The Day’s Play Edition 69: ASX gold, manganese and critical metals updates | New discoveries, resource growth, defence partnerships and FDA expansion

The Day’s Play Edition 69: ASX gold, manganese and critical metals updates | New discoveries, resource growth, defence partnerships and FDA expansion

May 11, 2026 Off By MarketOpen

Fresh drilling results, strategic project advances and defence aligned partnerships dominated today’s ASX gold, manganese and critical metals updates across the small cap sector.

Estrella Resources (ASX:ESR) completed the Ira Miri Category B appraisal programme, delivering 27,371 tonnes of manganese stockpile including 4,984 tonnes grading 49.38% Mn, with mineralisation open at depth and shipment preparation advancing. Zenith Minerals (ASX:ZNC) formalised registration of Mining Lease M77/599, sealing full ~6km corridor control across the 675,000oz Consolidated Dulcie Gold Project ahead of a 35-hole RC programme. Gorilla Gold (ASX:GG8) confirmed a new shallow gold discovery at Diddy Kong, returning 8.0m at 3.2g/t Au from 14m with mineralisation open in all directions. Nelson Resources (ASX:NES) extended high-grade gold-silver mapping at Gold Point beyond historic mine corridors, tracing skarn zones across 850m and staking 26 additional claims. Temas Resources (ASX:TIO) re-assays at La Blache lifted vanadium grades ~24% and chromium ~48%, materially strengthening the critical metals case ahead of resource studies. EMVision (ASX:EMV) expanded its pivotal trial to include ischaemia detection with FDA engagement planned. Pure Resources (ASX:PR1) executed an ORNL partnership agreement targeting heavy rare earth recovery at Garnet Hills under a US DoD-aligned defence materials strategy. Raiden Resources (ASX:RDN) defined multi-kilometre arsenic trends at Vuzel exceeding anomalism associated with known gold zones. dorsaVi (ASX:DVL) renewed its DoD-funded research contract and completed neuromorphic IP acquisition targeting exoskeleton applications.

Trading Halt pending Capital Raise: $IND, $PEB, $WHK
Runs on the Board: $VAR

Selection Table: $BDX, $DEL, $STX, $BEZ, $TYX, $PKY

Estrella Resources announced completion of the Ira Miri Category B market appraisal programme with 27,371t of manganese stockpile inventory at the Ira Miri Project in Timor Leste.

The Play

  • Delivered 27,371t of manganese stockpile inventory including 4,984t grading 49.38% Mn high grade material

  • Confirmed in situ manganese mineralisation grading up to 60.22% Mn from pit sampling
  • Defined multiple product pathways across high grade, medium grade and low grade stockpile inventory
  • Confirmed mineralisation remains open below the current pit floor and into pit walls with untested IP anomalies at depth
  • Advanced shipment preparation alongside export and trans shipment approval processes

The Pitch

  • Ira Miri hosts stratiform sediment hosted manganese mineralisation within the Noni Formation

  • Mining exposed folded, faulted and boudinaged manganese pods across the open pit system
  • Market appraisal extraction completed within approximately 9 months of maiden drilling commencement
  • Programme was completed during the wet season using an almost entirely local workforce
  • Project inventory remains within the approved 30,000t Category B limit

The Next Overs

  • Complete planned IP and resistivity surveys across the pit and surrounding extensions during late May and early June

  • Test priority geophysical targets beneath the pit floor, within pit walls and along strike
  • Progress product QA QC, IMSBC compliance and shipment preparation activities

Read full ASX Announcement here.

Zenith Minerals Limited (ASX: ZNC)

M77/599 Registered, 600m Untested Corridor Position Now Controlled

Zenith Minerals completed acquisition and formal registration of Mining Lease M77/599 within the Consolidated Dulcie Gold Project, Western Australia.

The Play

  • Received confirmation Transfer No. 758220 registered 29 April 2026 at 4:10pm by Department of Mines.

  • Completed M77/599 acquisition delivers full ~6km Dulcie corridor control for the first time.
  • Secured ~600m untested strike segment between Dulcie North (~75koz Au, ~500m strike) and Dulcie (~300koz Au, ~3,000m strike).
  • Flora and fauna surveys, aerial DTM acquisition, and drill planning substantially progressed across M77/599.
  • RC programme preparations advancing for ~35-hole (~5,000m) campaign across the central corridor.

