The mol­ecular and crystal structure of a discrete [Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-4-Rpz)12]2− (R = H; pz = pyrazolate anion, C3H3N2−) cluster with an unprecedented, perfectly cubic arrangement of its eight Ni centers is reported, along with its lower-symmetry alkyl-functionalized (R = methyl and n-oct­yl) derivatives. Crystals of the latter two were obtained with two identical counter-ions (Bu4N+), whereas the crystal of the complex with the parent pyrazole ligand has one Me4N+ and one Bu4N+ counter-ion. The methyl derivative incorporates 1,2-di­chloro­ethane solvent mol­ecules in its crystal structure, whereas the other two are solvent-free. The compounds are tetra­butyl­aza­nium tetra­methyl­aza­nium hexa-μ4-hydroxido-dodeca-μ2-pyrazolato-hexa­hedro-octa­nickel, (C16H36N)(C4H12N)[Ni8(C3H3N2)12(OH)6] or (Bu4N)(Me4N)[Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-pz)12] (1), bis­(tetra­butyl­aza­nium) hexa-μ4-hydroxido-dodeca-μ2-(4-methyl­pyrazolato)-hexa­hedro-octa­nickel 1,2-di­chloro­ethane 7.196-solvate, (C16H36N)2[Ni8(C4H5N2)12(OH)6]·7.196C2H4Cl2 or (Bu4N)2[Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-4-Mepz)12]·7.196(ClCH2CH2Cl) (2), and bis­(tetra­butyl­aza­nium) hexa-μ4-hydroxido-dodeca-μ2-(4-octylpyrazolato)-hexa­hedro-octa­nickel, (C16H36N)2[Ni8(C11H19N2)12(OH)6] or (Bu4N)2[Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-4-nOctpz)12] (3). All counter-ions are disordered (with the exception of one Bu4N+ in 3). Some of the octyl chains of 3 (the crystal is twinned by non-merohedry) are also disordered. Various structural features are discussed and contrasted with those of other known [Ni8(μ4-OH)6(μ-4-Rpz)12]2− complexes, including extended three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks. In all three structures, the Ni8 units are lined up in columns.

Single crystals of alkali aluminoboracites, A4B4Al3O12Cl (A = Li, Na), were grown using the self-flux method, and their isotypic cubic crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Na4B4Al3O12Cl is the first reported sodium boracite, and its lattice parameter [13.5904 (1) Å] is the largest among the boracites consisting of a cation–oxygen framework reported so far. For both crystals, structure models refined in the cubic space group Foverline{4}3c, which assume that all cubic octant subcells in the unit cell are equivalent, converged with R1 factors of ∼0.03. However, the presence of weak hhl reflections with odd h and l values indicates that refinements in the space group F23, which presume a checkerboard-like ordering of two types of subcells with slightly different atomic positions, are more appropriate.

In the title compound, C31H24N4O2, the quinoxaline units are distinctly non-planar and twisted end-to-end. In the crystal, C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into chains extending along the a-axis direction. The chains are linked through π-stacking inter­actions between inversion-related quinoxaline moieties.

In the title compound, C17H12N2O, the quinoxaline moiety shows deviations of 0.0288 (7) to −0.0370 (7) Å from the mean plane (r.m.s. deviation of fitted atoms = 0.0223 Å). In the crystal, corrugated layers two mol­ecules thick are formed by C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and π-stacking inter­actions.

The quinoxaline moiety in the title mol­ecule, C13H13ClN2O3, is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation of the fitted atoms = 0.033 Å). In the crystal, C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds plus slipped π-stacking and C—H⋯π(ring) inter­actions generate chains of mol­ecules extending along the b-axis direction. The chains are connected by additional C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most important contributions to the crystal packing are from H⋯H (37.6%), H⋯O/O⋯H (22.7%) and H⋯Cl/Cl⋯H (13.1%) inter­actions.

The calixarenes, 5,17-di­bromo-26,28-dihy­droxy-25,27-dipropynyloxycalix[4]arene (C34H26Br2O4, 1), 5,17-di­bromo-26,28-dipropoxy-25,27-dipropynyloxycalix[4]arene (C40H38Br2O4, 2) and 25,27-bis­(2-azido­eth­oxy)-5,17-di­bromo-26,28-di­hydroxy­calix[4]arene (C32H28Br2N6O4, 3) possess a pinched cone mol­ecular shape for 1 and 3, and a 1,3-alternate shape for compound 2. In calixarenes 1 and 3, the cone conformations are additionally stabilized by intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, while in calixarene 2 intra­molecular Br⋯Br inter­actions consolidate the 1,3-alternate mol­ecular conformation. The dense crystal packing of the cone dialkyne 1 is a consequence of π–π, C—H⋯π and C—H⋯O inter­actions. In the crystal of the diazide 3, there are large channels extending parallel to the c axis, which are filled by highly disordered CH2Cl2 solvent mol­ecules. Their contribution to the intensity data was removed by the SQUEEZE procedure that showed an accessible void volume of 585 Å3 where there is room for 4.5 CH2Cl2 solvent mol­ecules per unit cell. Rigid mol­ecules of the 1,3-alternate calixarene 2 form a columnar head-to-tail packing parallel to [010] via van der Waals inter­actions, and the resulting columns are held together by weak C—H⋯π contacts.

In the title compound, C31H24N4O2, the di­hydro­quinoxaline units are both essentially planar with the dihedral angle between their mean planes being 64.82 (4)°. The attached phenyl rings differ significantly in their rotational orientations with respect to the di­hydro­quinoxaline planes. In the crystal, one set of C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds form chains along the b-axis direction, which are connected in pairs by a second set of C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Two sets of π-stacking inter­actions and C—H⋯π(ring) inter­actions join the double chains into the final three-dimensional structure.

