Altan = Golden
Altan Rio Minerals Limited (Altan Rio) is a West Australian-focused gold exploration company based in West Perth. Altan Rio was first incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia, in 2007. Listed on the Toronto Venture exchange in Canada under the symbol TSX-V: AMO, the company's primary focus in Australia is the Southern Cross Greenstone Belt, a gold producing region that has given up more than 12 million ounces.
In Mongolian language, Altan means Golden.
In 2012, the company was mining in Mongolia, on the Chandman project with Falcon Drilling Mongolia, assayed by Stewart Group, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia, finding gold and copper. At that time, the Company was exploring license holdings around 153,310 hectares (378,873 acres).
Altan Rio Minerals Limited Public Listing and Split
When Altan went public, they joined with Capital pool companies and formed two new entities that trade in the TSX Venture Exchange. They are Altan Rio Minerals Ltd. [AMO-TSXV] and Altan Nevada Minerals Ltd. [ANE-TSXV].
Both Altan companies share top-level management and technical teams. The Australian connection is the well-known mining family, Evan C.C. Jones and his father, John L.C. Jones, the Chairman. Their history includes four discoveries and developing eight mines. John L.C. Jones Joined Altan from Troy Resources where he was Chairman, overseeing Troy's travel from junior exploration company to gold producer. J. Kelly Cluer, Altan Rio Director of Exploration, helped discover Centerra's Boroo Gold Mine in northern Mongolia and linked Altan Rio to the Mongolian Khavchuu gold prospect.
New CEO
Current CEO Mr. Paul Stephen (Australian) joined the company as CEO, after Evan Jones resigned as Chief Executive Officer and continued to serve as a non-executive Director.
Mr Stephen was Co-founder and Executive Director of Crusader Resources Ltd, oversseeing discovery, development and operations of the Brazilian Posse Iron Ore mine. He was previously a founder and Managing Director of Integrated Fuel Services, Western Australia, providing fuel services to mining companies and aviation. He has extensive operational experience in mine site servicing and contracting.
Altan Rio Minerals CEO Paul Stephen. Cartoon by GoldMiningNews Australia.
Western Australia Operations
In mid-2019, with unfavourable conditions in Mongolia, Altan Rio assumed control of the northern half of the Frasers-Corinthian Shear Zone in Western Australia.
At the time, CEP Paul Stephen said "The southern portion of this FCSZ has had far more work done on it than the northern portion, but the northern portion certainly hosts some very attractive historical and current mines, and the tenure we have goes right up to the boundaries of all of those mines." He noted that while these are old mines that have been worked extensively, there has been very little drilling below 50metres.
Altan Rio Southern Cross North Project.
Surveyor Resources Agreement
In September 2019, Altan Rio signed an agreement with private Australian company, Surveyor Resources Pty. Ltd. to acquire 80% of the Southern Cross North Project, that was 100% owned by Surveyor. This area is on Crown and Freehold land, and at the time of the agreement, there had been no native title claims on the land.
TSX Listing Changes
In March 2020, the company delisted from the TSX Venture exchange, moving to the NSX withe symbol AMO.H.
In October 2020, the TSX listing was reactivated as well as closing an additional private placement of C$1.5 million. The proceeds of the private placement are to be used for advancement of the Southern Cross operations and creditor payments.
Altan Rio-Barto Gold Mining Alliance
In 2021, Altan Rio Minerals Limited has an alliance with Barto Gold Mining Pty Ltd in the Southern Cross Greenstone Belt, WA. They recently completed a ten RC drillhole program. The area is known for its old underground mining. This operation is at Corinthia North and in the same field, Hopes Hill, just to the the south east. Barto Gold owns the Marvel Loch milling facility nearby the drilling area. Barto Gold is Chinese-backed.
Speaking about this drilling, which is in the Frasers-Corinthian Shear Zone, Altan Rio CEO Mr Paul Stephen noted that "We have been able to intersect and confirm the position of the mineralised structure in our first drilling campaign, the interpreted continuity of high-grade mineralisation from the base of the current open pit to these intercepts is a very positive indicator for expansion of the open pit." Mr. Stephen said the drilling identified the potential for additional ore to be discovered parallel to and below the main structure.
For more history, see this PDF. Look for further updates over time by Gold Mining News Australia.