Joint venture partners Covalent Lithium, Wesfarmers and Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) have opened of the Mt Holland lithium mine and concentrator project. The Mt Holland lithium project consists of an open-cut mine and concentrator, located 110km southeast of Southern Cross in the Wheatbelt region, and a refinery currently being constructed in the Kwinana Industrial Area. With an expected cost of $2.6 billion, the project is supporting 1,000 jobs during construction and 350 jobs during operations. Mt Holland will produce 380,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per year, which will be refined into 50,000 tonnes of battery-quality lithium hydroxide.…
BMG Resources Limited has announced promising results from its ongoing exploration review of the Dragon project neighbouring WA1 Resources’ site in the West Arunta region of Western Australia. Multiple targets showing structural and magnetic features have been identified at the Dragon Project — features similar to those that represent mineralised carbonatites at WA1 Resources’ ground and the nearby Aileron Project of Encounter Resources. BMG’s Dragon Niobium-REE Project is immediately adjacent to and shares a 30-kilometre-long border with the West Arunta Project of WA1 Resources. BMG Non-Executive Chairman John Prineas said: “Our ongoing review of exploration data for the West Arunta…
Pantera Minerals Limited has announced a substantial expansion of its Smackover Brine Project in North America, with the acquisition of 3,553 acres, representing a 26 per cent increase in leased acreage. The company's total net leased acreage now surpasses 17,000 acres. The bulk of the new acreage comes from a key lease with a mineral owner covering 2,194 acres, placing Pantera in a unique position of strength. This expansion not only enhances the project's scalability but also consolidates Pantera's control, with 100 per cent ownership of the project now under its purview. Pantera, the sole junior company listed in the…
A West Australian-based lithium explorer looks well-positioned to capture significant upside when the alkali metal’s market moves into its anticipated recovery mode. In 2023, Global Lithium Resources Ltd (ASX:GL1) spent a great deal of its corporate time sizing up its wholly-owned outcropping Manna pegmatite project in its home state of WA, completing a large-scale 60,000 metre reverse circulation and diamond drilling campaign which covered infill and extensional targets. The junior also started metallurgical and geotechnical programs that have since carried over into 2024. Located around 100 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in the state’s Goldfields, Manna currently enjoys an indicated and…
Hillgrove Resources has commenced production of its first copper concentrate from the Kanmantoo mine in South Australia, following the successful completion of the processing facility; both milestones were met within the company's target timeframe of Q1 2024. The transition from explorer to producer makes Hillgrove Resources one of only a few copper producers on the ASX. Hillgrove Resources CEO and Managing Director Lachlan Wallace said: “Operations will be bedded down at Kanmantoo as we ramp up to steady stage production and our attention will turn to growing the business by converting future exploration and development opportunities.” “The project is well-positioned…
In mid-February a Perth-based dual-listed resources house took a major step towards establishing a sovereign national graphite project which entailed a ‘mine to market’ capability and integrated operations located within its home state of Western Australia. In doing so, it moved further towards its goal of becoming a significant player in the global processed graphite market. International Graphite Ltd (ASX: IG6) has just completed the successful wet commissioning of its new $1.5 million, 200 tonnes per annum graphite micronising plant in the coal mining town of Collie in WA using imported graphite concentrates. To be known as the Collie BAM…
An ASX-listed junior is looking to expeditiously dual-track its two lithium projects during the coming year, with the Perth-based Future Battery Minerals Ltd (FBM) targeting deposits in both Western Australia and the US state Nevada. In WA, the prize is its wholly-owned Kangaroo Hills, located just 17 kilometres south of the historic gold town of Coolgardie, where a high grade lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatite discovery has so far returned an assay of 29 metres at 1.36 per cent lithium. Meanwhile, in southern Nevada, the aptly-named Nevada Lithium Project (NLP), in which the junior has an 80 per cent interest, is a large-scale…
Pantera Minerals Limited (PFE), a key player in the exploration and development of lithium resources, is poised to capitalise on the growing demand for lithium in the United States. The surge in demand, driven by the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage solutions, presents a significant opportunity for Pantera. A recent article by Fastmarkets highlighted the critical role of lithium in the green energy revolution. As the US transitions to a cleaner energy future, lithium-ion batteries are becoming essential for powering EVs, grid-scale energy storage systems, and other applications. Fastmarkets forecasts a substantial growth in US…
Critical mineral explorer, Litchfield Minerals Limited (ASX: LMS), has announced the discovery of several new chargeability targets at the historic Mount Irene Mine in Canada. The findings, revealed after a successful Gradient Array Induced Polarisation (GAIP) survey in March 2024, signify a significant breakthrough in the company's exploration efforts. The GAIP survey, known for its precision and depth, has identified multiple new chargeability targets extending towards the northwest (NW) of Mount Irene. These targets indicate the potential for substantial extensions to the known mineralised reefs, opening new avenues for exploration and development. Among the key highlights of the GAIP survey…
Alderan Resources Limited (ASX: AL8) is making significant progress in its exploration efforts, with updates on its copper exploration project in Utah, USA, and its lithium projects in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Utah Copper Exploration: Preparations for drilling at the New Years copper-gold prospect in Utah's Frisco project are proceeding rapidly. The company is finalising the precise locations and orientation of a planned three-hole diamond drilling program, aiming to commence drilling this quarter. Alderan already has permitted drill sites within the Frisco project area, with the permit expected to be amended for the new locations. Brazil Lithium Exploration: Alderan's stream sediment…
American Rare Earths (ASX: ARR | OTCQX: ARRNF and AMRRY) has released the findings of the Halleck Creek Scoping Study Technical Report by Stantec Consulting Services Inc., highlighting the project's potential as a low-cost, scalable, and world-class rare earth elements (REE) venture in Wyoming, USA. The study projects an attractive NPV8 of US$673.9 million and NPV10 of US$505.1 million (pre-tax), with an IRR of 22.5 per cent and a 2.9-year payback period based on a three million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) operating scenario. Initial capital expenditure is estimated at US$456.1 million, including a US$76 million contingency. The life of mine…
In a move to accelerate the Halleck Creek project, American Rare Earths (ARR) has successfully filed a Licence to Explore for Minerals by Dozing with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality in the US. This application is a critical step towards initiating test mining operations, as the company seeks approval for two test pits at the Cowboy State Mine site. The test mining is aimed at securing the necessary ore volumes for processing at a pilot facility, setting the stage for the future scaling of an operable mine and processing unit at Halleck Creek. American Rare Earths CEO Donald Swartz…
Arizona Lithium Limited has selected Rhythm Engineering Inc. to oversee the drilling and completion engineering and supervision services for its Prairie Lithium Project's upcoming drilling program in Canada. It follows a comprehensive proposal review from the company and marks a pivotal milestone in Arizona Lithium Limited’s project located in Saskatchewan, Canada; which is one of Arizona Lithium's key ventures alongside the Big Sandy Lithium Project. The exploration initiative will focus on drilling into the Dawson Bay and Souris River Formations, two deeper zones identified as prospective for enriched lithium brine. These formations, lying below the Duperow formation, have not been…
ASX-listed lithium exploration and development company — Galan Lithium Limited — has provided an updated on the progress of its Hombre Muerto West (HMW) Phase 1 lithium brine project in Argentina. The company is now on track to commence lithium chloride production in the first half of 2025. Galan Lithium Limited Managing Director Juan Pablo (JP) Vargas de la Vega stated: “We are taking advantage of the summer season whereby a buffer wall has been installed at the one third mark of Pond 1. “The initial partial evaporation process will commence in approximately 14 days with the full fill of…
