Venari Minerals to Showcase Red Mountain Lithium Project at Noosa Mining Conference 2026

Strategic Location and Advantages of Venari Minerals’ Red Mountain Project in Nevada

Venari Minerals owns a 100% royalty-free lithium project covering 33 square kilometres of Bureau of Land Management claims in Nye County, Nevada. The Red Mountain Project benefits from Nevada’s status as one of the world’s top three mining jurisdictions for nine consecutive years (2017–2025 Fraser Institute surveys). The state offers a mining-friendly workforce, transparent permitting, and robust infrastructure, including a highway network that supports operational logistics.

The project is strategically positioned near key infrastructure and markets. Route 6 borders the property, linking Ely and Tonopah mining towns, while a 525-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line (“One Nevada” system) lies about 20 kilometres east. Red Mountain is within half a day’s travel to major cities and international airports, enhancing accessibility. Notably, the Tesla-Panasonic Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada—the largest US battery manufacturing plant with a 37-gigawatt-hour capacity—is 472 kilometres away. Tesla’s announced US$3.6 billion expansion, including a 100-gigawatt-hour factory and a high-volume semi-truck facility, situates Red Mountain within a vital domestic battery supply corridor.

Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate Production and Metallurgical Validation

Venari has successfully de-risked its lithium resource by producing a verified battery-grade lithium carbonate product at 99.5% purity from Red Mountain mineralisation, meeting US battery supply chain standards. Scoping leachability tests demonstrated up to 98% lithium extraction efficiency, confirming the processing approach’s technical viability. Beneficiation trials using Falcon and Attrition Scrubbing methods effectively increased lithium grade and reduced waste minerals, optimizing the processing flowsheet.

The lithium extraction process at Red Mountain employs a simplified method tailored to sedimentary deposits, involving acid leaching, filtration, impurity removal, and crystallisation to yield the final battery-grade product. Metallurgical testing is advanced, relying on established processing techniques rather than novel technologies, minimizing technical and operational risks. This robust validation supports the commercial case as Venari advances toward its scoping study completion planned for Q1 2027.

Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate: 560,000 Tonnes Lithium Carbonate Equivalent

The Red Mountain Project holds a global Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 3.03 million tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). Within this, Venari has delineated a 47.9 million tonne inferred resource grading 2,193 ppm lithium (using a 1,300 ppm cut-off), equating to 560,000 tonnes LCE. This resource base underpins project planning and scoping study assumptions, with its scale and lithium grade supporting sedimentary lithium operations targeting the North American battery market.

The inferred classification reflects limited geological evidence but suffices for preliminary mine planning and feasibility assessments. Venari’s upcoming 12-hole in-fill drilling campaign, commencing within two weeks, aims to enhance resource confidence and gather geotechnical and hydrogeological data critical for pit design and water management. These inputs are vital for the scoping study targeted for Q1 2027.

Secured Water Rights: 592,000 Cubic Metres Annual Private Water Entitlements

Recognizing water as essential for lithium processing in Nevada, Venari secured water rights through an option agreement with American Battery Technology Company (NASDAQ:ABAT). This grants access to 592,000 cubic metres (480 acre-feet) of annual private water rights from a 113-acre private land parcel located less than 6 kilometres southwest of Red Mountain. This reliable water supply supports processing and metallurgical needs for lithium extraction and beneficiation.

Owning private water rights reduces operational and regulatory risks compared to public water sources. The close proximity to the mining claim minimizes infrastructure costs and ensures supply continuity. The transparent contractual arrangement with ABAT enhances project bankability and financing prospects, supporting the ongoing scoping study.

Strontium By-Product: Critical US Department of Defense Material with No Domestic Sources

Red Mountain’s mineralogy includes strontium as a strategic by-product alongside lithium, offering economic diversification. Strontium is vital for defence applications such as flares and tracer munitions, with no substitutes. The US relies entirely on imports for strontium, lacking domestic mineral resources in the US and Canada. This import dependency poses strategic vulnerabilities, especially amid recent munitions stock depletion, underscoring the importance of domestic production.

Strontium carbonate commands a US market price near US$2,000 per tonne (Global Trade Algorithmic Intelligence Centre data). Venari plans to incorporate strategic by-products in its updated Mineral Resource Estimate, preparing North America’s only Strontium Mineral Resource Estimate. This unique positioning as a domestic lithium and strontium source aligns with US strategic supply chain goals in battery and defence sectors.

Magnesium By-Product Potential and Import Reliance

Magnesium compounds, present as epsomite (Epsom salt) within the hectorite mineral alongside lithium, represent a secondary by-product opportunity at Red Mountain. Epsomite is primarily used as an agricultural fertilizer, with 2025 prices ranging from US$370 to US$420 per tonne. The US imports approximately 59% of its magnesium compound needs, with about 55% sourced from China, creating supply chain risks for this critical agricultural input.

The co-occurrence of magnesium and lithium in hectorite allows potential co-extraction via optimized processing. Recovering magnesium could improve project economics and bolster US agricultural supply chain resilience. The updated Mineral Resource Estimate will clarify magnesium’s economic significance. The multi-commodity extraction of lithium, strontium, and magnesium presents a value-added approach distinct from typical single-commodity lithium projects.

Financial Position and Capital Structure of Venari Minerals

As of 20 July 2026, Venari Minerals reported AUD$1.68 million cash at bank (per 31 March 2026 quarterly Appendix 5B) and carries no debt, maintaining a clean capital structure. The company is funded to execute key milestones including the in-fill drilling campaign and scoping study due by Q1 2027. Shareholders hold 108,131,637 ordinary shares, alongside 29,184,727 listed options (50 cents exercise price, expiring 21 August 2026) and 3,000,000 unlisted options expiring 2 October 2028.

The share price on 20 July 2026 was AUD$0.085, valuing the company at AUD$9.20 million market capitalization and AUD$7.52 million enterprise value. Major shareholders include Holdmark Property Group (17.51%), Chairman Tony Leibowitz (10.94%)—a Pilbara Minerals Limited founder—and Mining Investments Ltd (6.70%). The top 20 shareholders control 64.55% of issued capital. Leibowitz’s ongoing equity participation and market purchases reflect strong director confidence. The company’s cash position and debt-free status provide operational flexibility, though future funding will be needed for development and construction.

Experienced Board and Management Driving Lithium Project Development

Venari’s leadership combines extensive mining and lithium sector expertise. Chairman Tony Leibowitz, founder and former Chairman of Pilbara Minerals Limited, joined the board in 2022 and has consistently supported capital raises. CEO Matthew Healy, an experienced geologist and mining executive, previously led Greenvale Mining Limited (ASX:GRV) and served as Exploration Manager at Round Oak Minerals. Non-Executive Director Vince Fayad brings over 40 years of corporate finance, M&A, accounting, and advisory experience from Sydney-based firms and his own practice.

This blend of lithium industry knowledge (Leibowitz), operational mining leadership (Healy), and corporate finance expertise (Fayad) equips Venari to advance project development and capital market engagement. Leibowitz’s lithium background and capital raising involvement support continuity, while Healy’s operational experience underpins feasibility and exploration. Fayad enhances transaction structuring, investor relations, and strategic partnership capabilities as the project progresses toward scoping study completion and potential development decisions.

Noosa Mining Conference Presentation and Investor Access

Venari will present at the Noosa Mining Conference at Peppers Noosa Resort, Queensland, from 22 to 24 July 2026, offering a platform to showcase Red Mountain’s strategic positioning and de-risked development status to industry participants, investors, and financiers. CEO Matthew Healy’s presentation is at 10:55 AM EST on Wednesday, 22 July. Online registration is available for shareholders unable to attend in person, broadening investor access.

The conference attracts diverse participants from minerals, metals, and energy sectors, facilitating networking and deal-flow opportunities for junior explorers seeking partnerships and investment. Venari’s presentation will emphasize its battery-grade lithium product, metallurgical validation, and strategic by-products (strontium and magnesium), delivering comprehensive technical and market insights. The company’s role as a domestic US source of lithium and defence-critical strontium aligns with North American critical minerals supply chain security priorities. The Investor Hub platform enables shareholders to access presentations, reports, interviews, and submit questions, extending engagement beyond the event.