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:
Paladin Targets 2027 Uranium Decision on Patterson Lake South
Paladin Energy said it will decide by the end of 2027 whether to fund the Patterson Lake South (PLS) uranium project in Saskatchewan. The high‑grade Triple R deposit is moving through front‑end engineering, design and permitting after receiving provincial environmental approval. PLS contains about 93.7 million pounds of U₃O₈ at 1.41% grade, targeting 9.1 million pounds of annual production over a 10‑year mine life with first uranium expected in 2031. A judicial review filed by the Métis Nation‑Saskatchewan could delay the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s construction licence.
Opportunities In Gold Explorers And Developers – Part 3
The author resumes the third installment of a series spotlighting opportunities in junior gold explorers and developers. The piece promises to dissect volatile pre‑revenue gold equities, flagging upcoming company catalysts and overlooked value drivers. By revisiting these under‑appreciated assets, the...
Russian Tanker Heads to Iran as Only Regional Oil Exporter
A Russian VLCC crossed the Strait of Hormuz heading to Kharg Island to load Iranian oil. Here you have a war against Iran and Iran is currently the only country in the region actively exporting oil on a daily basis —...
Argentina Passes Glacier Mining Bill
Argentina's Congress approved an amendment to the 2010 Glacial Law, opening high‑altitude glacial regions to mining. The new bill grants individual provinces the authority to set their own environmental standards for such operations. This shift overturns previous nationwide prohibitions on...
Epiroc Underground Loaders and Haulers Head for Zambia
Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia has placed an order for a new fleet of Epiroc underground equipment, including Minetruck MT42 haulers and Scooptram loaders. The machines will operate at the Nkana and Mufulira copper mines, where they are expected to...
Beauce Gold Fields Drilling Beauce Gold Project, Quebec
Beauce Gold Fields (TSXV: BGF) has started a diamond‑drill campaign in the Grondin zone of its Beauce gold project in Quebec. The first phase consists of five holes totaling about 500 m to test depth extensions and continuity of the Saddle...
Weekly Newsletter 10 April 2026
Gold’s price rally has dominated mining headlines over the past year, prompting heightened exploration and production activity across the sector. Mining Magazine’s weekly newsletter underscores this trend while promoting its suite of premium research, including the 2026 Future Fleets Insights,...
Australia Backs Proposed LNG Terminal to Stave Off Victoria’s Gas Supply Crunch
Viva Energy has obtained federal environmental clearance under the EPBC Act for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Geelong Refinery Pier. The approval follows a positive state assessment and allows the project to proceed subject to conditions. Viva...
EU, US Near Critical Minerals Pact to Counter China’s Grip
The European Union and the United States are close to finalising a critical‑minerals pact that would coordinate production, pricing and supply‑chain resilience to curb reliance on China. The draft action plan proposes minimum‑price mechanisms, joint standards, and investment projects, while...
Case Study: Underground Digitalisation at Rampura Agucha
Hindustan Zinc is digitising its flagship Rampura Agucha underground mine in Rajasthan, deploying automated haul trucks, remote‑monitoring sensors, and low‑emission power systems. The initiative links equipment to a central control platform, enabling real‑time performance analytics and predictive maintenance. Early results...
Coal India Absorbs Price Shock Despite Sharp Rise in Operational Costs
Coal India said it will absorb a sharp rise in input costs, including a 44% jump in ammonium nitrate to ₹72,750 per ton (≈$877) and a 54% surge in industrial diesel to ₹142 per litre (≈$1.71). Explosives costs rose 26%...
Strait of Hormuz Control Key to Iran’s Deterrence Strategy
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has formalized control over the Strait of Hormuz, requiring vessel‑by‑vessel clearance and tolls paid in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency. The move leaves roughly 175 fully‑laden tankers—about 150 million barrels of crude and products—stranded in the Arabian...
Gulf of Suez Oil Output on the Rise as New Well Joins in on the Action
GUPCO has brought the South Wasl BB exploration well online in Egypt’s Gulf of Suez, adding roughly 2,500 barrels of oil and 3 million scfd of gas per day. The new well is tied directly into existing facilities, pushing GUPCO’s total output...
