News

Mining company First Quantum has formalized a memorandum of understanding with Australian junior firm Raiden Resources for the Mt Sholl nickel/copper/platinum group elements (PGE) project in Western Australia.

Raiden's Managing Director, Dusko Ljubojevic, highlighted Mt Sholl as the largest and currently the only open-pittable nickel/copper/PGE sulphide resource in the district. He expressed optimism about the project's potential to unlock a district-scale opportunity for development.

According to the terms of the agreement, First Quantum Australia will be the sole funder of the project up to the decision to mine, while Raiden will retain a 30% free-carried interest until that point. To secure a 70% interest, First Quantum is obligated to invest a minimum of $25 million over eight years in exploration activities and associated studies.

The agreement includes a 12-month due diligence period for First Quantum, during which the company has the option to earn into the nickel/cobalt/PGE project through staged investments and milestone cash payments to Raiden. As part of the due diligence process, First Quantum will pay Raiden $250,000 in cash and must spend at least $1.5 million.

Importantly, Raiden will maintain rights over gold and lithium/caesium/tantalum, and its exploration program for those minerals will continue as part of the overall agreement.

Global Lithium Resources has successfully concluded its 2023 drilling campaign at the wholly owned Manna lithium project in Western Australia.

Situated approximately 100km east of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields region, the Manna project's 2023 drilling initiative marked its second major campaign, involving the drilling of over 60,000 meters. K-Drill and Profile Drilling, responsible for the reverse circulation drilling program in 2022, and DDH1 Drilling, which previously conducted metallurgical diamond drilling, completed the drilling program. The extensive program covered a distance exceeding 100km.

Logan Barber, General Manager – Geology at Global Lithium, expressed excitement about reaching this milestone, emphasizing the completion of over 60,000m of drilling at the Manna lithium project in 2023. The focus now shifts to awaiting assay results to update the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).

The drilling program specifically targeted the expansion and infill drilling of the Manna MRE, which currently stands at 36 million tonnes at 1.13% lithium oxide. The objectives included extending along strike and down dip of the Manna lithium deposit. Additionally, geotechnical drilling was undertaken to support the definitive feasibility study, scheduled for completion in the second quarter of the 2024 calendar year (Q2 CY24).

Barber commended the exploration team for their hard work and commitment to safety throughout the program. With the drilling phase concluded, updates will be provided as results become available, building on the initial results announced in October.

While the Manna project still exhibits significant upside potential, with the system remaining open to the north-east and south-west, planning for further drilling in 2024 has already commenced. The Manna lithium project's MRE is anticipated to be published in Q1 CY24, following the receipt of assay results from the 2023 program.

Lynas Rare Earths has officially commenced the initial feed of Mount Weld material at its Kalgoorlie processing facility in Western Australia. This significant achievement comes after successfully concluding kiln heating and other essential activities, signaling the transition from the commissioning phase to the facility's first production phase and subsequent ramp-up.

Expressing enthusiasm about reaching this milestone, Lynas' CEO and Managing Director, Amanda Lacaze, stated, "We are thrilled to have achieved the first feed in Kalgoorlie. This marks an exciting step forward as we expand our operational presence and enhance our capacity to meet the increasing global demand for separated rare earth materials."

Highlighting the significance of the Kalgoorlie rare earths processing facility, Lacaze emphasized that it is Australia's inaugural value-added rare earths processing facility, making it a project of great importance for both Lynas and the broader Australian critical minerals industry.

In October, Lynas Malaysia received a license variation allowing the ongoing importation and processing of lanthanide concentrate from Lynas’ Mount Weld mine. The Lynas Malaysia plant is currently undergoing a temporary shutdown as efforts to augment downstream processing capacity are underway, with production set to resume in January 2024.

The Kalgoorlie rare earth processing facility will gradually introduce Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) to the Lynas Malaysia plant, starting in the late March quarter. The volume will increase in tandem with the controlled ramp-up of the Kalgoorlie facility. This strategic approach ensures a smooth integration of production processes between the two facilities.

The approval for Stage 3 of the conservation management plan and exploration drilling program has been granted by the Western Australian Government for Chalice Mining's Julimar exploration project.

