The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries index finished lower on Friday, extending recent weakness across the small-cap market.
The XSO closed at 3,406.50 points, down 21.90 points or 0.64% for the session. Over the past five trading days, the index has fallen 142.40 points or 4.01%, reflecting a broader risk-off tone across the junior end of the market.
It has been a solid start this morning for several ASX-listed small caps, as they push ahead with project updates spanning gold drilling, battery materials, graphite processing and ore reserve growth. You can read about the following and more throughout the day.
Aurum hits high-grade gold at Boundiali
Aurum Resources Ltd (ASX:AUE) has returned further high-grade gold intercepts from its ongoing 100,000-metre diamond drilling program at the 3.22-million-ounce Boundiali Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire.
The latest assays come from 26 holes for 8,720.23 metres at the BDT2 deposit, with drilling designed to grow mineral resources and improve geological confidence.
Key results included 6.54 metres at 13.36 g/t gold from 272 metres, including 3.70 metres at 23.32 g/t and 1.7 metres at 70.35 g/t in hole DSDD0445.
Other notable intercepts included 21 metres at 1.12 g/t gold from 228 metres, including 1 metre at 14.99 g/t, and 2.80 metres at 4.39 g/t gold from 220.70 metres, including 0.90 metres at 12.68 g/t.
Altech banks $950,000 from non-core land sale
Altech Batteries Ltd (ASX:ATC, OTC:ALTHF, FRA:A3Y) has completed settlement on the sale of land held by Altech Meckering Pty Ltd in Meckering, Western Australia, receiving gross proceeds of $950,000.
The company said the land had been deemed a non-core asset by the board, with proceeds to provide additional working capital for the group.
Altech has retained rights to mining lease M70/1334 and, as part of the sale, entered into an exploration, mining, access, compensation and option to purchase agreement in relation to the lease.
International Graphite awards Collie construction contract
International Graphite Ltd (ASX:IG6, FRA:H99, OTC:IGRPF) has signed the key contract for construction of the process building at its new Collie Micronising Facility in Western Australia.
The contract has been awarded to Bunbury-based Prosser Built, a construction company with more than 80 years of operating history and experience delivering industrial and commercial projects across WA’s south-west.
International Graphite said the facility would be delivered with support from local engineering, electrical, civil and earthmoving firms, consistent with the company’s local content strategy for the Collie development.
Greatland updates group ore reserve
Greatland Resources Ltd (AIM:GGP, OTC:GRLGF, FRA:G8G, ASX:GGP) has provided its Group Ore Reserve Estimate as at March 31, 2026.
The March 2026 Group Ore Reserve incorporates updates at Telfer and the Havieron ore reserve estimate reported in December 2025.
Greatland said its substantial Telfer drilling campaign and technical evaluation work remained ongoing. As a result, the latest ore reserve does not include the West Dome Underground project or the Vertical Stockwork Corridor below the historic sub-level cave.
Both areas remain in resource and are subject to ongoing studies.