Subscribe
Paydirt Capital

There’s more to the market. Start digging.

Under-the-radar companies, insight to emerging industries and the stories small-cap investors actually care about. No recycled mega-cap takes. Just the good dirt.

Explore The Dirt →
Miners at Silver Hill, North Carolina, circa 1900. Davidson County Historical Society, via NC DNCR.Mining · Oct 28, 2026Sponsored

Before Nevada’s Silver Rush, There Was Silver Hill

The fascinating history of America's first silver mine, the challenges that brought early operations to a halt, and why modern exploration is taking another look.

Mining · Oct 28, 2026

Escrow and Hold Periods on New Shares in Canada Explained

When new shares in Canada are fully free to trade. Chart: Months until fully released, simplest case: Emerging issuer escrow (Tier 2) 36 months; Established issuer escrow (Tier 1) 18 months; Seed share restrictions 12 months; Private placement hold 4 months and a day. Source: NI 45-102; NP 46-201; TSXV Policy 5.4.
Commodities · Oct 26, 2026

Gold ETFs vs Physical Gold vs Gold Mining Stocks: How Each One Works

What it costs each year to hold gold through a fund. Chart: Annual expense ratio, %: VanEck Gold Miners (GDX) 0.51%; SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) 0.40%; Sprott Physical Gold Trust 0.39% MER. Source: Fund sponsors (GDX net ratio; Sprott MER at Jun 30, 2026).
Commodities · Oct 23, 2026

Rare Earth Elements Explained: Where They Come From and Why AI Needs Them

China's rare earth share rises along the chain. Chart: China's share, 2024, %: Magnet rare earth mining ~60%; Refined output 91%; Sintered permanent magnets 94%. Source: International Energy Agency.

Pick Your Topic

Venture MarketsCanadaAI & TechGoldCopperUranium & NuclearCritical MineralsSilver & PGMs

Fresh Dirt

All Stories →
Miners at Silver Hill, North Carolina, circa 1900. Davidson County Historical Society, via NC DNCR.Mining · Oct 28, 2026Sponsored

Before Nevada’s Silver Rush, There Was Silver Hill

The fascinating history of America's first silver mine, the challenges that brought early operations to a halt, and why modern exploration is taking another look.

When new shares in Canada are fully free to trade. Chart: Months until fully released, simplest case: Emerging issuer escrow (Tier 2) 36 months; Established issuer escrow (Tier 1) 18 months; Seed share restrictions 12 months; Private placement hold 4 months and a day. Source: NI 45-102; NP 46-201; TSXV Policy 5.4.Mining · Oct 28, 2026

Escrow and Hold Periods on New Shares in Canada Explained

The four-month hold under NI 45-102, the TSX Venture hold, NP 46-201 escrow schedules and TSXV Policy 5.4: when newly issued shares in Canada can trade.

What it costs each year to hold gold through a fund. Chart: Annual expense ratio, %: VanEck Gold Miners (GDX) 0.51%; SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) 0.40%; Sprott Physical Gold Trust 0.39% MER. Source: Fund sponsors (GDX net ratio; Sprott MER at Jun 30, 2026).Commodities · Oct 26, 2026

Gold ETFs vs Physical Gold vs Gold Mining Stocks: How Each One Works

Bars and coins, bullion funds and mining shares all track gold differently. Here is what you own in each, what it costs, and where the risks sit.

China's rare earth share rises along the chain. Chart: China's share, 2024, %: Magnet rare earth mining ~60%; Refined output 91%; Sintered permanent magnets 94%. Source: International Energy Agency.Commodities · Oct 23, 2026

Rare Earth Elements Explained: Where They Come From and Why AI Needs Them

What rare earths are, where they are mined and refined, how China's export controls work, and where AI hardware fits into demand.

Holding a BC claim costs more every two years. Chart: Annual requirement, C$ per hectare: Years 1 and 2 Work required $5, Cash in lieu $10; Years 3 and 4 Work required $10, Cash in lieu $20; Years 5 and 6 Work required $15, Cash in lieu $30; Year 7 onward Work required $20, Cash in lieu $40. Source: Province of British Columbia, Mineral Titles fees.Mining · Oct 21, 2026

How Mineral Claims Work in Canada: Staking in BC, Ontario and Quebec

How mineral claims are registered and kept in BC, Ontario and Quebec: online cells, annual work requirements, fees, and BC's new First Nations consultation step.

OTCQX and OTCQB entry standards side by side. Chart: Minimums for admission, international companies, US$: Minimum bid, 30 days, $0.25 / $0.05; Market capitalization, $25M / none; Public float, % of shares, 20% / 10%; Holders of 100+ shares, 100 / 50. Source: OTC Markets Group, OTCQX and OTCQB Rules (Sep 17, 2026).Macro · Oct 19, 2026

How OTC Markets Work for Canadian Companies: OTCQX, OTCQB and Pink

Why Canadian listed companies trade in the U.S. on OTC Markets, how the OTCQX, OTCQB, OTCID and Pink tiers differ, and the SEC exemption behind it.

Dig a Little Deeper.

More Explainers →

Understand the filings, fundamentals and industry quirks before you put money on the line.

When new shares in Canada are fully free to trade. Chart: Months until fully released, simplest case: Emerging issuer escrow (Tier 2) 36 months; Established issuer escrow (Tier 1) 18 months; Seed share restrictions 12 months; Private placement hold 4 months and a day. Source: NI 45-102; NP 46-201; TSXV Policy 5.4.Explainer · Mining

Escrow and Hold Periods on New Shares in Canada Explained

China's rare earth share rises along the chain. Chart: China's share, 2024, %: Magnet rare earth mining ~60%; Refined output 91%; Sintered permanent magnets 94%. Source: International Energy Agency.Explainer · Commodities

Rare Earth Elements Explained: Where They Come From and Why AI Needs Them

Holding a BC claim costs more every two years. Chart: Annual requirement, C$ per hectare: Years 1 and 2 Work required $5, Cash in lieu $10; Years 3 and 4 Work required $10, Cash in lieu $20; Years 5 and 6 Work required $15, Cash in lieu $30; Year 7 onward Work required $20, Cash in lieu $40. Source: Province of British Columbia, Mineral Titles fees.Explainer · Mining

How Mineral Claims Work in Canada: Staking in BC, Ontario and Quebec

OTCQX and OTCQB entry standards side by side. Chart: Minimums for admission, international companies, US$: Minimum bid, 30 days, $0.25 / $0.05; Market capitalization, $25M / none; Public float, % of shares, 20% / 10%; Holders of 100+ shares, 100 / 50. Source: OTC Markets Group, OTCQX and OTCQB Rules (Sep 17, 2026).Explainer · Macro

How OTC Markets Work for Canadian Companies: OTCQX, OTCQB and Pink

The Weekly Dig. No noise.

The stories we think you’ll find interesting, plus new articles and market developments worth a closer look. Straight to your inbox.

Free to subscribe. Unsubscribe anytime. Sponsored content is disclosed.

By subscribing you agree to receive The Weekly Dig from Paydirt Capital, a brand of Apollo Shareholder Relations. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Paydirt Capital is published by Apollo Shareholder Relations for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Apollo provides paid investor relations services and may be compensated in cash or securities by companies in the sectors discussed. Read the full disclosures.