Public Company News

Ora Banda Mining has appointed long-time mining executive John Richards as a non-executive director from 1 May and flagged him to become chair following the retirement of Peter Mansell from the role at the close of the November annual general meeting. Richards brings 40 years of experience in mining and metals and currently serves as the chairman of Sandfire Resources. The company says his appointment supports its next growth phase.

Lindian Resources has secured a low-cost, domestic supply of sulphuric acid for its Sareco facility in Kazakhstan. The strategic arrangement with state-backed producer SSAP provides reagent security ahead of a looming global supply squeeze. With China set to ban acid exports from next month, Lindian's access to local supply at competitive prices significantly de-risks its downstream processing strategy for its world-class monazite concentrate.

Dalaroo Metals has completed priority one soil geochemistry across the south-eastern block of its Gold Ridge prospect in Côte d'Ivoire, collecting almost 2250 samples along the first 4.5km of an interpreted 9.5km gold corridor. The program targets strike extensions of a previously defined gold anomaly, where historical rock chips returned up to 17.95 g/t gold. Assay results and maiden drill targets will follow.

The Bulls N' Bears ASX Runner of the Week is… Solis Minerals, which exploded after securing Rio Tinto's Brazil lithium project in Minas Gerais. The project is strategically positioned beside Pilbara Minerals' Colina asset in one of the world's emerging spodumene hotspots. Adisyn surged on validation of its revolutionary graphene-based semiconductor interconnect and a $14 million institutional placement, 333D Limited doubled on improving cash flow from its medical imaging and 3D data platforms and NoviqTech struck a pair of biochar and carbon removal partnerships tied to data centre demand and low-carbon concrete applications.

Fresh from building momentum in the Murchison, Meeka Metals has fired another shot by locking in a strategic gold acquisition at Mt Holland, 110km southeast of Southern Cross in Western Australia. The prize includes a fertile belt with 1.2 million ounces of historic production, multiple known deposits and 24 kilometres of underexplored gold-hosting banded iron formations now primed for an aggressive drilling assault.

Rio2 has begun commissioning a new US$27M tailings filtration facility at its Condestable copper mine in Peru, following an 18-month construction period. The plant is designed to process 8400 tonnes per day and will support the company's move to dry-stack tailings, which will lift water recovery to almost 90 per cent. Commercial operations are targeted for the September quarter.

Patriot Resources has upgraded the previous JORC-compliant exploration target at its wholly owned Tassa silver-gold project in southern Peru to a massive range estimated at between 559 million and 774 million ounces silver equivalent at a grade of between 48g/t and 57g/t silver equivalent. The estimate is based on an integrated review of surface sampling, geophysics and 8500m of historical drilling.

Neometals has kicked a big goal in the US, tabling a maiden exploration target for its Utah Brine Project that ranges from 1.9 to 6.5 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and a bumper 94 to 325 million tonnes of potash. The company says it has leveraged historical oil and gas data to define the low-cost target in the famed Paradox Basin.

Dalaroo Metals has significantly expanded its Blue Lagoon project in Greenland, after being granted new licences to target offshore critical minerals. The company's geological model suggests heavy minerals, including rare earths, zirconium and niobium, are being transported from inland alkaline rocks through drainage systems and out to sea. Dalaroo plans to test these marine accumulation zones using seabed sampling and bathymetric surveys.

WA Gold's scoping study for its Abercromby project near Wiluna in WA has outlined a staged pit-to-underground operation targeting 114,494 ounces of gold, with an $8M start-up capex. The base case flags about $270M pre-tax free cash flow and a $229M NPV at $6000 per ounce of gold, with payback in 1.5 years. Drilling is continuing to grow and upgrade resources.

Lindian Resources has secured a local funding package with Malawi's NBS Bank totalling US$11.6M, comprising US$4.6M for equipment finance and US$7M for working capital. The asset facility will reimburse 90 per cent of its Komatsu mining fleet, while the working capital will provide a liquidity buffer as the company's Kangankunde build progresses towards mechanical completion in 2H 2026.

Bulls N' Bears Big Hits looks at notable drill intercepts recently reported to the ASX last week, led by New Murchison Gold with 18 metres at 10.3 grams per tonne gold from 54m, including 6m at 29.3g/t from its Crown Prince East pit in WA. Golden Horse Minerals' shallow 7m at 13.0g/t at Hopes Hill South and SQX Resources' wide 24.4m at 3.1g/t at Red Bird in Arizona round out the selection.