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.
Workers at AFCON, an Indian contractor for ArcelorMittal Liberia, staged a violent protest on Feb 18 at the Yekepa mining camp, leaving a police officer wounded and 27 arrests. The unrest, sparked by stagnant wages and unmet benefits, follows a similar strike a week earlier and revives memories of 2014 mining riots. The Ministry of Labour declared the earlier protest illegal, while authorities launched an investigation into the latest violence. The incident occurs shortly after Liberia signed a new 25‑year mineral development agreement with AML.
Anglo American reported a 66% plunge in basic underlying earnings per share, driven by a $511 million EBITDA loss at De Beers and a $2.3 billion impairment on its stake. The loss stemmed largely from "stock balancing initiatives" that forced the company to...
Alicanto Minerals (ASX:AQI) has transformed from a $25 million company to a $312 million market‑cap after acquiring the Mt Henry gold project from Westgold, securing a 915,000‑ounce resource across three deposits. The acquisition gives Alicanto an advanced, permitted asset in Western Australia’s underexplored...
Namibia’s Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse told parliament that regulatory authority over mining and petroleum activities remains firmly within the ministry, including final decisions on petroleum licences. He explained that applications are processed by the Commissioner of...
Fidelity Gold Refinery published its February 20 2026 gold buying rates for Zimbabwe, listing prices per gram and per troy ounce across several purity categories. The fire‑assay cash price for gold above 100 g is $152.66 per gram ($4,748.26 per ounce), while the...
NRFC analyst Lauren McGregor outlined a new funding wave targeting high‑performance processors, emphasizing the role of METS (Mining Equipment Technology Services) as a financing conduit for miners. The discussion highlighted record‑level capital inflows, flexible loan structures, and joint‑venture models that...
A haul truck being serviced in a mining yard became unstable and shifted to the right, causing it to dislodge from two self‑propelling hydraulic jacks during a rear tyre change. The movement crushed one jack, but two workers narrowly avoided...
Rio Tinto’s 2025 results show a 14% YoY drop in net profit, driven by weaker iron‑ore prices, while copper is emerging as the company’s growth engine. The miner flagged a strategic shift toward expanding copper production, especially at its Oyu Tolgoi...
Indonesia revoked 28 forestry, plantation and mining permits after Cyclone Senyar caused floods and landslides that killed roughly 1,200 people. An NGO audit revealed that many of the listed concessions had already expired, been cancelled years earlier, or lay outside the...
Ramelius Resources has shipped its inaugural 31,000‑tonne ore batch from the Never Never deposit to the Mt Magnet processing hub, marking a key step in its growth plan. The development ore, grading 3.6 g/t, delivers roughly 3,600 ounces and will be blended with...
Rio Tinto posted an eight‑percent rise in copper‑equivalent production in 2025, driven by record iron‑ore output from Western Australia and the first shipment of high‑grade ore from Simandou. The Western Range replacement mine opened on time and on budget, while...
Western Yilgarn NL announced a high‑grade cobalt‑scandium‑nickel discovery at its Ida Holmes Junction project, reporting up to 2.47% cobalt and 126 ppm scandium oxide from rock‑chip samples. The mineralised quartz‑hematite outcrop stretches at least 120 m along strike and remains open, suggesting...
Australian mining company AIC reported a strong half‑year performance, generating $110.6 million revenue and producing 6,526 tonnes of copper at an AISC of $4.92 per pound. EBITDA reached $48.6 million and net profit after tax rose to $17.4 million, with basic earnings per share...
Zambia’s government is tightening enforcement of the Employment Code Act and the Geological and Minerals Development Act, mandating mining firms to give first preference to Zambian workers. Expatriate hires are only permitted when a genuine skills gap exists and must...
Rare earth prices have surged about 42% year‑to‑date, yet most junior stocks remain flat, creating a valuation disconnect. Acorn Capital’s Rick Squire sees this inefficiency as a buying opportunity for ASX‑listed explorers focused on low‑capex, fast‑track projects. He highlights ionic‑clay...
Ivanhoe Mines reported a $228 million net profit for 2025, driven by strong performance at its flagship Kamoa‑Kakula copper complex, Kipushi zinc mine, and the ramp‑up of the Platreef polymetallic project. Copper prices near historic highs and operational milestones have delivered...
