The Government of New Brunswick announced a new comprehensive mineral strategy on Tuesday (March 3), at the 2026 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto.
The plan calls for a streamlined permitting process that will ensure clear communication and transparent timelines. Additionally, it promises a collaborative partnership with First Nations, science-based decision-making and a community-based approach to jobs, procurement and infrastructure.
Oil prices jumped significantly this week following the start of the US-led war against Iran. West Texas Intermediate has surged more than 25 percent since March first, climbing to over US$90 per barrel in trading on Friday, the first time since October 2022.
The most significant gains came on Friday, after Iran effectively stopped traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. More than 20 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas and 25 percent of oil shipments travel through the strait.
The price rise has had a downstream effect on gas prices in Canada and the US, increasing by up to C$0.10 per liter and US$0.27 per gallon, respectively.
Over the past week, US producers have activated four additional rigs, bringing the total rig count to 411, although that total is down by 75 from the same period last year. Most companies are unlikely to rush to restart operations shuttered due to low oil prices until there is a more sustainable rise in oil prices.
Meanwhile, the war caused turmoil in bond markets as concerns over inflation and rising central bank interest rates seeped into the market. US two-year bonds rose by 18 basis points, while Britain’s rose by 43 basis points.
For more on what’s moving markets this week, check out our top market news round-up.
Markets and commodities react
Canadian equity markets were largely down this week.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index (INDEXTSI:OSPTX) fell 3.87 percent over the week to close Friday (March 6) at 33,083.72, while the S&P/TSX Venture Composite Index (INDEXTSI:JX) slipped 4.54 percent to 1,057.04.
However, the CSE Composite Index (CSE:CSECOMP) gained 1.27 percent to 178.51.
The gold price fell 3.31 percent to close at US$5,170.63 per ounce on Friday at 4:00 p.m. EST. The silver price fared worse, closing the week down 6.4 percent at US$84.30 on Friday.
In base metals, the Comex copper price recorded a 2.01 percent decrease this week to US$5.85 per pound.
The S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (INDEXSP:SPGSCI) was up 16.14 percent to end Friday at 700.62.
Top Canadian mining stocks this week
How did mining stocks perform against this backdrop? Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Canadian mining stocks below.
Stocks data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday using TradingView’s stock screener. Only companies trading on the TSX, TSXV and CSE with market caps greater than C$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.
1. Adex Mining (TSXV:ADE)
Weekly gain: 100 percent
Market cap: C$128.67 million
Share price: C$0.19
Adex Mining is an exploration company that holds a 100 percent stake in the Mount Pleasant project in Southwest New Brunswick, Canada. The property contains two main deposits: the Fire Tower zone, which hosts tungsten and molybdenum mineralization, and the North zone, which hosts tin, zinc and indium.
The asset consists of 102 mineral claims covering 1,600 hectares, as well as equipment and facilities from historic mining operations conducted by BHP (ASX:BHP,NYSE:BHP,LSE:BHP) between 1983 and 1985.
According to its most recent investor presentation released on June 11, the property hosts the world’s largest indium reserve and North America’s largest tin deposit. Indicated resources for the North zone demonstrate contained metal values of 47 million kilograms of tin, and 789,000 kilograms of indium from 12.4 million metric tons with average grades of 0.38 percent tin and 64 parts per million indium.
Adex Mining has not released news since it published its interim management discussion and analysis on November 18.
In a mid-February interview, New Brunswick Natural Resources Minister John Herron revealed that a deal “is due imminently with a well-known company in the Canadian mining community” for Adex’s Mount Pleasant project.
While the company did not release news this week, the project may benefit from the freshly announced New Brunswick Comprehensive Mineral Strategy. The report highlights Mount Pleasant’s indium, tin and tungsten mineralization.
2. Southern Energy (TSXV:SOU)
Weekly gain: 91.67 percent
Market cap: C$29.3 million
Share price: C$0.115
Southern Energy is an oil and gas company with assets located in Mississippi, US. The majority of its production is natural gas.
Its operations are centered around the state’s Interior Salt Basin, in the northeastern Gulf Coast Region. Southern has an interest in producing wells spread across several assets, including Gwinville, Mechanicsburg and Mount Olive East.
According to a February 2026 corporate presentation, current production from the company’s wells is about 11 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day, with 27.9 million barrels of oil equivalent in reserves.
The company’s most recent news came on February 12, when Southern closed a non-brokered private placement that generated proceeds of US$23.5 million. The company said the funds will be used to repay the balance of a US$12.9 million senior credit facility, with the rest being directed to development capital, including the completion of two wells in Gwinville.
The share price gains also come amid volatility in the energy market.
3. Africa Energy (TSXV:AFE)
Weekly gain: 86.67 percent
Market cap: C$165.31 million
Share price: C$0.42
Africa Energy is a South Africa focused oil and gas exploration and development company.
Its flagship asset is Block 11B/12B located approximately 175 kilometers off the south coast of South Africa. The block covers an area of 18,734 square kilometers and depths between 200 meters and 1,800 meters.
