High Voltage: Flaccid cobalt prices are on the rise again

Pic: Via Getty

Battery metals prices had weaker month in August, with only nickel sulphate (~2%) eking out gains
Former top White House official John Podesta to oversee rollout of ~$US369bn of climate and clean energy spending
Weekly ASX standouts: Kingfisher, Emetals, White Cliff, Koba, Reach

Our High Voltage column wraps all the news driving ASX stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, rare earths, manganese, magnesium, and vanadium.

Limp battery metals prices start rising again late August

Battery metals assessed by Benchmark Minerals intelligence had a weaker month in August, with only nickel sulphate (~2%) prices eking out gains.

The other indexes – lithium, cobalt, and graphite – fell 0.5%, 15.1% and 2.2% respectively month on month.

Its ain’t all bad though, with prices gaining some positive impetus though the second half of the month.

“Lithium chemicals pricing on the Chinese domestic market gained upward momentum in the second half of August, following relative stability in the first half of the month, under accelerating demand from downstream consumers, as well as near-term impact on supply from converters in Sichuan Province under a regional power shutdown,” Benchmark says.

A despite suffering a 15.1% fall, all cobalt grades assessed by Benchmark saw upwards momentum late in the month.

“Prices trended to the top end of the range in late August, primarily due to an uptick in demand and therefore market activity, generated by both concerns of supply shortage due to strikes at Glencore’s Nikkelverk and market participants returning from the traditional summer break,” it says.

Who’s in charge of $US369bn in US clean energy spending? This guy

Money man John Podesta. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden has named former top White House official John Podesta to oversee the rollout of an estimated $US369bn of climate and clean energy spending, Argus says.

$US369 billion dollars.

Podesta coordinated climate and energy policy under former president Barack Obama, back when Biden was serving as US vice president.

Podesta will influence policies guiding all these billions in funding for wind, solar, biofuels, carbon capture, clean hydrogen, electric vehicles and energy efficiency.

Battery Metals Winners and Losers

Here’s how a basket of ASX stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel, rare earths, magnesium, manganese, and vanadium is performing>>>

Battery metals stocks missing from our list? Shoot a mail to [email protected].