Diana Mendez: Women Can Make a Difference
Diana Mendez, executive director of Insuco LatAm, highlighted how women can drive transformative change in the mining sector. Drawing on her experience in Peru, Canada and Mexico, she emphasized gender‑inclusive strategies that improve community relations and operational resilience. Insuco, a...
Radify’s Plasma Reactors Target China’s Rare‑Earth Stronghold with $3M Funding
Radify Metals has closed a funding round of just under $3 million to scale its plasma‑reactor technology that can turn metal oxides into pure rare‑earth metals. The startup says its compact reactors could produce several kilograms of dysprosium and neodymium per...
Australian Dollar Hits 3‑Year High Near $0.72 as RBA Tightens and Commodities Surge
The Australian dollar surged to its strongest level since 2023, trading around 0.7065‑0.7080 USD and up more than 10% year‑over‑year. The rally is driven by the Reserve Bank of Australia's aggressive rate hikes to 4.10% and a robust commodity export...
Ascend Elements Files for Chapter 11 After Raising $1.1 Billion
Battery recycling startup Ascend Elements announced a voluntary Chapter 11 filing Thursday, ending a decade‑long effort that attracted more than $1.1 bn in equity and government grants. The move highlights the capital intensity of circular‑economy ventures and raises questions about the...
Australian Miner Proves Renewables Boost Profit and Planet
No "net zero" fluff: Giant Australian mining group proving that Real Zero is better for planet and profits >24-hour renewables operations by 2027 >100% fossil-fuel-free mining by 2030 >1.2GW solar + 600MW wind + 5GWh BESS >Electrified rail & 800+ haul trucks >$100m saved/ year If...
Nigeria: When There Is No Playbook - Building Community Relations in Nigeria's First Legal Large-Scale Gold Mine
Segilola Resources Operating Limited launched Nigeria’s first legally recognised large‑scale gold mine in Osun State and had to invent a community‑relations framework from scratch. The company openly acknowledged the oil‑and‑gas legacy of mistrust, integrated traditional Yoruba rulers into operational decisions,...
Barry FitzGerald: Gold Streaming Giant Wheaton Confirms True Value in Garimpeiro Copper Pick KGL
Australian junior miner KGL Resources secured a $300 million streaming agreement with Canada’s Wheaton, the world’s largest precious‑metals streaming firm, to monetize future gold and silver from its undeveloped Jervois copper‑silver‑gold project. The deal effectively values KGL at about $204 million, a...
Why Zimbabwe Earns $400 Less Per Tonne of Lithium Than Australia — and the Bold Plan to Fix It
Zimbabwe’s lithium sector is losing $300‑$400 per tonne to Australian rivals because of under‑declared grades, undervalued shipments and transfer‑pricing that divert profits abroad. In February 2026 the Mines Minister imposed an outright ban on raw lithium concentrate exports, demanding verification...
Brazil to Attract $21.3 Bn in Critical Minerals by 2030
Brazil critical minerals investment is projected to reach $21.3bn by 2030, led by copper, nickel, and rare earths. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/brazil-critical-minerals-investment.html
Shell Targets 2027 Gas Start-Up at Loran-Manatee Field
Shell announced that it will start natural gas production from the offshore Loran‑Manatee field in 2027, a joint development straddling Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. The company has boosted the pipeline capacity to transport the gas to Trinidad to 1 billion...
ConocoPhillips Assessing Oil Opportunities in Venezuela
ConocoPhillips is sending a small evaluation team to Venezuela this week to assess oil and gas prospects. The U.S. producer, which left the country in 2007 after nationalization, is still owed roughly $12 billion plus interest from arbitration awards. The move...
Hecla Mining: Undersupplied Silver Market To Drive Growth
Hecla Mining Company (HL) received a Buy rating as analysts anticipate a sustained silver deficit through 2026, which should lift prices. The firm projects 15.1‑16.5 million ounces of silver output next year, driven by low‑cost North American mines that generate strong...
