Sphinx Resources
Sphinx Resources is a Canadian mineral-exploration company focused on precious- and base-metal opportunities, particularly in Quebec.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Sphinx Resources Ltd. is a Canadian mineral-exploration company whose activities have centered on exploration rights for precious and base metals in Quebec. The company was originally established in 1996 as Donner Metals Ltd. and began by prospecting in the South Voisey's Bay area of Newfoundland and Labrador. That early project did not develop as planned, but the work helped the company establish a relationship with Falconbridge, a mining company that later became part of the corporate lineage associated with Xstrata and Glencore. The relationship with Falconbridge became the foundation of Donner's principal business strategy. In 2006, Donner entered into an agreement under which it was required to spend $20 million on exploration by May 31, 2011, with a further $5 million obligation if a new discovery was made. The arrangement positioned Donner as a funding vehicle for exploration in the Matagami base-metal camp in Quebec. The partners worked across several joint-venture areas, with the larger mining partner acting as operator and holding a majority interest. The collaboration concentrated especially on the South Flank and Bracemac-McLeod properties. The Matagami properties became the company's defining exploration and development assets. Located roughly six kilometres southeast of the Matagami mill, the Bracemac-McLeod area produced a significant zinc-copper massive-sulphide discovery announcement in January 2007. Reported drill intervals included high-grade zinc and copper mineralization. A subsequent National Instrument 43-101-compliant resource estimate, prepared in 2009, reported 3.623 million tonnes grading 11.52% zinc, 1.60% copper, 31.55 grams per tonne silver and 0.49 grams per tonne gold. These results helped move the project from exploration toward mine development. Xstrata Zinc announced in July 2010 that it would proceed with development of the Bracemac-McLeod deposit. The planned mine was designed to use existing processing infrastructure at the Matagami concentrator and to help replace ore feed from the Perseverance mine as that operation approached the end of its life. Contemporary reports described a development cost of approximately C$158 million, anticipated employment of about 250 people, and planned annual production of approximately 80,000 tonnes of zinc and 10,000 tonnes of copper. Construction began in 2010, and production commenced on May 15, 2013, at a reported mill throughput of 3,000 tonnes per day. Xstrata operated the project while Donner participated through its joint-venture interest. In 2014, the company changed its name from Donner Metals Ltd. to Sphinx Resources Ltd. and moved its headquarters from Vancouver to Montreal, Quebec. The renaming marked a shift in corporate identity while retaining the company's focus on mineral exploration and mining rights. Public reference material identifies Sphinx as a company active in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada, but the available material does not establish its current operating status, current management, present project portfolio, or whether its historical exchange listing remains active.
History
Sphinx Resources traces its origins to 1996, when it was established as Donner Metals Ltd. as a mineral-exploration company. Its early exploration work focused on South Voisey's Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador. That prospecting effort eventually stalled, but the company developed a relationship with Falconbridge during the process. The relationship became strategically important because Falconbridge had interests and expertise connected with the Matagami base-metal camp in Quebec. In 2006, Donner entered into an exploration agreement with Falconbridge. The agreement required Donner to spend $20 million by May 31, 2011, and to spend an additional $5 million if a new discovery was made. The structure made Donner a principal funding vehicle for exploration within the Matagami camp. The arrangement covered six joint-venture areas and allowed the larger partner to earn back a 15% interest in each area. The partner subsequently earned the additional interest in the Bracemac-McLeod and South Flank joint ventures. Exploration after the agreement concentrated on South Flank and Bracemac-McLeod, located about six kilometres southeast of the Matagami mill. On January 19, 2007, Donner announced zinc-copper massive-sulphide mineralization, reporting drill intersections that included 9.12% zinc and 1.21% copper over 16 metres, as well as 13.98% zinc and 3.69% copper over 8.8 metres. In February 2009, Genivar Engineering was engaged to compile a compliant resource estimate. The estimate reported 3.623 million tonnes at 11.52% zinc, 1.60% copper, 31.55 grams per tonne silver and 0.49 grams per tonne gold. Following a scoping study, Xstrata advanced drilling and feasibility work for Bracemac-McLeod. On July 9, 2010, Xstrata Zinc announced that it would immediately begin developing the deposit. The development plan was intended to maintain ore supply to the Matagami concentrator as the Perseverance mine neared the end of its operating life. Contemporary reporting said the project would cost approximately C$158 million and create about 250 jobs. Planned production was described as approximately 80,000 tonnes of zinc and 10,000 tonnes of copper per year. The project was also designed to make use of existing infrastructure and the closed Bell-Allard South mine pit for the new ramp, reducing the need for entirely new surface infrastructure. Construction began in July 2010. Production started on May 15, 2013, at a reported rate of 3,000 tonnes per day. Xstrata acted as project operator, while Donner participated through its joint-venture interest. The Bracemac-McLeod development was the principal commercial outcome of the Donner-era exploration program and demonstrated the company's model of funding exploration alongside a larger mining operator. In 2014, Donner Metals changed its name to Sphinx Resources Ltd. and relocated its headquarters from Vancouver to Montreal, Quebec. Publicly available reference material describes Sphinx as focused on exploration of precious and base metals in Quebec, with activity also associated with other Canadian provinces. It does not provide enough reliable information to establish the company's current management, current projects, present ownership, ongoing exchange status, or whether the company remains active. Those points require review against current corporate and exchange records.