CODE	COMPANY	1 WEEK RETURN %	1 MONTH RETURN %	6 MONTH RETURN %	1 YEAR RETURN %	PRICE	MARKET CAP
KFM	Kingfisher Mining	98%	128%	143%	215%	0.535	$18,149,850.53
EMT	Emetals Limited	91%	75%	24%	5%	0.021	$13,600,000.00
WCN	White Cliff Min	63%	126%	0%	73%	0.026	$15,032,877.33
KOB	Kobaresourceslimited	42%	13%	0%	0%	0.17	$11,050,000.00
RR1	Reach Resources	33%	33%	-25%	0%	0.006	$11,460,303.83
INF	Infinity Lithium	23%	36%	23%	104%	0.19	$76,777,417.21
EGR	Ecograf Limited	22%	9%	-24%	-46%	0.44	$168,875,047.13
MOH	Moho Resources	22%	22%	-25%	-46%	0.033	$5,814,541.74
WML	Woomera Mining	21%	6%	0%	-18%	0.017	$10,989,329.06
VRC	Volt Resources	21%	28%	92%	-38%	0.023	$73,054,603.09
ESS	Essential Metals	21%	0%	40%	139%	0.49	$115,079,332.28
MRD	Mount Ridley Mines	20%	20%	-37%	50%	0.006	$35,249,825.65
NWM	Norwest Minerals	20%	33%	7%	-19%	0.06	$11,378,265.38
SUM	Summitminerals	19%	27%	0%	0%	0.19	$4,821,872.25
AZI	Altamin Limited	17%	6%	40%	23%	0.095	$37,213,091.44
ADD	Adavale Resource	17%	52%	3%	-39%	0.035	$15,308,054.93
MLX	Metals X Limited	15%	-6%	-53%	-5%	0.3	$254,034,498.76
ARU	Arafura Resource	15%	24%	70%	100%	0.34	$586,354,332.10
PNN	Power Minerals	15%	7%	32%	77%	0.54	$30,165,953.79
AGY	Argosy Minerals	15%	9%	33%	130%	0.425	$553,170,767.94
SRI	Sipa Resources	15%	4%	-13%	-23%	0.047	$9,636,165.74
LOT	Lotus Resources	14%	19%	8%	19%	0.28	$289,937,103.84
RBX	Resource B	14%	0%	-38%	-29%	0.12	$4,712,297.16
TSC	Twenty Seven Co.	14%	-5%	-37%	-5%	0.002	$5,321,627.81
LPI	Lithium Pwr Int	14%	7%	2%	128%	0.65	$209,486,908.80
TEM	Tempest Minerals	14%	-13%	78%	119%	0.041	$19,685,880.86
LNR	Lanthanein Resources	14%	176%	123%	205%	0.058	$53,918,231.92
CZL	Cons Zinc	14%	2%	-11%	-17%	0.025	$9,296,587.51
PLS	Pilbara Min	13%	38%	40%	75%	3.96	$11,031,205,666.90
LKE	Lake Resources	13%	30%	22%	110%	1.205	$1,528,971,079.90
RXL	Rox Resources	13%	-9%	-35%	-38%	0.265	$47,303,465.16
SRL	Sunrise	13%	0%	61%	65%	3.04	$271,974,794.58
AOA	Ausmon Resorces	13%	64%	29%	29%	0.009	$6,858,314.74
MNS	Magnis Energy Tech	12%	35%	16%	37%	0.5	$494,869,056.33
GL1	Globallith	12%	20%	16%	378%	1.89	$268,200,052.64
LPD	Lepidico	11%	3%	-6%	11%	0.03	$182,201,354.52
RFR	Rafaella Resources	11%	25%	-47%	-66%	0.03	$8,424,715.47
THR	Thor Mining PLC	11%	0%	-29%	-33%	0.01	$10,755,643.90
NMT	Neometals	11%	7%	-7%	92%	1.385	$723,573,925.48
CXO	Core Lithium	11%	16%	57%	333%	1.495	$2,362,585,684.16
ARN	Aldoro Resources	10%	35%	-25%	-48%	0.27	$24,398,892.67
TNG	TNG Limited	10%	20%	83%	35%	0.115	$138,841,822.20
GW1	Greenwing Resources	9%	16%	2%	-6%	0.29	$35,741,731.21
KGD	Kula Gold Limited	9%	-13%	-44%	-50%	0.024	$4,949,039.54
