Public Company News

Altech Chemicals is well on the pathway towards producing high purity alumina in Malaysia with erection of the workshop steel frame and placement of its roof structure now nearing completion. In addition, construction of the retaining wall is now about 75% completed whilst work has started on the first of four on-site detention storm water tanks that will store all site storm water.

Classic Minerals has recommenced drilling at its emerging Kat Gap gold project near Southern Cross, WA, where a series of exploratory programs last year unearthed shallow, high-grade gold mineralisation at a prospective rock contact. The short campaign will target strike and up-dip extensions of the defined mineralisation, which produced results up to 10m @ 30.78g/t gold from 28m down-hole and 8m @ 19.05g/t gold from 32m down-hole.

Classic Minerals has completed an earn-in and JV agreement worth up to $4.55m to divest its Fraser Range nickel-copper project in WA to base metals miner Independence Group. Classic will now concentrate its exploration at the emerging Kat Gap gold project located south of Southern Cross, WA, where recent drilling returned impressive results up to 8m @ 19.1g/t gold from 32m down-hole.

Venus Metals has contracted Murdoch University Associate Professor Aleks Nikoloski to carry out a metallurgical research study into vanadium, iron and titanium recoveries from its Youanmi project near Sandstone, WA. The research is co-funded by the Australian Government and test combined pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical process to recover all three metals from Youanmi oxide ores.

Infinity Lithium’s San José project in Spain could benefit from the EU’s recent recognition that access to raw materials has become essential for ensuring the supply of lithium chemicals for its automotive industry. The European Commission has identified 10 potential mining projects that could allow the EU to produce 30% of the world’s lithium by 2030 and flagged that more investment in this sector is likely.

Alterra has strengthened its board as it continues to build agricultural business opportunities with the appointment of experienced corporate accountant John Palermo as a non-executive director. His background in corporate transaction execution, strategic business management and business structuring is expected to assist Alterra with its strategy of building capacity and pursuing its growth plans.

AVZ Minerals has formed a strategic relationship with Chinese cobalt manufacturer Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt to advance the DFS for its giant Manono lithium-tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Besides lending AVZ its experience in the DRC and mainland China, Huayou will also prove the company with advice and assistance in other areas such as project financing and offtake financing.

JV partners Venus Metals and Rox Resources have discovered high-grade intersections from their maiden drilling program at the Currans Find JV gold project, located near Youanmi, WA. At Currans Find North, spectacular new intercepts of potentially shoot-controlled and shallow quartz veining included 6m @ 9.82g/t gold from 36m down-hole and 4m @ 5.72g/t gold from 60m down-hole in separate drill holes.

MGC Pharmaceuticals has received a 50% increase in medical cannabis product orders from Australian distributors Health House International and Cannvalate due to both repeat and new prescriptions. The company also expects to conclude the Phase II clinical trial for its CogniCann medical cannabis treatment for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients about 12 months ahead of schedule thanks to the high level of interest.

Australian telco Vonex continues to build momentum for its core PABX telephony business with more than 29,000 registered users now on its books, a 24% increase over the last 12 months due to its marketing campaign and constructive engagement with its channel partners. The company also expects to deliver a 25% year-on-year growth in the June 2019 quarter, up from the 20% growth rate it reported last quarter.

St George Mining has delineated further high-grade nickel mineralisation at the Investigators prospect of its Mt Alexander project located near Leonora, WA. Best results included 10m @ 2.47% nickel, 1.06% copper, 0.07% cobalt and 2.52g/t PGEs from 142m down-hole. Regional exploratory drilling at the Sultans prospect also confirmed the continuity of nickel mineralisation from historical drilling.

AVZ Minerals has initiated a DFS for its Manono lithium project in the DRC after a scoping study outlined that a 5Mtpa operation could generate a whopping pre-tax NPV of USD$2.63b at an IRR of 64%. Manono boasts one of the world’s greatest lithium resources at 400 million tonnes grading 1.65% lithium oxide and 715ppm tin, most likely placing it in the top three lithium deposits around the globe.