Small Caps

QMines (ASX: QML) chairman Andrew Sparke joins Small Caps to discuss the company's receipt of positive news from a pre-feasibility study (PFS) of its proposed development of the Mt Chalmers copper and gold mine in Queensland. The Mt Chalmers study demonstrated that the project is a technically and financially robust and supports a stand-alone 1 million tonnes per annum process plan. A significant milestone for QMines, the PFS result demonstrates Mt Chalmers is a project with scale and potential for development. The study also confirmed significant growth options within the Sulphide City, Scorpion and Woods Shaft deposits not currently in the mine plan. Importantly, studies confirmed Mt Chalmers can be commercialised using industry standard treatment processes and techniques, providing low-cost development options at a time when gold and copper prices are surging. Article: https://smallcaps.com.au/qmines-study-viable-future-mt-chalmers-copper-gold-deposit/ For more information on QMines: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-qml/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International Graphite (ASX: IG6) managing director and chief executive officer Andrew Worland joins Small Caps to discuss the recent receipt of a $6.5 million grant from the Western Australian government. The new grant takes the company’s total funding from the State’s Collie Just Transition Program to $8.5 million. As well as the WA government support, International Graphite received $4.7 million in Federal funding as part of the Critical Minerals Development Program to support its mine-to-market graphite supply chain plans in WA. The latest show of government support for the innovative battery materials developer will help advance the company's plans for a 4,000 tonnes per annum commercial-scale graphite micronising operation, at Collie, south of Perth. The award is just the latest development this year in International Graphite's mine-to-market battery anode plans processing of graphite concentrate feed at Collie from its Springdale Graphite Project in WA’s south-east. Earlier this year International Graphite received $1.3 million from the Australian Research and Development Tax Incentive Scheme for the 2023 financial year and raised $3 million in a placement, while the company will wrap up a $1 million SPP in the near future. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/international-graphite-capital-raising-advance-springdale-graphite-project/ https://smallcaps.com.au/international-graphite-secures-wa-funding-first-downstream-processing-plant/ For more information on International Graphite: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-ig6/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RocketBoots (ASX: ROC) chief executive officer Joel Rappolt joins Small Caps to discuss how the company's cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies are reshaping profitability and customer service in the retail and banking sectors RocketBoots leverages AI to optimise workforce planning and prevent loss, dramatically improving customer experiences and net promoter scores. Joel shares insights into RocketBoots’ journey from their successful IPO to deploying transformative AI technologies in markets across the UK, EU and USA. For more information on RocketBoots: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-roc/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gerald Celente, founder of the Trends Research Institute and Trends Journal magazine, joins Small Caps to discuss the current events that are forming future trends. With a 40-year track record of identifying, tracking and forecasting trends, Gerald is renowned as the world's #1 trend forecaster. Topics discussed include: WW3, gold and silver, the office building bust and banks, the levels of debt, AI and much more.. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anatara Lifesciences (ASX: ANR) executive chair Dr David Brookes joins Small Caps to discuss the progress of the company's trial of a potential treatment for the aptly named irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The company recently received the go-ahead to enrol patients for the second stage of its pivotal GaRP-IBS trial, which is to be conducted at 5 sites in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Anatara has received highly encouraging findings from Stage 1 of the GaRP-IBS clinical trial and Stage 2 of the trial will progress these promising developments to further efficacy claims . Under the trial guidelines, participants will be randomly placed into two groups to take either the optimum dose of the GaRP product selected from Stage 1 or the placebo. It is expected that each patient will take approximately three months to complete the trial, which involves a wash-out period and then 8 weeks on the product or placebo. While IBS is a fairly common issue, with an estimated 5% to 10% of the world's population currently be suffering from the syndrome, many of those people may well be unaware of what the issue is. April is annual IBS Awareness Month with the aim this year to help destigmatise the different types of syndrome people may be suffering. Approximately 1 in 5 Australians experience the unpleasant symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at some time. