Lithium Australia Establishes Potential Recycled Battery Product Supply Stream

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) announced it has successfully recovered critical battery metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).

Lithium Australia said the achievement had come about during test work undertaken with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), including proprietary refining technology developed by Lithium Australia that generates lithium phosphate (LP).

Based on the company’s internal process modelling, overall process recoveries for nickel and cobalt (greater than 90 per cent) result in a concentrate suitable for use as feed for conventional refining.

It has been estimated from the results that lithium recovery to a refined LP product will exceed 85 per cent.

The spent batteries LIT used during process development were collected, shredded and separated by Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd, of which Lithium Australia owns 18.9 per cent.

Subsequent physical processing of those spent battery materials recovered a mixed metal dust (MMD), which was then processed by ANSTO and the lithium recovered as LP that was, in turn, further refined using a proprietary hydrometallurgical extraction and purifying process.

The refined LP generated at ANSTO has been shipped to Lithium Australia’s wholly owned VSPC cathode material pilot plant in Brisbane, where it is to be converted to lithium-ferro-phosphate (LFP) for testing in coin-cell LIBs manufactured at the plant.

Lithium Australia claimed its combined flow sheet simplifies the steps required to transition from lithium materials to batteries without the need for a costly and energy-intensive roasting process.

The company signalled it intends to rebirth the lithium from spent LIBs by incorporating it into new LFP batteries as well as selling the nickel and cobalt recovered from those same spent LIBs to offtakers for further refining.

“Successfully recovering a precursor of such high purity for the production of new LIBs from material otherwise destined for landfill is a huge step forward for the battery industry,” Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“Lithium Australia, together with its partner Envirostream Australia, is investigating the commercial potential of this breakthrough.

“Right now, we’re in discussion with consumers of lithium, nickel and cobalt – both within Australia and overseas – and we see huge potential for a local battery recycling industry.”

 

Email: info@lithium-au.com

Web: www.lithium-au.com

 

Black Cat Syndicate Hits Potential New Myhree Lode

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Black Cat Syndicate (ASX: BC8) claimed to intersect a potential new lode while drilling at the company’s Bulong gold project In Western Australia.

Black Cat Syndicate informed the market that recent extensional drilling at Myhree intersected a new, unmodelled zone of mineralisation under the southern part and to the east of the current Resource.

The hole ended in mineralisation returning an intercept of:

19MYRC093
10 metres at 2.77 grams per tonne gold from 190m, the hole ended in mineralisation.

The company anticipates follow up drilling of this new zone, which remains open in all directions, will occur in early October 2019.

The company’s latest round of infill drilling also intercepted strong results at the southern edge of Myhree, confirming shallow mineralisation with results including:

19MYRC088
22m at 3.21g/t gold from 1m, including 9m at 4.26g/t gold from 11m;

19MYRC090
4m at 2.55g/t gold from 12m, and 5m at 1.48 g/t gold from 46m; and

19MYRC091
2m at 3.77g/t gold from 56m, and 2m at 4.42g/t gold from 62m.

Other Resource infill drilling at Myhree returned:

19MYRC083
2m at 5.59g/t gold from 32m; and

19MYRC084
4m at 2.48g/t gold from 61m.

Black Cat also carried out drilling at the Trump prospect that intersected high-grade mineralisation, further underlining the importance of this deposit which runs parallel to Myhree.

Results include:

19TRRC028
3m at 8.32g/t gold from 66m.

Black Cat has Trump and Boundary Resource upgrades currently underway with results expected to be reported late September 2019.

Exploration RC drilling in the Greater Woodline area will commence in early October 2019.

“The discovery of a potential new lode at Myhree is an exciting emerging development for Black Cat,” Black Cat Syndicate managing director Gareth Solly said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The potential new lode sits below our current Resource and 100 metres below known mineralisation.

“At depth, the nearest mineralisation is 100 metres to the north with no drilling in between.

“This result fits well with current interpretations of the geology and of a fault offsetting the mineralisation.

