Lithium Australia Completes Stage 1 of Sileach Plant Trial

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) completed the first stage of a two-stage trial of the company’s SiLeach® pilot plant the ANSTO’s minerals piloting facility in New South Wales.

Lithium Australia explained the concentrate used as feed for the trial was prepared in Perth and consisted of lepidolite recovered from mine waste.

Stage 1 of the trial produced a lithium pregnant liquor from lepidolite feed that will be processed during Stage 2 to produce lithium chemicals.

Stage 1 ran from 6-16 August 2018, during which the plant operated in continuous mode for five days, processing lepidolite concentrate at approximately four kilograms per hour through leach, pre-neutralisation and impurity removal stages.

Preliminary data indicated lithium extraction in the leach circuit peaked at 97.5 per cent and averaged 94 per cent for the duration of the trial.

Lithium Australia said the trial had successfully demonstrated continuous operation of the company’s proprietary SiLeach process, including full recycle of intermediate process streams.

“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the first stage of the two-stage SiLeach pilot plant trial at ANSTO Minerals,” Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We anticipate that stage 2 will result in the production of a lithium chemical from waste material sourced near Kalgoorlie.

“We will then apply VSPC’s proprietary process to that lithium chemical and, ultimately, produce a lithium-ion battery: a world first.

“And we’ll do so whether the Australian federal government chooses to back the Lithium Valley concept or just ignore it.”

Lithium Australia indicated it is assessing the implications of the federal government’s policy change in capping its Research and Development rebate scheme, a move the company feels has potential to negatively affect the new energy metals processing industry proposed for Western Australia.

Lithium Australia is considering relocating its successful R&D activities elsewhere – perhaps Germany, which has a target date for the demise of internal combustion engines and is facilitating that by way of attractive R&D financial support.

 

Email: info@lithium-au.com

Website: www.lithium-au.com

 

Pioneer Resources Moves to 51% at Mavis Lake

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Pioneer Resources (ASX: PIO) completed a busy week by reaching an agreement with its Joint Venture partner, TSX Venture-listed International Lithium Corp. (ILC).

Pioneer Resources finalised the deal with ILC to fast-track its earn-in into the Mavis Lake lithium project in Canada to 51 per cent.

Both Pioneer and ILC see merit in the JV focussing its attention solely on the Mavis Lake project, following the completion of two drilling programs carried out during the 2017 and 2018 winters which intersected thick zones of spodumene mineralisation.

“Changes to the agreements in place with ILC are a win-win for both parties and reflect the good working relationship between Pioneer and ILC,” Pioneer Resources managing director David Crook said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“Our strategy is to ensure that our best projects get the money and attention they deserve and this Agreement will allow Pioneer to focus its exploration attention in Canada on the Mavis Lake project.”

 

Email: info@pioresources.com.au

Website: www.pioresources.com.au

 

Impact Minerals Acquires Blackridge Conglomerate Gold Mining Lease

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Impact Minerals (ASX: IPT) has agreed to the outright purchase of Mining Lease ML2386 in central Queensland.

Impact Minerals explained the mining lease covers about 500 metres of the gold-bearing unconformity at the company’s Blackridge conglomerate-hosted gold project located north of Clermont.

Impact is to acquire the fully-granted mining lease from a local prospector for a cash payment of $30,000 and replacement of environmental bonds of approximately $7,000 and is subject only to Ministerial consent, which the company anticipates within about six weeks.

“This is an excellent strategic acquisition for Impact given that it is a fully granted Mining Lease covering the gold-bearing unconformity at Blackridge,” Impact Minerals managing director Dr Mike Jones said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The granted Lease means that we can commence with little impediment directly to very large bulk samples, a key factor in determining grade in conglomerate-hosted gold deposits as demonstrated by the work of Novo Resources in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

“We are in the process of submitting the appropriate Plan of Operations and also designing a test work program, which in the first instance will comprise extensive trenching to expose and map the unconformity throughout the Lease.

“Samples from these trenches will be processed accordingly to determine the gold content. This will be an important first step in our search for a mineable resource at Blackridge.”

 

Email: info@impactminerals.com.au

Website: www.impactminerals.com.au

 

Pioneer Resources Receives US$4.8M for Sinclair Caesium

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Pioneer Resources (ASX: PIO) is cashed up following the receipt of funds regarding the Offtake and Loan Facility Agreement it has with NYSE-listed Cabot Corporation.

Pioneer Resources said the funds would be applied to the Stage 1 activities underway at the Sinclair caesium mine, located within the company’s 100 per cent-held Pioneer Dome project, south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

The Sinclair mine is to be Australia’s first ever commercial pollucite (a caesium mineral) producer.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cabot has provided Pioneer a US$4.8 million Loan Facility for the Sinclair caesium mine that is to be repaid by the delivery of caesium ore.

