Wesizwe Platinum has announced that it is positive over the future of its flagship Frischgewaagd-Ledig project, near Rustenburg. The company stated that information from the 3D-geoseismic survey has given the project a boost, with Chief Executive Mike Solomon saying the company is "highly satisfied" with the results. Mr Solomon continued: "The 3D-geoseismic survey supports the drilling results, and confirms that there are no material concerns relating to the structural or economic geology."

Largo Resources has announced that it is to begin a formal feasibility study in Bahia, Brazil, to consider the development of a vanadium-platinum group metals (pgm) project at the site. The Canadian company announced earlier in December that the potential development of the pgms at the site does not appear feasible under the current model. However, the mining firm stated that it is to proceed with further investigations into the possible recovery of pgms at the site. In a statement, Largo said it "believes that potential exists for a positive economic contribution to be made by pgms through better definition and understanding of their distribution".

Franconia Minerals announced what it described as "significant" assay results for the potential upgrading and expansion of its resources at the Birch Lake copper-nickel-pgm project located at the Duluth Complex in Minnesota. The firm revealed results including 1.49 grams per tonne of total precious metals, which covers palladium and platinum. Results have now been obtained for 60 per cent of the programme, Franconia stated. President and Chief Executive, Brian Gavin, said: "We are planning to have a second drill turning at Birch Lake shortly and anticipate completion of drilling in January." He added: "After that, we plan to move both drill rigs to the Maturi property where we have recently received approval from the US Forest Service for our drilling programme."

Jubilee Platinum announced during December that it had found a primary mineralised platinum group element at its Madagascan operations. The announcement could offer Jubilee Platinum the opportunity to develop a platinum mine in Madagascar, where it is developing projects through a joint venture with Impala Platinum. Chief Executive Colin Bird reported that the area is believed to contain nickel and platinum deposits.

Braemore Resources has announced an agreement with Pan Palladium that will see the two companies to jointly look at the potential to establish a mine in South Africa. Braemore is currently developing precious metal smelters in the country but the agreement with Pan Palladium could take it into the realms of pgm production. The development that the companies are considering is the Grass Valley joint venture with Impala Platinum on the northern limb of the Bushveld Complex. Mining Weekly reported that Braemore Resources believes the project contains a resource of 3.6 million ounces of pgms and as a result Braemore and Pan Palladium are now considering the possibility of developing the mine themselves.

Platinum Australia announced during December that it had discovered further wide intersections at its Sirius deposit within the Kalahari Platinum (Kalplats) operation. Follow-up drilling has revealed further mineralisation between the Serpens South and Crux deposits, the company's managing director, John Lewins, said. He added that the results suggest the mineralisation between the two deposits is continuous, offering Platinum Australia significant potential to increase the size of its resource at the Kalplats project.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd