A West Australian junior involved in a number of exploration projects is confident it has come across an iron oxide-gold-copper (IOCG) deposit in its home state. Late last year, Miramar Resources Ltd (ASX:M2R) said that a review of historical drilling data had “potentially” revealed very significant magnetite iron opportunities at its wholly-owned Whaleshark project, which sits within the Carnarvon Basin in WA’s Ashburton region. Field work conducted in the area by Western Mining Corporation (WMC) in the 1990s whilst exploring for an IOCG intersected significant widths of magnetite-rich banded iron formation (BIF) averaging above 25 per cent iron beneath younger…
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…
Latin Resources Limited (ASX: LRS), a major Australian mineral exploration company, has announced the successful completion of its drilling program at the Colina Resource, a key part of its Cloud Nine Halloysite-Kaolin Project in Western Australia. The drilling program, totalling 5,000 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling, was completed on schedule and within budget. Initial assay results from the first phase of drilling have confirmed the presence of high-grade halloysite and kaolin mineralisation, with detailed analysis and further assays underway. The company expects to release these results in the coming weeks. The primary aim of the drilling program was to…
Summit Minerals (ASX: SUM) has completed a successful multispectral analysis at its Equador project, identifying 30 priority targets prospective for niobium mineralisation. Led by Dr Neil Pendock of Dirt Exploration, the analysis used Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to map spectral signatures indicative of niobium mineralisation. The targets, strategically located across the project area, correlate closely with historical data, marking a significant step in Summit Minerals' exploration efforts. The analysis revealed multiple high-priority targets, with ground-truthing confirming a strong correlation between spectral data and tourmaline pegmatite occurrences. An upcoming drone magnetic survey will further refine these targets, supporting an efficient drilling campaign…
Titan Minerals Limited (ASX: TTM) has announced significant discoveries of high-grade gold and silver mineralisation at its Dynasty Gold Project in southern Ecuador. Recent exploration efforts have expanded the project's footprint, with rock chip sampling indicating extensive gold and silver mineralisation beyond the existing resources. Recent sampling has revealed impressive rock chip results, with assays showing 8.71 g/t gold and 197 g/t silver at the Papayal prospect, and 8.73 g/t gold at Trapichillo. These findings mark substantial extensions of known mineral zones. The project's 3D geological model has undergone significant expansion and updating, reflecting an improved understanding of the geology.…
Island Passage Development Canada Limited (IPDC) has announced the commencement of a mineral exploration program by its PNG subsidiary, Island Passage Development Limited (IPD), on the EL02 exploration licence in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. The program, conducted in partnership with Isina Resource Holdings Limited (IRHL), a customary landowner company, marks the first large-scale mineral exploration program on Bougainville outside the special mining lease held by Bougainville Copper Ltd (Rio Tinto – CRA) since 1965. Located in south-central Bougainville in the Crown Prince Range, nine kilometres southeast of the historic Panguna copper-gold mine, the 261 square km EL02 exploration licence is…
American Rare Earths Limited (ASX: ARR) has announced significant progress in the extraction of Rare Earth Elements (REE) from its Halleck Creek project. Collaborative research with the U.S. Department of Energy and Virginia Tech has resulted in innovative metallurgical studies that could revolutionise the economic viability and sustainability of rare earth element mining. Key findings from the studies include: Two peer-reviewed studies confirm the potential for high-grade, economically viable extraction of REEs from the Halleck Creek ore using low-temperature, direct acid leaching techniques. A remarkable recovery rate of 80 per cent of REEs within the first 10 minutes using low-temperature…
Oar Resources Limited (ASX: OAR), an exploration and development company focused on battery and critical minerals, has reported significant progress in its global expansion and financial performance for the first quarter ending 31 March 2024. The company has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100 per cent interest in two Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPL) located in Namibia's Erongo Region, a well-known uranium mining jurisdiction. This move positions Oar in a major uranium-producing region, enhancing its portfolio with valuable uranium prospects. In Brazil, Oar has expanded its presence by securing pegging applications for uranium and rare earth element (REE) prospects in…
Alderan Resources Limited (AL8) is gearing up for a Stage 1 diamond drilling program at the New Years prospect, part of its Frisco copper-gold project in Utah, USA. The program, scheduled to commence in June 2024, will consist of four holes totalling 540 metres, with an additional six holes (1,500 metres) planned for Stage 2 pending the results of the initial drilling. The company has also begun soil sampling over the composite New Years magnetic anomaly to extend coverage from the 1960s, with grades up to 0.31% Cu. The anomaly, double the size of the Cactus anomaly, forms part of…
