Pinnacle Minerals Ltd (ASX: PIM) has announced the approval and scheduling of a significant drilling program at the Capel Mineral Sands Project in Western Australia. The program, comprising 93 air core drilling holes over approximately 2,000 metres, is set to begin on 20 May 2024. The Capel project, a brownfield heavy mineral (HM) exploration site, has already shown promising shallow mineralisation in previous drilling efforts by Iluka Resources. Noteworthy results include a mineralisation of 21 metres at 3.3 per cent HM from the surface, including 9 metres at 6.1 per cent HM from 11 metres depth. The project is strategically…
Alliance Nickel Limited (ASX:AXN) has announced that its NiWest Nickel Cobalt Project has been granted Major Project Status (MPS) by the Australian federal government. The project, located near Leonora, WA, is 100 per cent owned by Alliance and is considered strategically significant, with the potential to significantly contribute to Australia's economic growth and employment opportunities. The NiWest Project, boasting one of Australia's highest-grade undeveloped nickel laterite mineral resources, is targeting annual production of 90,000 tonnes of nickel sulphate and 7,000 tonnes of cobalt sulphate. The project is expected to create approximately 600 jobs during the construction phase and an additional…
Victory Metals Limited (ASX: VTM) has announced a significant milestone in Australia's mining sector with groundbreaking metallurgical recoveries of critical magnet metals at its North Stanmore Project in Western Australia. Achieving an exceptional recovery rate of 93 per cent, the results set a new benchmark in the rare earth sector and position North Stanmore as a leader in Australia’s critical minerals landscape. The recent leach tests conducted on beneficiated samples showcased remarkable recoveries of Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Terbium (Tb), and Dysprosium (Dy). These high-purity elements are integral to advanced technological applications, including renewable energy solutions and electronic devices. Utilising…
St George Mining (ASX: SGQ) has unveiled promising new targets at its wholly-owned Destiny project in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields region. The exploration efforts have identified potential carbonatites and mafic intrusions, raising the prospect of hosting niobium (Nb), rare earth elements (REE), or nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation. A gravity survey program conducted by St George over six prominent magnetic features at the Destiny project has yielded significant results. Four of the six magnetic features have shown a high-gravity signature, suggesting they could be intrusions such as carbonatites or mafic intrusions, both known globally for hosting valuable mineralisation. These features, ranging from 0.9km…
The Queensland government has granted mining leases for a significant phosphate mine in northwest Queensland, marking a major step forward for the region's economy. North West Phosphate's Paradise South complex, located 130 kilometres northwest of Mount Isa, has been given approval, with expectations to create substantial employment opportunities and boost the local economy. The project is anticipated to generate 200 jobs during the construction phase and employ 245 workers once operational. North West Phosphate has committed to utilising local services, providing a further economic boost to northwest Queensland. Phosphorous, a key product of the mine, is essential for fertiliser production…
Rincon Resources Limited (ASX: RCR) has reported a significant breakthrough in its exploration activities at the West Arunta Project, with recent diamond drilling confirming the presence of Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG)-style mineralisation. The company's second diamond drill hole at the Pokali prospect, labelled '24WADD002,' has intersected multiple zones with moderate to intense magnetite alteration, along with quartz and sulphide veining containing copper sulphides such as chalcopyrite, bornite, and traces of native copper and rare visible gold. These findings suggest the potential for a major IOCG deposit within the Pokali area. The drill core is currently being transported to Perth…
Iron ore continues to be a significant part of Tasmania’s mineral landscape, with the state’s leading operation undergoing some expansion works to ensure it maintains its annual production of two million-plus tonnes of magnetite concentrate. Meanwhile, a short-lived project to the south is ready to recommence mining once economic conditions improve. Located 60 kilometres southwest of Burnie, Grange Resources Ltd’s (ASX:GRR) Savage River has been subjected to a definitive feasibility study (DFS) into underground extraction below the north pit and its integration with the company’s current open-cut operation. According to the miner this document has revealed some robust financial outcomes.…
