The Day's Play Edition 142: Silver surges, UK contract secured and helium portfolio expands | BKB, JAN, NHE
THE COIN TOSS
BKB - Black Bear Minerals confirmed 2,990g/t Ag in historic core re-assays, lifting silver grades and identifying additional gold and lead mineralisation.
JAN - Janison Education Group secured an approximately A$14.2 million Scottish national assessment contract through NFER over an initial 4-year term.
NHE - Noble Helium agreed to acquire Earth Source Hydrogen, adding approximately 40,000km² of Western Australian helium-prospective acreage.
EGA - Eastern Gas Corporation recorded gas readings up to 25.4% as Venus-2H entered the target Macalister Lower coal seam.
P1E - Pure One Corporation reports progress at its 69.4%-owned Project Venus as Venus-2H advances towards Venus-1.
NYR - Nyrada demonstrated statistically significant cardioprotection across 4 cardiac measures through Week 5 in preclinical Xolatryp testing.
MEK - Meeka Metals logged visible gold at 632.8m in its deepest Turnberry drill hole below the existing underground reserve.
T92 - Terra Critical Minerals received full Glen Eden land-access approval ahead of a planned 10,000m-plus air-core and RC drilling program.
LIB - Liberty Metals commenced maiden exploration across its 180km² Oko North and Oko South package after acquiring a 90% interest.
TMX - Terrain Minerals defined 7 high-priority gold drill targets, led by the strongest chargeability anomaly identified at Smokebush.
KNI - Kuniko defined multiple high-priority drill targets, led by an untested DDIP chargeability anomaly northeast of Walls Mine.
Black Bear Minerals (ASX:BKB)
Re-assays lift silver grades and confirm polymetallic mineralisation
THE PLAY
9.1m at 1,043g/t Ag returned, including 0.6m at 2,990g/t Ag.
Silver grade increased 133% in the 0.6m internal interval on re-assay.
Contained silver increased 30% across the broader S-12-403 intercept.
Re-analysis identified gold up to 0.8g/t Au and lead up to 30%.
S-12-420 returned 15.5m at 299g/t Ag, including 4.3m at 994g/t Ag.
THE PITCH
Shafter is located in Presidio County, Texas, with mineralisation spanning approximately 4km of strike.
Mineralisation is hosted in the Mina Grande Formation as manto-style carbonate replacement.
The MacDaniel and Mina Grande Faults are identified as key structural controls.
Shafter has a 17.57Moz foreign mineral resource estimate under Canadian NI 43-101.
Black Bear Minerals owns 100% of the Shafter Silver Project.
THE NEXT OVERS
Historic core review has been extended across all available legacy drill programs.
Black Bear Minerals is reviewing results towards a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate.
The Company is progressing towards completion of the Rapid Mine Restart Study.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Janison Education Group (ASX:JAN)
Janison secures first UK government assessment contract
THE PLAY
Janison secured ~A$14.2 million TCV through its subcontract with NFER for Scottish national assessments.
Janison will provide core assessment delivery platform for SNSA and MCNG across Scotland.
The subcontract commenced on 21 August 2026 and runs to 21 October 2030.
Platform go-live is targeted for August 2027 under Janison’s subcontract with NFER.
3 1-year extension options are exercisable by the Scottish Government, but are not guaranteed.
THE PITCH
Janison Insights is Janison’s national-scale adaptive assessment platform, with established bilingual assessment delivery capability.
Janison has experience delivering national assessment programmes including NAPLAN in Australia and SMART in New Zealand.
NFER is the UK’s leading independent provider of educational research and assessment.
The contract is denominated in GBP, exposing Janison to movements in the AUD/GBP exchange rate.
Janison is the principal technology subcontractor to NFER for the Scottish assessment programme.
THE NEXT OVERS
Initial implementation requires platform configuration, integration, resource mobilisation and in-country operational setup.
Janison expects initial implementation investment to affect FY27 EBITDA and cash reserves.
Janison expects the investment profile to normalise as the programme moves into steady-state delivery.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Noble Helium (ASX:NHE)
Noble Helium expands helium portfolio through Western Australian acquisition
THE PLAY
Noble Helium agreed to acquire 100% of Earth Source Hydrogen.
ESH holds 2 Western Australian SPAs covering approximately 40,000km².
The 2 SPAs provide exclusive rights to apply for exploration licences.
Water bore sampling and testing has been completed across both SPAs.
The acquisition consideration comprises 88,867,333 Noble Helium shares based on illustrative terms.
THE PITCH
The ESH SPAs are located in the onshore Southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia.
The SPAs straddle the Yilgarn Craton and western sedimentary basins.
ESH is applying for a 3rd SPA in the Southern Carnarvon Basin.
The 2 existing SPAs are adjacent to EP512 and cover approximately 40,000km².
ESH's bore samples will undergo detailed independent analysis and evaluation following acquisition completion.
THE NEXT OVERS
Acquisition completion is scheduled for 7 September 2026, subject to conditions precedent.
