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Thunderbird Resources Limited (Thunderbird) or (the Company) (ASX: THB) is pleased to advise that it is in the final stages of preparation for its maiden drilling program at the highly prospective Hidden Bay Uranium Project in the Athabasca Basin, Canada, with six quotes received from prospective drilling contractors.
Highlights
- Six drilling contractors have submitted quotes with a drilling contract on track to be signed shortly.
- 2,400m of diamond drilling planned, with drilling scheduled to commence mid-August.
- Entitlement Offer closes at 5pm WST on Wednesday 10 July 2024. Share price on Friday closed at 3.3c, a 10% premium to the Entitlement Offer price of 3c.
- Thunderbird will be fully-funded for its upcoming exploration programs following the completion of its $4.1m capital raising and a recent $1.07m share sale.
The Company is aiming to appoint its preferred drilling contractor shortly, with the drilling program on track to commence by mid-August, with Dahrouge Geological Consulting providing technical support. Hidden Bay is located 20km south-west of the Rabbit Lake uranium deposit on the eastern flank of Canada’s world-class Athabasca Basin.
The upcoming drilling program will comprise 2,400m of diamond drilling across five high-priority target areas that have been meticulously refined by the Company’s exploration team.
Entitlement Offer
The fully underwritten entitlement offer closes at 5pm on Wednesday 10 July. The share price closed on Friday at 3.3c, which is a 10% premium to the 3c price of the entitlement offer.
The Company will be fully funded for the Hidden Bay drilling program following the completion of the Entitlement Offer and Placement, as well as the recent sale of 10 million Firetail Shares (ASX: FTL) raising $1.07 million.
The Company has recently participated in the Firetail Resources Entitlement Offer, acquiring 1.5m @ 4c for $60,000. This will increase its holding to 16.5 million Firetail Shares. Based on the closing price on Friday 5 July 2024 of 10c, Thunderbird’s investment is valued at $1.65 million.
Management Comment
Thunderbird Executive Chairman George Bauk said: “We are pleased to have received proposals from six drilling contractors and look forward to finalising the contract shortly. Everything is on track to commence the Company’s maiden drilling program at Hidden Bay by mid-August.”
Hidden Bay Drilling Targets
The drill targets defined at Hidden Bay are based on airborne gravity and magnetic surveys, radon in soil surveys, and re-interpretation of historical exploration data. Six priority gravity low targets were identified within an ENE-trending structural corridor proximal to the regional Athabasca unconformity. The ENE-corridor is defined by EM conductors (historical surveys), structures and fold axes. Historical drilling in the southwest part of the property returned up to 0.13% U3O8 1 and elevated radon geochemistry occurs proximal to the gravity lows.
Figure 1. Location of Hidden Bay Uranium Project in the Athabasca Basin
Hidden Bay is located approximately 20km south of the historic Rabbit Lake Uranium mine, which was the longest running uranium mine in North America with over 41 years of mining, producing over 203 million pounds of uranium concentrate1. This part of the Athabasca Basin is highly endowed with several uranium deposits and producing mines within a 40km radius including Eagle Point, Collins Bay, Cigar Lake, Roughrider, and Horseshoe-Raven (see Figures 1 and 2). Despite its proximity to multiple uranium prospects and deposits only one hole has been drilled on the property in the last 35 years (see Figure 3).
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Basin Energy
Investor Insight
Basin Energy offers uranium and rare earth exposure through high conviction exploration projects within tier-1 jurisdictions.
The group’s primary focus is the testing of district scale uranium and rare earth potential at the Sybella Barkly project, located directly west of the prolific mining town of Mount Isa, in northwest Queensland. These projects are deemed prospective for roll-front uranium, shear hosted hard rock uranium, sediment/ionic clay hosted rare earth elements and for hard rock rare earths. Evidence in support of this comes from the direct proximity and geological analogies to both ASX Paladin Energy’s Valhalla uranium deposit and its uranium source, the Sybella Batholith and for rare earth potential adjacent to ASX Red Metal’s Sybella Discovery.
