GoldQuest is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on gold and copper development in the Dominican Republic. As the leading explorer in the Dominican Republic, the Company has had substantial success in discovering gold and other metals while establishing strong relationships with local communities.
Having published a 2016 pre-feasibility study on a planned 2,800 tpd underground mine focusing on the high-grade gold and copper “core” of Romero, in August 2025, GoldQuest engaged consultants for the Romero Bankable Feasibility Study, for expected completion in H1 2026.
In Q3 2025,GoldQuest has started a drill program across the 50-km-long Tireo Belt host to the Romero deposit. Up to 5,000 metres of drilling is underway across Romero and five priority exploration VMS targets (Los Ganchos, Cañada La Vaca, Los Mineros, Cachimbo SE, and Cachimbo NW). Cachimbo is a 2017 VMS discovery of a sub-seafloor copper-gold rich feeder system, 20.5km south of Romero.
Experienced Board & Management with Successful Mining Experience in the Dominican Republic
Both GoldQuest's Chief Executive Officer, Luis Santana, and Chairman, Frank Balint, have extensive mining experience in the Dominican Republic. Luis and Frank were instrumental in the development of the Dominican Republic's Cerro de Maimon Copper/Gold producing mine (2008).
View Bios: LUIS SANTANA, Chief Excutive Officer | Frank Balint, Chairman |
GoldQuest's History in the Dominican Republic
The Company commenced exploration in Dominican Republic in May 2001 by way of a regional stream sediment survey program of the Los Ranchos and Maimon Formations of the eastern DR, and an option to earn-in to projects controlled by a Vancouver-based exploration company. The Company completed a systematic, high-density, fine-fraction (-200#) regional stream sediment program covering an area in excess of 7,000 square kilometers at an average density of 1 sediment sample per 3.8 square kilometers. Together with an internationally recognized economic geological consultant, the Company developed a new geological model for the region. This has lead to a re-interpretation of the mineralization styles and recognition of porphyry copper and gold mineralization within the belt that hosts Pueblo Viejo, one of the largest high sulphidation gold deposits in the world. In November 2006 this geological model was published in Economic Geology**.
In 2003, the Company entered into a strategic exploration alliance with Gold Fields Ltd to explore new areas of the Dominican Republic. Gold Fields funded a regional generative exploration program consisting of stream sediment sampling and geological mapping.
In return for fully funding Phase One, Gold Fields acquired a 50% interest of the targets identified within the project area. In 2004 Goldfields converted their 50% stake in the project into an approximate 10% equity stake in GoldQuest with all the projects reverting back to 100% GoldQuest ownership.
In 2006 GoldQuest entered into a new agreement with Gold Fields where Gold Fields could earn a 60% interest in select GoldQuest projects by spending US$5M over three years with a minimum expenditure of US$1M in the first year.
In early 2009 GoldQuest was advised that Gold Fields had completed their earn-in after spending over $6 million and would not be continuing with the joint venture. In November 2009 GoldQuest reacquired a 100% interest in all of the former joint venture projects from Gold Fields.
In 2010 GoldQuest closed a C$2.6M brokered and non-brokered financing, and appointed Bill Fisher to the Board of Directors, and Paul Robertson as the Chief Financial Officer. In July 2010, GoldQuest's drilling intercepts 26 metres of 11.4 g/t gold and 53 metres of 3.0 g/t gold at Las Tres Palmas. In November 2010, GoldQuest announced the inferred resource of 0.4 million ounces of gold at Romero South (formerly Escandalosa), and initialized Phase II drilling in the Domincan Republic.
Early 2011, Julio Espaillat was appointed GoldQuest's President & CEO, and Bill Fisher was appointed Chairman. Notable drilling intercepts include 36.5 metres of 2.74 g/t gold at La Escandalosa, and 29.0 metres of 2.18 g/t gold at Hondo Valle. A 1,200 metre drill program on GoldQuest's 100% owned La Escandalosa was completed in December 2011, with results including 28.0 metres of 3.57 g/t gold. In the second half of 2011 the Company completed ground IP geophysical program over La Escandalosa and to the north, identifying prominent chargeability trend.
2012 was a pivotal year for GoldQuest with the discovery of Romero in May, as well as the closing of several bought deal private placements totalling C$22.8 million. The Romero discovery hole, LTP 90, was the second last of a 15 hole program targeting the trend identified during the 2011 ground IP program. Hole LTP-90 reported 231 metres grading 2.4 g/t gold including 160.3 metres grading 2.9 g/t gold and 0.62 % copper. The Company expanded the drilling campaign to include four drills and initiated a second phase of ground IP to identify new target areas.
In 2013 the Company continued to define and grow the Romero mineralization, and by year end had completed a maiden NI 43-101 technical report with indicated mineral resources of 2.4 million ounces of gold equivalent and an inferred mineral resource of 0.8 million ounces of gold equivalent. With the release of the Romero Project mineral resources, the Company renamed the La Escandalosa deposit to Romero South. Throughout 2013 the Company expanded the ground IP coverage, identifying new targets in the area of Romero. The Company also increased its' granted concession landpackage by 50% in the Tireo formation with the Los Comios concession being granted.
In early 2014, the Company initiated a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the Romero Project, and completed an extensive airborne electromagnetic (ZTEM) survey over it's owned Tireo formation. To enhance the regional exploration program, a phase 3 ground IP program was initiated over favorable target areas identified in the airborne survey. In May 2014 the Company announced the results of the Romero Project PEA and commenced a 10,000 metre regional exploration drill program.
In 2016, GoldQuest announced the results of a Pre-Feasibility Study on an underground development at Romero and kicked off a 10,000m drill program. By early 2017, the drilling led to the polymetalic Cachimbo VMS discovery. A C$22.86M strategic investment by Agnico Eagle followed in March 2017.
Current CEO Luis Santana joined GoldQuest in 2022 and the Company received the Environmental Terms of Reference for Romero in June 2025. By August 2025, GoldQuest had started the Romero Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and engaged consultants for the Romero Bankable Feasibility Study.
**Sillitoe, R.H., Hall, D.J., Redwood, S.D., & Waddell, A.H., A New Model of Formation beneath Barren Limestone Cover for the Giant High-Sulfidation Epithermal Gold-Silver Deposit at Pueblo Viejo, Dominican Republic. Economic Geology; November 2006; v. 101; no. 7; p. 1427-1435.