Big mining mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals, holding a total value of more than $500 million, are predicted to rise by 45% for full-year 2025 over 2024, according to Bain & Company.
The M&A report predicts deal value to rise as companies seek new sources of growth and resilience amid instability and evolving demand.
DeSoto Resources (ASX:DES) has expanded its Guinea portfolio with three additional projects through an agreement with United Mining.
The acquisition of the Yarakoura, Doutila, and Moussaya projects in the Siguiri Basin adds 290km2 to DeSoto’s landholding.
DeSoto will pay a total consideration of US$250,000 ($350,632) and 2.85 million shares in three tranches to United Mining.
The payment scheme includes US$150,000 and 948,677 shares on the grant of reconnaissance authorisations, US$100,000 and 948,677 shares on the grant of exploration permits, and the final 948,677 shares one year following the grant of the exploration permits.
DeSoto says it will continue to make applications and acquisitions of projects in Guinea, with the latest assets covering the western flank of the company’s area of focus.
The company is currently conducting mapping, soil sampling, and power auger programs across its Siguiri-based projects.
As reported by Mining.com.au, DeSoto is considering joint venture and divestment opportunities for its Northern Territory assets.
DeSoto Resources is a gold explorer focused on developing its portfolio of projects in Guinea’s Singuiri Basin.
Mammoth divestment
Mammoth Minerals (ASX:M79) has completed the divestment of the Paterson Project in Western Australia to Cloudbreak Discovery for total consideration of 30 million shares.
Cloudbreak Discovery will hold a 90% stake in the asset, issuing 330 million shares over five milestone payments.
Mammoth Managing Director Glenn Poole says the divestment of this asset affirms the company’s focus of being a “dedicated US gold and silver explorer and developer”.
The company says it is shifting its focus to the Excelsior Springs Gold-Silver Project in Nevada, which is currently undergoing reverse circulation (RC) drilling.
“Pleasingly, the RC rig at Excelsior has achieved a very high rate of productivity. In fact, we will have drilled nearly as much by the end of this week as we did the entire year last year,” Poole says.
“The drilling aims to extend known zones of high-grade mineralisation where previous drilling intersected.
“The aim of this targeted extensional drilling is to underpin an initial mineral resource for Excelsior and provide us with a clear picture of the potential scale of the shallow mineralisation drilled to date.”
Mammoth has completed a total of 3,350m of drilling to date across the Buster trend within the project.
Wishing upon Tasmanian stars
Stellar Resources (ASX:SRZ) has acquired the Granite Tor Tin Project in Tasmania, after being granted the tenement from Mineral Resources Tasmania.
The company now wholly owns the asset in Tasmania’s tin province, extending its landholding by 122km2 to the east of the Mt Read volcanic complex.
Stellar will conduct soil and stream sampling programs at Granite Tor to confirm historical exploration.
The company intends to produce between 3,000 and 3,500 tonnes per annum of payable tin in the first six to 10 years of production at its Heemskirk Project.
Meanwhile, Miramar Resources (ASX:M2R) has negotiated a six month option to acquire the South Ashburton Project, located in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
The asset spans 188km2 in the Ashburton Basin, which is the same geological province that hosts Miramar’s Paulsens, Mt Olympus, and Mt Clement deposits.
Miramar will pay $25,000 cash for an exclusive six-month option. The company will make a cash payment of $50,000, issue $150,000 worth of shares, and grant the tenement application a 1% gross smelter return on mineral production to exercise the option.
Shares will be based on an issue price of $0.0025 per share, which is the same price as Miramar’s most recent capital raising.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: DeSoto Resources & Mammoth Minerals
