Latest Heap Leaching News

Cyprium Metals has begun acid commissioning at its Nifty heap leach pads for the first time since 2009, bringing its copper restart into the operational phase. The company now expects first cathode production in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to energisation, wet commissioning and ramp-up.

Australian Rare Earths has moved its Koppamurra pilot plant beyond heap leaching, recovering rare earths from about 5,000 litres of leach solution into a Mixed Rare Earth Hydroxide intermediate product. The result provides an early test of the downstream flowsheet, although commercial economics and final product quality remain unproven.

Bannerman Energy has completed a fully underwritten A$124 million institutional placement, giving the Etango uranium project a funding pathway through construction and ramp-up. The company now turns to a targeted Q4 2026 Final Investment Decision, while a further non-underwritten shareholder offer could raise up to A$10 million.

Challenger Gold has set early 2029 as the target for commercial production from a stand-alone heap leach operation at its Hualilán project in Argentina. The roadmap brings engineering, drilling and financing into sharper focus, but still depends on a US$15 million debenture refinancing and a much larger project funding package.

Great Northern Minerals (ASX: GNM) reported a $3.8 million loss for FY26 amid major US acquisitions, including the Iron Butte gold-silver project with a maiden resource of 480,000 oz gold and 11.5 million oz silver, and the Catalyst Ridge rare earths project. The company also completed a $2 million divestment of its remaining Golden Ant interest.

Anax Metals is upgrading its Whim Creek Heap Leach Scoping Study to a Feasibility Study, aiming to unlock additional value from low-grade copper and zinc ores alongside its strong concentrator project.

Austral Resources Australia Ltd has swung from a $24.2 million loss to a $25.3 million profit in the first half of 2026, boosted by strategic acquisitions, capital raises, and operational shifts. The company is advancing its Rocklands restart and has proposed acquiring Hammer Metals to expand its copper footprint.

Black Bear Minerals (ASX: BKB) has raised $12.5 million through a placement at a 16% discount to fund underground drilling and resource validation at its Shafter Silver Project in Texas, signaling strong institutional support for advancing mine restart plans.

West Cobar Metals is broadening its scandium exploration at Salazar by adding the Benriach Prospect to its Q4 2026 air-core drilling program, aiming to tap near-surface scandium enrichment and higher-grade zones within its existing resource.

Cavalier Resources has chosen SSH Group as its preferred mining contractor for the initial oxide pit at the Crawford Gold Project, aiming to kickstart mining operations within the next year.

Black Bear Minerals reports significant silver grade uplifts from historic core re-assays at its Shafter Silver Project in Texas, with grades reaching up to 2,990g/t Ag and confirmed polymetallic mineralisation including gold, lead, and zinc.

Broken Hill Gold (ASX:BH6) has identified several promising gold-copper targets near its White Dam project in South Australia, setting the stage for a significant exploration push focused on deeper sulphide mineralisation following the Icebreaker discovery.