Lithium Australia Produces Batteries From Mine Waste

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) informed the market of work carried out by its wholly-owned subsidiary, VSPC Ltd.

Using Lithium Australia’s registered Sileach process, VSPC has produced Li-ion battery (LIB) cathode material, and Li-ion batteries, from tri-lithium phosphate produced directly from mine waste.

LIT’s ground-breaking SiLeach process removes the requirement for generating high-purity lithium hydroxide or carbonate, which has long been one of the most cost-intensive, and challenging steps in the manufacture of LIBs.

VSPC converted the tri-lithium phosphate to lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathode material at its advanced electrochemical laboratory and pilot plant facility in Brisbane.

Lithium Australia explained that the proprietary processes used to generate the LFP nanoparticles is covered by patents granted to VSPC, resulting in the cathode material being independently characterised and determined to be of similar quality to VSPC standard LFP material.

LIT declared the test’s demonstrated ability to bypass lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide as battery precursors, provides potential to greatly reduce the costs associated with battery manufacture.

It also demonstrated that use of mine waste in the battery production cycle can provide greater sustainability to global lithium resources.

Lithium Australia is also developing a process for direct production of cathode powders from lithium brines.

This could not only eliminate the requirement to produce high-purity lithium hydroxide or carbonate but also reduce the requirement for evaporation ponds.

Lithium Australia claimed the conversion of mine waste, to LIB without the requirement to produce a lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate precursor as a world first that has potential to provide a commercial outcome to many stranded resources creating ethical and sustainable supply in the process.

“The remarkable outcome is a credit to our development team,” Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The most notable aspect of this achievement is its simplicity, and ability to streamline the processes and cost required to produce LIB cathode materials.

“The broader application to lithium brine exploitation provides enormous potential for that part of the lithium industry, by removing the cost intensive route to lithium hydroxide – the direct use of lithium phosphate to produce cathode powders may do that.”

 

Email: info@lithium-au.com

Website: www.lithium-au.com

 

Bellevue Gold Maps Out Exploration Plan

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Bellevue Gold (ASX: BGL) reminded everybody of how well it is travelling at the moment by releasing an update on exploration activities at the company’s Bellevue gold project in Western Australia.

Bellevue Gold is currently undertaking exploration drilling at the project with two diamond core drill rigs operating on double shift and a third rig due to arrive anon.

The company is well-funded following a recent $15 million capital raise, allowing it to aggressively continue resource expansion through step-out drilling in the top 500 metres to build on the current 1,040,000 ounces at 12.3 grams per tonne gold Inferred category resource in early 2019.

Bellevue Gold has outlined its focus of the resource expansion drilling for 2019 aiming its attention at three advanced targets:

Bellevue Lode: nearby extensions to the north and south of the Bellevue underground mine as well as a few unmined areas proximal to existing underground development. There are also several recently identified and untested Down Hole Electro-Magnetic (DHEM) conductors.

Viago Lode: drilling is underway targeting step-out down plunge and down dip as well as multiple (DHEM) conductors.

Northern Bellevue: depth extensions in the top 250 metres north of Bellevue workings targeting shallow dipping mineralisation intercepted in historic shallow broad spaced drilling.

Recent drilling since the Viago maiden resource (550,000 ounces at 22g/t gold Inferred resource) has been focussed on extensions of lodes adjacent to the Bellevue historical development.

Drill core holes are currently being marked up and cut ready for assaying, and visible gold has been noted over multiple intercepts.

The company indicated it would now turn its attention to the Viago discovery, targeting extensions of the high-grade lode.

Results from recent drilling will be made available to the market at the first opportunity.

“We are delighted at how rapidly the team is discovering and adding high-grade gold ounces at the Bellevue gold project,” Bellevue Gold managing director Steve Parsons said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“With the recent oversubscribed placement to a number of significant global institutions we are well funded to continue step-out extensional drilling with multiple drill rigs ready for an updated resource statement in Q1 2019.”

 

Email: admin@bellevuegold.com.au

Website: www.bellevuegold.com.au

 

Metalicity Applies for Pilbara Copper ELAs

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Metalicity (ASX: MCT) has lodged Exploration License Applications (ELAs) in the Paterson Province of the Pilbara Region of Western Australia.

