# Helium Mining News in Montana Canonical page: https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news?commodities=helium®ions=usa_mt Atlas summarizes and classifies mining-industry stories from third-party publishers. Follow each source link for the original reporting. Results: 2 Returned: 2 Coverage: drill results, resource updates, and metallurgy; primary commodity matching; all time unless dates are supplied. Region: Montana (usa_mt) Commodity: Helium (helium) Applied filters: {"regions":["usa_mt"],"commodities":["helium"],"commodity_scope":"primary","document_types":["drill_results","resource_update","metallurgy"],"document_type_match":"any"} Sort: published_at desc Offset: 0; page size: 10 ## Rudyard – Ollie #1 Well Completion - Atlas analysis: [Read analysis](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/rudyard-ollie-1-well-completion--0dc41c2a-5f2e-4f24-9e1d-729f2b8dda18) · [Markdown](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/rudyard-ollie-1-well-completion--0dc41c2a-5f2e-4f24-9e1d-729f2b8dda18.md) - Original announcement: 2026-10-07T05:00:02.000Z - Atlas analysis published: 2026-10-07T08:17:36.425Z - Atlas analysis updated: 2026-10-07T08:17:36.425Z - Company: Helix Exploration PLC (HEX) - Original source: [lse](https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/HEX/rudyard-ollie-1-well-completion/17823237) - Atlas sentiment: 0.649 - Atlas tags: Nearology Play Helix Exploration has completed the Ollie #1 well at the Rudyard project in Montana, reaching a total depth of 6,311 ft. The well yielded mudlog helium readings of 4,800 ppm, the highest recorded at Rudyard to date, and is intended to serve as a future production well. ## Helix Exploration CEO: Ollie #1 targets... - Atlas analysis: [Read analysis](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/helix-exploration-ceo-ollie-1-targets--939c9a5f-c3ce-45ba-9932-a60fc8159aac) · [Markdown](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/helix-exploration-ceo-ollie-1-targets--939c9a5f-c3ce-45ba-9932-a60fc8159aac.md) - Original announcement: 2026-09-16T16:01:12.718Z - Atlas analysis published: 2026-09-18T16:02:39.196Z - Atlas analysis updated: 2026-09-18T16:02:39.196Z - Company: HeLIX Exploration PLC (HEX) - Original source: [proactiveinvestors](https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/1098653/helix-exploration-ceo-ollie-1-targets-bigger-than-expected-rudyard-helium-dome-1098653.html) - Atlas sentiment: 0.26 - Atlas tags: Step-Out Extension Helix Exploration CEO Bo Sears discussed the spudding of the Ollie #1 well, which targets a northern extension of the Rudyard helium dome in Montana. The well is positioned to test a larger-than-anticipated dome and sits close to existing infrastructure, potentially allowing for rapid connection to the pipeline if successful. # Atlas tag definitions - **Bonanza Intercept:** Exceptionally high-grade zone, well above the deposit-type norm. - **True Width Disclosed:** Actual thickness perpendicular to structure is stated, not just downhole length. - **Step-Out Extension:** Mineralization extended beyond the previously known limit. - **QA/QC Disclosed:** Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates). - **Compositing Transparent:** Cut-off grade and internal dilution rules are clearly stated for reported intervals. - **Refractory Ore:** Complex mineralogy requiring oxidation or other special processing before recovery. - **Apparent Width Only:** Interval given as downhole width with no true width or drill orientation — apparent width may overstate true thickness. - **Stale Data Re-release:** Historical results re-announced with no new assays or reinterpretation — low genuine novelty. - **No QA/QC Disclosure:** Release does not disclose QA/QC — lab certification, CP/QP sign-off and assay protocols cannot be checked from this document. - **Metal Equivalent Opaque:** Metal equivalent grade reported without disclosing the price, recovery, or payability assumptions used. - **Cut-off Undisclosed:** Cut-off grade not disclosed — cannot assess comparability to prior estimates or peers. - **Deleterious Elements Present:** Penalty elements (arsenic, antimony, etc.) or refractory concerns noted in the release. - **Infill Drilling:** Confirmatory drilling to raise resource confidence, not new discovery. - **Nearology Play:** Value premise rests on proximity to a known deposit rather than own results. - **Measured Resource:** Highest confidence category — tonnage, grade, shape well-established from closely-spaced drilling. Basis for Proven Reserves. - **Indicated Resource:** Reasonable geological confidence based on adequate drilling; continuity can be assumed. Basis for Probable Reserves. - **Proven Reserve:** Measured Resource with demonstrated economic viability after applying modifying factors. - **Probable Reserve:** Indicated Resource with demonstrated economic viability after