Grades, Permits and Antimony: The Three Things Driving New Zealand’s Return to the Gold Map

News Provided by USA News Group on behalf of RUA GOLD Inc.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 23, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — USA News Group News Commentary – Gold finished September at US$4,176 an ounce, 8.5% lower for the month, according to the World Gold Council, down from its record of US$5,405 set on January 29. Antimony averaged $25 per pound in 2025, more than double its 2024 level, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Put the two together with a permitting regime built to move projects faster, and New Zealand’s historic goldfields are drawing a new generation of developers, alongside producers and explorers elsewhere racing toward their next study. Companies mentioned in today’s commentary include: RUA GOLD Inc. (OTCQX: NZAUF) (TSX: RUA) (NZX: RGI), OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (NYSE: OGC), Larvotto Resources Limited (ASX: LRV), Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC), Snowline Gold Corp. (TSX: SGD) (OTCQB: SNWGF).

A Metal With Few Suppliers

In the United States, antimony’s leading uses include flame retardants, antimonial lead and ammunition, according to the USGS, and supply is concentrated. The USGS estimates U.S. net import reliance for antimony at 91% in 2025, and reports that prices nearly doubled after China announced export restrictions on antimony in August 2024 and then banned all exports of antimony to the United States in December of that year.

New supply is starting to arrive. Larvotto Resources Limited (ASX: LRV) said on October 14 that the first shipment of 68 tonnes of antimony concentrate had left its Hillgrove antimony-gold mine in New South Wales, bound for offtake partner Wogen Resources. The company expects Hillgrove to produce approximately 4,900 tonnes of antimony and 40,500 ounces of gold per annum.

“The delivery of the first antimony concentrate is a proud moment for the Company, as Hillgrove becomes a revenue generating mine and officially Australia’s newest supplier of critical minerals,” said Ron Heeks, Managing Director of Larvotto.

High Grades in the Reefton Goldfield

RUA GOLD Inc. (OTCQX: NZAUF) (TSX: RUA) (NZX: RGI) is developing the Auld Creek Gold-Antimony Project in the Reefton Goldfield on New Zealand’s South Island. The company reported on September 8 what it called its highest-grade drill results to date, including 0.6 meters at 136.2 g/t gold equivalent (82.9 g/t Au and 24.8% Sb) from 237.6 meters in hole ACDDH119, along with the first observations of visible gold at the project. RUA GOLD said at the time that it had completed 19,600 meters of drilling, with assay results from a further 18 drill holes pending.

Results released on October 5 added 6.6 meters at 24.9 g/t AuEq (10.5 g/t Au and 6.7% Sb) from 359 meters in ACDDH127 and 6.3 meters at 14.4 g/t AuEq (13.7 g/t Au and 0.3% Sb) from 208 meters in ACDDH130. The company said the Fraternal structure has been drill confirmed to extend northward for over 1,400 meters and has been intercepted at over 500 meters depth, and that its current ratio of conversion of inferred to indicated resources is greater than 70%.

“These latest results, together with continued observations of visible gold, reinforce the high-grade nature and growth potential of Auld Creek,” said Robert Eckford, Chief Executive Officer of RUA GOLD. “The continuity of the high-grade shoots, together with repeating mineralization at depth, is increasing our confidence in the potential for further resource growth.”

RUA GOLD is targeting an updated Mineral Resource Estimate in the fourth quarter of 2026, said it remains on track to submit its substantive application under New Zealand’s Fast-Track Approvals regime in October 2026, and plans to publish a Pre-Feasibility Study in December 2026. On the North Island, the company has received approval for nine drill pads at its Glamorgan Project in the Hauraki district, with a fully funded initial program of approximately 9,000 meters expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026.

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New Zealand’s Permitting Track

Under New Zealand’s Fast-track Approvals Act 2024, the Minister for Infrastructure decides whether to accept an application, and a panel decides whether to approve a project and impose conditions, according to the government’s Fast-track website. OceanaGold is using the same process for its own mine-life extension.

OceanaGold Corporation (TSX: OGC) (NYSE: OGC) lodged its Fast-track application for the Macraes Phase 4 project on September 9, as it works to keep Macraes production above 100,000 ounces per year into the late 2030s, and it expects full permits by mid-2027, subject to any appeals. On the North Island, the company reported 6.3 meters at 97.2 g/t Au (estimated true width) from 481.5 meters at its Wharekirauponga deposit, which RUA GOLD describes as adjacent to its Glamorgan Project, and said decline development at Waihi North has advanced approximately 350 meters since it began in May. OceanaGold will release third-quarter results after the market close on November 4.

“Submitting the MP4 application is an important step in securing the long-term future of Macraes,” said Gerard Bond, President and CEO of OceanaGold.

Developers Racing to the Next Study

Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) received final assays from its Richmond Hill Oxide Heap Leach Gold Project in South Dakota’s Homestake District, and expects to release an updated resource in conjunction with its Pre-Feasibility Study in the fourth quarter of 2026, followed by a Feasibility Study expected mid-2027, as it advances Richmond Hill toward production as soon as 2029.

“Receipt of the final Richmond Hill assays is an important milestone as we complete the dataset,” said Jack Henris, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Dakota Gold.

Snowline Gold Corp. (TSX: SGD) (OTCQB: SNWGF) announced in September its inclusion in the S&P/TSX Composite Index and the FTSE Canada All Cap Index, and said the Pre-Feasibility Study for its Valley project in Yukon remains on track for delivery by the first quarter of 2027.

“Our inclusion into multiple equity indices reflects the momentum underway at Snowline,” said Scott Berdahl, CEO and Director of Snowline Gold.

Track the Signals Before the Crowd

Gold and critical-minerals stocks can move fast on a drill result or a permitting decision, and attention often builds before the crowd notices. Eagle Eye is a real-time investor signal-intelligence platform that surfaces sentiment shifts, news flow and trending tickers as they form. Watch it live at eagle-eye.dev.

Article Source: RUA GOLD Inc. news releases dated August 4, September 8 and October 5, 2026.

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