** Australian critical minerals explorers gain after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged an initial investment of A$1.2 billion ($763 million) to set up a strategic reserve of critical minerals
** Mineral Resources MIN.AX which mines lithium among other minerals, gains as much as 6.7% to hit A$18.36, its highest level since April 4; among the biggest pct gainers on the local benchmark
** Zircon producer Iluka Resources ILU.AX is up 3.9%, while Nickel miner IGO IGO.AX is up 1.8%
** Local mining .AXMM sub-index up 1.2%
($1 = 1.5728 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)
((nichiket.sunil@thomsonreuters.com))