
Cerrado Gold Inc. [TSX-V: CERT] [OTCQX: CRDOF] announces production results for the third quarter ended September 2025 from the Minera Don Nicolas Mine in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. Full quarterly financial results are expected to be released prior to November 30, 2025.
Q3 Operating Highlights
Operational results for Q3 2025 showed an increase in production over the previous quarter (+21%), driven by higher production from the Calandrias Sur heap leach operation (+33%). With the second phase of the crushing expansion complete, both tonnage and recoveries (due to more consistent particle sizing) improved over the quarter. Operations also benefited from recent investments in additional fleet capacity; namely new trucks, loaders, and excavators, to support higher mining rates. The final updates to the crusher circuit, including the final installation of the agglomerator and additional conveyors, are set to be completed in Q4/25.
Production from stockpiled material via the CIL plant remained stable, with lower grades being supported by minor contributions from higher-grade material produced during the development of the underground access portals and ramp.
The underground development continued at a steady pace during the quarter, following a delay caused by the requirement for increased portal support and additional shotcrete needed in select areas. Three portals have now been developed and are expected to reach the production stopes in Q4. The introduction of higher-grade material from underground operations is expected to begin to add materially to CIL production from late October and continue to ramp up into 2026.
Due to the delay with the underground development noted above, the Company is anticipating a slight reduction to its underground production during Q4 and has thus revised its 2025 Production Guidance from 55,000 to 60,000 GEO to 50-55,000 ounces for 2025.
Figure 1,2 & 3. Underground development at Paloma
Minera Don Nicolas Exploration Update
The Company continues to execute its exploration program at MDN focused on targets that have the potential to materially add to mine life. Throughout the Company’s expansive land package, several high priority targets were identified within each of our production capacities; namely Heap leach, Open pit and underground.
The initial focus has been in the central Paloma area, and results to date are promising with signs of potential resource expansion at two zones, although we continue to wait for full assay results. As a result, the Company recently announced the decision to add additional rigs and accelerate and expand the exploration program. In addition to the 20,000 metre program planned for 2025, an additional 50,000 metres is now planned for 2026, allowing for several high value targets to be tested simultaneously including underground exploration, all of which aim to materially expand resources at MDN and extend the mine life.
Mark Brennan, CEO and Chairman commented, “We are very pleased with the progress being made at all of our operations. After a brief delay with our new underground operations, the very positive transition year at MDN remains firmly on track. Across all production platforms, performance continues to improve — highlighted by record and growing output from the heap leach and the successful transition of underground operations to the production phase expected in the fourth quarter. With all infrastructure and the mobile fleet now fully developed, MDN is well positioned to rapidly exploit any additional resources being uncovered by our ongoing exploration program.”
He continued, “Cerrado also has made very good progress to advance both the Lagoa Salgada and Mont Sorcier projects, with completion of their respective feasibility studies targeted for Q4 2025 and Q2 2026. As these robust projects continue to be de-risked, we expect the strong underlying economics to highlight the significant value gap that exists compared to assets in their respective peer groups. We are hoping this will lead to a significant rerating for Cerrado shareholders”
Lagoa Salgada Project Update
The Company continues to advance all the required works to complete the Optimized Feasibility Study at the Highly Prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project in Portugal. Together with our consultants, quotations for capital and operating equipment are being sourced, and the mine plan and throughput optimization are underway. The Company expects to deliver the Optimized Feasibility Study by the end of the year. During the quarter, the Company also saw the completion of the EU Undercover program, looking for deeper resource potential. Results are expected to be available in the coming months.
Mont Sorcier Project Update
At the Mont Sorcier high-purity iron project, all key workstreams continued to progress the feasibility study, and the Company completed an infill drilling program to update sufficient resources to the Proven and Probable categories. Over 17,000 metres were drilled with results to be incorporated into a new mineral reserve estimate to support the feasibility study, which is targeted for completion in Q2 2026.
The Bankable Feasibility Study aims to provide a detailed updated economic study on the potential for the project as highlighted in the previous 2022 NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment that delivered a project NPV8% of US$1.6 billion based upon iron concentrates grading 65% iron. As highlighted previously, new test work has now shown the ability to deliver a high-purity DRI-grade Iron concentrate product of over 67% iron, enhancing the projects position delivering a highly desired product to support growing demand from the Green Steel transition.
