en.Wedoany.com Reported - Australian resource stocks showed mixed performance in June, with notable winners emerging among small caps. King River Resources (ASX:KRR) led the pack with a 125% gain, after field operations at its Mindoolah Gold Project reached key milestones ahead of schedule.

In the lithium sector, Desert Minerals (ASX:DSM) rose 119% following the completion of drilling activities at its Scotty Project in Nevada.

Despite a challenging macro environment, Australian resources and energy export revenues remained robust. Copper demand, driven by electrification and grid expansion, saw prices trade above $13,600 per tonne in mid-June. As a safe-haven asset, gold demand is likely to remain strong. The World Gold Council's medium-term outlook report expects gold prices to consolidate around $4,100 per ounce (±5%) by the end of June. Should macro or geopolitical conditions deteriorate, or interest rate expectations decline, gold prices could rise to $4,500 per ounce.

The Australian government's official forecast for gold prices averages $4,862 per ounce for 2026-27.

Solstice Minerals (ASX:SLS) gained 60%, with drilling results at its Nanadie Project in Western Australia considered comparable to globally significant copper systems. A broad mineralized zone from the first diamond drill hole confirms the copper system extends to depths exceeding 600 meters, with high-grade zones yet to be drilled. The company believes there is potential for resource upgrades.

Southern Hemisphere Mining (ASX:SUH) rose 47%, as its Llahuin Project in Chile progresses steadily. Current drilling plans focus on further expanding the 3-kilometer mineralized strike, with approximately 1,000 meters of diamond drilling testing three key targets. Golden Mile Resources (ASX:G88) gained 40%, accelerating exploration at the Leviathan Copper-Molybdenum Porphyry Project in Mohave County, Arizona, aiming to reach drill-ready status as soon as possible.

In mid-June, Australia endorsed the G7 Critical Minerals Declaration, which encourages like-minded countries to cooperate in critical minerals, mining, production, and new energy supply chains, reducing critical dependencies and countering economic coercion. Osmond Resources (ASX:OSM) rose 36%, expanding the strike potential of its Orión Critical Minerals Project in Spain. The first Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and scoping study are expected to be completed in the third quarter.

Alligator Energy (ASX:AGE) gained 49%, recognized as Australia's most advanced uranium development company. The company sold a non-core project in the Northern Territory for A$5.75 million in cash plus shares in DevEx Resources (ASX:DEV), achieving resource upgrades and non-dilutive cash flow to fund its Samphire Project in South Australia. The project's total resource increased by 67% to 30 million pounds, encompassing the new Plumbush deposit and the existing Blackbush deposit. Energy World Corporation (ASX:EWC) rose 47%, selling gas turbines and steam turbines to Hallador for US$350 million.

Mt Malcolm Mines (ASX:M2M) gained 40%, completing a capital raising and welcoming Phil Coulson and David Evans to the board. New funds will be used for a feasibility study on constructing a 500,000-tonne-per-annum CIP processing plant in Leonora, and to advance gold, VHMS, and rare earth exploration targets at the Malcolm Gold Project.

Clara Resources Australia (ASX:C7A) rose 33%, securing additional tenement options and applications covering 111 square kilometers for its Mareeba Gold Project in northern Queensland. The new tenements are located along the same Kingsborough Fault Corridor as Clara's existing assets and are considered prospective for gold, antimony, and tungsten.

King River Resources (ASX:KRR) has completed systematic drilling of historical waste rock dumps at its Mindoolah Gold Project, located 70 kilometers northwest of Cue in the Murchison Province. Managing Director Graham Gadsby stated that Phase 1 drilling is ahead of schedule, with the rig currently drilling beneath an open pit from the 1980s and tracing extensions around high-grade historical shafts from the early 20th century. The project historically produced over 5,700 ounces of gold at a grade of 19.02 g/t.

At Desert Minerals' (ASX:DSM) Scotty Project, all drill holes intersected potentially lithium-bearing clay sequences. Executive Chairman Peretz Schapiro expressed anticipation for assay results and advancing the project to its first Mineral Resource Estimate.

Cauldron Energy (ASX:CXU) saw massive trading volumes after joining the Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (NASDAQ:URNJ), rising 106%. The company outlined the paleochannel extension of the Manyingee North uranium deposit, with passive seismic surveys indicating an additional extension of over 6 kilometers, ranging from 1.2 to 2.8 kilometers in width. The first 3 kilometers of the new paleochannel strike will be the focus of the 2026 drilling program, with cultural heritage surveys already completed in the area.

Resource Mining Corporation (ASX:RMI) rose 82% without any new announcements, as investment firm Praxis Global increased its stake from 6.37% to 8.55% during the month. The purchases followed RMI's A$3.5 million rights issue in May, with funds allocated for drilling copper-gold projects in Tanzania and Saudi Arabia. Chairman Asimwe Kabunga committed A$500,000 and Executive Director Trevor Matthews committed A$100,000. The exploration program continues through year-end, starting with drill-ready targets at the Mpanda Project (1,056 square kilometers) in western Tanzania.

Below is the list of the top 50 ASX resource stock gainers for June: