
- WORLD EDITIONAustraliaNorth AmericaWorld
September 25, 2023
Technology Metals Limited Australia (ASX: TMT) (the Company), is pleased to provide an update in relation to the proposed merger with Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) (ASX: AVL) by way of a Scheme of Arrangement (Scheme) pursuant to the Scheme Implementation Deed as announced to the ASX on 25 September 2023.
TMT is pleased to advise that shareholders representing approximately 26% of the TMT shares on issue have provided written statements confirming their intention to vote their shares in favour of the Scheme, subject to no superior proposal emerging and an independent expert opining (and continuing to opine) that the Scheme is in the best interests of the TMT shareholders.
RECEIPT OF SHAREHOLDER VOTING INTENTION STATEMENTS
Shareholders that have provided written statements of support include:
- Regal Funds Management (holding or controlling 12,042,858 shares representing a 4.7% interest in TMT);
- Atasa Holdings Pty Ltd (holding or controlling 4,343,995 shares representing a 1.7% interest in TMT); and
- Tribeca Investment Partners Pty Ltd (holding or controlling 3,200,000 shares representing a 1.3% interest in TMT)
These written voting support statements are in addition to the previously announced support of TMT’s largest shareholder, Resource Capital Fund VII LP (RCF) (holding or controlling 45,821,428 shares representing a 18.0% interest in TMT), which has provided a voting intention statement under which it confirms its intention to vote in favour of the Scheme, in the absence of a superior proposal (as assessed by RCF) and subject to an Independent Expert opining (and continuing to opine up to the date of the Scheme meeting) that the Scheme is in the best interests of TMT shareholders.
TMT’s Managing Director, Ian Prentice, commented “it is very encouraging that TMT’s largest institutional shareholders are supportive of the proposed merger with AVL. Similar to the TMT management team and Board, these shareholders recognise the significant benefits through the consolidation of these contiguous orebodies and technical teams. TMT and AVL believe the merger will help accelerate the development of the combined project to the benefit of both sets of shareholders.
TMT now has voting intention statements from shareholders (including RCF) representing approximately 26% of TMT shares on issue which demonstrates the strong support for the proposed merger with AVL.”
TMT will resume trading today, Tuesday 26 September 2023.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Australian Vanadium Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
AVL:AU
The Conversation (0)
29 April 2024
Australian Vanadium
Overview
Australian Vanadium Limited (ASX:AVL) is a Western Australia-based company focused on the Vanadium supply chain, from mining to batteries. The company has a “pit to battery” strategy, which involves processing the vanadium and creating vanadium electrolytes to manufacture vanadium flow batteries (VFB) and become a VFB supplier in Australia.
AVL will generate vanadium concentrate at the mine, which will be fed to the company’s processing plant to produce vanadium pentoxide, which will then be used as feedstock for its vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility. AVL will leverage its wholly-owned subsidiary, VSUN Energy, to create safe and reliable renewable energy storage solutions using VFB.
Currently, around 85 percent of the vanadium is sourced from China, Russia and South Africa. Vanadium is classified as a critical mineral in several countries, including the US, EU and Japan, and with its geopolitically stable environment and mining-friendly policies, Australia makes for an attractive, secure supply source.
AVL boasts a world-class vanadium asset in a tier-1 mining jurisdiction. The company’s flagship Australian Vanadium project is one of the most advanced vanadium projects in the world. The asset comprises vanadium, titanium and magnetite ore body located on wholly-owned tenements, making it scalable. The project will consist of a simple open pit mine and a processing plant, which will be close to a major port bringing lower-cost energy, water and manpower.
AVL’s recent merger with Technology Metals Australia (TMT) has provided several key benefits, including the consolidation of each company’s tenements into one big project. The merger has created a 17 kilometre strike for the high-grade magnetite domain, allowing for efficient mine infrastructure. Moreover, the merger improves the project's economics through access to high-grade mineralization, which is now unconstrained.
A bankable feasibility study (BFS) prior to the merger had the following key parameters:
- Annual production of 11,200 t V2O5
- Mine life of 25 years
- Pre-production capex of $435 million
- Opex of $4.43/lb of V2O5
Following the merger, the company is preparing an optimized feasibility study (OFS) to improve the capex and opex and deliver better project economics. The next steps for the project include a combined mineral resource estimate, publishing the OFS report, certain approvals, offtake agreements, and financing.
The demand for vanadium is expected to increase significantly due to the growth of VFBs. However, the fundamental demand for vanadium remains strong across the end markets, including its application in steel production, aerospace and energy storage. In fact, a sharp rise in demand for energy storage applications will result in a supply deficit that will grow from 2024 onwards.