Completion requires Noble Helium and ESH to satisfy their respective due diligence conditions.
Noble Helium will provide a market update after independent bore sample analysis and evaluation.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Eastern Gas Corporation (ASX:EGA)
25.4% gas readings recorded in target coal
THE PLAY
Gas readings reached 25.4% after Venus-2H entered the target Macalister Lower coal seam.
Gas shows were recorded across intervals comprising up to 100% coal cuttings.
Excellent gas readings exceed 8% under the program’s wellsite rating system.
Venus-2H is approximately 60 metres from Venus-1 at a measured depth of 860 metres.
Gas readings indicate high saturation, but flow rates and productivity remain untested.
THE PITCH
Project Venus is 100%-owned by Eastern Gas Corporation and located in Queensland’s Surat Basin.
Venus-2H is a horizontal appraisal well targeting the Macalister Lower coal seam within Project Venus.
The planned Venus-2H horizontal section extends 1000 metres through the target Macalister Lower coal seam.
Project Venus has contingent gas resources of 1C 87.7 PJ, 2C 130.3 PJ and 3C 157.9 PJ.
Venus-1 is the existing vertical well targeted for planned intersection by Venus-2H.
THE NEXT OVERS
Drilling will continue toward Venus-1 and the planned 1000 metre horizontal section.
Following intersection, the integrated well system will undergo dewatering and flow testing.
Flow testing will assess water production, reservoir pressure, gas desorption, gas flow and productivity.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Pure One Corporation (ASX:P1E)
Project Venus advances towards planned Venus-1 intersection
THE PLAY
Venus-2H has entered the target Macalister Lower coal seam during drilling.
Total gas readings reached 25.4%, classified as excellent under the wellsite system.
Drilling encountered intervals comprising up to 100% coal cuttings within the target seam.
Venus-2H is approximately 60m from Venus-1 at a measured depth of 860m.
Gas readings confirm high gas saturation but do not represent flow rates or future productivity.
THE PITCH
Pure One holds a 69.4% interest in Eastern Gas Corporation, its subsidiary.
Project Venus is located in Queensland’s Surat Basin and is being advanced by Eastern Gas Corporation.
Venus-2H is a horizontal appraisal well targeting the Macalister Lower coal seam.
The planned horizontal section extends 1,000m through the target coal seam.
The integrated Venus-2H and Venus-1 well system is prepared for dewatering and flow testing.
THE NEXT OVERS
Venus-2H will continue drilling towards the planned intersection with Venus-1.
Drilling will continue through the target coal after the Venus-1 intersection.
Flow testing will assess water production, reservoir pressure, gas desorption and gas flow.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Nyrada (ASX:NYR)
Xolatryp sustains cardiac protection across 4 measures
THE PLAY
Xolatryp significantly protected cardiac function across all 4 measures through Week 5.
Week 5 EF declined 30.3% with Xolatryp plus doxorubicin versus 46.0% with doxorubicin.
Protection was statistically significant across each cardiac parameter at Week 3 and Week 5.
Histopathology showed predominantly mild focal myocardial injury with Xolatryp versus moderate injury with doxorubicin alone.
Xolatryp reduced cardiac troponin I by approximately 19% at Week 5, without statistical significance.
THE PITCH
Xolatryp is a small-molecule inhibitor of TRPC3, TRPC6 and TRPC7 ion channels.
Nyrada has completed a Phase I trial assessing Xolatryp's safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics.
A Phase IIa trial has commenced assessing Xolatryp for cardiac reperfusion injury in STEMI patients undergoing PCI.
The study used a 5-week rodent model with 12 animals per treatment group.
Dexrazoxane was included as an established positive-control benchmark for cardioprotection.
THE NEXT OVERS
Nyrada will assess the design of a potential Phase Ib clinical trial.
Nyrada will assess the feasibility of a potential Phase Ib clinical trial.
The potential Phase Ib clinical trial will be considered in the oncology setting.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Meeka Metals (ASX:MEK)
Visible gold logged at 632.8m in deepest Turnberry drill hole
THE PLAY
Visible gold was logged at 632.8m down hole in deepest Turnberry hole 26TBRD010.
The gold occurs within broad shearing with chalcopyrite, pyrite, albite and magnetite.
26TBRD002 returned 52.3m at 3.0g/t Au from 474.1m, including 30.6m at 3.4g/t Au.
26TBRD004 returned 18.0m at 3.0g/t Au from 533.0m, including 9.0m at 5.1g/t Au.
A second diamond drill rig was mobilised to site in mid-August.
THE PITCH
Shearing intensity appears to increase toward the central Turnberry zone at depth.
26TBRD010 was drilled below the Turnberry underground reserve.
Meeka Metals controls a 100% interest in M51/882, which is in good standing.
Visible gold observations are not estimates of metal grade.
Laboratory assays are required to determine actual widths and grades.
THE NEXT OVERS
Assays for 26TBRD010 are expected in September 2026.
Diamond drilling is ongoing with the second rig mobilised to site.