“Further to our project update of the 29 August 2018, we are pleased to advise that we have now received US$4.8 million, which equates to approximately AUD$6.5 million, provided for under our Offtake and Loan Facility Agreement with Cabot,” Pioneer Resources managing director David Crook said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“The funding is expected to fully cover mining operations at the Stage 1 Sinclair Mine, which will advance immediately.”

 

Email: info@pioresources.com.au

Website: www.pioresources.com.au

 

Sheffield Resources Receives Favourable Native Title Decision

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Sheffield Resources (ASX: SFX) received a favourable ruling from the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) process for the company’s Thunderbird mineral sands project in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Sheffield Resources reported that the NNTT reconsidered the test of good faith, as directed by the Full Federal Court in December 2017, and determined that Sheffield acted in good faith in its negotiations with the Traditional Owners, the Mount Jowlaenga Polygon #2 claimant group.

As a result, the Full Federal Court can now lift the stay on the determination made by the NNTT on 14 June 2017, and the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety can now finalise the grant of the Mining Lease 04/459 for the Thunderbird project, in accordance with standard processes.

Independent of, and in parallel to the NNTT process, Sheffield recently announced agreement of nonbinding and indicative key terms with the Traditional Owners, as a basis for a future Native Title Agreement in relation to Thunderbird.

The company indicated that, following the NNTT determination, it remains committed to concluding a Native Title Agreement in collaboration with Traditional Owners by mid Q4 2018.

“We are pleased with the positive determination made by the National Native Title Tribunal,” Sheffield Resources managing director Bruce McFadzean said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We have received overwhelming support from local communities and Local, State and Federal Governments for the development of Thunderbird.

“It is a world-class, multi-decade project that will create hundreds of local jobs, generate substantial business opportunities and support economic development in the Kimberley.

“We are also very pleased with the collaborative efforts made by both parties in agreeing non-binding and indicative terms ahead of formalisation and authorisation of an Agreement.

“We look forward to working closely with the Traditional Owners and local communities on employment and business opportunities as part of our commitment to the development of Thunderbird.”

 

Email: info@sheffieldresources.com.au

Website: www.sheffieldresources.com.au

 

Global Geoscience Produces Boric Acid at Rhyolite Ridge

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Global Geoscience (ASX: GSC) has produced premium quality boric acid from the company’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, USA.

Global Geoscience boasted the boric acid contains very low levels of impurities and was produced using a conventional flowsheet developed for the Rhyolite Ridge Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS).

“These very pleasing results confirm that a high-quality boric acid product can be produced at the mine site using conventional commercial processes,” Global Geoscience managing director Bernard Rowe said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We expect this, combined with low-cost mining and leaching, to translate into very competitive boric acid costs and likely to be at the lower end of our expectations.

“Over the past twelve months we have built a very strong borates team with many decades of experience and that has provided us with a deep understanding of the global borates market.

“This wealth of experience will be critical as we transform Rhyolite Ridge into a major producer of premium boron and lithium products.”

Global Geoscience explained that part of its ongoing metallurgical testwork program is the production of boric acid and lithium carbonate using the flowsheet developed for the PFS.

The company declared this testwork demonstrates the ability to produce marketable products using a process flowsheet that can be scaled up for commercial production.

In the current test program, lithium and boron are being leached from coarse crushed rock using sulphuric acid in 200 litre vats.

The pregnant leach solution (PLS) then undergoes a series of evaporation and crystallisation steps to remove the boric acid. The boric acid is then purified using conventional steps including washing, filtration and recrystallisation.

No reagents are used in the production of boric acid.

“With the majority of global supply and reserves of borates being in Turkey, we are confident that Global Geoscience will be welcomed as the third major supplier of boric acid globally,” Rowe continued.

“The Rhyolite Ridge Pre-Feasibility Study is on track for completion during the current quarter.

“The PFS is expected to demonstrate the strong economics of developing Rhyolite Ridge into a major, low-cost, near-term producer of lithium carbonate and boric acid.”

 

Website: www.globalgeo.com.au

 

Calidus Resources Sells Off Conglomerate Gold Rights

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Calidus Resources (ASX: CAI) has entered into a binding letter of intent (LoI) to sell off the Conglomerate Gold Rights over the company’s portfolio of eight exploration licenses.

Calidus Resources will receive seven million shares in TSXV-listed Pacton Gold Inc, a bundle that is currently valued at C$3.5 million.

The actual tenements will be retained by Calidus, as the agreement is over right to explore for and mine conglomerate gold, with all shear hosted/basement gold to be retained by Calidus.

The portfolio in question consists six granted exploration licenses and two exploration licenses currently under application with mapped conglomerates.

Pacton will be liable for rehabilitation and environmental obligations and will need to spend a minimum of C$50,000 in aggregate on all tenements during each 12-month period from commencement of the Gold Rights Agreement.

“This is a pleasing outcome as sale of the Conglomerate gold rights provide Calidus with an opportunity to realise value over non-core areas of the company’s portfolio,” Calidus Resources managing director Dave Reeves said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“This value can in time be applied to assisting in funding our core focus which is developing the Warrawoona gold project.”

