Today's Mining Pulse
Chinese financing fuels a $98 billion mineral power shift
A wave of $98 billion in Chinese financing and heightened U.S. diplomatic activity has thrust critical minerals into the geopolitical spotlight. Resource‑rich nations such as the DRC, Brazil and Zambia are leveraging their mineral wealth to negotiate better terms and assert greater control over strategic industries.
Also developing:
Panama Counts Steep Cost of First Quantum’s Copper Mine Closure
Panama’s economy slumped after the 2023 shutdown of First Quantum Minerals’ Cobre Panama copper mine, wiping out roughly 5% of GDP and 7% of export earnings. The mine had supported more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributed about $2 billion in fiscal revenue. National growth slowed from 7.4% in 2023 to 2.9% in 2024, straining public finances and local businesses. A government‑approved plan to process existing ore stockpiles could restart production, lifting both the country’s growth outlook and global copper supply.
Goldsky Resources – CEO Russell Bradford – Company Presentation Hamburg Mining Conference 2026
Goldsky Resources CEO Russell Bradford delivered a company presentation at the Hamburg Mining Conference on April 22, 2026. The session outlined the firm’s current project portfolio, upcoming drilling campaigns, and strategic financing plans. Bradford emphasized the company’s focus on expanding...
Trilogy to Seek FAST-41 Inclusion for Alaska Copper Project
Trilogy Metals’ Ambler joint venture has filed a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit to launch federal approvals for the Arctic copper‑zinc‑lead‑gold‑silver project in Alaska and will seek inclusion in the FAST‑41 expedited permitting program. The U.S. government is set...
New Found Gold Expands High-Grade Dropkick Zone
New Found Gold announced that its 2025 drilling at the Dropkick zone of the Queensway project has expanded the high‑grade gold system to a 1.4 km strike length and to a depth of 300 m. The campaign delivered standout intercepts, including 24.8 g/t...
Copper Price: Goldman Maintains Year-End Forecast, Traxys Sees $15,000
Copper prices steadied above $13,200 a tonne as supply concerns from the Middle East war and a looming sulphuric acid export ban by China weigh on the market. Goldman Sachs kept its 2024 price target at $12,650 per tonne despite...
AME: BC Paralysis on DRIPA Hurting Mining Future
British Columbia Premier David Eby announced that the province will not introduce amendments to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) this spring, prompting criticism from the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME). A recent court ruling found...
Defense Metals’ Mark Tory on Why the Rare Earths Grade and Processing Technology Matters
Defense Metals CEO Mark Tory emphasized that rare‑earth value hinges on processing rather than raw‑ground grade. The company’s Wicheeda project in British Columbia can boost a modest 2.4% TREO deposit to roughly a 50% concentrate, putting it on par with...
SMM Breaks Ground on Western Cape Monazite Plant
Steenkampskraal monazite mine (SMM) has broken ground on a new processing plant in South Africa’s Western Cape, targeting a steady‑state output of 13,400 tonnes per year of monazite concentrate with over 50% total rare‑earth oxides (TREO). The plant will initially...
Aris Mining Connects Decline to Marmato Underground in Colombia
Aris Mining announced that the Los Indios cross‑cut has successfully connected its new surface decline to the existing underground workings at the Marmato gold mine in Caldas, Colombia. The link enables continuous underground access for the 5,000‑metric‑ton‑per‑day carbon‑in‑paste (CIP) plant...
USA Rare Earth Seals $2.8 B Deal for Brazil’s Serra Verde Rare‑Earth Mine
USA Rare Earth Inc. announced a cash‑and‑stock transaction valued at about $2.8 billion to acquire Brazil’s Serra Verde Group, owner of the Pela Ema rare‑earth mine and processing plant. The deal adds 6,400 metric tons of annual rare‑earth oxide capacity and is expected...
Element 29 Welcomes Alpayana, Randy Smallwood as Investors
Element 29 Resources Inc. raised $35.5 million through a non‑brokered private placement of 32.2 million shares at $1.10 each, welcoming Alpayana S.A.C. as a new strategic investor with a 9.9% stake and former Wheaton Precious Metals CEO Randy Smallwood as an additional backer....
