Public Company News

Lithium Australia’s large scale pilot plant to be based on its SiLeach processing technology has received a boost, with test work achieving a breakthrough that improves lithium recoveries and enhances the production of a key by-product. The results have led to an innovative change to the process that has the potential to reduce capital and operating costs and strengthen the project economics.

A decrease in Chinese production of dysprosium highlighted by research commissioned by Northern Minerals, has placed an increasing focus on the company’s Browns Range rare earths project. Chinese production has dropped by 34% since 2013 and research consultants Adamas Intelligence believe Chinese production will be insufficient to cope with global demand for the burgeoning electric vehicle market.

A big oil and gas liquids discovery near Calima Energy’s acreage in the Montney Basin has added yet more backing for the company’s early move into one of the hottest shale basins in North America. The nearby discovery tested at more than 2,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and was rich in highly prized condensate and other natural gas liquids. Calima's move into the area is starting to look smart.

Heavy rare earths developer Northern Minerals has begun commissioning its Browns Range project in the East Kimberley just 12 months after the board approved the pioneering development. The on-site power station has fired up and allowed the successful commissioning of the crushing circuit, in a major step towards first production of heavy rare earth carbonate in July.

Emerging graphite developer Volt Resources has exchanged binding off-take agreements with its Chinese counterparties in a bid to get the finer details of the agreements signed off and set in stone ahead of initial production at the company’s Bunyu project in Tanzania. Volt also said its Stage 1 feasibility study, development funding, statutory approvals and construction contracts are on schedule

Metalicity has commenced RC drilling at the Yerrida Basin near Wiluna and will look to follow up on previous positive indicators at the project that show cobalt may be present. The latest campaign will investigate the project’s geological setting, which is considered analogous to the Central African Copper belt that hosts structural/stratigraphic-controlled copper-cobalt and nickel-cobalt sulphide mineralisation.

Emerging mineral sands producer Image Resources has set a good example for the WA mining industry by embracing solar power for its high-grade, zircon-rich Boonanarring development just north of Perth. The company has struck a deal with Perth-based Sunrise Energy Group that will see a 3-4MW solar farm built next door to its mineral sands project and supply about 25% of its power.

Algae.Tec has received the tick of approval from one of the largest aquariums in the world to supply it with its algae-based product as the Perth health sciences company continues to aggressively push into the lucrative US aquarist market. Algae.Tec’s FeedMe product has been approved for use at the Georgia Aquarium, which receives over 2.4 million visitors annually and houses 100,000 marine animals.

Internet of things company Connected IO is partnering with leading US IT firm and cyber security company Netsurion on a line of customised wireless routers in a deal worth $1.8 million over three years. The partnership will see Connected IO design and manufacture a purpose-built family of modem-like devices for the Florida-based producer of security products, managed networks and compliance solutions.

ASX-listed DroneShield has revealed that its anti-drone security technology was deployed by the Australian Defence Force at the recent ASEAN summit in Sydney to protect world leaders from hostile drone attack. DroneShield says the use of its proprietary DroneGun product by the Military at ASEAN on behalf of NSW police shows the quality and capability of its product suite.

Hot Chili has announced exceptional assay results from historical underground face sampling data compiled for its San Antonio prospect in Chile. Results include 7.5m @ 10.4% copper and 24.6m @ 2.2% copper and demonstrate ore thickness up to 30m true width. The ore system is still open at depth below 120m. Regional mapping and sampling has identified further porphyry copper targets.

Hammer Metals is on the move at its multitude of projects near Mt Isa with a plethora of exploration plays underway. The company will recommence drilling at the Jubilee project to extend high grade copper-gold results with significant surface mineralisation also located 4.5km to the southeast at Jubilee South. At Millenium, further anomalous copper-cobalt-gold assays were returned from RC drilling.