Today's Mining Pulse
China slams Indonesia's investment climate over nickel curbs
China criticised Indonesia's investment climate, citing recent restrictions on nickel exports that could deter foreign investors. The Financial Times reported the remarks as part of broader concerns about the region's mining policy environment.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Mutapa Gold secures $75M bank funding
New Anomalies Serve-Up Camp-Scale Potential for Loyal Metals at Highway Reward
Australian explorer Loyal Metals has used high‑resolution gravity imaging to identify a large, vertically extensive copper‑gold volcanogenic massive sulphide (VHMS) system at its Highway Reward project in Queensland. The newly defined anomaly extends well beyond the historic mine’s deepest level of about 390 m and is supported by additional gravity targets along the strike at Police Creek, Handcuff South and the Blitz trend. Loyal Metals, which acquired the former 3.65 Mt copper‑gold operation last year, plans follow‑up drilling funded by a $5.6 million budget to test these deep, untested targets. The discovery could upgrade the project from a single deposit to a camp‑scale resource.
Visible Gold Reinforces Precious Metals Potential at Argent’s Kempfield
Argent Minerals reported the first visible gold at its Kempfield polymetallic project, intersected in diamond hole AKDD212 at roughly 194 m depth within Lode 100. The coarse, free gold particles occur alongside carbonate veining in sulphidic volcanic rocks, confirming high‑grade gold shoots...
EU Sets Recycled Plastics Targets, Expands to Steel, Aluminium
EU agrees recycled plastics targets for cars, with future recycled steel and aluminium rules under end-of-life vehicles regulation. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/eu-end-of-life-vehicles-regulation-sets.html
Operational Upgrades Drive Record Month for Pilbara Ports
Pilbara Ports posted a record 67.9 million tonnes of cargo in January 2026, a 12% increase over the same month last year. The surge was driven by operational tweaks at Port Hedland, including revised ebb‑tide vessel guidelines and enhancements to the...
Why Copper May Give Silver a Major Boost
The author’s long‑standing bullish thesis on copper is now materialising, with the base metal entering a sustained up‑trend that also benefits silver. Recent market data shows copper prices accelerating as renewable‑energy projects, electric‑vehicle production, and infrastructure spending drive demand. At...
West Coast Silver Scout Drilling Reveals Potential Elizabeth Hill Growth Opportunities
West Coast Silver’s 76‑hole air‑core scout program in Western Australia has extended near‑surface, high‑grade silver mineralisation at the Elizabeth Hill project up to 150 m north of the historic mine and into the southern Munni Munni fault corridor. Standout assays include 3 m...
Australia Secures Fixed‑Price Power for Tomago Smelter Post‑2028
Australia moves toward a fixed-price power deal to keep Rio Tinto’s Tomago aluminium smelter running after 2028. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/02/tomago-aluminium-smelter-power-purchase.html
Tomingley Discovery Continues to Expand Alkane’s Opportunities
Alkane Resources announced the discovery of a new gold‑bearing geological structure at its Tomingley project in New South Wales, backed by both underground and near‑mine drilling. The campaign returned high‑grade intercepts, including 5.9 m at 31.0 g/t Au underground and 8.7 m at...
Regis Builds Momentum with Fresh Tropicana Reserve Boost
Regis Resources has issued an updated mineral resource statement for its 30% stake in the Tropicana joint venture, now reporting 5.4 million ounces of gold resources and 1.9 million ounces of ore reserves. The growth stems from systematic drilling that expanded mineralisation...
Expanded US Mining Would Boost Manufacturing's Material Possibilities
The United States is advancing domestic mining projects in Alaska, California, Pennsylvania and Nebraska to produce critical elements such as cobalt, copper, scandium, gallium and germanium. By securing these inputs, manufacturers can revisit alloy families previously deemed too costly or...
BOEM Proposes Regulation Revision to Support Mineral Exploration
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued proposed revisions to its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) hard‑mineral regulations, aiming to accelerate exploration and development of critical minerals. The changes align with Executive Orders 14285, 14154 and 14192, which prioritize...