Vanadium flow batteries have two tanks filled with vanadium electrolyte fuel. First invented 40 years ago, VFBs have since been commercialized for large-scale applications. The technology offers compelling cost savings for applications with greater than four hours of storage.
The VFB technology has several technological and economic merits that are driving the scale of the projects. First, it is superior economically for long-duration storage applications. Second, it is non-flammable, making it very stable. Third, it provides 100 percent depth of discharge with multiple cycles. Fourth, it offers a life span of over 25 years. Fifth, it is easy to scale. It is well proven at MWh scale and is now moving towards GWh scale.
Given these techno-economic benefits, the VFB industry is experiencing unprecedented global growth, led by China. Currently, 208 VFBs are in operation, 51 are under construction, and 87 new projects have been announced. To give an idea of this rising demand, in 2025, China alone will consume 11 times AVL's annual production of 11,200 tons of V2O5.
The company has a well-crafted vertical integration strategy to participate across the vanadium supply chain. In addition to supplying vanadium, the company is present in the manufacturing of vanadium electrolyte and batteries.
AVL’s Vanadium Electrolyte Facility official opening by Australian Government minister for resources and Northern Australia Hon. Madeleine King MP alongside non-executive director Anna Sudlow, chair Cliff Lawrenson, CEO Graham Arvidson and non-executive director Miriam Stanborough.
AVL has completed the construction of a vanadium electrolyte manufacturing plant in Perth, Western Australia. The project has received funding from the Australian Government. The plant has a capacity of 33 MWh per annum of energy storage. The first production was completed in 2024, and VFB manufacturers will test samples. The electrolyte produced is further processed by AVL’s wholly-owned subsidiary, VSUN Energy, to create large scale energy storage solutions using VFBs.
Company Highlights
- Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) is a Western Australia-based company focused on the entire vanadium supply chain, from mining to batteries. The company’s “pit to battery” strategy includes processing the vanadium to create vanadium electrolytes for vanadium flow batteries (VFB), as the company intends to become a VFB supplier in Australia.
- The Australian Vanadium project is the company’s flagship mining project and is one of the most advanced projects globally.
- The company recently completed its merger with Technology Metals Australia (TMT), which is likely to significantly boost the project's economics. The company is working on the project's optimized feasibility study (OFS) report.
- Given that only three countries (Russia, China and South Africa) contribute 85 percent of the global supply of vanadium, an Australian supply source makes the project attractive.
- The demand for vanadium is poised to grow across the end markets, including steel, aerospace and battery storage. Growing demand for VFBs has the potential to provide a sizable end-demand market for vanadium. Vanadium demand from batteries could reach 50 percent of the total demand by 2030, from the current share of just 7 percent.
- The company has a well-crafted vertical integration strategy. In addition to vanadium supply, it is also focusing on vanadium electrolyte manufacturing and the supply of VFBs to the Australian market.
- VSUN Energy, AVL’s subsidiary, creates safe and reliable renewable energy storage solutions using vanadium flow battery technology.
Get access to more exclusive Vanadium Investing Stock profiles here
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An Australian vanadium leader
17 September
How to Invest in Vanadium Stocks
Vanadium is an important metal for both the steel and battery manufacturing industries.
Both of these sectors play key roles in economic growth and a new era in defense and energy security. Supply and demand fundamentals for the metal indicate a strong long-term outlook for the vanadium market.
Many investors believe the vanadium industry is compelling and are interested in getting involved in this evolving market. Read on for a brief overview of the metal, from supply and demand to how to invest in this exciting industrial and battery metal.
In this article
What is vanadium?
Named after Vanadis, the Norse god of beauty, vanadium is a silvery-gray transition metal that was discovered in 1801.
Vanadium occurs in about 65 different minerals, and is mined as a by-product of other metals, usually uranium. It is also found in deposits of phosphate rock, titaniferous magnetite, uraniferous sandstone and siltstone. Aside from that, it is present in bauxite and in carboniferous materials such as crude oil, coal, oil shale and tar sands.
Vanadium demand trends
Vanadium applications have grown in recent years, contributing to price growth. The vast majority of vanadium is used as an additive in the steel industry to make a high-strength product that is lighter, stronger and more resistant to shock and corrosion.
Vanadium content of less than 0.1 percent is needed to double the strength of steel, and although other metals — including manganese, molybdenum, niobium, titanium and tungsten — can be interchanged with vanadium for alloying with steel, there is no substitute for vanadium in aerospace titanium alloys.
