Today's Mining Pulse
Updated 2h ago
China to Ban Sulfuric Acid Exports, Threatening Copper and Uranium Mining
China will halt exports of by‑product sulfuric acid starting in May 2026, a core reagent for heap‑leaching copper and uranium ores. The ban is expected to raise input costs and curb output in key mining hubs such as Chile, the DRC, Zambia and Namibia, after global sulfur prices have already surged 70%.
Also developing:
Critica Met Test Lands 81% Magnet Rare Earths Recovery in WA
Critica Limited reported an 81% recovery rate for magnet rare earth oxides (MREO) and a 71% recovery for total rare earth oxides (TREO) at its Jupiter pilot plant, marking a substantial improvement over earlier figures. The Jupiter deposit, part of the Brothers project in Western Australia, contains 1.8 billion tonnes of clay‑hosted rare‑earth resources across a 40‑square‑kilometre area with low uranium and thorium. A 143‑hole drilling campaign is underway to refine the resource model, while pilot‑scale processing has shifted to a larger plant in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The scoping study remains on track for a June completion, feeding real‑world data into a bankable development plan.
Ex‑Rokos and Brevan Howard Veteran Launches $359 Million Commodities Hedge Fund
Luke Sadrian, a former partner at Rokos Capital Management and Brevan Howard, has rolled out the Fulcrum Commodities Fund, a $359 million vehicle that posted a 30.5% return since its October 2025 launch. The fund’s early performance and rising allocator interest...
Aluminum Peaks at Four-Year High Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Aluminum hit a new four-year high as Middle East tensions, higher oil prices, and supply fears lifted metals. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/aluminum-four-year-high-signals-rising.html
Monte Muambe Rare Earth Project Secures USTDA Backing
Altona’s Monte Muambe rare earth project in Mozambique gained USTDA support, boosting development credibility. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/monte-muambe-rare-earth-project-gains.html
Foreign Firms Earn 53‑fold Profit on Zimbabwe Lithium, Sparking Controversy
Multinational miners are making up to $20,000 per tonne from Zimbabwe lithium exports, a 53‑fold markup over the $370 production cost. The windfall has ignited a dispute between foreign firms, the Zimbabwean government and local workers over revenue sharing and...
Three Firms Launch Multi-Year Program for New PGM Applications
Johnson Matthey, Sibanye-Stillwater, and Valterra launched a multi-year programme to develop new PGM applications. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/pgm-technology-partnership-targets-new.html
Hormuz Crisis Slashes OPEC Output, Sparks Global Energy Turmoil
🎡The Hormuz Crisis Reduces OPEC Production by 7.9 mb/d 🎡Kazakhstan's Crude Production Recovers 🎡EU Dependence on Russian Gas to Increase 🎡Iran War, Hormuz & Petrodollar 🎡US Blockade of the Blockade 🎡Panic and Oil Hoarding 🎡Saudi Oil to China: Watch Chinese Inventories 🎡India to Get Iranian Oil, But...
PH7 Technologies Closes $32M Series B Round, Adds $7.5M Venture Debt
Vancouver-based pH7 Technologies announced the close of its Series B financing, raising nearly $32 million in equity and securing $7.5 million in venture debt from RBCx, bringing total financing to over $39 million. The round was led by Fine Structure Ventures with participation...
Fortescue Calls Fossil‑Free Transition a No‑Brainer, Others Lag
Fortescue says ditching fossil fuels is a “no-brainer:” So why aren’t other companies rushing to follow #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/Ik7uaMvCv8 https://t.co/SWLlGYSuFI
KSM JV Talks Narrowed to Single Preferred Partner
@GoldSeabridge 's Rudi Fronk said discussions with joint venture partners for KSM have moved "down to one single company who we're calling our preferred company." $SEA https://t.co/sV5DBrKyes https://t.co/FOmovg6Fc7
Rick Rule: The Gold Math Wall Street Gets WRONG #Gold #Mining #Stocks
Rick Rule argues that Wall Street’s gold‑mining models dramatically misprice the sector. He compares a realistic gold price of $5,000 per ounce to the $3,500 benchmark used by analysts, while noting median all‑in sustaining costs of $2,000, meaning operating expenses...
Oil's Hidden Role Powers Every Corner of Economy
"Oil is an absolutely essential commodity that's built into our economy in all sorts of ways that are not immediately obvious." https://t.co/cLvjjzdJDU
Rick Rule: Oil's Billion Dollar a Day Problem #Oil #Energy #Investing
Rick Rule warns that the oil and gas sector has been operating with a sustaining‑capital deficit of roughly a billion dollars each day, a shortfall that threatens to choke production in a fundamentally capital‑intensive business. He points to two converging pressures:...
Thanks, Trump! — Here’s What Happens when the World Runs Low on Helium
The article explains how the United States’ decision under the Trump administration to sell off its federal helium reserve has accelerated a global helium shortage. With Qatar supplying roughly a third of the world’s supply and the U.S. reserve now...
P2.67-B Gold Mining Project in Camarines Norte up for Review
Golden River Mining Corp., led by politician Ricardo Silverio Jr., has filed a proposal to develop a PHP2.67 billion (≈$48 million) gold mine in Paracale, Camarines Norte. The 321‑hectare project promises local job creation, infrastructure upgrades, and higher tax revenues for municipal...
Gold Resource Corporation Announces Contract With SLR for Completion of the Back Forty Feasibility Study
Gold Resource Corp (GORO) has hired Responsible Mining Solutions, part of SLR Consulting, to complete a full feasibility study for its Back Forty gold‑silver project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The study will assess mine design, processing options, infrastructure, environmental factors...
CHINA TO BAN SULFURIC ACID EXPORTS: Copper and Uranium Mining Impacted, Bullish and Bearish Catalyst, Who Loses, & This Mining...
China announced it will halt exports of byproduct sulfuric acid starting in May 2026. The acid is a core reagent for heap‑leaching copper and uranium ores, so the ban threatens to raise input costs and curb output in mining hubs...
U.S. and Australia Commit $5 B to Fast‑Track Critical‑Minerals Projects
The United States and Australia have sealed a $5 billion financing agreement to fund Australian critical‑minerals projects, aiming to boost production of lithium, rare earths and other materials vital for the energy transition. The deal is expected to strengthen supply chains...