Litchfield Minerals Eyes Hot Targets in North Australian Craton
Litchfield Minerals, an ASX‑listed junior explorer, has entered BHP’s Xplor accelerator and secured a US$500,000 grant to accelerate its flagship Oonagalabi copper‑zinc‑silver‑gold project in the North Australian Craton. The Oonagalabi drill program has returned broad intercepts—161 m at 0.5 % Cu and...
Soaring Tanker Costs Force West African Oil Price Cuts
West African crude traders are slashing discounts as freight rates to Asia surge to a five‑year peak and the Brent‑Dubai exchange‑for‑swaps (EFS) spread widens to about $2 per barrel. The higher shipping costs and broader EFS premium have pushed West...
Kazakhstan to Supply Fresh Uranium to India Under New Deal to Fuel Nuclear Power Plants
Kazakhstan’s state‑controlled miner Kazatomprom announced a new contract to supply fresh uranium to India, reinforcing the latter’s nuclear fuel pipeline. The deal follows earlier agreements that delivered 2,100 tonnes in 2009 and 5,000 tonnes between 2015‑19. While exact volumes were...
First Indian Diesel Cargo Arrives in Europe After New Russian Sanctions Take Effect
A tanker chartered by Reliance delivered about 100,000 tons of diesel to Rotterdam, marking the first Indian petroleum fuel cargo to reach the Amsterdam‑Rotterdam‑Antwerp hub since the EU imposed sanctions on Russian‑crude derived products. The vessel, Proteus Bohemia, loaded in India’s...
How Rare Earth Elements Power Hybrid Car Batteries and Transform Transportation
Hybrid car batteries, paired with compact rare‑earth‑based electric motors, have reshaped vehicle efficiency by enabling high‑power assist, regenerative braking, and smoother launches. Neodymium‑iron‑boron magnets deliver the torque density needed for these systems, while dysprosium and terbium protect performance at elevated...
Global CO2 Levels Set to Flatten, Then Decline
I expect we will see similar results worldwide soon, country by country. A flattening of CO2, followed by a decline, as renewables replace coal and gas, and EVs displace gasoline/diesel.
Namibia: Record Production At B2gold As Open Pit Winds Down
B2Gold’s Otjikoto Mine in Namibia delivered 199,139 ounces of gold in 2025, hitting the top of its guidance range and helping the company post a record $3.06 billion in revenue. The firm’s three flagship mines collectively produced 926,434 ounces, while a...
Sanctions, Seizures, and the Limits of Maritime Visibility
In late 2025 and early 2026 the U.S. Coast Guard and allied forces seized three oil tankers—M/T Skipper, M/T Centuries and Bella 1—after months of multi‑source intelligence proved they were moving sanctioned cargo. The operation underscores a new enforcement paradigm: governments...
Update Lifts Century Lithium’s Angel Island to Standout US Project
Century Lithium released an updated feasibility study for its Angel Island claystone project in Nevada, boosting its economics. The post‑tax net present value jumps one‑third to $4.01 billion while capital expenditures fall about 35% to $997 million. The internal rate of return...
Imerys Halts British Lithium as Woodsmith Boosted by Anglo and Mitsubishi
French mining group Imerys announced that its British Lithium (IBL) project will be placed into “care and maintenance,” effectively pausing development. The decision comes as the UK seeks to build a domestic battery supply chain, and the move signals a...
Zimbabwe: Small Scale Miners Dominate Fidelity Gold Deliveries
Artisanal and small‑scale miners (ASM) delivered 2.24 tons of gold in January 2026, far surpassing the 808.4 kg supplied by large‑scale producers. Both segments posted lower volumes than the same month a year earlier, with ASM falling from 3.17 tons and large‑scale from 903.2 kg....
DRDGold Moots Plan to Buy Sasol’s Cyanide Facility
DRDGOLD CEO Niël Pretorius warned that South Africa’s sole cyanide producer, Sasol, is scaling back sodium cyanide output, creating a looming supply gap for gold miners. He suggested a consortium of local gold producers purchase the plant and partner with...
