The NT Independent is providing you with an update of resource news from across the Northern Territory. This week, Emerson Resources gets $3 million in government grants for exploration projects in Tennant Creek, Lithium Plus is set to start drilling at its flagship Bynoe project in the Territory, and much more.

Emmerson gets $3m in government grant for Tennant Creek exploration

Emmerson Resources (ERM) was granted up to $3 million to fund its three exploration projects in the Tennant Creek mineral field in the Territory.

Under the NT Government’s Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program, ERM will be allocated up to $3 million by the NT Geological Survey after the company made three submissions for its gold-copper-cobalt and iron oxide projects.

The grant will be used for brownfields preservation of the remaining magnetisation and petrophysics targeting at Golden Forty South, brownfields diamond drilling at Golden Forty East and brownfields targeting with a high-definition magnetic drone survey.

“Further discoveries in the Tennant Creek mineral field will benefit other explorers in the exploration hotspot,” ERM managing director Rob Bills said. “The awarding of three out of three co-funding grants is testament to Emmerson’s science-based approach to exploration.”

ERM is the first company since 2008 to make use of new exploration techniques, technology and concepts, after consolidating a 1,706sq km tenement package at Tennant Creek.

Lithium to start drilling at its flagship Bynoe project in NT

Lithium Plus Minerals (LPM) will begin its drilling program at the Bynoe lithium project in the Territory after its mining management plan was permitted by the NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade for tenements EL31133 and EL31091.

GeoDrilling, a Darwin-based contractor, will be undertaking 10,000 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling. The drilling phase focuses on the Lei and Cai prospects and is seen to take up around four months to finish.

“We are delighted to have secured a locally-based drilling contractor, with extensive experience in the Bynoe pegmatite field, for the 2022 field season,” LPM executive chairman Bin Guo said. “With all permitting activities now completed, we look forward to the rapid mobilisation of the RC rig to Bynoe and commencement of drilling in the next few weeks.”

NT-focused Kingsland Minerals shares slip 15 cents on ASX debut

Listing on the worst day on the ASX for two years proved disastrous for Northern Territory-focused explorer Kingsland Minerals. Kingsland shares lost a quarter of their initial offering value after closing at 15 cents per share on Tuesday, following an initial public offering that raised $4.7 million at 20 cents per share.

Kingsland chairman Mal Randall is however confident that its shares would rebound given the potential of its landholding.

The company is focused on its Allamber uranium and copper project in the Territory near Pine Creek. It also holds three other NT projects in Shoobridge, Woolgni and Mt Davis which are prospective for uranium, gold and base metals.

Kingsland management is made up of winemaker John Casella, corporate finance specialist Bruno Seneque and geologist Nick Revell. Kingsland is led by experienced geologist Richard Maddocks as managing director.