Table 1. Key Operating Information
Key Operating Information | ||||||||||
2024 | Jan to Dec, | 2025 | 2025 | |||||||
Operating Data | Unit | Q1 2024 | Q2 2024 | Q3 2024 | Q4 2024 | 2024 | Q1 2025 | Q2 2025 | Q3 2025 | Jan to Sept |
Heap Leach Operations | ||||||||||
Ore Mined | ktonnes | 144 | 207 | 365 | 563 | 1,280 | 659 | 550 | 759 | 1,968 |
Waste Mined | ktonnes | 519 | 708 | 885 | 1,103 | 3,215 | 1,024 | 998 | 1,001 | 3,024 |
Total Mined | ktonnes | 663 | 915 | 1,250 | 1,666 | 4,494 | 1,683 | 1,549 | 1,760 | 4,992 |
Strip ratio | waste/ore | 3.60 | 3.42 | 2.43 | 1.96 | 2.51 | 1.56 | 1.81 | 1.32 | 1.54 |
Mining rate | tpd | 7,369 | 10,058 | 13,583 | 18,112 | 12,313 | 18,699 | 17,207 | 19,133 | 18,352 |
Ore PAD Feed | Ktonnes | 231 | 285 | 434 | 588 | 1,538 | 693 | 724 | 793 | 2,210 |
Head Grade Au | g/t | 0.59 | 0.85 | 0.75 | 0.73 | 0.73 | 0.80 | 0.86 | 0.81 | 0.82 |
Head Grade Ag | g/t | 9.82 | 12.39 | 10.04 | 9.96 | 10.41 | 15.95 | 12.13 | 11.68 | 13.17 |
Recovery Au | % | 25% | 29% | 31% | 41% | 34% | 39% | 37% | 47% | 41% |
Recovery Ag | % | 3% | 9% | 9% | 15% | 10% | 8% | 15% | 23% | 15% |
PAD Throughput | tpd | 2,565 | 3,134 | 4,715 | 6,394 | 4,214 | 7,700 | 7,953 | 8,621 | 7,700 |
Gold ounces produced | oz | 1,103 | 2,290 | 3,253 | 5,631 | 12,277 | 6,897 | 7,442 | 9,675 | 24,014 |
Silver equivalent ounces produced | oz | 29 | 130 | 150 | 325 | 633 | 331 | 422 | 790 | 1,543 |
Gold Geo Produced | oz | 1,132 | 2,420 | 3,403 | 5,956 | 12,911 | 7,228 | 7,864 | 10,465 | 25,557 |
High Grade CIL Operations | ||||||||||
Ore Mined | ktonnes | 85 | 58 | 43 | 31 | 218 | 11 | – | – | 11 |
Waste Mined | ktonnes | 2,099 | 1,083 | 1,235 | 610 | 5,027 | 60 | – | – | 60 |
Total Mined | ktonnes | 2,184 | 1,142 | 1,278 | 641 | 5,245 | 71 | – | – | 71 |
Strip ratio | waste/ore | 24.61 | 18.56 | 28.44 | 19.87 | 23.08 | 5.23 | 5.23 | ||
Mining rate | tpd | 24,264 | 12,546 | 13,896 | 6,966 | 14,369 | 788 | – | – | 261 |
Ore Milled | Ktonnes | 90 | 66 | 99 | 93 | 348 | 92 | 97 | 93 | 281 |
Head Grade Au | g/t | 3.65 | 7.08 | 4.58 | 1.48 | 3.99 | 1.51 | 1.18 | 1.31 | 1.33 |
Head Grade Ag | g/t | 10.21 | 12.86 | 7.86 | 8.13 | 9.49 | 6.44 | 9.71 | 7.98 | 8.08 |
Recovery Au | % | 88% | 91% | 92% | 90% | 90% | 92% | 84% | 86% | 88% |
Recovery Ag | % | 56% | 54% | 63% | 64% | 59% | 54% | 62% | 55% | 58% |
Mill Throughput | tpd | 1,001 | 725 | 1,072 | 1,010 | 952 | 1,017 | 1,076 | 1,006 | 1,033 |
Gold ounces produced | oz | 9,879 | 13,648 | 13,022 | 4,312 | 40,861 | 3,821 | 3,378 | 3,253 | 10,452 |
Silver equivalent ounces produced | oz | 193 | 187 | 179 | 163 | 722 | 115 | 195 | 150 | 460 |
Gold Geo Produced | oz | 10,072 | 13,835 | 13,201 | 4,475 | 41,583 | 3,936 | 3,573 | 3,403 | 10,912 |
Consolidated Gold Production | ||||||||||
Gold Geo Produced | oz | 11,204 | 16,255 | 16,604 | 10,431 | 54,494 | 11,163 | 11,437 | 13,868 | 36,469 |
Gold Geo Sold | oz | 10,331 | 15,775 | 15,844 | 10,108 | 52,058 | 11,468 | 10,886 | 12,957 | 35,311 |
Average realized price per gold ounce sold | $/oz | 1,970 | 2,199 | 2,329 | 2,371 | 2,226 | 2,520 | 2,684 | 3,153 | 2,801 |
Corporate Activities
The Company announces that Joao Barros, currently CEO of Ascendant Resources Inc. (a 100% owned subsidiary of Cerrado), has been appointed to the position of President, Europe and Carl Calandra, currently VP General Counsel of Cerrado, has been appointed Corporate Secretary of the Company.
