Know What's Happening in Mining
Know What's Happening in Mining
Mining Titans Surge $250B Amid Iran Conflict, Valuing Sector at $2.41T
The MINING.com Top 50 miners posted a combined market capitalization of $2.41 trillion at the end of Q1 2026, up roughly $250 billion from the start of 2025. Valuations rose despite the US‑Iran war and a sharp drop in gold and silver prices, with copper only modestly down and lithium firms re‑entering the list. Six companies now exceed $100 billion in market value.
The Environmental Investigation Agency and PremiCongo released the "Toxic Transition" report accusing CMOC’s Tenke Fungurume Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo of emitting pollutants that may be harming nearby residents. The study, based on more than 1,200 anonymized medical records, independent air monitoring and interviews, links the mine’s 30K processing plant to persistent coughing, nosebleeds and, in severe cases, vomiting blood. CMOC rejected the claims, saying recent SO₂ measurements stay within legal limits and that safety protocols halt hazardous work. The findings have prompted automakers such as BMW, Mercedes‑Benz, Peugeot and Volkswagen to promise supply‑chain reviews.
Vital Metals released final assay results from its Nechalacho rare‑earth‑niobium project, confirming record‑high total rare‑earth oxide (TREO) grades across six newly identified targets. The standout 1029A target delivered 292,145 ppm TREO, the highest ever recorded at the site, with notable neodymium‑praseodymium...
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched its first mining‑specific sustainability framework, GRI 14, in January 2026. The standard offers a unified methodology for reporting environmental, social and economic impacts, with material issues identified through stakeholder engagement and data‑driven analysis. In an Energy...
A Reuters‑cited study by WWF and Themis finds that roughly 40% of banks and investors do not screen for illegal mining risks, despite 84% operating in high‑risk sectors such as transport and trade. Illegal mining generates at least $48 billion in...
Brixton Metals reported its first 2026 drill results from the Langis Silver Project in Ontario, highlighting two holes with more than 700 g/t silver over 14 metres and a peak of 15,522 g/t. The results push the company's share price up 9% to...
Sandvik announced the sale of 16 D25KX down‑the‑hole rotary drill rigs to a major Zambian copper mine. The new rigs will join an existing fleet of nine D25KS and four Pantera DP1500i units that have been operating since 2016. Sandvik...
Tsurumi tested its LB480 and KTV3-55 submersible pumps using an Instagrid mobile battery unit, demonstrating that battery power can replace generators on mining sites. Both pumps moved roughly 40,000 litres per charge, with the larger KTV3-55 delivering 44 m³ in under 50 minutes....
Antimony Resources Corp. announced that its Bald Hill project in New Brunswick may host some of the highest‑grade antimony deposits in North America, with visible stibnite mineralization and solid grades up to 60% antimony. The company is executing a 10,000‑meter...
Fireweed Metals has hired a slate of top-tier engineering and technical consultants to produce an updated feasibility study for its Mactung tungsten project, targeting early 2027 completion. The study will integrate the 2025 field program, extensive historical data, and new...
Abu Dhabi’s state oil company ADNOC shut its Ruwais refinery after a fire broke out following a drone strike on the complex. The facility, which can process up to 922,000 barrels of oil per day and hosts major chemical, fertilizer...
Venezuela's National Assembly gave preliminary approval to a mining reform bill aimed at attracting foreign investment. The legislation would replace a three‑decade‑old framework, adding stronger legal guarantees, mediation and arbitration for disputes. It targets bauxite, gold and other strategic minerals,...
@ctindale is spot on. Political will cannot summon industrial reality. EVs & electrification demand a massive new material order: mines, refineries, grids, copper at scale, that takes decades to build, spanning across election cycles. Intention without capacity is illusion. The...
Viridien has launched a regional multi‑client seismic reprocessing initiative targeting India’s offshore basins, beginning with a Phase 1 reimaging of roughly 9,000 sq km of 3D data in the Mahanadi Basin. The project will deliver fast‑track results by June 2026 and complete datasets by...
The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a molecular marking program for petroleum products, using invisible chemical tracers to track fuel from import to retail. Partnering with Authentix Inc., the initiative aims to curb smuggling and improve tax compliance. Early...
