Resources Top 5: Trash or treasure? Lithium Universe turns solar panel junk into silver

• LU7 trials pull more than 95% of silver from old solar cells and hit 90% recovery in just seven minutes under low voltage
• OBM sees potential for third underground mine at Davyhurst gold project 
• Robert Friedland co-chaired Sunrise Energy Metals continues stellar market run

Your standout small cap resources stocks for Thursday, September 4, 2025

Lithium Universe (ASX:LU7)

A big step has been taken to turn solar panel junk into high-value silver and silicon with Lithium Universe’s (ASX:LU7) Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE) technology validated in laboratory-scale trials.

Shares rose accordingly by 50% to a daily high of 1.5c.

Trials with Macquarie Uni pulled more than 95% of silver from old solar cells and hit 90% recovery in just seven minutes under low voltage and weak acid. 

Extending the duration to 30 minutes resulted in near-complete recovery of more than 95%. These rates were achieved using dilute nitric acid and an applied voltage of only 5V, demonstrating the efficiency of the process, producing substantially less waste while also reducing costs and keeping the silicon wafers intact for reuse.

LU7’s focus on silver recovery is aligned with broader strategic objectives in the renewable energy sector. 

With solar panel waste expected to grow exponentially over the coming decades, the ability to recover high-value materials such as silver and silicon will be essential in reducing landfill, lessening dependency on virgin mining and capturing billions in untapped economic value. 

The JESE method has undergone rigorous laboratory testing to assess its ability to efficiently and selectively recover silver from end-of-life silicon solar cells. 

This was designed to demonstrate the technical feasibility and scalability of JESE under practical operating conditions, while benchmarking it against conventional recycling approaches. 

Executed by the Macquarie University engineering team, led by Dr Binesh Puthen Veettil and Dr David Payne, silicon solar cells were carefully prepared for evaluation. Samples were laser-cut into representative sizes to expose the silver fingers and busbars commonly used in solar cell metallisation. 

The JESE process induces selective dissolution of silver into solution without significantly attacking aluminium busbars or the underlying silicon structure. 

Recirculation of the electrolyte ensures continuous removal of dissolved silver ions, which are subsequently recovered as metallic silver through electrochemical deposition. This closed-loop approach significantly reduces waste and enhances process efficiency.

Comparative tests using conventional hydrometallurgical acid leaching were also undertaken to benchmark JESE against the current industry standard.

LU7 said the technology demonstrated precise, selective extraction of silver and confirmed JESE offered lower energy demand, reduced acid consumption and substantially less waste generation.

The results mark an important step in the commercialisation pathway of this breakthrough process, reinforcing LU7’s commitment to innovation in critical metal recycling and circular economy solutions.

Ora Banda (ASX:OBM)

The potential for a third underground mine is emerging for Ora Banda (ASX:OBM) at its Davyhurst gold project northwest of Kalgoorlie.

This has been enhanced by the first nine holes of a planned 45-hole drill program delivering bonanza results of up to 159g/t at the Waihi deposit.

This came from a 0.79m section within 6m at 21.2g/t Au at Waihi East while Waihi West returned 3.9m at 29.5g/t, including 1.8m at 60.8g/t, and 7m at 145.5g/t, including 5m at 19.2g/t.

The material depth extensions to the Waihi West Lode were intersected 350m below surface and the hole that returned the 3.9m hit was the deepest hole to date targeting this lode surface.

Providing further encouragement for Ora Banda, a new gold lode was also intersected in the hanging wall of the historical Golden Pole Mine, returning 13.5m at 6/1g/t Au and 8m at 8.7g/t, including 4m at 14.9g/t.

These down-plunge extensions remain untested and additional drilling is being planned in the near term.

Waihi is just 3km from the Davyhurst processing plant and represents a potential third underground mine in addition to the Riverina and Sand King mines. 

Drilling continues with 36 holes remaining in the program. These will test several highly prospective exploration targets in addition to extensions of known mineralisation.

“These results are nothing short of outstanding as we continue to expand the high-grade potential of the Waihi deposit,” managing director Luke Creagh said. 

“The high-grade and good widths combined with meaningful depth extensions continue to build the case for Waihi as a third underground mine on the Davyhurst Project.”

Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX:SRL)

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Robert Friedland co-chaired Sunrise Energy Metals (ASX:SRL) has had a stellar recent run thanks to the appeal of its Syerston scandium project in Central West NSW and that has continued with a 39.53% increase to $2.33.

This represents a high of nigh on three years and since the close on April 10, 2025, the stock has risen almost eight-fold from 30c.

Friedland is no stranger to the Australian market, with SRL and its scandium, nickel and cobalt interests among his myriad investments.

His biggest success stories, however, have come in North America – Ivanhoe Mines, which developed the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the DRC with China’s Zijin, is listed in Toronto, as was Turquoise Hill, which eventually sold its stake in the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia to Rio Tinto, and Diamond Fields Resources, which found the world-class Voisey’s Bay nickel mine in Canada.

The Syerston project hosts one of the world’s largest and highest-grade scandium deposits. A feasibility study completed in August 2016, supported by extensive piloting, metallurgical testwork and engineering, is being updated.

Thor Energy (ASX:THR)

A term sheet with DISA Technologies to recover uranium and critical minerals from abandoned waste dumps at the Colorado uranium claims of Thor Energy (ASX:THR) resulted in a 90% jump to a 12-month high of 1.9c.

DISA will be the operator and pay all associated costs of economic evaluation, permitting, processing and ongoing remediation, while THR receives a gross revenue share.

DISA’s modular mobile plants utilising the patented High-Pressure Slurry Ablation (HPSA) system will be deployed to treat surface dumps of previously partially mined and aggregated material.

Thor holds 25% ownership rights to uranium via US subsidiary Standard Minerals that holds the projects in Colorado along with 75% holder, London-listed Metals One.

“Moving our US uranium projects forward in a non-dilutionary manner has been a priority for some time. DISA is a world leader in its materials upgrading technology and its patented HSPA process is considered a revolutionary, non-chemical technology,” Thor chairman Alastair Clayton said.

“A major benefit is that the process does more than just extract value, it leaves behind a substantially improved local environment by remediating these historic legacy sites.”

Pearl Gull Iron (ASX:PLG)

Offloading the Cockatoo Island iron ore project in WA to a cohort of three companies for consideration of $4.5 million resulted in Pearl Gull Iron (ASX:PLG) hitting a 12-month high of 3.4c, a lift of around 89%.

Under an asset sale and purchase agreement with Buccaneer Resources, Crestlink and JCA WA Nominees, PLG will also receive royalty payments on materials extracted from the Cockatoo Island Project and a 4% equity interest in Crestlink. The deal needs shareholder approval.

The two royalties comprise 2% of the free on-board value of all iron ore recovered from the tenements and sold by Buccaneer, and 50c per tonne of ballast extracted and used by Crestlink for the construction of its multi-user supply base on Cockatoo Island.

The project is off the northwest coast of WA and has a rich history of high-grade iron ore mining since the 1950s. 

As Cockatooo Island is PGL’s sole asset, the cash will be utilised to identify new projects and growth opportunities.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent financial advice before making any financial decisions. While Ora Banda Mining is a Stockhead advertiser, it did not sponsor this article.