QEM	QEM Limited	9%	14%	45%	55%	0.24	$30,022,458.48
RGL	Riversgold	9%	20%	47%	24%	0.036	$26,356,457.82
VMC	Venus Metals Cor	9%	-5%	0%	9%	0.18	$27,213,376.11
HAS	Hastings Tech Met	9%	28%	-5%	20%	5.42	$549,851,547.50
GME	GME Resources	9%	19%	112%	119%	0.125	$75,050,127.25
VR8	Vanadium Resources	8%	10%	3%	33%	0.077	$36,460,452.80
WR1	Winsome Resources	8%	2%	-27%	0%	0.26	$35,805,208.41
AXE	Archer Materials	8%	-6%	-19%	-53%	0.79	$181,381,061.11
DEV	Devex Resources	8%	33%	3%	36%	0.4	$143,820,646.40
BNR	Bulletin Res	8%	27%	-7%	122%	0.14	$39,499,798.50
TON	Triton Min	8%	-3%	-3%	-18%	0.028	$35,245,956.96
SRZ	Stellar Resources	7%	-12%	-42%	-42%	0.015	$15,443,162.02
LTR	Liontown Resources	7%	17%	14%	98%	1.765	$3,668,047,034.50
MTM	Mtmongerresources	7%	48%	-6%	-23%	0.155	$5,251,404.62
RLC	Reedy Lagoon Corp.	7%	0%	-36%	-20%	0.016	$8,918,830.59
CHR	Charger Metals	6%	-2%	-27%	-12%	0.495	$15,801,801.98
SHH	Shree Minerals	6%	6%	-50%	-29%	0.0085	$11,146,382.03
TMT	Technology Metals	6%	-5%	-3%	-20%	0.35	$74,487,717.74
PVW	PVW Res	6%	-4%	-51%	53%	0.275	$25,581,015.63
CHN	Chalice Mining	6%	-9%	-42%	-33%	4.37	$1,674,522,513.30
PEK	Peak Rare Earths	5%	-18%	-31%	-47%	0.49	$99,527,297.76
ASN	Anson Resources	5%	122%	140%	200%	0.3	$293,000,263.50
GLN	Galan Lithium	5%	-9%	-10%	13%	1.235	$357,869,610.18
ALY	Alchemy Resource	5%	31%	62%	53%	0.021	$20,967,629.25
CZN	Corazon	5%	17%	-35%	-42%	0.021	$10,985,950.03
GBR	Greatbould Resources	5%	9%	-28%	-34%	0.105	$42,287,217.30
NVA	Nova Minerals	5%	2%	53%	-30%	0.905	$167,588,125.05
LRS	Latin Resources	5%	53%	195%	167%	0.115	$204,802,763.97
FGR	First Graphene	4%	-7%	-24%	-39%	0.125	$74,836,447.53
1MC	Morella Corporation	4%	39%	4%	-60%	0.025	$144,141,144.65
CTM	Centaurus Metals	4%	13%	-14%	10%	1.11	$474,087,963.03
BYH	Bryah Resources	4%	-10%	-42%	-44%	0.028	$7,819,097.27
KAI	Kairos Minerals	4%	-7%	27%	-3%	0.028	$54,994,617.75
KOR	Korab Resources	4%	40%	-38%	65%	0.028	$11,011,500.00
AZL	Arizona Lithium	4%	5%	-39%	98%	0.085	$195,203,970.44
AS2	Askarimetalslimited	3%	-1%	-9%	70%	0.34	$14,422,166.40
G88	Golden Mile Res	3%	25%	-41%	-35%	0.035	$6,926,908.88
MCR	Mincor Resources NL	3%	9%	-6%	46%	2.1	$1,025,128,167.00
AUZ	Australian Mines	3%	16%	-53%	-66%	0.08	$37,497,107.28
EUR	European Lithium	2%	-6%	-17%	-8%	0.083	$113,419,373.18
SCN	Scorpion Minerals	2%	32%	17%	22%	0.083	$26,214,664.17
VUL	Vulcan Energy	2%	0%	-12%	-43%	7.97	$1,097,948,405.66
MAN	Mandrake Res	2%	-12%	-9%	-28%	0.043	$23,517,996.48
IGO	IGO Limited	2%	12%	6%	32%	12.96	$9,632,446,581.36
ARR	American Rare Earths	2%	-27%	-43%	31%	0.23	$102,207,583.77
GT1	Greentechnology	2%	3%	-11%	0%	0.72	$130,121,678.67
