Australian Critical Minerals has made significant strides in preparing its flagship Flint Gold-Silver Project for drilling, while strengthening its leadership team and securing fresh capital to fuel exploration.
- Completion of advanced NSAMT geophysical survey at Flint
- Drilling permits granted for northern Flint concession
- Appointment of two experienced non-executive directors
- Transition to Executive Chairman leadership structure
- Successful $3 million private placement to fund drilling
Exploration Momentum Builds at Flint
Australian Critical Minerals Ltd (ASX – ACM) has reported a productive quarter ending December 2025, marked by substantial progress in its Peruvian exploration portfolio. The company’s primary focus was the Flint Gold-Silver Project in La Libertad Province, a region renowned for its prolific epithermal gold-silver deposits. ACM completed an advanced Natural Source Audio-frequency Magnetotellurics (NSAMT) geophysical survey, which revealed a large, continuous resistive body interpreted as the silicified core of a high-sulphidation epithermal system. This discovery extends the known mineralised footprint beyond previous data, refining multiple high-priority drill targets.
The company also secured all necessary regulatory approvals to commence diamond drilling on the northern Flint concession, positioning itself to transition from exploration to active drilling. Drill pads have been strategically approved to intersect the core resistive zones identified by the NSAMT survey, enhancing the likelihood of intersecting mineralised structures. Preparations for the initial drill program are well advanced, with final drill parameters to be confirmed following comprehensive data integration.
Broader Peruvian Portfolio and Community Engagement
Beyond Flint, ACM continued advancing its other Peruvian projects, including the Riqueza Copper-Silver Project, Cerro Rayas Zinc-Lead Project, and early-stage lithium brine projects at Kamika and Liro. Field activities and community engagement at Riqueza have laid groundwork for future drilling, while desktop reviews and geological mapping preparations are ongoing at Cerro Rayas. The lithium projects remain in early exploration phases, with logistical and regulatory planning underway ahead of basin sampling scheduled for 2026.
Strengthening Leadership and Capital Position
In a strategic move to support its growth trajectory, ACM appointed two seasoned non-executive directors – Paul Niardone, with over 30 years’ experience in capital markets and investor relations, and Allister Caird, a geologist with deep expertise in critical minerals strategy. Concurrently, Managing Director Dean de Largie transitioned to an Executive Chairman role, ensuring continuity of leadership while enabling the Board to leverage his extensive geological and operational experience in Peru.
Financially, the company maintained prudent cash management during the quarter, with exploration expenditure focused on Flint and corporate administration. Post-quarter, ACM successfully completed a $3 million private placement to sophisticated investors, earmarked to fund the maiden 1820-metre diamond drill program at Flint and advance exploration at Riqueza, Shaw, and Cooletha projects. The company ended the quarter with $638,000 in cash, positioning it to commence drilling activities in Q1 2026.
Looking Ahead
ACM’s immediate priorities include finalising 3D inversion modelling of the NSAMT data to refine drill targets further and initiating diamond drilling at Flint. Continued community engagement and regulatory compliance remain key focus areas as the company advances its Peruvian portfolio. The coming months will be critical in translating the promising geophysical and geochemical data into tangible exploration results, potentially unlocking significant value for shareholders.
Bottom Line?
With drilling imminent and a strengthened leadership team, ACM is poised for a pivotal phase in its exploration journey.
Questions in the middle?
- What initial results will the upcoming Flint diamond drilling yield?
- How will ACM balance exploration across its diverse Peruvian portfolio?
- What impact will the new board appointments have on capital raising and project execution?