Rockridge Resources Ltd. (ROCK:TSX.V) is a new copper + base metals explorer, (25.4M shares outstanding, CA$6.5M market cap, CA$2M cash, CA$4.5M enterprise value EV) searching in Canadian jurisdictions. More specifically, the focus is base, green energy and battery metals, of which copper is all three! Not just any place in Canada, in world-class mining jurisdictions such as Saskatchewan. And, not just good jurisdictions, but in mining camps with significant past exploration, development or production in close proximity to key mining infrastructure.
Rockridge wants to avoid project risks like geopolitical, (lack of) infrastructure, security, skilled labor, community support, etc., so that it can better capture the anticipated upside in the price of copper, plus select other metals. For true copper bulls like Robert Friedland and Gianni Kovacevic, this isn't about US$3/pound ($US3/lb) copper going to US$3.5/lb by year-end. No, we're talking about a longer-term price of between US$4-US$6/lb., as soon as 2020 or 2021. In that scenario, if it transpires, you want to be in companiesexactlylike Rockridge Resources.
The Knife Lake Project in Saskatchewan
85,000 hectares (85,000 ha) is pretty damn big—see the green-shaded image above. Flagship project Knife Lake is the kind of asset Rockridge Resources wants to own. It's large, and in Saskatchewan, (ranked #3 of 84 global mining jurisdictions in the latest Fraser Institute Mining Survey). Over CA$1.6 billion has been invested into roads, rail, power and water infrastructure to facilitate rapid development of discoveries. In 1997, Leader Mining published a (non-NI-43-101-compliant) resource estimate on the shallow deposit. Twenty million tonnes (20 Mt) grading 0.6% copper, 0.1 grams per ton (g/t) gold, 3 g/t silver, 0.06% cobalt and 0.11% zinc. A high-grade zone contained 11 Mt at 0.75% copper. Historical drilling includes a hole with a 60-meter (60 m) intercept of 1.37% copper, 5.1 g/t silver, 115 ppm cobalt and 1,182 ppm zinc.
The -roject is within the world-famous Flin Flon-Snow Lake mining district, which contains a prolific volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) base metals belt. Management paid <half a penny/lb of copper and they believe there's tremendous exploration upside. The goal? High-grade discoveries in a mineralized belt that could host multiple deposits, as VMS-style zones often contain clusters of mineralized zones. Of course, the trick is finding them. No modern exploration, drilling or technology has been deployed at Knife Lake. It was discovered fifty years ago and last explored in the 1990s. Airborne geophysics, regional mapping and geochemistry was done. Management believes that modern geophysics, including high-resolution, deep-penetrating EM and drone mag surveys to cover large areas in detail, could make a big difference.
Knife Lake is an exciting project—it's open along a 4.5-kilometer (4.5 km) strike length and at depth. There has been a significant amount of historical drilling: 428 holes; 41,179 m (average 96.2 m). Most historical drilling barely scratched the surface, with relatively few holes reaching below 100 m. Of the holes that went deeper, several encountered mineralization at around 300 m. Between 1968-72, 87 holes were drilled, a total of 8,484 m, but there was no follow-up until nearly 20 years later, when 24 holes were drilled in 1989. Those holes were accompanied by extensive geophysics (with [now] 30-year-old technology).
Seven years later, Leader Mining took over and drilled 317 holes from 1996 to 1998. Leader must have thought the property was quite promising to drill that many holes. The only problem? Copper prices fell from roughly US$1.20/lb to US$0.70/lb during those two years! Even as the price swooned, Leader delivered a resource report in 1997, the highlights of which I described three paragraphs ago. Since the late 1990s there has been virtually no exploration carried out. Amazingly, in 2017, the Knife Lake project's mining lease lapsed. That enabled Rockridge to strike a deal with prospect generator Eagle Plains, the company that staked the newly available ground. Timing is everything: Leader Mining and others tried, but failed to develop this project due, in large part, to weak copper prices.
Copper Fundamentals Look Strong
There haven't been many large, high-grade copper discoveries (in safe jurisdictions) this century. Over 200 copper mines currently in operation will reach the end of their lives before 2035. Most of the largest producing copper mines are several decades old; several date back well over 100 years into the 1800s!
Yet, exploration and development of new mines has been weak for the past decade and, globally, copper grades are in decline. The easy copper has been found and mined. New supply is not coming online fast enough to support the increasing global electrification of passenger and commercial transportation fleets, and the green energy revolution.
Any new power paradigm, anywhere in the world, requires a lot of copper. The switch to renewables like wind and solar, especially for larger installations, necessitates a lot of copper. Since 1900, copper consumption has increased by a strong 3.4% per year. Even an increase to a 4% or 4.5% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) in coming decades would be very significant off such a large base. An electronic vehicle (EV) uses 3-4x as much copper as a conventional internal combustion engine-powered vehicle. Global EV penetration is <2%; we all know where that's headed. It's a question of when, not if, penetration hits 10%, 20%, 30%. . .
Strong Management Team, Board and Advisors
Management is optimistic about a (minimum) 1,000 m diamond drill program (8-10 holes) that started in March. Results should start coming this month. The drill campaign is more than fully funded, as the company has CA$2M in cash. Select management team and board members are shown below. I won't go into detail except to say two things. One: This is a top-notch team for a company with a CA$6.5M market cap, a CA$4.5M enterprise value! Two: Strategic advisor Ron Netolitzky has played a meaningful or leading role in three high-grade discoveries that became mines—Eskay Creek, Snip and Brewery Creek. He's in the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame. Best of all, Ron's a large shareholder in Rockridge. Regarding Knife Lake, Mr. Netolitzky commented,
"I am excited to work with management and the geological team at the newly formed and well-structured Rockridge Resources. I have worked in the area around the Knife Lake Project and believe there is robust discovery potential there which the Company plans to test with its upcoming drill program."
The ongoing drill program aims to fill in some gaps in the historical resource, twin some prior holes and to expand it. A new NI-43-101-compliant maiden mineral resource estimate is expected later this year. Importantly, there are also several prospective targets to explore for new discoveries. Since the team is drilling what they believe to be a remobilized VMS deposit, that means the main source of mineralization has yet to be discovered. And, as mentioned, these deposits frequently are found in clusters, so discovery potential is significant.
Conclusion
Rockridge Resources is also looking at new projects all over Canada. Although copper is the main focus, CEO Jordan Trimble and team will look at any property or project in a good jurisdiction, with access to key mining infrastructure, where they can apply the latest exploration technologies to revisit unexplored or under-explored areas. The company is cashed up and has a modest valuation. Near-term catalysts include drill results and a new resource report later this year. If copper prices move meaningfully higher, as more and more analysts, pundits, company management teams and consultants expect, a company like Rockridge Resources could be an excellent investment vehicle to capture substantial upside.
Peter Epstein is the founder of Epstein Research. His background is in company and financial analysis. He holds an MBA degree in financial analysis from New York University's Stern School of Business.
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