The structural characterization is reported of the supra­molecular complex between the tetra­quinoxaline-based cavitand 2,8,14,20-tetra­hexyl-6,10:12,16:18,22:24,4-O,O'-tetra­kis­(quinoxaline-2,3-di­yl)calix[4]resorcinarene (QxCav) with benzo­nitrile. The complex, of general formula C84H80N8O8·2C7H5N, crystallizes in the space group Poverline{1} with two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, displaying very similar geometrical parameters. For each complex, one of the benzo­nitrile mol­ecules is engulfed inside the cavity, while the other is located among the alkyl legs at the lower rim. The host and the guests mainly inter­act through weak C—H⋯π, C—H⋯N and dispersion inter­actions. These inter­actions help to consolidate the formation of supra­molecular chains running along the crystallographic b-axis direction.

In the title mol­ecule, C25H29N5O, the di­hydro­quinoxaline unit is not quite planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.030 Å) as there is a dihedral angle of 2.69 (3)° between the mean planes of the constituent rings and the mol­ecule adopts a hairpin conformation. In the crystal, the polar portions of the mol­ecules are associated through C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π(ring) and C=O⋯π(ring) inter­actions, forming thick layers parallel to the bc plane and with the n-octyl groups on the outside surfaces.

In the structure of the title salt, {[Ba(μ3-C3H2N3O2)2(μ-H2O)(H2O)]·H2O}n, the barium ion and all three oxygen atoms of the water mol­ecules reside on a mirror plane. The hydrogen atoms of the bridging water and the solvate water mol­ecules are arranged across a mirror plane whereas all atoms of the monodentate aqua ligand are situated on this mirror plane. The distorted ninefold coord­ination of the Ba ions is completed with four nitroso-, two carbonyl- and three aqua-O atoms at the distances of 2.763 (3)–2.961 (4) Å and it is best described as tricapped trigonal prism. The three-dimensional framework structure is formed by face-sharing of the trigonal prisms, via μ-nitroso- and μ-aqua-O atoms, and also by the bridging coordination of the anions via carbonyl-O atoms occupying two out of the three cap positions. The solvate water mol­ecules populate the crystal channels and facilitate a set of four directional hydrogen bonds. The principal Ba–carbamoyl­cyano­nitro­somethanido linkage reveals a rare example of the inherently polar binodal six- and three-coordinated bipartite topology (three-letter notation sit). It suggests that small resonance-stabilized cyano­nitroso anions can be utilized as bridging ligands for the supra­molecular synthesis of MOF solids. Such an outcome may be anti­cipated for a broader range of hard Lewis acidic alkaline earth metal ions, which perfectly match the coordination preferences of highly nucleophilic nitroso-O atoms. Thermal analysis reveals two-stage dehydration of the title compound (383 and 473 K) followed by decomposition with release of CO2, HCN and H2O at 558 K.

A host–guest supra­molecular inclusion complex was obtained from the co-crystallization of A1/A2-bromo­but­oxy-hy­droxy difunctionalized pillar[5]arene (PilButBrOH) with adipo­nitrile (ADN), C47H53.18Br0.82O10·C6H8N2. The adipo­nitrile guest is stabilized within the electron-rich cavity of the pillar[5]arene host via multiple C—H⋯O and C—H⋯π inter­actions. Both functional groups on the macrocyclic rim are engaged in supra­molecular inter­actions with an adjacent inclusion complex via hydrogen-bonding (O—H⋯N or C—H⋯Br) inter­actions, resulting in the formation of a supra­molecular dimer in the crystal structure.

The mercury(II) halide complex [1,3-di-tert-butyl-2,4-bis­(tert-butyl­amino)-1,3,2λ5,4λ5-di­aza­diphosphetidine-2,4-diselone-κ2Se,Se']di­iodido­mercury(II) N,N-di­methyl­formamide monosolvate, [HgI2(C16H38N4P2Se2)]·C3H7NO or (1)HgI2, 2, containing cis-[(tBuNH)(Se)P(μ-NtBu)2P(Se)(NHtBu)] (1) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The crystal structure of 2 confirms the chelation of chalcogen donors to HgI2 with a natural bite angle of 112.95 (2)°. The coordination geometry around mercury is distorted tetra­hedral as indicated by the τ4 geometry index parameter (τ4 = 0.90). In the mercury complex, the exocyclic tert-butyl­amido substituents are arranged in an (endo, endo) fashion, whereas in the free ligand (1), the exocyclic substituents are arranged in an (exo, endo) pattern. Compound 2 displays non-classical N—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions with the solvent N,N-di­methyl­formamide. These inter­actions may introduce geometrical distortion and deviation from an ideal geometry. An isostructural HgBr2 analogue containing cis-[(tBuNH)(S)P(μ-NtBu)2P(S)(NHtBu)] was also synthesized and structurally characterized, CIF data for the compound being presented as supporting information.

In crystallographic texture analysis, ensuring that sample directions are preserved from experiment to the resulting orientation distribution is crucial to obtain physical meaning from diffraction data. This work details a procedure to ensure instrument and sample coordinates are consistent when analyzing diffraction data with a Rietveld refinement using the texture analysis software MAUD. A quartz crystal is measured on the HIPPO diffractometer at Los Alamos National Laboratory for this purpose. The methods described here can be applied to any diffraction instrument measuring orientation distributions in polycrystalline materials.

Hendrickson & Lattman [Acta Cryst. (1970), B26, 136–143] introduced a method for representing crystallographic phase probabilities defined on the unit circle. Their approach could model the bimodal phase probability distributions that can result from experimental phase determination procedures. It also provided simple and highly effective means to combine independent sources of phase information. The present work discusses the equivalence of the Hendrickson–Lattman distribution and the generalized von Mises distribution of order two, which has been studied in the statistical literature. Recognizing this connection allows the Hendrickson–Lattman distribution to be expressed in an alternative form which is easier to interpret, as it involves the location and concentration parameters of the component von Mises distributions. It also allows clarification of the conditions for bimodality and access to a simplified analytical method for evaluating the trigonometric moments of the distribution, the first of which is required for computing the best Fourier synthesis in the presence of phase, but not amplitude, uncertainty.

