Lion CG
Lion Copper and Gold Corp. is a Vancouver-based junior mining company developing the Yerington Copper Project in Nevada to produce 99.99% pure copper cathode for the U.S. domestic market, under an earn-in partnership with Nuton LLC (Rio Tinto subsidiary).
- Company typePublic
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lion CG does
Lion Copper and Gold Corp. (CNSX:LEO) is a publicly traded junior mining company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of copper assets in the United States. The company's sole material asset is the Yerington Copper Project in Nevada, a copper cathode development initiative targeting production of 99.99% pure copper cathode for sale into the U.S. domestic market. The project is being advanced under an earn-in agreement with Nuton LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto, which provides staged funding (up to US$31 million for Stage 3, of which US$30.5 million has been received as of January 2026) plus proprietary leaching technologies and technical support. The company's primary value proposition is addressing the anticipated U.S. domestic copper supply gap driven by electrification, electric vehicle manufacturing, data center infrastructure, and grid modernization demand.
The company's go-to-market model is direct B2B sales of copper cathode to U.S. industrial manufacturers and infrastructure developers once production commences, with revenue mechanics tied to prevailing market copper prices. Currently pre-revenue, Lion is in the Definitive Feasibility Study and permitting phase, supported by engineering consultant Samuel Engineering (DFS lead) and environmental consultant Nexus Environmental Consultants (permitting lead). Recent capital deployment includes drilling programs for resource expansion, geotechnical assessment, and groundwater understanding. The company reports a market capitalization of approximately US$397 million (June 2026) and a balance sheet characterized as having more cash than debt.
The company's competitive positioning rests on the Nuton partnership, which enables project advancement with limited shareholder dilution, alongside the regulatory and infrastructure advantages of an established Nevada mining jurisdiction. Leadership includes Chairman/CEO Thomas Patton, President/COO Gerald Prosalendis, and CFO Maria Milagros 'Millie' Paredes (appointed June 2026, previously CFO of Mako Mining Corp. and senior finance roles at Rio Tinto's U.S. Borax operations, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard). The company has 1-10 employees and operates with a lean corporate structure typical of junior resource developers.
Lion CG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lion CG
- Legal name
- Lion Copper and Gold Corp.
- Website
- https://lioncg.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Lion Copper and Gold Corp. is a Vancouver-based junior mining company developing the Yerington Copper Project in Nevada to produce 99.99% pure copper cathode for the U.S. domestic market, under an earn-in partnership with Nuton LLC (Rio Tinto subsidiary).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lion CG industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Copper Mining
- NAICS
- Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining (212230)
- SIC
- Metal Mining (1000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Copper Exploration & Resource Development (IMAKADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Copper Ore Mining (Open-Pit & Underground) (IMAKADAB), Copper Anode/Cathode Production & Handling (IMAKADAG)
Keywords
Where Lion CG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lion CG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Copper Cathode Sales: Pre-revenue mining company developing the Yerington Copper Project in Nevada to produce and sell high-purity copper cathode (99.99%) into the U.S. domestic market. Revenue will be generated from copper cathode sales to industrial manufacturers in sectors including electrification, electric vehicles, and data center infrastructure.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Lion CG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lion CG is developing the Yerington Copper Project in Nevada to produce and sell 99.99% pure copper cathode into the U.S. domestic market. The project is being advanced through a Definitive Feasibility Study and permitting phase, supported by an earn-in partnership with Nuton LLC (a Rio Tinto subsidiary) that provides funding and proprietary leaching technologies. Once in production, copper cathode will be sold to industrial manufacturers serving electrification, electric vehicles, data center infrastructure, and grid modernization.
Product overview
Lion Copper and Gold Corp. is a mining company with a single core project — the Yerington Copper Project in Nevada. The company is advancing this copper cathode production initiative through an earn-in partnership with Nuton LLC, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto. The project is currently in the Definitive Feasibility Study and permitting phase, with multiple drilling programs underway. No separate product modules, software offerings, or technology products are offered — this is a resource development company focused on bringing the Yerington copper deposit into production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Yerington Copper Project A copper mining project in Nevada focused on producing 99.99% pure copper cathode for the U.S. domestic market. Currently in the Definitive Feasibility Study and permitting phase with multiple drilling programs underway for resource expansion, geotechnical assessment, and groundwater understanding. Once production commences, copper cathode will be sold to U.S. industrial manufacturers serving electrification, electric vehicles, data centers, and grid modernization.