The Pitch

  • Consolidated Dulcie Gold Project hosts a JORC (2012) Inferred Mineral Resource of 21.3Mt @ 1.0 g/t Au for 675,000oz.

  • Resource spans Dulcie, Dulcie North, and Dulcie Far North across a ~6km mineralised corridor on granted Mining Leases.
  • Project located in the Southern Cross–Forrestania Gold Belt, Western Australia, with sealed road access.
  • Mineralisation is shallow open-pit style with proximity to Marvel Loch and Edna May processing infrastructure.
  • Broader Dulcie system remains open along strike and at depth beyond current resource limits.

The Next Overs

  • ~35-hole (~5,000m) RC programme planned to test continuity across the M77/599 central corridor.

  • RC programme targeted at resource growth between Dulcie North and Dulcie deposit
  • Remaining preparatory work substantially progressed ahead of programme commencement.

Read full ASX Announcement here.

Gorilla Gold (ASX:GG8)

Diddy Kong Discovery Extends Comet Vale Gold System

Gorilla Gold announced a new shallow gold discovery at the Diddy Kong Prospect within the Comet Vale Project, Western Australia.

The Play

  • Returned 8.0m at 3.2g/t Au from 14.0m in first pass Diddy Kong drilling

  • Returned 4.0m at 5.2g/t Au from 111.0m following historical intercept reinterpretation drilling
  • Confirmed shallow gold mineralisation open in all directions across the newly named Diddy Kong Prospect
  • Defined mineralisation beneath a 1km gold in soils anomaly with historical workings along strike
  • Mobilising RC drilling during May targeting Diddy Kong, Magilla and Donkey Kong discoveries

The Pitch

  • Comet Vale forms part of the 1.2Moz at 3.7g/t Au North Kalgoorlie Hub

  • Comet Vale hosts a Mineral Resource Estimate of 860,000oz at 3.7g/t Au
  • Project sits on granted Mining Leases near transport infrastructure and multiple operating gold mills
  • North Kalgoorlie Hub contains more than 60km of identified high priority drill targets
  • Hub includes the Comet Vale and Mulwarrie gold projects in Western Australia

The Next Overs

  • Continue RC drilling across Diddy Kong, Magilla and Donkey Kong discovery areas during May 2026

  • Undertake diamond drilling to assess the recently discovered Sovereign footwall lode scale
  • Progress engineering, metallurgical, hydrological and permitting work across the North Kalgoorlie Hub

Read full ASX Announcement here.

The Day's Play Sponsor - OffshoreX

Nelson Resources (ASX:NES)

Gold Point Mineralisation Extends Beyond Historic Mine Corridors

Nelson Resources announced expanded high grade gold silver mapping results at the Gold Point Project, Nevada.

The Play

  • Returned 15.15g/t Au skarn mineralisation from expanded contact zones traced across more than 850m

  • Returned 12.3g/t Au and 296g/t Ag from intrusion hosted laminated quartz vein sampling
  • Confirmed high grade mineralisation beyond historic workings across skarn zones, quartz veins and breccias
  • Staked 26 additional claims covering southern intrusion extension and historic tungsten copper workings
  • Integrated mapping datasets into structural modelling to refine underground drill targets and collar positioning

The Pitch

  • Gold Point contains fifteen mapped high grade gold silver veins across a consolidated historic mining district

  • Historical production totalled approximately 75,000oz Au at reported grades between 20g/t and 30g/t
  • Sylvania Intrusion ridge extends approximately 2km southwest from historic Orleans and Great Western mines
  • Skarn mineralisation occurs along contacts between Sylvania Intrusive Complex and Wyman Formation sedimentary units
  • Project hosts intrusion related mineralisation, skarn systems, fault hosted veins and porphyry style targets

The Next Overs

  • Refine priority drill targets within Orleans and Great Western vein systems using integrated modelling

  • Finalise underground drill collar positions and drill geometry for maiden underground drilling activities
  • Complete underground LiDAR surveys, channel sampling and multi element geochemical analysis programs

Read full ASX Announcement here.

