Rowena Duckworth

Estrella Resources has launched its maiden drilling campaign at the Werumata limestone project in Timor-Leste. The company is targeting high-purity calcite limestone across six diamond and 26 RC holes to underpin a potential 500 million-tonne JORC resource. With early drilling ahead of schedule and an offtake deal in sight, Estrella is accelerating its growth story in the new mining frontier that was formally East Timor.

American West Metals has struck more sizzling copper grades at its Storm project in Canada, including 12.1m at 5.6% copper with a hit up to 27.3%. The company says the new results point to a resource upgrade at Cyclone and strengthen its PFS, positioning Storm as northern Canada's next major copper development.

BMG Resources has struck more high-grade gold at its Bullabulling project near Coolgardie, with hits including 2m at 8.5g/t gold and 1m at 15.5g/t. The company says the mineralisation at Bullabulling North mirrors that of Minerals 260's 2.3Moz Bullabulling Mine next door, hinting the gold trend could extend into BMG's ground.

Meeka Metals is pushing ahead with open pit mining activities at its flagship Murchison gold project in WA. The company's mining contractor has commenced work well ahead of schedule, a 2m lift of its southern tailings storage facility is underway and process plant expansion works are advancing rapidly. The company expects to achieve a first gold pour mid-year.

Neometals has scored another tranche of funding to advance its vanadium recovery operation in Finland. EIT RawMaterials will throw in an additional €0.494m (A$818) in grant funding, following an earlier €0.5m investment late last year to increase its minority shareholding in a Scandinavian special purpose vehicle to 2.2 per cent.

Amid a surge of investor interest in its flagship Malawi rare earths project, Lindian Resources is advancing its financing options with a new hire to work on an existing deal and recommend further solutions. Experienced finance advisor Henk Ludik will progress a non-binding agreement Lindian has in place with US-based Gerald Group, and identify, review and recommend more funding solutions.

Lithium Universe has partnered with a research-focussed Canadian engineering school, Polytechnique Montreal, to drive innovation in lithium processing in the country and increase local expertise in battery metals to improve its supply chain. The initial five-year deal, outlined in a memorandum of understanding, will focus on three key areas: industry education, curriculum development and R&D collaboration.

Estrella Resources has received some stunning assay results from rock chip sampling from two in-situ supergene manganese discoveries at its Lautém project in Timor-Leste, with grades up to a striking 58.6 per cent manganese. Bulk determinations for detrital material accumulated on valley floors average a whopping 40.1pc manganese.

Joint venture partners Firetail Resources and Thunderbird Resources are ramping up work at their Peruvian Picha copper-silver project, following its recent selection in the prestigious BHP Xplor 2025 program. Mapping, gravity surveys and a drilling program targeting large-scale intrusion relation deposits are in full swing and a new target adjacent to the existing prospect has been staked.