OTR Engineered Solutions has launched an upgraded Track Finder, an online tool that helps mining and off‑road equipment operators select and purchase tracks. The new interface expands the product catalog to roughly 1,200 fitments and adds smartphone‑optimized browsing, real‑time inventory,...
The episode outlines Namibia’s rise to become the world’s third‑largest uranium producer, delivering 7,333 tonnes in 2024 and targeting 8,000‑9,000 tonnes in 2025. It highlights the country’s three flagship mines—Husab, Rössing, and the revived Langer Heinrich—along with their robust infrastructure,...
Namib Minerals announced that dewatering at its Redwing Mine in Zimbabwe started on January 29, 2026, following its November 2025 work plan. The dewatering enables feasibility studies, underground assessments, and detailed engineering for the mine's restart. This effort is part...
Researchers engineered the yeast Issatchenkia orientalis to ferment renewable feedstocks into oxalic acid, achieving 39.53 g L⁻¹ in fed‑batch conditions. The bio‑based acid leached over 99% of neodymium, dysprosium and lanthanum from REE chloride solutions, matching traditional reagents while cutting emissions. Production...
Medical and environmental experts say carbon monoxide poisoning caused the deaths of 38 miners at a Plateau State underground mine, where poor ventilation likely allowed the gas to accumulate. Survivors reported breathing difficulties and classic CO symptoms before collapsing. The...
CLANCs = Copper, Lithium, Aluminum, Nickel, Cobalt. Copper ripped 30% in Jan, then erased ~1/3 — still ~+20% YTD. Secular shortage story → oversupply in days as inventories hit multi-year highs. For decades, digital dominated physical. The physical world is back with a...
Gold Fields has boosted its Tarkwa mine reserves by 70%, raising them to 7.4 million ounces and resources to 11.2 million ounces as it prepares for a lease renewal due in April 2027. The company is navigating Ghana’s new sliding...
Malawi has signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S. trading firm Traxys North America to market graphite from the Kasiya rutile‑graphite project, aiming to supply up to 80,000 tonnes annually to the United States’ Project Vault strategic reserve. The deal,...
President John Dramani Mahama announced Ghana's goal to cease exporting raw minerals within five years, shifting toward domestic refining and processing of oil, bauxite, manganese, and lithium. He highlighted the sector's $6.6 billion export revenue in 2023 but noted limited local...
Kumba Iron Ore says it will wrap up contract negotiations with Chinese steelmakers this year, despite the ongoing dispute between China Minerals Resources Group and major miners. China now represents 56% of Kumba’s 2025 export sales, up from 54% in...
Gold Fields announced a final dividend of R18.5 per share, a 164% increase year‑over‑year, and added a special dividend of R4.5 per share. Including the interim payout, the total regular dividend of R25.5 represents 35% of free cash flow, aligning...
NRW Holdings announced that its acquisition of Fredon Industries for $200 million is driving a significant upgrade to its FY2025‑26 outlook. The diversified service capabilities are expected to boost revenue guidance by roughly 12% and lift earnings per share by about...
A suspected carbon‑monoxide leak killed 33 miners at Solid Unity Nigeria's lead‑zinc mine in Plateau state, sparking renewed safety concerns. Gabon’s regulator ordered a blanket suspension of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp as online tensions rose under President Brice...
Albemarle announced the care‑and‑maintenance status of its sole remaining lithium‑hydroxide train in Australia, sparking concerns about the nation’s downstream ambitions. Despite this setback, new projects from Tianqi, Mineral Resources and other players are slated to come online by 2028, keeping...
Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) released its official gold buying rates for Zimbabwe on 19 February 2026, quoting prices per gram and per troy ounce. The top tier – Fire Assay cash for gold above 100 g – is $152.01 per gram ($4,728.04 per...
Mutapa Gold Resources announced a US$150 million redevelopment of its Shamva mine, with the project and subsequent expansions at Jena and Elvington to be executed primarily by Zimbabwean contractors and suppliers. The multi‑phase plan aims to convert Shamva into a low‑cost...
Ausgold has signed a cooperation agreement with the Katanning Noongar people, the Native Title holders of the Wagyl Kaip Southern region, to advance its proposed Katanning gold project in Western Australia. The company pledged to achieve a 5% workforce participation...