Temas Resources (ASX:TIO)

Re Assays Lift Vanadium Gallium Scandium And Chromium At La Blache

Temas Resources announced 2026 fused bead re assays from the La Blache Project confirming material increases in vanadium, gallium, scandium and chromium grades across the Farrell Taylor Fe Ti V oxide system.

The Play

  • Confirmed broad high grade Fe Ti V oxide intercepts across re assayed 2022 Farrell Taylor drilling

  • Returned 88.1m at 86.5% Fe₂O₃ + TiO₂ and 0.40% V₂O₅ from 180m in hole LB 22 07
  • Matched re assays increased reported grades by approximately 24% V₂O₅, 48% Cr, 12% Ga and 10% Sc across mineralised oxide intervals
  • Established fused bead assay protocol as the preferred dataset for future resource and technical studies
  • Confirmed stronger accessory critical metal values supporting future Regenerative Chloride Leach testwork programs

The Pitch

  • La Blache is a Fe Ti V oxide project located in Québec, Canada

  • Farrell Taylor hosts broad massive and semi massive oxide mineralisation within the La Blache Anorthosite Complex
  • Project comprises 122 active mining claims covering approximately 8,944ha
  • Historical drilling includes approximately 12,600m completed by Nevado Resources during 2010 to 2011
  • Temas is advancing the proprietary Regenerative Chloride Leach processing platform alongside project development

The Next Overs

  • Integrate 2026 re assay data with historical and recent drilling datasets

  • Review massive oxide and semi massive oxide domaining for future resource work and technical studies
  • Finalise drill program design targeting the western extension of Farrell Taylor toward the Schmoo Zone

Read full ASX Announcement here.

EMVision Medical Devices Limited (ASX:EMV)

Pivotal trial expands to cover ischaemia detection

EMVision Medical Devices announced the planned addition of an acute ischaemia detection endpoint to the emu™ Pivotal (Validation) Trial, with FDA pre-submission engagement to follow.

The Play

  • Ischaemia detection endpoint being added to the existing Pivotal (Validation) Trial via protocol amendment.

  • FDA pre-submission (Q-Sub) meeting planned to align on proposed endpoint expansion, clinical claims, and performance thresholds.
  • Ischaemia sub-cohort sample size may require minor adjustment to meet statistical objectives; existing cohorts leveraged.
  • Princess Alexandra Hospital transitioning from Continuous Innovation Study into the Pivotal (Validation) Trial, adding a 9th site.
  • $0.4M third CRC-P Program non-dilutive funding instalment received in May 2026.

The Pitch

  • Pivotal (Validation) Trial targets FDA De Novo clearance; primary objective is haemorrhage detection sensitivity and specificity >80%.

  • 8 active sites across US (Mayo Clinic FL, Mt Sinai NY x2, UCLA, Memorial Hermann TX x2) and Australia (Royal Melbourne, Liverpool Hospital).
  • No device-related adverse events reported; device integrates into hospital code stroke workflows across all active sites.
  • Continuous Innovation Study enrolment exceeds 100 patients; ischaemia data from this study enabled endpoint to move into the validation pipeline.
  • Cash reserves $18.4M (31 March 2026); $6.2M non-dilutive grant funding remaining net of May 2026 payment.

The Next Overs

  • FDA Q-Sub meeting to be engaged on ischaemia endpoint expansion, clinical claims, and performance thresholds.

  • Full enrolment of 300 participants targeted from late CY2026 / early CY2027; sequential cohort readouts to follow.
  • Regional Benefit Study ethics approval targeted H2 CY2026; site selection well advanced.

Read full ASX Announcement here.

The Day's Play Sponsor - Relait

Pure Resources (ASX:PR1)

ORNL Agreement Expands Garnet Hills Defence Materials Strategy

Pure Resources announced a Defence Materials Platform Strategy for the Garnet Hills Project aligned with United States and AUKUS supply chains.