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/anatara-lifesciences-garp-therapy-trial-extension-treat-irritable-bowel-syndrome/ https://smallcaps.com.au/ibs-awareness-month-anatara-lifesciences-trial-offers-hope-millions/ For more information on Anatara Lifesciences: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-anr/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Dawes, executive chairman at Martin Place Securities, join Small Caps to share his views on the recent rise in gold and silver prices. Other topics discussed include various commodities such as copper, iron ore and uranium. Discussion on currencies such as the US dollar, Japanese yen and Australian dollar. And some ASX stocks. To find out about investment opportunities in IPOs and placements visit Cap Raise: https://capraise.com/ ----------------------- Small Caps is Australia's #1 site for market news & information on ASX listed small cap companies. ----------------------- WEBSITE https://smallcaps.com.au/ PODCAST https://smallcaps.com.au/podcast/ SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmallCapsASX Twitter: https://twitter.com/SmallCapsASX LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/small-caps/ NEWSLETTER https://smallcaps.com.au/subscribe/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lithium Universe (ASX: LU7) chief executive officer Alex Hanly joins Small Caps to discuss the company’s progress with its plans to support the North American supply chain. With a strategy focused on Canada’s lithium riches and preferred lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology, Lithium Universe is helping to address the gap in lithium conversion capacity in North America. The company has pulled together a “dream team” of lithium specialists to drive its multi-faceted strategy in what is one of the most active battery metal markets in the world. A major surge in battery manufacturing is anticipated in North America, with more than 20 major manufacturers planning to deploy an estimated 1,000GW of battery capacity. At the same time Canada has been rated as the number one jurisdiction in BloombergNEF's Global Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Ranking. A key component of Lithium Universe’s mine-to-battery-grade lithium carbonate strategy is its advancing Québec Lithium Processing Hub (QLPH). Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/lithium-universe-pivotal-role-closing-north-americas-conversion-gap/ https://smallcaps.com.au/lithium-universe-selects-becancour-port-spodumene-imports-quebec-refinery/ https://smallcaps.com.au/lithium-universe-secures-prime-industrial-property-quebec-hub/ For more information on Lithium Universe: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-lu7/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Akora Resources (ASX: AKO) managing director Paul Bibby joins Small Caps to discuss the company’s significant progress at its iron ore operations in Madagascar. The company is developing the high-grade Bekisopa iron ore mine to serve the steel industry’s accelerating decarbonisation. Akora has developed a two-stage process for bringing Bekisopa iron to market, with stage 1 set to produce 62% plus iron direct shipping ore (DSO) and stage 2 producing premium-priced +68% iron concentrate. The company has already identified high-grade direct ship iron ore at surface over an expansive area at Bekisopa and continues to add to that with exploration success. The company is also investigating the Satrokala iron ore project in Madagascar which offers considerable upside. Recent activities have identified a continuous 10km long magnetic strike feature at Satrokala. Article: https://smallcaps.com.au/akora-resources-magnetic-anomaly-satrokala-iron-ore-project/ For more information on Akora Resources: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-ako/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Locksley Resources (ASX: LKY) president of US operations Matt Hartmann joins Small Caps to discuss the company's highly prospective Mojave rare earth element project in California. Recently appointed to the role, Mr Hartmann has over 20 years of global mineral exploration and project development experience to the new role helping Locksley drive future exploration activity at Mojave. The Mojave project is in the right neighbourhood being located just 1.4km of the world-class Mountain Pass project, the only producing rare earth mine in the USA. Locksley has already confirmed Mojave's potential with exploration in 2023 in the North Block area of the project returning highly anomalous total rare-earth oxide results. It also identified six catchment areas in the North Block area as being prospective for ongoing rare earth element exploration. The company's upcoming exploration activities come at a time when global interest in rare earth elements is accelerating, with the US in particular making them a major critical mineral focus. