An executive order from President Trump is set to benefit ASX resource companies operating in the US. Pic: Getty Images
Resources Top 5: Trump mining decree a lift for ASX players in US
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- Recharge Metals’ uranium project is set to benefit from the Trump decree
- Gold’s inclusion in executive order welcomed by James Bay Minerals
- Heads turned by Aurum’s 83m intersection from 106m at 4.87g/t gold
Your standout small cap resources stocks for Thursday, March 27, 2025.
Recharge Metals (ASX:REC)
A new executive order from President Trump aimed at boosting domestic mineral production is set to benefit ASX-listed companies with US projects.
The order titled ‘Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production’, states: “The United States was once the world’s largest producer of lucrative minerals, but overbearing federal regulation has eroded our nation’s mineral production.
“Our national and economic security are now acutely threatened by our reliance upon hostile foreign powers’ mineral production.
“It is imperative for our national security that the United States take immediate action to facilitate domestic mineral production to the maximum possible extent.”
In her article ‘ASX’s US mining hopefuls get another Trump bump’ Stockhead’s Kristie Batten wrote: Aside from critical minerals, which have already been a focus for the Trump administration, the order also specifically mentions uranium, copper, potash, gold “and any other element, compound or material” as determined by the newly established National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC).
For ASX companies operating in the US, this could mean quicker permitting timelines and improved financing through subsidies and loans.
Batten wrote that as well as the executive order, the US uranium industry got a potential second boost this week when the US Department of Energy re-issued a US$900 million solicitation to support the deployment of small modular reactors.
“America’s nuclear energy renaissance starts now,” US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement.
Canadian bank Stifel notes that the US is home to the world’s largest fleet of nuclear power plants yet accounts for less than 1% of global uranium production, leaving it “especially vulnerable”.
“The nation’s dependence on foreign producers underscores the pressing need for resilient, Western-aligned supply chains that safeguard its energy security,” the bank said.
Recharge Metals (ASX:REC), which is making strides across multiple priorities at the Carter uranium project in Montana including plans for drilling later this year, is one in line to benefit from the Trump decree.
To facilitate the next phase of exploration, the company’s executive team recently visited the project and met with key stakeholders, carrying out assessments of project infrastructure and logistics.
The permitting process has kicked off with an experienced consulting group to ensure compliance with environmental and land use requirements, laying the groundwork for upcoming drilling.
Data compilation, geological review and target generation are now in the final stages of planning, with drilling set to focus on high-priority targets identified from historical data and recent evaluations.
“Recent policy initiatives by the US government to boost domestic mineral production further reinforce the strategic significance of Carter,” Recharge MD Felicity Repacholi Repacholi said.
“With strong tailwinds supporting US uranium development, Recharge remains well-funded to execute its exploration strategy and is excited about the potential of this significant uranium asset.”
James Bay Minerals (ASX:JBY)
Gold’s inclusion in the executive order was significant, Kristie Batten wrote, as it hasn’t been considered a critical mineral in the past.
“Despite gold’s relatively low exposure to industrial supply chains, its role-status as a strategic asset is likely a reflection of safe-haven appeal as geopolitical tensions increase, in our view,” Canadian bank Stifel said.
James Bay Minerals (ASX:JBY) holds the Independence gold project in Nevada, which has a resource of 1.36 million ounces of gold, including a high-grade skarn resource of 984,412 ounces at 6.67g/t gold.
JBY executive chairman Andrew Dornan told Stockhead Nevada was already the best place in the US to do business.
“Whether it’s exploration or more advanced project development, there (are) pressures coming from above now to make things happen quicker, which is good,” he said.
“I think they’re trying to apply what they do in Nevada across the rest of the country – that’s what we’re seeing.”
As the next step at Independence, JBY has mobilised a drill team for a 4000m RC program targeting high-grade near-surface mineralisation growth at Rebel Trend beyond the 419,600oz gold equivalent near-surface resource.
This forms part of an overall JORC resource of 1.4Moz AuEq including skarn mineralisation of 984,412oz.
James Bay’s sister company, Sun Silver (ASX:SS1), of which Dornan is managing director, holds the Maverick Springs silver project, also in Nevada.
While silver isn’t considered a critical mineral, the deposit also hosts a 2Moz gold resource and widespread antimony mineralisation.
Dornan believes there will be cheap, US government-funded debt for projects following Trump’s executive order.
“That’s kind of what we’re hearing is going to come to support the development of these projects, which obviously we want to put ourselves right in front of at the appropriate time,” he said.
Sun Silver has re-engaged expert partner Holland & Knight, which assisted last year with the application for a US$60m government credit to support the establishment of a domestic silver paste facility.