The Play

  • Executed ORNL partnership agreement targeting heavy rare earth and yttrium recovery from industrial garnet

  • Formalised Defence Materials Platform Strategy integrating garnet, graphite and heavy rare earth material streams
  • Commenced structured United States Department of Defense engagement alongside NAVSEA qualification pathway activities
  • Progressed Rice University collaboration assessing graphite feedstock for carbon nanotube fibre thermal management systems
  • Established three stream platform strategy spanning defence consumables, graphite materials and rare earth recovery

The Pitch

  • Garnet Hills hosts abrasive garnet, large to jumbo flake graphite and potential heavy rare earth mineralisation

  • Project operates under a granted mining lease with 100% ownership held by Pure Resources
  • ORNL agreement operates under United States Department of Energy Prime Contract DE AC05 00OR22725
  • Strategy targets defence consumables, thermal management systems and critical minerals supply chain applications
  • Framework aligns with AUKUS Pillar 2 initiatives and United States critical minerals policy settings

The Next Overs

  • Mobilise Garnet Hills feedstock to ORNL for Task 1 characterisation and Task 2 digestion

  • Advance garnet qualification programs alongside United States defence and critical minerals engagement activities
  • Continue Rice University collaboration and expand downstream supply and offtake relationship discussions

Read full ASX Announcement here.

Raiden Resources (ASX:RDN)

Multi Kilometre Arsenic Trends Expand Vuzel Gold Potential

Raiden Resources announced new multi kilometre arsenic in soil trends from mapping and soil sampling programs at the Vuzel Gold Project in Bulgaria.

The Play

  • Defined multi kilometre arsenic in soil anomalism extending beyond the currently drilled central zone

  • Confirmed newly identified arsenic anomalies are more intense than anomalism associated with current drilled gold mineralisation
  • Identified interpreted thrust faults and structural features associated with prospective vertical feeder zones
  • Expanded soil sampling and geological mapping across southern and western project areas
  • Continued permitting activities over the historically defined silver anomaly target area

The Pitch

  • Vuzel is an advanced low sulphidation epithermal gold project in south eastern Bulgaria

  • Project sits within the East Rhodope metallogenic belt approximately 30km from the Ada Tepe deposit
  • Central project drilling previously confirmed gold mineralisation associated with arsenic anomalism
  • Historical silver anomalies remain associated with arsenic in soil anomalism ranging from 100ppm to 300ppm
  • Project is located less than 20km from the Gorubso Kardzhali gold processing facility

The Next Overs

  • Undertake follow up exploration assessing whether newly identified arsenic anomalies are associated with gold mineralisation

  • Complete preliminary metallurgical studies targeting a simple gravity focused processing flowsheet
  • Progress permitting and potential drill testing across historical silver anomalies and newly defined target areas

Read full ASX Announcement here.

dorsaVi Limited (ASX: DVL)

DoD renews; sensor data targets exoskeleton intelligence layer

dorsaVi renewed its DoD-funded research contract with Georgia Southern University, targeting stress fracture reduction in military load-bearing training.

The Play

  • GSU renewed its dorsaVi research agreement for 12 months; study funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.

  • Study deploys FDA-cleared sensors in uncontrolled field environments, extending prior treadmill-based biofeedback research.
  • dorsaVi incurs no material costs under this agreement; standard termination clauses apply.
  • Neuromorphic and in-memory processing IP acquisition from an unnamed university recently completed.
  • Commercialisation discussions commenced with strategic partners and VC firms in Israel.

The Pitch

  • FDA-cleared sensors capture vertical accelerometer data at up to 1,125Hz, computing IPA, GRF, GCT, Cadence, and Foot Strike Pattern.

  • Proprietary dataset accumulated across thousands of runners over more than a decade; raw 1,125Hz data retained from close to all subjects.
  • Two granted U.S. patents cover dorsaVi’s methodology for injury reduction through gait modification.
  • Prior DoD-funded work includes G-force data capture from U.S. fighter pilots.
  • Three application areas formally under exploration: sensor-driven exoskeleton control, human-in-the-loop robot control, and fatigue-aware robotics.

The Next Overs

  • GSU study to deliver normative running data and real-time biofeedback to military trainees across the 12-month term.

  • Israeli partner and VC discussions to progress RRAM neuromorphic semiconductor commercialisation.
  • Company states GSU algorithms and data will be applied to exoskeleton and robotics programs.

The Day's Play Sponsor -Pareto Capital

 

 

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