Public Company News

Bulls N' Bears ASX Runner of the Week is… 4DMedical Limited, after the lung imaging tech dynamo secured sweeping FDA and US Medicaid approvals. ABx's ionic clay coup, SenSen's AI urban edge and Middle Island's takeover-tinted Serbian play showed juniors can steal the spotlight in a market spooked by US indicators. With gold blazing, biotechs bleeding and China's military flexing, these Runners are riding a choppy terrain to small caps stardom.

Novo Resources has launched RC drilling at its Sherlock Crossing gold project in the Pilbara to test high-grade gold-antimony veins, alongside preparations to drill Wyloo's prior strong polymetallic results. Fieldwork and drill planning to test high-grade gold at Tibooburra and John Bull in NSW have also advanced. With JV partner Northern Star kicking off air core drilling at Egina, Novo's diversified portfolio is aiming for significant discoveries in Australia's premier mining regions.

Ora Banda Mining has intercepted even more bonanza grade gold at its Waihi deposit in the company's Davyhurst project in Western Australia's Goldfields, intercepting up to 159 grams per tonne of gold at depth. Hard on the heels of recent high-grade discoveries reported from its 7.5-kilometre-long Round Dam trend, early results are pointing at Waihi's potential to become the company's third underground gold mine.

Estrella Resources has turbocharged its maiden campaign in Timor-Leste, revealing a string of thick, high-grade manganese hits of up to 53% from its Ira Miri prospect. The assays mark a breakthrough for the company's maiden drill program at Ira Miri, confirming widespread near-surface mineralisation and reshaping its exploration strategy as it locks onto primary and secondary manganese beds within the region's little-known Noni Formation.

ASX-listed Larvotto Resources has unearthed a string of eye-catching gold-antimony intercepts at its Hillgrove project in New South Wales. Drilling at both of its Eleanora and Golden Gate prospects continue to reveal thick, high-grade hits, with assays confirming the scale and continuity across multiple lodes. Larvotto is drilling new holes at its Metz and Freehold targets and moving fast to extend its critical minerals inventory.

Augustus Minerals is zeroing in on outcropping veins with visible gold across its Music Well ground north of Leonora, where rock chips have run to a sky-high 122.8g/t. Heritage surveys are underway ahead of the first imminent RC drill holes. A looming PNG asset could add further significant upside for the company. Augustus is second in line for the highly prospective Mt Kare project, which it is pursuing through an application phase, with drill planning underway.

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.

Siren Gold has raised $4 million to accelerate drilling at its flagship Sams Creek project in New Zealand, with funds also directed towards high-grade antimony-gold exploration at its Langdons and Queen Charlotte projects. With gold and antimony prices surging and a pending mining permit decision, Siren is positioning itself at the centre of New Zealand's resurging resources sector.

Beetaloo Energy Australia has entered the back half of 2025 with a strong cash position, traditional owner approval and a record-breaking hydraulic stimulation at its flagship Carpentaria-5H well. The milestones pave the way for a pivotal flow test as the company targets first shale gas from the Northern Territory's Beetaloo Basin – a move that could reshape Australia's energy future.

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.

Octava Minerals has launched exploration at its Federation copper, zinc, silver and tin project in Tasmania, re-opening historic ground last worked in the 1980s. The company has already tracked down Renison Associated Tin Mines' old drill holes and adits at the Sweeney's prospect, where previous sampling lit up with hits including 4.17 per cent zinc, 3.32 per cent tin and 1.23 per cent lead, pointing to untapped potential.

Altech Batteries has been approved as eligible for a proposed €46.725 million (A$83.55 million) German government grant to further develop the company's groundbreaking CERENERGY sodium-chloride solid-state battery project in Saxony. The grant endorsement recognises Altech's vision to redefine energy storage with a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, using the humble power of table salt, reflecting Europe's plan to transition to renewables.