The suitability of point focus X-ray beam and area detector techniques for the determination of the uniaxial symmetry axis (fibre texture) of the natural mineral satin spar is demonstrated. Among the various diffraction techniques used in this report, including powder diffraction, 2D pole figures, rocking curves looped on φ and 2D X-ray diffraction, a single simple symmetric 2D scan collecting the reciprocal plane perpendicular to the apparent fibre axis provided sufficient information to determine the crystallographic orientation of the fibre axis. A geometrical explanation of the `wing' feature formed by diffraction spots from the fibre-textured satin spar in 2D scans is provided. The technique of wide-range reciprocal space mapping restores the `wing' featured diffraction spots on the 2D detector back to reciprocal space layers, revealing the nature of the fibre-textured samples.

A systematic procedure is introduced for modeling charge-neutral non-polar surfaces of ionic minerals containing polyatomic anions. By integrating distance- and charge-based clustering to identify chemical species within the mineral bulk, our pipeline, PolyCleaver, renders a variety of theoretically viable surface terminations. As a demonstrative example, this approach was applied to forsterite (Mg2SiO4), unveiling a rich interface landscape based on interactions with formaldehyde, a relevant multifaceted molecule, and more particularly in prebiotic chemistry. This high-throughput method, going beyond techniques traditionally applied in the modeling of minerals, offers new insights into the potential catalytic properties of diverse surfaces, enabling a broader exploration of synthetic pathways in complex mineral systems.

Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS) patterns from certain semicrystalline polymers and liquid crystals contain discrete reflections from ordered assemblies and central diffuse scattering (CDS) from uncorrelated structures. Systems with imperfectly ordered lamellar structures aligned by stretching or by a magnetic field produce four distinct SAXS patterns: two-point `banana', four-point pattern, four-point `eyebrow' and four-point `butterfly'. The peak intensities of the reflections lie not on a layer line, or the arc of a circle, but on an elliptical trajectory. Modeling shows that randomly placed lamellar stacks modified by chain slip and stack rotation or interlamellar shear can create these forms. On deformation, the isotropic CDS becomes an equatorial streak with an oval, diamond or two-bladed propeller shape, which can be analyzed by separation into isotropic and oriented components. The streak has elliptical intensity contours, a natural consequence of the imperfect alignment of the elongated scattering objects. Both equatorial streaks and two- and four-point reflections can be fitted in elliptical coordinates with relatively few parameters. Equatorial streaks can be analyzed to obtain the size and orientation of voids, fibrils or surfaces. Analyses of the lamellar reflection yield lamellar spacing, stack orientation (interlamellar shear) angle α and chain slip angle ϕ, as well as the size distribution of the lamellar stacks. Currently available computational tools allow these microstructural parameters to be rapidly refined.

For a reliable characterization of materials and systems featuring multiple structural levels, a broad length scale from a few ångström to hundreds of nanometres must be analyzed and an extended Q range must be covered in X-ray and neutron scattering experiments. For certain samples or effects, it is advantageous to perform such characterization with a single instrument. Neutrons offer the unique advantage of contrast variation and matching by D-labeling, which is of great value in the characterization of natural or synthetic polymers. Some time-of-flight small-angle neutron scattering (TOF-SANS) instruments at neutron spallation sources can cover an extended Q range by using a broad wavelength band and a multitude of detectors. The detectors are arranged to cover a wide range of scattering angles with a resolution that allows both large-scale morphology and crystalline structure to be resolved simultaneously. However, for such analyses, the SANS instruments at steady-state sources operating in conventional monochromatic pinhole mode rely on additional wide-angle neutron scattering (WANS) detectors. The resolution must be tuned via a system of choppers and a TOF data acquisition option to reliably measure the atomic to mesoscale structures. The KWS-2 SANS diffractometer at Jülich Centre for Neutron Science allows the exploration of a wide Q range using conventional pinhole and lens focusing modes and an adjustable resolution Δλ/λ between 2 and 20%. This is achieved through the use of a versatile mechanical velocity selector combined with a variable slit opening and rotation frequency chopper. The installation of WANS detectors planned on the instrument required a detailed analysis of the quality of the data measured over a wide angular range with variable resolution. This article presents an assessment of the WANS performance by comparison with a McStas [Willendrup, Farhi & Lefmann (2004). Physica B, 350, E735–E737] simulation of ideal experimental conditions at the instrument.

Geological formations provide a promising environment for the long-term and short-term storage of gases, including carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydro­carbons, controlled by the rock-specific small-scale pore structure. This study investigates the nanoscale structure and gas uptake in a highly porous silica aerogel (a synthetic proxy for natural rocks) using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and small-angle and ultra-small-angle neutron scattering with a tracer of deuterated methane (CD4) at pressures up to 1000 bar. The results show that the adsorption of CD4 in the porous silica matrix is scale dependent. The pore space of the silica aerogel is fully accessible to the invading gas, which quickly equilibrates with the external pressure and shows no condensation on the sub-nanometre scale. In the 2.5–50 nm pore size region a classical two-phase adsorption behaviour is observed. The structure of the aerogel returns to its original state after the CD4 pressure has been released.

