News Articles for Future Battery Minerals

New assays have backed Auroch Minerals' hunch that an ancient European Copper mine could be rich in Cobalt with expectations around the upcoming drilling program now elevated. Assays from a second round of samples from waste dumps at the Tisova mine in the Czech Republic have produced economic grades of Cobalt, Copper, Gold and Silver, including a best result of 0.69% Cobalt.

The cleantech boom is taking off in Europe, led by the region's eco-conscious citizens and indomitable car makers. Perfectly positioned is ASX-listed Auroch Minerals, which appears to have found a Cobalt treasure trove in Europe's industrial heart. Drilling is about get underway at the historic Tisova copper mine in the Czech Republic, which was never explored for Cobalt but appears to have plenty of it.

Auroch Minerals will begin a major drill program next month at the Czech Republic's historic Tovisa copper mine, which is also thought to be rich in cobalt and gold. The drill program will start just two months after Auroch snapped up an option over 100% of Tovisa, where surface sampling has already returned grades of up to 0.68% Cobalt, 3.5% Copper and 3.7 grams/tonne Gold.

Auroch Minerals have uncovered important historic drill core up to 27 years old on their Alcoutim licence in Portugal that could provide vital clues as they gear up for the next drill hole along strike from the “supergiant” Neves Corvo deposit. Directors have high hopes for the next drill location, which already boasts multiple coincident anomalies pointing to massive copper-zinc sulphides.

Many explorers are searching for Cobalt opportunities right now, but few look more interesting than the one just snapped up by Auroch Minerals in the Czech Republic. The Perth junior has secured an option over an ancient Copper mine that was previously unrecognised for its Cobalt potential. It has vast waste dumps that could be bristling with the lucrative tech metal.

Auroch have begun drilling ahead of schedule in Portugal, just weeks after entering the country with a bold, deep-drilling exploration project targeting high-grade copper and zinc. The first diamond drill hole is expected to take between four and six weeks to test its target, which is just 20kms along strike from the “supergiant” Neves Corvo copper zinc mine.

Auroch Minerals are racing ahead with the first drill program at their high-impact Copper-Zinc project in Portugal, locking in a contractor to start drilling mid-month. The drill results will be hotly anticipated, with the project located just 20 km along strike from the “super-giant” Neves Corvo mine and sitting on a host of ripe geophysical targets.

Auroch Minerals have boosted their cash balance to $8m after banking another $1.3m in delayed funds from the sale of their Mozambique project to Xtract Resources last year. With only 85m shares on issue and a burgeoning bank balance, Auroch are something of a rarity in the small cap exploration space.

They say if you want to go hunting for giants you need to go to the land of the giants. Auroch Minerals appear to have done just that after securing a farm in agreement to earn up to 75% of the Alcoutim Copper, Zinc, Lead, Gold and Silver Project in Portugal. It is just 20km from the massive Neves Corvo mine that has proved up 8mt of copper and zinc concentrates over time.

After encouraging results from early exploration, Auroch Minerals have exercised their option on highly prospective Lithium ground in Namibia and will hit the ground running later this month. Early grab samples have returned up to 2.73% Lithium Oxide, a result that would have most Australian explorers sitting up and paying attention.

Auroch Minerals now have $8.3m in liquid assets after the UK-based buyer of their Manica gold project in Mozambique came up with more cash and shares as part of last month's settlement agreement. Auroch will soon be owed only $US1.2m from last year's $US12m sale and will have enough financial horsepower to fund an exciting Lithium exploration program in Namibia.

Auroch Minerals have played hardball with AIM listed Xtract Resources over an unpaid debt owing to Auroch for the sale of the Manica Gold Project in Mozambique in March last year. Under the terms of the original AUD$12m sale, Xtract were able to defer USD$2.5m until three months after the sale but only managed to pay down about USD$850,000 of the final USD$2.5m

Auroch Minerals have secured even more ground at their exciting Karibib Lithium project in Namibia under an option and joint venture agreement. The deal follows Auroch's entry to Namibia in November which triggered a surge in the company's share price and attracted attention from a serious Lithium investment fund.

In what appears to be an endorsement of their latest strategy to secure five highly prospective Lithium leases in Namibia, Auroch Minerals have attracted the attention of Rare Earth Minerals, a London and New York listed fund that takes strategic interests in undervalued Lithium projects around the globe. Rare Earths have taken a $650k strategic placement in Auroch.

Auroch Minerals announced that Dr. Andrew Tunks has committed to a full-time role as Auroch CEO.

Plymouth Minerals has appointed John Sanders as technical manager and Robert Jewson as its business development manager.

Perth-based explorer Auroch Minerals has sold its Mozambique gold assets to Xtract Resources for a cash and share package worth $US12.5 million ($A16.3million).

Perth-based explorers Windward Resources and Auroch Resources have dipped their toes into a tough IPO market, raising a combined $5 million through initial public offerings that closed today.