Doug Bright

Middle Island Resources has launched a maiden, 800m reverse circulation drilling program at its Serbian Bobija polymetallic project, targeting gold-silver-copper-lead-zinc mineralisation below the historic Bobija open pit from which channel sample results are pending. With Bobija rock chip results assaying up to 5.24g/t gold, 120g/t silver, 4.66% zinc and 4.36% lead, the company sees a possible analogue with the 20Mt polymetallic DPM Metals' Vares project in adjacent Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Terrain Minerals has reported high-grade gold assays alongside silver hits from its Lightning Prospect at the Smokebush Project in WA's Murchison, reinforcing a strong gold-silver correlation. One significant intercept of 22m yielded 2.87g/t gold from 105m, including 21m at 15.79g/t silver from 105m, 1m at 70.59g/t silver from 108m and 1m at 60g/t silver from 124m. Follow-up drilling is proposed to further develop the dual-commodity potential.

Altech Batteries is hailing a breakthrough with a major advance in its Silumina Anodes technology, recording 88.5% capacity retention after 500 charge-discharge cycles by adding just 5% alumina-coated silicon to graphite anodes. The company's latest Silumina Anodes deliver a charge capacity of 420 mAh/g which far surpasses graphite's capacity in the range of 230-250 mAh/g. Altech's Saxony pilot plant confirms scalability, promising longer EV range and lighter batteries.

Octava Minerals will launch aircore drilling next week at its Byro Critical Minerals Project in WA's Gascoyne region, following outstanding bioleaching test results which showed recoveries of up to 85% rare earths, 92% lithium, and 78% vanadium. Octava has planned an 18-hole, 1000m program that, pending final approvals, will target a maiden resource via testing of high-grade zones in the host Coyrie Formation.

Corazon Mining has secured a 12-month option for 80% of the Feather Cap gold project in WA's Gascoyne region which hosts high-grade hits up to 20m at 3.01g/t and sits near Westgold's 2.9Mt Durack gold project. Other historical hits including 7m at 6.21g/t gold highlight potential across the 154 square kilometre project. With its Two Pools project 150km to the northeast, Corazon's regional footprint is growing.

Lindian Resources has wrapped up early development works program at its giant Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi with mining of its 23.7Mt at 2.9 per cent total rare earths oxide probable ore reserve scheduled to commence in early January. The reserve is backed by a 61Mt indicated resource at 2.43 per cent total rare earths oxides which includes a high-grade core of 25 million tonnes at 3.26 per cent TREO.

St George Mining has partnered with Brazil's Federal Centre for Technological Education in Minas Gerais for a new pilot plant at its Araxá project to advance high-grade rare earths and niobium processing. The collaboration establishes the St George Technological Centre at the Federal Centre for Technological Education's Araxá campus, focusing on sustainable innovation and downstream studies.

Aurum Resources' infill drilling at its Boundiali BMT3 deposit in West Africa has grown its total Boundiali indicated gold resource by 53% to 0.92Moz gold, with the total project resource remaining at 2.41Moz. The drilling at BMT3 has enabled the conversion of 320,000 ounces of previously “inferred” gold to the higher-confidence “indicated” resource category.

Chilean mining expert David Fowler has joined the Norfolk Metals' board as a non-executive director to help develop the company's recently acquired Carmen copper project near La Serena in Chile. Norfolk has drilled 20 holes in its 50-hole maiden drilling program targeting a near-surface supergene copper resource at Carmen, which may be amenable to heap leaching.

Octava Minerals has reported exceptional bio-leaching test results from its Byro critical minerals project in WA's Gascoyne region, reinforcing its potential as a significant source of rare earth elements, lithium and vanadium. The testwork, conducted by the CSIRO and European bio-mining specialist BiotaTec, demonstrates high recovery rates for critical minerals essential for magnet production and battery technologies.

