Cobra Resources Expands Wudinna Landholding and Manna Hill Drilling
Cobra Resources advanced its dual-track strategy in South Australia, securing a larger land package for rare earths while testing copper-gold porphyry potential at Manna Hill.
Cobra Resources (LSE: COBR) reported operational progress at its two primary South Australian assets during the first half of 2026. The company expanded its landholding at the Wudinna rare earths project to over 3,200 square kilometres and initiated diamond drilling at the Manna Hill copper-gold site to test deeper porphyry systems.
These technical milestones coincide with a leadership transition, as founding chair Greg Hancock retired and Andrew Michelmore was appointed as non-executive chairman. The firm is currently preparing for a maiden mineral resource estimate at Wudinna and targeting a small-scale in situ recovery production demonstration for 2027.
Wudinna Rare Earths Landholding Expands
Cobra Resources completed the acquisition of additional exploration licences at Wudinna, increasing its total landholding to more than 3,200 square kilometres. This expansion broadens the area covered by its ionic rare earths exploration interests within the palaeochannel sediments.
Sonic core drilling at the Boland and Head prospects generated new geological data required for a planned maiden mineral resource estimate. The company has appointed ERM to prepare this estimate while continuing metallurgical and permeability testing to assess the viability of controlled-aquifer in situ recovery (ISR) methods.
Permitting and engineering work is under way for a small-scale ISR production demonstration targeted for 2027. Additional metallurgical programmes are being conducted with ANSTO to refine the technical parameters of the recovery process.
Manna Hill Copper Drilling Extends
At the Manna Hill Copper Project, reverse circulation drilling at the Blue Rose discovery returned shallow copper-gold sulphide intersections. Cobra subsequently began diamond drilling to investigate potential extensions at depth and the broader porphyry system, formally exercising its option to acquire the project.
Diamond drilling completed after the reporting period extended the sulphide mineralisation and identified geological characteristics indicative of a potentially fertile porphyry system. Assay results from this recent drilling remain pending, providing near-term catalysts for the company's copper and gold exposure.
Board Changes and Operational Focus
During the reporting period, Cobra Resources made senior appointments across its finance, technical, and exploration functions to support its dual-asset strategy. The change in chairmanship marks a structural shift as the company moves from initial discovery toward resource definition and pre-feasibility studies.
The company retains exposure to gold through a shareholding in Barton Gold, complementing its primary focus on rare earths at Wudinna and copper-gold mineralisation in the Nackara Arc. These developments are reported by GN auto stocks/materials: rare earths.