Over the last few years, China has increased its vanadium use, producing steel rebar with high tensile strength for construction. Vanadium compounds are also used in nuclear reactors because they have low neutron-absorbing properties. Vanadium oxide is used as a pigment for ceramics and glass, and can act as a catalyst in the production of superconducting magnets.
In addition to the steel alloy sector, the metal is often used to make parts for jet engines, as well as crankshafts, axles and gears. What’s more, vanadium redox batteries (VRFB) are currently generating excitement because they are reusable over semi-infinite cycles, and do not degrade for at least 20 years, allowing energy storage systems the ability to bank renewable energy.
However, these batteries are quite large compared to lithium-ion batteries, and are better suited for industrial or commercial use rather than for use in electric vehicles. That said, there are a number of companies around the world working on developing the technology for residential and smaller-scale use.
“VRFBs will have a considerable impact on the vanadium industry through the next two decades, but will play a minor role in the energy storage space — accounting for only 3.5 percent of total battery energy storage installations by 2035,” Piyush Goel, commodities consultant at CRU Group, told INN leading into 2025. “Although VRFBs will make up a small portion of total energy storage, they are significant consumers of vanadium and will consume the majority of global vanadium in 2035, compared to ~6 percent in 2024."
Vanadium supply trends
The top vanadium producing countries are China, Russia and South Africa, and worldwide vanadium production totaled 100,000 metric tons (MT) in 2024. China was the world’s largest producer of vanadium by far, contributing 70,000 metric tons of vanadium. Russia came in at a distant second with output of 21,000 MT, and South Africa was in third place with 8,000 MT.
Russian-owned Evraz is a large vanadium producer with assets in Russia and Czechia, and is a major supplier of ferrovanadium to the European steel market. In the first half of 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent trade sanctions have prompted end-users to look for more secure vanadium supplies. By the end of 2024, Russian vanadium pentoxide exports to China had dried up, and supply uncertainties were also reported in South Africa.
As China is also the top consumer of the metal, analysts see the US-China trade conflict spurring a ramp up of vanadium production in the Asian nation. “With the current geopolitical environment, there is absolutely no way that China is going to rely on imports of vanadium,” said Erik Sardain, principal analyst for Project Blue, in a December interview with INN.
For his part, CRU Group's Goel believes other nations are also interested in boosting domestic vanadium production. “Governments worldwide have recognized vanadium as a critical mineral, leading to increased support for emerging vanadium projects,” he said. Goel cited as an example the private Australian company Vecco Group, which received an AU$3.8 million grant to advance the feasibility and design of its vanadium project in Brisbane.
However, vanadium will have to break free from the current low pricing environment if ex-China projects are to move from discovery to production.
How to invest in vanadium stocks
Vanadium bullion is available from private individuals, but the metal is not publicly traded, and so most experts do not advise investing in physical vanadium. Instead, vanadium stocks are a common way to gain exposure.
There are several publicly traded companies currently producing vanadium for investors to consider, as well as many companies exploring or developing vanadium projects, including as a by-product of other minerals. See the list of vanadium stocks you can invest in below for more details on their operations.
Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL)
Australian Vanadium is building a vanadium pit-to-battery value chain in Western Australia that will incorporate its flagship Australian Vanadium project, considered one of the most advanced vanadium projects being developed globally.
Bushveld Minerals (LSE:BMN)
Bushveld Minerals is a primary vanadium mining company with one of the world’s largest high-grade primary vanadium resources. The company’s assets, all in South Africa, include two of the world's four operating primary vanadium production processing facilities and an under-construction vanadium electrolyte production facility.
Energy Fuels (TSX:EFR,NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU)
Energy Fuels is primarily focused on uranium and rare earth metals, but its White Mesa mill in Utah, US, has the ability to process uranium-bearing ore from its mines into vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) as well. While the company is not currently producing vanadium, it has a stockpile of finished V2O5, with production and sales awaiting stronger market prices.
Largo Resources (TSX:LGO,NASDAQ:LGO)
Largo Resources owns and operates the Maracas Menchen mine in Brazil, and has annual V2O5 equivalent production guidance of between 9,000 and 11,000 MT. The company supplies vanadium products for multiple applications, and has developed vanadium redox battery systems for advanced renewable energy storage solutions.
Manuka Resources (ASX:MKR)
Manuka Resources holds two fully permitted precious metals projects in the Cobar Basin of New South Wales, Australia. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, it is also advancing the Taranaki VTM iron-vanadium-titanium project, which would extract vanadium-rich iron sands from the seabed of the New Zealand exclusive economic zone.
