Doug Bright

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.

St George Mining has dual listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange to boost European investor access to the company, driven by its world-class Araxá project in Brazil, which has more than 40Mt at 4.13 per cent total rare earths oxide and 0.68 per cent niobium pentoxide. The move aligns with its global strategy to supply critical minerals outside China. St George is currently drilling to expand the high-grade deposit.

Buru Energy has discovered a significant new gas prospect beneath its Rafael gas field in WA’s onshore Canning Basin. Buru estimates its Flying Fox target, identified in recent Rafael 3D seismic data, contains 60-614Bscf of gas and 1.2-12.6MMstb of condensate. The discovery mirrors Rafael’s contingent resources and could seriously boost the overall project’s potential. Buru plans to drill next year.

Bulls N’ Bears Big Hits looks at notable drilling intercepts recently reported to the ASX by Caprice Resources, Stavely Minerals and Patriot Battery Metals. Caprice’s Island gold project south of Cue in WA’s Mid West region revealed an 11-metre hit assaying 17.3g/t gold, including 9m at 21g/t gold from 170m. Other interesting drill hits were reported at Stavely’s Fairview prospects in Victoria and Patriot made a big caesium discovery in Quebec, Canada.

American West Metals has hit thick, high-grade copper at its Storm copper project in Nunavut, Canada, with a reverse circulation drilling program confirming near-surface mineralised zones and deep diamond drilling hitting 57m of visible copper sulphides at its Cirrus target. The results point to an extensive copper system, which might support resource upgrades and expansion at the company’s Corona, Thunder, Lightning Ridge, and The Gap prospects.

BMG Resources is raising $600,000 through a placement of new shares to sophisticated and institutional investors to advance its Abercromby project scoping study and to drill its Bullabulling project in the WA goldfields. With a 518,000-ounce gold resource at Abercromby and high-grade hits at Bullabulling, BMG is poised to capitalise on its WA gold projects, leveraging their proximity to major mines and infrastructure for rapid development.

Neometals Ltd’s drilling at its Barrambie gold project, 80km northwest of Sandstone in WA, has nailed high-grade gold, with top intercepts of 6.2m at 9.87g/t gold at its Ironclad deposit and 10.2m at 2.72g/t gold at its Mystery prospect. Other gold hits at Ironclad include 14.15m at 3.21g/t and 22.1m at 1.75g/t gold. Further drilling will target resource growth along the 4km Barrambie trend, aimed at mining in 2026.

Aurum Resources has delivered a total 2.41 million ounces of gold in a resource update for its West African Boundiali gold project - a stunning 50% hike on its previous resource estimate. When combined with a 0.87-million-ounce interim resource at its separate Napié project, Aurum’s combined resource endowment across its tenement group now totals 3.28 million ounces of the yellow metal.

Rio2 Limited’s Fenix Gold Project in Chile’s Atacama region is 41 per cent complete, with $56.4 million spent against a $57.8 million budget. A US$50 million third prepayment from Wheaton Precious Metals continues to support construction and development. Hosting 4.8 million ounces of gold, the project aims to pour first gold in January 2026, creating jobs and boosting the region’s economy.

St George Mining has unearthed a second high-grade rare earths discovery at its world-class Araxá project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The impressive discovery lies 1km northeast of its existing 41Mt niobium-rare earths resource within the richly endowed Barreiro carbonatite. Initial assays from the auger drilling program suggest a substantial expansion of the already globally significant Araxá deposit.

Latitude 66 Ltd has divested its 17.5 per cent stake in the Greater Duchess copper-gold joint venture in Queensland to partner Carnaby Resources for $6 million, comprising $2 million cash and $4 million in shares. The non-dilutive transaction will enable Latitude 66 to advance its more significant exploration ventures in Western Australia and Finland.

Solara Minerals’ moving loop geophysical survey at DeGrussa West, 17km from Sandfire’s famed DeGrussa copper-gold mine, has defined two large north-dipping conductive plates with strong gold and copper potential. Coinciding with magnetic anomalies and favourable structural features, these high-priority targets are set for drilling, with permits approved, following the company’s recent acquisition of OD4 Tom Price.