SpectraFlow Analytics secured an order for its Crossbelt Analyzer to be installed at Dye Non-Ferrous Metal Group’s Ausmelt TSL copper smelter in Huangshi, China. The near‑infrared online analyzer will sit in the concentrate blending zone, continuously measuring and adjusting the...
Vodacom Business positions connectivity as core infrastructure for African mining, deploying Mobile Private Networks (MPNs) at sites like Sasol’s synthetic fuel facility. Integrated IoT solutions, including edge gateways and drone mapping, shift operations from reactive to predictive maintenance, cutting unplanned...
Tin prices surged to a projected $54,925 per ton for the week of March 9‑14 2026, according to the DRC’s National Market Commission, while Boursorama data on March 10 showed a daily dip to $48,275 per ton, underscoring sharp volatility. The metal’s small...
🎯“China treats electricity, critical minerals, manufacturing, defence and infrastructure as one strategic system. Credit, permitting, refining, fabrication and demand scale together. Western systems fragment the same problem across central banks, markets, regulators and election cycles, assuming price signals will coordinate what...
Epiroc has formed a strategic partnership with DYWIDAG Australia to distribute its ground support solutions throughout Oceania and Indonesia. The agreement makes DYWIDAG the official regional distributor, providing technical support and maintaining local inventory. This is Epiroc’s first ground‑support partnership...
Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel before reversing sharply, marking what analysts call the most epic price reversal in oil history. The swing was driven by mixed signals about the U.S.–Iran conflict, including President Trump's comments and hopes of...
Congolese entrepreneur Obed Mutuale warned that illegal artisanal mining is booming in Bas‑Uélé province, with under‑age children increasingly employed at hazardous sites. During a Jan. 18‑25 visit, he called on the DRC central government to intervene urgently, citing weak state oversight...
Massive Short Cleansing or New Bull Market? Crude May Follow Gas - The invisible hand can be quite efficient in autocorrelated commodities, and crude oil and corn producers may have just received a chance to hedge and bring on more...
It was a pleasure to talk about ‘The Dawn of the Age of Copper’ at the U.S. Capital Access Forum in Singapore. It’s never easy to follow a keynote from @DonaldJTrumpJr, but copper is always a show-stopper… Many thanks to Hall...
Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) has launched a 126‑metre deepwater multi‑purpose offshore engineering vessel for China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s Shenzhen Offshore Engineering Technology Service. The ship features a 400‑ton crane, a 3,000‑ton cable reel, a 1,600‑HP trencher, a 12‑person...
Did December Corn Peak Near $5? Corn's $5-a-bushel ceiling may have solidified due to the Iran war. When December corn (Dec26) began trading in 2022 at about the same price as on March 9 near $4.85 a bushel, US ending stocks...
UK‑based, AIM‑listed Sunda Energy has secured a Category A environmental licence for its Chuditch‑2 appraisal well in Timor‑Leste’s offshore Chuditch field. The licence, issued on 9 March 2026 and valid until March 2028, follows the submission and endorsement of a detailed environmental impact statement...
The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) released a Global Mining & Metals GHG Emissions Dataset covering 1,700 facilities and 87% of production across 14 key commodities. The dataset provides a sector‑wide estimate of scope 1 and scope 2 emissions for...
As the US-Iran war goes on, focus on oil flow and not on oil production: What matters now is exports ex Strait of Hormuz, not well head output in KSA, UAE, Iraq, Qatar and Iraq. Yes, later is deteriorating, but former...
remember when the world saw that China had economic escalation dominance over Trump in the rare earths saga last fall? apparently Iran does too
LNG spot prices in Asia surged to a two‑year high of $22.50 per mmBtu after strikes closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting Qatar’s supply. The spike lifted high‑quality 6,000 kcal/kg thermal coal to $129.62 a ton, a 14‑month peak, while European...
Oil bypass pipelines buy time, but don't solve the problem. SPR/IEA release would buy more time, but doesn't solve either. Ultimately, only one thing solves the problem: re-open the Strait of Hormuz. But rather than hitting the wall this...
As strikes shake the Middle East and oil prices soar, what are the global ramifications of the US and Israel’s conflict with Iran? 🎥 Tune in LIVE as @TimOBrien discusses with @JavierBlas and @MarcChampion1 Tuesday, March 10 @ 8:30 am EDT...
