Like many stories about innovation and technological development, Group 11 brings together people with a vision and entrepreneurial skills who chose to do things a different way, challenging conventional ways and thought. The Group 11 team identified an opportunity to revolutionize the mining industry by mitigating the environmental footprint associated with conventional methods, in turn increasing the value proposition for local stakeholders, while also redefining the economic parameters for many mineral deposits.
In 2016, Golden Predator Mining Corp. (“Golden Predator”) built the 1st Yukon-based pilot processing plant to process gold mineralization using cyanide-free recovery methods locally. The initial test processing plant utilized a relatively simple gravity and water closed circuit that recovered over 85% of contained gold. Concentrate #1 was poured into a dore bar and the remaining high-grade sulphide concentrate averaging approximately 3,000 gpt gold was unable to be recovered with gravity and water and was sent for direct shipment to a smelter.
In order to further the cyanide-free test work and recover the remaining gold onsite, Golden Predator began running a series of lab tests utilizing proprietary environmentally friendly cyanide-free hydrometallurgical technology to extract gold. Based on successful lab tests, Golden Predator designed and constructed a Secondary Recovery Unit (“SRU”™) to be used with EnivroLeach’s solution to replace the smelting process.
Golden Predator’s work resulted in the world’s first on-site test of a new cyanide-free technology on both pilot and production-scale levels. Working together with the mobile SRU (aka ‘the washing machine’) and solution (aka ‘the soap’) gold was successfully recovered faster and more thoroughly than with cyanide and confirmed the ability of our new eco-friendly formula to extract gold into solution from sulfide concentrates.
The process delivers numerous economic and environmental benefits over current extractive technologies. The solution can effectively dissolve gold into aqueous solution and is sustainable, safe and environmentally friendly. This water-based process has a broad applicability spectrum and is effective on most gold ores and concentrates. It can potentially unlock the value of many deposits located in environmentally sensitive areas that cannot be developed using current extraction methods. Combined with environmentally responsible extraction technologies that replace conventional open pits and underground mines with their associated tailings and surface disruptions, In Place Mineral Extraction (“IPME”) can potentially revolutionize the way that industry produces gold and other metals.
A team of experts with experience utilizing In-Situ Recovery (“ISR”), a form of IPME, from the uranium sector were closely watching the results from Golden Predator’s tests. This team, which includes scientists and professionals instrumental in the initial development and utilization of ISR technology successfully, saw an opportunity to adapt this technology to test the ability to extract gold and other metals in place.
With this combination of Golden Predator’s in the field experience, a proprietary water based of Golden Predator, environmentally friendly solution, and a team with advanced expertise in ISR the field of In Place Mining from enCore Energy, Group 11 Technologies Inc. was created to focus on the development and expansion of this new technology to extract precious metals in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
On the 1st test project, Group 11 successfully completed laboratory testing of drill core to determine amenability to gold extraction from the eco-friendly water-based chemistry. This test project took place at the Rattlesnake Hills Gold Project in Wyoming, where uncrushed core samples (emulating expected results from an ISR environment) achieved gold recoveries averaging 48.2% and crushed samples reached up to 89.5%. Building on this success, the company is now expanding its testing and securing fresh core material to test solvent and ISR amenability. Current efforts involve additional lab testing on fresh core material from promising sites, including a 100%-owned project in Nevada and uranium deposits in Texas and Arizona.
With a proven foundation in gold recovery, Group 11 is now positioned to unlock broader opportunities across a range of metals. The company’s proprietary chemistry and ISR expertise hold strong potential for application in uranium, silver, molybdenum, copper, vanadium, and rare earth elements. As testing expands into new mineral systems and jurisdictions, Group 11 is at the forefront of implementing innovative, clean mineral extraction.
Ms. Sheriff brings 20 years experience in the mineral extraction industry, community engagement and communications to Verdera. She presently serves as the President and Director of Group 11 Technologies, Director of Communications for Grants Energy and is the co-founder and current President of the Clean Energy Association of New Mexico and the enCore Energy Education Society.
She most recently served as the Chief Communications Officer of enCore Energy Corp.having managed their brand and communications from a micro-cap company to a leading uranium producer in the United States.
