Latest PALISADE METALS (ASX:IR1) News

IRIS Metals has appointed Simon Iacopetta as Strategic Advisor and promoted Chris Evans to Executive Chairman, signalling a sharpened focus on expanding its critical minerals portfolio in North America.

IRIS Metals is gearing up for a substantial tungsten drilling campaign in Montana while delivering a fresh lithium-rubidium resource estimate for its South Dakota project, underpinning its North American critical minerals ambitions.

IRIS Metals has launched Phase I field activities at its Finley Basin Tungsten Project in Montana, aiming to validate historical mineralisation with a 7,000m drill program scheduled for Q3 2026.

IRIS Metals posted a $22.3 million loss for FY26, driven by major impairments on exploration assets and elevated share-based payments. The company pivots away from Edison and Tin Mountain projects, focusing on lithium-rubidium in South Dakota and tungsten in Montana.

Small caps drove the biggest moves, with Alvo Minerals surging, Klevo extending a payments-fuelled rally, and FBR jumping on fresh contract news. At the larger end, takeover bids, mine funding deals and a strong Liontown update kept resources and corporate activity at the centre of trading.

IRIS Metals has completed acquisition of 87 federal mining claims in South Dakota but will not proceed with the private land component of the Ingersoll Project due to unforeseen issues. The company is reassessing options while maintaining its broader critical minerals strategy.

IRIS Metals has revealed a 3.03Mt lithium resource at its fully permitted Beecher Project in South Dakota, featuring a notable rubidium component with a high-grade zone containing around 2,100 tonnes of Rb2O. This positions Beecher as a rare multi-commodity critical minerals asset in a top US mining jurisdiction.

Speculative growth names and biotech drove the biggest gains this week, while one consumer staple copped the heaviest selling after cutting guidance. Deal flow stayed busy, but investors were even more responsive to hard numbers: profit upgrades, feasibility studies, contract wins and fresh drilling results.

Drilling wins, funding deals and takeover activity drove a busy week in materials stocks. Big moves came from early-stage explorers, while larger producers won support with cash flow, mine life and deal-making.

IRIS Metals has fortified its balance sheet with a A$5.5 million placement and is progressing towards an updated lithium-rubidium resource at Beecher while executing a farm-in deal for a tungsten project in Montana, reinforcing its diversified US critical minerals strategy.

Gold names split cleanly this week: one stock rocketed on tangible production progress, while another cratered as selling overwhelmed a big plan. Critical minerals kept drawing attention, but several gap-ups didn’t hold once early buyers took profits.

IRIS Metals has secured a farm-in agreement to earn up to 100% ownership of the Finley Basin Tungsten Project in Montana, marking a strategic expansion into a critical mineral vital for defence and advanced manufacturing.