Public Company News

Northern Minerals says that ore sorting tests of stockpiled ore at its Browns Range rare earths mine has the potential to double the mineral grade to about 2% total rare earth oxide. The test work used sensors to sort the rare earth mineralisation from waste rock based on its bulk density and magnetic properties and the company says it could set up ore sorting infrastructure for just $4m.

Coziron Resources’ assays of historic auger drilling at the Croydon Top Camp gold project in the Pilbara have returned a maximum result of 25g/t gold compared to the historic 8g/t gold originally produced. Upgraded levels of “pathfinder elements” for lode-style gold mineralisation were also encountered with results from the re-assaying of 182 auger pulps across the project to be used to help discern new drill targets.

Altech Chemicals is closing in on securing the balance of funds it requires for its high purity alumina project with due diligence on the proposed mezzanine debt facility expected to be completed by the end of November. Stage 1 construction of its HPA plant in Malaysia, which is already funded, will run in parallel to finance close.

Artemis Resources has revealed an impressive 55% increase in copper and zinc resources at its Whundo mine near Karratha in WA. The new estimate of 2.67 million tonnes grading 1.14% copper and 1.12% zinc includes a near surface oxide resource of 383,000 tonnes grading 1.78% copper. The resource update is timely, as prices for copper and zinc have doubled over the last 10 years since the mine was mothballed.

PharmAust has appointed Westar Capital chairman Neville Bassett as a non-executive director, replacing Dr Wayne Best who is retiring. Dr Best will remain as chairman of the company’s wholly owned subsidiary Epichem. Pharmaust is poised to start clinical trials for its Monepantel anti-cancer drug on canine subjects soon.

Recently listed Vonex is poised to start beta testing of its innovative Oper8tor APP that can seamlessly link voice calls and messages across multiple platforms and devices around the world. The company will seek to commercialise the technology via the teleconferencing service provision industry with Beta testing to involve up to 5,000 controlled users ahead of a planned launch of the ground breaking technology in 2019.

Blackstone Minerals has confirmed a significant new discovery of high grade cobalt and gold mineralisation at its Erebor prospect in British Columbia, Canada. It is the first new find of cobalt in the district since the 1930s with rock chip samples going up to 2.3% cobalt and just over an ounce to the tonne gold, with some highly anomalous copper and nickel results thrown in for good measure.

BlackEarth Minerals has identified new high grade target zones at its Maniry graphite project in southern Madagascar with rock chip sampling returned jaw dropping grades of up to 48% total graphitic carbon. These zones are located in the underexplored northwest corner of the project and will be tested during the trenching program that is due to start this month.

Bellevue Gold’s drilling program at the Viago lode at the Bellevue gold project in WA’s Goldfields region continues to return high grade hits including an intersection of 3m @ 85.9g/t gold from 597m down-hole which contains a 0.5m section going a whopping 445g/t gold. Step out drilling will be carried out to define the limits of the Viago lode, which remains open in all directions.

Delecta Limited has reported high grade samples going up to 7.1% cobalt and 12.4% copper from its new Highline project in southern Nevada, USA. The project is surrounded by 4 historical cobalt mines in the Goodsprings district and initial geological mapping has outlined the potential for multiple lodes of mineralisation adjacent to the Highline mine workings. Highly anomalous zinc and lead assays were also returned from the Pocahontas claim.

Affinity Energy & Health has signed an MoU with Skin Elements to investigate the use of its algae based products and cannabis oils in Skin Elements’ range of natural skin care products. Commercial terms and financial arrangements will be negotiated at an appropriate time as product development initiatives progress.

Middle Island Resources has reported some solid assay results from an infill and extensional resource development drill program at its Wirraminna gold deposit near Sandstone in WA. Best results include 6m @ 6.62g/t from 84m down-hole and 14m @ 1.82g/t from 82m down-hole. The new results will be used to update the company’s existing mineral resource estimate of 550,000 tonnes grading 1.32g/t gold for 23,000 ounces.