applying modifying factors. - **Category Upgrade:** Resource confidence improved — Inferred upgraded to Indicated, or Indicated to Measured. De-risking signal. - **Tonnage Growth:** Significant tonnage increase (≥15%) vs prior estimate with grade maintained or improved. - **Grade Improvement:** Average resource grade improved vs prior estimate — better deposit economics. - **Contained Metal Growth:** True scale improvement — contained metal ounces/tonnes increased vs prior, accounting for both tonnage and grade changes. - **QP/CP Signed:** Qualified Person (QP) or Competent Person (CP) named and signed off — a member of a recognized professional association (e.g., AusIMM, SME, AIG, P.Geo) with relevant experience. - **Cut-off Disclosed:** Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison. - **JORC Compliant:** Resource estimate prepared in compliance with JORC Code (Australia) — high reporting standard. - **NI 43-101 Compliant:** Resource estimate prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 (Canada) — high reporting standard. - **Inferred Resource:** Speculative category — limited drilling, geological continuity assumed but not confirmed. Cannot support economic studies alone. - **All Inferred:** 100% of resource is Inferred category — very early stage, no engineering confidence. - **Grade Decline:** Average grade dropped >5% vs prior estimate — deposit economics worsening. May indicate high-grading in early drilling. - **Tonnage Decline:** Resource tonnage decreased vs prior estimate — pit optimization removed marginal material or geological model revised down. - **Category Downgrade:** Resource confidence decreased — Measured downgraded to Indicated, or Indicated to Inferred. Unusual and concerning. - **Contained Metal Decline:** Contained metal decreased vs prior despite tonnage growth — grade dilution exceeds volume gain. - **Dilutive Growth:** Tonnage increased but contained metal flat or down — likely from lower cut-off grade, not geological expansion. - **Cut-off Lowered:** Cut-off grade significantly reduced vs prior estimate — tonnage growth may be artificial inflation. - **Cut-off Undisclosed:** Cut-off grade not disclosed — cannot assess comparability to prior estimates or peers. - **Historical Estimate Only:** Estimate pre-dates or does not comply with current JORC/NI 43-101 standards — requires verification drilling. - **Stale Estimate:** Effective date is >2 years old — data currency concern, may not reflect current geological understanding. - **No Contained Metal:** Tonnage and grade reported but contained metal not calculated or disclosed — incomplete reporting. - **No QP/CP Disclosure:** No Qualified Person or Competent Person named — lower credibility for the estimate. A QP/CP should be a member of a recognized professional association with relevant experience. - **Maiden Resource:** First formal MRE for the project — establishes baseline but typically exploration-stage with high Inferred component. - **Resource Update:** Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress. - **PEA-Supporting:** Resource estimate prepared to support a Preliminary Economic Assessment — early-stage study. - **PFS-Supporting:** Resource estimate prepared to support a Pre-Feasibility Study — requires adequate M&I component. - **DFS-Supporting:** Resource estimate prepared to support a Definitive Feasibility Study — requires high M&I confidence. - **High Recovery:** Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route. - **Pilot Scale Complete:** Pilot or demonstration plant testing completed under continuous operation. - **Free Milling:** Simple, clean ore amenable to standard processing without oxidation. - **Multi-Domain Tested:** Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed. - **Recovery Improving:** Recovery improved versus a like-for-like prior test program on the same domain and route. - **Low Recovery:** Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route. - **Bench Scale Only:** Only preliminary bench tests completed — no locked-cycle or pilot work. - **Refractory Ore:** Complex mineralogy requiring oxidation or other special processing before recovery. - **Single Domain Only:** Testing limited to one composite or domain — representativeness not established. - **Recovery Stagnant:** No improvement across multiple test programs on comparable material. - **Theoretical Recovery Only:** Only theoretical or liberation-derived recovery reported, with no actual test result. - **Heap Leach Route:** Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected. - **Mill Route:** Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation). - **Gravity Route:** Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet. - **POX/BIOX Route:** Pressure or bio-oxidation for refractory ore — high CAPEX and OPEX. - **Byproduct Commodity:** The tested commodity is a byproduct rather than the primary economic driver.