Terrain Minerals has kicked off a maiden scout soil sampling program at its Carlindie lithium project in WA's Pilbara region, targeting 15km of interpreted lithium-bearing pegmatite structures about 30km east of Wildcat Resources' Tabba Tabba deposit. The low-cost program aims to generate drill-ready targets from the region's felsic-hosted lithium potential within 14 days, with results expected in four weeks to inform the design of follow-up drilling next year.

Altech Batteries has signed a collaboration agreement with Chinese battery producer AMPower to sell its sodium nickel chloride battery systems in Australia, Europe and the US. Altech has fast-tracked market entry for its fireproof, long-life alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, while advancing its CERENERGY energy storage facility project in Germany. Co-development of small and medium-sized systems will follow while protecting IP on both sides.

Estrella Resources has kicked off RC drilling at its Werumata limestone project in Timor-Leste, targeting a 500-million-tonne resource. Approvals have been secured and drilling is imminent, as the company eyes an early offtake deal. Estrella's environmental impact statement and management plan have been given the green light, paving the way for it to launch its maiden drilling campaign in about two weeks.

Aurum Resources has nailed stellar gold hits in infill drilling at its Boundiali project in Cote d'Ivoire, including 1 metre assaying a bonanza 152.35g/t gold, in a 12-hole campaign targeting a pre-feasibility study in the first quarter of 2026. Potential exists for significant resource growth as mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth.

Terrain Minerals' latest drilling results shine with 13m at 8.13g/t gold, including 2m at 48.22g/t and 1m at 18.04g/t at its Monza and Lightning targets in the company's Smokebush project, about 350km north of Paynes Find in WA. Eighty per cent of the reverse circulation drill holes jagged gold, with multiple thick zones, while IP surveys point to a possible big system that remains open along strike and to depth.

Siren Gold's Langdons project in New Zealand's Paparoa goldfield has dazzled with assays up to 38.5g/t gold and 5.7% antimony from open-pit channels samples, and 37.8g/t gold and 20.9% antimony in adit mullock. The results confirm previous sample analyses, including a bonanza-grade 506g/t gold and 6% antimony from open-pit mullock. Multiple mineralised structures span a 400m strike, while soil geochemistry flags extensions under cover.

Middle Island Resources has begun field exploration at the company's Bobija polymetallic project in western Serbia, targeting exposed barite-sulphide mineralisation in the historic open-pit mine. Initial rock chip and channel sampling aims to validate previous sample results up to 5.24g/t gold and 120g/t silver, while soil sampling is planned to chase up areas defined by anomalous stream sediment results.

Lindian Resources has engaged DRA Pacific for its Malawian Kangankunde rare earths project stage 2 study, targeting 50,000-100,000pa concentrate. Lindian is positioning itself as a key player in the global rare earths market, under recently appointed executive director Zac Komur, with stage 1 development on track, funded by a $91.5 million placement, targeting first production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Estrella Resources has drilled thick supergene manganese at its Ira Miri prospect in Timor-Leste, estimated at up to 12.87m at 80% oxides. The zones remain open to the northwest and southeast and follow the trend of the Noni Formation. Step-out drilling continues and assays are expected in 6-8 weeks, as manganese demand surges for the steel and battery markets.

St George Mining has won stellar rare earths and niobium results from drilling of its East Araxá zone, 1km east of the main Araxá resource in Brazil, with grades up to 16.87% TREO and 4.06% niobium from surface. Thick intercepts and high Nd:Pr ratios signal major expansion potential for the project, supported by a US alliance, positioning Araxá as a key critical minerals source outside China.

Larvotto's IP survey at Hillgrove's Freehold prospect, in NSW, has confirmed historic antimony-gold associations and uncovered untested extensions 350m east of historic mining. The company has already launched exploratory drilling on the new targets. Additionally, a $388,662 R&D tax rebate recognises the company's metallurgical innovations for gold and antimony recovery from ore and legacy tailings, which could boost output while bringing environmental benefits.

