New World Resources has been granted a permit to undertake a maiden drilling program at one of the company’s highest priority exploration targets, 75km from its 11.4Mt Antler copper project (reports Stockhead).

High-grade gold and silver surface sampling has helped Sunstone Metals (ASX: STM) identify a large target to follow-up at its El Palmar project in northern Ecuador (reports Small Caps).

Centaurus Metals (ASX: CTM) has intersected high-grade nickel 300 metres below the current mineral resource estimate (MRE) limits in a new program to test the deeper upside at its 100%-owned Jaguar project in Brazil (reports Small Caps).

It has been a horror year for Chalice Mining. Its market cap has been smashed from its April high of A$3 billion to $620 million (reports Barry FitzGerald on MiningNews).

James Bay Minerals: Ticking boxes just eight weeks after listing

As one of the ASX’s newest explorers, James Bay Minerals (ASX: JBY) is wasting no time in its aim to create a multi-asset Canadian lithium business.

By Kristie Batten, Mining Commentator

The Steve Parsons-led group and fellow copper company Caravel among those set to ride energy transition wave. Plus, Ken Brinsden ponders valuation disconnect between WA and Canadian lithium companies, UBS tips sharp rise in gold price and big iron ore price puts little CZR in takeover spotlight.

By Barry FitzGerald.

It’s a bold prediction but this might be the week when financial markets passed an inflection point as positive news, such as peaking U.S. interest rates, overpowered negative events, laying the foundation for a strong recovery next year.

By Tim Treadgold.

RareX could grow already significant resources at its Cummins Range phosphate and rare earths project in WA’s Kimberley region after magnetic and gravity surveys identified potential new ultramafic pipes (reports Stockhead).

Initial rock sampling at New World Resources’ Javelin Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) project in Arizona, USA, has returned high grade assays up to 15% copper (reports Stockhead).

Dacian Gold said it would be delisted from the ASX next Monday now Genesis Minerals’ off-market takeover offer has moved to the compulsory acquisition stage (reports The West Australian).

Already credited with driving Spartan Resources’ transformation, the high-grade Never Never deposit looks poised to deliver the next phase of growth after drilling returned a monstrous 1,093g/t intercept and more visible gold (reports Stockhead).

James Bay Minerals has now mapped out three lithium-rich peggies across a 2.5km stretch at its Canadian Aero property, associated with a “prominent green mineral” (reports Stockhead).

Critical Resources (ASX: CRR) has confirmed the potential of the Swell Zone at its Mavis Lake lithium project in Ontario, Canada, with further outstanding assay results extending the discovery’s strike zone to over one kilometre (reports Small Caps).

Kingsland has hit its thickest intersection to date at the Leliyn graphite project — 285m at 6.1% TGC — further demonstrating the massive scale potential ahead of a maiden resource in Q1 2024 (reports Stockhead).

The Darlot underground gold mine in the northern Goldfields is set up to continue pumping out the ounces as it feeds the King of the Hills processing plant, Red 5 says (reports The West Australian).

Boss Energy (ASX: BOE) is pursuing an increase in the resource base at its flagship Honeymoon uranium project in South Australia with the start of infill and scout drilling at the Jason’s satellite deposit, located to the project’s north (reports Small Caps).

By Kristie Batten, Mining Commentator

Plus, Buxton-IGO nickel hit augurs well for neighbour Stavely, gold poised for Santa rally and Sunstone exploration target points to big open pit.

By Barry FitzGerald.

It’s not Christmas yet but there were hints this week of early presents for investors, including a dramatic improvement in Australia’s relationship with China, and signs that interest rates are peaking, or have peaked.

By Tim Treadgold.