Metalicity has made the applications for ground adjoining Rio Tinto’s Exploration Licenses within an interpreted copper corridor, which it considers hosts numerous underexplored copper occurrences and geophysical anomalies.

The company explained the project generation builds on a copper prospectivity study it completed over the Pilbara region, including the Paterson Province, aligning with its strategy to focus on nickel and copper exploration.

This strategy meant the Fraser Range and Paterson Province emerged as its preferred geological terrains.

Metalicity has commenced data compilation and project evaluation to ascertain areas of interest within the Desert Queen and Mandora Beach ELAs for possible future exploration.

“The Paterson ranks highly on our list of prospective geological terrains for the discovery of copper mineralisation in the Pilbara and we are encouraged the by activity of the major companies nearby which supports our prospectivity models,” Metalicity managing director Matt Gauci said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“Metalicity retains significant experience exploring the Paterson over the last 20 years and is currently compiling all available geological, geochemical, geophysical datasets to assist guiding future exploration activities.”

 

Website: www.metalicity.com.au

 

Pilbara Minerals Gives Pilgangoora Stage 2 the Nod

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) has made the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Stage 2 expansion to five million tonnes per annum of the company’s 100 per cent-owned Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Pilbara Minerals’ Board endorsed the continued expansion of Pilgangoora, subject to obtaining necessary regulatory approvals and securing the balance of project funding.

The company said the decision followed completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study, 100 per cent of the Stage 2 offtake being sold to high-quality customers and general support from the customer base to continue to expand the Pilgangoora operations.

Pilbara Minerals outlined progress with a number of funding alternatives for Stage 2, including debt and/or offtake prepayment funding from customers linked to accessing Stage 2 product as well as other alternate finance structures.

Stage 2 project works are continuing with the company confident of meeting its objective of commissioning Stage 2 from the December quarter, 2019.

Stage 1 development continues to progress with Pilbara Minerals’ shipping its second shipment of spodumene concentrate from Port Hedland in the second half of October with 6.3 per cent lithium oxide (Li2O) onboard.

Production from Pilgangoora Stage 1 is also sticking to the script with the progress being made in the continued ramp-up and optimisation of production.

“Pilbara Minerals has established a track record of getting things done – developing at scale, successfully executing a rapid build and ramp-up of the Stage 1 project and confirming our ability to deliver high-quality products to our customers,” Pilbara Minerals managing director Ken Brinsden said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“These achievements and more have allowed us to attract and grow production with premium customers in the global lithium-ion supply chain.

“Against a backdrop of significant demand growth for lithium raw materials over the coming decade, the quality and scale of the resource at our Pilgangoora project demands further expansion.

“This will ensure it becomes a mainstay in the next generation of large-scale, low-cost mines to support the significant growth in downstream lithium hydroxide capacity.

“In much the same way as we got on with the job in Stage 1, we will work to the same tune in Stage 2.”

 

Website: www.pilbaraminerals.com.au

 

Sovereign Metals PFS Delivers Low-Cost Graphite Project

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Sovereign Metals (ASX: SVM) announced results of a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for the company’s Malingunde saprolite-hosted graphite project in Malawi.

Sovereign Metals declared the PFS to demonstrate the project’s low capital and very low operating costs are at the bottom of the graphite supply cost-curve at a scale appropriate for the current market.

The PFS delivered the following outcomes:

Maiden Ore Reserve declared, including a high-grade Reserve with 32 per cent in the Proven and 68 per cent in the Probable categories. The PFS was based 100 per cent on Reserves;

Extremely low operating costs due to the advantages of the soft saprolite-hosted deposit:
− US$323 per tonne concentrate (FOB) LoM average, moving to as low as US$284 per tonne after year 7; and
− Mine gate LoM average US$257 per tonne moving to as low as US$218 per tonne after year 7.

Low technical risk: free-dig mining, low strip ratio with simple, proven process flowsheet;

High-quality concentrates: sales targeted to traditional industrial sector (refractories, foundries, expandables) as well as the emerging Li-ion battery sector; and

Substantial upside: huge scalability and expansion opportunities.

“We believe Malingunde is the world’s best flake graphite project,” Sovereign Metals managing director Dr Julian Stephens said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The high-grade, soft, free-dig saprolite-hosted ore, requiring no primary crush or grind combined with a simple and proven flowsheet results in low capital intensity and extremely low operating costs.

