Osmond Resources Limited (ASX: OSM) (the Company) has officially confirmed the award of the main Investigation Permit, marking a major milestone for the Company’s flagship Orion EU Critical Minerals Project in southern Spain. The permit unlocks 85.6km² of prospective terrain and allows Osmond to commence its maiden drilling campaign within the current quarter.
This development follows a strategic push by the Company to establish a European-facing critical minerals portfolio, aligning with the European Union’s broader objective to secure localised supply chains for materials essential to green energy and advanced technologies.
Figure 1: The location of the Orion EU Critical Minerals Project, along with the planned drilling sites across the permit area.
Permit Award and Project Expansion
The newly granted Investigation Permit (registration number 16271) is a cornerstone approval, enabling Osmond to initiate groundwork at the Project. In addition to this core area, the broader Orion EU Critical Minerals Project now includes three additional investigation permit applications, Menodice, Menipe, and Metioque, which together cover a further 142km².
Combined, the Project spans 228km², encompassing a historically underexplored but highly prospective siliciclastic geological system known to host layers of rutile (titanium), zircon, hafnium, and rare earth elements (REEs).
Acquisition of Iberian Critical Minerals Pty Ltd
In tandem with the permit award, Osmond will complete stage 1 of the acquisition of 80% of Iberian Critical Minerals Pty Ltd over the coming week. This entity wholly owns Omnis Mineria SL, a Spanish company that currently holds a 75.5% stake in the Project, with the option to increase this to 95% upon completion of a Scoping Study.
The remaining 5% can be retained through pro-rata funding or exchanged for a project royalty, which Osmond may purchase at any time for US$750,000.
Under the agreed terms, Osmond will issue 25 million ordinary shares to acquire the initial 80% interest. Two further tranches of 42.5 million shares each may be issued at Osmond’s discretion, depending on the achievement of the following project milestones:
- Milestone 1: Within 30 days of either announcing a Mineral Resource Estimate (including an Indicated Resource) or 24 months from the completion date.
- Milestone 2: Within 30 days of either announcing a Scoping Study or 48 months from the acquisition closing.
This staged structure provides the Company with maximum flexibility while allowing value creation to align with defined project deliverables.
Drilling Program to Commence This Quarter
With the permit secured, Osmond will now proceed with its maiden 15-hole drilling program, set to begin in the current quarter. Drill hole locations cover a broad area within the approved permit and aim to test the continuity and grade of mineralised zones identified in previous surface sampling campaigns.
Bulk sample analysis from the Avellanar Zone (Zone 1) previously revealed encouraging mineral concentrations. Three representative samples, totalling 150kg, showed the following key results:
- Rutile: Up to 15.22%
- Zircon: Up to 9.37%
- Monazite: Up to 1.72%
- Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO): Ranged between 14,747 ppm and 16,238 ppm
- Neodymium Oxide (Nd₂O₃): Up to 2,049 ppm
- Praseodymium Oxide (Pr₆O₁₁): Up to 575 ppm
- Hafnium Oxide (HfO₂): Up to 1,295 ppm
These results suggest a mineralised system with substantial scale and diversity — key criteria for developing a multi-commodity critical minerals project.
Figure 2: Bulk sample data from the Orion EU Critical Minerals Project showing high concentrations of rutile, zircon, monazite, and rare earth oxides.
Strategic Importance of the Orion EU Critical Minerals Project
Located in Jaén Province, Andalucía, the Orion EU Critical Minerals Project lies within a favourable geological environment with historical exploration dating back to the mid-20th century. The region was previously assessed for uranium and thorium and includes a disused galena (lead) mine.
Today, the Project’s focus is on sourcing critical minerals that are increasingly in demand for use in future facing applications such as humanoid robots, drones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, advanced ceramics, and defence applications. The European Union has designated many of these as strategic and critical, with financial support and permitting frameworks evolving to favour domestic development.
Osmond’s objective is to fast-track the Project through its drilling, resource modelling, and Scoping Study phases, with all major milestones targeted for completion by the end of the current financial year.
Investor Outlook: Strong Market Performance Reflects Growing Confidence
The market continues to respond positively to Osmond’s disciplined approach to project development and its strategic pivot to Europe. As of 12:19 pm AEST on 29 July 2025, the Company’s share price was $0.84, reflecting a 1.82% increase for the day.
Osmond’s share price performance over key timeframes further demonstrates its upward trajectory:
- 1 Month: +15.86%
- 2025 Year-to-Date: +102.41%
- 1 Year: +1,117.39%
- Compared to ASX 200 (1 Year): Outperformance of +1,108.75%
With a market capitalisation of $81.54 million, Osmond has rapidly gained recognition as one of the ASX’s top-performing exploration and development companies in the critical minerals space.
The Company’s progress at the Orion EU Critical Minerals Project, now fully permitted and on the verge of drilling, could catalyse further investor interest as key exploration milestones are met.
