Why Exploration Insights?

Exploration Insights offers the sophisticated speculator independent and unbiased analysis of the junior mining and exploration market. It is written and produced on a weekly basis by Brent Cook, a veteran economic geologist and mining stock analyst.

Successful speculation in minerals exploration requires an edge: the ability to differentiate between fact and fiction. Through Exploration Insights, Brent Cook provides you with rigorous factual analysis based on decades of industry-related experience in over 60 countries. These insights are supplemented by extensive on-site field evaluations of mineral properties. For an exploration speculator, there is no substitute for in-the-field experience to truly understand both the potential for a mineral discovery and the fatal flaws that make an economic discovery all but impossible.

From inception in February 2008 through year-end 2010, Exploration Insights' performance was strong, returning an average gain of 173% on the unsold positions and a gain of 319% on positions held at year-end. In 2011, the mining sector, and particularly the junior sector as measured by the Junior Gold Miners Index (GDXJ) collapsed, falling 26% in 2011, 23% in 2012, and a further 59% in 2013. By comparison, the Exploration Insights portfolio showed a loss of 2% in 2011, was down 14% in 2012 and off 18% in 2013.

Our results and those of the GDXJ make two important points 1) speculating in the junior miners is very volatile--only invest with money you can afford to lose and, 2) Our relative “success” over time demonstrates the validity of a very cautious approach involving a very focused list of companies. It is, after all, my money being invested; therefore I do take buys and sells very seriously.

Subscriber question: “I subscribe to four other resource letters. What would I be getting from your newsletter that I may not be getting already?”

Brent’s reply: “What you get is a (generally) weekly letter written from the perspective of an economic geologist who has 30 years of exploration and mining industry experience in over 60 countries on real projects ranging from grassroots exploration to feasibility stage studies and bank audits. The past 17 years I have been working as an analyst and advisor to funds and high net worth individuals in addition to investing--essentially, turning rocks into money. The letter, then, is primarily about what I am doing with my money, and my only compensation comes from subscribers and the money I invest.

Exploration Insights is a straightforward letter focused on a few stocks in this very high risk/reward sector: exploration and mining. I provide you with information, both positive and negative, with which to make your investment decisions.”