AM7	Arcadia Minerals	2%	93%	18%	24%	0.26	$12,141,451.92
AKE	Allkem Limited	2%	19%	41%	44%	14.06	$8,595,630,999.28
SYA	Sayona Mining	2%	29%	108%	75%	0.27	$2,116,189,713.96
WIN	Widgienickellimited	2%	-19%	-20%	0%	0.285	$70,056,000.00
ZNC	Zenith Minerals	2%	5%	-9%	37%	0.315	$101,704,872.31
E25	Element 25	2%	2%	-33%	-70%	0.675	$95,443,980.63
COB	Cobalt Blue	1%	1%	48%	188%	0.805	$250,937,056.12
S32	South32 Limited	1%	8%	-20%	26%	4.14	$19,207,991,073.60
INR	Ioneer	1%	-2%	21%	6%	0.635	$1,290,352,456.74
IG6	Internationalgraphit	1%	17%	0%	0%	0.3325	$27,705,956.72
TLG	Talga Group	1%	-2%	-2%	-1%	1.4	$407,140,982.87
OZL	OZ Minerals	1%	37%	-2%	7%	26	$8,582,862,799.96
AML	Aeon Metals .	0%	7%	-40%	-47%	0.03	$30,616,061.64
ATM	Aneka Tambang	0%	0%	4%	15%	1.15	$1,499,196.35
AVW	Avira Resources	0%	0%	-20%	-20%	0.004	$8,475,160.00
AVZ	AVZ Minerals	0%	0%	-15%	179%	0.78	$2,752,409,203.44
BSX	Blackstone	0%	-11%	-58%	-58%	0.195	$89,912,792.75
CWX	Carawine Resources	0%	-9%	-53%	-52%	0.1	$13,783,434.70
CMX	Chemxmaterials	0%	25%	6%	0%	0.19	$8,201,572.05
ENV	Enova Mining Limited	0%	0%	-20%	-33%	0.016	$5,875,440.99
FFX	Firefinch	0%	0%	-17%	-5%	0.2	$236,248,644.20
FRS	Forrestaniaresources	0%	25%	-55%	0%	0.175	$6,505,454.28
GED	Golden Deeps	0%	36%	50%	36%	0.015	$18,483,627.42
HNR	Hannans	0%	0%	-36%	204%	0.021	$54,731,701.00
HXG	Hexagon Energy	0%	-6%	-72%	-78%	0.016	$8,206,654.42
IPT	Impact Minerals	0%	0%	-37%	-37%	0.008	$18,610,279.17
IMI	Infinitymining	0%	54%	18%	0%	0.2	$11,787,500.00
JMS	Jupiter Mines.	0%	-3%	-17%	-22%	0.195	$391,798,206.60
LMG	Latrobe Magnesium	0%	-8%	-10%	315%	0.083	$130,476,955.82
LML	Lincoln Minerals	0%	0%	0%	0%	0.008	$4,599,869.49
LSR	Lodestar Minerals	0%	-13%	-46%	-22%	0.007	$12,169,061.44
NKL	Nickelx	0%	6%	-7%	-41%	0.135	$8,383,500.00
PLL	Piedmont Lithium Inc	0%	31%	8%	4%	0.865	$453,710,888.00
POS	Poseidon Nick	0%	-7%	-43%	-57%	0.052	$159,325,895.35
PSC	Prospect Res	0%	-25%	132%	468%	0.097	$43,452,389.43
QPM	Queensland Pacific	0%	-3%	-3%	-29%	0.145	$226,723,904.00
REE	Rarex Limited	0%	-5%	-44%	-49%	0.059	$33,625,665.74
S2R	S2 Resources	0%	0%	-22%	17%	0.14	$49,892,479.70
SGQ	St George Min	0%	-13%	-38%	-62%	0.026	$16,800,427.39
STM	Sunstone Metals	0%	-4%	-45%	65%	0.043	$116,840,088.86
TKL	Traka Resources	0%	0%	-36%	-50%	0.007	$4,821,421.93
VIA	Viagold Rare Earth	0%	0%	0%	4662%	2	$166,624,808.00
WKT	Walkabout Resources	0%	0%	-14%	-7%	0.173011	$78,248,343.26
WMG	Western Mines	0%	-13%	-18%	-26%	0.14	$5,128,550.00
JRV	Jervois Global	-1%	20%	-30%	2%	0.51	$767,474,235.31
NTU	Northern Min	-1%	0%	-18%	-11%	0.041	$199,280,143.26
