Latest Pilot Plant News

The week was split between big earnings reactions and small-cap rocks-and-rigs rallies. Pro Medicus sank despite record numbers, while a handful of explorers jumped on fresh discoveries and policy wins.

Explorers led the Materials tape as fresh drill stories and new ground deals pulled buyers into small caps. Big miners still delivered, but the loudest moves came from companies offering investors a near-term catalyst.

St George Mining has won preferential tax treatment from the Minas Gerais government, cutting development costs for its flagship Araxá Project in Brazil. This support bolsters the company’s ambitions to establish a world-class niobium and rare earths operation.

Meteoric Resources has successfully commissioned its Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate pilot plant in Brazil, achieving strong recovery rates and production outputs that validate its processing approach and de-risk the Caldeira project.

Brazilian Rare Earths has confirmed a breakthrough low-temperature acid-cure process achieving up to 97% rare earth extraction at just 150°C, promising lower costs and enhanced scalability for its Brazilian operations.

Everest Metals Corporation is progressing rapidly with near-term gold production at its Mt Dimer Taipan and Revere Gold projects while simultaneously developing Australia’s first rubidium industry at Mt Edon. The company reports strong resource upgrades, ongoing mining, and promising pilot plant plans for critical minerals.

Ark Mines Limited has signed a pivotal Memorandum of Understanding to trial processing of monazite ore from its Sandy Mitchell Rare Earths Project, aiming to recover critical minerals including Thorium, Neodymium, and Praseodymium.

Castile Resources has raised A$8.4 million through a share placement to accelerate its Rover 1 project, aiming to complete a Bankable Feasibility Study by mid-2026 and begin new exploration drilling.

Elevra Lithium has signed a non-binding MoU to supply up to 144,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate annually to Mangrove Lithium, supporting a new Canadian lithium conversion facility and strengthening domestic battery material production.

A single exploration name blew the doors off the leaderboard, while two well-known uranium plays and a Nevada explorer sank hard. Behind the noise: deals got closer to completion, big raisings reset prices, and several “good news” gaps didn’t survive the week.

A single drill program in WA delivered a once-a-year spike, while several small caps fell hard after reopening with price gaps. This week also saw big money raised for gold and uranium builds, and a run of resource upgrades across critical minerals.

Anson Resources has delivered a high-purity lithium chloride sample to Nusano, marking a key step in testing and potential supply agreement discussions. Nusano’s evaluation could unlock new applications across energy and medical sectors.