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Cobalt Blue (ASX: COB) has signed a binding pre-final investment decision consortium deed with Iwatani Australia to develop Australia’s first cobalt refinery located in Kwinana, WA. The deed outlined terms in which both companies will advance the refinery towards a final investment decision (FID). Conditions of the agreement include: Samples produced by Cobalt Blue meeting customer specifications Finalising a suite of Project related agreements covering joint venture relationships and operational plans, feedstock supply and offtake, and intellectual property licensing Completion of technical studies and independent due diligence reviews Agreement on a financing plan to cover project funding Iwatani Australia obtaining Foreign Investment Review Board approval If a positive FID is made between the companies, targeted for December 2025, the Kwinana…

Mineral Resources (MinRes) (ASX: MIN) has had a successful first blast at the Cardo Bore East deposit located in the in the West Pilbara region, WA. The deposit is located 12km south of a larger deposit within the Onslow Iron project, the Ken’s Bore mine site. Cardo Bore East will support the project’s anticipated production increase of up to 35 million tonnes per annum. Following a successful first blast and targeted drilling program, an increase in works to prepare the site for further mining and haulage activity has commenced. Cardo Bore East is projected to deliver another high-grade iron ore producing deposit. CSI Mining Services is currently constructing a private haul road to connect the deposit to the Ken’s Bore…

AusQuest (ASX: AQD) has announced the commencement of its drilling program at the Balladonia project located in the Fraser region of WA. The program targets a range of metals including copper, lead, zinc and silver. The drilling program is expected to take six weeks to complete. Initial assays are expected from late May to early June this year. AusQuest’s managing director Graeme Drew says the company is very pleased to be drilling again at Balladonia now that they have successfully defined some promising large-scale base metal targets. “Geological comparisons that have been made with productive base metal regions like Northwest Queensland and Broken Hill will be tested by this upcoming drill program, which could provide an exciting new development for…

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will supply 70% percent of the iron ore for Primetals’ industrial-scale prototype plant in Austria. Primetals Technologies, together with its strategic partner Mitsubishi Corporation and Rio Tinto and globally leading steel and technology group voestalpine, signed a cooperation agreement to fast-track the development of fluidised bed and smelter technologies. The participants will implement and operate an industrial-scale prototype plant scheduled for startup in 2027. The plant will feature a new process for potential net-zero carbon dioxide emissions ironmaking at the voestalpine site in Linz. Rio Tinto will also support Primetals Technologies to accelerate the commercialisation of the technology. The new ironmaking process with a projected capacity of 3t/hr of hot metal is based on the HYFOR…

Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR) has commenced underground production stoping at Kathleen Valley lithium operation’s Mt Mann orebody, with the first blast fired on schedule. This marks a key milestone in the transition from open pit to underground operations over FY26. As Australia’s first underground lithium mine, it is expected to offer distinct advantages over traditional open-pit operations, through cleaner ore extraction by reducing ore dilution from waste contamination, supporting higher lithia recoveries and improved ore fragmentation for optimised throughput. Liontown managing director and chief executive Tony Ottaviano says this is a proud milestone for Liontown. “This achievement was made possible by advanced planning, the dedication of our team and the support from our mining partner, Byrnecut, ensuring the first stope…

BHP (ASX: BHP) has announced the 2025 beneficiaries of its largest ever Telethon donation, including a significant boost to the East Pilbara-based Upstream health project. The project, run by Puntukurnu Aboriginal Media Services (PAMS), aims to provide permanent and culturally appropriate child and maternal health care services throughout the region. PAMS is already having life changing effects on the local community. Jennifer Landi, Martu woman and single mother of five, praises the programs aid over multiple aspects of her life. “Raising a child on your own is already difficult, but caring for multiple children is incredibly overwhelming. “I’ve been doing this on my own, and without PAMS clinical services and the Upstream Program, I don’t know where we would be…

Great Boulder Resources (ASX: GBR) has commenced a scoping study for its Ironbark gold deposit near Meekatharra in WA. Within the company’s flagship Side Well gold project, Ironbark hosts a mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 100,000oz at 3.3g/t gold. Assuming a toll treatment model at a neighbouring gold processing plant, the scoping study will explore economics of open pit mining. Engineering consultancy Entech estimates completion of the study within six to eight weeks. Negotiations for the Ironbark mining lease application are ongoing. A detailed flora and fauna survey is also being prepared. Great Boulder managing director Andrew Patterson says this is a pivotal moment for Great Boulder. “The commencement of a scoping study at Ironbark represents the start of the…

The NSW Government has launched a new $2.5m co-investment seed funding program to unearth the state’s next major critical minerals projects. The new Critical Minerals Exploration Program is a key part of the government’s Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy. The $2.5 million fund requires a 50% co-investment from successful applicants and is aimed at encouraging more exploration in the state by supporting companies to undertake drilling, geophysics and geochemistry, all crucial steps to determine the scale of a critical minerals deposit. The $2.5m exploration program has four funding streams: Exploration Geochemistry: Up to $50,000 per project Exploration Geophysics: Up to $70,000 per project Exploration Drilling — less than 250m depth: Up to $150,000 per project Exploration Drilling — greater…

The Tamworth Regional Science and Engineering Challenge provided an exciting opportunity for regional students to test their STEM-based problem-solving skills at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre in NSW. Organised by The Rotary Club of Tamworth First Light in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, the annual event is designed to encourage students to consider future careers in the field of STEM, by involving them in a series of activities they wouldn’t normally experience in a classroom. Since its inception in 2001, the challenge has provided students with hands-on experiences in a series of science and engineering challenges. 987 students from 30 schools, including a home-schooled team, competed across four days in a range of challenges, including designing, building…

Children and young adults living with autism have once again experienced the thrill of surfing in Esperance, WA’s pristine waters, thanks to the ongoing partnership between Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) and Ocean Heroes. More than 50 participants aged three to 30 took part in free surfing lessons at Twilight Beach in March, marking the fifth consecutive year that Ocean Heroes has brought its confidence-building sessions to the coastal town. The Ocean Heroes initiative is fast becoming a cherished tradition with locals, with MinRes proud to have supported the Esperance visit for a second year through its Community Grants program. Previously, MinRes funding also enabled Ocean Heroes to purchase eight specialised stand-up paddle boards to help more participants experience the thrill…