NewCastle Gold has big plans for Castle Mountain in California

NewCastle Gold (TSXV: NCA) seems to be punching above its weight-class lately. Six months ago the junior enticed Gerald Panneton to join the company as president and CEO. The geologist is perhaps best known for founding Detour Gold (TSX: DCG) and overseeing the growth of its Detour Lake gold deposit in northern Ontario from 1.5 million oz. to over 15 million oz. in reserves, then bringing it into production in less than six years after the acquisition. In early November, NewCastle kicked off a 40,000-metre drill program at its Castle Mountain project in California’s San Bernardino County after raising $18.5 million, and only weeks later attracted Sergio Cattalani to the team as vice-president exploration. The geologist had held a similar title at Osisko Mining, leading the development of that company’s new project portfolio in the United States until Osisko was acquired by Yamana Gold (TSX: YRI; NYSE: AUY) and Agnico Eagle (TSX: AEM; NYSE: AEM) in 2014. NewCastle has also recently staked 4,300 acres of new mining claims in Nevada, 7 km to the northeast and along trend from Castle Mountain. Read the entire story at The Northern Miner.