Ms. Sheriff led the world’s first on-site test of a solvent which replaced cyanide in the gold extraction process, resulting in the formation of Group 11. She was responsible for creating the SRU® (the Secondary Recovery Unit) which replaced the smelter process in the test process. Ms. Sheriff also established and presently owns the Yukon Mint®, which has created green gold coins with indigenous art to celebrate the local communities and artists. With a strong commitment to social responsibility and community engagement she has successfully negotiated and implemented socio-economic and exploration agreements with indigenous governments plus implemented numerous innovative programs, including the award-winning Elders-in-Residence Program, to ensure community involvement in corporate projects. She is responsible for developing the Yukon Mine Training Association, focused on aboriginal training, raising $20+ mm for training initiatives.
Ms. Sheriff previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Golden Predator Mining; President of Tigris Uranium (now enCore Energy Corp.) and as Executive Chair of C2C Metals Corp (now Urano Energy Corp.). She is a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, a dual Canadian and US citizen and a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Commemorative Medal awarded for outstanding achievements by Canadians.
Mr. Sheriff is a co-founder of Group 11 Technologies Inc. An entrepreneur and visionary with over 40 years’ experience in the minerals industry; has raised over $500 MM in the public markets and brings extensive mergers and acquisitions expertise to the Company. Mr. Sheriff was a pioneer in the uranium renaissance as co-founder and Chairman of Energy Metals Corp. He was responsible for compiling the largest domestic uranium resource base in US history before the company was acquired by Uranium One Corp for $1.8 Billion. With his in-depth understanding of the nuclear industry and market conditions, plus his knowledge of the financial markets, Mr. Sheriff is regarded as a leader and avid supporter of nuclear energy as a clean and reliable energy source for the United States.
Mr. Sheriff is the Founder and Executive Chairman of enCore Energy Corp., and Chairman of Nuclear Fuels Inc. and C2C Metals Corp, all publicly traded companies. He holds a B.Sc degree (Geology) from Fort Lewis College, Colorado and an MSc in Mining Geology from the University of Texas-El Paso. He has compiled one of the largest privately-held mining databases in the world.
Mr. Nelson is a seasoned mining executive and entrepreneur with a strong track record of building and scaling resource companies. He was the CEO and co-founder of SilverMex Resources Inc., a former TSX-listed gold and silver producer acquired for $235M, and a past Director of EnviroMetal Technologies Inc. He is also the founder of QuoteMedia, one of the largest global market data providers.
Mr. Morgan is a renowned precious metals analyst that has been involved in the natural resource sector for over 30 years. He originated The Morgan Report, a monthly report that covers economic news, the global economy, and to invest in the resource sector. Mr. Morgan frequently travels the world providing presentations and media appearances. He has appeared on media outlets including Fox Business, CNBC, Wall Street Journal and BNN Blomberg. He holds degrees in finance and engineering. A dynamic, much-in-demand speaker all over the globe, he is a a big-picture macroeconomist whose main job is education—educating people about honest money and the benefits of a sound financial system. Mr. Morgan has an MS Business from La Verne, Los Angeles, California and a BS Aeronautical Engineering from San San Luis Obispo, California.
Mr. Bell brings a diverse set of skills to the position of Director of Operations including gold production, exploration, project management and safety roles. He is responsible for on-site management and oversight of the test projects to be conducted by Group 11 in the Southwest United States.
Dr. Stover has a 40 year career focused on direct involvement with commercial uranium exploration, project development, and mining operations. Dr. Stover served as Executive Vice President, Americas for Uranium One, Inc. where he oversaw commercial development of Uranium One’s substantial U.S. uranium assets. A leading expert in the field of In-Situ Recovery, he has authored numerous papers regarding In–Situ Recovery (ISR), including three IAEA Guidebooks and Manuals related to both Acidic and Alkaline Uranium ISR technology. He is the author of six United States Patents concerning various aspect of ISR of uranium and reservoir restoration. Dr. Stover holds BSChE, MSChE, and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan as well as a BA in Chemistry from Kalamazoo College. His graduate studies focused on electrochemical kinetics as well as oxidation-reduction reactions of metals.