Energy-dispersive Laue diffraction (EDLD) is a powerful method to obtain position-resolved texture information in inhomogeneous biological samples without the need for sample rotation. This study employs EDLD texture scanning to investigate the impact of two salivary peptides, statherin (STN) and histatin-1 (HTN) 21 N-terminal peptides (STN21 and HTN21), on the crystallographic structure of dental enamel. These proteins are known to play crucial roles in dental caries progression. Three healthy incisors were randomly assigned to three groups: artificially demineralized, demineralized after HTN21 peptide pre-treatment and demineralized after STN21 peptide pre-treatment. To understand the micro-scale structure of the enamel, each specimen was scanned from the enamel surface to a depth of 250 µm using microbeam EDLD. Via the use of a white beam and a pixelated detector, where each pixel functions as a spectrometer, pole figures were obtained in a single exposure at each measurement point. The results revealed distinct orientations of hydroxyapatite crystallites and notable texture variation in the peptide-treated demineralized samples compared with the demineralized control. Specifically, the peptide-treated demineralized samples exhibited up to three orientation populations, in contrast to the demineralized control which displayed only a single orientation population. The texture index of the demineralized control (2.00 ± 0.21) was found to be lower than that of either the STN21 (2.32 ± 0.20) or the HTN21 (2.90 ± 0.46) treated samples. Hence, texture scanning with EDLD gives new insights into dental enamel crystallite orientation and links the present understanding of enamel demineralization to the underlying crystalline texture. For the first time, the feasibility of EDLD texture measurements for quantitative texture evaluation in demineralized dental enamel samples is demonstrated.

Online courses and innovative teaching methods have triggered a trend in education, where the integration of multimedia, online resources and interactive tools is reshaping the view of both virtual and traditional classrooms. The use of interactive tools extends beyond the boundaries of the physical classroom, offering students the flexibility to access materials at their own speed and convenience and enhancing their learning experience. In the field of crystallography, there are a wide variety of free online resources such as web pages, interactive applets, databases and programs that can be implemented in fundamental crystallography courses for different academic levels and curricula. This paper discusses a variety of resources that can be helpful for crystallographic symmetry handling and visualization, discussing four specific resources in detail: the Bilbao Crystallographic Server, the Cambridge Structural Database, VESTA and Jmol. The utility of these resources is explained and shown by several illustrative examples.

Here, a recently commissioned five-analyzer Johann spectrometer at the Inner Shell Spectroscopy beamline (8-ID) at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) is presented. Designed for hard X-ray photon-in/photon-out spectroscopy, the spectrometer achieves a resolution in the 0.5–2 eV range, depending on the element and/or emission line, providing detailed insights into the local electronic and geometric structure of materials. It serves a diverse user community, including fields such as physical, chemical, biological, environmental and materials sciences. This article details the mechanical design, alignment procedures and data-acquisition scheme of the spectrometer, with a particular focus on the continuous asynchronous data-acquisition approach that significantly enhances experimental efficiency.

Autonomous methods to align beamlines can decrease the amount of time spent on diagnostics, and also uncover better global optima leading to better beam quality. The alignment of these beamlines is a high-dimensional expensive-to-sample optimization problem involving the simultaneous treatment of many optical elements with correlated and nonlinear dynamics. Bayesian optimization is a strategy of efficient global optimization that has proved successful in similar regimes in a wide variety of beamline alignment applications, though it has typically been implemented for particular beamlines and optimization tasks. In this paper, we present a basic formulation of Bayesian inference and Gaussian process models as they relate to multi-objective Bayesian optimization, as well as the practical challenges presented by beamline alignment. We show that the same general implementation of Bayesian optimization with special consideration for beamline alignment can quickly learn the dynamics of particular beamlines in an online fashion through hyperparameter fitting with no prior information. We present the implementation of a concise software framework for beamline alignment and test it on four different optimization problems for experiments on X-ray beamlines at the National Synchrotron Light Source II and the Advanced Light Source, and an electron beam at the Accelerator Test Facility, along with benchmarking on a simulated digital twin. We discuss new applications of the framework, and the potential for a unified approach to beamline alignment at synchrotron facilities.

Everest Bank has...

Source: Streetwise Reports 11/06/2024

Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. (GCC:CSE; GCCFF:OTC; A0RLEP:WKN; 3TZ:FSE) has reported encouraging results from its 2024 field campaign. During the exploration, the company collected 16 rock samples from the Halo zone, North Hixon zone, and Pioneer area. These samples revealed promising gold mineralization in the region. Notable highlights from the Halo zone include grab samples from newly exposed outcrops, with assays reaching 8.47 g/t Au (grams per tonne, gold), 6.59 g/t Au, and 2.39 g/t Au. These samples were taken from altered andesite tuff with quartz-carbonate veins located approximately 101 meters northeast of the nearest drill collar.

Sampling near the Pioneer showing, situated one-kilometer north-northwest of the Halo zone, also returned assays of 1.13 g/t Au and 0.40 g/t Au. The fieldwork's findings have significantly extended the strike length of known gold mineralization by one kilometer and expanded the surface footprint of mineralization to the northeast. Despite challenging glacial cover, Golden Cariboo's team continues to uncover significant gold-bearing outcrops.

The report also underscored the strategic advantages of the property's location, infrastructure, and proximity to Highway 97, which reduces exploration and operational costs. Wortel detailed Golden Cariboo's drilling campaign, which includes results such as Hole QGQ24-013, which intersected 136.51 meters at 1.77 g/t gold, including a higher-grade interval of 23.89 meters at 3.32 g/t gold.

Valuation metrics from the report included a projected fair value of CA$0.40 per share, representing a 74% potential upside from the current trading price of CA$0.23, and doesn't include the added value from recent, significant exploration success. Despite acknowledging the high risks associated with early-stage exploration projects, Couloir Capital emphasized the long-term value potential in a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction, reinforced by the company's experienced management team and promising geological trends.

Frank Callaghan, President and CEO of Golden Cariboo, stated in the news release, "Although there is a lot of glacial cover on this project, our geologists still managed to find new gold-bearing outcrops in areas of great significance. We have now expanded the surface footprint of gold mineralization at the Halo zone to the northeast and increased the strike length of our gold trend. We're in a very large gold system that is being demonstrated by multiple, varied work programs."

