Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting has confirmed a strategic 18 per cent stake in lithium takeover target Azure Minerals, which has just agreed to a friendly $1.6 billion deal with SQM.

Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting has confirmed a strategic 18 per cent stake in lithium takeover target Azure Minerals, which has just agreed to a friendly $1.6 billion deal with SQM.