Latest Downstreaming News

Global Gold Mining has reported recoveries of up to 91.4% from metallurgical tests at its Sturec gold deposit in Slovakia, providing a useful processing input for the project’s pre-feasibility study. The result is encouraging, but the weaker 79.5% recovery from transitional material and the laboratory-scale nature of the work remain important qualifications.

Critica has produced high-purity mixed rare earth oxide and iron concentrate samples from its Jupiter project, giving potential counterparties physical products to evaluate. The milestone follows flowsheet improvements including stronger recovery, higher concentrate grades and lower sulphuric acid consumption, but commercial specifications and project economics remain unresolved.

Castile Resources has emerged from FY2026 with a larger Rover 1 resource, stronger preliminary project economics and A$9.37 million in cash. The next challenge is converting a A$1.07 billion pre-tax NPV8 study into a funded, permitted mining project.

Delta Lithium reported a $13.2 million FY2026 profit after separating its gold assets into Ballard Mining, while advancing lithium projects at Mt Ida and Yinnetharra. The result was supported heavily by demerger-related accounting gains, leaving the next test firmly operational: whether the projects can move towards production.

Metals Australia has reported a 50 Mt graphite resource, a maiden 21.51 Mt probable ore reserve and strong study-stage economics for its Quebec project. The opportunity is substantial, but the company ended the year with just AUD 3.73 million in cash and no mining revenue.

Cannindah Resources has reported preliminary NovaCell testwork recovering 94% of copper and 92% of silver at a substantially coarser grind, while rejecting 82% of processed material. The results could support a higher-throughput, lower-energy processing route, although gold recovery and concentrate quality still require further work.

EcoGraf has begun a European Investment Bank-funded study program worth up to €2 million to test expansion options for its Epanko graphite project and planned battery anode operations. The work could strengthen future financing and development decisions, but it remains a planning exercise rather than a construction commitment.

Elementos has materially strengthened its balance sheet while moving its Spanish Oropesa tin project closer to permitting, financing and a final investment decision. The annual report also highlights a doubling of Cleveland’s inferred tungsten resource, but both projects still require substantial capital and further approvals.

Coda Minerals has reported average copper and silver extraction of 94.4% and 95.9% respectively from representative Emmie Bluff samples, strengthening the case for its preferred whole-ore chloride leach process. The preliminary laboratory results also suggest Elizabeth Creek site water is suitable for processing, although cobalt recovery, plant-scale performance and capital requirements remain unresolved.

Argosy Minerals says laboratory-scale crystallisation testing has demonstrated a potential lithium chloride product yield above 99% at its 12,000-tonne-per-year Rincon project in Argentina. The results remove a key process uncertainty, but the project still depends on engineering completion, financing and a broader Definitive Feasibility Study.

American Tungsten & Antimony has produced antimony ingot from Arizona-mined material at its Nevada refinery, providing the first physical demonstration of its proposed US mine-to-metal chain. The milestone creates samples for testing and customer qualification, but the underlying asset acquisition remains incomplete and product quality is yet to be disclosed.

Sky Metals has used FY2026 to move Tallebung from exploration toward development, combining more than 500 drill holes with strong ore-sorting results and progress into NSW’s environmental approval process. The advance came alongside a A$5.37 million loss and continuing reliance on equity funding.