Gold Fields Netherlands Services B.V. has acquired Founders Metals for an undisclosed amount. Founders Metals is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing gold projects in the Guiana Shield, with its flagship asset being the Antino Gold Project in Suriname. This acquisition marks a significant consolidation in the gold exploration sector, bringing Founders Metals' promising assets under the ownership of Gold Fields.
Founders Metals' primary focus has been the 23,800-hectare Antino Gold Project in Suriname, a country known for its underexplored, mining-friendly environment. The property has a history of over 500,000 ounces of gold produced through historical alluvial/surface mining. Extensive historical exploration work at Antino includes 32,000 meters of drilling and over 35,000 auger gold-in-soil samples. Founders Metals has been actively developing the project, undertaking a 60,000-meter drill program in 2025 and reporting five new discoveries over the last 18 months, indicating tier-one discovery potential.
This acquisition is strategically significant for Gold Fields Netherlands Services B.V., expanding its presence and exploration pipeline in a region with demonstrated gold potential. The Antino project's advanced exploration data, including aeromagnetic survey data and a 2022 LiDAR survey, offers numerous opportunities to expand known high-grade greenstone gold mineralization and delineate new targets. The integration of Founders Metals’ exploration expertise and prospective land package is expected to create synergies, enhancing Gold Fields' long-term resource base and operational capabilities within the Guiana Shield.
The combination is anticipated to accelerate the development of the Antino Gold Project, leveraging Gold Fields’ resources and operational scale. The acquired assets in Suriname, a stable mining jurisdiction, are expected to contribute to a strengthened portfolio, positioning the combined entity for future growth in gold production and exploration.