NextSource Materials (TSX:NEXT,OTCQB:NSRCF)
NextSource Materials' advanced-stage Green Giant in-situ vanadium project in Madagascar is one of the world’s largest-known vanadium deposits, with a resource estimate of 60 million MT of V2O5 at an average grade of almost 0.7 percent. Green Giant is adjacent to NextSource's Molo graphite mine.
QEM (ASX:QEM)
QEM is advancing its flagship Julia Creek vanadium and energy project in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province. The project hosts one of the largest vanadium deposits in the world, with a JORC resource of 2.87 billion MT at 0.31 percent V2O5, and a contingent oil resource of up to 654 million barrels.
Strategic Resources (TSXV:SR)
Strategic Resources is targeting the green steel market with its flagship BlackRock vanadium-titanium-iron project in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec, Canada. The project, which will host a mine and concentrator, is fully permitted and construction ready. The company will also have a metallurgical facility located in the Port of Saguenay.
VanadiumCorp Resource (TSX:VRB)
VanadiumCorp's goal is to become a fully integrated producer of high-quality vanadium electrolytes for vanadium flow batteries. It plans to source material from its Lac Doré vanadium- and titanium-bearing magnetite deposit in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Québec.
Western Uranium and Vanadium (CSE:WUC,OTCQX:WSTRF)
Western Uranium and Vanadium is developing high-grade uranium and vanadium production at its Sunday Mine Complex in Colorado, US, and licensing and developing the nearby Mustang mineral processing plant. In Q2 2025, it delivered stockpiled and new production from Sunday to Energy Fuels' White Mesa mill through an ore purchase agreement.
This is an updated version of an article originally published by the Investing News Network in 2014.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Manuka Resources, NextSource Materials, QEM, and Western Uranium and Vanadium are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
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19 August
QEM Limited: Vanadium and Energy Resource Development in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province
QEM Limited (ASX:QEM) is an emerging Australian critical minerals and energy company advancing its flagship Julia Creek project in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province. Hosting one of the world’s largest vanadium deposits—with a JORC resource of 2.87 billion tonnes at 0.31 percent V₂O₅— and a co-located contingent oil resource of up to 654 million barrels, Julia Creek offers significant scale and dual commodity upside.
QEM’s dual-commodity model provides investors with rare exposure to both vanadium—vital for long-duration grid storage—and liquid fuels that support Australia’s energy security. This diversified strategy positions QEM to capitalize on two high-growth markets: renewable energy storage through vanadium flow batteries and domestic fuel production in a nation that imports ~93 percent of its liquid fuels.
The Julia Creek project benefits from proximity to key road, rail, and planned power infrastructure, including the government-backed CopperString high-voltage line, helping reduce capital intensity. Supported by favorable market trends, strong policy backing, and an experienced leadership team, QEM is progressing toward a final investment decision and long-term production.
Company Highlights
- Dual-revenue Commodity Model: QEM’s Julia Creek Project is uniquely positioned to produce both high-purity vanadium pentoxide and liquid transport fuels, offering two robust and diversified revenue streams.
- Massive Resource Scale: One of the world’s largest vanadium deposits, co-located with 654 MMbbls of in-situ oil resource, with 6.3 MMbbls classified in the 1C category and 94 MMbbls in 2C.
- Strong Economics: 2024 Scoping Study delivered a post-tax NPV of AU$1.1 billion and 16.3 percent IRR for a 30-year mine life based on just a portion of the tenement area.
- Strategic Location & Infrastructure: Located within Queensland’s North West Minerals Province, adjacent to key infrastructure and the planned CopperString high-voltage transmission line.
- Energy Transition Exposure: Focused on supplying vanadium for long-duration energy storage applications such as vanadium flow batteries and addressing Australia’s transport fuel import dependency.
This QEM Limited profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*
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18 August
QEM Limited
Investor Insight
With a clear focus on critical minerals and energy security, QEM Limited is advancing one of the world’s most unique dual-commodity projects. Backed by a highly experienced management team and growing government support, QEM is positioned to become a leading Australian supplier into the global energy transition and domestic fuel security markets.
Overview
QEM Limited (ASX:QEM) is an emerging Australian critical minerals and energy developer focused on unlocking the full value of its flagship Julia Creek vanadium and energy project, located in Queensland’s North West Minerals Province (NWMP). The project is one of the largest vanadium deposits in the world, underpinned by a globally significant JORC resource of 2.87 billion tonnes at 0.31 percent vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅), and a co-located contingent oil resource of up to 654 million barrels.