The Company also announces that it has entered into an engagement with Hybrid Financial Ltd. for strategic marketing and investor relations services to raise Cerrado’s investor profile. Hybrid will assist with investor awareness, assisting in all aspects of a branding and awareness campaign for the Company. The Hybrid engagement is for a term of 12 months with the opportunity to extend based on a successful outcome for a fee of C$15,000 per month. No bonus fees or stock options will be paid to any of the Consultants. Hybrid is arm’s length to the Company.
The Company also announces that it has issued 200,000 deferred share units (“DSUs”) and 20,000 restricted share units (“RSUs”) to eligible participants under its amended and restated omnibus incentive plan. The DSUs and RSUs will vest in twelve months, and the RSUs will expire on December 15, 2028.
Review of Technical Information
The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Andrew Croal, P.Eng., Chief Technical Officer for Cerrado Gold, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.
About Cerrado
Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company. The Company is the 100% owner of the producing Minera Don Nicolás and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. In Portugal, the Company holds an 80% interest in the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project through its position in Redcorp – Empreendimentos Mineiros, Lda. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing its 100% owned Mont Sorcier Iron project located outside of Chibougamau, Quebec.
In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas (“MDN”) operation through continued operational optimization and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias heap leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff.
In Portugal, Cerrado is focused on the development and exploration of the highly prospective Lagoa Salgada VMS project located on the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt in Portugal. The Lagoa Salgada project is a high-grade polymetallic project, demonstrating a typical mineralization endowment of zinc, copper, lead, tin, silver, and gold. Extensive exploration upside potential lies both near deposit and at prospective step-out targets across the large 7,209-hectare property concession. Located just 80km from Lisbon and surrounded by exceptional infrastructure, Lagoa Salgada offers a low-cost entry to a significant development and exploration opportunity, already showing its mineable scale and cashflow generation potential.
In Canada, Cerrado is developing its 100% owned Mont Sorcier high-purity, high-grade, Direct Reduced Iron project, located on the traditional Cree territory of Eeyou Istchee James Bay in the municipality of Chibougamau. The Mont Sorcier project has the potential to produce a premium iron concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high grade and high purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, contributing to the decarbonization of the industry and the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Arya Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: RBZ) is pleased to report that its on... READ MORE
Highlights: • GS2520 8.18 g/t Au over 18m 2.... READ MORE
Vizsla Copper Corp. (TSX-V: VCU) (OTCQB: VCUFF) (FRANKFURT: 97E0) is ple... READ MORE
Lion One Metals Limited (TSX-V: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) is pleased to... READ MORE
Northern Shield Resources Inc. (TSX-V: NRN) is pleased to announ... READ MORE