The company also provides strategic exposure to three projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin, the heartland of uranium exploration, where it is partnered with TSXV CanAlaska uranium and has a strategic early mover position in the emerging energy metals districts of Sweden and Finland ranked 6 and 1, respectively on the Fraser index in 2024.
With a technically driven exploration focus for uranium and rare earth minerals within tier-one jurisdictions, Basin Energy is well-positioned to capitalize on the global push for clean energy.
Overview
District Scale Uranium and Rare Earths Opportunity – Queensland Australia
Basin holds 5,958 sq km of exploration tenure in the Mount Isa district of northwest Queensland. The projects provide compelling walk-up drill targets that can be rapidly and cost-effectively tested using air core and reverse circulation (RC) drilling.
The drill-ready, district scale opportunity includes:
- Paleochannel roll front uranium
- Sediment and ionic clay hosted rare earth elements
- Hard rock, granite hosted rare earth elements
In addition to these three district-scale targets, the project area contains multiple shear-hosted Valhalla-style uranium targets defined for immediate assessment.
Project location map
The primary model is based on mineralisation sourced from the various granites of the Sybella Batholith, a large north-south trending igneous body containing zones enriched in rare earth elements. This includes the Red Metal (ASX:RDM) giant Sybella Discovery. Several granites from the Sybella are also uranium rich, potentially being the source of Paladin Energy’s (ASX:PDN) Valhalla deposits.
The projects cover an extensive portion of the Sybella Batholith, deemed prospective for granite-hosted REEs, as well as a significant landholding west of the Sybella, known as the Barkly Tablelands. The Barkly Tablelands are regarded as prospective for sediment-hosted mineralisation and was surveyed with airborne electromagnetics (AEM) by Summit Resources in February 2007, prior to its acquisition by Paladin Energy. Whilst numerous targets were identified, no drilling was completed at the time. Importantly, past exploration focused mainly on base metals, phosphate and water bores, meaning the uranium and rare earth potential remains virtually untouched.
Prospective target concepts
Paleochannel Roll-Front Uranium Potential – District Scale Target 1
The Summit Resources AEM survey identified an extensive network of paleochannels within the Barkly Tablelands, fed from the uranium-rich Sybella Batholith. This network trends south beyond the limits of existing survey data, suggesting even further potential remains to be identified.
Historical drilling in the area noted geological features typically associated with uranium deposits, such as redox fronts, sandstone channels and impermeable cap rocks. However, no uranium assays were conducted at the time.
Given the Sybella granites are considered the potential source of Paladin’s nearby Valhalla uranium deposits, Basin believes significant uranium will have also been transported into these paleochannels through erosion and chemical leaching processes. Previous work by Summit Resources and Furgo has already prioritised several high-potential targets. Basin plans to complete a first pass aircore drilling program to delineate this potential in Q4 2025.
Ternary radiometrics and AEM conductivity depth slice (paleochannels are projected to surface)
Sediment and Ionic Clay Hosted REE Potential – District Scale Target 2
Surface and auger geochemistry sampling across the Barkly Tablelands has confirmed significant REE enrichment, with multiple results exceeding 600 ppm TREO. The sediments are directly sourced from the Sybella Batholith with the highest of these values located directly down drainage catchments linked to Red Metals Sybella Discovery.
Sediment-hosted REEs and target zones
Previous AEM surveys also revealed a broad conductive layer within the Barkly Tablelands sediments, approximately 12 metres thick at shallow depths between 20-32 metres, and covering a footprint of over 1,000 sq km. This layer is interpreted to represent a clay-rich unit capable of hosting ionic clay REE deposits.
AEM outlining laterally extensive conductive sediment target
Granite Hosted REE Potential – District Scale Target 3
The various granites that make up the Sybella contain zones of enriched REEs, including the Red Metal (ASX:RDM) owned Sybella Discovery.
Basin’s ground includes several prospects (Newsmans Bore, Eight Mile and Threeways) where a shallow proof of concept auger drilling program returned highly encouraging results in 2023.