Italy’s OLT Offshore LNG Toscana, a Snam subsidiary, has begun commercial small‑scale LNG operations at its FSRU Toscana off Livorno. The inaugural cargo of 4,000 cubic metres arrived on the Green Zeebrugge carrier, marking the first SSLNG service in the country....
8 experts express their views about current oil market conditions. 👇👇👇👇 click on the link, then change the language in your browser.
The comments from Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser on the East-West pipeline, the last (and only partial) line of defence of the oil market against the Strait of Hormuz disruption (other than a SPR release) For background, my @Opinion column from...
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) boosted its gold holdings by roughly 250%, rising from 1.5 tonnes in April 2024 to 4.03 tonnes by December 2025. This surge helped lift total foreign‑currency reserves from US$276 million to about US$1.2 billion, expanding import‑cover from 0.18 to 1.5 months....
Namib Minerals announced a suite of ESG initiatives at its How Mine operation, including a new school block, staff housing, and healthcare donations to United Bulawayo Hospitals. The projects complement ongoing environmental rehabilitation at the site. These actions are part...
In this episode, Alan "Aluminium" Clark of CM Group breaks down why aluminium prices have surged to a four‑year high, linking the rally to supply shocks at key refineries, tightening alumina margins, and China’s heavy reliance on Guinean bauxite. He...
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran‑US/Israeli conflict has driven bunker fuel prices to record highs, with IFO 380 averaging $841.50 per tonne globally and Singapore reaching $1,073. At least 20% of the world’s HSFO exports are now...
Huawei’s Mining Business Unit is positioning the company as the leading provider of AI‑enabled connectivity for the mining sector. It highlights the deployment of a 5G‑A network and the world’s first fleet of 100 autonomous electric trucks at China’s Yimin...
Equinor announced two commercial hydrocarbon discoveries in Norway’s North Sea. The Byrding C well, drilled near the Fram field in the Troll area, is estimated to contain 4‑8 million barrels of recoverable oil, while the Frida Kahlo well, drilled from the...
Anglo American slashed De Beers' balance‑sheet value to $2.3 bn, intensifying a sale that has lingered for two years. The diamond market is under pressure from lab‑grown stones, now accounting for up to 25% of jewellery sales and half of engagement rings....
Saudi Aramco says it expect to reach full capacity at its East-West pipeline to the Red Seat in next couple of days as oil tankers arrive to load. That’s ~7m b/d (or ~6m b/d above pre-war levels already exported via...
G7 energy ministers are scheduled to hold a video call (involving the IEA too) today to discuss the oil and LNG markets. Yesterday, G7 finance ministers flagged a potential use of the oil SPR. Japan and several other north East...
Imaru Casanova’s latest market note highlights that gold miners are generating strong free cash flow and maintaining all‑in sustaining costs below $2,000 per ounce, even as gold prices hover near record highs. The sector’s disciplined capital allocation—emphasizing dividends, buybacks and...
Oil shocks and crashes: Where are we headed with the 2026 crisis? #oil #solar #EVs https://t.co/YJR9ZPQIRR https://t.co/TQRdwm55nX
Solaris Resources secured an option agreement with Ecuador's state‑owned ENAMI EP, granting the right to acquire up to 100 % of additional exploration areas and adding roughly 40,000 hectares to its Warintza copper district. The expanded land package enables a district‑scale...
Volvo Construction Equipment unveiled a suite of safety and productivity upgrades for its entire wheel‑loader lineup at ConExpo‑Con/Agg. The large L350 now uses a D17 engine delivering up to 5% better fuel efficiency and Smart Control integration, while the midsize...
Mount Hope Mining completed a CSAMT geophysical survey at its Mt Solitary gold prospect in the Cobar Basin, mapping structural architecture to depths exceeding 500 m. The data refined the model of a structurally controlled gold system, highlighting the MS2 and...
OzAurum Resources secured environmental approval for stage one open‑pit mining and heap‑leach operations at its Mulgabbie North project in Western Australia. The approval, issued under the state’s Small Mining Operation Policy, removes a key regulatory hurdle and enables the company...
