Jr. Explorer In Option Agreement for High-Grade Yukon Gold Project

1. Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee.
2. This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company. 

For additional disclosures, please click here.

1. Ownership and Share Structure Information

The information listed above was updated on the date this article was published and was compiled from information from the company and various other data providers.

Aben Gold Corp. (ABM:TSXV; ABNAF:OTCQB) successfully received the second installment from Kingfisher Metals Corp. (KFR:TSXV) as part of their ongoing option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Forrest Kerr Gold Project in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, a June 26 release said.

The transaction concluded on December 23, 2025, involved a payment of CA$150,000 and 400,000 shares of Kingfisher, received by Aben Gold on June 23. The deal was originally announced on December 4, 2025.

Under the terms of the option agreement, Aben Gold has granted Kingfisher a three-year option to acquire the interest in Forrest Kerr, which spans about 20,197 hectares and includes 50 mineral claims. To fulfill the terms of the agreement, Kingfisher is required to meet specific financial obligations totaling CA$2.7 million through combined cash and share issuances over the three-year period. During this time, Kingfisher will also serve as the operator of the project.

Aben Gold Corp., headquartered in Canada, is primarily engaged in the exploration of gold and tungsten, the release noted. The company's principal exploration endeavors are located in Yukon Territory and British Columbia. Its flagship project, the Justin gold-tungsten project, encompasses 7,400 hectares and is fully owned by Aben Gold.

This project is strategically positioned adjacent to Seabridge Gold's 3 Aces project in the southeastern Yukon, within the Tombstone gold-tungsten belt and the broader Tintina gold province, Aben said.

In total, the agreement calls for CA$1,200,000 in cash payments and CA$1,500,000 in share value, for a combined consideration of CA$2,700,000. The share issuances are priced according to a formula favoring the optionee: the deemed price is set at the higher of the 5-day volume-weighted average price (VWAP) or the last closing price of the shares, less the maximum 25% discount permitted under TSXV policy at the time the agreement is announced — a structure designed to comply with exchange pricing rules while giving the share recipient some protection against unfavorable pricing.

Historical Data Shows Promising Estimates, Co. Says

Last month, the company announced plans for its 2026 exploration program at Justin, which is located in the southeastern Yukon within the Tombstone gold belt and spans approximately 7,400 hectares.

The field activities are scheduled to start in mid-July, with the objective of enhancing the understanding of the multimetal (gold and tungsten) potential of the POW intrusion-related (IRGS) zone, the high-grade Lost Ace orogenic-gold zone, and other regional targets that were identified by the 2024 QMAGT airborne geophysical survey.

The exploration strategy includes 1,500 meters of diamond drilling across three drill pads, targeting two high-priority areas. About 1,000 meters of this drilling will focus on assessing the gold-tungsten potential of the POW zones, while the remaining 500 meters are designated for exploring the Lost Ace zone.

Historical data from the POW zone shows promising estimates, including significant gold and tungsten grades across various drill holes. Similarly, historical estimates from the Lost Ace zone include high gold grades from channel sampling and indications of a proximal bedrock source from pristine visible gold grains in bulk soil samples.

"We are excited to announce our fully contracted 2026 program at Justin," Aben President and Chief Executive Officer Riley Trimble said. "Staging out of the 3 Aces Camp and working with proven contractors that have Yukon experience will allow us to execute efficiently. This campaign is a major step in unlocking the gold and tungsten potential of the project, and we look forward to delivering results to shareholders this fall."

Additionally, Milosz Mielniczuk, vice president of exploration, emphasized the strategic design of the 2026 program, which aims to test the highest-priority targets identified from the 2024 QMAGT survey and historical data.

"With 1,500 meters testing two unique zones, we will systematically evaluate the coincident gold-tungsten system at POW while advancing the high-grade Lost Ace zone," he said. "Our team and contractors are ready for a safe and successful season."

Phase 1, Phase 2 to Be Completed This Summer

Aben Gold's completion of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies is anticipated between July and September 2026.

Phase 1 of the exploration will focus on detailed soil and rock sampling, along with geological mapping, to better understand the mineral potential of the targeted areas. Specifically, grid soil sampling will be conducted with a 100-meter line spacing and 50-meter station spacing in the southeastern part of the POW target area and the Lost Ace target area, which is located 2 kilometers northwest of the POW Zone. The plan includes collecting a total of 600 soil samples and 80 rock samples, although the balance between soil and rock samples may adjust depending on the findings. Rock sampling will occur as deemed necessary by the geological team. Additionally, geological mapping will be carried out to further delineate the extent of both the POW and Lost Ace zones.