The most encouraging results from the auger drilling at Newmans Bore reported at over 0.5 m at >1000 ppm TREO, including:
- SYAH23-020 – 5.0 m @ 1,951 ppm TREO with 578 ppm Nd+Pr oxide combined (including 3 m @ 705 ppm) from 4 m to end of hole
- SYAH23-006 – 2.5 m @ 1,343 ppm TREO with 248 ppm Nd+Pr oxide combined from 5 m to end of hole
- SYAH23-018 – 0.5 m @ 1,996 ppm TREO with 465 ppm Nd+Pr oxide combined from 2 m to end of hole
- SYAH23-131 – 2.6 m @ 1,535 ppm TREO with 329 ppm Nd+Pr oxide combined from 3 m to end of hole
These results are very significant, as mineralisation continued to the end of hole and closely mirrors the geochemical patterns seen by Red Metal prior to their Sybella discovery.
Auger drilling completed by NeoDys, with highlights from Newmans Bore
Red Metals Discovery REE anomaly
Red Metal utilised RC drilling beneath this anomaly and identified broad zones of rare earth anomalism, which led to the Sybella discovery. NeoDys’ auger drilling across Basin’s project has outlined similar levels and scale of rare earth anomalism, demonstrating strong potential for comparable discoveries. See figure below.
Stylised section of NeoDys Newmans Bore auger drilling
The next phase for Basin will be to conduct deeper RC drilling to test potential continuity of these anomalies. Drilling is proposed for Q4 2025.
Hard Rock Shear-Hosted Uranium Valhalla Style Targets
In addition to the three district scale targets, Basin also sees strong potential for Valhalla-style shear zone uranium mineralisation within the North section of the license. Airborne radiometric data highlights several anomalies crossing both the Sybella granite and the Cromwell metabasalt, features consistent with the alternation patterns seen at other uranium deposits in the region. The scale and geological setting of these radiometric anomalies draws comparison to Paladin Energy’s Mount Isa (Valhalla) project, which contains 148.4 Mlbs of U3O8 at 728 ppm, and a combined 116 Mlbs within the Valhalla, Odin and Skal resources located just 7 km east of Basin’s license
Filtered airborne radiometric data (isolating high-U, low-K rocks) highlighting several potential Valhalla-style shear zone targets in the Cromwell Metabasalt and the adjacent Sybella Batholith
Company Highlights
- Strategic exposure to district-scale opportunities with the potential to transform into world-class discoveries, delivering exceptional leverage on exploration success
- Drill-ready Queensland projects positioned for rapid advancement, leveraging low-cost exploration techniques to deliver high-impact results.
- Pure uranium exposure to the Athabasca Basin through partnership with CanAlaska Uranium, fresh off discovery success at West McArthur.
- Early mover position in the Nordics ready to capitalise as Sweden reverses its uranium mining moratorium (effective Jan 1, 2026), unlocking access to Europe’s largest uranium endowment and elevating Nordic exploration upside.
- Exposure to uranium (supply shortfall + nuclear demand growth) and rare earths (critical to EVs and renewables, with limited global supply), both sectors positioned for sustained upside.
- Exploration leverage in globally ranked, mining-friendly jurisdictions Finland, Saskatchewan, Sweden, and Queensland minimizing geopolitical risk while maximizing discovery upside.
- Experienced Team: Leadership includes veterans of uranium discovery and development, with direct experience in Athabasca Basin and international uranium markets.
Key Projects
Strategic Global Uranium Exposure
Basin holds interests in three projects, in partnership with TSX-V CanAlaska within the heartland of the world class Athabasca Basin uranium district. The company’s primary focus here is on the Geikie project where early drilling has identified a significant alteration system with analogies to major basement hosted uranium deposits of the district such as Nexgen energy’s prolific Arrow discovery. The company is actively seeking partnerships for the Marshall and North Millennium projects, which are prospective for unconformity style mineralisation with walk up drill ready targets.
