epithermal properties are located within the Ayacucho corridor, a mineralized zone in Southern Peru that has attracted the likes of several major mining companies including Barrick, Newmont, Rio Tinto, BHP and more.
Our Projects
What’s so special about high sulfidation deposits?
High up in the Andes Mountains lie numerous High Sulfidation Epithermal (or HSE) deposits, estimated to account for more than 130 million ounces of gold. HSEs are arguably the most sought-after type of deposits by major and mid-tier gold producers. They can be very large, disseminated deposits, amenable to open-pit, heap leaching technology, and truck and shovel mining methods. When found near surface, a large portion of HSE deposits tend to be oxidized, compounding to their low-cost production profile. At depth, these deposits may be hypogene oxidized and can carry bonanza grades, further increasing their desirability. To any established producer, a large low-cost target with favorable metallurgy will always be of utmost interest.
Putting the bull back into the gold market.
From Peru to Wall Street — the bull (in Spanish, “Toro”) is synonymous with prosperity and good fortune. We’ve adopted the “Torito de Pucara” as a reminder to stay focused on the prosperity of our stakeholders, the communities we work with, and our employees. And while we’re confident in our experienced management, exploration team, and the quality of prospects, we know that a little luck goes a long way in this business and follows the prepared minds.
Leadership
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Steve Zuker
MSc Geology, QPCEO, DirectorMr. Zuker is a geologist and Qualified Person (QP) with 30+ years of experience in economic geology and exploration geochemistry in North and South America, and Asia. He has focused on precious and base metal exploration in Peru for the past 22 years during which time he built Pucara’s exploration team and project portfolio. Prior to Pucara, Mr. Zuker held senior positions with Esperanza Resources, Harrods/Gallant Minerals, Cominco Chile, Westmont Mining, & FMC Gold.
David Awram
BSc GeologyDirectorMr. Awram is a co-founder of Sandstorm Gold Royalties and oversees its corporate development team and due diligence process. He has evaluated hundreds of resource projects and has completed on-site due diligence on dozens of mines across the globe. Prior to Sandstorm, Mr. Awram was Director of Investor Relations for Wheaton Precious Metals (formally Silver Wheaton Corp.).
Andy Swarthout
BSc GeologyDirectorMr. Swarthout is a recognized leader and mineral explorer with an extensive history of ore deposit discoveries and project acquisitions in the Americas. Mr. Swarthout founded Bear Creek Mining in 2000 where he discovered two world-class silver deposits with combined reserves in excess of 450 million ounces. Prior to this, Mr. Swarthout was Vice-President of Exploration for Southern Peru Copper during which time he was responsible for the discovery of the Shahuindo and Los Chancas deposits and significant reserve expansions on the company’s two porphyry copper deposits as well as initiation of the acquisition of the Tia Maria copper deposit.
Lynda Bloom
MSc GeologyDirectorMs. Bloom is an exploration geochemist with 40 years of minerals exploration experience. She is the principal of the consulting firm Analytical Solutions Ltd. with 20 years of experience as a senior executive/director of public companies. She received the 2020 PDAC Distinguished Service award for extensive volunteer work and is on several advisory boards including the Canadian Securities Administrators Mining Technical Advisory and Monitoring Commitee.
Gordon Fretwell
LLBDirectorMr. Fretwell is a self-employed solicitor practicing in corporate and securities law since 1991. He serves as an Officer and on boards of several public mineral exploration companies including: Asanko Resources, Auryn Resources, Canada Rare Earth Corp, Coro Mining, and Quartz Mountain Resources.
Steve Krause
CA, CPA, ICD.DCFOMr. Krause has worked extensively with mining, mineral exploration and development stage companies in the Americas. Mr. Krause is also the CFO of Viva Gold Corp. and a director of Kodiak Copper Corp. and CEO of Avisar Everyday Business Solutions Ltd. In addition, Mr. Krause was the former Chairman of Luna Gold Corp. and former CFO of Bear Creek Mining Corporation. He holds a CPA, CA designation in British Columbia, is a registered CPA in the state of Illinois and a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors of BC.
Ken Balleweg
CPG, MSc GeologyVP ExplorationMr. Balleweg is an exploration geologist with 30+ years of exploration and production experience and expertise on volcanic-hosted epithermal gold deposits, particularly high sulfidation deposits, and Carlin-type systems. He has worked for Placer Dome at Cortez where he made the first intercepts in the Gold Rush deposit, and Alamos Gold at Mulatos where he added over 2 Moz of gold reserves.
Patrick Balit
MBA, MIRVP Corporate DevelopmentMr. Balit brings 15 years of capital markets experience, focusing the latter half of his career on Latin America in increasingly senior capacities in the resource sector. Mr. Balit was most recently VP Corporate Development at Red Eagle Mining. During his career, Mr. Balit has raised in excess of $55 million for previous companies. He is fluent in French and Spanish. He holds a Global Executive MBA and a Masters International Relations from IE Business School in Madrid.
Arístides Chavez
BSc GeologyCountry ManagerMr. Chavez is an exploration geologist with over 25 years’ experience in gold exploration and mining in Peru. He discovered the San Luis gold-silver deposit, a 350 koz gold (22.4 g/t) and 9.0 Moz silver 578 (g/t) deposit.
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Keith Laskowski
MSc Geology, QPAdvisorMr. Laskowski, a mining geologist, has worked in 40 countries and has 35+ years’ experience in discovery, development, extraction and financing of precious metal mining projects. He is currently Vice President of Technical Services with Sandstorm Gold Royalties. Previously Mr. Laskowski was at the IFC, a division of the World Bank as Principal Mining Specialist, worked for 17 years at Newmont Mining Corporation, and served in executive roles with several junior companies.
George Salamis
MSc GeologyAdvisorMr. Salamis is currently President and CEO of Integra Resources. He has over 30 years of experience in the mining and resource exploration industry. Mr. Salamis has been involved in over $2 billion of M&A transactions. Mr. Salamis was most recently Executive Chairman of Integra Gold Corp. which was sold to Eldorado Gold Corporation for C$590 million. Mr. Salamis has discovered, financed, built, managed or sold more than five major mineral deposits around the World.
Bill Gee
MSc GeologyAdvisorMr. Gee has 40 years of minerals industry experience in discovery, corporate development, project advancement and acquisition. He has held various technical and senior positions with Newmont, North Mining, Pegasus Gold, White Cloud and Empirical Discovery, NewWest-Fronteer and Evolving Gold.
