Public Company News

ASX-listed central Africa lithium hopeful, AVZ Minerals has lodged the all-important mining licence application for its proposed Manono hard-rock lithium and tin project development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Perth-based company says the DRC Government now has all the required documentation to support its application.

Venture Minerals has begun commissioning the key wet screening plant at its former Riley iron ore mine in Tasmania as it edges closer to a full operational restart. The company says with plant construction completed and the commissioning phase underway, it remains on course to ship out the first iron ore product from the rejuvenated project in the current quarter.

ASX-listed Troy Resources has increased its exposure to the geologically prospective Makaba Kuribrong Shear Zone around its Karouni gold mine in Guyana, snaring the “must have” Potaro target in a progressive land acquisition program that has expanded its Karouni holdings to 3,000 hectares. Potaro, about 20km south of the Karouni gold plant, was identified by Troy as a key pick-up two years ago.

WA junior iron ore development aspirant CZR Resources could get a material economic boost for its proposed Robe Mesa iron ore project from new port facilities at Onslow, west of the project, according to a new report. Work on the company’s definitive feasibility study is now occurring in parallel with a deeper assessment of logistics options.

TSX-listed Novo Resources has exercised its option to acquire 50 per cent of the Malmsbury gold project in central Victoria, where the company has drawn comparisons with no less a geological analogue than Kirkland Lake’s 6.1 million-ounce Fosterville deposit 55 kilometres to the north. The deal with GBM Resources builds Novo’s Australian portfolio outside of its operations in WA’s Pilbara region.

Buru Energy remains on track to begin its 2021 drilling campaign in WA’s Canning Basin, with the drill pad for the Kurrajong 1 well nearing completion. Buru and joint venture partner Origin Energy are spudding both the Kurrajong 1 and Rafael 1 wells this season, with drilling expected to kick off in June 2021.

Wiluna Mining Corporation is now cashed up to complete the first phase of its sulphide expansion program, with the WA gold producer finalising US$42 million of credit from multi-national commodity trader, Mercuria. The loan will be used to finalise construction of the Phase 1 sulphide plant that will lift Wiluna’s production profile to more than 120,000 ounces of gold per annum.

Surefire Resources has upped the ante at the Perenjori magnetite iron ore project in WA’s southwest Murchison mineral field, with a production study to be conducted by consultant MinRizon Projects looking at options for the project’s existing 191.7 million tonne resource going 36.6 per cent iron. Resource drilling may also be on the cards ahead of a feasibility study.

Alto Metals has delivered another stellar step-out drill hit at its Vanguard gold prospect in WA’s Sandstone district with shallow visible gold less than 40m from surface assaying 60.6 grams per tonne over 4m. The high-grade intercept increases the extent of known mineralisation along the Vanguard and Vanguard North Trends to 2km.

ASX-listed Lithium Australia says its wholly owned subsidiary and cathode powders developer, VSPC has produced lithium manganese ferro phosphate cathode powder of “advanced and consistent quality” for use in lithium-ion batteries. Some of the lithium manganese ferro phosphate product will be made available next month to battery manufacturers for commercial testing focused on the electric vehicle market.

Blackstone Minerals continues to return high-grade nickel intercepts from its Ta Khoa project in north Vietnam. The company is drilling out a nest of new sulphide discoveries across the nickel-copper-rich terrane, with exploration at the new Taipan Zone intersecting an impressive 20.4 metres at 1.35 per cent nickel and 0.8 per cent copper from only 27m down-hole.

ASX-listed healthcare provider, InteliCare Holdings has received a welcome boost from this week’s Federal budget. The company is now looking forward to lifting sales of its innovative suite of in-home healthcare technologies as the government commits more than $6.5 billion to funding home care packages and pledges a further $13.2 billion to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.