Mr. Pelizza has spent over 40 years in the uranium industry with project experience focused primarily on permitting and operating ISR technology. Mr. Pelizza is the Principal of M.S. Pelizza & Associates LLC where he represents clients in the areas of ISR of uranium, permitting and regulatory matters. He previously with Uranium Resources Inc. for over 30 years, working his way up to Sr. Vice President of Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs. He was previously Chairman of the Texas Mining and Reclamation Association and Chairman of the Uranium Producers of America. Mr. Pelizza received his B.S. in Geology from Fort Lewis College and his M.S. in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He is a licensed Professional Geoscientist in Texas and a Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
Mr. Jafari is a mining and mineral processing engineer highly specialized and experienced in hydrometallurgical research, value chain analysis, and strategic growth planning across domestic and international markets. He holds a Master of Engineering in Mining and Mineral Processing from the University of British Columbia and brings a strong foundation in construction and technical development.
Pete Poston is a retired Professor of Chemistry at Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Oregon where he offered courses in General Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis, Instrumental Methods, Computational Chemistry, Environmental Geochemistry, Forensic Photography, and Experimental Chemistry. His research interests are focused on the applications of Laser Raman Spectroscopy and Xray Fluorescence to such diverse fields as Nanotechnology and Archeology. He is trained and experienced in the use of modern chemical instrumentation including portable Xray Fluorescence (pXRF), portable Raman Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). He is also experienced in the use of lasers, having built laser-based instrumentation during and after graduate school.
Given his teaching load over the years, Dr. Poston is the author of a modest number of publications, focusing on in situ adsorption studies on the surface of gold nanoparticles, and research at the boundary of Spectroscopy and Archeology. He wrote two reports to the National Park Service on the Raman spectroscopy of rock art pigments found on the Colorado Plateau, and using pXRF, looking for spatial variation in cartridge case composition of bullets fired by Warriors at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
Previous to Mr. Poston’s academic career in Chemistry, he worked as a geologist at the Schwartzwalter Uranium Mine in Colorado, followed by the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, South Dakota. Dr. Poston received a BS in Geology in 1981 from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. This was followed in 1984 by a second BS in Chemistry, also from Fort Lewis College. He obtained a Ph.D in Physical-Analytical Chemistry from the University of Utah in 1989.
Mr. Craft has over 35 years of mineral processing and metallurgical testing experience, focused on the recovery of precious and base metals, in a variety of mineralogical and process settings. Most recently he has worked with Golden Predator (now Sabre Gold) on the 3 Aces Bulk Sample, and now the cyanide free, gold recovery unit known as the SRU™. He was instrumental in the construction, commissioning and successful operation of the SRU during 2019 season.
He has served as the Mine Manager and/or Mill Superintendent at the QR, Baker and Cusac Gold Mines, as well as Cantung’s tungsten and Roca’s Max Moly projects. He has also consulted on a number of projects for FLSmidth and JDS.
Mr. Lewis is a mining professional with practical experience in a variety of different mining applications including mine management of underground and surface mines, safety, security and medical facilities across the world. Mr. Lewis is also experienced in the management and application of explosive manufacturing, storage, performance and distribution.
Guy has work in positions across the world for numerous companies including Teck Resources; Alamos Gold Inc, Eldorado Gold, and Coeur (Mexico) to ensure compliance with national and industrial standards. He utilized qualitative and quantitative analysis systems and activities to identify risks/hazards and revise policy and procedures to minimize and or eliminate the associated risks and prevent reoccurrence of accidents. His systems have successfully achieved 4 million man hours without a Lost Time Accident on individual projects.
Mr. Lewis is responsible for implementation of a Behavior Based Safety System to establish cultural change, mentor, educate and train employees to understand risk assessment, awareness and management. He also promotes regulatory compliance and has provided armed security for exploration crews & corporate management for mining operations in a very remote regions.
A certified MSHA instructor, Mr. Lewis also holds a Blasters License in Alaska and Washington and is certified in Explosives: technical Properties, Blast Design, Safe Use, Storage and Transportation. He is also a Certified EMT EMS Representative. Mr. Lewis graduated with a degree in Natural Resource Management from the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University.