Resources Top 5: Fresh News Keeps These Small-Cap Ressies Growing
The latest Resources Top 5 roundup spotlights five Australian‑listed junior miners that have each delivered a concrete development catalyst. Arika Resources is scaling its 2026 drill program with assays pending from Yundamindra and Kookynie. Latitude 66 secured tenure and permits for its...
Commodities: Oil Supported By Ongoing Supply Risks
Oil prices rose for a second consecutive session as fresh supply‑risk concerns in the Middle East kept Brent near $96 per barrel. Attacks on Saudi and Kuwaiti infrastructure have tightened the market, preserving a geopolitical risk premium despite cease‑fire talks....
Petronas Tasks Petra Energy with Work on Malaysian Gas Project
Petronas Carigali has awarded Petra Resources Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Petra Energy, four work orders for hook‑up and commissioning (HUC) services on the Bintulu Integrated Facilities (BIF) rejuvenation Phase 2. The orders, dated Dec 1 2025 and Jan 2026, total RM 298 million (about $75 million)....
Splash Wrap: Fragile Hormuz Ceasefire Fails to Lift Traffic
A tentative U.S.-Iran cease‑fire has not restored traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving vessel movements at a near‑standstill. Meanwhile, Exmar is set to receive the world’s first ammonia‑powered gas carriers, a 46,000 cu m pair built by Hyundai Heavy Industries. Panama...
Aurum Clears 4M Ounces After West African Gold Resource Surge
Aurum Resources announced a 34% increase in its Napié gold resource, adding a first indicated resource of 0.35 million ounces and bringing the Napié total to 1.16 million ounces. Combined with the 3.03 million ounces at the flagship Boundiali project, Aurum’s group resource...
Epiroc Wins Large Order From Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia
Swedish equipment maker Epiroc AB landed a roughly $20 million contract with Zambia’s Mopani Copper Mines to supply a fleet of Minetruck haulers and Scooptram loaders for its Nkana and Mufulira underground operations. The order, booked in Q1 2026, includes MT436 and...
China's Sulphuric Acid Export Ban Boosts Copper Prices
Chinese authorities have announced that China will not be allowed to export sulphuric acid from next month, with the only exception being electronic‑grade sulphuric acid. This means that neither smelter acid nor sulphur‑based acid can be exported will be able...
Middle East Producers Gear Up for Hormuz Export Restart
Middle East oil producers are urging Asian refiners to submit loading programmes for April and May as they prepare for a possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz following a U.S.-Iran cease‑fire. Saudi Aramco has asked customers to nominate cargoes...
Middle East Producers Gear Up for Hormuz Export Restart
Middle Eastern producers are urging Asian refiners to submit crude loading programmes for April and May as they prepare for a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A two‑week U.S.-Iran ceasefire raised hopes of resuming shipments, but Tehran has...
Alligator Poised for Success at Samphire with Plus-55pc Uranium Recovery
Alligator Energy’s Samphire in‑situ recovery (ISR) trial in South Australia has achieved uranium recoveries above 55% after processing 39 of the planned 60 pore volumes. The returned solution consistently exceeds 200 mg/L U3O8 early on and stays above 100 mg/L, indicating ongoing...
Thenamaris Moves Into Ammonia Shipping Segment
Greek shipowner Thenamaris has placed an order for two 90,000 cu m very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) with China’s Jiangnan Shipyard, with deliveries expected in 2029. The vessels will use low‑resistance hulls optimized for old Panamax dimensions and LPG dual‑fuel engines, targeting...
Kaiser Builds $45.6M War Chest on Steady Vic,Tassie Gold Output
Kaiser Reef closed its March quarter with a cash balance of A$45.6 million (about $30 million USD) and total gold output of 5,534 ounces. Production was driven by the Henty mine in Tasmania, which delivered 5,188 ounces of gold and 4,810 ounces of silver, while...