Further drilling is targeting extensions and potentially deeper mineralisation at Turnberry.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Terra Critical Minerals (ASX:T92)
Full Glen Eden land access approved ahead of drilling
THE PLAY
Full land-access approval has been received across the entire Glen Eden Project.
More than 10,000m of air-core and RC drilling is planned.
Drilling will target structural corridors identified through recent gravity survey work.
The Exploration Target comprises 20–30Mt at 0.18–0.29% WO₃ equivalent.
Historical drilling returned up to 392m at 0.14% WO₃ equivalent.
THE PITCH
Glen Eden contains a 500m-diameter greisen, stockwork and breccia complex.
The broader hydrothermal alteration system extends approximately 1,500m by 800m.
The Exploration Target includes average bismuth grades of 121ppm.
Bismuth is excluded from the metal equivalent calculations.
Historical drilling comprised 18 holes totalling 3,388m from 1963 to 2006.
THE NEXT OVERS
Remaining environmental, heritage and statutory requirements are being progressed.
Drilling is planned once site access and remaining statutory approvals are completed.
The program is designed to support evaluation towards a maiden Mineral Resource.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Liberty Metals (ASX:LIB)
Maiden exploration begins across 180km² Oko package
THE PLAY
Maiden exploration has commenced across the Oko North and Oko South Projects.
Field teams are undertaking geological mapping, structural interpretation and surface sampling.
A systematic soil geochemical program of approximately 5,000 samples is commencing in Q3 2026.
Portable PPB will analyse samples using pXRF and DetectORE™ technology in the field.
High-resolution satellite imagery is being acquired to map workings and structural architecture.
THE PITCH
Liberty Metals acquired a 90% interest across 40 granted mining permits covering approximately 180km².
The Project comprises 2 consolidated blocks approximately 60km apart within Guyana’s Cuyuni Mining District.
The tenure is underlain by greenstone-belt rocks of the Cuyuni belt within the Guiana Shield.
Oko North directly abuts ground held by G2 Goldfields near the New Oko Discovery.
The maiden exploration program is fully funded following an A$5.0m institutional lead placement and existing cash reserves.
THE NEXT OVERS
Approximately 5,000 soil samples will be collected and analysed during the maiden geochemical program.
Priority anomalies will undergo trenching and reconnaissance sampling to refine target definition.
Follow-up work will define maiden drill targets and support planning for a maiden drilling campaign.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Terrain Minerals (ASX:TMX)
7 priority gold targets defined at Smokebush
THE PLAY
7 high-priority IP drill targets were identified within granted Mining Lease M59/0796.
Strongest chargeability anomaly sits immediately north of the Monza structure, exceeding 4 times background.
A new untested north-south structure was defined approximately 1,500m west of the Lightning Project.
3 historic holes within 50m of Line 6774500N returned greater than 5g/t gold.
5 additional Priority 2 targets were identified across Lightning, Paradise City, Hurley and Wildflower.
THE PITCH
Terrain Minerals owns 100% of the Smokebush Project, located 350km north of Perth, Western Australia.
The Lightning deposit hosts a maiden 54koz gold Mineral Resource Estimate released on 27 July 2026.
Smokebush sits within the Murchison region of Western Australia.
Newexco Exploration independently interpreted the IP data and integrated structural, soil geochemistry and drilling datasets.
The strongest anomaly is modelled as a discrete source with an interpreted steep easterly dip and resistivity low.
THE NEXT OVERS
13 drill holes covering 2,515m are recommended for the first-phase RC campaign.
The RC drilling campaign is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2027.
A further 32 designed holes remain in the target inventory pending first-phase results.
Read full ASX Announcement here.
Kuniko (ASX:KNI)
Multiple high-priority drill targets defined across Commonwealth-Silica Hill
THE PLAY
Multiple new high-priority drill targets were identified across Commonwealth-Silica Hill.
Strongest DDIP chargeability anomaly lies 400m northeast of Walls Mine, untested by drilling.
Silica Hill mineralisation extends more than 500m southeast along a gravity gradient.
Phase 2 drilling extended the Silica Hill system approximately 100m up and down-dip.
Rock chip sampling returned up to 4.7g/t AuEq at Walls and 2.7g/t AuEq at Stringers.
THE PITCH
Commonwealth-Silica Hill is a gold-silver project in central New South Wales.
Kuniko may earn up to 70% under an agreement with Impact Minerals.
Commonwealth and Silica Hill comprise genetically related deposits within 200m of each other.
The project covers 5 granted exploration licences across multiple gold-silver-base-metal prospects.
Prospects include Commonwealth Main, Commonwealth South, Silica Hill, Gladstone, Geenobbys and Pine Hill.
THE NEXT OVERS
Priority permitting is planned for Silica Hill South-East Extension, Walls and Stringers.
Multi-element soil geochemistry is planned across interpreted intrusive centres.
An updated JORC Mineral Resource Estimate will incorporate Phase 1 and Phase 2 drilling.