Dateline adds two North American mining pros to company board

Dateline Resources has further bolstered its board with the appointments of two highly experienced North American mining professionals as non-executive directors.

George Brack and Phillips Baker Jr have joined the aspiring miner at a pivotal time, as it progresses its lauded Colosseum gold-rare earths project in California towards a bankable-feasibility-study (BFS), aiming to transition from explorer to developer.

The company plans to magnify its US presence and flex its precious and critical minerals muscle. Bringing on two long-term mining executives should provide the necessary boost to Dateline in achieving its goal.

Brack brings 30+ years of North American mining experience and is currently Chair of the Board at Wheaton Precious Metals, a $US53.5 billion ($A80 billion) Canadian precious metals firm, having worked with the firm for the past 16 years. He additionally served on the board of successful Canadian mining companies, Capstone Copper and Red Back Mining.

Baker Jr. also brings a wealth of mining experience, having served as chief executive officer of Hecla Mining Company for 23 years. Baker Jr also sat on Hecla’s board and helped grow the company into the largest primary silver producer in the US and Canada.

Dateline Resources chairman Mark Johnson said: “We are delighted to welcome two highly respected mining executives to Dateline’s Board. Mr. Baker’s experience leading Hecla Mining and Mr. Brack’s extensive background in mining finance and corporate strategy are exactly what we need as we advance the Colosseum project towards production. Their North American experience and proven leadership will be valuable in helping realise the full potential of the Colosseum project and our broader critical minerals objectives in the US.”  

Brack said Colosseum has all the ingredients to become a successful operation, while Baker Jr believes the project is an exciting development opportunity with significant growth potential.

Dateline’s flagship Colosseum gold mine sits within the Walker Lane geological trend in East San Bernardino County, California. In 2024, the company delivered a JORC-2012-compliant mineral resource estimate at Colosseum of 27.1 million tonnes grading 1.26 grams per tonne (g/t) gold for a noteworthy 1.1 million ounces.

A BFS for Colosseum remains on track for completion in the first quarter of this year. A previous scoping study released in May 2025 outlined a potentially solid mining operation, projecting production of 635,000 ounces over an initial eight years, with net revenues of US$827 million (A$1.245 billion), a net-present-value (NPV) of US$550 (A$282 million and an internal-rate-of-return (IRR) of 61 per cent. 

The study was based on a gold price of US$2900 (A$4340) per ounce. With the price surging to $US4393 ($A6573) for an ounce of the precious yellow metal, the economics of the project have been supercharged at today’s gold price.

In late December, the company revealed it had taken a major step towards de-risking its wholly owned Colosseum project by executing an option agreement that secures critical water rights and near-mine infrastructure.

The agreement provides access to about 27 acres of paved industrial land at the base of Colosseum Mine Road, complete with four existing buildings and two dedicated groundwater wells for primary and backup service. 

Notably, the wells are expected to supply 100 per cent of the water required for full-scale mining and processing operations at Colosseum.

In a move to further strengthen its critical minerals portfolio, the company moved quickly in September last year, snapping up the promising Argos strontium project, about 100 kilometres from its Colosseum project.

By picking up the project, Dateline has locked its critical minerals diversification into overdrive. Argos is the largest known strontium deposit in America and the sole domestic deposit of scale. No strontium is currently produced in the US.

Strontium plays an important role in electric vehicles, defence ordnance and the growing space systems sector. Having the only notable US strontium deposit puts Dateline in an enviable position.

The company plans to drive the Argos project forward, in combination with Colosseum’s rapid development, to deliver on its goal of supplying minerals crucial for US security needs.

With the addition of two experienced mining heads to help lead the US critical minerals charge and a relentless push towards Colosseum’s development, Dateline appears to be making all the right moves as the Western world covets much-needed critical metals.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au