The prices of precious metals (gold and silver) have experienced slight pull back in recent months.
For many, particularly leveraged early stage stocks, this suggests a likely return to form in the early months of 2021.
This is especially true for silver stocks, as analysts believe the price of silver is poised to run hot next year.
According to Kitco analyst Peter Hug, once industrial demand picks up, more tailwinds for silver will push the metal closer to the $35 to $40 an ounce range next year.
Thomson Resources (ASX:TMZ) could be positioned to capitalise on this precious metal resurgence, with an existing gold portfolio and the pending acquisition of two silver assets.
Thomson is a NSW focused explorer, set to acquire 100% of two transformational silver assets in the first months of 2021, with due diligence to be completed in January.
The Webbs Project is Australia’s highest grade undeveloped silver asset and will be complemented by the Conrad Silver Project.
Historical workings show Conrad has a very large “in ground value”; one which the previous owner demonstrated to have value of almost one billion dollars.
Both projects have seen historic silver production and have a resource defined compliant with the JORC Code 2004 as follows:
- Webbs: 1.5Mt @ 345g/t Ag Eq – 16.5 million ounces Ag Eq
- Conrad: 2.65Mt @ 206g/t Ag Eq – 17.5 million ounces Ag Eq
Both silver projects are located in the New England Fold belt in NSW and combined, equate to an acquisition of over 30moz of silver equivalent resources.
The projects will be acquired from the $207m capped Silver Mines Ltd (ASX: SVL), and as part of the acquisition, Silver Mines will hold about 19% of the issued shares of TMZ, which will be escrowed for 12 months. Silver Mines Managing Director Anthony McClure will take a board seat as a non-executive director.
The company is aiming to start aggressively expanding its silver resource base over the coming months, both organically and via acquisitions.
There is an experienced management team driving this agenda and it has been strengthened by the engagement of Global Ore Discovery, led by Stephen Nano.
Global Ore is assisting with running the due diligence process of on the silver assets and has a history of silver project generations that lead to takeovers.
Thomson stacks up
Thomson has a $30m market cap, and recently raised $6m, so appears well funded for near term exploration.
With the early stage nature of TMZ’s silver ambitions, the company is provided significant leverage to this metal heading into 2021, and compares favourably with other ASX listed silver stocks.
Its closets peer is Investigator Resources (ASX: IVR), which is currently capped at $63m. IVR’s South Australian Paris Silver Project has a resource of 9.3mt at an average 139g/t of silver and 0.6% lead for a contained 42moz of silver and 55,000t of lead.
Thomson’s peers also provide a pathway to growth, favourably indicating how the market values silver ounces in the ground.
The company seems severely undervalued compared to its peers on a market cap vs silver grade basis, however once the transaction is completed and resource inventory grows, TMZ is expected to catch up.
Aside from silver, Thomson has a number of quality intrusion related gold systems in NSW and Queensland, where it is undertaking extensive rolling drilling programs that build on previous high grade results.
Silver, with a side of gold
It is clear that Thomson exhibits ample upside moving into the new year.
TMZ is focused on building a strong silver resource base in 2021, whilst being supported by existing gold assets.
In the coming weeks, the company is set to complete its due diligence to acquire high grade, undeveloped silver assets, with the acquisition to be completed early in 2021.
Author: Hannah Goldman
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