St George Mining has delivered Brazil’s first rare earths sample from its Araxá niobium-rare earths project to MagBras for magnet production studies, potentially pioneering Brazil’s magnet rare earths supply chain with a sample sent to MagBras for magnet production studies. The 30kg rare earths oxalate sample, derived from the company’s 100%-owned Araxá project, marks St George as a frontrunner in Brazil’s emerging rare earths supply chain.

Kula Gold/Aurumin Ltd have reported a 98,534-tonne maiden resource grading 0.63g/t gold for tailings at their joint venture Mt Palmer project in WA’s Goldfields, boosting the project's early monetisation potential. The inferred resource, defined by 60 air core drill holes, contains 1996 ounces of gold at a 0.4g/t cut-off, with preliminary metallurgical testwork showing an average 86 per cent gold recovery rate.

St George Mining has secured $5 million at a 13.1% premium for its Araxá project in Brazil to upscale drilling, expand its niobium-rare earths resource and pursue US partnerships. The company will soon launch 9000m of drilling to enhance its world-class project. The placement will enable an earlier and expanded program at Araxá to increase the current 41 million tonne niobium–rare earths resource.

Aurum Resources has struck 1.43m at 234.35g/t gold at its 1.59-million-ounce Boundiali gold project in Cote d'Ivoire as it continues a 100,000m drilling program for the year. Two resource updates are imminent. The company has completed 23 diamond core holes totalling 5728.9 metres of drilling at its BM Target 3 deposit within Boundiali.

Solara Minerals has secured 310 square kilometres of exploration licences in the Bryah Basin near the DeGrussa and Peak Hill mines in one of WA’s proven and prospective copper and gold districts after acquiring licensee OD4 Tom Price for $130,000 cash and 1.25 million shares. High-priority conductors at the key DeGrussa West and Wilgeena projects have not yet been tested.

Larvotto Resources has raised US$105 million (A$161.3M) via a fully subscribed senior secured bond to help restart its Hillgrove antimony-gold project in NSW. The project is backed by strong investor demand and aims for first production in 2026. The bond issue, supported by major Australian and international funds, underscores a robust case for Hillgrove’s role in supplying critical antimony and gold.

Lithium Universe has secured exclusive rights to a patented microwave technology for greener recycling of silver and critical metals from solar photovoltaic panels, after completing its acquisition of licensee New Age Minerals. The acquisition gives Lithium Universe access to Macquarie University’s innovative microwave joule heating technology, which more efficiently recovers silver from discarded photovoltaic panels.

Bulls N’ Bears Big Hits this week examines some recent notable drilling intercepts revealed on the ASX, including Encounter Resources’ high-grade niobium hit at its Joyce project in WA’s West Arunta region. Other interesting drill hits were reported by Nimy Resources, at its Mons gallium project, and Hyterra Limited landed a helium hit at its Nemaha gas field project in the US state of Kansas.

Kalgoorlie Gold Mining’s Lighthorse prospect at Pinjin near Kalgoorlie has doubled its strike to 1450m via air core drilling, identifying broad gold anomalism to guide an upcoming major RC drilling campaign. The 99-hole, 4710m program revealed thick, shallow gold intercepts and a second anomaly 800m north, surpassing the company’s Kirgella Gift/Providence footprint. This sets the stage for KalGold’s largest-ever RC drilling effort.

St George Mining has development studies in full swing at its Araxa niobium and rare earth elements project in Brazil’s premier mining state of Minas Gerais, as part of a global push to find new supplies. The company’s inaugural drilling campaign is charging ahead, with 40 auger holes on a 500m grid completed for 512m as part of a reconnaissance program to test areas beyond the current resource envelope.

Lithium Universe Limited has kicked off a pioneering project to extract silver from discarded photovoltaic solar panels, leveraging technology developed by scientists at Macquarie University in Sydney. Global silver demand is set to reach a record 680 million ounces in 2025, driven by a 7% compound annual growth rate in industrial use, photovoltaics and artificial intelligence, triggering an anticipated 117.6-million-ounce market deficit.

Ora Banda Mining has ended its financial year with a record 92,400 ounces of gold produced, a 32% increase over the previous year, marking the company’s second consecutive year of more than 30% organic growth. Production includes 1400 ounces from third-party processing under an ore sale agreement with Norton Gold Fields at Paddington Mill.