Epiroc to Launch New Safety Products at PDAC Including Uphole Brake
At the PDAC conference in Toronto, Epiroc will unveil its latest drilling safety innovations, highlighted by the new Uphole Brake. The brake integrates into the drill head and automatically stops a free‑falling inner tube when overspeed occurs, protecting personnel and...
Creating the 'Ecosystem of Worker and Machine' With 5G
The mining sector is moving toward fully autonomous operations, with 5G networks emerging as the backbone for real‑time worker‑machine collaboration. Newmont’s Cadia mine has deployed teleremote dozers that are controlled over a private 5G slice, delivering sub‑10 ms latency. Early performance...
B2Gold Founder Johnson to Retire as CEO
B2Gold announced that founder and long‑time chief executive Clive Johnson will retire at the June 4 annual general meeting, handing the reins to chief financial officer Mike Cinnamond. Johnson will become Chair Emeritus, while board chair Kelvin Dushnisky shifts to an...
Lebanon Gold Sale Mooted to End Financial Crisis
Lebanese officials are debating selling or leasing part of the country’s 280‑ton gold reserves, now worth roughly $45 billion after a 70 % price surge. The gold, the largest Middle‑East reserve after Saudi Arabia, could fund a financial‑gap law essential for an...
Another Nickel Mine Waste Landslide Leads to a Death in Indonesia
A tailings landslide at Indonesia's Morowali Industrial Park on February 18, 2026 killed a worker and forced a shutdown of the nickel‑smelting complex. The incident follows a 2025 landslide that claimed three lives and a 2025 flood that breached a...
Correction to European Steel Plate Import Prices on February 19
Fastmarkets announced corrections to its European steel plate import price assessments after discovering currency conversion errors. The Northern Europe 8‑40 mm plate range (MB‑STE‑0049) is now €609‑650 per tonne, down from the mistakenly reported €720. The Southern Europe range (MB‑STE‑0050) is...
Blizzard Shuts Down Container Terminals at Northeast Ports
A historic nor'easter dumped up to 13 inches of snow in the New York metropolitan area, prompting seven states to declare emergencies and forcing the shutdown of the region's busiest maritime gateway, Port Newark. All gates at APM Terminals, Maher...
Sasol to Begin Reducing External Coal Purchases as Destoning Plant Raises Quality
Sasol’s newly operational destoning plant at Twistdraai has reduced coal impurity to about 12% sinks, enabling the company to shift from external purchases toward higher‑quality internal supply. The firm aims to lift internal coal output to 28‑30 million tonnes in FY2026...
Both Gold, Platinum Prices Consolidating in High Ranges
Gold prices have entered a consolidation phase, closing the week of Feb 20 at $5,067 per ounce, while a stronger dollar presents short‑term pressure. Ghana’s gold output rose to 187 t in 2023, positioning it as Africa’s top producer and potentially the...
Hudbay Minerals Receives Permit Amendments for New Ingerbelle Expansion
Hudbay Minerals has secured permit amendments from British Columbia’s Major Mines Office to advance the New Ingerbelle expansion at the Copper Mountain mine. The project aims to tap higher‑grade gold zones, lower the stripping ratio, and extend the mine’s life, targeting 750,000 t...
Interior Revokes Dalton Corridor Withdrawals
The U.S. Interior Department issued Public Land Order 7966, revoking two federal withdrawals that covered roughly 2.1 million acres along the Dalton Highway corridor. The revocation removes the long‑standing restrictions, allowing Alaska to select the lands under its remaining statehood entitlement....
Tungsten Crunch Can Be Fixed Before Prices Spike Further: BMO
BMO Global Commodities Research warns that tungsten prices have surged fivefold in the past year as chronic under‑investment and tightening Chinese supply create a looming shortage. With China providing about 75% of global output, ore‑grade declines, environmental limits and export...
BUMA Secures Contract with Adaro at South Tutupan Mine in Indonesia
PT Bukit Makmur Mandiri Utama (BUMA) has secured a long‑term mining services contract with PT Adaro Indonesia for the South Tutupan Mine in South Kalimantan. The agreement, effective 1 April 2026 through 31 December 2030, mandates the removal of about 239 million bank cubic metres of...