Mining and Metals Market

On October 29, Kitco reported that gold prices had reached nearly US$2,800. This price represents a 35% increase for the year. The rise was attributed to multiple factors, including "geopolitical conflicts, Federal Reserve interest rate normalization, continued strong demand from global central banks, and uncertainties about the upcoming presidential election and potential fiscal stimulus." Analysts at Kitco described this combination of elements as a "perfect storm." They noted it had driven investor sentiment and reinforced gold's value as a hedge against economic turmoil.

LiveMint, on October 30, highlighted the substantial returns seen in gold over the past year. Despite this impressive performance, some analysts expressed caution regarding gold's future trajectory. Ajay Kedia, Director of Kedia Advisory, suggested that while gold prices may see a short-term rally, "investors may have to remain cautious on the yellow metal in the second half of 2025." Kedia noted that gold prices could experience profit-taking and a slowdown if interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve do not materialize as quickly as expected. Nonetheless, gold has continued to serve as a preferred asset for those seeking stability, especially in times of economic and political uncertainty.

In a November 4 report, Egon von Greyerz, Founder and Chairman of Matterhorn Asset Management, provided a historical perspective on gold's role in preserving wealth. Von Greyerz discussed how gold had consistently retained value, even as fiat currencies depreciated over time. He emphasized, "Gold held in the investor's name in safe vaults and jurisdictions outside the financial system is the ultimate form of wealth preservation." Von Greyerz also pointed to gold's outperformance since the 1970s, stating that gold had increased 78 times since President Nixon ended the gold standard in 1971. He argued that gold's journey was "only starting now," citing the ongoing destruction of fiat money value through global debt expansion and monetary policies.

Cariboo Catalysts

According to Golden Cariboo Resources' Q1 2024 investor presentation, the company is advancing exploration on its 3,814-hectare Quesnelle Gold Quartz Mine property, located in British Columbia's historic Cariboo Mining District. The asset benefits from 160 years of mining history and is road-accessible, facilitating year-round exploration. The 2024 exploration program, including trenching and a proposed 2,500-5,000m Phase 2 drilling campaign, aims to delineate the gold system further and complete a National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate.

The property, encircled by Osisko Development Corp. on three sides, holds the potential for high-grade, multi-ounce gold targets. Management is focusing on a multi-phase exploration strategy. This includes trenching to assess shallow overburden and mapping and sampling to refine drill targets. The team's experience and the property's historical and geological significance position Golden Cariboo as a promising exploration venture.

The proposed drilling and development efforts reflect a systematic approach to unlocking value in this underexplored yet historically significant gold camp as the company progresses toward realizing a resource estimate.

Expert Analysis

Golden Cariboo Resources Inc. received favorable coverage from Couloir Capital in a report released on September 3, 2024. Senior Mining Analyst Ron Wortel issued a Buy recommendation for the company, noting the significant potential for discovering a large gold resource at the Quesnelle Gold Quartz property. Wortel highlighted that the property, located in British Columbia's historic Cariboo Mining District, lies along the same geological trend as Osisko Development's projects, suggesting the possibility of tapping into similar high-grade mineralization systems.

The report also underscored the strategic advantages of the property's location, infrastructure, and proximity to Highway 97, which reduces exploration and operational costs. Wortel detailed Golden Cariboo's drilling campaign, pointing out positive early results, such as Hole QGQ24-08, which intersected 263 meters at 0.29 g/t gold, including a higher-grade interval of 200 meters at 0.58 g/t gold. The analyst described these findings as indicative of "bulk-tonnage targets," with visible gold observed in several drill cores, bolstering the outlook for continued exploration success. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-11131]

Valuation metrics from the report included a projected fair value of CA$0.40 per share, representing a 286% potential upside from the current trading price of CA$0.14. Despite acknowledging the high risks associated with early-stage exploration projects, Couloir Capital emphasized the long-term value potential in a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction, reinforced by the company's experienced management team and promising geological trends.

Ownership and Share Structure

According to Golden Cariboo, management and insiders own 30% of Golden Cariboo Resources. President and CEO Frank Callaghan owns 16.45% or 6.93 million shares; Elaine Callaghan has 0.97% or 0.41 million shares; Director Andrew Rees has 0.79% or 0.33 million shares; and Director Laurence Smoliak has 0.3% or 0.13 million shares.

Retail investors hold the remaining. There are no institutional investors.

The company said it has 50.3 million shares outstanding, 24.83 million warrants, and 3.8 million options.

Its market cap is CA$9.7 million. Over the past 52 weeks, Golden Cariboo has traded between CA$0.08 and CA$0.36 per share.

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Important Disclosures:

1. Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd. has a consulting relationship with Street Smart an affiliate of Streetwise Reports. Street Smart Clients pay a monthly consulting fee between US$8,000 and US$20,000.
2. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Golden Cariboo Resources Ltd.
3. James Guttman wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor.
4. This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.

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( Companies Mentioned: GCC:CSE; GCCFF:OTC; A0RLEP:WKN;3TZ:FSE, )

Don't fear the 'shrooms.; Credit: /iStockphoto.com

California on Tuesday moved another step closer to decriminalizing psychedelics — amid a debate over whether their prohibition is an outdated remnant of the War on Drugs — after the author removed a substance (ketamine) from the bill that opponents said can be used as a date-rape drug.

The bill would allow those 21 and older to possess for personal use and “social sharing” psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component of so-called magic mushrooms. It also covers psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, mescaline excluding peyote, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, often called ecstasy).

The bill bars sharing with those under age 21 or possessing the substances on school grounds. It would remove the state’s ban on cultivating or transferring mushroom spores or other material containing psilocybin or psilocybin.

Even if California makes the bill law, the drugs would still be illegal under federal law.

With files from the Associated Press.