For Phase 2, the exploration strategy includes drilling three to four holes in each of the POW and Lost Ace zones. Each hole in the POW zone is expected to average 300 meters in length, aiming to uncover the full extent of intrusion-related mineralization and to identify the presence of cupolas. Similarly, the Lost Ace zone will also see three to four holes drilled as part of the effort to further explore this area.

This structured approach to exploring these zones is part of Aben Gold Corp.'s broader strategy to advance its understanding of the mineral resources within these areas, thereby enhancing the potential value of these projects.

Expert: Co. Has 'Reawakened'

Bob Moriarty of 321Gold offered Streetwise Reports this quote when asked about the company: "Much to their pleasant surprise, Aben Gold realized that they had a tungsten component to their existing gold found in a drill program from 2014. After a long, quiet time, the company has reawakened and will be commencing a surface exploration program this year at its Justin property in the Yukon after raising CA$400,000. With a tiny market cap of under CA$6 million, it wouldn't take much in the way of results to boost the share price higher. I have worked with this management team for many years and have the highest regard for them."

The Catalyst: Gold Is Not Out

Despite a lackluster performance in the past four months, the outlook for gold remains positive, according to Goldman Sachs, Ines Ferré reported for Yahoo! Business on June 29.

Samantha Dart, co-head of global commodities research at Goldman Sachs, emphasized in a recent note that the rally for this precious metal is far from over. "Gold is not done," Dart stated, according to the report, highlighting that since 2022, gold has seen a substantial increase of 123%. Dart and her team believe that the future still holds significant potential for gold, driven by a mix of structural and cyclical factors.

From a structural perspective, Dart pointed to the diversification actions of emerging market central banks as a key support for gold's value. This trend was notably influenced by the 2022 freezing of Russia's reserves, which has underscored the importance of diversification.

"Structurally, EM central bank diversification — following the 2022 freezing of Russia's reserves — remains the anchor of our US$4,900/oz end 2026 forecast," she said.

Additionally, a recent survey by the World Gold Council found that a record 45% of the 76 central banks surveyed between February and May anticipate increasing their gold reserves in the next 12 months, further supporting this view.

On the cyclical front, however, gold currently faces some challenges. Dart noted that the near-term outlook is affected by a hawkish Federal Reserve, which diminishes the appeal of gold by strengthening the debasement theme and influencing market expectations of Fed rate hikes amid inflation concerns, the Yahoo! report said. These factors are currently dampening demand for rate-sensitive ETFs.

Despite these headwinds, Dart remains optimistic, stating, "We expect these headwinds to at least partly reverse over time," suggesting a recovery in conditions that could once again favor gold investment.

Writing for Business Insider on June 29, William Edwards reported that gold is poised for a substantial recovery, according to UBS. Despite a 23% drop in gold prices since their January highs, which now stand at around US$4,040 an ounce following a 150% rise from early 2024 to early 2026, UBS predicts a 28% surge in the next 12 months, potentially reaching about US$5,200 an ounce. In a note dated June 25, UBS outlined three key factors expected to fuel this rebound.

Firstly, UBS suggests that the market has overestimated the Federal Reserve's inclination towards hawkish policies following Kevin Warsh's initial meeting as chairman. Contrary to current expectations, UBS anticipates the Fed's next significant move could be a rate cut rather than a hike. Such a shift in expectations is likely to benefit gold, traditionally sought after as a safe haven during times when the economy needs stimulation and interest rates are cut.

Secondly, the U.S. dollar is expected to weaken. UBS points out that the current long positions in the dollar are "stretched," and with fiscal deficits on the rise, a depreciation in the dollar's value seems likely. "A weaker dollar has historically been a powerful tailwind for gold," noted Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, UBS's global head of equities, according to the article.

Thirdly, the ongoing robust demand from global central banks for gold is expected to continue supporting its price. For instance, in May alone, Poland and China added 18 and 10 metric tons of gold, respectively, to their reserves. UBS anticipates that this steady demand will provide a solid base for gold prices.

This optimistic forecast from UBS comes at a time when other financial institutions are revising their outlooks downward. For instance, ING now expects gold to close the year around US$4,600, down from its previous estimate of US$5,000, Edwards wrote.

Ownership and Share Information¹

Aben Gold Corp. has a market cap of CA$5.38 million, with 28.33 million shares outstanding. The company's 52-week range is CA$0.06-CA$0.30.

Management and Insiders own about 7% of shares, while the remaining 93% of shares are held by Retail.