Companies that use Lion CG
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Lion CG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Lion CG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Samuel EngineeringminorAppointed as lead consultant for the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) of the Yerington Copper Project, supporting technical engineering work.
- Nexus Environmental ConsultantsminorAppointed as lead consultant for the permitting process of the Yerington Copper Project, supporting environmental studies and regulatory engagement.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lion CG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Taseko Mines: Taseko Mines is developing the Florence Copper Project in Arizona using in-situ copper recovery technology to produce copper cathode. The Florence project is a near-direct comparable to Lion's Yerington project in scope, jurisdiction (U.S. Southwest), and cathode-focused production approach.
- Quaterra Resources: Quaterra Resources is a copper-focused exploration and development company with assets in Nevada and Arizona, including the Hercules copper project. Comparable as a junior copper developer with U.S. Southwest exposure and similar pre-production profile.
- Western Copper and Gold: Western Copper and Gold is advancing the Casino copper-gold project in Yukon, Canada, through feasibility and permitting. Comparable as a publicly-traded copper developer at a similar project advancement and DFS stage, pursuing a tier-one copper asset.
- Excelsior Mining: Excelsior Mining develops copper projects using in-situ recovery (ISR) technology at the Gunnison Copper Project in Arizona, producing copper cathode. Highly comparable to Lion's Yerington project in terms of copper cathode production focus and leaching-based extraction technology.
- Nevada Copper: Nevada Copper is developing the Pumpkin Hollow copper project in Nevada, an underground copper mine with on-site processing. Comparable as a Nevada-based copper developer in the permitting and construction phase, targeting similar U.S. domestic end markets.
Broad incumbents
- Capstone Copper: Capstone Copper is a mid-tier copper producer with operating mines in the Americas (Pinto Valley, Mantos Blancos, Mantoverde, Cozamin). Comparable as a copper-focused operator in the same broad peer set, providing reference valuation and operational benchmarks for Lion's transition from developer to producer.
- Lundin Mining: Lundin Mining is a diversified base metals producer with copper-dominant production (Caserones, Candelaria, Neves-Corvo). Comparable as a copper-focused mid-cap miner serving similar industrial end markets and exposed to the same commodity price dynamics.
- Hudbay Minerals: Hudbay Minerals is a diversified mid-tier miner with significant copper exposure (Copper Mountain, Constancia, Snow Lake). Comparable as a copper-focused operator with U.S. and Americas assets, providing context for peer multiples and copper cathode market dynamics.
Emerging players
- Mako Mining: Mako Mining is a junior gold producer with operations in Nicaragua. Comparable due to CFO Millie Paredes' prior role as Mako's CFO during its transition into commercial production — providing direct management continuity and operating transition benchmarks for Lion.
Others
- Rio Tinto: Rio Tinto is a global mining major and the parent of Nuton LLC, Lion's core strategic partner. Comparable as the upstream strategic stakeholder providing funding and proprietary leaching technology, and as a potential long-term acquirer of the Yerington asset.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lion CG social profiles
Digital presenceLion CG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lion CG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Lion CG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lion CG M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lion CG
What does Lion CG do?
Lion CG is developing the Yerington Copper Project in Nevada to produce and sell 99.99% pure copper cathode into the U.S. domestic market. The project is being advanced through a Definitive Feasibility Study and permitting phase, supported by an earn-in partnership with Nuton LLC (a Rio Tinto subsidiary) that provides funding and proprietary leaching technologies. Once in production, copper cathode will be sold to industrial manufacturers serving electrification, electric vehicles, data center infrastructure, and grid modernization.
Is Lion CG a public or private company?
Lion CG is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Lion CG founded?
Lion CG was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Lion CG based?
Lion CG is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Lion CG make money?
One revenue line is on record: copper Cathode Sales.
Who are Lion CG's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Taseko Mines, Quaterra Resources, Western Copper and Gold, Excelsior Mining and Nevada Copper. Broad incumbents are Capstone Copper, Lundin Mining and Hudbay Minerals. Mako Mining is listed as an emerging player. Rio Tinto is listed as an others.
Does Lion CG have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lion CG.
What industry is Lion CG in?
Lion CG's product category is Copper Mining. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKADAA, Copper Exploration & Resource Development, with a secondary code of IMAKADAB, Copper Ore Mining (Open-Pit & Underground). Its NAICS code is 212230 and its SIC code is 1000.