Guests:

Scott Wiener, author of SB 519; California State Senator representing Senate District 11, which includes all of the city and county of San Francisco, Broadmoor, Colma, Daly City, and part of South San Francisco; he tweets @Scott_Wiener

John Lovell, legislative director of the California Narcotics Officers Association

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Chesapeake Bay Program — Press Release — October 31, 2024

President Biden signed a memorial bill to recognize the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting and offered his condolences to people who are awaiting news on their loved ones in the wake of the deadly Surfside, Fla., partial condo collapse.

Biden — who was vice president when a 29-year-old man killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in the nightclub mass shooting — signed the bill to enshrine a monument to the dozens killed in the Latin Night massacre.

The shooting occurred at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in June 2016. The month of June is celebrated annually as LGBTQ Pride Month in the United States.

"May a president never have to sign another monument like this," Biden said.

Biden also offered his thoughts to the victims and loved ones of those affected by the catastrophic collapse this week of a Miami-Dade County condo. Authorities say four people have been declared dead and an additional 159 are considered missing in the rubble.

"I just want to say, I've spoken to Gov. [Ron] DeSantis, and we've provided all the help that they have, they need," Biden said. "We sent the best people from FEMA down there. We're going to stay with them."

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

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Halima Aden attends the premiere of Netflix's Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly at Barker Hangar on Aug. 27, 2019, in Santa Monica, Calif.; Credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images

For Halima Aden, the decision to walk away from a career as the world's first hijab-wearing supermodel was fairly clear cut. She's felt used for so long, she says — by the modeling industry and by UNICEF, the organization she was photographed by as a child in a refugee camp in Kenya and later served as an ambassador for.

Aden has been featured on the covers of Vogue, Elle and Allure magazines. And she walked the runway for Rihanna's Fenty Beauty and Kanye West's Yeezy.

She tells Morning Edition host Rachel Martin she wanted to be a role model for young girls while being true to herself, but she wasn't accomplishing either. Modeling, she realized, was in "direct conflict" with who she is.

"I'm not a cover girl, I'm Halima from Kakuma," she says. "I want to be the reason why girls have confidence within themselves, not the reason for their insecurity."

Aden was raised in the Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya. She and her family moved to Minnesota in 2004 when she was 7.

It was there her journey as a model began, competing for Miss Minnesota USA in 2016, seeking a scholarship. She finished in the semifinals, and says from there, modeling "fell from the sky" into her lap.

Interview Highlights

You saw [modeling] not just as a chance to wear gorgeous clothes and to have your photo in magazines but also as a way to help people.

Growing up in America, not seeing representation, not seeing anybody who dressed like me look like me, it did make me feel like, wow, what's wrong with me, you know? And I'm sure if I had if I would have had representation growing up, I would have been so much more confident to wear my hijab, to be myself, to be authentic. But to be that person, to grow up and be on the cover of magazines, I've covered everything from Vogue to Allure, some of the biggest publications in fashion. And yet I still couldn't relate personally to my own image because that's not who I really am. That's not how I really dress. That's not how my hijab really looks. And, you know, fashion, it can be a very creative field, and I completely appreciate that. But my hijab was just getting spread so thin that I knew I had to give it all away, give it up. I'm not a cover girl. I am Halima from Kakuma. I want to be the reason why girls have confidence within themselves, not the reason for their insecurity.

When you say your hijab was being kind of styled out of existence, what passed for a hijab as you were walking down those runways?

Everything. Oh, my goodness. I had jeans at one point on my head as a hijab. I had Gucci pants styled as a turban. It just didn't even make sense, and I felt so far removed from the image itself.

During the pandemic you decided to walk away from fashion and UNICEF. Was it a complicated decision?

I'll be honest with you, the feelings that I've had towards the fashion industry and UNICEF, it was just multiplying as the years went on, so it was just festering. You know, because the fashion industry is very known to use these young girls and boys while their young, age 14 to like 24, I think is the average career of a model. And then they just replace them and move on to a newer model. And same with UNICEF. They've been photographing me and using me since the time I was a baby in a refugee camp. I remember getting those headshots taken and it made me feel, it's very dehumanizing. And so I wanted to show UNICEF, too. How does it feel to be used? It's not a good feeling. And so let's stop using people.

What are you going to do [next]?

For me right now, I don't know what's next. And that's OK. That's OK, because I'm young and I have time to figure it out. And I'm grateful. I'm grateful to the people that I've met. I'm grateful to the agents that I worked with. I'm grateful for the experiences I was able to have these last four years. But at the same time, I just am also grateful that I don't have to do that anymore because it was in direct conflict with who I am as an individual, as a human being.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

A fracking site in Kern County, Calif. Fracking — short for hydraulic fracturing — is the process of extracting oil deep underground using a high-pressure water mixture to break up rock.; Credit: Citizens of the Planet/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to ban hydraulic fracturing by 2024 as part of a longer-term aim to end all oil extraction in the state.

The governor has ordered the state's top oil regulator to implement regulation to stop issuing new fracking permits by 2024. He has also directed the state's air resources agency to look at ways to phase out oil extraction completely by 2045.

"The climate crisis is real, and we continue to see the signs every day," Newsom said in a Friday press release. "As we move to swiftly decarbonize our transportation sector and create a healthier future for our children, I've made it clear I don't see a role for fracking in that future and, similarly, believe that California needs to move beyond oil."

The plan aligns with the state's broader goal to reach net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2045.

Newsom's order follows a more aggressive plan to ban oil and gas production that died in the state Senate last week.

Following the bill's failure, Rock Zierman, CEO of the California Independent Petroleum Association, told The Desert Sun that it would have killed tens of thousands of jobs "in parts of the state that are struggling in this post-pandemic economy."

"We will continue to oppose bills that only increase our reliance on foreign oil which drives up gas prices, contributes to pollution in our crowded ports, and is produced without California's environmental protections or humanitarian values," he said.

Under Newson's plan, the state's Air Resources Board will assess the economic, environmental and health benefits and effects of ending oil extraction.

