S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries (XSO): 3,794.90 — +12.50 (0.33%) yesterday, -42.90 (-1.12%) over the past five days. It’s a relatively busy morning for small cap news with several small caps releasing notable updates this morning. You can read about the following and more throughout the day.
Altech Batteries
Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC, OTC:ALTHF) completed a full suite of safety self-destruction validation tests on its sodium-nickel-chloride (SNC) battery technology, simulating severe hazards that could occur during storage, transport or operation.
Astral Resources
Astral Resources NL (ASX:AAR) made key appointments to support the transition to gold production at the 100%-owned Mandilla Gold Project, ~70 km south of Kalgoorlie. Jed Whitford has been appointed chief operating officer and Mathew Wilson becomes general manager – Mandilla.
Far East Gold
Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) reported a significant new gold discovery from first-pass scout drilling at the North Bermol prospect within the Idenburg CoW, Papua Province, Indonesia. A newly identified high-grade shear zone supports the potential for multiple mineralised systems across the broader Idenburg project.
Nova Minerals
Nova Minerals Ltd (ASX:NVA, NASDAQ:NVA, OTC:NVAAF) commenced procurement of critical mining and processing equipment for the Estelle starter antimony operations and a downstream antimony refinery at Port Mackenzie, Alaska, targeting first production of military-grade antimony trisulfide in 2026/27. Equipment deliveries are scheduled in the coming months for snow-road transport in January 2026.
Terrain Minerals
Terrain Minerals Ltd (ASX:TMX, OTC:TMXAF) preliminary interpretation of existing airborne EM (AEM/VTEM) data over the 100%-owned Lort River Project in the Albany–Fraser Belt near Esperance has outlined extensive, shallow regolith clay-hosted REE targets.
Solis Minerals
Solis Minerals Ltd (ASX:SLM, TSX-V:SLMN, OTCQB:SLMFF)applied for ~4,000 ha of additional exploration concessions around the Cucho Copper Project in Peru, expanding the project footprint. The enlarged package sits immediately adjacent to Fortescue’s copper ground to the north-east, with Element 29 and Vale advancing projects nearby. Solis says permitting and drill planning for Cucho are progressing, with a period of high drilling activity anticipated across Ilo Este, Cinto, Cucho and Canyon.