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  • Ark Mines (AHK) is a ground floor opportunity to invest in a unique, multi-commodity initial public offering (IPO)
  • The company owns three exploration assets in Northern Queensland prospective for a range of materials including copper, iron ore, nickel-cobalt and porphyry gold
  • This range of exploration elements means Ark could offer investors safety from tumultuous commodity prices in the form of diversity and hedging
  • Moreover, Ark is led by a management team with decades of experience in the minerals sector and a clear-cut exploration strategy across its portolio of assets
  • As part of its prospectus, Ark plans to issue over 45 million shares and 7.4 million options at 20 cents each, raising up to $5 million to trade on the ASX in early December

Ark Mines (AHK) is a ground floor opportunity to invest in a unique, multi-commodity initial public offering (IPO).

The company brings with it an experienced management team and a diverse portfolio of assets.

Ark owns three exploration projects in Northern Queensland prospective for a range of materials including copper, iron ore, nickel-cobalt and porphyry gold.

It’s this multi-commodity strategy that sets Ark apart from many other explorers of its calibre; in one of the most uncertain markets in recent memory, Ark’s range of exploration elements means it could offer investors safety from tumultuous commodity prices in the form of diversity and hedging.

The company has now launched a fresh IPO, with plans to have shares trading on the ASX in early December.

As part of its prospectus, the company is issuing over 45 million shares and 7.4 million options at 20 cents each to raise up to $5 million.

The IPO closes on Friday, November 19.

Of course, taking a company from exploration through to development and commercialisation takes a sound strategy and a deep understanding of mineral assets refined by years of experience. Ark believes it offers ASX investors all this and more.

Decades of mining experiences

At the helm of Ark and its new exploration endeavours are Executive Director Benjamin Emery and Technical Director Roger Jackson.

Mr Emery has over 10 years of experience in the minerals sector, with a specific focus on mine development and monetisation.

According to Ark, Mr Emery is a well of knowledge when it comes to taking mining projects from exploration through to pit and port operations — including the handling of contracts of commodity sales.

Mr Emery has worked closely with Ports North in developing the Port of Mourilyan, which exports raw sugar and molasses from the Innisfail, Babinda, Tully and Atherton Tableland sugar-growing districts.

Meanwhile, Mr Jackson has over three decades of experience in the minerals sector, having taken several mining projects through to metals production.

Joining Mr Emery and Mr Jackson are Antony Corel as Ark’s Non-Executive Chairman and Ian Mitchell as a Non-Executive Director.

Mr Corel has been a director of Ark since 2008, with over 10 years of minerals sector experience. Mr Mitchell has been a practising lawyer for over 45 years, with over 30 years spent in the minerals sector.

Ark’s upcoming exploration work

Ark Mines’ exploration projects lie in the top-tier Mt Garnet and Greenvale mineral fields of Northern Queensland.

The Mt Jesse project is prospective for copper and iron, centred on a rich magnetite skarn associated with porphyry-style mineralisation.

Ark said it believed there was potential for near-term production of oxide copper via toll treatment opportunities. Meanwhile, the company said there was potential for direct shipping of the prospective iron ore from Mt Jesse

Ark’s Gunnawarra project is prospective for nickel and cobalt, bordering Australian Mines’ (AUZ) prolific Sconi Cobalt-Nickel-Scandium project, which is the most advanced project of its kind in Australia. Ark said there was potential to direct ship nickel from Gunnawarra.

Finally, the Pluton project is prospective for gold and associated base metals like silver, copper, and molybdenum. Ark said initial field inspection work at the project located a porphyry outcrop that coincides with regional-scale geophysical interpretation.

Once listed in early December, Ark Mines plans to immediately kick off mapping, field sampling and drilling work at the Mt Jesse and Gunnawarra projects.

The company expects this exploration work to translate into resourcing work at each of the projects before the end of July 2022, with mining licences slated for approval before the end of June.

As for the Pluton project, Ark plans to kick off exploration work in this area before the end of April 2022.

Why does this matter for investors?

Ark Mines’ IPO is a fresh start for a management team with a wealth of experience in the mining and exploration sector.

The company has highlighted its firm exploration plans in what it believes is a prolific jurisdiction, meaning there’s a clear-cut strategy for any investors planning on following the AHK story.

Investment into the junior mining industry always carries with it some risk, but companies that know where to look, what to look for, and how to navigate challenges in their relevant environments have the potential to offer major growth opportunities.

Investors who spot these opportunities early enough are often the ones who reap the greatest rewards.

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