Canada - Athabasca Basin
Geikie Project
The Geikie Project spans 351 sq km on the eastern margin of the Athabasca Basin and benefits from excellent access, with Highway 905 just 10 km to the east.
This underexplored region is considered highly prospective for shallow, basement-hosted uranium mineralisation. Historically overlooked in past exploration campaigns, the area has seen renewed interest following recent basement-style uranium discoveries elsewhere in the district.
Project Highlights:
- Drilling Results & Exploration Potential
- Uranium intersected in 6 of 16 holes including 0.27 percent U₃O₈ over 0.5 m at Aero Lake and 263 ppm U₃O₈ over 9 m at Preston Creek
- Pathfinder elements (notably lead isotope anomalies) were identified in 10 of 16 holes
- Structural & Geological Highlights
- Large-scale structural corridors identified—capable of transporting and hosting high-grade uranium
- Extensive hydrothermal alteration confirms a robust, active fluid system
- Uranium assays validate the mineralised system
- Targeting & Exploration Potential: Multiple near-surface drill targets defined using geological data from 2023–2024 drilling and integrated airborne and ground geophysical datasets.
- High-resolution airborne gravity surveys have successfully mapped basement-hosted alteration systems, identified intense gravity lows aligned with structural corridors and enhanced targeting confidence on the outer edge of the Athabasca Basin.
In 2025, Basin Energy addedtwo new claims to the Geikie uranium project, consisting of 22.3 sq km, bringing the total project area to 373.1 sq km. Mineral claims MC00022218 and MC00022219 are contiguous to the Preston Creek prospect, where 2024 drilling outlined a large-scale hydrothermal system within a complex structural corridor with uranium anomalism.
Scandinavia - Sweden and Finland
Basin has secured 100 percent ownership of multiple reservations and licences across Sweden and Finland, prospective for uranium and critical green energy metals. This portfolio targets shear-hosted and intrusive-related mineralisation and consists of five exploration licenses within Sweden and five reservations in Finland. In 2025, Basin Energy announced theapproval for the Trollberget project application located in Northern Sweden, between the Björkberget and Rävaberget projects within the Arvidsjaur-Arjeplog uranium district. The project added 116 sq km of exploration land, increasing Basin Energy’s total holding to 219 sq km within this highly prospective uranium and green energy metals district.
Exploration Updates: Virka & Björkberget
- Structural Relogging Completed
- Detailed relogging of 48 historical drillholes completed across the Virka and Björkberget projects.
- Björkberget: Structural data now available for 28 priority holes; 137 samples submitted for multi-element analysis, with an additional 71 samples prepared for shipment.
- Virka: All historical core relogged; samples are awaiting shipment for lab preparation.
- Key mineralising structural trends identified in core, with associated alteration and mineral assemblages (pending results) to inform future drill targeting.
- High-Grade Surface Results Confirmed
Pulp re-analysis by fusion XRF of two surface samples initially above detection limits (>2.95 percent U₃O₈) confirmed exceptionally high uranium grades:- BJK004: >5.9 percent U₃O₈ from a granite boulder with visible yellow oxide staining at the base of an outcrop
- BJK008: 5.4 percent U₃O₈ from a rhyolitic/fine-grained granite boulder with visible mineralisation and yellow oxide staining
These results reinforce the high-grade uranium potential of Basin’s Scandinavian portfolio and will directly guide the next phase of drill targeting.
Management Team
Blake Steele - Non-executive Chairman
Blake Steele is an experienced metals and mining industry executive and director with extensive knowledge across public companies and capital markets. He was formerly president and chief executive officer of Azarga Uranium (Azarga), a US-focused integrated uranium exploration and development company. He led Azarga into an advanced stage multi- asset business, which was ultimately acquired by enCore Energy (TSXV:EU) for C$200 million in February 2022.
Pete Moorhouse - Managing Director
Pete Moorhouse has 18 years of mining and exploration geology experience with extensive experience in the junior uranium sector, having spent over 10 years with ASX-listed uranium explorer and developer Alligator Energy (ASX:AGE). He holds significant competencies in evaluating, exploring, resource drilling and feasibility studies across many global uranium and resource projects.