QEM’s dual-commodity model sets it apart – offering investors rare exposure to both vanadium for long-duration grid energy storage and liquid fuels that address Australia’s critical energy security needs. This diversified approach allows QEM to capitalize on two high-growth global markets: vanadium for renewable grid storage (i.e., vanadium flow batteries) and domestic fuel production in a country currently importing ~93 percent of its liquid fuel needs.
The Julia Creek project’s strategic proximity to essential road, rail and future power infrastructure, including the government-backed CopperString high-voltage line, further reduces capital intensity. With favorable market trends, supportive policy frameworks, and a capable leadership team, QEM is advancing toward final investment decision (FID) and long-term production.
Company Highlights
- Dual-revenue Commodity Model: QEM’s Julia Creek Project is uniquely positioned to produce both high-purity vanadium pentoxide and liquid transport fuels, offering two robust and diversified revenue streams.
- Massive Resource Scale: One of the world’s largest vanadium deposits, co-located with 654 MMbbls of in-situ oil resource, with 6.3 MMbbls classified in the 1C category and 94 MMbbls in 2C.
- Strong Economics: 2024 Scoping Study delivered a post-tax NPV of AU$1.1 billion and 16.3 percent IRR for a 30-year mine life based on just a portion of the tenement area.
- Strategic Location & Infrastructure: Located within Queensland’s North West Minerals Province, adjacent to key infrastructure and the planned CopperString high-voltage transmission line.
- Energy Transition Exposure: Focused on supplying vanadium for long-duration energy storage applications such as vanadium flow batteries and addressing Australia’s transport fuel import dependency.
Key Project
Julia Creek Vanadium and Energy Project
QEM’s flagship Julia Creek vanadium and energy project is a globally significant, dual-commodity resource positioned to supply two critical markets: vanadium for grid-scale long-duration energy storage and liquid transport fuels for Australia’s energy security. Located within the North West Minerals Province (NWMP) of Queensland, the project spans over 250 sq km across four contiguous exploration permits. The resource is situated close to vital infrastructure, including highways, rail corridors and the proposed CopperString 2.0 high-voltage transmission line, which makes logistics, permitting and development significantly more streamlined.
The deposit hosts one of the largest vanadium resources globally, with a JORC 2012-compliant mineral resource estimate totaling 2.87 billion tonnes at an average grade of 0.31 percent V₂O₅, comprising 461 million tonnes in the indicated category and 2.41 billion tonnes in the inferred category. The vanadium mineralization is hosted within oil shale units at shallow depths amenable to open-pit mining. The mineralized zones exhibit favorable in situ bulk densities (~2.2 g/cm³) and lateral continuity, making them ideal for large-scale extraction.
Importantly, co-located within the same ore body is a substantial contingent petroleum resource, compliant with SPE-PRMS 2018 standards. This oil-shale-based petroleum-in-place estimate totals 654 million barrels in the 3C category, with 94 million barrels in 2C, and a 1C resource of 6.3 million barrels, based on a 90 percent recovery assumption. The economic cut-off of 40 litres/tonne was applied, and the resource is unrisked. Oil yield across the resource averages 68 litres per tonne in the higher-grade zones (OSU/OSL). The project’s dual-commodity model – targeting simultaneous production of V₂O₅ and synthetic transport fuels – is a core differentiator compared to peers focused solely on oxidized vanadium zones.
The 2024 scoping study outlines a base-case scenario with robust economics. The study assumes a 5.1 Mtpa ROM operation with a mine life of 30 years, producing an average of 10,571 tonnes of V₂O₅ and 313 million litres of transport fuel per annum. The post-tax NPV (8 percent) is AU$1.1 billion, with a 16.3 percent internal rate of return and a five-year payback period. Total CAPEX is expected to be around AU$1.1 billion. Operating costs are competitive, with V₂O₅ production estimated at US$5.80/lb and fuel production at AU$0.59 per litre, supported by co-generation, waste heat recovery and renewable energy inputs.
Metallurgical test work has confirmed the ability to recover high-purity vanadium pentoxide through a leach-precipitation-calcination route, with further flow sheet optimization underway at the University of Queensland. QEM is investigating hydrogen-assisted oil upgrading and has entered into a framework agreement with Potentia Renewables to power operations and generate green hydrogen for use in the synthetic fuel upgrading process. This integration of renewable energy and hydrogen into the production flow sheet represents a significant innovation and ESG advantage, lowering Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
QEM has made rapid progress across permitting, stakeholder engagement, flow sheet development and ESG transparency. It recently achieved Coordinated Project designation from the Queensland Government, completed its environmental impact statement terms of reference, and is preparing for a drilling campaign and pre-feasibility study (PFS) initiation in late 2025.
