Announcements

Altech Batteries has launched what it says is game-changing technology in the design of its new sodium chloride battery “GridPack”, which it expects to be up to 40 per cent cheaper to produce than lithium-ion batteries. Designed for the renewable energy storage market, the battery uses sodium ions found in table salt and avoids using scarce and expensive metals such as lithium, cobalt, graphite and copper.

A detailed 3D seismic cube has helped Legend Mining identify what it says are compelling targets within its Octagonal nickel-copper prospect, which sits within the same structural corridor as IGO’s Nova-Bollinger deposit in WA’s Fraser Range. The company says data processing results support its exploration model that suggests the intrusive complex continues below previously completed drilling.

Zuleika Gold has its drills on standby after it uncovered encouraging gold anomalies in Menzies. The finds have provided a boost for its hopes of producing the precious yellow metal in the “medium term”. The company says one anomaly is 2km long and coincides with a line of poorly-tested historical workings. It plans to complete an in-field review, with possible in-fill geochemistry, prior to drilling.

Askari Metals is eagerly-awaiting results from a reconnaissance mission targeting rare earths at Barrow Creek after rock chip samples highlighted results of up to 4553 parts per million total rare earth oxides. The project is within 40km of Arafura’s Nolans Bore deposit that hosts a JORC-compliant mineral resource of 56 million tonnes at 2.6 per cent TREO. Askari believes it may host similar geology.

Infinity Mining is turning towards space to find what lurks underground at its Tambourah South project in the East Pilbara, where it is chasing pegmatite-hosted lithium, rubidium and rare earths mineralisation. The company is installing a new, advanced geophysical method to map several hundred metres of subsurface and to create 3D data visualisation to help focus its exploration activities.

White Cliff Minerals will focus its rare earths exploration on the company’s Hines Hill, Diemals and Lake Tay projects after the sale of its Yinnetharra lithium-rare earths project to ASX-listed Minerals 260. The company will receive a total of seven million Minerals 260 shares and $100,000 cash for the sale of Yinnetharra in the Gascoyne region of WA. The transaction value of the deal comes to $2.445 million.

Lindian Resources has secured $9 million in funding for its Kangankunde rare earths project, with chairman Asimwe Kabunga tipping in $500,000 as the company closes in on its processing plant construction. The funds come via a share placement at a near 10.5 per cent premium on the past closing price. Two new investors have poured in $7.5 million and $1 million respectively.

Ora Banda Mining directors and London-based investor Hawke’s Point have stumped up a combined $9.2m as part of a $30m capital raise to fund the cost of operating the reimagined underground Riverina project. The company says the well-supported shares placement and planned development of the underground system will help set it on the path to producing 100,000 gold ounces annually by the 2025 financial year.

Australians suffering hard-to-beat cancers are set to be the first to benefit from trials of new treatments conducted as part of a two-year partnership between Radiopharm Theranostics and GenesisCare. Tumours in the brain, lung and prostate will be targeted in three first-phase clinical trials in Australia, which will be aimed at studying the safety and tolerability of Radiopharm’s novel radiopharmaceutical treatments.

Seismic data from the Perth Basin has unveiled four high-graded oil and gas targets within two permits for a joint venture led by WA-based producer Triangle Energy. Drilling is now scheduled for the first half of next year, while work is also ongoing to further define the identified targets, in addition to adding others to the list.

While many gold producers are delighted to churn out 100,000 ounces a year, five leading companies wouldn’t get out of bed for that. Take a look which WA company stands head and shoulders above them all.

Venture Minerals believes the identification of two new priority nickel-copper-PGE targets by its JV partner Chalice Mining will enhance the prospectivity of its South West project, 240km south of Perth. Two previously-identified soil anomalies have been extended and better-defined during a phase-two program at the project Venture describes as a look-alike to Chalice’s Julimar discovery.

Ora Banda Mining has been given the green light to start mining at its Riverina underground gold deposit near Kalgoorlie after receiving financial investment decision approval from its board of directors. While the mining decision is still subject to the company securing a capital requirement of about $30 million, the approval supports its 2025 financial year production target of 100,000 gold ounces per annum.

Coda Minerals looks set to press the go button on plans to mine its Elizabeth Creek copper-cobalt project in South Australia after positive results from its recently completed scoping study on the operation. The study has revealed a net revenue of more than $5.7 billion over an estimated 14-year mine life at a pre-tax internal rate of return of 26.5 per cent.

Quantum Graphite says it is poised to take advantage of the respective booming markets for battery anode materials and long-duration energy storage after positive flake-sampling tests in South Australia. First-phase flake test-work achieved a purity of 97.59 per cent graphitic carbon and the company predicts increased temperatures will raise that mark to the 99.5 per cent needed for anode production.

AVZ Minerals has unveiled a monster lithium hit, with credible tin additions, from five holes in a wider 54-hole drilling campaign at its Manono project in the Congo. Headline results include 308m at 1.53 per cent lithium oxide and 731ppm tin from 22.5m, with another 176.3m grading 1.67 per cent lithium oxide and 898ppm tin from 23.7m.