Cory Belyk - Non-executive Director
Cory Belyk holds 30 years’ experience in exploration and mining operations, project evaluation, business development and extensive global uranium experience most recently employed by Cameco in the Athabasca Basin. He was a member of the exploration management team that discovered Fox Lake & West McArthur uranium deposits. Currently CEO/VP of Canadian Athabasca uranium explorer and project generator, CanAlaska (TSXV:CVV).
Matthew O’Kane – Non-Executive Director
Matgthew O’Kane is an experienced executive and company director with over 25 years’ experience in the mining and mineral exploration, commodities, and automotive sectors. He has held senior leadership roles in Australia, Asia and North America, in both developed and emerging markets, from start-up companies through to multinational corporations. He has served on the Board of mining and mineral exploration companies in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia. He was a member of the Board of Azarga Uranium from 2013 until its sale to Encore Energy in February of 2022. He is currently a director of two ASX listed exploration and development companies.
Ben Donovan - Company Secretary
Ben Donovan has over 22 years of experience in the provision of corporate advisory and company secretary services. He holds extensive experience in ASX listing rules compliance and corporate governance and has served as a Senior Adviser to the ASX for nearly 3 years Currently CoSec to several ASX listed resource companies including M3 Mining (ASX:M3M), Magnetic Resources (ASX:MAU) and Legacy Iron Ore (ASX:LCY).
Odile Maufrais - Exploration Manager
Odile Maufrais is an exploration geologist with over 14 years of experience and has an extensive understanding of the uranium exploration and mining industry, having worked at ORANO, one of the largest global uranium producers, for 12 years on various assignments in Canada, Niger, and France. Maufrais has significant Athabasca Basin-specific experience, being involved in over 15 greenfield and brownfield uranium exploration projects located throughout the Basin. Her most recent roles for ORANO comprised leading various uranium exploration campaigns and being an active member of the ORANO research and development team, which involved working on trialing and implementing cost-effective and streamlined drilling techniques within the Athabasca Basin. She also played a key role in the update of the National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for the Midwest Main and Midwest A deposits. Maufrais holds a Master of Science from Montpellier II University, France.
AuKing Mining
Investor Insight
AuKing Mining is advancing the Cloncurry Gold Project in Queensland, with near-term production potential supported by a large land package with multiple drill targets already defined and its right to acquire 50 percent of Orion Resources through a AU$5 million earn-in. Backed by diversified copper, uranium, and critical metals assets, plus strategic partnerships, the company is positioning itself as a growth-focused, emerging mid-tier producer.
Overview
AuKing Mining (ASX:AKN) is an exploration and development company with a portfolio of assets focused primarily on gold, but also uranium, copper, and critical minerals, across Australia, Tanzania, and Canada. The company aims to become a mid-tier producer through the acquisition and development of near-term production assets.
In February 2025, AuKing Mining entered into a strategic agreement with Gage Resources, an Australian subsidiary of Beijing-based Gage Capital Management. The agreement includes a $300,000 investment by Gage, resulting in a 10 percent stake in AuKing, and the sale of two non-core prospecting licenses in Tanzania to Gage for an additional $300,000. This partnership is expected to enhance AuKing's financial position and support its ongoing exploration and development activities.
Aerial Image of Mt Freda Open Pit & Exploration Land Package
AuKing Mining further reported a major step forward for the Cloncurry Gold Project, with its partner Orion Resources signing a non-binding term sheet for US$5 million in project financing from a long-established North American lender. The facility, if completed, will support the acquisition of Cloncurry assets, feasibility and development work at the Tick Hill JV, mining at Mt Freda, and processing at the Lorena plant. This is a key milestone as it retains the right to acquire 50 percent of Orion by investing AU$5 million before June 2027, positioning the company to benefit directly from the restart of gold production and the advancement of multiple near-term development opportunities.