Rio Tinto has approved the next stage in the development of Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) in South Africa through the construction of the Zulti South project. The $463 million (Rio Tinto share $343 million) investment will sustain RBM’s current capacity and extend mine life. RBM currently operates four mines in the Zulti North lease area, a mineral separation plant and smelting facility. The Zulti North orebody grade is declining, hence the Zulti South mine is required to maintain the output of high-margin zircon and rutile, and provide sufficient ore to support TiO2 sales. The Zulti South mine (Phase 1) will…
Canadian technology company, ELYSIS has announced the site for its new research and development facility in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Québec. The ELYSIS joint venture, by Rio Tinto and Alcoa Corporation, is working to commercialise a breakthrough technology that eliminates all direct greenhouse gases (GHG) from the traditional aluminium smelting process, instead producing pure oxygen. In Canada alone, the technology has the potential to reduce GHG emissions by 7 million tonnes, which is equivalent to removing 1.8 million cars off the road. The company believes this technology could reduce the environmental footprint of the aluminium industry on a global scale.…
ASX-listed emerging diamond group, Lucapa Diamond Company Limited, in partnership with the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, have announced the recovery of a top-colour 55-carat diamond from the new 1.1 Million tonne per annum (Mtpa) Mothae kimberlite plant in Lesotho, Africa. The 55 carat stone is the fifth over 50-carat diamond recovered to date from Lucapa's 70 per cent owned Mothae project; in March, an 83.9-carat diamond was recovered. Commercial production from the Mothae mine commenced in January 2019 following the successful commissioning and ramp-up phases for the new plant and an earlier bulk sampling campaign. Mothae is considered…
Anson Resources Limited has commenced drilling the re-entry of the Skyline Unit 1 well at its Paradox Brine Project, located in Utah, USA. Anson is targeting lithium-rich brines in the deepest part of the Paradox Basin. Lithium values of up to 1,700ppm have historically been recorded in close proximity to Anson’s claim area. According to the company, the Skyline Unit 1 well had access that required little upgrade work and had previously recorded brine flow from historical drilling. This marks the third re-entry of an existing well carried out by the company at the Paradox Brine Project to sample brines…
BlackEarth Minerals NL has provided an update on the assay results received from trenching programs at the Maniry Graphite Project in Southern Madagascar. The Maniry trenching program was completed in early December with 47 trenches excavated for 4,314 metres, with 2,183 samples collected for analysis. 479 assay results were returned from the laboratory with the remaining assay results expected to be received and reported upon during the current quarter. The most impressive assay results were received from Trench MNT041 and MNT041a which were excavated at the Razafy NW prospect, these are summarised below: Trench MNT041: 0m at 9.89 per cent…
Newcrest Mining Limited has entered into an agreement with Roxgold Inc. for the sale of its Séguéla gold project and its portfolio of regional exploration tenements in the West African country of Côte d’Ivoire. Under the sale of the new agreement, Roxgold will pay Newcrest upfront consideration of AUD $14 million cash on completion. Roxgold has also agreed to a deferred payment of AUD $7 million cash contingent on first gold production from the portfolio. Highlights of the transaction: Prospective exploration permits covering 3,298 square kilometres in the mining jurisdiction of Côte d'Ivoire with significant scope to build upon existing…
Neometals Ltd has successfully commissioned the first stage of its lithium-ion battery recycling pilot plant (Pilot) in Canada. Despite worldwide regulation constantly tightening, it is estimated that only approximately 5 per cent of lithium-ion batteries are recycled across the globe. Increasing regulations coupled with developing corporate requirements for ethical sourcing and disposal of lithium-ion batteries have created an opportunity for Neometals to recover critical/non-renewable resources while reducing the environmental impacts usually associated with battery disposal. To capture this opportunity, Neometals developed a process flowsheet to recover over 90 per cent of all battery materials (in addition to recycling water and…
