Symal Group (ASX: SYL) is stepping up its Queensland expansion, acquiring the assets of Timms Group and L&D Contracting to add more than $28 million in plant and equipment, additional workforce depth and a strong pipeline of civil works. The move positions Symal ahead of rising pre-Olympics infrastructure demand and reinforces its integrated contracting model, expanding its ability to deliver full-service solutions across infrastructure, building and facilities, and partial C&D repurposing. 

Equus Energy (ASX: EQU) is expected to commence ASX trading next Thursday, 18 December, following its acquisition of 100% of the Equus Gas Project on WA’s North West Shelf and a Public Offer which raised $15 million (before costs). Equus remains one of the largest undeveloped gas resources on the North West Shelf, located adjacent to Woodside’s Scarborough Gas Project, expected to commence production late next year. 

EQ Resources (ASX: EQR) reported a three-year pre-payment facility valued at €15 million, and key commercial terms for an offtake and sales arrangement with Traxys as EQR’s sales and distribution agent for its Barruecopardo Mine, with an initial five-year offtake for a min 3,500 tonnes of WO₃. With pricing referenced to the prevailing index for APT, the value of this Commercial Offtake is estimated to be approximately A$400 million.

Sparc Technologies (ASX: SPN) achieved a key milestone at the Roseworthy pilot plant in SA, with Sparc Hydrogen generating sustained hydrogen under concentrated solar conditions and moving from commissioning into full operational testing. The team is now benchmarking its photocatalytic water splitting reactors across different solar, temperature and pressure settings as it advances a direct-solar, low-cost green hydrogen pathway. Incoming Sparc Hydrogen CEO Alana Barlow will oversee the next phase of testing and commercial development as the pilot plant becomes a central platform for scaling the technology. Covered in EnergyNews, H2View, Energy Source Distribution, FCW, Australian Manufacturing & SmallCaps.

NH3 Clean Energy (ASX: NH3) signed an MoU with ITOCHU Corporation to progress clean ammonia bunkering in the Pilbara and across the Asia-Pacific region. The collaboration aims to support large-scale bunkering operations by 2030, with ~300,000tpa of potential demand for the WAH2 Project, and strengthens NH3’s pathway toward a late 2026 Final Investment Decision. It builds on NH3’s existing partnerships with Pilbara Ports, Oceania Marine Energy and MOL, further advancing a coordinated regional approach to clean ammonia-fuelled shipping. Covered in Business News, Proactive & SmallCaps.

Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage on Aurum Resources (ASX: AUE) with a Speculative Buy rating and a $1.50 price target, more than 2x upside from its recent share price of $0.63. The report values Aurum’s Boundiali and Napié gold projects in Côte d’Ivoire using an EV/resource approach, citing potential to host up to 4.2Moz across both projects. With ~$40m cash, no debt, and a 12-rig drilling fleet in-house, Aurum is well-positioned to deliver low-cost, high-speed growth.

Petra Capital maintained its Buy and $0.25/share target price on Lotus Resources (ASX: LOT) in its latest research report (5/12). Macquarie maintained its $0.28/share target (9/12): "Processing plant running well, LOT reiterates 0.2Mlb/mth U3O8 steady state production run-rate in 1Q-CY26, once acid plant online. Reiterate Outperform. LOT offers strong valuation leverage to rising uranium contract prices.” Canaccord maintained its $0.31/share target (4/12) post latest operations update lodged.

Provaris Energy (ASX: PV1) Managing Director and CEO Martin Carolan sat down with RaaS Research Group Group's Finola Burke and Andrew Williams for a quarterly interview, covering the company's recent developments and progress. RaaS' NAV range on a per share basis is $0.10-$0.17/share with a mid-point of $0.14/share - recent research coverage can be viewed on the company’s website. Longspur Capital also released updated coverage on the company.