Company Highlights
- AuKing Mining is an exploration and development company with its primary focus being the Cloncurry Gold Project in north Queensland.
- The company also holds a diverse portfolio of exploration assets in Western Australia (Koongie Park), Tanzania (Mkuju), Canada (Myoff Creek in British Columbia and Grand Codroy in Newfoundland).
- Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships:
- Entered an earn-in agreement to acquire a 50 percent interest in the Cloncurry Gold project.
- Entered a joint venture in February 2025 with ASX-listed Cobalt Blue Holdings (CBH) whereby CBH can earn up to a 75 percent interest in the Koongie Park project in Western Australia.
- Formed a strategic partnership with a large Beijing-based resources fund, Gage Capital, in February 2025.
- AuKing is led by a highly experienced management team executing the company’s strategies to increase shareholder value.
Key Projects
Cloncurry Gold Project (Queensland, Australia)
In November 2024, AuKing Mining entered into an earn-in agreement with Orion Resources for the Cloncurry gold project in northern Queensland. This agreement allows AuKing to increase its stake in the project to 50 percent by investing AU$5 million in project funding by June 2027.
Orion’s Cloncurry Project interests, including the Mt Freda/Golden Mill mining leases. [Note the nearby Wynberg and Wallace/Wallace South gold projects are not assets being acquired by Orion]
A key component of this project is the Tick Hill Gold Joint Venture, involving AuKing, Orion Resources, and Tick Hill Mining, the current owner of the Tick Hill gold mine. The JV aims to establish a processing operation at Tick Hill, focusing initially on reprocessing the existing tailings stockpiles. A pre-feasibility study completed in 2020 outlined a processing capacity of 474,200 tonnes at 2 g/t gold over 13 months, yielding approximately 27,300 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of AU$1,493 per ounce.
In March 2025, the JV partners signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to assess the viability of processing Tick Hill's tailings and other ore materials at the Lorena processing plant, located 15 km east of Cloncurry. This initiative aims to expedite the re-commencement of gold production in the region.
The JV also plans to evaluate the feasibility of reopening the historical open pit mine at Tick Hill, with the goal of extending the project's life and enhancing gold production. An independent preliminary economic assessment has concluded that the proposed tailings retreatment plan is both technically and financially viable, recommending progression to a final feasibility study.
Through these strategic initiatives, AuKing Mining is actively advancing the Cloncurry gold project, aiming to unlock significant value and establish a sustainable gold production operation in the Cloncurry region.
The Mt Freda Complex, covering an area of no more than 6 sq kms, looking from north-west to the south-east, 30 kms south of the Lorena plant.
The Mt Freda Mining Complex is a key element in the proposed restart of mining operations at the Cloncurry Gold Project in northern Queensland. A comprehensive drilling program, consisting of an estimated 10,000 meters of combined diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling, is planned at Mt Freda to support the project’s development.
Myoff Creek
The Myoff Creek project, located in southeastern British Columbia, is a 100 percent-owned niobium and REE exploration asset held by AuKing Mining. It covers approximately 800 hectares across eight mineral claims. Historical work identified significant near-surface carbonatite mineralization spanning about 1.4 km by 0.4 km, with impressive intercepts of 0.93 percent niobium (Nb) and 2.06 percent total rare earth oxides (TREO). The zone remains open both at depth and laterally, and elevated niobium and cerium have been detected in rock chips nearly 2 km from the known mineralization, hinting at substantial upside. Positioned within a well-known mining region and easily accessible via established roads, the project is now primed for modern exploration, starting with a helicopter-borne aeromagnetic and radiometric survey to pinpoint new targets for drilling.
Project Highlights
- Full Ownership: AuKing holds a 100 percent stake in the Myoff Creek project—covering ~800 hectares across eight contiguous claims.
- Strong Historical Mineralization: Near-surface carbonatite zone (~1.4 km × 0.4 km) with high-grade intercepts: 0.93 percent Nb and 2.06 percent TREO.
- Open Mineralization: Zones remain open at depth and along strike; rock chips ~2 km from drilled area show elevated Nb and Ce.