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/locksley-resources-encouraged-promising-mojave-ree-sample-results/https://smallcaps.com.au/locksley-resources-intensifies-rare-earth-search-california-mojave-region/https://smallcaps.com.au/locksley-resources-strengthens-us-team-executive-appointed-mojave-ree/ For more information on Locksley Resources: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-lky/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International Graphite (ASX: IG6) managing director and chief executive officer Andrew Worland joins Small Caps to discuss the recent breakthroughs in the company’s projects and forecasts of strong market growth for the key battery metal, graphite. The company has shored up its balance sheet by reaching an agreement with its major shareholder Comet Resources and received a $1.3 million payment from the Australian Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentive Scheme for the 2023 financial year. The R&D refund provides International Graphite with additional working capital to support the execution of its strategy to develop an Australian battery anode material. In mid-February, International Graphite successfully wet-commissioned its new graphite micronising plant in Collie, WA. The 200 tonnes per annum qualification-scale microniser is the largest in Australia and a milestone in the development of a domestic graphite industry. All these milestone comes at a time when the macro foundations for battery metal industry are strong with EV sales in the US hitting a record last year, while graphite prices are expected to spike after China recently made significant policy changes restricting the export of graphite. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/international-graphite-strong-purification-electrochemical-results-springdale-concentrate/ https://smallcaps.com.au/international-graphite-tightens-up-balance-sheet-comet-resources-agreement/ https://smallcaps.com.au/international-graphite-commissions-pioneering-microniser-plant-collie-wa/ For more information on International Graphite: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-ig6/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aurum Resources (ASX: AUE) non-executive director Mark Strizek joins Small Caps to discuss the company’s early drilling success at the Boundiali gold project in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. Aurum wrapped up the acquisition of Boundiali’s former owner and Côte d’Ivoire mining specialist PlusOr Global in mid-December. Included in that acquisition was two drilling rigs and a considerable amount of support equipment . Aurum has been utilising the rigs with great success, hitting a number of shallow, high-grade gold intersections in its ongoing diamond drilling program. The company has now purchased a third diamond drill rig to add to its fleet, which will increase drilling capacity from 2,600m per month to ~4,000m per month from late April 2024. Aurum has a strong cash balance of $3.9 million as of 29 February 2024, with a further $3.3 million expected following shareholder approval from the recent $7 million capital raising, allowing Aurum to accelerate Boundiali resource definition in 2024. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/aurum-resources-makes-bonanza-gold-hit-drilling-boundiali-project/ https://smallcaps.com.au/aurum-resources-expands-exploration-high-grade-gold-finds-boundiali/ https://smallcaps.com.au/aurum-resources-maiden-resource-boundiali-third-diamond-drill-rig-purchase/ For more information on Aurum Resources: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-aue/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peppermint Innovation (ASX: PIL) managing director and chief executive officer Chris Kain joins Small Caps to discuss the growing success of the company's strategic decision to build up its artificial intelligence and customer experience (CX) operations in late 2023. The company has recently landed a number of global AI and CX contracts since reaching an agreement in December to add on XPON Technologies’ established and proven ‘application modernisation’ expertise via the acquisition of two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Xpon Digital and Holoscribe Australia. XPON Digital, renamed Peppermint Intelligence (PINT) has secured several key contracts with world-renowned organisations including a 9-year extension of an agreement with Amnesty International. PINT will continue to has expand CX-powered software offering to the human rights specialists’ global campaigns. PINT is now developing a ground-breaking AI-driven platform for a client that is aimed at matching and monetising people's skills and experiences with those needing help. The platform fully automates the end-to-end journey and experience using engagement with AI. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/peppermint-innovation-ai-cx-rapid-growth-new-partnerships/ https://smallcaps.com.au/peppermint-innovation-raise-ai-powered-expansion For more information on Peppermint Innovation: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-pil See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barton Gold (ASX: BGD) (OTCQB: BGDFF) managing director Alexander Scanlon joins Small Caps to discuss the latest mineral resource estimate upgrade at its Tunkillia project in South Australia. The company recently unveiled its third Tunkillia JORC mineral resource estimate (MRE) in 12 months, with an aggressive drilling campaign lifting the project to 1.5 million ounces. A key component to the increase was the inclusion of a new 115,216 ounce gold resource identified at Area 51. Barton only announced the discovery of the approximately 500m long gold zone at Area 51 in September 2022. Located to the northwest of the main 223 Deposit at Tunkillia, the Area 51 MRE has been identified through a 72 drill holes, including 6,058m of reverse circulation and 2,605.4m diamond drilling completed by Barton. The Area 51 deposit is a satellite deposit approximately 4 km north of the Tunkillia Project, which in turn is located 530 km north-west of Adelaide in South Australia’s Gawler Craton. Article: https://smallcaps.com.au/barton-gold-tunkillia-resource-estimate-surges/ For more information on Barton Gold: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-bgd/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chariot Corporation (ASX: CC9) managing director Shanthar Pathmanathan joins Small Caps to discuss developments at the company's Black Mountain lithium project located in Wyoming, United States. The newly listed Chariot recently expanded the footprint of Black Mountain by 206% with the application for 218 contiguous claims taking the entire project to 352 claims covering 2,686 hectares of tenure. The acquisition of the new claims comes after Chariot raced off to a fast exploration start at Black Mountain. Chariot is off to a strong start at the project with the receipt of promising results from its maiden drilling program at project. The early results from the first 3 holes in its maiden program have also identified the potential for a range of base metals including copper, zinc and lead. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/chariot-black-mountain-project-significant-lithium-base-metals-potential/ https://smallcaps.com.au/chariot-corporation-resume-next-phase-black-mountain-lithium-hunt For more information on Chariot Corporation: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-cc9/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

VHM Limited (ASX: VHM) chief executive officer and executive director Ron Douglas joins Small Caps to discuss the company's continuing run of success as it progresses the high-class Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project in Victoria. The company’s is progressing its plans to be a near-term producer with the completion of a number of project-critical milestones required to advance the Goschen rare earths and mineral sands project (Goschen) into Construction, including the assembly of a board of directors with major mine construction experience, and the placement of the Goschen Environment Effects Statement on public exhibition. In its recent string of highlights in Goschen’s development trajectory, VHM has successfully wrapped up negotiations for its first binding offtake agreement for Goschen Phase 1 products and secured 100% of the land required for the operational footprint of the Goschen Project. As the company continues its focus on taking Goschen into production, VHM has added to its company’s total ore reserves and mineral resource and maintained its contiguous tenement holdings in the in North West Victoria into 2028, during the half-year ending 31 December 2023. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/vhm-accelerates-transition-explorer-developer-progress-goschen/ https://smallcaps.com.au/vhm-strikes-milestone-offtake-deal-shenghe-goschen-prospects/ For more information on VHM: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-vhm/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PharmAust (ASX: PAA) chief executive officer Michael Thurn joins Small Caps to discuss the company's ongoing success with its investigation into its lead treatment candidate monepantel (MPL). PharmAust is focused on repurposing MPL for the treatment of human neurodegenerative disorders such as motor neurone disease (MND) / amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). New top-line Phase 1 MEND study results have found that PharmAust has taken a significant step towards helping people diagnosed with this rare and incurable disease. Notably, new tests have found that MPL displays a superior safety, tolerability to the leading FDA approved drug Relyvrio. Preliminary efficacy data also found a 58% reduction in the rate of disease progression for high dose Cohort 2 patients using the FDA primary efficacy endpoint. The result has demonstrated the potential to provide meaningful clinical benefit to people living with MND/ALS. PharmAust also recently created a “dream team” of scientists including internationally renowned experts in MND/ALS drug discovery and clinical development who will provide PharmAust with strategic guidance in the development of MPL Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/pharmaust-monepantel-study-shows-slowdown-mnd-progression/ https://smallcaps.com.au/pharmaust-world-class-scientific-advisory-board-fight-against-neurodegenerative-diseases/ https://smallcaps.com.au/pharmaust-monepantel-study-mnd-als-treatment-fast-track-fda-meeting/ https://smallcaps.com.au/pharmaust-begins-extended-study-mnd-treatment-successful-trial/ For more information on PharmAust: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-paa/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aurumin (ASX: AUN) managing director Brad Valiukas joins Small Caps to discuss the company's recent strategic moves focussed on building a mining company around its flagship Sandstone gold project in Western Australia. With a history of production, Sandstone's current resource of 946,000 ounces of gold provides an ideal opportunity to take advantage of high gold prices. Aurumin has identified a number of shallow, nearby targets to follow up as part of its plans to grow the known resource with an initial focus on compiling critical mass for early production. Looking to take advantage of the significant legacy infrastructure and permitting in place, the future strategy is to grow an open pit inventory in the short term, allowing for a fast-track production start-up. The already identified open pit resources include 307,000 ounces at Central Sandstone and 65,000 ounces at Johnson Range. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/aurumin-sets-stage-strong-2024-western-australian-gold-ventures/ https://smallcaps.com.au/aurumin-builds-sandstone-footprint-new-high-grade-gold-tenement/ For more information on Aurumin: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-aun/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NickelX (ASX: NKL) managing director Matt Gauci joins Small Caps to discuss the company's early success with its foray into Canada's rich uranium mining sector. The company recently announced it had identified significant uranium mineralisation at its new Elliot Lake project in Ontario. NickelX's exploration team has identified three priority target areas with a first pass geological review. Two of the areas have been historically proven to contain mineralisation over a combined 35 km strike of prospective tenure. NickelX staked areas covering 4 highly prospective uranium targets at Elliot Lake in mid-February. The new project lies in the Elliot Lake Uranium district which historically produced around 360 million pounds of uranium from 13 underground mines. Back in WA, NickelX recently commenced an RC drilling program at the Dalwallinu nickel project. Article: https://smallcaps.com.au/nickelx-targets-uranium-riches-canada-historic-elliot-lake-district/ For more information on NickelX: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-nkl/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Premier1 Lithium (ASX: PLC) chief operating officer Richard Taylor joins Small Caps to discuss the commencement of the company's drilling campaign at the Abbotts North Project in Western Australia. The company is following up on a machine learning generated target at Abbotts North Project, where a 2,000m RC program has been designed to test the depth and extent of the mineralised pegmatite field. At the Buttamiah prospect several parallel lithium bearing pegmatites have been mapped and sampled. The drilling campaign will help provide Premier1 with a deeper understanding of Abbotts North, where it has an option to acquire 100% of the project from a private vendor. The innovative explorer is at the forefront with the use of the latest AI and machine learning technology to help it identify and secure a portfolio of rights in a premier hard rock lithium jurisdiction. Article: https://smallcaps.com.au/premier1-lithium-commences-drilling-lithium-pegmatite-targets-abbotts-north/ For more information on Premier1 Lithium: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-plc/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RareX (ASX: REE) chief executive officer James Durrant joins Small Caps to discuss plans to potentially fast-track the development of its Cummins Range rare earth element project in Western Australia. The company is focused on off-take opportunities at Australia’s largest undeveloped rare earths project. RareX is now preparing for the submission of project approvals and securing offtake agreements in the lead up to the conclusion of a pre-feasibility study. It is also preparing to test near-mine anomalies with the potential to add material value to the project. Elsewhere, RareX has allocated business development capacity to Canada where it has identified advanced rare earth deposits as being attractive complementary acquisition opportunities. RareX remains bullish on the longer-term outlook for rare earths, which are expected to see over 6% compound annual growth rates year-on-year for the foreseeable future. Articles: https://smallcaps.com.au/rarex-advances-cummins-range-explores-new-global-rare-earths-opportunities/ https://smallcaps.com.au/rarex-advances-rare-earth-deposit-wa-cummins-range/ For more information on RareX: https://smallcaps.com.au/stocks/asx-ree/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.