ABx Group has progressed its hydrogen fluoride (HF) pilot plant at Bell Bay, Tasmania, positioning the facility near deep-water export infrastructure at Bell Bay port and the state’s existing hydro-powered industrial precinct. The project targets HF production from locally sourced feedstock rather than imported acids, aiming to supply high-purity HF for rare earths separation and advanced materials. For process engineers and metallurgists, the move signals potential domestic HF availability for leach circuits and fluorine-based reagents, reducing supply-chain risk for Australian critical minerals projects.

Minerals 260 is reporting further high-grade intercepts from reverse circulation and diamond drilling at its Bullabulling gold project in Western Australia, expanding mineralisation along strike and at depth near historic open pits. Recent holes have returned multiple metre-scale intervals of strong gold grades (g/t-level assays) within altered mafic and sedimentary units, confirming continuity of shear-hosted lodes beneath and between existing pit shells. The results support potential for resource growth around established infrastructure on the Kalgoorlie–Coolgardie corridor, with follow-up step-out drilling and updated modelling now in focus.

Astral Resources has reported high-grade gold intersections from reverse circulation drilling at the Wattle Dam prospect within its Spargoville gold project in Western Australia, targeting extensions to the historically high-grade Wattle Dam underground mine. The programme is testing down-plunge and along-strike positions of the known lode system, using closely spaced RC holes to refine the geometry of the mineralised shoot and assess potential for resource growth near existing underground development. Results will guide follow-up diamond drilling, pit design options and geotechnical assessment of remnant and new stoping blocks.