“There is now a possibility of Myhree continuing to the south and drilling in this southern area will be fast-tracked.

“In addition, the current phase of infill drilling at Myhree is effectively complete and is consistent with expectations.

“Results at Trump are also pleasing in terms of the potential impact on Resource upgrades.

“Trump remains under drilled with numerous open targets to test in the near future.”

 

Email: admin@blackcatsyndicate.com.au

 

Web: www.blackcatsyndicate.com.au

 

Meteoric Resources Hits Bonza Brazil Grades at Juruena

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Meteoric Resources (ASX: MEI) received assays from from its maiden drilling program currently underway at the company’s 100 per cent- owned Juruena gold project in Brazil.

Meteoric Resources said the assays related to the first two diamond drill holes of its current campaign, JUDD001 and JUD002, both of which intersected visible gold at the Dona Maria rospect.

DDH JUDD001 intercepted a thick zone of strongly altered granite and assays confirm a broad zone of bonanza grades, including:

20.6 metres at 94.9 grams per tonne gold from 96.8m, including 3.65m at 508.4g/t gold from 107.5m.

DDH JUDD002 intercepted two separate zones of alteration and gold mineralisation returning assays of:

1.1m at 22.68g/t gold from 41.2m; and
4.5m at 6.2g/t gold from 46.6m.

“We were expecting something special from our first holes at Juruena after we intersected visible gold and intense alteration, however the results have exceeded even my expectation,” Meteoric Resources managing director Andrew Tunks said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“In fact, this is the best drilling intercept I have ever been involved with in my career.

“While we were confident of the possibilities based on the historic drilling and the gold we observed, it is very reassuring to have assay numbers that support our interpretation.

“I am extremely proud of what the company and the exploration team has achieved since the acquisition in April.

“We have recruited and deployed excellent staff, contracted and mobilised two drill rigs and struck bonanza grades.

“All done in remarkably quick time.

“We have now completed eight holes and are testing some deeper targets beneath Dona Maria that are very exciting.

“The geological logging, sample dispatch and assay procedures are flowing well ensuring a steady flow of drill results over the coming months.

“Furthermore, we have recognised the untapped potential at the Novo Astro project and moved quickly to execute an exploration and drilling program in tandem with Juruena.”

 

Web: www.meteoric.com.au

 

Altech Chemicals Invited to German HPA Party

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Altech Chemicals (ASX: ATC) received an invitation letter from the state government of Saxony, Germany, proposing the company considers the construction of a second high-purity alumina (HPA) plant in the state.

“As HPA is recognised as a critical component in the lithium-ion battery materials supply chain, an Altech HPA plant in Saxony would be well positioned to support the regions push to create a major electric vehicle battery industry, with a secure materials supply chain,” Altech Chemicals said in its ASX announcement.

Altech’s German advisers have discussed the invitation with Minister-President of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer.

Based on these positive initial discussions, Altech indicated it intends to undertake further evaluation, which will include research on various government grants that the company has been advised may be available in support of the establishment of a HPA plant in eastern Germany.

“Whilst the company remains focused on the close of funding and the construction of its Malaysian HPA plant, it also recognises the forecast significant deficit of HPA supply commencing in 2020 and the opportunity that this may present in terms of a second HPA plant,” the company said.

Altech cited a recent market outlook report by CRU Consulting that identified a likely HPA 4N+ supply shortfall of approximately 20,000 tonnes per annum in 2021 (equivalent to around four of Altech’s 4,500tpa plants).

CRU forecast this could expand to a shortfall of some 50,000tpa by 2028.

“To this extent, the company is of the view that there is merit in commencing early stage planning for additional future HPA plants, now,” Altech continued.

“Considering the invitation letter from the Saxony state government and the strong signals from the European Union on its desire to foster a rapid transition to electric vehicles, and to establish a fully integrated materials supply chain to underpin the transition, the company’s current strategic thinking is for its next HPA plant to be located in Europe.”

