Latest Operating Costs News

Podium Minerals says optimisation work has maintained approximately 80% overall 3E recovery while cutting the targeted size of its downstream recovery circuit by about half. The technical gains came alongside a larger annual loss and an explicit reliance on further funding to advance Parks Reef.

Brightstar Resources says laboratory testwork across deposits representing about 80% of its Sandstone resource supports a conventional gravity and carbon-in-leach processing route, with average recoveries around 94%. The results provide the processing basis for the project’s pre-feasibility study, although Bull Oak and further variability testing remain outstanding.

Core Lithium has moved Finniss from care and maintenance back into active mining, with first spodumene concentrate produced after year end and a December-quarter shipment targeted. The restart leaves the company with A$181.8 million in cash, but also a substantial execution task ahead as Grants ramps up and BP33 is developed.

Lefroy Exploration has moved from explorer to gold producer after Lucky Strike delivered its first gold, while Mt Martin and Burns advanced towards potential development. The milestone comes alongside a $2.136 million loss and an auditor warning that uncertain profit distributions may require further funding.

Critica Limited (ASX:CRI) has delivered stronger technical results across its Jupiter rare earths and Mt Lindsay tin-tungsten projects, but the developer remains dependent on further funding. Two scoping studies targeted for Q3 2026 now carry the burden of translating resource potential and laboratory results into project economics.

Western Yilgarn expanded its inferred bauxite inventory to 244Mt and added gallium, tellurium, cobalt, scandium and gold targets during FY2026. But the explorer ended the year with $159,481 in cash, a $1.78 million loss and an auditor warning that further funding is required to continue planned activities.

Cavalier Resources has lifted the Crawford Gold Project’s Stage 1 NPV by about 50% to A$77.2 million, while drilling supports extensions beyond the planned starter pit. But the annual report also flags a material uncertainty over going concern, with proposed project financing still subject to definitive documentation.

Lake Resources has reduced Kachi’s estimated capital cost by US$220 million and outlined a 25-year, 25,000-tonne-per-year operation. But the lithium developer still needs further funding, environmental approval, offtake and a final investment decision before construction can begin.

Australian Mines has appointed a specialist consultant team to complete the pre-feasibility study for its Flemington Scandium Project, targeting delivery in the first quarter of 2027. The study will retain a 60-tonne-per-year scandium oxide reference case while testing production scenarios of up to 180 tonnes per year.

Leeuwin Metals has confirmed gold across all 10 samples from historic tailings at its Marda Central project, averaging 0.596 g/t Au in the top metre. The result points to a potentially accessible processing opportunity, but the material remains well short of a defined resource or economic study.

PMET Resources says Koch Technology Solutions has demonstrated a more selective pathway for turning Shaakichiuwaanaan pollucite concentrate into multiple high-purity caesium chemicals. The result is promising, but the commercial case still depends on larger-scale testing, marketable samples and a planned economic assessment.

Ballard Mining has lifted the Mt Ida Gold Project’s global Mineral Resource Estimate by 56% to 1.84 million ounces, led by a larger Baldock deposit and new regional resources. The increase gives the planned feasibility study a much larger technical base, although most of the resource remains Inferred and is not yet an Ore Reserve.