Story By David Upton: David Upton is one of Australia's leading writers on mineral exploration. He has BSc in Geology and is the author of The Olympic Dam Story.

Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC) (FRA:EZL) is pleased to announce the commencement of a 6000m reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme at the Youanmi Vanadium Oxide Project, Western Australia.

Alt Resources Limited (ASX:ARS) is pleased to announce that it is proposing to undertake a capital raising to raise up to $2.5 million before issue costs.

Core Exploration Ltd (ASX:CXO) continued exploration of our Finniss Lithium Project during 2017/18, including the lodging of an application for a Mining Lease at Grants in October 2017.

Kingston Resources Limited ('Kingston' 'the Company') (ASX:KSN) is pleased to report an outstanding assay result from drilling at the 70%-owned Misima Gold Project, PNG.

Thomson Resources Ltd (ASX:TMZ) is pleased to announce that its exploration licence application over a significant zinc exploration project near Lake Cargelligo in central NSW has been accepted by the Department of Planning and Environment.

Argentine-focused lithium exploration and project development company Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) (FRA:LK1) is pleased to release new information regarding an expanded and consolidated package of mining leases covering the large maiden exploration target on Lake's 100% owned Kachi Lithium Brine Project

New Energy Minerals Limited (ASX:NXE) (FRA:GGY) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding agreement ("Agreement"), with a Hong Kong-based investor group, in relation to a strategic equity placement and asset level investment and incorporated joint venture in respect of the Caula Vanadium-Graphite project.

Intermin Resources Limited (ASX:IRC) (FRA:I6R) wishes to advise it has reached agreement with Saracen Mineral Holdings (ASX:SAR) to divest Intermin's interest in the Lehmans Gold Joint Venture.

Altech Chemicals Limited (Altech/the Company) (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is pleased to announce that it has now finalised and "locked" the site layout and building design for its proposed Malaysian high purity alumina (HPA) plant.