Osmond Resources has significantly expanded its Orion EU Critical Minerals Project by 160%, with promising assay results and a planned drilling program to confirm mineral continuity. The company is positioning itself to benefit from strong EU demand for rare earths, titanium, and silicon metals.
- Orion Project area expanded to 228 km² via three new permit applications
- Positive assay results confirm mineralisation continuity over 12 km
- Maiden 15-hole drilling program planned to verify grade and extent
- Metallurgical testing expanded to include silicon metal recovery
- Strong cash position of A$4.3 million following CEO option exercise
Project Expansion and Strategic Context
Osmond Resources Limited (ASX, OSM) has announced a major expansion of its Orion EU Critical Minerals Project in southern Spain, increasing the project area by 160% to 228 square kilometres. This growth follows extensive geological mapping and positive assay results that suggest a continuous mineralised zone rich in titanium, zirconium, hafnium, and rare earth elements (REE) across a 12-kilometre lateral extent.
The expansion includes three new permit applications adjacent to the existing tenement, reflecting the company's confidence in the project's potential. The Orion Project is strategically positioned to supply critical raw materials that the European Union currently imports, aligning with recent EU policy initiatives to establish strategic reserves for rare earths and other critical minerals.
Exploration Progress and Upcoming Drilling
Following detailed geological mapping and sampling campaigns across three target zones, Osmond has received encouraging assay results from Zone 2 outcrops, confirming the presence of heavy mineral-rich layers. These findings underpin the company's plan to commence a maiden 15-hole drilling program in the current quarter, aimed at confirming the continuity and grade of the mineralisation. The drilling commitment is budgeted at approximately A$1.5 million, a relatively modest investment to validate the project's resource potential.
Metallurgical Advances and Market Opportunities
In parallel with exploration, Osmond is advancing metallurgical test work on bulk samples, including an expanded focus on silicon metal recovery. Silicon metal is recognised as a strategic critical raw material by the EU, and the project’s quartz-rich mineralisation offers a potential advantage in silicon metal production. This diversification could enhance the project's commercial viability and align with the EU's drive to reduce reliance on imports for multiple critical materials.
Financial Position and Regulatory Tailwinds
Osmond's financial footing remains solid, with a cash balance of A$4.3 million as of June 30, 2025, bolstered by the CEO’s recent exercise of share options raising A$437,500. The company is well-positioned to fund its near-term exploration and development activities. Importantly, the project benefits from strong regulatory tailwinds, as highlighted by European Commission officials advocating for strategic reserves of rare earths, underscoring the growing geopolitical imperative for domestic critical minerals supply chains within the EU.
Osmond’s focus on rare earth elements for permanent magnets, titanium metal, and silicon metal positions it at the forefront of the EU’s critical minerals agenda, potentially unlocking significant value if exploration and development milestones are met.
Bottom Line?
With a vastly expanded project footprint and drilling imminent, Osmond Resources is poised to capitalize on Europe’s urgent push for critical minerals self-sufficiency.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming drilling confirm the continuity and commercial grade of mineralisation across all zones?
- How will metallurgical test results influence the project's development timeline and economics?
- What is the timeline and likelihood for final permit awards on the newly applied areas?