It holds a 4.9 percent interest in the asset through its investment in Main Street 1549, a 49/51 joint venture with Arostyle Investments. The three other partners in the asset announced plans to withdraw from the Block 11B/12B joint venture in July 2024, and announced a definitive agreement for the new ownership structure of the Block 11B/12B asset in May 2025.
The restructuring would result in Africa Energy owning a direct 75 percent stake in the block, with Arostyle holding the remainder. This is contingent on the asset being granted the production rights, which itself requires approval of its environmental and social impact assessment. The report must be submitted by May 2026.
Shares of Africa Energy posted gains this week amid energy market volatility.
The company has not released any news since January 26, when it announced the resignation of Dr. Phindile Masangane as Director and Head of Strategy and Business Development. She will still assist Africa Energy as a consultant.
4. Gabriel Resources (TSXV:GBU)
Weekly gain: 60 percent
Market cap: C$41.58 million
Share price: C$0.16
Gabriel Resources is a precious metals explorer and developer focused on advancing its Rosia Montana gold project. Based in Transylvania, Romania, Rosia Montana is in a region that has seen significant historic mining. Covering 2,388 hectares, the site is host to a mid-to-shallow epithermal system containing deposits of gold and silver.
The most recent resource estimate from a 2012 technical report shows proven and probable quantities of 10.1 million ounces of gold and 47.6 million ounces of silver. Gabriel has invested more than US$760 million into Rosia Montana, but has undertaken little development at the site since the early 2010s, as Romania blocked further development.
In 2015, the company entered into arbitration through the World Bank’s International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) over permitting at the site and suggested that Romania was in violation of bilateral investment treaties. In March 2024, Gabriel issued a press release with an update saying that its case against Romania had been dismissed by the ICSID, which also awarded Romania US$10 million in legal fees and expenses. Gabriel said it would review the decision with its legal team and evaluate its options.
In March 2025, Gabriel announced that the committee had ruled that a stay of enforcement of the Award would continue if Gabriel guaranteed the proven solvency of the US$10 million.
The committee was scheduled to hold hearings on January 22 and 23 of this year, but on January 19, Gabriel reported that the hearings would be postponed to a later date. A new date for the hearing has not been announced.
The company did not release news in the past week.
5. Rio Silver (TSXV:RYO)
Weekly gain: 48.05 percent
Market cap: C$41.58 million
Share price: C$1.14
Rio Silver is an exploration company advancing its Maria Norte project in Peru. The property changed hands several times in the 18 years prior to Rio Silver’s acquisition in March 2025, but saw little exploration during that time.
However, in a February 5 release, the company noted that historic mining occurred as the site hosts a reclaimed waste dump. In that announcement, the firm said it plans to advance surface mapping and sampling in the third quarter of 2026.
Throughout January, Rio Silver made several announcements regarding its exploration and development timeline. On January 6, the company reported results from technical work at the site, confirming the presence of silver mineralization with grades up to 991 g/t in a 0.7 meter channel sample.
To end the month, the company said it was launching a metallurgical program at the site to assist in determining the project’s potential value.
The most recent news came last week in a pair of releases.
The first on February 25, the company announced a new private placement to raise proceeds of up to C$3 million. Funds will be used to advance work at the Maria Norte project. The placement is being led by Sprott (TSX:SII,NYSE:SII) Founder Eric Sprott.
The second release came on February 26 when Rio reported it secured permission from the local community to begin site activities at Maria Norte. The company said it will continue working with the community to develop a formal definitive agreement for long-term exploration and mining activities.
FAQs for Canadian mining stocks
What is the difference between the TSX and TSXV?
The TSX, or Toronto Stock Exchange, is used by senior companies with larger market caps, and the TSXV, or TSX Venture Exchange, is used by smaller-cap companies. Companies listed on the TSXV can graduate to the senior exchange.
How many mining companies are listed on the TSX and TSXV?
As of December 2025, 898 mining companies and 71 oil and gas companies are listed on the TSXV, combining for more than 60 percent of the 1,531 total companies listed on the exchange.
As for the TSX, it is home to 175 mining companies and 51 oil and gas companies. The exchange has 2,089 companies listed on it in total.
Together, the TSX and TSXV host around 40 percent of the world’s public mining companies.
How much does it cost to list on the TSXV?
There are a variety of different fees that companies must pay to list on the TSXV, and according to the exchange, they can vary based on the transaction’s nature and complexity. The listing fee alone will most likely cost between C$10,000 to C$70,000. Accounting and auditing fees could rack up between C$25,000 and C$100,000, while legal fees are expected to be over C$75,000 and an underwriters’ commission may hit up to 12 percent.
The exchange lists a handful of other fees and expenses companies can expect, including but not limited to security commission and transfer agency fees, investor relations costs and director and officer liability insurance.
These are all just for the initial listing, of course. There are ongoing expenses once companies are trading, such as sustaining fees and additional listing fees, plus the costs associated with filing regular reports.
How do you trade on the TSXV?
Investors can trade on the TSXV the way they would trade stocks on any exchange. This means they can use a stock broker or an individual investment account to buy and sell shares of TSXV-listed companies during the exchange’s trading hours.
Article by Dean Belder; FAQs by Lauren Kelly.
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Lauren Kelly, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.