Doug Bright

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.

Middle Island Resources' share price rocketed 80 per cent from $0.02 to $0.036 a share today, driven by its potentially transformative acquisition of Konstantin Resources. The unlisted Australian company holds 14 exploration and mining licences enclosing 620 square kilometres of Serbia's Western Tethyan Belt, a globally renowned copper-gold province. The deal, paired with a $3.4 million placement at $0.017 per share, strengthens Middle Island's position as a multi-jurisdictional copper-gold explorer.

Aurum Resources has acquired a 35 per cent stake in Ivorian company Major Star Plus, in which it can earn up to 95 per cent in three permits covering almost 469 square kilometres near its 2.41-million-ounce Boundiali and 0.87-million-ounce Napié gold projects in Côte d'Ivoire. With 10 drill rigs and supported by a $35.6M placement, Aurum has planned 100,000m of drilling in 2025 to identify new gold discoveries.

Estrella Resources has launched LiDAR, drone magnetics and MobileMTd surveys across 3200ha of its Ira Miri and Werumata prospects in Timor-Leste to refine modelling of its manganese and limestone targets. The surveys will also improve targeting accuracy, with results expected to guide ongoing drilling at Ira Miri and imminent resource-definition drilling at Werumata to support a JORC-compliant limestone resource by November.

Solara Minerals' Wilgeena gold project, 15km from Westgold's 481,000-ounce Peak Hill and Catalyst's 243,000-ounce Hermes deposits in WA's Murchison region, reveals significant gold potential. Historical shallow drilling hit high-grade intercepts including 5m at 1.98g/t gold, with minimal follow-up. Solara plans to test multiple gold and copper targets near key structural trends to leverage the data to unlock value in one of the state's most productive goldfields.

American West is completing key pre-feasibility study activities at its Storm copper project, northern Canada's only near-term copper development. Permitting and environmental studies are progressing at the project, which is supported by Canada's critical minerals strategy. High-grade visible copper mineralisation suggests Storm has resource expansion potential, while its strategic importance positions it for rapid development.

Thunderbird Resources has landed high-grade gold results at the company's Kookabookra project in NSW, with rock chip assays of up to 17.35g/t at its Bear Hill prospect, 2.79g/t at Butchers Reef and a 23g/t gold hit within an inferred possible 400m strike length at the new Kojak target. Ongoing soil sampling and mapping support the potential for a large-scale intrusive-related gold system. Thunderbird plans to run a drill campaign to test recent IP anomalies and historical drilling.

Corazon Mining is set to kick off a new round of exploration at its recently acquired Two Pools gold project, within a prospective but underexplored region that has produced more than 6M ounces of gold since 1990. The company also recently raised $2 million through a placement and has appointed experienced mining executive Simon Coyle as MD to advance exploration in a geologically promising region near major gold mines.

A survey at Kalgoorlie Gold Mining's Pinjin project in WA's Eastern Goldfields has refined targets for a 6200m RC drilling program starting in September, focusing on a 1.6km-long strike at its recent Lighthorse prospect. Diamond drilling at its Kirgella Gift and Providence prospects, backed by $130,000 in state funding, aims to unlock deeper gold potential.