Latest Development Studies News

Encounter Resources has grown its Aileron niobium resource by 54% to 120 million tonnes while moving the West Arunta project into mining lease, metallurgical and development work. The company also ended FY2026 with $26.9 million in cash and term deposits, but still has no Ore Reserves or operating revenue base.

Black Canyon has put a 36.1Mt manganese and iron resource behind its Wandanya development push, supported by promising beneficiation testwork and a 3.4km mineralised base case. The next test is whether the December Scoping Study can turn those geological results into a credible project case.

Red Metal’s latest column tests have extended the heap-leach case to the largest ore type at its Sybella rare earth project, with 65% neodymium and 68% praseodymium extraction from fresh granite. The result brings 598 million tonnes of fresh granite into the company’s pre-feasibility study, although the ore requires a longer leach cycle than its weathered counterparts.

EcoGraf has identified a potential 20% increase in Epanko’s Stage 1 production capacity, while contracted European offtake has doubled to 40,000 tonnes per annum. The company is advancing debt financing and downstream plans, but its higher-output case remains outside the current financing base case.

Ballard Mining has expanded its Mt Ida gold resource by 658,000 ounces to 1.84 million ounces and strengthened its funding position with a post-quarter-end equity raise of up to A$50 million. The pre-production developer is now moving from resource growth towards a feasibility study and maiden Ore Reserve targeted for mid-2027.

Condor Energy has completed an independent development study for its 1 Tcf Piedra Redonda gas project and received formal qualification to negotiate a proposed offshore Peru licence. The company ended the September quarter with A$2.945 million in cash and estimated funding of 6.62 quarters.

Adavale Resources has secured A$4.65 million in placement funding to expand its Parkes gold resources, advance exploration and complete a Scoping Study expected in November. The raising comes as the company reports a 383koz gold inventory assembled over the past 20 months.

CuFe is seeking to take full ownership of its Tennant Creek copper-gold-bismuth project by issuing 1.6 billion shares to the holders of the remaining 45% interest. The deal could simplify development decisions, but would also leave Gold Valley and its associates with about 53% of CuFe if completed.

Yari Resources has completed its Arcadia Coal Project acquisition, more than doubling its reported Queensland coal resource base to 504.9Mt. The company says resource growth has outpaced dilution, but the portfolio still carries substantial deferred obligations and development work.

Estrella Resources has upgraded confidence in its Werumata limestone project, moving 274Mt into the Indicated category after expanding bulk-density data. The total resource falls to 533Mt from 621Mt, but the company says the change reflects revised density assumptions rather than less mineralised rock.

Podium Minerals has improved flotation recovery at its Parks Reef PGM project to 67% while maintaining overall concentrator recovery near 80%, with a smaller targeted downstream circuit. The September quarter also delivered the full A$4 million underwritten raising and a proposed Australia-US processing partnership, though both the flowsheet and funding pathway still require further validation.

Strata Minerals has established a maiden JORC 2012 resource of 42,000 ounces at its Zelica Gold Project in Western Australia, with 68% classified as Indicated. The resource provides a technical base for further drilling and development studies, but does not yet represent an Ore Reserve or confirmed mining operation.