QGold Bolsters Team with Key Hires as Oregon Mining Permitting Gains Traction
Event summary
- QGold appointed Catherine Callaghan as Director of Permitting and Community Affairs, leveraging her 25+ years of experience with the U.S. Forest Service, including direct oversight of Quartz Mountain permitting.
- Wolfgang (Wolf) Schleiss joined as Director of Exploration, bringing 40+ years of experience and prior leadership roles at Alamos Gold for the Quartz Mountain deposit.
- QGold recently published a NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate for the Quartz Mountain Gold Project, outlining 1.543 million ounces of gold and 2.049 million ounces of silver.
- The U.S. government approved Paramount Gold Nevada Corp.’s Grassy Mountain Gold Project, marking the first gold mining development to advance through Oregon's unified permitting framework.
The big picture
QGold's strategic moves signal a renewed focus on advancing its Quartz Mountain project amidst a broader trend of increased regulatory scrutiny and community engagement in the mining sector. The appointments, coupled with the recent permitting success of a peer, suggest a concerted effort to overcome historical hurdles and unlock the project's potential. The company's acquisition of the project from Alamos Gold in Q4 2025 indicates a belief in the asset's long-term value, but execution risks remain significant.
What we're watching
- Permitting Pace
- The speed at which QGold can secure permits will be heavily influenced by the precedent set by Paramount Gold Nevada's recent approval and ongoing community engagement.
- Exploration Upside
- Whether Wolf Schleiss can identify and quantify additional resources beyond the current estimate will be crucial for justifying further investment and development.
- Community Relations
- The effectiveness of Catherine Callaghan's community outreach will be critical in maintaining social license to operate and navigating potential local opposition.
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