“They will be able to basically assist us with the angles that we need to approach to ensure we’re at the front of the queue for any project funding or support that’s going to get rolled out,” Dornan said.
Aurum Resources (ASX:AUE)
West African precious metal explorer Aurum Resources, has turned quite a few heads with an 83m intersection from 106m grading 4.87g/t gold at the 1.59Moz Boundiali gold project in Côte d’Ivoire.
The same hole returned 8m at 14.81g/t gold and another produced 0.83m at 172.40g/t from 14.82m and 53.77m at 0.81g/t from 55.13m including 5m at 3.40g/t.
These diamond drilling results demonstrate the emerging potential and continued upside of the Boundiali project, where mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth.
Investors have welcomed the results for the $75m market cap company, with shares up 11.8% to 38c.
All eight of Aurum’s self-owned diamond rigs continue to drill at Boundiali with 100,000m targeted in 2025.
Two resource updates are planned this year to grow the maiden 1.59Moz Boundiali resource while the company has also started a Boundiali pre-feasibility study, due for completion by the end of the year.
Aurum is well-funded for continued exploration success at Boundiali and the recently acquired Napié project, which host a combined 2.5Moz.
MD Dr Caigen Wang said the 83m intersection equalling 404.1 gold gram metres was a project and tenement best result and came from drilling designed to deliver indicated resources at BDT1.
“We knew there were high grades in among the thick zones of gold mineralisation at BDT1, with a previous result of 12.22m at 14.56g/t gold from 275m, and the latest results further validate this and will help us better understand and target these plunging high-grade shoots with drilling,” he said.
“At our recently acquired Napié project, a 30,000m diamond drilling program is planned for 2025, targeting expansion of the current 0.87Moz MRE.”
Lykos Metals (ASX:LYK)
Lykos Metals will advance exploration of its projects in the Tethyan metallogenic belt of Bosnia and Herzegovina after fielding firm commitments to raise $399,811 in a placement.
As well as exploration to advance the projects toward development, the funds will allow the company to evaluate new opportunities.
Lykos said it had intentionally kept the raise small at this stage in an effort to minimise dilution to existing shareholders while it assessed new project opportunities.
The placement was strongly supported by new and existing sophisticated investors and the issue price of 0.9c per share represents a discount of 18.2% discount to the last close of $0.011.
In addition, the placement includes 1 free attaching unlisted option for every two shares applied for. These are exercisable at 2c each, will expire three years from the date of issue and are subject to shareholder approval.
Shareholders have welcomed the raise, sending shares as much as 127.27% higher to 2.5c, a 6-month high.
Lykos continues to work with the Ministry of Energy and Mining in Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the revised application for the Sockovac (Petrovo) project and is optimistic about a near-term favourable outcome in respect of the renewed grant of the project.
The company’s battery and precious metals projects are near existing core infrastructure and transport routes to Europe’s battery manufacturing supply chain.
Titanium Sands (ASX:TSL)
Heavy mineral sands player Titanium Sands is pleased to have received the key Terms of Reference on Wednesday from Sri Lanka’s Central Environment Authority giving it the green light to progress with an environment assessment for its Mannar project.
The ToR contains the environmental, heritage, social and economic requirements needed for an Environmental Impact Assessment to secure Geological Survey and Mines Bureau approval for an Industrial Mining Licence.
“The release of the ToR is a significant step forward in the regulatory approvals process for this project,” managing director Dr James Searle said.
“The project will deliver a high-grade mineral sands operation that will create significant employment opportunities and become a source of wealth for local communities, as well as a significant boost in revenues to the Government of Sri Lanka.
“TSL is focused on delivering a low-impact environmentally-friendly project, with the highest levels of social awareness and inclusion.
“As heavy minerals have been mined for decades on the Sri Lankan mainland, TSL looks forward to building on the size and quality of the industry making a significant impact to the economic benefits of Sri Lanka.”
Mineral sands are a group of minerals such as ilmenite, rutile and zircon that are commonly found together as coarse and fine grain sands.
They are primarily valued for their Ilmenite, which is processed to produce titanium dioxide used as a pigment or opacifier in a wide range of everyday applications including paints, plastics and specialised chemicals.
It can be processed to produce titanium metal, which is lightweight, strong, corrosion resistant and with a high melting point that makes it suitable for aerospace, medical and specialist manufacturing applications.
Rutile is another titanium feedstock though its high refraction index makes it especially valued for use in the pigment industry.
Zircon and rare earths are other commodities that can be found in heavy mineral sand deposits.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent financial advice before making any financial decisions. While Recharge Metals, James Bay Minerals, Sun Silver and Titanium Sands are Stockhead advertisers, they did not sponsor this article.