ABL Gets Busy at Egyptian Gas Field
Energy consultancy ABL has been awarded marine warranty survey services for Phase 4 of the Kamose offshore gas field in Egypt. The contract covers technical review, approval of documentation, DP trials, and on‑site witnessing of transportation and installation for three new...
Uganda to Link New Railway Line to Tanzania, Opening up New Export Route
Uganda announced plans to connect its new standard gauge railway to Tanzania’s under‑construction rail network. The line would run from the Tanzania border through southwestern Uganda to Mpondwe on the DRC frontier, linking mineral‑rich regions to the port of Dar...
Analysts Overstate Global Copper Supply by Ignoring Strategic Reserves
I am seeing many market analysts include the accumulated copper stockpiles in the US in their global balance of copper stockpiles and therefore conclude that there are >1 million tonnes of available copper in global stockpiles today. I am not...
Celsius Seals Samsung Heavy LNG Carrier Order
Celsius Tankers, a subsidiary of Denmark’s Celsius Shipping, has placed an order for a 180,000‑cubic‑metre LNG carrier with South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries. The contract, valued at roughly KRW 368 billion ($255 million), lifts Celsius’s LNG fleet to 24 vessels. The new ship...
WCS Supports Amazonian Communities in Fight Against Mercury Pollution From Illegal and Small-Scale Gold Mining
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is tackling a surge of illegal and artisanal gold mining that is poisoning Amazon rivers with mercury, a neurotoxic metal that bioaccumulates in fish and enters Indigenous diets. In Bolivia and Ecuador, WCS partnered with...
Diablo Resources Identifies Large Silver–Antimony Anomaly at Utah Project
Diablo Resources announced a kilometer‑scale silver‑antimony geochemical anomaly at its 100% owned Star Range Project in Utah. First‑pass soil sampling at the South Star Prospect confirmed the anomaly, which extends over 1 km and remains open to the northeast, and is...
Short Bitcoin, Copper, Silver Near 2026 Peaks
Sell the 2026 Open, Buy the Close? Bitcoin, Copper, Silver Tilts - Potentially prudent shorts around $90,000 for Bitcoin, $6 per pound for copper and $100 an ounce for silver could gain traction -- and companions -- when stock...
Fortescue Bets on Green Iron Amid
Fortescue’s green iron bet in a €300 per tonne iron world #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/o9SQlmpEPc https://t.co/oEuy12U2pf
High-Temp Sodium-Zinc Batteries Reveal Causes of Rapid Capacity Loss
Researchers at Germany's Helmholtz‑Zentrum Dresden‑Rossendorf used operando X‑ray radiography to watch sodium‑zinc molten‑salt batteries function at 600 °C, uncovering hidden aging mechanisms. The imaging revealed liquid‑metal movement, dendrite formation, and electrolyte breakdown that together drive rapid capacity loss. Although the chemistry...
USCF Launches Iron Ore Index Fund for Futures
New: @USCFInvestments files for a an Iron Ore Index Fund. Will invest in Iron order futures contracts. https://t.co/RHtnD2joQb
SigmaLithium Forecasts 240k‑tonne Annual Output, 520k
.@SigmaLithium providing formal guidance just a few weeks after restarting mining under owner/operator model: ◦12 months annualized forward production: 240,000 tonnes ◦24 months annualized forward production: 520,000 tonnes $SGML 👇
Gold Overvalued? Questioning Its Safe‑Haven Status
Is the store-of-value, gold, too stretched to be considered a safe haven? https://t.co/nC6Jxgznlb #gold #bonds @markets https://t.co/VvCZYA742S
Explosive Silver Junior Rio Silver Under Analyst Spotlight
Rio Silver $RYO.V $RYOOF Don Durrett and John Feneck take a closer look at Rio Silver. Must-watch if you like explosive Silver juniors ... https://t.co/XbSRRs7hRq
Critical One Energy Secures Permit for Antimony‑Gold Project
Critical One Energy @Critical1Energy $CRTL.CA $MMTLF Receives Exploration Permit for Howells Lake Antimony-Gold Project https://t.co/JkBm5YVa24