- 2014
Corporate rebranding and headquarters move
[1]Donner Metals became Sphinx Resources and moved its headquarters from Vancouver to Montreal.
- 2013
Bracemac-McLeod enters production
[1]Production began at the Bracemac-McLeod mine on May 15, 2013.
- 2010
Mine development approved
[1]Xstrata Zinc announced development of the Bracemac-McLeod deposit, with construction beginning that year.
- 2009
Resource estimate prepared
[1]A National Instrument 43-101-compliant resource estimate was reported for Bracemac-McLeod.
- 2007
Bracemac-McLeod discovery announced
[1]Donner reported zinc-copper massive-sulphide mineralization at the Matagami properties.
- 2006
Matagami exploration agreement
[1]Donner signed an agreement requiring substantial exploration spending in the Matagami base-metal camp and establishing a joint-venture framework with Falconbridge and its successors.
- 1996
Company founded as Donner Metals
[1]The company was established as a mineral-exploration business prospecting in South Voisey's Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Products and positioning
A Canadian exploration company positioned around the discovery and advancement of base- and precious-metal deposits through owned or joint-venture mineral properties.
Base-metal mine and joint-venture project · 2013
Bracemac-McLeod project
The Bracemac-McLeod project in the Matagami mining camp was the company's principal historical development asset. Exploration identified zinc-copper massive-sulphide mineralization, followed by a 2009 resource estimate and a development decision by Xstrata Zinc in 2010. The project used the existing Matagami concentrator and entered production in May 2013. Xstrata operated the mine, while Donner held a participating joint-venture interest.
Mineral-exploration portfolio · 2006
Matagami exploration interests
Donner's Matagami portfolio consisted of exploration and joint-venture areas in Quebec's base-metal camp. The South Flank and Bracemac-McLeod properties received particular attention after the 2006 agreement. The program was structured around exploration funding by Donner and operation or majority participation by its larger mining partner.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Matagami exploration program
Quebec · Canada
Donner and its mining partner advanced exploration across joint-venture areas in the Matagami base-metal camp, with South Flank and Bracemac-McLeod becoming the principal focus.
Outcome. The program led to the Bracemac-McLeod discovery, resource definition and eventual mine development.
Brand decisions
2014
Change name from Donner Metals to Sphinx ResourcesOtherBackground
The company had developed its identity around the Donner Metals name while its business focus had broadened around Canadian exploration assets.
Action taken
The company adopted the Sphinx Resources name and moved its headquarters from Vancouver to Montreal.
Aftermath
Public reference material thereafter identifies the company as Sphinx Resources, although its current corporate status is not established by the supplied sources.
2010
Proceed with Bracemac-McLeod developmentStrategyBackground
Exploration and feasibility work indicated that the Bracemac-McLeod deposit could provide replacement feed for the Matagami concentrator as the Perseverance mine approached the end of its life.
Action taken
Xstrata Zinc announced development of the deposit, using existing processing infrastructure and the established joint-venture relationship with Donner.
Aftermath
Construction began in 2010 and the mine entered production in May 2013.
Reported development cost. C$158 million (2010 announcement)
Recent events
Sphinx appoints Daniel Deschambault as CEO and director[2]
Reported:
Sphinx Resources announced Daniel Deschambault’s appointment as CEO and President, effective immediately, and also appointed him a director.
Sphinx appoints Martin Bourgoin to its board[3]
Reported:
Sphinx Resources announced that Martin Bourgoin had been appointed as an independent director to its Board of Directors.
Sphinx closes private placement[4]
Reported:
Sphinx Resources Ltd. announced that it closed a second tranche of its private placement for $13,000, bringing aggregate gross proceeds from the placement to $83,250.
Sphinx appoints Pierre-André Viens to its board[5]
Reported:
Sphinx Resources announced that Pierre-André Viens was appointed as an independent director to its board.
Sources5 sources
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