Kavango Resources announced a maiden JORC‑compliant mineral resource of 33,900 ounces of gold at the historic Bill’s Luck mine, raising the total Hillside Project resource to 52,900 ounces. The estimate includes 2,600 ounces measured at 3.3 g/t, 13,400 ounces indicated at...
Gold has surged to a record $5,000 per ounce, unleashing unprecedented cash flows into the mining sector. The rally enabled a $639 million takeover of Magnetic Resources by Genesis Minerals and a $175 million placement for Horizon Minerals, underscoring a wave of...
Critical Minerals Americas (CMAI) is reviving its SBH Project in northeastern Alberta, a massive black‑shale deposit spanning roughly 38‑50 billion tonnes. The deposit hosts a suite of critical minerals—including molybdenum, nickel, uranium, cobalt, lithium and virtually all rare earth elements. CMAI...
Sibanye‑Stillwater will record R5.3 bn of impairments in the second half of its 2025 financial year, bringing total FY2025 impairments to R14 bn. The write‑downs stem from a R3.8 bn reduction at the Kloof gold mine and a R138 m impairment on the Keliber...
Antimony Resources Corp. is accelerating development of its Bald Hill project after a serendipitous discovery of the Marcus Zone, a new stibnite‑rich mineralized area. The metal’s price has rocketed from roughly $12,000 to $60,000 per metric ton, driven by defense...
American Tungsten Corp. is moving its historic IMA Mine in Idaho toward commercial production, highlighting high‑grade tungsten‑silver‑molybdenum veins uncovered in recent drilling. The company reported intervals such as 31 ft at 0.48% WO₃ with 1.84 oz/ton silver and plans to complete an...
DRDGOLD posted a record 50c interim dividend while financing its R10 billion Vision 2028 expansion entirely from free cash flow, despite a 9% dip in gold output. The company benefited from a $3,788‑per‑ounce gold price, which boosted revenue and lifted cash balances...
Zambia’s Minerals Regulation Commission has lifted the week‑long suspension of underground operations at Mopani Copper Mines’ Mufulira mine after the company installed upgraded safety systems. The new measures include a real‑time personnel tracking platform, a two‑hour clearance verification process, and...
Glencore announced a lease agreement with DRC state miner Gécamines that secures additional land titles, extending the Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) life of mine into the 2040s and targeting 300,000 tonnes of copper output by 2028. The deal follows a...
The Lily Mine collapse in 2016 triggered a business rescue that has now stretched ten years without resolution. The mine remains closed, the three miners unrecovered, creditors unpaid, and no funding has been verified for revised rescue plans. The case...
Fidelity Gold Refinery published its official gold buying rates for 18 February 2026. Prices are quoted in US dollars per gram and per troy ounce, ranging from $148.79/gram ($4,627.89/oz) for 90%+ purity to $141.70/gram ($4,407.37/oz) for 5‑10 g samples. The fire‑assay cash price...
Pan African Resources announced a maiden interim dividend of 12 South African cents per share, translating to a R280 million payout. The six‑month results showed earnings up 192% to US 0.073 per share, while net debt collapsed 69.3% to $46.2 million and cash...
Mutapa Energy’s Sandawana lithium mine will more than double its concentrate output to 162,000 tonnes in FY2026, a 122% increase over the prior year. The company has secured US$250 million to build a new concentrator plant, with construction slated to start...
The Jáchal and Iglesias communities in northwestern Argentina reported thousands of dead silverside fish downstream of Barrick Gold’s Veladero mine in early November 2025. While Barrick and provincial officials claim no spill occurred, independent testing by the University of Cuyo...
Eloro Resources (TSX:ELO, OTCQX:ELRRF) is an exploration and mine‑development firm focused on the Iska Iska silver‑tin polymetallic property in Bolivia's Potosí Department. The company touts the deposit as a potential giant, citing high‑grade silver and tin mineralization. Eloro remains publicly...
Over the past year European intermediaries have quoted rare‑earth oxide prices that are several times higher than the volume‑backed market rates, creating widespread confusion. Adamas Intelligence data shows that 75% of yttrium oxide, 96% of dysprosium oxide and 95% of...
Global demand for copper, driven by AI, renewable energy and electric vehicles, is spurring a rapid expansion of Zambia’s mining sector. Since 2022, more than $12 billion has been poured into the industry, lifting 2024 output by roughly eight percent to...