G Mining Ventures Acquires G2 Goldfields for C$3 Billion
G Mining Ventures announced a C$3 billion (≈US$2.2 billion) acquisition of G2 Goldfields, a move that instantly lifted G2’s shares by 79%. The deal, structured as an all‑cash transaction, gives G Mining control of G2’s flagship gold assets, including the high‑grade Red...
The Commodities Feed: Oil Supported by Ongoing Supply Risks
Oil prices extended gains for a second day as Saudi Arabia’s crude‑export capacity fell roughly 600,000 barrels per day after attacks on its energy infrastructure and a strike on the East‑West pipeline cut another 700,000 barrels. Brent hovered around $96...
Serra Verde Secures $565M US‑Backed Funding for Brazil Rare‑Earth Expansion
Serra Verde secured $565mn in US-backed finance to expand Brazil’s rare earth production and strengthen diversified supply. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/serra-verde-rare-earth-financing.html
European Gas and Power Prices Slide to One-Month Lows
European wholesale natural gas (TTF) and power prices (Germany) are heading toward a 1-month low. The German 1-year forward electricity contract is now at the same level it was back in November. Meanwhile, TTF gas is at the level it...
Government Suspends Mining Operations at Bindura’s Botha Mine
The Zimbabwe Ministry of Mines has ordered an immediate suspension of all operations at Botha Mine and the adjacent area of Freda Rebecca Gold Mine’s Lease 21 in Bindura. The shutdown, issued under Sections 267, 300 and 301 of the 1990 Mining (Management and...
EU and US Near Deal to Counter Chinese Mineral Dominance
EU and US near critical minerals deal to combat Chinese control https://t.co/9Sfd9SN3G1 via @AlbertoNardelli @JoeDeaux https://t.co/t2pPn5nVtw
Zenith Pushes Queensland Gold System Beyond 700m Depth
Zenith Minerals announced that deep diamond drilling at its Red Mountain gold project in Queensland has extended mineralisation beyond 700 m vertical depth, with the deepest hole reaching 758 m. The two latest holes delivered a combined 500 m of intercepts averaging 0.28 g/t...
What Is 1 of the Best Industrial Stocks to Own for the Next 10 Years?
Cameco (CCJ) produced 164 million pounds of uranium in 2025, representing 15% of global output, and posted $3.48 billion in revenue with earnings per share jumping 237% to $1.35. The firm benefits from a low‑debt balance sheet, a 16.9% net profit margin...
Jobs for the Dutts: Former Opposition Leader Gets Queensland Investment Corporation Board Role
Former opposition leader Peter Dutton and ex‑minister Michael Choi have been appointed to the board of Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC). The LNP government says the moves will sharpen focus on critical minerals and defence sector investments. QIC, with about AU$127 billion...
Donald Trump Guts Public Health Protection to Bolster Big Coal
The Trump administration announced a proposal to dismantle federal coal‑ash pollution standards that the EPA first established in 2014 and strengthened in 2024. The rollback would remove limits on mercury, cadmium, chromium and arsenic leaching from ash ponds, exposing communities...
Black Rock Paves Path to Rapid Construction at Green Graphite Trove
Black Rock Mining is nearing completion of its early‑works program at the Mahenge graphite project in Tanzania, despite an unusually wet season that delayed earthworks. The company has finished access‑road upgrades, plant‑site earthworks and a corridor survey for a 220kV...
Monsters of Rock: Can EVs Keep the Weekend Alive?
Australian EV sales surged to a record 14.6% of new car registrations in March, driven by fuel price spikes of about AU$2.53‑3.13 per litre (≈US$1.67‑2.07). The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reported 15,839 battery‑electric vehicles sold, raising questions about reaching...
Tivan Hits High-Grade Copper and Gold at Baucau and Ossu Projects in Timor-Leste
Tivan (ASX:TVN) announced high‑grade copper, gold and cobalt from surface rock‑chip sampling at its Ossu and Baucau projects in Timor‑Leste. Ossu yielded up to 17.4% copper, 38.1 g/t gold and 0.45% cobalt, while Baucau returned up to 0.76% copper and 9.3 g/t...