The small cap mining sector was under scrutiny on Friday, and Stellar Diamonds (LON:STEL) was sparkling as it submitted two key applications including one for a large scale mining licence for its Tongo project in Sierra Leone.
The mining permit application will now be processed by the National Minerals Agency and then forwarded to the Minerals Advisory Board, which will make a recommendation to the Minister of Mines.
Elsewhere Galantas Gold (LON:GAL,CVE:GAL) said solid progress had been made in its latest quarter as it prepares the Omagh mine in Northern Ireland for development.
Production at site remains suspended but the firm was granted planning consent this summer for an underground mine, which will allow the continuation and expansion of gold mining.
Arian Silver (LON:ACQ CVE:ACQ) settled its outstanding debts with Quintana by handing over its flagship San Jose project in Mexico.
Quintana had a foreclosure right which it has now exercised and taken ownership of Arian Silver de Mexico and its assets, including San José.
Meanwhile, zinc will be an early beneficiary if metal prices recover Anglesey Mining (LON:AYM) believes, but until then it has put all of its operations on effective care and maintenance.
The third quarter results from mining exploration firm Asiamet (LON:ARS) were notable for one nugget of information – some early feedback from metallurgical test work taking place on the BK Copper Project in Indonesia.
The company’s consultant has found that more than 97% of the copper in one sample was potentially leacheable (which simply means extractable).
Amur Minerals (LON:AMC) beefed up its equipment fleet at Kun-Manie in Far East Russia ahead of a development push next Spring.
A new drill rig, two bulldozers and an excavator will be delivered to the Kun-Manie site in March ready for use on the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) at the nickel project.
In the pharma space, Rex Bionics (LON:RXB) received some positive data from a clinical trial after its robotic legs were used in physiotherapy.
The device, currently an aid mobility for wheelchair users, is being assessed for its potential to help treat people with spinal cord injuries.
Feedback from the RAPPER II investigation found that 19 of the 20 volunteers were able to complete the walk exercise protocol – a 95% success rates.
In oil news, Alaska-based 88 Energy (LON:88E) expects to resume drilling at its Icewine project after successful repairs to the drawworks.
The well reached a depth of 8,773 feet before the delay and is scheduled to go down to 11,600 feet.
To the boardroom – where European Wealth Group (LON:EWG) was bolstered with the appointment of a private banking expert.
Marianne Laing Hay will join the company as a non-executive director.
In tech, Rightster (LON:RSTR) has concluded its strategic review process and will now focus on bringing in new investment to refinance and rejuvenate its business.
Finally, ITM Power (LON:ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, has completed a three-year hydrogen refuelling station initiative for the European Union.
The Phaedrus project used ITM’s high pressure hydrogen electrolysis technology to design a method to deliver large amounts of hydrogen at high pressure to and from the station.