QEM’s strategic location within the NWMP ensures strong access to skilled labor, water sources and transport routes. The company also benefits from Queensland’s designation of the Julia Creek-Richmond corridor as a Critical Minerals Precinct, with access to government-backed funding programs such as the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive, which offers a 10 percent tax credit on downstream processing through 2040, and the $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. The planned PFS will incorporate outcomes from ongoing metallurgical testing, infill drilling and EIS data collection. The company’s development timeline targets FID by 2027 and first production by 2030, supported by parallel discussions with offtake partners and engineering groups.
Management Team
Gavin Loyden – Founder
Gavin Loyden is the founder of QEM and the driving force behind acquiring and developing the Julia Creek resource. With over 12 years in mining, Loyden has overseen the company’s exploration, permitting and renewable energy partnerships, ensuring alignment with ESG priorities and long-term shareholder value.
Robert Cooper CEO and Managing Director
Robert Cooper brings more than 30 years of global mining experience, including senior executive leadership and non-executive board roles across the resources and battery materials sectors. He served as MD/CEO of New Century Resources, and prior to that, as CEO of Round Oak Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Washington H. Soul Pattinson (ASX:SOL). He has held senior roles with Discovery Metals, BHP and has been a non-executive director at Novonix (ASX:NVX), Syndicated Metals and Verdant Minerals.
Tim Wall – Chair
Tim Wall brings more than 35 years of experience in global oil refining, hydrogen, ammonia and energy infrastructure. He held senior executive roles at multiple ASX 100 companies and past-president of global manufacturing at Incitec Pivot Limited (ASX:IPL). He is a respected voice in energy transition strategy.
Daniel Harris – Non-executive Director
Daniel Harris is a globally recognized vanadium expert with 40+ years in the sector. He is the former director of US Vanadium LLC and past executive at EVRAZ, Vametco Alloys and Australian Vanadium (ASX:AVL). He brings unparalleled depth in vanadium market dynamics and project evaluation.
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25 July
Top 5 Australian Mining Stocks This Week: Vanadium Resources Soars on DSO Offtake Deal
Welcome to the Investing News Network's weekly round-up of Australia’s top-performing mining stocks on the ASX, starting with news in Australia's resource sector.
This week, gold companies continued to shine in Australia, joined by battery and base metals explorers and developers.
In corporate news, Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) announced an AU$60 million all-stock acquisition of Aurumin (ASX:AUN). The companies will consolidate their assets in the Sandstone region of Western Australia.
The merger will create a district-scale, open-pit gold development platform with a combined resource of 3.9 million ounces at 1.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold.
Market and commodity price round-up
The S&P/ASX 200 index opened at 8,757.1 on Monday (July 21) and closed at 8,666.9 on Friday (July 25).
As for precious metals, the gold price rose 0.22 percent in US dollars, going from US$3,350 per ounce on Monday to US$3,357.29 by the close of Australian trading on Friday. On the other hand, the yellow metal decreased 0.9 percent in Australian dollars, moving from AU$5,148.63 to AU$5,102.43 over the same period.
Silver saw a rising slope in US dollars through Friday, starting the week at US$38.18 per ounce and closing at US$39.07, showing a 2.33 percent increase. In Australian dollars, silver traded at all time highs during the week. The metal jumped 1.19 percent, from AU$58.67 to AU$59.37.
Top ASX mining stocks this week
How did ASX mining stocks perform against this backdrop?
Take a look at this week’s five best-performing Australian mining stocks below as we break down their operations and why these mining stocks are up this week.
Stock data for this article was retrieved at 4:00 p.m. AEST on July 24 using TradingView's stock screener and reflects price movements between Monday and Thursday (July 24). Only companies trading on the ASX with market capitalizations greater than AU$10 million are included. Mineral companies within the non-energy minerals, energy minerals, process industry and producer manufacturing sectors were considered.
1. Vanadium Resources (ASX:VR8)
Weekly gain: 105 percent
Market cap: AU$23.14 million
Share price: AU$0.041
Vanadium Resources is currently transitioning to production at its flagship Steelpoortdrift vanadium project, located within the Bushveld Geological Complex and Steelpoort Valley in South Africa.