MRC	Mineral Commodities	-1%	-12%	-37%	-49%	0.079	$43,374,741.35
DVP	Develop Global	-1%	-12%	-34%	-27%	2.27	$365,947,769.17
EMH	European Metals Hldg	-1%	-9%	-40%	-53%	0.72	$86,211,701.28
KTA	Krakatoa Resources	-2%	27%	55%	-7%	0.062	$20,682,595.02
SYR	Syrah Resources	-2%	15%	28%	25%	1.685	$1,098,952,206.76
STK	Strickland Metals	-2%	-9%	-13%	36%	0.053	$67,898,350.05
LEL	Lithenergy	-2%	-3%	5%	57%	0.96	$43,795,500.00
LRV	Larvottoresources	-2%	0%	22%	0%	0.225	$9,344,812.50
AVL	Aust Vanadium	-2%	-2%	13%	95%	0.043	$170,450,391.71
CRR	Critical Resources	-2%	-9%	-45%	75%	0.042	$61,008,624.80
LEG	Legend Mining	-3%	-26%	-43%	-51%	0.037	$101,940,021.68
AX8	Accelerate Resources	-3%	-3%	-22%	-13%	0.035	$10,277,438.16
AAJ	Aruma Resources	-3%	-4%	-24%	-24%	0.065	$10,516,420.70
AOU	Auroch Minerals	-3%	5%	-42%	-65%	0.064	$24,122,266.94
CMO	Cosmometalslimited	-3%	7%	-6%	0%	0.145	$3,698,950.00
EFE	Eastern Resources	-3%	4%	-41%	123%	0.029	$29,195,190.30
EVR	Ev Resources	-3%	0%	-44%	-3%	0.029	$25,001,569.92
QXR	Qx Resources Limited	-3%	-15%	-40%	100%	0.028	$23,202,782.67
JRL	Jindalee Resources	-4%	-6%	-17%	-32%	2.46	$144,594,994.32
BKT	Black Rock Mining	-4%	-27%	-43%	-27%	0.135	$136,824,682.96
WC8	Wildcat Resources	-4%	17%	-10%	13%	0.027	$17,422,363.63
NC1	Nicoresourceslimited	-4%	-1%	11%	0%	0.8	$74,736,251.70
CLA	Celsius Resource	-4%	4%	-43%	-52%	0.0125	$17,932,416.52
MMC	Mitremining	-4%	9%	-36%	0%	0.125	$3,521,063.00
BUX	Buxton Resources	-4%	35%	17%	46%	0.115	$15,312,054.87
KZR	Kalamazoo Resources	-4%	0%	-21%	-37%	0.23	$33,877,706.02
SLZ	Sultan Resources	-5%	-5%	-34%	-36%	0.105	$8,744,860.85
OCN	Oceanalithiumlimited	-5%	31%	0%	0%	0.59	$19,444,500.00
LYC	Lynas Rare Earths	-5%	-10%	-22%	19%	8.4	$7,670,498,209.00
CAI	Calidus Resources	-5%	-25%	-27%	-3%	0.575	$245,157,754.80
ASO	Aston Minerals	-5%	3%	-48%	-40%	0.0835	$92,979,832.99
ILU	Iluka Resources	-5%	3%	-6%	0%	9.83	$4,170,244,274.01
RNU	Renascor Res	-5%	-16%	-36%	33%	0.18	$389,604,496.50
MIN	Mineral Resources.	-6%	5%	26%	10%	60.34	$11,352,693,602.34
ARL	Ardea Resources	-6%	-15%	22%	86%	0.835	$150,217,928.22
CML	Chase Mining Limited	-6%	15%	15%	-17%	0.015	$7,256,057.80
BEM	Blackearth Minerals	-6%	-11%	-21%	-38%	0.087	$23,520,121.31
TMB	Tambourahmetals	-6%	-17%	-33%	-37%	0.145	$6,384,852.69
IXR	Ionic Rare Earths	-7%	-14%	-23%	19%	0.043	$166,522,011.56
A8G	Australasian Metals	-7%	10%	-43%	15%	0.27	$11,116,033.38
LPM	Lithium Plus	-7%	34%	0%	0%	0.585	$24,763,101.00
PUR	Pursuit Minerals	-7%	-32%	-38%	-78%	0.013	$13,906,188.72
NVX	Novonix Limited	-7%	-33%	-60%	-58%	2.06	$987,960,205.12
AZS	Azure Minerals	-7%	-7%	-49%	-54%	0.19	$59,039,786.99
