Deep Sea Minerals (CSE: SEAS), via its US subsidiary American Ocean Minerals Corp., has applied to NOAA for a DSHMRA exploration licence targeting polymetallic nodules in a defined tract of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific. The submission includes baseline environmental data, proposed monitoring and mitigation measures, and a phased exploration plan with specified expenditure commitments. NOAA has recently pledged extra resources to accelerate licence and permit reviews, following a 2025 US executive order promoting deep-sea mining for nickel, copper and manganese.

Tivan Limited’s Speewah fluorite project in Western Australia has been selected as a priority initiative under the US–Japan–Australia Minerals Security Partnership, giving it access to coordinated government backing for critical minerals development. The project targets high-purity fluorite (fluorspar) suitable for aluminium smelting and battery materials supply chains, positioning it as a potential non-Chinese source of acid-grade concentrate. For geotechnical and mine planners, the designation signals likely acceleration of resource drilling, pit design and processing studies, with funding support tied to export-oriented offtake into US and Japanese markets.

Liberty Gold is selling its Goldstrike oxide gold project in southern Utah to Heliostar Metals for US$72.5 million, structured as US$10 million cash plus 1.6 million Heliostar shares on closing, followed by four staged cash payments over five years tied to infrastructure milestones and feasibility/construction decisions. Proceeds will fund Liberty’s Black Pine project in Idaho, which a 2024 prefeasibility study pegs at US$552 million NPV (5%), 32% IRR and 2.2 million oz output over 17 years at US$1,380/oz AISC. The non-dilutive deal supports feasibility work and long-lead procurement ahead of a targeted 2028 construction start.