# Up the Curve: Explorers for copper, producers for lithium – how Rick Squire plays the metals

Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/up-the-curve-explorers-for-copper-producers-for-lithium-how-rick-squire-plays-th--8ce64f88-6478-4d3d-a528-95ab847b4061

Original source: https://stockhead.com.au/resources/up-the-curve-explorers-for-copper-producers-for-lithium-how-rick-squire-plays-every-metal-differently/

Publisher: stockhead

Original announcement: 2026-09-23T20:20:33.000Z

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Atlas analysis published: 2026-09-23T21:07:32.125Z

Atlas analysis updated: 2026-09-23T21:07:32.125Z

- Company: Waratah Minerals

- Ticker: WTM

- Exchange: Unavailable

- Region: NSW

- Primary commodity: Gold

- Secondary commodities: None reported

- Document categories: Drill results, Other

- Extracted: 2026-09-23 21:07:32 UTC

Narrative sentiment: 0.80 · Bullish

## Minestarters Atlas summary

The article discusses market trends in the metals sector, highlighting Waratah Minerals' recent high-grade gold drill results at its Spur project in NSW. The intercept of 46m at 7.27g/t Au is noted as a standout exception in a market currently favoring producers over explorers.

Reasoning: The article reports a significant high-grade gold drill intercept at the Spur project, described as the site's best to date.

- Positive factor: high-grade intercept

- Positive factor: site best to date

Facts used in scoring: 1

## Classification and evidence

**Bonanza Intercept**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Exceptionally high-grade zone, well above the deposit-type norm.

Why it applies: The 7.27 g/t Au grade over 46m is described as the site's best to date and is a high-grade result.

Evidence · text

> 46m at 7.27g/t Au, hailed as the site’s best to date

## Extracted facts

Stored fact records: 1. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

## Drill Results (1)

### Fact 1

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/up-the-curve-explorers-for-copper-producers-for-lithium-how-rick-squire-plays-th--8ce64f88-6478-4d3d-a528-95ab847b4061#fact-drill-facts-0)

Spur · gold

Needs review: drill\_no\_hole\_id

#### Identity

- Project: Spur
- Commodity: gold
- Region: australia\_nsw
- Reported Region: australia\_nsw
- Ticker: WTM

#### Geometry

- Grade: 7.27
- Grade Unit: g/t
- Intercept: 46 m

#### Classification

- Program: exploration
- Sample Type: drill
- Mining Method: unknown

#### Location

- Location: Spur gold project
- Loc. Confidence: medium
- Loc. Source: document

#### QA/QC

- QA/QC Disclosed: Yes
- QP Signed: No
- QA/QC Methods: standards, blanks

#### Deleterious

- Deleterious Flag: No

#### Metal Equivalent

- Assumptions Disclosed: No

#### Review

- Needs Review: Yes
- Review Reason: drill\_no\_hole\_id
- Interp. Status: scored
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: 46m at 7.27g/t Au is a strong intercept for an exploration project.

- Positive factor: exceptional grade

- Positive factor: significant width

Evidence · text

> 46m at 7.27g/t Au, hailed as the site’s best to date

#### Tags used in scoring

**QA/QC Disclosed**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\).

Why it applies: qaqc\_disclosed is true

**Cut-off Undisclosed**

Polarity: negative

Definition: High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.

Why it applies: no cutoff\_grade was stated

## How Atlas produces this analysis

Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.