PPX Mining Corp. announced on April 23 plans to drill 9,500 meters at its Callanquitas Mine and Portachuelos project in Peru's La Libertad Region, marking what the company describes as one of the most important drilling campaigns in its history . The program represents a significant escalation for the Toronto-based junior, which previously operated a maximum of two drills at the Igor Project but will now run four drills simultaneously—two underground at Callanquitas and two at Portachuelos .

The sulfide exploration will be funded by Glencore's investment, while oxide exploration will be funded from ongoing free cash flow from Callanquitas operations . The dual-funded approach reflects growing major miner interest in high-grade gold-silver-copper systems in Peru, where previous drilling at Portachuelos returned intercepts including 6.0 meters at 5.77 g/t gold, 444 g/t silver and 0.67% copper . According to market data, copper miners tracked by the COPX ETF traded at $82.92 on April 24, up 0.6%, while gold held near $4,695 per ounce—providing a supportive backdrop for polymetallic exploration.

Contango Silver & Gold: $63 Million Alaska-BC Exploration Blitz

Contango Silver & Gold Inc. announced on April 22 plans for $63 million of exploration this year across its consolidated portfolio of advanced gold and critical metals projects in Alaska and Northern British Columbia . The program follows the merger between Contango Ore and Dolly Varden Silver to create Contango Silver & Gold , and represents what CEO Rick Van Niewenhusye called "the strongest balance sheet and the most aggressive operational schedule in our company's history" .

The company reported adding $9 million to its treasury from its producing asset, the Manh Choh gold mine in Alaska, where Contango is currently producing roughly 60,000 ounces of gold per year from its joint venture interest . The exploration budget includes $25 million at Kitsault Valley in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, where the company plans 40,000 meters of infill drilling to upgrade resources ahead of a preliminary economic assessment . According to a 2022 calculation, seven deposits at Kitsault Valley host a combined 34.7 million ounces of silver and 165,993 ounces of gold in measured and indicated categories .

The aggressive spending reflects a broader trend: according to market data, the lithium ETF (LIT) gained 2.0% on April 24 to $83.76, while silver—a key Contango commodity—traded at $75.52 per ounce, down 2.6% but still well above historical averages.

Wyoming Rare Earth Project Wins Federal Fast-Track Status

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon signed an agreement on April 21 between the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, giving the state authority to regulate uranium and radioactive byproducts from mining rare earth elements . The move comes as Rare Element Resources' Bear Lodge Rare Earth Mining Project on the Wyoming side of the Black Hills was selected for FAST-41 expedited permitting, a federal process that can shave 18 months off a project's review time .

The first project to feel the impact will be Rare Element Resources' Bear Lodge Project near Sundance, which plans to mine rare earth elements and process them at a facility that aims to produce marketable rare earth materials . The company completed construction of a $60 million rare earth processing and demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming, late last year .

Wyoming's regulatory takeover is significant for the broader critical minerals sector. Wyoming DEQ director Todd Parfitt said the state will issue permits or licenses faster and at less cost, addressing what one University of Wyoming expert called the federal permitting process's status as a "notorious bottleneck for project development" . According to market data, the uranium ETF (URA) traded essentially flat at $56.44 on April 24, down just 0.1%.

West Point Gold: Arizona Drill Results Show 22.9m at 3.11 g/t

West Point Gold Corp. announced on April 23 drill results from the Tyro Main Zone at its flagship Gold Chain Project in Arizona, with all holes intersecting significant gold mineralization highlighted by 22.9 meters at 3.11 grams per tonne gold . The Vancouver-based junior is advancing the project in a jurisdiction that has seen renewed interest as U.S. policymakers prioritize domestic mineral production.

The Arizona results come as gold traded at $4,695 per ounce on April 24, down 0.7% but holding near record levels that have made heap-leach oxide projects increasingly economic.

Fury Gold Mines: James Bay Drilling Continues

Fury Gold Mines Limited released the second batch of assay results on April 23 from its Phase 1 13,000-meter exploration drill program at the Eau Claire gold project in the Eeyou Istchee Territory in the James Bay Region of Northern Quebec . The Toronto-listed company is among several juniors ramping up activity in Quebec's prolific James Bay district, where infrastructure access and mining-friendly regulations have attracted significant exploration capital.

GR Silver Mining: High-Grade Silver Continuity at San Marcial

GR Silver Mining Ltd. announced on April 23 results from drill holes at the SE Area of San Marcial that confirm the continuity of high-grade silver mineralization up to 500 meters down dip from surface . The Vancouver-based company is advancing the project in Mexico at a time when silver's industrial demand—particularly for solar panels and electronics—continues to grow despite the metal's 2.6% pullback to $75.52 per ounce on April 24.

Arras Minerals: Kazakhstan Copper-Gold Discovery Expands

Arras Minerals Corp. reported on April 23 the first results from its 2026 drill program at the Elemes Project in northeastern Kazakhstan, with drilling at the Berezski East target confirming a third porphyry center and intersecting 115.7 meters grading 1.44 g/t gold and 0.24% copper . The Vancouver-based junior is among several companies capitalizing on Kazakhstan's push to attract foreign mining investment, including the Astana International Financial Centre's newly launched Junior Mining Platform designed to bridge the gap between early-stage mineral projects and investors across Kazakhstan's 3,000 active exploration licenses .

What It Means

The flurry of announcements this week underscores two converging trends reshaping junior mining in 2026: aggressive exploration spending by well-funded companies, and accelerating government support for domestic critical mineral production.

Guillaume Légaré, Director for South America at the Toronto Stock Exchange, noted that "there is more capital flowing into the Venture Exchange right now," adding that in the first months of 2026, "we have seen a significant portion of capital raised for junior mining" . That capital is now being deployed—from PPX's four-drill Peruvian campaign to Contango's $63 million Alaska-BC blitz.

The Wyoming rare earth permitting breakthrough reflects a broader policy shift. With China controlling an estimated 70% of global lithium refining capacity and rare earth processing, Western governments are prioritizing domestic supply chains. Wyoming's regulatory takeover—and the Bear Lodge project's FAST-41 selection—signal that permitting, long the Achilles heel of U.S. mining, may finally be accelerating for strategic commodities.

For investors, the message is clear: juniors with drill-ready projects, strong balance sheets, and exposure to critical minerals are finding both capital and regulatory tailwinds in 2026. Whether that translates to discoveries—and ultimately, production—remains to be seen. But the money is moving, and the drills are turning.

This roundup covers press releases published on April 23-24, 2026. Company announcements are sourced from mining industry wire services and verified through web research. For corrections or updates, contact contact@stakeandpaper.com.