Junior Miners Aston Bay and Chilean Cobalt Announce Major Updates: A New Era of AI and a Sad Farewell

A Tale of Two Junior Miners: Aston Bay Mourns CFO, Chilean Cobalt Embraces AI

Two prominent junior mining companies, Aston Bay and Chilean Cobalt Corp., have recently issued significant operational and personnel updates. Aston Bay announced the deeply regrettable passing of its long-serving Chief Financial Officer, Dwight Walker, while Chilean Cobalt is forging ahead with an innovative AI-driven exploration strategy and the restart of its field activities.

Aston Bay Announces Passing of CFO Dwight Walker

Aston Bay Holdings (TSX-V:BAY) is in mourning following the announcement of the death of its Chief Financial Officer, Dwight Walker. Mr. Walker, who had served the company for nine years, was a highly respected figure in the finance and mining sectors, bringing over three decades of experience to his role. His strategic acumen and dedication were instrumental in Aston Bay's success. The company's CEO, Thomas Ullrich, expressed profound sadness, stating that Mr. Walker's contributions were invaluable and that he would be greatly missed. Donna McLean has been appointed as interim CFO, bringing extensive experience in financial leadership within the mining industry.

Chilean Cobalt Pioneers AI in Exploration

Chilean Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:COBA) is set to revolutionize its exploration efforts by launching a pilot program that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. This initiative aims to accelerate the identification of new mineral targets at its La Cobaltera cobalt-copper project in northern Chile.

Key Takeaways:

• AI-Driven Exploration: Chilean Cobalt is partnering with specialized AI firms to analyze historical data and geological trends.
• Target Identification: The program seeks to pinpoint high-potential drill and staking targets in greenfield areas.
• Restart of Field Activities: The company is resuming on-the-ground exploration efforts.
• New Technical Advisors: Dr. Brian Townley and Mr. César Vargas have joined as technical advisors to bolster expertise.
• Board Update: Geraldine Barnuevo has stepped down from the Board of Directors.

The pilot program will leverage data from past exploration campaigns, historical mine records, and publicly available geological datasets. The company is collaborating with three AI specialists: Mineral Forecast, MinersAI, and TerraSpace, each bringing unique expertise in AI-driven geosciences and data analysis. The goal is to enhance decision-making and improve success rates in identifying high-grade cobalt and copper vein systems. Following the pilot's conclusion in the latter half of 2025, Chilean Cobalt will evaluate the results to determine the potential for broader AI implementation.

Strategic Appointments and Board Changes at Chilean Cobalt

In conjunction with its AI initiative, Chilean Cobalt is also recommencing its field exploration activities. To support these efforts, the company has appointed two new technical advisors: Dr. Brian Townley, an experienced exploration geologist with extensive knowledge of ore deposit research and applied geosciences, and Mr. César Vargas, a mining operations and exploration manager with over 20 years of experience in South America. Additionally, Geraldine Barnuevo has resigned from the Board of Directors due to personal commitments, with the company thanking her for her contributions to establishing its ESG Committee and Sustainability Framework.

Sources

• Aston Bay Announces the Passing of Chief Financial Officer Dwight Walker, Junior Mining Network.
• Chilean Cobalt Announces AI-Driven Exploration Pilots and Restart of Field Activities, Junior Mining Network.