- Strategic Location: Situated in a mining-friendly region, close to major operations like Highland Valley and Copper Mountain Mines
- Good Access: The site benefits from well-maintained infrastructure and road networks
- Current Exploration Underway: A helicopter-borne aeromagnetic and radiometric survey (covering 70 line-km over the tenure, potentially expanding to 7 km strike) is planned to define new drill targets
- High Potential Upside: Thick, low-impurity carbonatites (up to 200 m thick) in a critical mineral belt provide a compelling foundation for resource expansion
Halls Creek Project (Koongie Park Copper-Zinc Project - Western Australia)
The Halls Creek project, also known as the Koongie Park Project, is located 25 km southwest of Halls Creek in Western Australia’s highly mineralized Halls Creek Mobile Belt. It hosts three significant deposits—Onedin, Sandiego, and Emull—with established resources in copper, zinc, gold, silver, and lead. Backed by a 2025 earn-in agreement with Cobalt Blue (ASX:COB), which can acquire up to 75 percent of the project, Halls Creek offers strong development economics, value-engineering upside, and exploration growth potential in one of Australia’s most prospective mining regions.
Project Highlights
- Strategic location in WA’s Halls Creek Mobile Belt, near Savannah, Copernicus and Nicolsons operations.
- Key Deposits:
- Onedin – 4.8 Mt Cu-Zn-Au-Ag-Pb resource; silver credits identified as potential economic enhancer.
- Sandiego – 4.1 Mt Cu-Zn-Au-Ag-Pb resource; scoping study (2023) shows 11-year mine life, 750 ktpa throughput, $135 million capex, $177 million pre-tax NPV, and 40 percent IRR.
- Emull – 12.2 Mt Cu-Zn-Pb-Ag maiden resource with significant expansion potential.
- Value-Engineering Upside: Cobalt Blue’s review highlights cobalt inclusion at Sandiego and a centralized processing hub concept to improve margins, extend mine life, and reduce capital intensity.
- Exploration Growth: New targets such as Sandiego North show strong copper anomalies and early drill success, offering resource growth potential.
- Earn-in Partnership: Agreement with Cobalt Blue allows it to earn up to 75 percent interest, bringing technical and financial capability to fast-track development.
Mkuju Uranium Project (Tanzania)
Mkuju is situated immediately to the southeast of the world class Nyota uranium project that was the primary focus of exploration and development feasibility studies by then ASX-listed Mantra Resources (ASX:MRU). Not long after completion of feasibility studies for Nyota in early 2011, MRU announced a AU$1.16 billion takeover offer from the Russian group ARMZ. The takeover was finalised in mid-2011.
During the latter part of 2023, AuKing Mining completed a Stage 1 exploration program at Mkuju which comprised a combination of rock chip, soil geochemistry sampling, shallow auger drilling and initial diamond drilling. Some very encouraging results were obtained from this program which have formed the basis for a 11,000 m drilling program.
Management Team
Peter Tighe – Non-executive Chairman
Peter Tighe started his career in the family-owned JH Leavy & Co business, which is one of the longest established fruit and vegetable wholesaling businesses in the Brisbane Markets at Rocklea. As the owner and managing director of JH Leavy & Co, Tighe expanded the company along with highly respected farms and packhouses that have been pleased to supply the company with top quality fruit and vegetables for wholesale/export for over 40 years. Tighe has been a director of Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) since 1999 and is currently the deputy chairman. BML is the owner of the Brisbane Markets site and is responsible for the ongoing management and development of its $400 million asset portfolio. As the proprietor of the site, BML has over 250 leases in place including selling floors, industrial warehousing, retail stores and commercial offices. BML acknowledges its role as an economic hub of Queensland, facilitating the trade of $1.5 billion worth of fresh produce annually, and supporting local and regional businesses of the horticulture industry.