“Malingunde is an unparalleled, low technical risk, high margin project that provides significant cashflows with substantial upside scalability into a growing graphite market.”

 

Email: info@sovereignmetals.com.au

Website: www.sovereignmetals.com.au

 

Intermin Resources Divests Lehmans JV to Saracen

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Intermin Resources (ASX: IRC) reached agreement with Saracen Mineral Holdings (ASX: SAR) to divest its interest in the Lehmans Gold Joint Venture.

Intermin Resources decided to divest the package comprising 14 tenements to the north of Saracen’s Thunderbox operation near Leinster in the northern goldfields of Western Australia and includes the Otto Bore deposit, located nine kilometres from the Thunderbox mill.

Intermin held a 10 per cent interest in the tenements, through its 100 per cent-owned subsidiary Black Mountain Gold Pty Ltd, and was free carried to a decision to mine.

The company also owned an exploration license to the east of the JV tenements on a 100 per cent basis.

The parties have now agreed to terminate the JV with Intermin agreeing to divest its 100 per cent interest in the exploration license to Saracen on the following terms:

Payment to Intermin of $250,000 in cash on execution (already received);

Payment to Intermin of $2.25 million in cash on completion;

A 2.5 per cent Net Smelter Royalty payable by Saracen once it has produced 42,000 ounces of gold from the transaction tenements, and ending once 100,000 ounces of gold produced from the transaction tenements;

Intermin to provide any required mining information to Saracen on the purchased tenement; and

Intermin and Saracen to be released from any rights and obligations under the joint venture agreement.

“Holding a minority interest in a project in the northern goldfields just didn’t make sense for Intermin and would be a distraction from the company’s core focus of building a gold business in the Kalgoorlie region,” Intermin Resources managing director Jon Price said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“This will enable Saracen to explore and develop the projects unencumbered and further strengthen Intermin’s financial position as it continues with its gold exploration and mine development growth plans.”

 

Email: iadmin@intermin.com.au

Website: www.intermin.com.au

 

New Name to Reflect Company Intent

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: The company formerly known as Global Geoscience announced an official change of company moniker to ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR).

Although the new title looks although whoever lodged the papers forgot to include a capitalised first initial, the company assured punters the change of name reflects its transition and growth into an emerging lithium-boron supplier.

“Our new name is derived from the combination of ion and pioneer,” ioneer chairman James D. Calaway explained in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“It reflects our aim to be pioneers in producing the materials for a sustainable future.

“Our commitment to develop the Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project into a core, long-term, and profitable asset is part of our responsibility to the planet.

“Both lithium and boron have unique properties that are essential to modern life and emerging clean technologies.”

Ioneer Ltd indicated its new website would be up and running from Monday 12 November 2018.

 

Email: info@ioneer.com

Website: www.ioneer.com

 

Renascor Resources Strikes Agreement to Progress Siviour Graphite Project

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Renascor Resources (ASX: RNU) announced a strategic partnership agreement with international Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor, Royal IHC Australia (Royal IHC).

Renascor Resources said the agreement would accelerate the development of the company’s Siviour graphite project in South Australia.

Under the terms of the agreement, Royal IHC, with the support of Brisbane-based engineering firm Wave International and Renascor, will establish an integrated team to deliver the Siviour Definitive Feasibility Study.

Royal IHC has also committed $1 million to undertake early project works, including metallurgical testing and detailed engineering and design work.

Renascor said the Strategic Partnership Agreement is the first step in what is planned to be a long and mutually beneficial relationship for both Renascor and Royal IHC, leading to project financing and completion of the Siviour project under an EPC contract.

“We are delighted to have entered into a strategic partnership with a high-quality global engineering partner such as Royal IHC,” Renascor Resources managing director David Christensen said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“This is an innovative partnership that we expect will accelerate the development of the Siviour graphite project towards production.

“Royal IHC have demonstrated their strong belief in Siviour by contributing $1 million to undertake early works thereby ensuring we can continue to rapidly advance the DFS.”

Renascor explained that in the event the project proceeds, the agreement provides that Royal IHC will assist the company in obtaining project finance commitments to support the capital development of Siviour.

Such assistance is expected to include utilising Royal IHC’s Treasury team which has strong connections with major commercial banks and export credit agencies that may participate in project financing.

