Western Exploration Inc.W
Western Exploration Inc. is developing the Aura Project in Elko County, Nevada, centred on the Doby George gold-silver deposit alongside the Gravel Creek target. A Preliminary Economic Assessment released 8 May 2025 (base case US$2,150/oz Au) reported an after-tax NPV at a 5% discount rate of US$70.7 million, an after-tax IRR of 25.4%, all-in sustaining costs of US$1,152/oz, a 5-year mine life, initial capital expenditure of US$115.2 million, a 2.7-year payback, and a 0.17g Au/t cutoff grade. At an upside US$3,000/oz gold price case, after-tax NPV rises to US$211.2 million and IRR to 62.2%. The resource underpinning the PEA totals 394,000oz gold Indicated and 71,000oz Inferred.
Lifecycle Milestones
A relative ranking of how closely this company matches the profile of juniors that have actually been acquired — not a probability, and not a reason to buy. Acquisitions are rare: only a few dozen significant deals happen a year across a universe of thousands of juniors, so even a high score here describes a long shot. The strongest signal the underlying research identifies — whether a major already holds a JV, earn-in, or 5–19.9% strategic stake — isn't tracked yet and is absent from this score.
Your Rankings
Management Team
Chief Executive Officer and President of Western Exploration Inc. Over 30 years of precious-metals experience in the Americas, including 10 years as Senior VP of Exploration at Yamana Gold. Involved in the discovery of the El Peñón, Mercedes and Pilar deposits. Holds a geology degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Chief Financial Officer of Western Exploration Inc. Over 20 years of experience; former CEO of Candelaria Mining Corp and previously VP of Business Development at Argonaut Gold Inc., and Controller at El Peñón and Meridian Gold's corporate office.
Insiders, Investors & Smart Money
Notable shareholders and insiders whose involvement is worth knowing about, plus what we're seeing from institutional/large-investor activity.
Two small specialist gold funds -- OCM Mutual Fund and U.S. Global Investors' World Precious Minerals Fund -- each hold under 1%. Director Gerard Emmanuel Munera has been buying on the open market steadily since October 2025, in some cases tens of thousands of shares at a time. No producer or strategic corporate backer is on record.
No notable insiders tracked for this miner yet.
Reports, Presentations & Documents
Doby George resource underpinning the 8 May 2025 PEA: 394,000oz Au Indicated, plus 71,000oz Au Inferred (recorded here only, per this database's Measured+Indicated convention for ouncesFound).