Paul Williams – Managing Director
Paul Williams holds both Bachelor of Arts and Law Degrees from the University of Queensland and practised as a corporate and commercial lawyer with Brisbane legal firm HopgoodGanim Lawyers for 17 years. He ultimately became an equity partner of HopgoodGanim Lawyers before joining Eastern Corporation as their chief executive officer in August 2004. In mid-2006, Williams joined Mitsui Coal Holdings as general counsel, participating in the supervision of the coal mining interests and business development activities within the multinational Mitsui & Co group. Williams is well-known in the Brisbane investment community as well as in Sydney and Melbourne and brings to the AKN board a broad range of commercial and legal expertise – especially in the context of mining and exploration activities. He also has a strong focus on corporate governance and the importance of clear and open communication of corporate activity to the investment markets.
Mark Fisher – Non-executive Director
Mark Fisher is a seasoned resources executive with more than 35 years of global experience in the mining industry. His expertise spans strategic business planning, feasibility, project management, mine engineering, and operational leadership. Fisher has a proven record of delivering profitable and sustainable outcomes that enhance shareholder value, even in complex operating environments. He held senior leadership roles with Placer Dome and Barrick Gold Corporation, including president of Barrick’s Global Copper division. In that role, he led the development strategy for a portfolio of major copper assets across South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Dr Kylie Prendergast – Non-executive Director
Dr Kylie Prendergast is a geologist and technical leader with over 25 years’ international experience in exploration, project evaluation, and commercial management across multiple jurisdictions. She is currently a non-executive director of Helix Resources and has held senior leadership roles including managing director of Felix Gold and Mining Associates, GM exploration and business development at Mawarid Mining (Oman), and senior positions with Batu Mining (Mongolia), Gold Fields, BHP Billiton, Ivanhoe Mines, and North Limited. She brings a strong track record of advancing exploration assets and creating value through both technical expertise and strategic leadership.
Nick Harding – Non-Executive Director
Nick Harding is an FCPA with over 35 years’ experience in finance, corporate governance, and company administration across the resources and agribusiness sectors. For the past 16 years, he has acted as executive director, CFO, and company secretary for multiple ASX-listed junior explorers, guiding several from early-stage exploration through to development and production. Earlier in his career, Nick held senior finance roles with WMC Resources, Normandy Mining/Newmont Australia, and Beach Energy, gaining broad exposure across gold, copper, nickel, uranium, industrial minerals, and oil and gas.
Lincoln Ho - Non-executive Director
Lincoln Ho brings over eight years of ASX-listed directorship experience, with a strong background in corporate strategy, mining exploration, and administration across both Australian and international jurisdictions. He has played a key role in guiding companies through transactions in local and overseas markets, working closely with corporate financiers in the emerging companies space. He is currently a non-executive director of Askari Metals and has previously served on the boards of Aldoro Resources, Redcastle Resources, and Red Mountain Mining.
Chris Bittar – Exploration Manager
Chris Bittar is an experienced geologist with a strong background in advancing projects from greenfield exploration through to mine-ready feasibility studies. He most recently served as senior project geologist at Pantoro Limited’s Norseman Project, overseeing near-mine exploration and resource development programs as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study. Prior to that, he held senior geology roles with Millennium Minerals (Nullagine Gold Project) and Pilbara Minerals (Pilgangoora Lithium Project), as well as exploration roles with Sumitomo Metal Mining Oceania and Northern Minerals (Browns Range rare earths project). His expertise includes managing drilling campaigns, geological interpretation, data management, and project reporting. Throughout his career, Bittar has maintained a strong commitment to workplace safety and best practice standards.
Paul Marshall – Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
Paul Marshall is a chartered accountant with a Bachelor of Law degree, and a post Graduate Diploma in Accounting and Finance. He has 30 years of professional experience having worked for Ernst and Young for 10 years, and subsequently twenty years spent in commercial roles as company secretary and CFO for a number of listed and unlisted companies, mainly in the resources sector. Marshall has extensive experience in all aspects of company financial reporting, corporate regulatory and governance areas, business acquisition and disposal due diligence, capital raising and company listings and company secretarial responsibilities.
