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West Cobar Metals commences maiden drilling campaign at Nevada lithium project

November 24, 2023

West Cobar Metals (ASX: WC1) has reached a key milestone in its hunt for lithium in Nevada, USA, with the commencement of a maiden reverse circulation drilling campaign.


West Cobar is investigating the potential of its recently acquired landholding in the world-class Nevada lithium district, where it has staked 242 mining claims near the town of Tonopah.


The company has kicked off its initial drilling investigations in Nevada with 5 drill holes at its 100%-owned Montezuma Well project.


West Cobar is seeking lithium-rich claystone horizons at Montezuma Well, located just 1km west of American Lithium Corporation’s TLC lithium claystone deposit, which is currently being assessed as a potentially significant new lithium supplier to the US market.


Montezuma Well is also only 2.5km north of American Battery Technology’s recently announced Tonopah Flats discovery.


Big Smoky Valley test

Following the completion of the Montezuma Well program, West Cobar will shift the rig to its 100%-owned Big Smoky Valley project.


The company is aiming to drill 6 holes at that project.


Also located in a prime neighbourhood, Big Smoky Valley is 30km south-west of the TLC deposit and 30km north-east of Ioneer’s (ASX: INR) Rhyolite Ridge lithium claystone deposit in similar host lithology.


After completing a positive Rhyolite Ridge definitive feasibility study, Ioneer is aiming to begin operations there in 2026.


West Cobar’s claims lie in the Silver Peak-TLC zone, which hosts the single biggest US lithium producer – Albemarle’s Silver Peak lithium-in-brines operation – and some of the largest US lithium in claystone resources.


Montezuma Well consists of 59 claims, while Big Smoky Valley consists of 183 claims.


Funds raised to support drilling

The start of drilling in Nevada comes just one day after West Cobar received firm commitments from professional and sophisticated investors for a share placement which raised gross proceeds of $734,800.


At the same time the company revealed plans to undertake a share purchase plan (SPP) to raise a maximum of $570,000.


A portion of the funds raised from the placement and SPP will be used for the exploration drilling activities in Nevada.


Further Salazar studies

The funds raised will also support further commercialisation of West Cobar’s Salazar rare earth element project near Esperance in Western Australia.


The company recently added to its ground-holding at Salazar by acquiring contiguous tenements from Dundas Minerals (ASX: DUN) totalling 451 sq km.

That deal increased the Salazar landholding to a total of 1,171 sq km.


West Cobar has obtained a mineral resource estimate for the Newmont and O’Connor deposits at Salazar which estimated a total mineral resource of 190 million tonnes at 1,172 parts per million of total rare earth oxides (TREO).



Elsewhere, the company has leaching kinetics optimisation studies of the Newmont deposit material currently underway with ANSTO, while ongoing beneficiation testwork is being carried out at the University of Newcastle and Nagrom.





Source: https://smallcaps.com.au/west-cobar-metals-commences-maiden-drilling-campaign-nevada-lithium-project/

Queensland breaks ground on CopperString

July 9, 2024
The Queensland Government has broken ground on the first construction works of the $5 billion CopperString project. Work commenced yesterday on the CopperString projects’ first and largest workforce accommodation site. The site will house those charged with building the project’s 840km high-voltage transmission line that will connect Mount Isa to the ‘SuperGrid’ for the first time. The workforce accommodation will house up to 550 construction workers at its peak. These workers will construct a nearby substation and progress early stages of the transmission line development heading west from Hughenden out to Mount Isa. Supercharging the state’s north-west aims to unlock Queensland’s $500 billion north-west minerals province. It’s expected CopperString will be complete in 2029, weather and construction conditions permitting. Queensland Premier Stephen Miles said CopperString is the biggest ever expansion to the state’s publicly owned energy system. “Queenslanders deserve cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy – to power their homes, our schools, hospitals, shopping centres and more,” Miles said . “CopperString will be the catalyst for transforming Queensland’s north and north-west – opening up mining opportunities, creating more jobs and unlocking critical minerals which will be essential in developing renewable technologies. “This is the start of a long and exciting future for the region and our state.” Commencing later this month, project owner, Queensland Powerlink, will be offering free sessions for businesses along the CopperString corridor to build their capabilities. The program includes five workshops and one-on-one assistance to help businesses build confidence to bid on major projects and supply chain work in the region. “All of North Queensland understands the immense opportunities that CopperString presents for local jobs both directly and indirectly which is why this is such a momentous day,” Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said.  “Critical minerals are the next big boom for the resources industry and the feedback I’ve had from companies is that this project is key to unlocking those opportunities.” Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/queensland-breaks-ground-on-copperstring/

Showcasing the best in underground mining

July 8, 2024
Underground mines are busy places, and it’s vital companies are on top of their processes to enable an efficient and safe underground operation. Whether it’s having the best equipment to drive higher production, maximise return on investment, minimise waste or keep workers out of harm’s way, mining companies benefit from understanding and investing in the right underground technologies. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/showcasing-the-best-in-underground-mining/

BHP goes green at ‘world’s largest’ copper mine

July 8, 2024
BHP has started environmental processing to have the transport at its Escondida copper mine in Chile transitioned to an electric trolley system. The Big Australian will invest around $US250 million ($371.6 million) in the project at Escondida, which it owns in a joint venture with Rio Tinto. The funds will go towards installing key infrastructure to electrically assist the movement of extraction trucks in areas where the highest fuel consumption currently takes place. BHP has submitted an environmental impact statement to the Environmental Impact Assessment System in Chile. “The electric trolley system is one of the initiatives with which we seek to move towards a safer and more sustainable way of operating hand in hand with technology,” BHP Escondida president Alejandro Tapia said . “This project will allow us to reduce the fuel consumption of our extraction trucks and thus advance our goal of net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” The project includes the construction of a new electrical substation and transmission lines both inside and around the Escondida Norte pit. These facilities will electrically assist the movement of trucks inside the mine in the areas where they go up loaded with ore and, consequently, consume more fuel. With this new technology, instead of using diesel, they will be propelled by electrical power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving productivity associated with truck performance given the higher travel speed. Once construction kicks off up to 160 jobs are expected to be created. The trolley project is in addition to other technological transformation initiatives that the company maintains in different stages of study and execution, including the progressive incorporation of autonomy in its mining equipment.  To date, Escondida has six autonomous trucks in full operation and by 2025 it expects to have the largest fleet of autonomous equipment in South America. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/bhp-goes-green-at-worlds-largest-copper-mine/
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