Newmont COO Hardy Outlines Gold Production Execution Amid Safety Incident and Growth Push
Newmont's chief operating officer, Francois Hardy, highlighted the company's 5.7 million ounces of gold produced in 2025 and a $2.8 billion free‑cash flow in Q4 while addressing a fatal incident at Tanami and a Nevada joint‑venture default. The COO said execution on...
BHP Expands Copper Exploration in Zambia Amid Rising Global Demand
Mining giant BHP has launched an expanded copper exploration program across southern Africa, with a focus on Zambia’s underexplored deep deposits. The company will use advanced geological modeling, geophysical surveys and data‑driven techniques to locate large, long‑life ore bodies. Zambia,...
Organised Gold Recycling Can Curb Imports, Boost Economic Stability: Muthoot Exim CEO
India imports roughly 99% of its gold, amounting to about 630 tonnes and $58.8 billion in 2025. Muthoot Exim CEO Keyur Shah argues that organized gold recycling can turn idle household jewellery into a domestic supply, easing the current‑account deficit and environmental...
Silver’s Price Outlook
Silver has been reclassified by the United States as a critical mineral, driven by soaring industrial demand and its historic role as a monetary metal in Asia. China, the world’s second‑largest producer after Mexico, supplies about 110 million ounces (≈3,421 tonnes) annually,...
Queensland Fast-Tracks Major Coal and Gold Projects
The Queensland government has fast‑tracked two flagship resource projects: the A$1.24 bn (≈$888 m) Corvus Metallurgical Coal Project, slated to produce up to 10.5 million tonnes of ultra‑low‑ash coal annually for 25 years, and the A$400 m (≈$286 m) Big Vein South Gold Project, which will...
Lithium Recycling Projects Underperform Amid Market Turn
Another sign of the #lithium market turn. The recycling of projects that haven’t performed. My head is firmly in the sand here. What has been delivered so far? Nothing wrong with the points on the slide but the performance of the...
UN: Renewables Boom Demands Massive Critical Mineral Mining
On Earth Day, UN Secretary-General calls for unleashing "the renewables revolution" - a push that inevitably will require far more mining/processing of critical minerals
Ramp Metals Drilling Rottenstone SW Property, Saskatchewan
Ramp Metals announced its first winter drill result from the Rottenstone SW property in Saskatchewan, reporting a 21‑metre intercept (50.5‑71.5 m) grading 0.80% Cu, 17.01 g/t Ag, 0.09 g/t Au, 0.73% Zn and 0.23% Pb. The interval includes higher‑grade sub‑sections of 1.5% Cu...
Chinese Battery Makers Lean on Gas Amid Lithium Crunch
Volt Insight briefing: Chinese battery companies' reliance on natural gas, CATL's mining push, and the lithium squeeze. Read more and sign up to my newsletter here: https://t.co/IUiScW74cK https://t.co/qZWMUx3kbM
Diesel Inventories Plummet, Prices Set to Hit Records
Watch diesel inventories. As I mentioned in various reports, I expect record-low diesel inventories with record prices.
West Point Gold Posts Positive Metallurgy From Gold Chain Project, Arizona
West Point Gold Corp. announced Phase 2 metallurgical test results for the Tyro Main Zone at its Arizona Gold Chain Project. Milled material achieved 87‑92% gold recovery, while HPGR‑crushed and conventionally crushed feeds delivered up to 69% recovery. The tests showed...
Lithium Deficit Persists Until 2035, Requires Massive Investment
Canaccord expects lithium markets to slip into deficit this year and remain there until at least 2035, calls for "significant investment in new supply" https://t.co/folUunEI4w
Secure Mineral Supply Will Cost a National Security Premium
.@USTradeRep on critical minerals: "We will all pay a national security premium to have a secure supply chain"
Congo-Kinshasa: Why Minerals-for-Security Deals Won't Save the DR Congo
The United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement that gives U.S. firms preferential access to the DRC’s mineral wealth in exchange for limited security cooperation. The deal follows U.S. sanctions on Rwandan officials...
