Shares in Develop reached a three-month high this morning after the company reported the thickest-ever intercept from its Woodlawn zinc-copper project in New South Wales (reports MiningNews).

The man behind Chalice and Liontown has made billions for shareholders since his last appearance at RRS in 2018. Also at RRS, Liontown stablemate Minerals 260 will outline its hunt for lithium in WA’s Mid West, as will Delta’s David Flanagan while a handful of gold stocks are set to unveil some eye-catching assays.

By Barry FitzGerald

A burst of corporate activity which started in the gold sector spilled over into battery metals this week in what looks like a rush to snatch market share ahead of improved economic conditions after interest rates start to fall next year, or later this year.

By Tim Treadgold

Lithium producers are struggling to keep up with demand from global car makers such as General Motors, Tesla and Volkswagen with the race on to switch to electric vehicles. And the pressure for miners to get bigger is only going to intensify (reports The Australian).

By The Australian

Lithium markets appear to have hit a “turning point” after a five-month sell off that has depressed prices of the battery metal, according to Morgan Stanley analysts (reports The West Australian).

Kingsland’s maiden drilling program at the Leliyn graphite project is underway, comprising 2,000m of RC and 1,200m of diamond drilling (reports Stockhead).

Another major milestone has been met in Evion’s strategy to supply graphite to the lithium battery industry with metallurgical tests confirming its product is ideal for battery anode material (BAM) (reports Stockhead).

It’s not a feeding frenzy yet, but a close look at the gold sector shows that conditions are perfect for a takeover rush (reports Tim Treadgold on Small Caps).

CZR Resources has today unveiled a whopping 230 per cent increase in reserves at its Robe Mesa iron ore project in the Pilbara – and in the process demonstrated the exceptional investment returns which can flow from being a boutique iron ore producer (reports Stockhead).

Cameco chief’s bullish pep talk comes as uranium price continues steady climb. It’s more good news for the likes of Boss as it counts down to production in South Australia and 92 Energy, which just unveiled bumper results at its Canadian discovery. And Meteoric unveils monster rare earths resource.

By Barry FitzGerald

Gold loves a crisis, which is why it hit an all-time high this week of US$2085 an ounce before easing, propelled by the rocket fuel of another U.S. interest rate increase and reports of another U.S. bank collapse.

By Tim Treadgold

With government approvals received and drill rigs mobilising to site, Kingsland Minerals is ready to begin drilling at the Leliyn graphite project in the next two to three weeks (reports Stockhead).

By Stockhead

Rarex now claims to have Australia’s largest undeveloped rare earths deposit after delivering the latest update to its Cummins Range project in Western Australia’s Kimberley region (reports MiningNews).

New World Resources has updated the scoping numbers from last year for an enlarged Antler copper project in Arizona, with the mooted operation’s net present value substantially increased (reports MiningNews).

Pilbara Minerals says heavy discounts on internal combustion engine vehicles in China before the introduction of new emissions regulations have contributed to a dip in lithium prices (reports The Australian Financial Review).

There are plenty of reasons for investors to avoid Orion Minerals (ASX: ORN), a copper hopeful which has essentially gone nowhere over the past 10 years, and a few important reasons to take a closer look at a company showing signs of stirring (reports Tim Treadgold on Small Caps).

The 2.5 million tonne per annum mill may no longer be turning at Gascoyne Resources’ Dalgaranga operation in Western Australia’s Mid West, but the company is working furiously to find more ore, and it remains excited by the potential of the Never Never discovery (reports MiningNews).

Chalice Mining has hit more zones of sulphide mineralisation at the Hooley prospect, 5km north of the world-class Gonneville polymetallic deposit in Western Australia (reports MiningNews).

The industry leader has revealed a strong interest in these deposits, which is promising news for juniors like Meteoric, AR3 and IXR. Plus, Astro is also drilling clay – for lithium.

By Barry FitzGerald

A whiff of panic blowing off U.S. banks coupled with doubts about China’s recovery dragged most markets down this week, leaving the good news in isolated situations, including takeover speculation in the lithium sector.

By Tim Treadgold