Blue Ocean Equities initiated coverage on Iltani Resources (ASX: ILT), outlining the potential for growth at its Orient silver-indium project in northern Queensland. “The project has now defined a joint (Orient West & Orient East) 34.2M tonne resource containing over 34Moz silver, 570K tonnes indium & 330K tonnes lead/zinc. We believe growth in the Orient Mineral Resource Estimate will not only surprise the market but will also provide a mineral endowment that can underwrite a significant Nth Qld Silver-Indium project.”

Euroz Hartleys reaffirmed its Speculative Buy rating and 51c price target for Wildcat Resources (ASX:WC8), following strong RC drilling results at the Bolt Cutter lithium discovery. With hits such as 9m @ 1.84% Li₂O (BCRC050) and 9m @ 1.68% Li₂O (BCRC039), the drilling continues to extend mineralisation across over 1.4km of strike, confirming thick and consistent lithium zones within stacked pegmatites.

METALS, MINING AND ENERGY

West African Resources (ASX: WAF) reported on diamond drilling results from below the M5 North open-pit ore reserve at its Sanbrado Gold Operations in Burkina Faso. Drilling 200m to 400m beneath the M5 North open-pit Ore Reserve confirmed potential for WAF to extend open-pit mining at Sanbrado. Thick zones of gold mineralisation have been returned from the current drilling program including 16m at 11.2 g/t gold and 45m at 1.9 g/t gold. WAF is halfway through the M5 North drilling program, expected to be complete in Q1 2026.

Trigg Minerals (ASX: TMG) received tentative approval from Utah’s Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to begin drilling at Antimony Canyon, marking a major step toward its maiden program on 100%-owned Patented Mining Claims. Drilling is scheduled to start before the end of December using heli-portable S4 Ranger rigs. The program will test the high-grade “Salt n Pepper” tuff horizon, where recent sampling returned grades up to 33.2% Sb, and follows the consolidation of more than 380 claims into a single district-scale land package. Covered by Stockhead.

Wildcat Resources’ (ASX: WC8) Bolt Cutter Central lithium discovery has now extended to 1.4km by 800m, with the stacked pegmatite system remaining open in most directions. New high-grade results include 9m at 1.84% Li₂O (BCRC050), 9m at 1.68% Li₂O (BCRC039) and 5m at 1.5% Li₂O (BCRC042), with drilling between the Harry and Hermione pegmatite swarms confirming a single larger system. With 14 assays pending and diamond drilling set to begin in January 2026 to expand the discovery and support metallurgical testwork, Wildcat continues to advance the project with a strong cash position of $51.2M. Covered by Australian Mining and Discovery Alert.

Atomic Eagle’s (ASX: AEU) maiden drill program at the Chisebuka target at its Muntanga Uranium Project in Zambia returned broad, higher grade, near surface intercepts within the 3.5km long by 1.2km wide target area including 16.4m @ 1036ppm U₃O₈ from 13.5m, including 2.3m @ 2879ppm eU₃O₈ from 21.0m and 6.5m @ 298ppm eU₃O₈. This marks the first major drill program at Chisebuka in more than 15 years, and drilling is ongoing. A maiden resource estimate for Chisebuka is on track for next year. The company appointed Phil Hoskins as Chief Executive Officer.

Evergold Minerals’ (ASX: EG1) new assay results reinforced the strong gold potential at its Bynoe Gold Project in the Northern Territory. Recent re-assays of 1m splits from the 2024 RC drilling program confirmed consistent gold mineralisation, highlighted by standout results of 6m @ 1.52g/t Au from 78m, including 1m @ 6.53g/t Au from 78m. Covered by The Market Bull and Discovery Alert.

Kairos Minerals (ASX: KAI) signed a Mining Agreement with Nyamal Aboriginal Corporation for development of its Mt York Gold Project, Pilbara, WA. A signed mining agreement is the last step required for grant of mining lease application M45/1306 that covers the project site, and it creates a framework for collaboration between Kairos and NAC during the exploration, development, and operating phases of the project.