Bureau Veritas Expands Offshore Services with New Asia Hub
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore has opened an Offshore Center of Excellence in the Asia‑Pacific region, uniting teams in Singapore, Shanghai and Kuala Lumpur with its global technical network. The hub will deliver classification, certification, verification and advisory services for...
The Invisible War on GPS and What It Means for Mining Operations
GPS jamming and spoofing incidents have surged, affecting over 122,000 flights and thousands of ships in early 2026, and exposing mining fleets that depend on satellite positioning for dispatch, autonomy and safety. A single jam can erase vehicles from live...
A Steady First Quarter, but Port of Rotterdam Waits for Hormuz Ripples
Rotterdam handled 103 million tonnes in Q1 2026, a modest 0.7% dip from the same period last year, reflecting stable container volumes but weaker dry‑bulk traffic. Container throughput rose 0.3% in TEU terms while tonnage fell 3.2% due to a surge...
Komatsu Hits Autonomous Milestone
Komatsu announced it has commissioned its 1,000th autonomous ultra‑class haul truck, cementing its role as a pioneer in driverless mining equipment. The milestone centers on the company’s 930E‑5 electric haul truck, which can transport a 290‑metric‑ton payload. By reaching this...
An Old Factory in Welland, Ont., Sat Derelict for Years — Until Someone Discovered It Could Be Worth Billions
Steve Charest bought a derelict Welland, Ontario factory for a nominal fee and uncovered a landfill containing 340,000 tonnes of high‑grade synthetic graphite. At up to US$20,000 per tonne, the stockpile could be worth roughly US$6.8 billion, offering a domestic source...
Two Deals for Ultra-Deepwater Drillships Add $260M to Seadrill’s Backlog
Seadrill secured two new ultra‑deepwater drillship contracts with LLOG Exploration, adding roughly $260 million to its order backlog. The West Neptune vessel received a 365‑day extension slated to start in September, while West Vela was awarded a 270‑day program beginning in August for...
Hochschild Rallies as Gold Price Surge Lifts Outlook
Hochschild Mining reported first‑quarter production of 75,600 gold‑equivalent ounces, surpassing analysts’ forecasts. The company’s average realized gold price jumped to $4,471 per ounce, a near‑40% increase from a year earlier, driving cash and equivalents to $412 million and net cash to...
Hochschild Rallies as Gold Price Surge Lifts Outlook
Hochschild Mining posted a strong first‑quarter, producing 75,600 gold‑equivalent ounces, ahead of the 69,200‑ounce consensus. Realized gold prices jumped 40% to $4,471 per ounce, lifting cash and equivalents to about $412 million and turning net cash positive at $95 million versus $23 million...
Tanzania: Training Highlights Safety Gaps and Cost Burdens in Mining
Artisanal and small‑scale miners in Tanzania’s Singida region are urging the government to embed environmental specialists within mining offices to lower the cost of mandatory Environmental Assessment Plans, which can exceed 2 million shillings (≈$850). They propose a more affordable fee...
‘We Are Paying 40% of Our Sales to Government’, Lithium Producers Open Up on Crushing Tax Burden
Lithium producers in Zimbabwe say the combined export tax, royalty, VAT and other levies eat up about 40% of their sales, leaving little margin for the capital spending the government demands. The heavy fiscal load coincides with an export ban...
POSCO Holdings Shares Jump 8.2% After Low‑Carbon Iron Ore Project Wins WA Approval
POSCO Holdings' shares climbed more than 8% on the Korea Exchange after the company secured regulatory approval for a low‑carbon iron plant in Western Australia. The project, which will use hydrogen‑based reduction, is a cornerstone of POSCO's strategy to decarbonise...
US Pushes Mineral Price Floor, Threatens Tariffs on China
US wants club of countries to trade minerals at set minimum prices to protect their investments in mining/processing, and could hit outside producers — eg China — with steep tariffs or other barriers to prevent them driving down prices. by @Aime_Williams...