The company is focused on advancing near-term, early stage cashflow opportunities at Steelpoortdrift that will allow it to fund its long-term plans at the site. The asset has a JORC-compliant resource estimate of 680 million tonnes at an average in-situ grade of 0.7 percent vanadium pentoxide. Vanadium Resources laid out its plan in a 2022 definitive feasibility study to process ore from the mine into vanadium concentrate, which would be further processed into high-purity vanadium pentoxide flake and powder at an on-site salt roast leach processing plant.
On June 18, Vanadium Resources updated investors that it has made traction on discussions related to all three of its near-term initiatives: direct shipping ore (DSO) sales, concentrator development and concentrate offtake, and access to third-party processing infrastructure located adjacent to the market. “(We are) preserving the option to pursue full-scale development once vanadium market conditions materially improve,” the company stated.
On Tuesday (July 22), the company announced news related to the first initiative: a binding two year agreement with China Precious Asia to supply 100,000 tonnes per month of vanadium-rich magnetite DSO from Steelpoortdrift. The offtake agreement positions Vanadium Resources to advance its status from developer to producer.
A trading halt was requested by Vanadium Resources on Wednesday (July 23), pending the release of an announcement. Trading will recommence on Friday.
2. Great Western Exploration (ASX:GTE)
Weekly gain: 83.33 percent
Market cap: AU$11.36 million
Share price: AU$0.022
Great Western Exploration is focused on exploring for copper, gold and base metals in Western Australia.
At present, it is exploring its flagship Yerrida North project, located approximately 800 kilometres northeast of Perth.
The company said on July 7 that it had begun a close-spaced ground gravity survey at the Oval and Oval South targets at Yerrida North following drill results in May indicating a potential volcanic hosted massive sulphide target.
Great Western shared in the same announcement that it is well funded for future exploration projects, having a cash position of AU$3.7 million.
While the company hasn’t issued any updates since, its shares witnessed a significant rise this week.
3. Peregrine Gold (ASX:PGD)
Weekly gain: 72.97 percent
Market cap: AU$22.06 million
Share price: AU$0.32
Peregrine Gold is a gold and lithium exploration company concentrating on its Newman gold project tenement.
The company revealed in a Monday release that it discovered a large-scale channel iron deposit (CID) at Newman during ongoing stream sediment sampling. Samples returned average grades of 57 percent iron.
Pilbara-focused Peregrine has mapped the deposit, which it named the Coopers CID prospect, over 6.4 kilometres in strike and up to 200 metres in width. Peregrine plans to quickly advance Coopers towards drill testing.
This spiked more interest in the company, with shares reaching AU$0.32 on Thursday.
4. DeSoto Resources (ASX:DES)
Weekly gain: 52.17 percent
Market cap: AU$27.08 million
Share price: AU$0.175
DeSoto Resources is an exploration company with a large gold project portfolio in Guineau as well as lithium, gold and rare earth element projects in the Northern Territory, Australia.
The company gained its Guineau portfolio in February 2025 through a 100 percent acquisition of private company Angex Australia, which held over 1,200 square kilometres of exploration ground.
The acquisition included 14 gold projects in the country’s Siguiri Basin and three in the Gaoual gold belt.
DeSoto’s team is familiar with the region, as its chairman and non-executive director previously made the Bankan discovery in Guineau as part of Predictive Discovery (ASX:PDI). Since the acquisition, the company has been performing mapping and sampling at many of the Guineau projects. In an exploration update on Thursday, DeSoto said results from auger drilling at the Dadjan project showed grades of up to 5.73 g/t gold.
As for its projects in Australia, earlier in the week, the company announced assay results from shallow auger drilling at its Tole gold project in the Northern Territory. It highlighted a result of 8 metres at an average grade of 18.03 g/t gold, including 2 metres at 72.2 g/t. Company shares rose through the week following the exploration updates.
5. FirstAU (ASX:FAU)
Weekly gain: 50 percent
Market cap: AU$12.46 million
Share price: AU$0.006
FirstAU is a gold and base metals exploration company with projects in Australia and Liberia.
Its flagship Australian asset is the Victorian Goldfields gold project in Victoria’s Eastern Goldfields. It acquired the final 20 percent interest in the project this past April and is now the sole owner.
The Victorian gold project holds the Haunted Stream prospect, for which maiden drilling results from June 2023 returned 13 metres at 3.57 g/t gold and 8 metres at 3.45 g/t gold.
In West Africa, the company is currently focused on developing the Nimba gold project located in Nimba County, Northern Liberia, within the Archean-age West African Craton. FirstAU entered an earn-in agreement with Hamak Gold (LSE:HAMA) to acquire the project in May of this year.
