The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index closed at 3,524.20, up 15.60 points or 0.44% for the day, although it remains down 119.40 points or 3.28% over the past 5 days, as a range of small-cap companies reported exploration, commercial and corporate developments. You can read about the following and more throughout the day.
Ora Banda Mining
Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX:OBM, OTC:ESGFF) provided an update on its continued exploration success at its high-grade Little Gem Prospect.
The area initially consisted of the Little Gem Prospect on the Little Gem Trend, presenting as a multi-lode system extending from Riverina to Sunraysia over a strike length of 7.5 kilometres. The recent discovery of the Sapphire Trend, located 200 metres east of the Little Gem Trend, has expanded the exploration window for further drilling and potential mineralisation.
Sovereign Metals
Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX:SVM, OTCQX:SVMLF, AIM:SVML, FRA:SVM) has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Mitsui & Co., Ltd for the sale and purchase of natural rutile from Sovereign’s Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi.
The offtake framework covers up to 70,000 tonnes per year of Kasiya natural rutile concentrate (TiO₂ >95%) over an initial 4-year supply period from first production, with the potential for a 5-year extension.
St George Mining
St George Mining Ltd (ASX:SGQ, FRA:S0G, OTC:SGQMF)has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nanum Nanotecnologia to create a strategic alliance to collaborate on the commercialisation of the cerium component in the large rare earths resource at its 100%-owned Araxá niobium-REE Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The primary focus for developing the rare earths resource at Araxá is recovery of the high NdPr content, the key magnet rare earths comprising about 20% of Araxá TREO, as well as heavy rare earths including yttrium, dysprosium and gadolinium.
Resolution Minerals
Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX:RML, OTCQB:RLMLF, FRA:NC3) announced that Craig Lindsay, CEO – US Operations, will present at the 38th Annual ROTH Conference in California, USA.
The event will be held from March 22 to 24, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Dana Point, California. Roth Capital, which has been appointed to assist RML with its upcoming Nasdaq listing, is a well-known US investment bank with a strong track record in supporting small and mid-cap growth companies. It was also co-manager on Perpetua Resources Inc’s US$474 million capital raising in 2025, including US$100 million in participation by Paulson & Co.