Bellavista Resources confirms successful initial bioleaching tests at its Brumby deposit, recovering key critical minerals, while progressing due diligence on over 50 potential projects to expand its portfolio.
- Initial bioleaching tests confirm recovery of Zinc, Vanadium, Copper, Silver, Nickel, Molybdenum, and Yttrium
- Detailed mineral analysis and commercial lab verification underway to quantify recovery rates
- Targeted shallow drilling planned for Q4 2025 to collect bulk samples for scale-up bioleaching tests
- Due diligence ongoing on 50+ gold, silver, and copper projects domestically and internationally
- Company holds $3.1 million cash and expects R&D tax incentives from bioleaching expenses
Bioleaching Breakthrough at Brumby
Bellavista Resources Ltd (ASX, BVR) has reported encouraging progress in its September 2025 Quarterly Report, highlighting the successful initial phase of bioleaching tests on its Brumby hyper-enriched black shale (HEBS) deposit. Early shake flask experiments have confirmed the leaching of several critical and strategic minerals including Zinc, Vanadium, Copper, Silver, Nickel, Molybdenum, and Yttrium. These results mark an important milestone in validating the potential of bioleaching, a microbial extraction technique, as a viable processing method for the Brumby mineralisation.
The company is now advancing detailed mineral analyses, including independent umpire testing at commercial laboratories, to quantify the recovery percentages and optimize experimental conditions. This step is crucial to understanding the efficiency and scalability of the bioleaching process under conditions that closely mimic the Brumby site environment.
Scaling Up and Exploration Plans
Looking ahead, Bellavista plans to commence a targeted shallow drilling program in the fourth quarter of 2025. The objective is to collect bulk samples that will enable scale-up bioleaching experiments using column tests, which simulate heap bioleaching conditions typical in mining operations. Additionally, further surface sampling across the Edmund Basin, including the Brumby and Kiangi areas, is planned following a LiDAR survey to better understand the terrain and hydrological conditions that could influence bioleaching efficacy.
These efforts underscore Bellavista’s commitment to advancing the Brumby deposit as a potentially world-class source of critical minerals, which are increasingly vital for emerging technologies and clean energy applications.
Active Project Pipeline and Corporate Position
Beyond Brumby, Bellavista is actively engaged in technical and financial due diligence on over 50 high-quality project opportunities, both within Australia and internationally. The company is focused on acquiring complementary assets with the potential to host world-class gold, silver, or copper deposits that can drive substantial shareholder value growth. While no binding agreements have yet been reached, Bellavista’s management expresses confidence in securing suitable projects, drawing parallels to recent successful acquisitions by companies with shared directors and advisors.
Financially, Bellavista remains well positioned with $3.1 million in cash at the end of September 2025, despite a net cash outflow driven by exploration and evaluation activities. The company also anticipates that its bioleaching study expenditures will qualify for future R&D tax incentives, providing some fiscal relief as it advances its innovative mineral processing research.
Strategic Collaborations and Future Outlook
Bellavista’s collaboration with the University of Western Australia’s Critical Resources Research Centre (CRRC) further enhances its research capabilities. The CRRC’s PhD candidate is leading the bioleaching study under expert supervision, leveraging global expertise and innovative techniques. This partnership not only validates the scientific approach but also positions Bellavista at the forefront of critical mineral extraction research.
As Bellavista continues to refine its bioleaching process and expand its project portfolio, the company is also exploring funding and development solutions for its Edmund Basin assets. The coming months will be pivotal as mineral analysis results and scale-up tests provide clearer insights into the commercial viability of the Brumby deposit and as new project opportunities potentially come to fruition.
Bottom Line?
Bellavista’s bioleaching progress and active project pipeline set the stage for potential breakthroughs in critical mineral extraction and portfolio growth.
Questions in the middle?
- What recovery rates will the upcoming mineral analyses confirm for the bioleaching process?
- How will the shallow drilling and bulk sampling influence the timeline for commercial-scale bioleaching?
- Which of the 50+ projects under due diligence might Bellavista prioritize for acquisition?