Commencing shortly, the exploration drilling will span the interpreted strike length of over 30 km within the Julimar Complex, situated in the western wheatbelt region of WA. The comprehensive initiative includes targeted exploration diamond drilling at the Torres, Jansz, and Baudin targets, additional exploration drilling at Hooley, and air-core drilling covering the entire Julimar Complex.

The primary goal of this drilling program is to evaluate the potential for discovering high-grade nickel, copper, and platinum group elements (PGE). The air-core program specifically focuses on assessing the full extent of prospective ultramafic-mafic geology across the Complex, identifying new targets for subsequent drill testing.

Anticipated to extend for a minimum of six months, the exploration endeavors adhere to strict environmental management and monitoring requirements outlined in the program of work and conservation management plan. Chalice Mining emphasizes the commitment to environmental protection by confining all drilling activities to existing access tracks and non-vegetated areas, ensuring minimal impact on the environment. The company will maintain the same stringent environmental controls applied in the Julimar State Forest, utilizing small-footprint tracked drill rigs on established tracks and non-vegetated zones.

The Julimar exploration project encompasses the Gonneville deposit, which recently demonstrated "excellent results" in bench-scale hydrometallurgical test work.

Liontown Resources has finalized an agreement with the Mid West Ports Authority (MWPA) in Western Australia to facilitate the export of lithium from Kathleen Valley. The services and access agreement, spanning an initial 10 years, will enable the export of lithium spodumene concentrate from the Port of Geraldton to global Tier-1 offtake partners, including LG Energy Solution, Tesla, and Ford Motor Company.

The approval of the port agreement by WA Ports Minister David Michael marks the conclusive step in establishing a robust supply chain for exporting lithium ore from Kathleen Valley. Liontown's Managing Director and CEO, Tony Ottaviano, expressed gratitude to the Mid West Ports Authority and highlighted the Port of Geraldton's world-class facilities and growth potential. Liontown is committed to supporting the diversification of critical minerals exports for at least the next two decades, with the first exports expected to commence in mid-2024.

The agreement incorporates extension options for an additional 10 and three years, aligning with the anticipated mine life of the Kathleen Valley project. Following the successful execution of a share purchase plan, securing the necessary funding, the project is poised for future growth.

In a strategic move, Liontown announced a partnership with Qube to provide comprehensive pit-to-port logistics solutions. This collaboration includes road transportation and port-side storage management services, ensuring a controlled transfer of the product directly onto MWPA's automated ship loading infrastructure. The integrated logistics solution prioritizes industry-leading safety systems, especially in the transportation of bulk materials by road and onto ocean-going vessels. Liontown looks forward to commencing exports in mid-2024 and acknowledges the collaborative efforts that have strengthened its position in the critical minerals market.

Chalice Mining expanded its Gonneville critical minerals project in Western Australia through successful drilling. The Tim Goyder-backed miner discovered wide zones of high-grade copper and platinum group elements, extending the deposit to the north-west. Key results outside the current resource boundaries include:

1. 8.0m intercept at 5.83 g/t 3E (platinum, palladium, gold), 0.15% Ni, 1.12% Cu, 0.01% Co from 543m depth.
2. 14.0m intercept at 5.72g/t 3E, 0.19% Ni, 0.36% Cu, 0.02% Co from 1096m depth.
3. 16.0m intercept at 6.17g/t 3E, 0.21% Ni, 0.15% Cu, 0.02% Co from 478m depth.

The resource model is being updated, expected in Q1 2024. Chalice aims to improve feed grades for higher metallurgical recoveries. Gonneville, Australia's second-largest nickel sulphide deposit, is set for commercial production by 2029, producing green energy metals. Chalice plans to concentrate platinum group metals and copper into a copper concentrate with 25% copper content and 100-150 g/t platinum group elements.

Liontown Resources has successfully concluded the share purchase plan (SPP) introduced on October 19, aiming to fully finance the Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia.

The SPP offered shares at a price of $1.47 each, representing a two percent discount compared to the five-day volume-weighted average price of Liontown shares leading up to and including the SPP closing date of November 20, rounded to the nearest cent.

Designed to raise up to an additional $45 million at a price matching the lower end of the placement offer price, the SPP saw the issuance of over nine million new Liontown shares on November 27. These newly issued shares are anticipated to be listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on November 28.