 

Web: www.altechchemicals.com

Corazon Mining Appoints Terry Streeter as Chairman to Progress Lynn Lake

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Corazon Mining (ASX: CZN) announced the appointment of Terry Streeter to the company’s board as non-executive chairman.

Corazon Mining said the appointment the leading nickel sector identity and executive will help it drive an accelerated exploration and development program at the company’s Lynn Lake nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide project in the province of Manitoba, Canada.

Corazon holds a 100 per cent beneficial ownership of the Lynn Lake nickel-copper-cobalt sulphide camp.

The company flagged its intentions to re-focus on Lynn Lake as its core asset where it will accelerate work programs to explore for high-grade extensions to existing mines as well as resource expansion.

“I know the Lynn Lake project from my time at Western Areas when the company made a discovery there in 2008,” Streeter said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The potential of the region has now been further enhanced by Corazon’s recent work and its ability to consolidate the entire mining camp and I’m confident that together we can create something special at Lynn Lake.”

Corazon has consolidated the entire Lynn Lake nickel camp and its extensive historical datasets, which includes more than 75 years of exploration and 24 years of mining information.

Corazon is the first company to have control of the entire Lynn Lake nickel camp since 1976, which provides it the opportunity to compete detailed interrogation and targeting within the mine area and across the wider project area.

 

Email: info@corazon.com.au

Web: www.corazon.com.au

 

Sayona Mining Declares Interest in North American Lithium Purchase

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Sayona Mining (ASX: SYA) made its intentions known in terms of Canadian lithium company North American Lithium.

Sayona Mining announced it would be participating in the bidding process for North American Lithium’s (NAL) operation in Québec, Canada, following on the heels of a Québec Superior Court ruling commencing an asset sale process for the shuttered mine.

NAL has a lithium mine and concentrator located in Abitibi near the mining district of Val d’Or, Québec where spodumene production was halted in February 2019.

In 2018, NAL produced around 114,000 tonnes of spodumene against its nameplate capacity of 180,000 tonnes.

In addition, the operation has the potential to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate with the necessary investment.

“NAL’s operation has unrealised potential and Sayona would welcome the opportunity to bring the world-class experience of our company and our partners towards revitalising the mine,” Sayona Mining managing director Brett Lynch said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

‘’In addition, our nearby high-quality Authier project, which is currently in the process of securing the necessary regulatory approvals, could be integrated bringing significant operational improvements.

“This could facilitate the development of a hub for lithium extraction and downstream processing in Abitibi, which is ideally positioned to participate in the growth of the North American battery sector.

“Québec needs a successful operation at NAL and we are keen to lead a turnaround plan, taking into account the interests of all stakeholders, including NAL employees, subcontractors, local and provincial government, First Nations and other local community members.”

 

Email: info@sayonamining.com.au

Web: www.sayonamining.com.au

 

Musgrave Minerals Enters JV with Evolution to Advance Cue Project

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Musgrave Minerals (ASX: MGV) has struck up a new friendship in the form of an Earn-in and Exploration Joint Venture Agreement with Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN).

The deal covers the Lake Austin portion of Musgrave’s Cue project in the Murchison District of Western Australia.

Under the terms of the agreement, Evolution will subscribe for approximately 18.6 million ordinary shares in Musgrave through a share placement at a price of 8.07 cents per share to raise $1.5 million, after which Musgrave will boast a bank balance of around $4.2 million.

Funds will be used to advance drilling at Mainland, Lena and Break of Day.

Musgrave will retain its interest in areas hosting known gold resources, including Break of Day and Lena, and the Mainland area.

Evolution can earn 75 per cent in the JV area by sole funding $18 million over five years with a minimum expenditure of $4 million to be completed in the first two years.

If Evolution does not spend the entire $18 million within five years, Musgrave will retain 100 per cent ownership.

Musgrave will be manager during the minimum expenditure period of the agreement.

