Silver and PGM snapshot: Seven companies to watch

With silver and platinum group metal (PGM) prices on the upswing on the back of a gold price rally, there is a renewed interest by investors in mining companies. Below, we provide an overview of seven industry players, from exploration, through to development and operations, with exposure to the metals. Americas Gold and Silver Americas Gold and Silver (TSX: USA, NYSE: USAS) is a gold and silver miner with assets in the U.S. and Mexico. The company’s operations include the Cosala operations in Mexico’s Sinaloa state as well as the Galena silver-lead complex and Relief Canyon gold mine in Idaho and Nevada, respectively. In September, Americas Gold and Silver provided details on the ramp-up of the Relief Canyon heap leach operation, where the open pit is expected to reach commercial production by year-end. In August, the company started stacking higher-grade ore and revised its operating practices. A month’s worth of operating data suggests increased leach solution grades from the pad and recovery levels trending towards feasibility-level forecasts.