Subscriptions from eligible shareholders in the SPP totaled $13.8 million. Liontown's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tony Ottaviano, expressed gratitude, stating, "On behalf of the board, we are pleased to have provided eligible shareholders the opportunity to participate in the SPP following the institutional placement, and I would like to thank shareholders for the ongoing support they have shown the company."

Ottaviano further emphasized that the funds raised through the SPP complement the proceeds from the $365 million institutional placement completed in October. This funding package ensures the financial requirements for the Kathleen Valley project from its current stage through to initial production and beyond.

The successful conclusion of the SPP follows recent developments at Kathleen Valley, including Sandvik's announcement to supply automated loaders, underground drills, and rock tools. Additionally, crucial components for the project's key wind turbines have arrived at Kathleen Valley, and underground mining has commenced with the initiation of the first blast to create underground portals at the Mount Mann pit.

For the latest updates on product announcements, industry developments, commodities, and more, readers are encouraged to subscribe to Australian Mining.

Recent drilling at De Grey's Hemi gold project in Western Australia is unveiling promising prospects for the project's expansion, both in open-pit development and potential underground mining. Focus has centered on the Diucon-Eagle open pits, revealing significant mineralization during recent exploration at Eagle and Diucon sites.

The findings suggest considerable potential for expanding the Diucon-Eagle open pit shell. Extensions below the Eagle pit and shallower Diucon areas display impressive mineralization, with drilling uncovering extensions at least 250 meters down plunge to the west and over 300 meters down dip beneath the current Eagle pit plan.

Phil Tornatora, De Grey's general manager, expresses optimism about the project's potential, noting that the discovered extensions could substantially enlarge the current open pit shell outline. Furthermore, the results hint at the feasibility of future underground mining, prompting additional conceptual studies.

Ongoing reverse circulation drilling at Hemi, particularly along the Diucon Thrust north of Crow and extending towards Scooby, aims to identify additional shallow resources contributing to the project's overall resource base. While further drill holes are pending, 10 completed diamond holes await assay results, with many intersecting significant zones of visible mineralization, indicating the project's mineral wealth.

The extensive Eagle mineralized intrusion, spanning over 1000 meters in strike and approximately 200 meters in true thickness, reaching depths of at least 600 meters, underscores the project's potential. Encouraging intercepts from lodes in the hanging wall of the Diucon Thrust highlight its strong influence on mineralization in the Hemi area. These ongoing exploration activities signal a positive outlook for the continued development and potential expansion of the Diucon-Eagle open pits, solidifying the project's significance in the region's gold mining landscape.

St. Barbara has unveiled its FY24 outlook report, focusing on its Atlantic and Simberi operations. The company has committed $8 million to the Atlantic growth strategy, with an additional $13-15 million to be invested by FY24's end. The major allocation is for the 15-Mile project in Nova Scotia. St. Barbara plans to provide updates on Beaver Dam mineral resources and conduct drill testing at Cochrane Hill in Q3 and Q4. For the Simberi growth strategy, a capital investment of $10-13 million is expected, funding resource definition drilling and optimization studies. The company holds a $236 million cash balance as of Q1 September FY24, including $47 million for the Touquoy mine reclamation bond. Interest income for FY24 is estimated at $3-5 million.

In the concluding quarter of September 2023, Northern Star Resources found itself in a robust position to achieve its ambitious 2024 financial year (FY24) objectives, which encompass selling a substantial 1.6 to 1.75 million ounces (oz) of gold at a competitive all-in-sustaining cost (AISC) ranging from $1730 to $1790 per ounce. Notable operational accomplishments were recorded during this period, with a remarkable lost time injury frequency rate of just 0.8 injuries per million hours worked.

Stuart Tonkin, the Managing Director of Northern Star, expressed his confidence, stating that the successful execution of major planned shutdowns across their three production centers paved the way for the company to realize its full-year goals, which are heavily weighted toward the second half of the year (2H).

The quarter also witnessed strong gold sales, totaling 369,000 ounces at an AISC of $1939/oz and an all-in cost of $2748/oz. Critical projects, such as the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) mill expansion and the impressive performance of Thunderbox operations in Western Australia, further underscored the company's commitment to excellence.

Northern Star's focus on operational excellence paid off, as they generated substantial underlying free cash flow from their operations. As the quarter concluded, the company boasted net cash reserves of $285 million, alongside a substantial $1.1 billion in cash and bullion, ensuring a formidable liquidity position of $2.2 billion.