Aurum Resources (ASX: AUE) returned multiple high-grade, broad gold intercepts from step-back diamond drilling at the Tchaga deposit within the 0.87Moz Napié Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, including 5m at 10.09 g/t Au, 10.8m at 4.52 g/t Au and 6m at 3.82 g/t Au, with mineralisation now confirmed over 2.3km and remaining open along strike and at depth. The results sit largely outside the current MRE and support significant resource growth ahead of the planned Q1 CY2026 update. Drilling is ongoing with two rigs at Napié and a major campaign underway at Boundiali, backed by Aurum’s strong $43M cash position and a clear development pathway into 2026.

Enova Mining (ASX: ENV) reported further strong auger results from CODA East and CODA Central in Brazil, confirming widespread, near-surface titanium, rare earths and niobium mineralisation across the project. Standout intercepts included titanium grades above 15% TiO₂, TREO results above 3,000ppm with high NdPr ratios, and niobium grades exceeding 1,000ppm, reinforcing the scale and continuity of mineralised saprolite. Auger drilling has commenced at CODA XN to expand the footprint.

Lincoln Minerals (ASX: LML) signed an MOU with Revera Energy to assess a potential Joint Venture to develop a green hydrogen-fuelled direct reduction (DR)-grade iron pellet plant for magnetite from the Eyre Magnetite Project in South Australia. Revera, backed by global investment firm Carlyle, is developing the Cape Hardy Green Hydrogen Project, which could supply green hydrogen for pellet production. Lincoln’s 1.23Bt magnetite resource can produce a high-grade DRI-quality product, and the collaboration will evaluate flowsheet options, commercial structures and project development pathways over the next 12 months while LML continues to advance its Minbrie Copper Project. Covered by Mining.com.au & Australian Resources & Investment.

Drilling continues to extend known mineralisation beyond the existing resource at Andean Silver’s (ASX: ASL) Cerro Bayo Project in Chile. More outstanding high-grade silver-gold intersections up to 692g/t silver and 9.8g/t gold have been reported near processing infrastructure; results released this week will contribute to the company’s H1/2026 resource update.

Strata Minerals (ASX: SMX) received the final assay results from its maiden three-hole diamond drilling program at the Penny South Gold Project, WA. The results affirm strong potential for a new gold discovery within this highly prospective structural corridor. The information has provided critical information and strong encouragement to plan the next phase of exploration at Penny South.

Everest Metals (ASX: EMC) commenced a 7,000m aircore drilling campaign at the Revere Gold Project, WA.  Drilling is targeting further definition of two large, well-established gold-mineralised shear zones, Big John and Armstrong, to support delivery of a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).  First assay results from AC program anticipated early 2026. Covered by Stockhead.

Yari Minerals (ASX: YAR) completed four drillholes at Rolleston South (1,287.9m), continuing to confirm thick, continuous coal seams. Core has been sent for detailed laboratory testwork, while wet ground conditions have delayed the final holes until late Feb–early March 2026. Updated drilling data and coal quality results are expected through Q1 2026 and will support assessment of a potential upgrade to the 190.1Mt Inferred Resource.

Power Minerals (ASX: PNN) identified new exploration targets at the Santa Anna Carbonatite Alkaline Complex in Brazil after completing a high-resolution drone magnetic–DEM survey, revealing previously undetected structural features across the largely untested 2.5km system. The new data enhances geological understanding and highlights at least two additional target areas for high-grade niobium and REE mineralisation, supporting upcoming auger and 10,000m RC drilling programs aimed at defining a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate in Q1 2026. Covered by Stockhead.

South Harz Potash (ASX: SHP) submitted applications, via its Scandinavian partner McKnight Resources AB, to acquire three new exploration permit areas located within the Värmland Province, Sweden. The new applications are located either contiguously or in close proximity to the Glava 100 Copper-Gold Project, which SHP recently entered an Option Agreement to acquire from McKnight Resources.

Krakatoa Resources (ASX: KTA) intersected additional visible antimony mineralisation from underground adit drilling and surface diamond drill holes at the Zopkhito Antimony-Gold Project in Georgia. The surface and adit drilling programs are designed to validate historical high-grade results and provide the initial foundation for a maiden JORC-compliant Mineral Resource. Covered by Proactive and Mining.com.au.