Why Heap Leaching Needs Process Discipline, Not Irrigation Logic
Heap leaching operations still rely on visual checks and manual valve tweaks, which often hide pressure drops, clogs, and uneven solution distribution. The article argues that treating leaching as a controlled process—using pressure‑compensated irrigation, section‑level flow control, filtration cycles, and...
BHP Reports 3% Dip in YTD March FY26 Copper Output
BHP said copper output fell 3% to about 1.46 million tonnes for the year‑to‑date period ending March FY26, driven by lower grades and ore variability at Escondida and Spence. The miner expects total copper production to land in the upper half...
SECL Adds Another Highwall Miner From Gainwell Engineering at Sharda Coal Operation
On April 19, 2026 SECL inaugurated a new Gainwell Engineering GHWM300M highwall miner at the Sharda Open Cast Mine in its Sohagpur Area. The machine, designed for seams between 0.76 m and 5 m, promises a nine‑year production life and higher coal...
Cementation Africa Flexing Specialist Water Sealing Muscles in Underground Mining
Cementation Africa is leveraging its in‑house engineering expertise to deliver specialised water‑sealing solutions for underground mines across Africa and beyond. By combining geotechnical analysis, precision drilling and tailored cementitious or chemical grouts, the firm creates permanent barriers against groundwater ingress....
Cambria Drills Bonanza Gold at Premier
Cambria Gold Mines released initial assay results from a 27,000‑meter infill drill program at the Premier Gold Mine in British Columbia. Surface drilling in the 602 Zone returned a 0.5‑meter bonanza interval grading 552 g/t gold, while underground work in the...
Norway: Dry Well in License Awarded in 1985
Equinor and its partners drilled wildcat well 34/8‑A‑37 H in Norway’s 1985‑granted licence 120, located 140 km west of Florø. The well reached 3,081 m vertical and 6,662 m measured depth but was classified as dry despite hydrocarbon shows in the Statfjord and Lunde...
Commodity Traders Post Windfall Gains Amid Iran Conflict-Driven Market Turmoil
Commodity trading houses are logging multi‑billion‑dollar gains as the Iran conflict fuels extreme volatility in oil, copper and gold markets. Vitol alone is estimated to have earned about $2 bn in the first quarter, while Trafigura, Gunvor and Mercuria report record‑level...
Gold and Silver Surge as Hochschild Helps London’s Mining Stocks Shine
Hochschild Mining reported a near‑40% year‑on‑year jump in its average realizable gold price to $4,471 per ounce, propelling its FTSE 250 shares up more than 2%. The miner also disclosed an average silver price of $89.8 per ounce, more than double...
Kavango Resources Plc Says Its Long-Delayed Acquisition of the Nara Gold Project in Zimbabwe Is Now Nearing Completion
Kavango Resources plc announced that its long‑delayed acquisition of the Nara Gold Project in Zimbabwe is now in its final stages. The company signed a Deed of Variation to clarify the remaining steps under the June 2023 call‑option agreement and has...
Abaxx Exchange Lists World’s First Solar Irradiance Futures Contract
Abaxx Exchange will list the Enwex Germany Solar (GSM) futures contract on April 23, marking the world’s first exchange‑cleared solar irradiance product. Developed by German energy exchange Enwex, the contract lets participants hedge Germany’s solar irradiance risk in a standardized,...
Gunfire and Gridlock Choke Hormuz
A Liberia‑flagged container ship was hit by IRGC gunfire 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman despite having permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has extended a land cease‑fire with Iran but kept a maritime blockade, boarding...
South32 Pumps Aluminium Output to Seize High Prices
South32 is ramping up aluminium production to profit from a four‑year high LME price of $3,557 per tonne, driven by Middle East‑related supply disruptions. Its Hillside smelter in South Africa is operating near technical limits but still posted a 3%...
Not a Chatbot Story. Understanding the Value Proposition of Generative AI in Mining Operations
Generative AI is moving beyond chatbots to address concrete challenges in mining operations. The technology’s value hinges on its integration into decision‑making processes that drive exploration, safety, and equipment reliability. By augmenting human expertise rather than replacing it, AI can...