MLS	Metals Australia	-7%	-18%	-43%	25%	0.05	$30,351,809.55
BMM	Balkanminingandmin	-8%	-8%	-31%	-80%	0.185	$6,058,750.00
FRB	Firebird Metals	-8%	-10%	-34%	-68%	0.185	$12,423,683.52
CNB	Carnaby Resource	-8%	-10%	-48%	163%	0.83	$118,539,933.08
MQR	Marquee Resource	-8%	-15%	-36%	5%	0.067	$22,724,465.76
AKN	Auking Mining	-8%	-21%	-50%	-51%	0.087	$8,073,643.49
PAN	Panoramic Resources	-9%	2%	-25%	5%	0.215	$430,691,940.84
BRB	Breaker Res NL	-9%	2%	-9%	-5%	0.21	$68,426,595.09
ODE	Odessa Minerals	-9%	3%	19%	210%	0.0155	$8,594,417.73
PGD	Peregrine Gold	-9%	-12%	25%	65%	0.65	$27,879,520.32
MRR	Minrex Resources	-9%	-19%	-17%	220%	0.048	$50,595,016.04
FG1	Flynngold	-10%	-1%	-42%	-42%	0.095	$6,085,799.75
CAE	Cannindah Resources	-10%	2%	-34%	188%	0.225	$119,894,310.36
ENT	Enterprise Metals	-10%	-10%	-36%	-47%	0.009	$5,876,826.19
RAS	Ragusa Minerals	-10%	162%	315%	193%	0.22	$29,588,135.64
AR3	Austrare	-10%	-13%	-55%	-66%	0.35	$34,272,558.72
PAM	Pan Asia Metals	-10%	10%	-19%	-15%	0.43	$32,155,305.27
AQD	Ausquest Limited	-11%	-11%	0%	-15%	0.017	$14,027,536.79
BOA	Boadicea Resources	-11%	-22%	-36%	-34%	0.125	$9,712,486.88
BHP	BHP Group Limited	-12%	-4%	-16%	-1%	37.27	$192,045,257,277.96
NIC	Nickel Industries	-12%	-19%	-44%	-12%	0.895	$2,526,427,984.73
ADV	Ardiden	-13%	-13%	-42%	-56%	0.007	$20,012,515.17
ESR	Estrella Res	-13%	-13%	-50%	-65%	0.014	$19,911,980.90
FTL	Firetail Resources	-13%	2%	0%	0%	0.245	$15,445,625.00
PRL	Province Resources	-13%	-34%	-9%	-34%	0.096	$112,241,848.59
IPX	Iperionx Limited	-13%	23%	-14%	-36%	0.855	$120,213,419.81
GSM	Golden State Mining	-13%	10%	-32%	-55%	0.054	$6,318,767.02
RAG	Ragnar Metals	-14%	-10%	41%	-14%	0.038	$13,271,471.12
VML	Vital Metals Limited	-14%	-17%	-19%	-46%	0.038	$203,727,050.32
OMH	OM Holdings Limited	-14%	0%	-33%	-22%	0.62	$476,412,052.37
EMN	Euromanganese	-14%	-24%	-23%	-53%	0.3	$82,755,565.43
GRE	Greentechmetals	-14%	-14%	-2%	0%	0.24	$7,663,599.76
RMX	Red Mount Min	-14%	0%	-25%	-33%	0.006	$11,496,547.01
SBR	Sabre Resources	-14%	20%	50%	50%	0.006	$16,738,386.05
EMS	Eastern Metals	-15%	-29%	-48%	0%	0.11	$4,252,187.50
CLZ	Classic Min	-16%	-54%	-89%	-89%	0.016	$3,859,202.61
DTM	Dart Mining NL	-16%	35%	24%	0%	0.105	$14,878,617.60
GAL	Galileo Mining	-16%	2%	388%	218%	1.05	$204,317,549.10
NWC	New World Resources	-17%	-14%	-48%	-54%	0.03	$60,947,793.13
PNT	Panthermetals	-17%	-16%	-21%	0%	0.19	$5,510,000.00
GSR	Greenstone Resources	-18%	12%	76%	171%	0.065	$68,474,489.79
PGM	Platina Resources	-19%	-19%	-49%	-65%	0.026	$14,607,949.64
LIT	Lithium Australia	-23%	-18%	-39%	-49%	0.064	$69,372,424.78
CNJ	Conico	-30%	13%	270%	-42%	0.044	$62,563,628.77

