ZincOx Resources (LON:ZOX) unveiled today what it called a "dramatic turnaround" in the performance of its Korean recycling plant and expects further improvements soon.
The KRP plant processes EAFD (electric arc furnace dust), a by-product of steel-making, to produce zinc and the AIM firm revealed today that in the six months to June 30 this year, throughput increased by 32% and the production of zinc concentrate by 30% compared to the previous half.
In the first half this year, KRP treated 77,485 tonnes of EAFD compared to 58,569 in the second half (H2) of 2014.
Zinc concentrate sold was 18,291 tonnes against 14,103 tonnes in the previous period.
Revenues came in at US$22.2mln compared to US$20mln as the zinc price fell to US$ 2.136.
It was one of a mixed news bag. Also in mining, Sirius Minerals (LON:SXX) has confirmed it will now advance the York Potash mine development project as it has avoided a public inquiry.
York Potash, situated partially beneath the North York Moors National Park, was approved by a planning committee earlier this month. But, the regulatory process may have required a public inquiry.
Elsewhere, gold miner Minera IRL (LON:MIRL, TSE:IRL) has appointed mining veteran Eric Olson as chief operating officer as it edges towards production at the Ollachea mine in Peru.
Shares in Summit (LON:SUMM) rose after the AIM and NASDAQ-listed biotech used its annual meeting to deliver a bullish assessment of prospects.
Chief executive Glyn Edwards said the company is now entering a “data rich period”, as it approaches key clinical milestones in its two key programmes - for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and C. difficile infection (CDI).
The strategic goal for DMD is to independently develop drug candidate SMT C1100, a utrophin modulator, drug through clinical trials and, if successful, commercialise it in the US and Europe.
Going it alone all the way to commercialisation is not the norm for AIM-listed companies.
Also in the sector, drug developer Xenetic Biosciences (OTCQB:XBIO) has seen results improve in a second cohort of patients treated in a phase II trial for lead compound ErepoXen.
ErepoXen is a treatment for anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Data from the study showed 91% of the enrolled patients increased haemoglobin levels over time, while three-quarters saw their haemoglobin levels rise into the therapeutic range.
The results were an improvement on the first cohort of patients, where haemoglobin levels rose but not into the therapeutic range.
Meanwhile, Premier African Minerals (LON:PREM) has acquired exploration rights over three tenements in Benin already worked by the locals for coloured gems and tantalum.
Artisanal activity over the licence is extensive and Premier will explore these as well as look for additional targets.
Three distinct pegmatite belts up to 10 km long had already been identified through trench work, Premier added.
Premier intends to assess these tenements for possible fast-track development in the same way the RHA tungsten and Zulu tantalum projects.