Charger Metals (ASX: CHR) retained 100% interest in its Lake Johnston Gold and Lithium Project in WA after Rio Tinto Exploration (RTX) agreed to withdraw from its earn-in agreement. Over the last two years under the agreement, RTX has funded exploration programmes totalling $4.2 million, subscribed for $1.2 million in equity investment in Charger and paid Charger $1 million in cash.  Covered by Discovery Alert.

Native Mineral Resources (ASX: NMR) continues to progress gold production at its Blackjack Gold Operations and its JV plans. NMR has achieved total gold outturn of ~1,300oz since first production (excluding the latest pour on 10 December), generating approximately $7.6 million in gross revenue. Plant recoveries remain strong at 95.2%, reinforcing operational stability. This progress positions NMR for continued growth into 2026.

Aureka Limited (ASX: AKA) has engaged gold mill owners and small-scale Victorian gold production specialists Core Prospecting Pty Ltd to advance the St Arnaud Comstock Project towards early stage production. Core will complete an initial scope of works to assess the regulatory pathway, engineering, logistics and targeted drilling required to prepare Comstock for possible early mining commencement delivering findings and recommendations Q1 2026.

Golden Dragon Mining Ltd (ASX: GDR) announced that the first phase of Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling has been completed at Coodardy within the larger the Behring Bore area, one of Golden Dragon’s advanced gold targets.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Frontier Energy (ASX: FHE) received firm commitments to raise $11.5 million (before costs) under a share placement to advance its Waroona Renewable Energy Project. Funds allow Frontier to complete the debt financing process, and fund the security deposit required under the Reserve Capacity Mechanism for the Stage One development of the Waroona Renewable Energy Project.

BIOTECH

Syntara (ASX: SNT) presented new preclinical findings and clinical data from its Phase 2a trial of amsulostat at the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, including a poster on its 52-week add-on study with ruxolitinib and a presentation on lysyl oxidase–mediated modulation of growth factor signalling. Engagement with the global haematology community comes as Syntara advances the next clinical trial protocol following FDA feedback, while additional studies of amsulostat in myelodysplastic syndrome continue to recruit ahead of preliminary 2026 results.

Chimeric Therapeutics (ASX: CHM) received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for CHM CDH17 in gastric cancer, providing incentives such as tax credits, fee exemptions and potential seven-year market exclusivity. CEO Dr Rebecca McQualter said the designation is an important step toward addressing a significant unmet need. The ongoing Phase 1/2 trial has enrolled 10 patients and treated nine to date, evaluating safety, dose selection and response in advanced colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and gastrointestinal NETs. Covered by AusBiotech & Proactive. 

Bioxyne (ASX: BXN) entered into a Manufacturing Agreement with Remidose LATAM SRL, a Costa Rican entity affiliated with Canadian medicinal cannabis company Remidose Aerosols Inc.  The Agreement ensures first-mover position in high-potential, low-competition Central American markets where non-flower dosage forms like pastilles are expected to dominate. This partnership supports Bioxyne's FY26 growth trajectory, targeting A$65–75 million in revenue and A$11.5–13.5 million EBITDA.

Emyria (ASX: EMD) announced growing insurance-funded demand, rising AP approvals, increased capacity and a strengthened therapist capacity reinforce its scalability. Initial screenings for reimbursed treatments are currently booked for Q1 2026, demonstrating strong upcoming patient pipeline and driving capacity expansion in Perth and Brisbane.

INDUSTRIALS

DXN (ASX: DXN) secured $2.1 million in orders. DXN was awarded a $1.4 million contract by a leading provider of communications and IT services. Under the contract DXN will design, build and install a multi-module to support an end customer with an Edge Data Centre. Additionally, DXN secured $0.7 million through expansion and variation orders to an existing Structcore project.

