Today's Mining Pulse
Updated 3h ago
Uranium Royalty to acquire Sweetwater Royalties in $1.1B deal
Uranium Royalty announced a $1.1 billion acquisition of Sweetwater Royalties, valuing the combined entity at roughly $1.9 billion including debt. The new US‑based parent will seek a Nasdaq listing, with Orion Resource Partners holding 43% and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan 16% of the company.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Virtus acquires DRC cobalt and copper miner Chemaf for $30M
Bangladesh in Ship Recycling Pole Position but Supply Remains Weak
Bangladeshi ship‑recycling yards have seized the pricing lead, offering $490‑495 for container vessels as stable exchange rates lift steel‑plate costs. The sector, however, is hampered by a shortage of scrap candidates and lingering OFAC‑sanctioned VLCCs that remain outside port limits. Credit availability has improved post‑Eid, but geopolitical tensions keep day rates high and owners cautious. Indian yards stay the cheapest option on the subcontinent, yet LPG supply disruptions and limited documentation continue to constrain their market share, while Turkish facilities remain uncompetitive for mainstream tonnage.
Pioneer Minerals Notches up Springfield Milestone in US Tungsten, Gallium Race
Pioneer Minerals has submitted a plan of operations to the U.S. Forest Service for a low‑impact reverse‑circulation drilling program at its Springfield tungsten‑gallium prospect in Idaho. The proposal calls for up to 15 deep drill holes and up to 20...
Australia, United States Outline Joint Steps to Secure Critical Minerals Supply Chains
Australia and the United States have formalized a bilateral framework to secure critical‑minerals and rare‑earth supply chains, committing at least $1 billion each in financing within six months. The partnership establishes a Critical Minerals Supply Security Response Group to pinpoint vulnerabilities...
Eureka Gold Mine Beats 2025 Target, Continues Production Growth Streak
Eureka Gold Mine, owned by Dallaglio Investments, produced 1,969.5 kg of gold in FY2025, beating its target by 1.46%. The mine continued its budget‑beating streak in January 2026, delivering 183.8 kg, 5.39% above forecast. A $4 million tailings storage facility upgrade—part of a...
Gold Hits up to 41.25g/t Confirm Growth Potential for Ausgold at Katanning
Ausgold reported exceptionally high‑grade gold intercepts at its Katanning Gold Project, including up to 41.25 g/t Au over a 2‑metre interval within an 11‑metre zone. Infill and extensional drilling also revealed wide mineralised zones beyond the current reserve, suggesting substantial upside...
DryFlow Magnetics Ramps up Manufacturing for Waterless Iron Ore Tech
DryFlow Magnetics, an Adelaide‑based industrial tech firm, has secured an additional seed‑funding round following a $10 million AUD (~$6.6 million USD) raise in December 2025. The capital will fund manufacturing and installation of its first commercial pilot plant at a South Australian...
West Coast Chases Deeper Silver at Elizabeth Hill
West Coast Silver (ASX:WCE) has launched a diamond drilling campaign of up to 1,500 m across six holes at its Elizabeth Hill project in Western Australia. The program focuses on testing depth extensions of high‑grade silver mineralisation along the Munni Munni...
Ex‑Rokos and Brevan Howard Veteran Launches $359 Million Commodities Hedge Fund
Luke Sadrian, a former partner at Rokos Capital Management and Brevan Howard, has rolled out the Fulcrum Commodities Fund, a $359 million vehicle that posted a 30.5% return since its October 2025 launch. The fund’s early performance and rising allocator interest...
In Hot Pursuit: High-Priority Target Supports Rio Grande Sur Expansion Post-PFS
Australian lithium producer Pursuit Minerals has identified a high‑priority brine target in its Mito tenement, part of the Rio Grande Sur project in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle. New CSAMT data shows a large, continuous conductive system extending beyond 1 km depth, prompting a 3,200 m...
US Navy Blockade Targets Iranian Oil Flow to China
🎯China was never meant to keep getting oil through the Strait of Hormuz. This is a major card for the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting. That's why the US Navy has imposed a blockade — to plug the 'leaks' of Iranian oil...
Nova Uncovers Gold Anomaly Near 8.65Moz Korbel Resource
Nova Minerals announced a new gold anomaly at the Portage Pass prospect, located just 2.5 km from its 8.65 Moz Korbel resource in Alaska’s Estelle project. Surface sampling returned seven rock samples above 2 g/t Au, including a 14.3 g/t intercept, and ten soil...
Perth Mint Flagged for Rare Earths Processing Push
The Western Australian government is encouraging the state‑owned Perth Mint to expand beyond gold into rare‑earth processing. Premier Roger Cook highlighted the mint’s existing expertise as a foundation for building a domestic critical‑minerals refining capability. The move follows Albemarle’s recent...
Iran Conflict Boosts Copper Demand Amid Chile Production Dip
Chile — the Saudi Arabia of copper — is already seeing production roll over before any 2nd-order war effects. The implications of the Iran conflict for the mining industry are being underappreciated, despite the severity of the situation. This dynamic is...
Northern Territory Raises Exploration Profile as Seminar Kicks Off
The Northern Territory launched its Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) 2026 in Alice Springs, drawing more than 300 delegates worldwide. Minister Gerard Maley highlighted the Territory’s rich mineral and energy assets and pledged stronger incentives and an expanded exploration grants...
