Exploration and development activity continues to gather pace across Australia, with Hillgrove Resources, ABx Group and Amara Minerals advancing copper, rare earths and antimony opportunities through drilling, product development and fresh funding.
The latest updates highlight growing confidence in underground copper resources at Kanmantoo, progress towards commercialisation at the Deep Leads rare earth project, and renewed exploration momentum across Victoria’s emerging gold-antimony sector.
High-grade copper-gold intersections at Emily Star
Hillgrove Resources has reported further high-grade copper-gold intersections from underground drilling at the Emily Star deposit near its Kanmantoo copper mine in South Australia, as work advances towards a stage two investment decision.
Drilling from the newly established Emily Star exploration incline platform commenced in April, with seven holes completed by the end of May. Assays have now been received for five holes, all of which confirmed the continuity of high-grade mineralisation.
Key results included 19m at 1.49 per cent copper and 0.13g/t gold, and 15.87m at 1.53 per cent copper and 0.21g/t gold. Hillgrove said the drilling is providing important geological and geotechnical information to support detailed mine planning and evaluation activities.
Chief executive officer and managing director Bob Fulker said the results continue to strengthen confidence in the deposit.
“Emily Star continues to deliver consistent high grade results, reinforcing its potential as the next source of underground production at Kanmantoo,” Fulker said.
The company expects detailed design and economic assessment work to be completed in the second half of 2026 ahead of a final investment decision.
ABx advances Deep Leads rare earths product
ABx Group has achieved another milestone at its Deep Leads rare earths project in Tasmania, with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation confirming that a second mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) product is exempt from radiological control.
The company said the second MREC recorded an even lower level of radioactivity than its maiden product, a result expected to simplify handling, transport and regulatory requirements for potential customers. ABx believes the low radioactivity profile could provide a competitive advantage by reducing processing complexity and broadening the range of potential end users.
Customer engagement activities are also progressing, with samples of the maiden MREC distributed to six prospective customers across Australia and North America. The company said feedback received to date has been highly positive.
Managing director and chief executive officer Dr Mark Cooksey said the results highlight the quality of the Deep Leads product.
“These results further demonstrate the outstanding characteristics of the Deep Leads rare earth project and the quality of the MREC product being generated,” Cooksey said.
ABx continues to advance customer evaluation programs as it works towards commercialisation of the project.
Amara raises $2.2m for Victorian drilling
Amara Minerals has secured firm commitments to raise approximately $2.2 million through a placement to accelerate drilling across its Victorian gold-antimony portfolio.
The placement was priced at $0.005 per share, representing a 25 per cent premium to the company’s last traded price, with investors receiving one free attaching listed option for every two shares subscribed. Funds will be used to support the next phase of drilling at the Lauriston gold-antimony project, including the Trojan and Comet prospects, as well as the Apollo project.
The raising attracted strong support from existing strategic investor Nova Minerals, which committed a further $500,000. Chairman Mena Habib and managing director Ian Holland will also participate in the placement.
Nova Minerals chief executive officer and executive director Christopher Gerteisen said recent exploration results had strengthened confidence in the project portfolio.
“Since our initial investment last year, Amara Minerals has continued to deliver on its Victorian antimony strategy, and the recent results at Trojan reinforce our view that Lauriston is shaping up as a genuine high-grade discovery,” Gerteisen said.
The placement remains subject to customary approvals for the attached options.
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