Metal Powder Works (ASX: MPW) announced it is converting high-purity silver bars into powder using its patented DirectPowder™ technology, in response to inbound customer demand. Silver expands MPW’s 25+ specialty material portfolio into the high-value precious metal powder segments, positioning the Company to enter crucial industries, including electronics and vehicle electrification, where electrical and thermal conductivity is critical.

LaserBond (ASX: LBL) announced the resignation of Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, Matt Twist, effective 23 January 2026. Matt will continue in his role until that date to ensure an orderly transition and will remain available on a consultancy basis until at least the end of February 2026. Peter Arambatzis has been appointed Interim CFO, effective 15 December 2025, with the Company expecting to appoint a permanent CFO within the next 3-6 months.

CORPORATE NEWS

Syrah Resources (ASX: SYR) appointed Samantha Hogg as Independent Non-Executive Director and incoming Chair, succeeding Jim Askew upon his retirement on 31 December 2025. Her appointment follows an extensive selection process and brings significant executive and board experience across the transport, infrastructure, energy and resources sectors, including senior roles at Transurban and WMC Resources.

Desert Metals (ASX: DM1) secured firm commitments for a $1.25m placement to fund ongoing gold exploration in Côte d’Ivoire, supported by existing and new sophisticated investors. The proceeds will advance a 6,000m aircore drilling program at the Tiogo prospect at Tengrela South, testing a 900m untested zone between two strong intercepts and fund permit-wide stream sediment sampling at the largely unexplored Adzope project, while also enabling assessment of additional project opportunities. Covered by The Market Bull.

Canadian Phosphate (ASX: CP8) received firm commitments to raise A$2.0 million via a strategic placement to advance its Wapiti and Fernie phosphate projects. The funds will be utilised to commence drilling and geological-model updating at the Wapiti Project following permit approval and to for further exploration and permitting at the Fernie Project, including quarry and industrial-mine permit advancement.

Bastion Minerals (ASX: BMO) entered into an At-The-Market Subscription Agreement (ATM) with Dolphin Corporate Investments. The ATM provides Bastion with up to $500,000 of standby equity capital over the next three years, while also giving it a cost-effective and flexible funding option.

High-grade rare earth and niobium put Power Minerals’ (ASX: PNN) Brazilian play on path to resource covered by Stockhead.

Barry FitzGerald: Investors have missed this key de-risking event, but Garimpeiro thinks Wildcat Resources (ASX: WC8) is purring by Stockhead.

Power Minerals (ASX: PNN) Powering up for multi-mineral boom. Covered by Australian Resources & Investment.

Many Peaks Minerals (ASX: MPK) Major Extensions and Exemplary Metallurgy Shape MPK’s Ferké into a Monster Deposit.  Covered by Undiscovered Alpha.

Ari Funds Management's picks to play the new mining boom: Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager Stephen Gorenstein highlights FireFly Metals (ASX: FFM) as his top copper pick in the Australian.

White Energy Company (ASX: WEC) CEO Greg Sheahan hosted an investor webinar covering Specimen Hill copper drilling and the Company’s SA/NT exploration assets.

Chimeric Therapeutics (ASX: CHM) featured in coverage by Ausbiz this week in a piece titled The small cap rewriting the rules of cancer treatment.

Axel REE (ASX: AXL) Non-Executive Chairman Paul Dickson spoke to Small Caps to discuss the investment opportunity with our Caladão Rare Earth & Gallium Project in Brazil, which hosts 2 JORC Resources with additional JORC Resources expected to be delivered before end of 2025.

ECS Botanics (ASX: ECS) Managing Director Nan-Maree Schoerie spoke with ausbiz about ECS’s launch of AVANI AVA, a medicinal cannabis range developed specifically for women’s health.

NH3 Clean Energy’s (ASX: NH3) CEO Stephen Hall and Chairman Charles Whitfield hosted a webinar to discuss the ITOCHU MoU and provide an update on the WAH2 Project.

Larvotto Resources (ASX: LRV) Managing Director Ron Heeks spoke to Mining.com.au to discuss the option to acquire the Blockade Mine and provide an update on progress at its Hillgrove Mine.