Resources Top 5: Funding alternative takes AQC shares for a wild ride

AQC receives a non-binding, alternate proposal to the sale of the Dartbrook Project in NSW
MGA kicks off survey across lithium, rare earth, and base metals targets at NT Arunta Project
ASN increases resource at Paradox Lithium Project by 324%

Here are the biggest small cap resources winners in early trade Monday, August 22.

AUSTRALIAN PACIFIC COAL (ASX:AQC)

Coal, in particular thermal coal, is continuing to gain pace in line with rising energy demand.

As the big commodity winner for the month of July, experts say there is big opportunity within the energy sector amid the downturn before the market moves to higher levels during the year.

AQC has received a non-binding, alternate proposal to the sale of the Dartbrook Project in the renowned coal region of NSW’s Hunter Valley to Trepang Services from Nakevo.

Nakevo proposes to provide immediate funding to AQC by way of an equity subscription for 19.97% of the shares in AQC at $0.30 per share for a total of $3.78 million, arrange to refinance the debt and make a takeover bid for the company for up to $0.30 per share.

This will allow existing shareholders to take the opportunity to liquidate their investment, AQC says, should they wish to do so.

NOW READ: 2 experts, 5 ASX stock picks as Australia slides into energy crisis

METALSGROVE MINING (ASX:MGA)

Newly listed MGA is looking to fuel the energy transition with all the right minerals – lithium, rare earths, and base metals.

The company has kicked off a 5,973-line km helicopter borne magnetic and radiometric survey across key prospects at its Northern Territory based Arunta Project.

MGA says the survey will comprise 3,954-line kilometres at the Bruce Prospect, 1,147-line kilometres at the Box Hole prospect and 872-line kilometres at Edwards Creek, with a drilling program planned to test the bedrock conductor after the survey has wrapped up.

“The Arunta Project is highly prospective for rare earth, copper-gold, LCT (lithium-cesium-tantalum) and base metal mineralisation.

“We are confident of demonstrating the clear potential of these assets through our targeted, yet aggressive exploration plans over the coming months,” managing director Sean Sivasamy says.

ARMADA METALS (ASX:AMM)

(Up on no news)

AMM is another recently listed explorer, which boasts a large land position covering 3,000km2 in Southern Gabon targeting magmatic nickel copper deposits.

Guy Le Page, director at RM Corporate Finance says this stock is one to watch – its ‘Nyanga Project’ contains a nmber of drill ready targets and is led by managing director and CEO Dr Ross McGowan, a geologist with more than 20 years’ experience.

Earlier this month the company started a series of Natural Source Audio-Magnetotelluric (NSAMT) surveys over the Libonga-Matchiti Trend at Nyanga, where data collection will be carried out until the end of September.

NSAMT systems calculate ground resistivity by measuring the magnitude of naturally occurring electric and magnetic fields.

Resistivity values are calculated from these measurements and used to create 2D and 3D images of the subsurface.

Magmatic sulphide accumulations are defined by extremely low resistivity values.

ANSON RESOURCES (ASX:ASN)

Anson has upgrade its Paradox Lithium Project in Utah, USA to 738,000t of lithium carbonate equivalent while bromine resources have also received a 248% boost to 3.5Mt (1.2Mt in the Indicated category).

This is a 324% increase on the previously reported resource in March of last year.

It also paves the development pathway for the project and will be incorporated into the project’s detailed feasibility study (DFS) – currently being prepared by global engineering group Worley for release in the near future.

COBRE (ASX:CBE)

(Up on no news)

Shares in this copper stock are STILL tearing it up.

Last week, CBE revealed the renewal of the five exploration licences which are held by Triprop and subject to a binding earn-in agreement with Kalahari Metals (KML).

These five exploration licences have been renewed for an additional two years until 30 September 2024 and come at a time for the company as it begins an aggressive exploration program in Botswana.

“The renewal cements the belt-scale opportunity provided by our extensive land package in the Kalahari Copper Belt and will support an additional exploration pipeline of targets for future drill testing,” executive chairman and managing director Martin Holland says.

NOW READ: The ASX small caps that lit a fire under Stockhead’s experts this week