The Kerry Harmanis-chaired Talisman Mining has enjoyed early success translating the results of its regional scale geophysical surveys into discoveries with the intersection of broad zones of lead-zinc-silver mineralisation at its Lachlan project, within the central Lachlan Fold Belt, New South Wales (reports MiningNews).

Calidus Resources (ASX: CAI) has welcomed the news that international lithium major SQM is set to provide significant new funding to advance the Pirra lithium project in Western Australia (reports Small Caps).

Calidus Resources has released a maiden mineral resource at Bulletin, which is to be incorporated into its Warrawoona gold project in Western Australia’s Pilbara Goldfield, and add an additional initial 60,000-70,000 ounces to the company’s seven-year production profile (reports MiningNews).

Shares in battery metal explorer Nimy Resources have surged more than 30 per cent on the back of a major nickel-copper find in the Yilgarn region of WA (reports The West Australian).

Australian graphite stocks surged after China announced export controls restricting supply of one of the key battery minerals required for electric vehicles, opening a new frontier in a trade war with the US and its allied nations (reports The Australian Financial Review).

More significant intersections of total graphitic carbon (TGC) have been received at the Leliyn graphite project in the Northern Territory, laying the foundations for a resource in the 2024 March quarter (reports Stockhead).

Former Pilbara chief says history is set to repeat. Plus, Pilbara founder Biddle steps on the helium gas at Greenvale and Spartan gets big price target as gold jumps.

By Barry FitzGerald

It’s been said before, but Christmas really can’t come fast enough for investors after the latest roller-coaster ride this week caused by war in Gaza, a pointless referendum in Australia, the U.S. 10-year bond yield approaching 5% -- and a hint of better news from China.

By Tim Treadgold

Pioneer Lithium (ASX: PLN) has moved its maiden exploration program at Root Lake in Canada into fourth gear with the discovery of a large pegmatite swarm.

Reports Small Caps

Canadian-focused lithium explorer James Bay Minerals (ASX: JBY) has completed a helicopter-borne magnetic and spectrometric survey across its La Grande project in the country’s Istchee-James Bay region (reports Small Caps).

With lithium, gallium, germanium and copper projects across three continents, Battery Age Minerals is well-placed for the world’s push towards clean energy (reports Stockhead).

Sunstone Metals (ASX: STM) has announced an “outstanding” 269 metre intersection grading 1.05 grams per tonne gold equivalent (AuEq) at its high-grade Limon epithermal gold-silver discovery within the Bramaderos project in southern Ecuador (reports Small Caps).

Steve Parsons’ decision to join Auteco Minerals at a time to help it move into the Canadian copper space has got the nod from investors, with a share purchase plan being offered three times the cash sought (reports MiningNews).

Red 5 has now delivered its second solid quarter since mining started on the main orebody at its King of the Hill pit, feeding its modern facility, but the operation also appears to have delivered the aging Darlot mill a new lease on life (reports MiningNews).

Kin Mining and its largest shareholder have accepted Genesis Minerals’ offer for the Dacian Gold shares they own, marking a strong start to the Raleigh Finlayson-led company’s bid for total control of its fellow northern Goldfields goldminer (reports The West Australian).

Develop Global’s all-scrip takeover of Essential Metals has been waved through by shareholders in a deal likely to be valued at about $150 million (reports The West Australian).

By Barry FitzGerald| Outlook is good news for Kingsland and its NT graphite find, which has hallmarks of becoming a world-class orebody. Plus, Rio is sure to be looking at strong DFS numbers on CZR’s neighbouring Pilbara iron ore project.

By Tim Treadgold| Investors shrugged off the first week of the latest war in the Middle East but it might be wise to look ahead for future effects on three key wartime commodities, gold, oil and copper, which could all surge higher as the fighting continues.

DevEx has bolstered in uranium exploration portfolio, securing an earn-in agreement at the province-scale Murphy West tenements in the NT (reports Stockhead).

Pioneer Lithium (ASX: PLN) has made a positive beginning to its maiden exploration program identifying new outcropping pegmatites at Root Lake in northern Ontario, one of its three battery metals projects in Canada (reports Small Caps).