“We are very pleased to partner with Evolution, one of the largest gold producers on the ASX and a highly regarded explorer,” Musgrave Minerals managing director Rob Waugh said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The JV will fast track exploration and we look forward to leveraging Evolution’s extensive technical knowledge and financial resources with our in-house expertise to accelerate potential gold discoveries at Cue.

“This is a positive result for Musgrave and a strong endorsement of the company’s projects and upside exploration potential.

“Musgrave will retain its interest in all areas hosting existing gold resources including Break of Day and Lena along with the Mainland option area which totals 172 square kilometres of exploration tenure.

“We welcome Evolution to the share register and the additional funding will support Musgrave’s drilling and discovery efforts on the 100 per cent retained ground.”

Musgrave has commenced an RC/diamond drilling program at Lena with further results expected in late-September.

The aim of the program is to focus on the high-grade shoots and extend the resource with follow-up RC drilling of recent high-grade gold results at Mainland and aircore drilling of new undercover targets planned for later this year.

Musgrave and Evolution will work towards commencing a new drilling program at Lake Austin North and other lake targets where there is evidence of a potential large gold system.

Further drilling at Break of Day to extend and grow the existing resource is being planned.

Development studies on the Break of Day and Lena gold deposits to evaluate options to optimise cash flow and maximise shareholder returns are ongoing.

 

Email: info@musgraveminerals.com.au

Web: www.musgraveminerals.com.au

 

Blackstone Minerals Upgrades Ta Khoa Nickel Sulphides

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Blackstone Minerals (ASX: BSX) announced PGE assays from the maiden drill results at the company’s Ta Khoa nickel project in Northern Vietnam.

Blackstone Minerals declared the maiden PGE assays have potential to greatly the economics of the large unmined disseminated sulphide prospect at Ban Phuc with the initial three holes delivering results of:

BP19-01
22 metres at 0.76 per cent nickel, 0.13 per cent copper, 0.01 per cent cobalt and 0.4 grams per tonne PGE from 138m;

BP19-02
17.8m at 1 per cent nickel, 0.09 per cent copper, 0.01 per cent cobalt and 0.74g/t PGE from 106.6m; and

BP19-03
45.5m at 1.2 per cent nickel, 0.17 per cent copper, 0.01 per cent cobalt and 0.35g/t PGE from 56.5m.

Blackstone explained that its assays are the first ever PGE assays for the Ban Phuc disseminated sulphide zone (DSS), as previous owners focused entirely on massive sulphide veins (MSV) and only minimal PGE assays have been taken throughout the Ta Khoa nickel project.

The company’s drilling of the Ban Phuc DSS has delivered peak assays up to 3.4 per cent nickel and 2g/t PGE.

Blackstone considers the previously unrecognised PGE grades associated with the Ban Phuc DSS suggest a potential by-product credit could enhance the future economics of the Ta Khoa nickel project.

“Our maiden PGE assays from the Ban Phuc disseminated sulphide are a game-changer for the Ta Khoa nickel project,” Blackstone Mineral managing director Scott Williamson said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We look forward to better understanding the project’s full potential as we receive further assays from our drilling program.”

Blackstone is continuing with drilling at Ta Khoa to test high impact targets generated from a recently completed maiden induced polarisation (IP) survey.

Assays are also pending for the next four drill holes from the Ban Phuc disseminated sulphide zone.

The Ta Khoa nickel project is located 160 kilometres west of Hanoi.

The project includes the existing Ban Phuc nickel mine, which was built to Australian Standards and is currently under care and maintenance.

The Ban Phuc nickel mine operated as a mechanised underground nickel mine from 2013 to 2016.

 

Email: admin@blackstoneminerals.com.au

Web: www.blackstoneminerals.com.au

 

Predictive Discovery Buoyed by Kaninko Sampling Results

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THE DRILL SERGEANT: Predictive Discovery (ASX: PDI) has been encouraged by sampling results received from the company’s 100 per cent-owned Kaninko project in the Siguiri Basin of Guinea.

