Public Company News

Venus Metals says it has identified a strong lithium anomaly at its Youanmi lithium project in Western Australia’s Murchison region that may indicate pegmatite-hosted lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) mineralisation. The discovery was made from a reconnaissance soil sampling program in an area not previously explored for LCT mineralisation where several pegmatite outcrops are located.

Alma Metals was up 70 per cent after tabling a resource upgrade at its Briggs copper project in Queensland that smashed through the million-tonne contained copper mark and added molybdenum for the first time to the tune of 28.6m pounds. Alma says Briggs has now clawed its way into the top 10 largest undeveloped copper plays in Australia in terms of contained metal.

Lindian Resources’ big punt that its rare earths deposit in Malawi could extend well below the existing 300m might just pay off after a second 1000m hole showed signs of potential mineralisation all the way down. The monster intersection will now be assessed by a wave of assays and the company will soon deliver its highly-anticipated maiden mineral resource estimate to the market.

Toro Energy says high-confidence laboratory results confirming massive nickel sulphides at its Dimma discovery in Western Australia’s Goldfields region are double the thickness previously modelled on x-ray fluorescence scoping data. Previously thought to be 2.4m thick, Toro says it now has 4.31m of massive and semi-massive nickel-sulphide grading 1.37 per cent nickel, 0.13 per cent copper and 0.539g/t tonne platinum and palladium from 332m.

Thick pegmatites, including one stretching more than 120m, have boosted St George Mining’s lithium search at its Mt Alexander project in WA, as it attempts to define a bigger lithium system. Management says its project confidence is growing after assay results from its recent drilling program at its Jailbreak prospect also confirmed multiple lithium-bearing pegmatites, with a peak value of 1.28 per cent lithium.

Terrain Minerals has kicked off a second round of reverse-circulation (RC) drilling for gold and lithium at its 100 per cent-owned Smokebush project in Western Australia. Management says its project features many promising exploration targets that it is testing in a rapid, methodical and systemic manner in its mission to make a company-defining discovery.

Shallow exploration drilling at Xanadu Mines’ Kharmagtai copper-gold project in Mongolia has uncovered the potential for new discoveries outside its existing mineral resource area. Management says its new work has validated its belief that Kharmagtai hosts undiscovered porphyry deposits as the company progresses its prefeasibility study and updates its resource, with a view towards production.

Valor Resources has entered into a binding agreement with Firetail Resources to offload an 80 per cent interest in its Peruvian copper assets for an upfront cash payment of $750,000 and 15 million shares in the junior explorer. The raised funds will be used to accelerate Valor’s uranium hunt in Canada’s world-class Athabasca Basin at a time of rising uranium prices and surging investor interest.

American West Metals’ Storm project in Canada has continued to deliver high-grade, near-surface copper intervals at its 4100N zone. Its latest assays results include 15.3m at 1.6 per cent copper from 59m, containing 3.1m going 4.8 per cent copper from 64m. Management says its expanding copper footprint remains open in all directions and a diamond drilling campaign will start soon.

Classic Minerals has officially begun wet commissioning of the processing plant at its Kat Gap gold project in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region, with first ore expected to be produced this month. Management says it will use part of its bulk sample ore to complete the commissioning phase before processing the balance through its gravity circuit.

Perth-based oil and gas explorer Buru Energy has taken a significant step in progressing its 2021 Rafael gas discovery towards production after being granted State Government approval for its hydrocarbon Declaration of Location application. It marks a significant milestone for the project, signposting the company’s commitment to developing its Rafael resource and providing a clean-energy solution for Western Australia’s Kimberley region.

Askari Metals has increased the size of its Uis project in Namibia by 68.2 square kilometres by securing full ownership of a new tenement in an area known for lithium, tantalum, tin and rubidium mineralisation. Management says its strategic purchase takes the company’s total landholding in the area to about 380sq km … and it is still on the lookout for more acquisitions.