Group 1 - Rio Tinto's board remains unified in supporting its lithium strategy despite recent challenges, including CEO Jakob Stausholm's unexpected departure and a significant acquisition of Allkem for AUD 10 billion [3] - The company is launching five large alternative iron ore mines over the next five years, with the first, Western Range, now operational and expected to produce 25 million tons annually [3] - Stausholm emphasized the importance of lithium as a future pillar of the business, highlighting the strategic value of lithium brine projects in Argentina and Chile [3] Group 2 - Geopacific Resources' stock surged by 20% following the announcement that gold producer St Barbara will acquire a significant stake, potentially becoming a strategic shareholder with 14.4% ownership [6] - The partnership is expected to create strategic synergies, particularly with Geopacific's Woodlark gold project in Papua New Guinea [6] Group 3 - Australian Strategic Materials' stock increased by 27.09% due to rising inquiries for its high-purity rare earth materials from its Korean metal plant and successful sales contracts with major partners [7] - The company is positioning itself as a leading producer of NdPr metals and NdFeB alloys outside of China, with plans to establish a metal plant in the U.S. [7] Group 4 - Robex Resources debuted on the ASX with a 16.08% increase, raising AUD 120 million through its IPO, focusing on gold exploration and production in West Africa [12][13] - The Kiniero project in Guinea has an estimated resource of 71.23 million tons at a grade of 0.96 grams per ton, containing 2.2 million ounces of gold [13] Group 5 - IperionX Limited's stock rose by 28.84%, reflecting a 114.35% increase over the past year, as the company transitions from mineral exploration to a focus on low-carbon critical metals [17][27] - The company has secured a significant contract from the U.S. Department of Defense, with a maximum value of USD 99 million, highlighting its role in the domestic materials manufacturing strategy [25][27] Group 6 - Solstice Minerals reported promising results from its Bluetooth gold project, confirming shallow, stable, and wide gold mineralization, which supports future open-pit mining potential [32][34] - The company is advancing exploration in multiple target areas, with a strong cash position of AUD 13.6 million to support ongoing projects [36][38]