In Mining.com.au’s final Rockets and Tanks for 2025, numerous resources companies are climbing higher and dropping lower on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) as businesses share final updates before the year closes.
A Christmas miracle has come for the highest performing mining company on 23 December 2025, Nelson Resources (ASX:NES). The company saw a 25% increase to its trading price to $0.005 per share.
Nelson, which has a market capitalisation of $10.95 million, hasn’t shared any news with the market, other than changes to substantial holdings.
The company is a gold explorer, focused on advancing its portfolio of assets spanning 1,651km2 in Western Australia.
Following shortly thereafter, Scorpion Minerals (ASX:SCN) increased by 23.99% on the ASX, now trading at $0.031 after sharing the news of its acquisition of tenements to expand its landholding at the Pharos Gold Project in Western Australia.
The company will acquire the Old Prospect tenements within its project from OZZ Resources (ASX:OZZ) for an option fee of $100,000, followed by a consideration of $2.5 million, paid in cash or via shares.
The option for Scorpion to acquire 100% of the Old Prospect tenements will expire on 22 December 2026.
Scorpion Minerals, which has a market capitalisation of $13.19 million, is an Australian mineral explorer focused on developing the Pharos and Jungar Flats projects, located in the Murchison Province of Western Australia.
Finally, First Au (ASX:FAU) saw its share price increase by 16.67% to $0.007, though not announcing news to reflect the price spike.
The most recent announcement shared with the market was Pacific Resources (ASX:PXR) beginning its option period to acquire the Eastern Victorian Goldfield Project, as reported in Mining.com.au’s M&A Monday series earlier this week.
Pacific has paid First Au, which has a market capitalisation of $15.72 million, its full option fee consideration, comprising $75,000 in cash and 75 million shares, valued at an issue price of $0.002.
The Grinch of the ASX
Although Christmas can be a happy time full of family, friends, and laughter for most, some find the season a little more challenging due to financial constraints.
One company performing lower as of 23 December is Silver Mines (ASX:SVL), which saw a 20.65% drop in its share price to trade at $0.18.
The company’s fall follows an update to its Bowdens Silver Project, which had its development application voided by the New South Wales Court of Appeal.
Prior to that announcement, Silver Mines, which has a market capitalisation of $493 million, shared an update for its Tuena Project as well.
Silver Mines is an ASX-listed explorer focused on advancing its Barabolar and Bowdens projects in central New South Wales.
Variscan Mines (ASX:VAR) also saw its share price decrease to $0.005, with no news to reflect the difference.
Last week, the company received approvals for pre-work and trial mining at the San Jose Mine in Cantabria.
Variscan Mines, which has a market capitalisation of $7.48 million, is focused on advancing its Novales-Udias Project, located in one of Europe’s zinc mining districts, with infrastructure and community support already in place.
Great Divide Mining (ASX:GDM) also dropped 15.49% yesterday to a trading price of $0.30 per share.
The company has not shared any news that could reflect the decrease in market interest.
Great Divide Mining, which has a market capitalisation of $16.03 million, is a gold and critical metals explorer focused on developing brownfield sites.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Nelson Resources & iStock
