Latest Strategic Minerals News

Lynas Rare Earths has agreed to acquire Meteoric Resources in an all-share deal valued at about A$968 million, adding the Caldeira rare earths project in Brazil to its portfolio. The proposed transaction would materially expand Lynas’ resource base, but still depends on shareholder, court and Brazilian regulatory approvals.

Venari Minerals has moved Red Mountain from grassroots discovery to a 3.03Mt lithium carbonate equivalent inferred resource, backed by 99.5% battery-grade lithium carbonate test work. The next test is commercial rather than geological, with drilling, permitting and a planned Scoping Study now competing against a large loss and ongoing funding needs.

Australasian Metals has paired a sharply smaller annual loss with a $1.05 million placement aimed at exploring two proposed Côte d’Ivoire lithium projects. The projects remain an option, not an acquisition, while May Queen drilling is being prepared in Queensland.

Historical work has identified widespread near-surface columbo-tantalite mineralisation at Australasian Metals’ Atex project in Côte d’Ivoire, adding a potential tantalum stream to its lithium strategy. The results are encouraging, but the underlying estimate is non-JORC, unverified and based on incomplete historical records.

Olympio Metals has started a roughly 1,500-metre maiden diamond drilling program at its Jacknife silver project in Idaho, targeting mineralisation linked to more than 3.2 million ounces of historical silver production. The campaign is significant, but the company must still verify old data before it can establish a JORC-compliant resource.

Viridis Mining and Minerals has secured approval for a R$77.5 million BNDES financing facility, reducing the estimated senior debt still required for its Colossus rare earth project to about US$280 million. The 16-year facility carries an indicative current cost of approximately 4.8% and supports the project’s Brazilian processing and research infrastructure.

Australasian Metals has locked in a three-month exclusive option to acquire majority stakes in two promising lithium projects in Côte d'Ivoire, marking a strategic move into West Africa's emerging critical minerals scene.

Olympio Metals has launched its maiden drilling campaign at the Jacknife Project in Idaho, targeting historically rich silver mineralisation within patented claims, while advancing surface sampling at its Raven Project in Montana.

Lion Rock Minerals has revealed high-grade rare earth element mineralisation starting at surface at its Minta Project in Cameroon, with assays showing up to 21.15% TREO in saprolite and a magnet-rich rare earth basket. A large-scale drilling campaign is underway to further define this significant discovery.

McLaren Minerals has reported its best assay batch yet from the 2026 drilling program at the McLaren Titanium Project, with heavy mineral grades climbing to 5.44% from surface across 1,199 metres.

PT ANTAM (ASX:ATM) posted a 6% increase in net sales to Rp62.71 trillion in the first half of 2026, driven by steady gold, nickel, and bauxite sales. Profit after tax surged 34% to Rp6.91 trillion, supported by improved margins and foreign exchange gains.

Viridis Mining and Minerals completes a Definitive Feasibility Study for its Colossus Rare Earth Project, confirming strong economics and project readiness, while securing $120 million in equity funding to advance into execution.