Matt Birney

Rox Resources has hit the ground running at its Mt Fisher gold project near Wiluna, WA, with encouraging new assay results returned from drilling at the Dam, Dirks and Damsel South prospects. The company believes that the potential for uncovering large gold zones at the project is high despite deep weathering that obscures the basement rocks and geological structures, which has resulted in sparse drilling below the oxidised profile.

Indonesia focussed gold developer, Nusantara Resources, has increased its confidence in the potential for a grade uplift to be realised once its Awak Mas gold project on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, is in production. Trenches dug across an exploration bench have demonstrated additional high-grade structures that were not captured by ore reserve drilling and related block models.

Intermin Resources’ ongoing regional drilling activities in the Goldfields region of WA, have delivered encouraging assays following up on historical drill results and testing of new prospect areas. At the Teal East prospect, an intersection of 12m @ 4.19g/t gold from 76m down-hole has extended the existing mineralisation and provided a good foundation for growing the current Teal mineral resource of nearly 290,000 ounces.

Australian Potash has received recognition for the test work activities that will feed into the ongoing definitive feasibility study at its Lake Wells sulphate of potash, or “SOP”, project near Laverton, WA, with the receipt of a $1.3 million research and development tax rebate. Proceeds from the tax refund will be used to complete the work streams feeding into the study, which is scheduled to be completed before the end of this year.

PharmAust has received the key ethics approval from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industry to proceed with the Phase II clinical trials for its anti-cancer drug Monepantel in dogs with B-cell lymphoma, the most common form of canine cancer. The company will begin recruitment of dogs for the Phase II trial after it takes delivery of the tablets from the US in August or September.

ClearVue Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with Taiwanese manufacturer BeyondPV to secure supplies of solar photovoltaic, or “PV”, strip modules. Under the agreement, BeyondPV will invest about USD$3.5 million to establish a dedicated production line to produce ClearVue’s solar PV strip modules, while carrying out research and development to improve ClearVue’s products and technology.

AVZ Minerals has appointed well-credentialled, Perth-based, GR Engineering Services to oversee delivery of the definitive feasibility study for its Manono lithium and tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by the June quarter of 2020. On-site, DFS work programs are continuing on schedule with metallurgical test work well underway and dewatering programs for the historical Roche Dure open pit having commenced.

Bellevue Gold has generated an updated mineral resource estimate for its flagship Bellevue gold deposit near Leinster, WA, revealing a 17% increase in the contained metal to 5 million tonnes grading 11.1g/t gold for 1.8 million ounces. Next steps at the project include completing metallurgical and geotechnical studies, establishing water supply locations for the proposed mining operation and refining geological resource models by completing infill drilling.

MGC Pharmaceuticals’ seed-to-pharmacy strategy is picking up significant momentum with the ASX-listed company reporting revenues of $763,000 in the fourth quarter ended 30 June 2019. The result is due in part to the receipt of $469,000 in revenue from private Canadian cannabis investment company CannaGlobal for cannabis-based cosmetic raw materials under their five-year supply agreement.