Author: Chloe Coutinho

Wyloo Gascoyne and Hasting Technology Metals will begin work on the Yangibana rare earths and niobium project in WA under their unincorporated joint venture (UJV). Andrew Forrest’s private mining vehicle, Wyloo, now holds a 60% participating interest and has been appointed manager and operator of the UJV with Hastings retaining a 40% participating interest. The UJV covers all assets associated with the project, including Stage 1 being the Yangibana mine and beneficiation plant and Stage 2 being the hydrometallurgical plant. The formation of the UJV formalises the partnership between Hastings and Wyloo to progress the Yangibana project, leveraging Wyloo’s significant technical and financial expertise. Wyloo chief executive Luca Giacovazzi says the company is excited to formally commence its partnership with…

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has executed a binding asset and share sale agreement with the administrators of Resource Development Group (RDG). Under the agreement, MinRes will acquire RDG assets, including the Lucky Bay garnet mine, following creditor approval of MinRes’ proposed deed of company arrangement (DOCA) on September 1. MinRes has reassured investors that managing director Chris Ellison was not involved in deliberations to acquire the group formerly headed by his brother, Andrew Ellison. MinRes chair Malcolm Bundey comments on the decision. “The board and I sought to ensure that MinRes shareholders could realise some value from their investment, and that there were no perceived conflicts in our decisions on RDG’s future,” he said. “I want to thank RDG’s employees…

Pearl Gull Iron (ASX: PLG) has executed a binding asset sale and purchase agreement (with Buccaneer Resources, Crestlink and JCA WA Nominees.  Under the agreement, Pearl Gull Iron Company will sell 100% of its interest in the tenements which comprise its Cockatoo Island project (including mining lease 04/235), together with all mining information, plant and infrastructure and the benefit of certain contracts relating to those tenements for $4.5m in cash, a 4% equity interest in Crestlink and a royalty payable on materials extracted from the Cockatoo Island project.  Cockatoo Island is situated off the Northwest coast of WA and has a rich history of high-grade iron ore mining since the 1950s.   Pearl Gull Iron’s tenements are prospective for iron ore…

The release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) June 2025 quarterly data for mineral exploration and expenditure show some solid numbers, along with reason for concern.  There was significantly stronger performance of gold exploration during the June quarter, with expenditure up 36% from the March 2025 quarter to $400.1m.  An extra $100m, or a jump of 35%, was spent on gold exploration compared to the previous corresponding period.  AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce says gold has been on an incredible run of late and these stats back it up.   “It’s also a sizeable indicator that things are starting to improve,” he said.  “In fact, gold was responsible for 40% of all exploration activity recorded across the quarter.”  Iron…

New Murchison Gold (ASX: NMG) has returned encouraging drill intersections from the Abbotts Greenstone Belt in WA.  The company has been undertaking regional exploration on its extensive 677km2 exploration tenure which covers the majority of the Abbotts Greenstone Belt in the Murchison Region of WA.   Following its recent commencement of operations at the Crown Prince gold mine, NMG is advancing its pipeline of prospects within the belt.  The belt contains several large-scale gold prospects defined by broad gold anomalism up to 5km strike length in places.  The best intersections reported from drilling at regional prospects include:  20m @ 3.36g/t gold from 49m, including 1m @ 39.37g/t gold from 53m in NGGSRC984 (Airstrip) 5m @ 5.95g/t gold from 41m, including…

Platina Resources (ASX: PGM) is acquiring all the shares in Jasper Exploration, which owns a 100% interest in the Mt McKenna gold project in WA. The project is located 13km east of Laverton in close proximity to Genesis Minerals (ASX: GEN) Laverton project and 20km northeast of the Granny Smith mine. Platina is acquiring the project for $320,000 cash, the issue of 20 million ordinary shares in Platina and a 1.5% net smelter royalty for which Platina can buy-back 50% of the royalty at market value. An additional $25,000 cash and 1.75m shares will be issued in consideration for finders and corporate advisory services in relation to the acquisition. The Mt McKenna project is situated in prime geological setting with…

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has marked a major milestone at its Central Pilbara operations with the safe and successful first blast of the North Pit at Iron Valley in WA. A targeted drilling program and first blast were safely completed by the company’s drill and blast team and strip activities are now underway to prepare the site for first ore to be crushed and processed at Iron Valley’s central facilities. Iron Valley forms part of MinRes’ Central Pilbara hub, which recently announced maiden Mineral Resources of 161mt at 57% iron and ore reserves of 51mt at 57.5%. The hub is comprised of three sites — Iron Valley, Wonmunna and Lamb Creek — and has a capacity of 10mtpa, with product hauled to…

Rare rocks buried deep beneath central Australia have revealed the origins of one of the world’s most promising new deposits of niobium. The Curtin University-led study found the newly discovered niobium-rich carbonatites were emplaced more than 800 million years ago, rising from deep within the Earth through pre-existing fault zones during a tectonic rifting event that ultimately tore apart the supercontinent Rodinia. Lead author Dr Maximilian Dröllner, from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group within Curtin’s Frontier Institute for Geoscience Solutions and the University of Göttingen, says the findings shed new light on how rare, metal-rich magmas reach the surface — and why this particular deposit is so interesting. “These carbonatites are unlike anything previously known in the region and contain important concentrations of niobium,…

Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) net profit after tax fell to $8m for FY25, a sharp decline from $84.5m in FY24. The miner has cited depreciation on plant and equipment at its Kalgoorlie facility and Mt Weld coupled with lower than nameplate production at the Kalgoorlie facility as contributing factors. Lynas has also noted its significant uncertainty as to whether the construction of its heavy rare earth processing facility at Seadrift, Texas in the US will proceed and if so, in what form. Lynas has an expenditure-based contract with the US Department of Defence (DoD) for the processing facility. A mutually acceptable offtake agreement is being negotiated for production from Lynas’ operating assets. “While there can be no certainty that…

Westgold (ASX: WGX) posted a net profit after tax of $35m in FY25, down from FY24’s $95m, citing impacts from one-off transaction and admin costs. Increased depreciation and amortisation resulting from the larger cost base and production from the Southern Goldfields and higher income tax year on year also contributed to the lower profit, according to Westgold. The miner maintained its full exposure to the higher gold prices throughout the year, which when combined with record production delivered a record yearly revenue of $1.36b, an increase of 90%. The incorporation of the Southern Goldfields, acquired in August 2024, contributed 129koz of gold and assisted in the delivery of a record 326koz of gold production for the group. Westgold managing director…

Significant impairments and subdued product markets have driven a $955m full year net profit loss for IGO (ASX: IGO). The FY25 results include IGO’s share of net loss in TLEA, including full impairment of the Kwinana refinery assets ($605m) and derecognition of deferred tax assets relating to Kwinana ($58m). Additional impairments include $115m of exploration assets and a $58m increase in the company’s rehabilitation provisions for Nova, Cosmos and Forrestania. The results reflect challenging conditions in key markets with average realised spodumene price down 64% and average realised nickel price down 10%. Group revenue of $528m was down 37% from FY24 due to lower realised nickel prices and volumes from Nova and Forrestania and Cosmos assets transitioning to care and…