The agreement further provides that, in the event Renascor does not obtain financing for Siviour within three months after final regulatory approvals, IHC may convert its contribution into Renascor shares, subject to any necessary shareholder approvals, at the greater of Renascor’s current share price and the share price at time of conversion.

 

Email: info@renascor.com.au

Website: www.reanscor.com.au

 

Sheffield Resources Signs Thunderbird Native Title Agreement

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Sheffield Resources (ASX: SFX) signed a Native Title Agreement with Traditional Owners regarding the company’s Thunderbird mineral sands project in Western Australia.

Sheffield Resources signed the agreement at an Authorisation Meeting in Broome with the Traditional Owners for the Mt Jowlaenga Polygon #2 Native Title Claimant Application who authorised the Named Applicants to sign the Co-existence Agreement for the Thunderbird project.

The Agreement was negotiated between the Traditional Owner Negotiation Committee (TONC) and Sheffield during July and August 2018.

The signing of the Agreement by the Named Applicants makes the Agreement binding on both Sheffield and the Traditional Owners.

The details of the Agreement are confidential and commercial in nature; however, Sheffield explained the final agreement is in line with the Sheffield Pledge to the Community and contains royalty payments to Traditional Owners, local and Aboriginal employment and business commitments and strong protection for Aboriginal heritage and the environment.

The execution of the agreement will trigger obligations on the company, including cash and equity-based payments following agreement execution and future project milestones, which are payable to the nominated Trustee.

The agreement establishes a framework by which Sheffield can work with the Traditional Owners to protect Aboriginal heritage and the environment and deliver sustainable employment and business outcomes for Traditional Owners and the wider Aboriginal community.

The agreement requires the establishment of an Implementation Committee and the appointment of an Implementation Officer to work with the Company to ensure these outcomes.

“The signing of the agreement will be a fantastic outcome for the Traditional Owners and the wider Aboriginal communities for many decades to come,” Sheffield Resources managing director Bruce McFadzean said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We can now all work together and provide long term employment and business opportunities for everyone.

“Additionally, the signing of the agreement means an Implementation Committee can be established and the company can continue to grow a meaningful, long term relationship with the Traditional Owners by working with that Committee throughout the life of the project.”

 

Email: info@sheffieldresources.com.au

Website: www.sheffieldresources.com.au

 

Venture Minerals Acquires Golden Grove North VMS Project

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Venture Minerals (ASX: VMS) has acquired, what it declared as being, a highly prospective land package approximately 400 kilometres north-northeast of Perth in Western Australia.

Venture Minerals has picked up the 374 square kilometre package that sits less than 10 kilometres north of the Golden Grove Camp, which is currently Western Australia’s premier location for Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) deposits.

In 2002, Golden Grove had an endowment (resources and production) of 40.2 million tonnes at 1.8 per cent copper, 0.9 per cent lead, 7.6 per cent zinc, 103 grams per tonne silver and 0.8g/t gold.

Recently EMR Capital purchased the Mine for $US210 million.

Venture explained that the newly-acquired Golden Grove North project has not been the focus of VMS exploration for the last 25 years, adding that it would be the company’s goal to use a systematic exploration approach, utilizing modern techniques to explore for VMS style mineralisation.

The company has already identified several target areas throughout the project, including a number of historic shallow gold drill intersections, several strong gold and copper surface rock chip sampling results and an extensive land position of interpreted lithologies prospective for VMS style mineralisation that remain, due to cover, largely untested.

Historic shallow gold drill intersections at the Golden Grove North project include:

10 metres at 1.4g/t gold from 16m;
8m at 2.1g/t gold from 6m;
6m at 2.3g/t gold from 6m; and
3m at 3.6g/t gold from 95m.

Historic surface rock chip sampling has returned assays of:

9.4g/t gold;
7.4g/t gold and 6.6% copper;
6.2g/t gold;
5.7g/t gold;
4g/t gold;
3.8g/t gold and 0.1 per cent lead;
7.6 per cent copper and 27g/t silver;
8 per cent copper; and
2 per cent copper.

“This is an exciting VMS opportunity for Venture with a significant, largely untested, land package sitting on the doorstep of a world class VMS Camp in Western Australia,” Venture Minerals managing director said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We look forward to generating numerous VMS targets for testing in the near future.”

 

Email: info@ventureminerals.com.au

Website: www.ventureminerals.com.au