Interview with Jean-Paul Tsotsos, CEO & Justin Black, CMO, Chesapeake Gold

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/chesapeake-gold-tsxvckg-proprietary-oxidation-process-could-help-unlock-15t-in-stranded-gold-6963

Recording date: 4th March 2026

Chesapeake Gold Corp. is advancing Metates, one of the world's largest undeveloped precious metals deposits, through a proprietary oxidative leach technology that has solved a four-decade metallurgical challenge while slashing capital requirements by 90%.

The Metates deposit in Mexico hosts over 500 million ounces of silver (ranked first globally) and 19 million ounces of gold (18th globally). Discovered in 1980, the project's refractory ore—where precious metals are locked within sulfide minerals resistant to conventional processing—prevented successful development by multiple major mining companies despite decades of attempts.

Chesapeake's breakthrough came through acquiring and advancing oxidative leach technology originally developed at Hycroft over nearly a decade with $50 million in combined investment. The technology operates at ambient temperature in heap leach pads, eliminating the need for expensive autoclaves, extensive water infrastructure, and on-site power generation.

The economic transformation is dramatic. Chesapeake's initial 2016 prefeasibility study using conventional pressure oxidation envisioned a $3.5 billion capital expenditure for a 90,000 ton-per-day operation requiring a desalination plant, water pipelines, and power plant. The oxidative leach approach reduces capex to $360 million for a 15,000 ton-per-day starter operation while improving gold recovery from 33% to 74% and silver recovery from 35% to 50%. Phase 3 testing shows further improvements, with results expected in Q1-Q2 2026.

Beyond Metates, Chesapeake is pursuing a technology licensing strategy targeting 200+ identified refractory deposits globally. Three companies are currently conducting amenability testing, with results expected within two months. These third-party implementations serve dual purposes: validating the technology at operating sites ahead of Metates development while creating revenue potential through royalties or equity positions.

Mexico's regulatory environment has improved significantly under President Sheinbaum, with two-thirds of 170 backlogged permits resolved. The prefeasibility study for Metates is underway, with completion dependent on regulatory progress rather than remaining technical uncertainties.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/chesapeake-gold