North American explorer 88 Energy has revealed deep-diving plans to chase up to 647 million barrels of Alaskan oil in six target zones after successfully drilling its Hickory-1 surface hole to a depth of 1088m. The company has installed casing and a blow-out prevention system at Hickory-1 and will now proceed to the full depth of 3810m.

Octava Minerals believes it may be on the cusp of proving up a significant nickel sulphide orebody in the wake of finding high-grade mineralisation from deep drilling at its JV project in WA’s Kimberley. The company’s project partner, Future Metals, has reported the discovery of high-grade platinum group metals that is believed to extend “well beyond” its 6.9-million-ounce mineral resource.

Askari Metals’ bold vision of identifying a major exploration discovery at its Uis lithium project in Namibia has received a timely boost through the signing of a conditional investment agreement with global giant, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt. The deal, and an accompanying institutional investment raise, would boost the company’s coffers by more than $5.7 million as it aims to beef up exploration.

St George Mining has acquired seven hard rock lithium projects to beef up its impressive WA portfolio and further drive its strategic move into lithium exploration, in addition to its flagship Mt Alexander nickel project. Several of the new projects are located along strike from renowned high-grade spodumene lithium deposits and active mines in WA’s Eastern Goldfields region.

ASX-listed cell therapy company Chimeric Therapeutics has moved a step closer to trialling its treatment for gastrointestinal and neuroendocrine cancers on humans following a successful meeting with the powerful American regulator the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company says the FDA’s feedback was encouraging and its advice supports the company’s proposed phase 1 trial for the cancer-fighting treatment.

Ora Banda Mining looks set to pocket $4.2 million in a three-way deal that includes the sale of four non-core tenements to Beacon Minerals and a new royalty agreement with key investor Hawkes Point. Ora Banda has agreed to sell four of its Lady Ida licences in the Goldfields region of WA to Beacon through its wholly owned subsidiary for $2.5 million while still retaining all non-silver and non-gold mineral rights over the tenements.

Surefire Resources hopes a “unique” high-purity alumina deposit, with returns grading up to 31 per cent aluminium oxide, will lead to lucrative rewards from its flagship Victory Bore vanadium project, 400km inland from the WA port city of Geraldton. The company has appointed Queensland-based consultant Lava Blue to start purification test work aimed at leading to the production of high-purity alumina product.

Everest Metals is a different looking company today from when it was Twenty Seven Co up until last year. It has totally renewed its board which is now led by mining man Mark Caruso and assisted by COO and former finance professional Simon Phillips. The new board has its foot on a curious new project that boasts multiple near surface gold reefs and hints of DeGrussa-style copper at depth.

Allup Silica is rapidly ticking boxes at its Sparkler project in the South-West of WA as it readies the silica sands project for a mining licence which it will apply for next quarter. The company has appointed the South-West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council to undertake a Heritage Survey and it has also just wrapped up an auger drilling campaign at its Dune Buggy and Pink Bark projects near Esperance with some success.

WA-based oil producer Triangle Energy has banked $10 million through a binding farmout agreement with New Zealand Oil & Gas for 25 per cent of its L7 production licence and EP 437 exploration permit. Following the separate sale to Talon Energy in December last year of another 25 per cent slice of its permits, Triangle retains a 50 per cent stake of its original tenure.

Neometals is in the crosshairs of the European Investment Bank for cornerstone debt funding of its vanadium recycling project in Finland. The EIB is the lending arm of the EU and one of the biggest providers of climate-related finance. While it does not tend to lend 100 per cent of required funding for projects, its approval could see other commercial banks come to the table.

ABx Group has hit paydirt with its latest rare earths exploration in Tasmania with assays from an ongoing drill campaign more than tripling the initial mineral resource of its Deep Leads and Rubble Mound channel. At 13.9 million tonnes, the resource is now 350 per cent larger than the maiden mineral resource however, with assays outstanding and drilling continuing, a further upgrade might be on the cards.

Terrain Minerals has used an induced polarisation survey to help lock in two priority gold-drilling targets under shallow cover and near existing gold prospects at its Smokebush project in the Yalgoo mineral field, 350km north of Perth. The company found a 400m IP anomaly near existing drilling where results include a 5m hit at 6.1 g/t gold from 55m.

Ora Banda Mining will collect a cool $10 million for the sale of non-core tenements at Lady Ida, 65km south of its Davyhurst gold processing plant in WA. The company says the move will strengthen its balance sheet ahead of a decision on the go-ahead for its Riverina underground gold mine. The sale includes low-grade gold resources in addition to related mining and infrastructure licences.

Multi-commodity explorer Meeka Metals continues to rack up high-grade gold hits at its Circle Valley project near the WA town of Esperance, where it expects to soon deliver a maiden rare earths mineral resource. The intriguing intercepts appear to be evolving into a significant gold footprint covering several kilometres at its underexplored tenure. The head grade came in a 4m core showing 3.89 g/t.

Infinity Mining has a renewed optimism in its search for more lithium-bearing pegmatites and rare earths after positive results in the latest field program at its South Tambourah project in WA’s Pilbara region. The return of eight rock chip samples collected late last year confirm lithium mineralisation of up to 3.86 per cent lithium, 338.5 parts-per-million caesium, 174ppm niobium, 233.7ppm tantalum and 3013.5ppm rubidium.