Under the earn-in agreement, FirstAU will issue 100 million shares and pay AU$250,000 in cash to Hamak Gold to progressively earn up to 70 percent interest. FirstAU also has the option to acquire 100 percent ownership.
On Tuesday, FirstAU announced the commencement of 3,000 metres of diamond drilling at the Nimba project. Following the announcement, shares of First AU jumped from Tuesday’s close of AU$0.004 to AU$0.006 Wednesday.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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02 July
QEM Appoints Robert Cooper as Director, following Leadership Transition
Critical minerals and energy company QEM Limited (ASX: QEM) is pleased to announce completion of the previously announced Leadership Transition (refer ASX Announcement 29 May 2025).
Highlights:
- Seasoned global mining executive Robert Cooper has completed a comprehensive handover and is appointed to the QEM board as MD & CEO effective 2 July 2025.
With the Company entering its next stage of development, founder Gavin Loyden has retired as Managing Director and CEO effective 1 July 2025.
Mr Loyden has been instrumental in shaping the Company's vision since 2014, securing the Julia Creek asset and progressing it into a nationally significant critical minerals project.
The Board is pleased to announce that Robert Cooper is appointed to the QEM board as Managing Director, effective 2 July 2025
Mr Cooper brings over 30 years of global mining experience, including senior executive leadership and non-executive board roles across the resources and battery materials sectors. He most recently served as MD/CEO of New Century Resources, and prior to that, as CEO of Round Oak Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Washington H. Soul Pattinson (ASX:SOL). He has held senior roles with Discovery Metals, BHP, and has been a NED at Novonix ASX:NVX), Syndicated Metals, and Verdant Minerals.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from QEM Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
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12 June
Vanadiumcorp Announces Grant Of Stock Options
VanadiumCorp Resource Inc. (TSX-V: VRB) (FSE: NWNA) (OTC: VRBFF) ("VanadiumCorp" or the "Company") Vancouver, British Columbia – June 12, 2025 – VanadiumCorp Resource Inc. (TSX-V: VRB) (FSE: NWNA) (OTCBB: APAFF) (the "Company”) announces that it has granted, pursuant to its 10% rolling Stock Option Plan, stock options to certain eligible directors, officers and consultants of the Company or its subsidiaries to purchase a total of 1,076,714 common shares in the capital of the Company, subject to any regulatory approval. The stock options are exercisable for a period of five years at an exercise price of $0.12 per share and vest as to 50% immediately and 50% in one year.
About VanadiumCorp:
VanadiumCorp is a Canadian Critical metals exploration company owning 100% of two strategic properties in Quebec: The Iron T and the flagship Lac Doré property. The company is advancing innovative technologies to extract vanadium-titanium and potentially high-grade iron from its vanadiferous titanomagnetite projects. The successful implementation of these technologies is expected to ensure a stable, long-term supply of the company's critical metal deposits, which include vanadium feedstock for electrolyte production. Our initial electrolyte facility, located in Val-des-Sources, Quebec, will serve a dual purpose: evaluating the quality of the outputs and facilitating the initial production of electrolytes. Furthermore, the company intends to expand its production of electrolytes for the international market, specifically for long-duration Vanadium Flow Batteries (VRBs).
On behalf of the Board of VanadiumCorp Resource Inc.
“Kristien Davenport”
President, CEO and Director
VANADIUMCORP RESOURCES INC.
For more information, please visit the company website www.vanadiumcorp.com
Email: info@vanadiumcorp.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements (including "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) regarding, among other things, VanadiumCorp's business. and the environment in which it operates. In general, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "forecast", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "could" or "will be taken", "occur" or "will be achieved". VanadiumCorp relies on a number of assumptions and estimates to make these forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the ability to acquire the necessary permits and authorizations to advance the Lac Doré property to the production stage, the ability to add to existing resources at Lac Doré through drilling, the costs associated with the development and operation of its properties. These assumptions and estimates are made in light of forecasts and conditions that are considered relevant and reasonable based on available information and current circumstances. A number of risk factors may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or results of such exploration and/or mine development to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, whether such discoveries will result in commercially viable quantities of such mineralized materials, the ability to modify project parameters as plans continue to be refined, the ability to execute planned future exploration and drilling programs, the need for additional financing to continue exploration and development efforts, changes in general economic, market and business conditions, and other risks outlined in VanadiumCorp's latest Annual Information Form under the heading "Risk Factors" and in its other public documents. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and such information is inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may be beyond VanadiumCorp's control. Although VanadiumCorp has attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. In addition, all forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. VanadiumCorp disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this disclaimer.
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