Peninsula Energy has rolled out the first drum of uranium yellowcake from its Lance project in Wyoming, aligning with the United States Energy Secretary's push to boost the nation's uranium reserve. Peninsula, now ramping up under new leadership, is poised to meet rising US nuclear demand. The company and fellow uranium producers Cameco Corp and Boss Energy have seen share price gains in the wake of renewed uranium interest.

Estrella Resources has hit manganese at its Ira Miri project in Timor-Leste, including 2.5m at 70% manganese oxides. The company has LiDAR and drone-borne geophysical surveys underway to guide its exploration and drill targeting. Estrella has completed LiDAR surveys at its Werumata limestone project and is waiting on approvals to drill.

Neometals will divest its 50% stake in a lithium battery recycling joint venture to diversified infrastructure company SMS Group for $8.9 million in cash and a capped $12.5 million revenue fee. The move, set for Q3 2025, will free capital for projects such as its Barrambie gold-titanium-vanadium projects, aligning with the company's risk-reduction strategy amid Europe's electric vehicle sales slowdown.

Lindian Resources has appointed mine development specialist Zac Komur to lead its giant Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi, where early site works are on budget and ahead of schedule. Stage one construction is fully funded for Q4 2026 production. Stage two studies and downstream partnerships are moving ahead, supported by a $91.5 million placement, positioning Lindian as a key rare earths supplier.

Altech Batteries' CERENERGY prototype cells have delivered more than 650 cycles with no capacity loss, 92 per cent energy efficiency and near-100 per cent Coulombic efficiency, outperforming conventional batteries. Its 60kWh battery pack also showed 88 per cent efficiency over more than 110 cycles with no degradation, confirming its safety under extreme conditions. A €46.7M German grant will support Altech's 120MWh Saxony facility to advance production of grid-scale energy storage.

Ora Banda Mining's Davyhurst mineral resources have reached 26.8 million tonnes at 2.4g/t gold for 2.11M ounces, up 160,000 ounces, including 25% and 14% growth at its Riverina and Sand King underground resources, respectively. The company's ore reserves have grown 24% to 3Mt for 236,000 ounces. A $73 million FY26 drilling program will target mine life extensions at Riverina, Sand King and other key prospects.

Aurumin Limited has divested its non-core assets for $6 million to fund its Sandstone gold project in WA's Mid West region. Sales to Newcam, Yilgarn Iron and Sierra include its Johnson Range, Mt Dimer and Sandstone non-gold rights. The funds will drive drilling to upgrade resources at Aurumin's Shillington, Two Mile Hill and other deposits, aligning with partner Brightstar Resources' pre-feasibility study to advance the 885,800-ounce Sandstone project towards production.

Corazon Mining has applied for a contiguous 99-square-kilometre exploration licence to expand its Two Pools gold project in WA's Murchison region to 296 square kilometres. The company is targeting a northwest-plunging mineralised trend, identified through geophysical analysis, which has been thinly explored with limited shallow drilling and holds significant potential for deeper gold mineralisation.

Graham Gadsby, former Spartan Resources chief geologist behind its Never Never and Pepper discoveries, has been named King River's new MD to lead high-grade gold exploration at Tennant Creek and Mt Remarkable. The former Spartan Resources geologist brings a wealth of experience to the new role.

Novo Resources has launched RC drilling at its Sherlock Crossing gold project in the Pilbara to test high-grade gold-antimony veins, alongside preparations to drill Wyloo's prior strong polymetallic results. Fieldwork and drill planning to test high-grade gold at Tibooburra and John Bull in NSW have also advanced. With JV partner Northern Star kicking off air core drilling at Egina, Novo's diversified portfolio is aiming for significant discoveries in Australia's premier mining regions.

St George Mining's Araxá project in Brazil has delivered up to 13.98 per cent total rare earths oxide and 7 per cent niobium in early reverse circulation drilling. The company aims to expand the 40.6Mt resource with more than 9000m of drilling still to be completed. Araxá has Brazilian government support and is set to bolster global critical mineral supply for clean energy.