In September, Newsom said that fracking accounts for less than 2% of the state's oil production, but that the plan to end the practice is a "symbolic" step. However, some industry groups put that figure at closer to 20%.

The governor has previously said that he lacks the executive authority to ban fracking and has looked to legislators to approve limits.

Now, Newsom is leveraging his authority to take on the state's powerful oil and gas giants during a year in which he will likely face a recall election.

California would be the largest oil-producing state to ban fracking. Environmentalist groups — who argue that fracking drains water levels, harms public health and contributes to global warming — say the 2024 and 2045 deadlines are too late.

"While precedent setting, both timelines are not aggressive enough," California's Sierra Club said in a statement. "They fail to meet the urgency of the climate crisis we face and protect frontline communities facing the brunt of fossil fuel pollution that still need immediate health and safety protections."

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Cars make their way toward downtown Los Angeles on April 22. California could regain the right to set its own vehicle emissions standards after the Environmental Protection Agency announced it was moving to curb a Trump-era policy that sought to erode the state's previously-held power.; Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Monday it is preparing to restore California's right to set its own vehicle emissions standards, in a widely anticipated reversal of Trump-era policies.

The decision, which will take several months to be finalized, reaffirms the Golden State's powerful position as an environmental regulator after the Trump administration had in 2019 sought to remove California's powers to set its own emissions standards.

It also sets the stage for negotiations over how strict federal vehicle standards will be under President Biden.

"I am a firm believer in California's long-standing statutory authority to lead," EPA administration Michael Regan said in a statement.

"The 2019 decision to revoke the state's waiver to enforce its greenhouse gas pollution standards for cars and trucks was legally dubious and an attack on the public's health and wellbeing," he added.

The EPA will be accepting public comment until July 6 as part of the process of reversing the Trump-era rule.

The populous, car-loving state has been waging a battle against smog for decades.

And in recognition of that history, the EPA has long granted a waiver giving the state the authority to set its own standards for vehicle emissions, as long as they're more stringent than the national regulations.

That's an unusual exemption — other states can't set their own policies, although they can choose to adopt California's standards as their own.

Between California and the states that follow suit, about a third of the U.S. new car market is covered by the Golden State's policies, giving California regulators a remarkable amount of sway over the auto industry.

However, when the Trump administration weakened federal clean car standards, it also sought to revoke the waiver allowing California to set a higher bar.

That triggered a legal battle and divided the auto industry, with some carmakers choosing to side with California and voluntarily accept somewhat stricter vehicle emissions standards while the rest backed the Trump administration.

After Biden won the White House, every major automaker eventually dropped their support for the now-doomed Trump position.

The EPA has now started the process of reversing Trump's decision. The Department of Transportation last week also proposed to "wipe clean the regulatory slate," indicating that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would no longer seek to block state emissions standards, as it had under Trump.

It's still not clear what federal regulations on vehicle emissions and fuel economy will be under the Biden administration. Some environmental groups and progressive lawmakers are pushing for the reinstatement of the Obama-era standards, with more ambitious targets to follow.

The auto industry, meanwhile, is calling for standards midway between the Obama-era and Trump-era policies.

The EPA says it will propose new fuel economy rules in July.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

The Biden administration is opening the West Coast to offshore wind. Companies have largely focused on the East Coast, like this wind farm off Block Island, Rhode Island.; Credit: Don Emmert/AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration plans to open the California coast to offshore wind development, ending a long-running stalemate with the Department of Defense that has been the biggest barrier to building wind power along the Pacific Coast.

The move adds momentum to the administration's goal of reaching 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035, coming just weeks after the country's first large-scale offshore wind farm was approved off the coast of New England. Today, the country has just a handful of offshore wind turbines in the Atlantic Ocean, with around a dozen wind farms being developed in federal waters off the East Coast.

"It's an announcement that will set the stage for the long term development of clean energy and the growth of a brand new made-in-America industry," says national climate adviser Gina McCarthy. "Now we're thinking big and thinking bold."

The agreement identifies two sites off Central and Northern California with the potential to install massive floating wind turbines that could produce 4.6 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power 1.6 million homes.

Interest in offshore wind on the West Coast has grown for years, especially with California's own ambitious goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The deep waters off the coast have the potential to produce a significant amount of energy.

But the Defense Department has largely objected to the idea, since the Navy and Air Force use the area for training and testing operations. In response to the growing interest, the Navy released a map in 2017 putting large swaths of California waters off limits.

In 2018, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management solicited interest from wind developers. But negotiations with the Department of Defense have been slow going ever since, effectively blocking wind development off California.

Tuesday's announcement outlines a compromise for a 399-square-mile area off Morro Bay, a site that's appealing to renewable energy companies because of existing transmission lines nearby that once service a retired power plant. It also identifies a location off Humboldt County in Northern California.

"It's our view that the world faces a grave and growing climate crisis," says Dr. Colin Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy. "Climate change is both a threat to the Department of Defense's operations around the world and an existential challenge to our ability to maintain resilience here at home."

Another key site, just offshore from the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, was not included in Tuesday's deal. California's last-remaining nuclear plant is scheduled to completely close by 2025, freeing up more potential transmission lines for offshore wind.

The Biden administration has set a goal of jump-starting the country's offshore wind sector with 30 gigawatts of projects by 2030. Those wind farms will foster tens of thousands of jobs, according to the White House, between renewable energy installers, manufacturers and steelworkers.

"This is a major breakthrough — a major advancement that will allow California to start planning for its carbon-free electricity goals with offshore wind firmly in the picture," says Nancy Rader of the California Wind Energy Association, who also pointed to the challenges. "Offshore wind development off the coast at Morro Bay and Humboldt will require a major port facility in each area to construct the floating platforms and assemble the turbines that will require continued proactive planning by the state and federal governments."