Calidus explained that the Gold Rights relate to material that overlies the basement rocks and that is formed of transported material.

Specifically, this means the Fortescue Group conglomerates that overlie the Warrawoona Greenstone Belt.

The relevant tenements covered by the LoI do not include areas covered by the company’s current resource or planned drilling program.

 

Email: info@calidus.com.au

Website: www.calidus.com.au

 

BCI Minerals to Sell Off Iron Ore Portfolio

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: BCI Minerals (ASX: BCI) commenced a formal divestment process for the company’s iron ore asset portfolio, which includes Iron Valley, Kumina, Bungaroo South, Cape Preston East port rights and several other iron ore exploration tenements.

BCI Minerals described its iron ore assets as being one of the largest Pilbara hematite resource bases held outside the major Pilbara producers.

The company explained that following completion of a maiden JORC Mineral Resource estimate at the Kumina tenements in June 2018, it was approached by multiple parties expressing strong interest in acquiring Kumina and the other iron ore assets.

As a result, the BCI Minerals Board has resolved to undertake a formal process to explore the potential divestment of the entire iron ore asset portfolio, a decision it declared to be aligned with a stated intent of developing a salt and potash business as the primary focus in the near term.

BCI has appointed PCF Capital as corporate advisor and Gilbert + Tobin as legal advisor to support in the divestment process.

“Funds realised from the iron ore divestment process will enable BCI to rapidly progress the Mardie definitive feasibility study and maintain 100 per cdent ownership through to a target final investment decision date in late 2019,” BCI Minerals said in its ASX announcement.

“BCI will also be well placed to maximise its project interest through the Mardie development stage.”

 

Email: info@bciminerals.com.au

Website: www.bciminerals.com.au

 

Ventnor Resources Granted Arrowsmith PoW by WA Government

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Ventnor Resources (ASX: VRX) is making new progress at the company’s Arrowsmith silica sand project in Western Australia.

Ventnor’s Arrowsmith project is broken down into three smaller project areas: Arrowsmith North, Central and South.

The company has been granted a Program of Work (PoW) for exploration on both Arrowsmith North (E70/5076) and Arrowsmith Central (E70/4987) prospects by the Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry and Safety (DMIRS).

Drilling is set to commence in September subject to the ground drying out in compliance with the company’s Dieback Management Plan, which has been accepted by DMIRS and added to the tenement conditions for the PoW areas and requires drilling to be undertaken in dry conditions.

Ventnor’s application for Exploration Licence E70/5109 was granted on 14 August 2018.

Ventnor has also applied for an additional Exploration Licence (ELA70/5197) covering an area of 8.5 square kilometres at the Arrowsmith project it believes to complement its current status as it is contiguous with the existing holding.

The Arrowsmith project now comprises four granted exploration licences and one new application covering a total area of approximately 379sqkm.

A JORC-2012 compliant Maiden Mineral Resource is being estimated for the Arrowsmith North and Central areas, utilising existing hand auger data.

Ventnor anticipates the estimate to come in at the Inferred level of confidence and to be completed in the current calendar quarter.

“The approved POW now allows us to undertake drilling programs targeting a JORC-2012 compliant Mineral Resource to an Indicated category,” Ventnor Resources managing director Bruce Maluish said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“In addition to the Mineral Resource estimations, drilling, assays and a third iteration of testwork are expected to be completed before the end of the year and will all contribute to a near term Feasibility Study on the Arrowsmith silica sand project.”

 

Email: info@ventnorresources.com.au

Website: www.ventnorresources.com.au

 

Ventnor Resources Outlines Silica Sands Development

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THE BOURSE WHISPERER: Ventnor Resources (ASX: VRX) recommenced trading as it announced its future development program for the company’s Arrowsmith and Muchea silica sand projects in Western Australia.

“It has been a long and drawn out process to position the company into the silica sand industry with the potential now to develop substantial silica sand resources,” Ventnor Resources managing director Bruce Maluish said in the company’s announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

“We appreciate the understanding and patience of our shareholders and we are poised to rapidly develop these projects.

“During this time, we have been able to plan our development program and are ready to implement environmental studies, resources estimations, testwork programs and infill drilling programs.”

Ventnor has completed environmental desktop studies of both Arrowsmith and Muchea, which has informed the basis for detailed flora, vegetation and fauna studies to be conducted during the coming Spring months and that will also support a referral to the relevant environmental authorities prior to field studies for a Mining Proposal.

It has also conducted preliminary testwork programs that have shown the deposits at Arrowsmith can be upgraded to glassmaking silica sand requirements.

Further testwork is underway, which will enable announcement of final products and finalisation of the proposed processing circuit design.

Ventnor has completed sufficient drilling to allow a JORC-2012 Mineral Resource estimation at each of the projects following the completion of QA/QC assaying and review.

 

Email: info@ventnorresources.com.au

Website: www.ventnorresources.com.au