Predictive Discovery’s landholdings cover 500 square kilometres in Guinea, most of which is dotted with widespread artisanal gold workings.

The company has received results of 12 vertical channel samples collected at its new Kaninko project from large and active artisanal mine sites.

Seven samples taken from workings in strongly weathered bedrock (saprolite) returned an average value of 1.5 grams per tonne gold with a peak value recorded of 4.6g/t gold.

The company explained that this zone of saprolite exposure extends for 300 metres in a north-easterly direction but extensive surrounding surficial (laterite) workings suggest that potential area of bedrock mineralisation may be much larger.

Predictive has commenced a of systematic channel sampling of saprolite exposures in the deeper pits along with grid-based sampling of surficial (laterite) spoil in the surrounding area.

“These early results from Kaninko add a promising new prospect into our Guinea portfolio following the earlier results from Kankan and Nonta which identified extensive soil geochemical anomalies,” Predictive Discovery managing director Paul Roberts said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The better results were obtained from vertical channel sampling of weathered bedrock within a 300-metre length of artisanal workings from which artisanal miners report that they are currently extracting significant quantities of gold.

“We are hopeful that follow-up exploration of this site will enable us to expand the prospective area substantially and provide a strong target for drilling during the March Quarter.

“We are continuing with our evaluation of new opportunities in the Siguiri Basin and expect to announce further ground acquisitions in Guinea in the coming months.”

Predictive is currently undertaking follow-up vertical channel sampling over the artisanal site as well as sampling dumps derived from surrounding surficial workings.

The company has also been mapping new artisanal mine sites on the property with systematic sampling to be conducted across them in the coming weeks.

Predictive indicated that larger scale geochemical surveys on the Kankan, Nonta, Kaninko and possibly Boroto properties will be undertaken in the next few months that may be accompanied by ground geophysical surveys where appropriate.

All this work is aimed at readying Predictive’s best Guinea prospects for drilling in the March Quarter of 2020.

 

Web: www.predictivediscovery.com

 

Todd Energy Limited Focused on Taranaki Basin Hydrocarbons

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THE CONFERENCE CALLER: Todd Energy has been a leading New Zealand oil and natural gas explorer for over 70 years, with an exploration program focussed on searching for new hydrocarbon resources for the security of New Zealand’s energy future.

Todd’s exploration strategy is focused within the Taranaki Basin.

This geological province underlies the Taranaki Peninsula and extends offshore from the top of the South Island, to just south of Auckland.

The basin holds all New Zealand’s commercial hydrocarbon resources, which are supported by well-developed production, processing and transport infrastructure.

In the Taranaki Basin, Todd is involved in four onshore and offshore producing fields – 100 per cent owner operator of onshore fields, McKee, Mangahewa and Kapuni, and a 26 per cent Joint Venture partner with OMV in the onshore/offshore Pohokura field.

The company purchased the McKee and Mangahewa fields in 2001, taking over as operator in 2006.

To date, the total Todd investment for the Mangahewa development is over $1 billion and consists of the Mangahewa Expansion Train 2, full field compression project and drilling of 20+ development wells across the field from several different sites.

Over the next 10 years further drilling campaigns are expected to add 450 PJ of natural gas into the market, including Todd Energy’s current Mangahewa G drilling program.

Todd has been a JV partner in the Kapuni field since its discovery in 1959.

In 2017 Todd acquired Shell’s 50 per cent to become 100 per cent owner operator.

The Kapuni focus is appraising reservoirs at 3500m depth for potential future development.

The 2016 Kapuni 3D seismic survey covering 450 square metres was an important milestone in helping extend the field life into its sixth decade of production and beyond.

Current field activity includes the construction of Kapuni J development wellsite.

With the offshore JV, Todd is a major New Zealand hydrocarbon producer with working interests in over 50 per cent of the country’s hydrocarbon energy production.

In addition to actively managing current developments, Todd Energy is continually re-evaluating and assessing new opportunities to ensure secure energy supplies for New Zealanders into the future.