Weekly small cap standouts

KINGFISHER MINING (ASX:KFM)

An outsized number of our top 50 resources stocks for September were hunting for rare earths, critical in the production of things like wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Leading the charge last week was KFM, which picked up rock chips grading up to 40% rare earths (including “significant” levels of the valuable magnet REEs) within the Gascoyne Mineral Field area in WA.

Gascoyne is a proverbial stone’s throw (~100km away) from Hastings Technology Metals’ (ASX:HAS) world-class 27.42Mt at 0.97% TREO ‘Yangibana’ deposit, which has just welcomed Twiggy Forrest’s Wyloo Metals as a strategic investor.

HAS is set to be the next REE producer outside of China by 2023.

Drilling at Gascoyne kicks off in Q4 this calendar year, KFM says.

EMETALS (ASX:EMT)

Up on no news last week was micro-cap explorer EMT, which acquired a 469sqkm project prospective for ionic clay (IAC) rare earths in WA’s Albany Range province late last year.

The Salmon Gums acquisition is close to EMT’s existing ‘Cowlinya’ REE project.

It is also a stone’s throw from recent IAC discoveries made by Mount Ridley Mines (ASX:MRD) (~35km away) and Salazar Gold (~20km away).

WHITE CLIFF MINERALS (ASX:WCN)

This small battery metals/critical minerals explorer just wrapped up a $1.7m placement to drive lithium and REE exploration at the company’s Yinnetharra, Hines Hill and Diemals projects.

It’s been a nice recovery for WCN, which is now up 126% over the past month.

KOBA RESOURCES (ASX:KOB)

The recent IPO was spun out of New World Resources (ASX:NWC) to explore and develop its North American copper-cobalt assets.

It has five projects: the Blackpine, Colson and Panther cobalt-copper projects in the Idaho Cobalt Belt; the Elkhorn cobalt project in the same belt; and the Goodsprings copper-cobalt project in Nevada.

Blackpine and Panther were acquired in November last year.

Both projects have been the subject of historical mining but no drilling has been undertaken at Blackpine since 1996.

At Blackpine, IP surveying has delineated multiple undrilled, strong chargeability anomalies, coincident with strong cobalt-copper soil anomalism over 4km of strike. Very promising.

A maiden program is expected to kick off in the coming days.

REACH RESOURCES (ASX:RR1)

ANOTHER rare earths stock.

In March, RR1 invested $1.8m into REEgenerate, an Australian private company which owns Coconut Club REE exploration project in Quebec, Canada.

It also recently acquired REEcycle Inc, a US based company focused on recovering REE from high powered permanent NdFeB magnets.

REEcycle has developed a process that has shown at pilot scale the ability to reclaim 15 of the 17 rare earths elements in discarded permanent NdFeB magnets, with a recovery efficiency in excess of 99%.

READ: Bargain Barrel: 10 cheap ASX rare earths stocks to jump into right now