Still, the areas identified in the agreement may not be enough for hitting the administration's clean electricity goal, as well as California's. The state is planning to get 100% of its electricity from zero-emission sources by 2045. To reach that, renewable energy needs to triple statewide with offshore wind playing a key role, reaching 10 GW, according to a recent state analysis. Tuesday's deal could provide just half of that.

A potential lease auction for the offshore wind sites could be held in mid-2022. But the projects will still have to negotiate concerns about the potential impacts on California's fishing industry and shipping channels, as well as any environmental concerns about sensitive ecosystems.

"Far too many questions remain unanswered regarding potential impacts to marine life which is dependent on a healthy ecosystem," says Mike Conroy of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations. "The fishing industry has been told these areas work best for offshore wind developers; but no one has asked us what areas would work best for us."

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Are you a self- directed, organized individual who would thrive multi-tasking in a fast paced office environment?  Do you desire to help others who cannot afford the cost of healthcare?   Catawba County Social Services is recruiting for several Eligibility Specialists II roles in Adult and Family Medicaid.  
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Salary is negotiable for applicants who are fully qualified.  (1 year or more of Income Maintenance experience in Medicaid or Food and Nutrition Services eligibility)
• Applicants must possess one year of experience in income maintenance eligibility in a Department of Social Services in order to be fully qualified. However, trainees may be accepted.   Trainee pay is $39,729.10 per year.  

For the last month, Frank Galaviz has wondered when running water will return to his town.

The 77-year-old resident of Teviston — a small rural community in Central California — has been forced to depend on stored and bottled water after the pump in the town's only functioning well broke down in early June. Since then, residents have had to travel to neighboring towns to shower or depend on the town's water storage tanks for their daily needs.

Temperatures continue to reach into triple digits as a brutal heat wave sweeps across the West Coast. The ongoing drought only exacerbates the problem, Galaviz says.

"[My wife and I] have lived through many challenges," he says. "We both have survived cancer, but we will not be able to survive without water. This is a problem that is not going away."

Teviston sits between the cities of Fresno and Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley and is home to mostly Latino farmworkers. Normal days in town are usually slow-paced and idyllic, Galaviz says, with many residents commuting to the nearby towns and cities on business. Now, they leave to find more water.

This is not the first time Galaviz or his neighbors have struggled with a broken well. He says two other wells had broken down in previous years and had not been repaired. A new, more modern well is in the works, but Galaviz estimates its completion is still a few years off.

The community continues waiting for repair parts to arrive in hopes it will fix the current well's pump, he added, a process that could take a few weeks.

"It is not normal to not be able to flush toilets," he says. "It's not normal to not be able to take a shower."

Residents have managed to come up with a temporary fix, using their water storage tanks to offer relief.

"We were able to get some of the water pressure back," Galaviz said. "We put a submersible pump into one of our old wells and we're forcing water from the storage tanks through that system. But it's not a permanent fix."

Rural Latino communities in California have been particularly vulnerable to drought conditions, according to a report from the state Legislative Analyst's Office.

"Having no water equals bad health," state Sen. Melissa Hurtado, who serves California's 14th District, tells Weekend Edition. Hurtado says her bill, SB 559, would allot $785 million to fund and repair water supply infrastructure. One of the waterways posed for fixing is the Friant-Kern canal, which supplies Teviston and the towns around it. Over the years, the canal has become subject to subsidence — a condition that has caused some parts of the canal to sink and means it can't deliver as much water.

"SB 559 would help fix the canal so that the basin and the communities that rely on water here would be able to have more access to it," Hurtado says.

Galaviz has spent the last few weeks knocking on doors to check in on neighbors and trying to organize help.

"I have a neighbor whose daughter has medical problems. She needs drinking water, pure water," he says. "It hurts to see people suffering."

Hafsa Fathima and Jan Johnson produced and edited the audio story.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Sonata Software announced that its Unified Enterprise Mobility Platform, Halosys, has been enhanced with additional features that boost optimization and usability

When it comes to air quality, many believe it's only an issue during the summer. Air quality remains a problem year round, with ozone being a concern in the summer and particulate matter posing a problem year round. Public Health is working with local officials to raise the importance of air quality awareness and what citizens can do to help improve air quality.

�Catawba Communities,� a monthly show which will feature information about programs and services provided by local governments, school systems and associated agencies across Catawba County, will premiere on Charter Communications� Government Channel (Channel 3) on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.

Architectural plans have been finalized for the new Sherrills Ford branch of Catawba County Library. The 10,000 square foot facility, to be erected on 2.5 acres near the intersection of Highway 150 and Sherrills Ford Road, is expected to be completed in 2014.

The Western Piedmont Council of Governments has won a national honor for the Western North Carolina Annual Air Quality Conference held at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Immigration benefits the U.S. economy overall and has little negative effect on the income and job opportunities of most native-born Americans, says a new report by a panel of the National Research Council.

The nations health care industry has foundered in its ability to provide safe, high-quality care consistently to all Americans, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Reorganization and reform are urgently needed to fix what is now a disjointed and inefficient system.

To ensure that minority students who are poorly prepared for school are not assigned to special education for that reason, educators should be required to first provide them with high-quality instruction and social support in a general education classroom before making a determination that special education is needed.

Racial and ethnic minorities tend to receive lower-quality health care than whites do, even when insurance status, income, age, and severity of conditions are comparable.

Good morning. I am Dr. Alice Gast and I am here today with Dr. David Relman as the chair and vice chair of the Committee on the Review of the Scientific Approaches Used During the FBI’s Investigation of the 2001 Bacillus anthracis Mailings.

The Institute of Medicine today presented the 2012 Gustav O. Lienhard Award to Donald M. Berwick, a physician whose work has catalyzed a national movement to improve health care quality and safety.

The analysis used by federal agencies to set standards for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions for new U.S. light-duty vehicles -- passenger cars and light trucks -- from 2017 to 2025 was thorough and of high caliber overall, says a new report from the National Research Council.