Aluminum Peaks at Four-Year High Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Aluminum hit a new four-year high as Middle East tensions, higher oil prices, and supply fears lifted metals. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/aluminum-four-year-high-signals-rising.html
Monte Muambe Rare Earth Project Secures USTDA Backing
Altona’s Monte Muambe rare earth project in Mozambique gained USTDA support, boosting development credibility. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/monte-muambe-rare-earth-project-gains.html
‘Can-Do Culture’ Delivers Black Cat’s Kal East Milestone
Black Cat Syndicate announced that its Lakewood processing plant is now handling 100% of ore from its Fingals open‑pit and Majestic underground mines at Kal East. The company has stockpiled 183,000 tonnes of ore, and Lakewood’s throughput and recoveries are...
High-Grade Gold Hits Build Anticipation at Crown Prince East Ahead of Mining
New Murchison Gold announced high‑grade gold intercepts from reverse‑circulation drilling at its Crown Prince East satellite pit in Western Australia. The drill program returned notable results such as 18 m at 10.3 g/t gold, including 6 m at 29.3 g/t, and several other intervals above 10 g/t. The...
Blackstone Minerals PFS Drilling at Mankayan Nears Restart as Cease and Desist Order Lifted
Blackstone Minerals has had a municipal cease‑and‑desist order lifted, clearing the way to restart drilling at its Mankayan copper‑gold project in the Philippines. The company plans to drill up to ten holes, each 800‑1,000 metres deep, as part of a pre‑feasibility...
Foreign Firms Earn 53‑fold Profit on Zimbabwe Lithium, Sparking Controversy
Multinational miners are making up to $20,000 per tonne from Zimbabwe lithium exports, a 53‑fold markup over the $370 production cost. The windfall has ignited a dispute between foreign firms, the Zimbabwean government and local workers over revenue sharing and...
Three Firms Launch Multi-Year Program for New PGM Applications
Johnson Matthey, Sibanye-Stillwater, and Valterra launched a multi-year programme to develop new PGM applications. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/pgm-technology-partnership-targets-new.html
Stardust Power Expands US Lithium Supply Pipeline for Oklahoma Refinery
Stardust Power (NASDAQ: SDST) signed a Letter of Intent to purchase up to 15,000 metric tons per year of lithium chloride from a California brine project, securing feedstock for its Muskogee, Oklahoma refinery. Initial deliveries are slated for Q1 2028, with...
Thanks, Trump! — Here’s What Happens when the World Runs Low on Helium
The article explains how the United States’ decision under the Trump administration to sell off its federal helium reserve has accelerated a global helium shortage. With Qatar supplying roughly a third of the world’s supply and the U.S. reserve now...
P2.67-B Gold Mining Project in Camarines Norte up for Review
Golden River Mining Corp., led by politician Ricardo Silverio Jr., has filed a proposal to develop a PHP2.67 billion (≈$48 million) gold mine in Paracale, Camarines Norte. The 321‑hectare project promises local job creation, infrastructure upgrades, and higher tax revenues for municipal...
US Fertilizer Market Faces Increasing Scrutiny
U.S. phosphate exports surged in Q1 2024, tightening domestic supplies as global fertilizer trade is disrupted by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Prices have climbed to the highest levels since 2022, prompting criticism from President Donald Trump and...
Gold Resource Corporation Announces Contract With SLR for Completion of the Back Forty Feasibility Study
Gold Resource Corp (GORO) has hired Responsible Mining Solutions, part of SLR Consulting, to complete a full feasibility study for its Back Forty gold‑silver project in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The study will assess mine design, processing options, infrastructure, environmental factors...
RCRM Technology Enhances Stability in Deep Mining Operations
Researchers published a Scientific Reports study showing that Roof Cutting and Retaining by Mining (RCRM) technology stabilizes roadways in deep, fault‑crossing mines. By using caved gangue as an automatic fill, RCRM redistributes stress and reduces deformation around geological faults. Field...
Chevron Agrees to Heavy-Oil Asset Swap with Venezuela’s PDVSA
Chevron announced an asset swap with Venezuela’s state oil firm PDVSA, increasing its working interest in the Petroindependencia joint venture to 49%. The deal also grants Chevron’s Petropiar subsidiary rights to develop the Ayacucho 8 heavy‑oil field adjacent to existing assets....
Argentina River Auction Draws Fire From U.S. Dredger Over ‘Cooked’ Tender
Argentina’s government, under President Javier Milei, launched a high‑profile concession to deepen the Paraná River, a critical artery for grain exports. The tender pits a Belgian‑led incumbent consortium against a rival group that includes U.S. dredger Great Lakes Dredge & Dock and...
Paladin’s Namibia Restart Sharpens Africa’s Uranium Relevance During Wave of Reactor Builds
Paladin Energy has restarted its Langer Heinrich uranium mine in Namibia, targeting full production of about 4 million pounds of uranium per year by the end of June 2026. The restart lifts Namibia to roughly 12% of global uranium output, reinforcing...
SILVER IS THE TRIPLE-IDENTITY ASSET: China's $48T M2 Explosion, Countries Hoarding Silver, the Export Ban, the Structural Deficit, & Why...
China’s broad money supply (M2) has surged past $48 trillion, dwarfing the combined US and EU totals, and is expected to add $4.5 trillion in 2025 alone. The expansion is prompting both the state and citizens to hoard hard assets, especially silver,...
CHINA TO BAN SULFURIC ACID EXPORTS: Copper and Uranium Mining Impacted, Bullish and Bearish Catalyst, Who Loses, & This Mining...
China announced it will halt exports of byproduct sulfuric acid starting in May 2026. The acid is a core reagent for heap‑leaching copper and uranium ores, so the ban threatens to raise input costs and curb output in mining hubs...
U.S. and Australia Commit $5 B to Fast‑Track Critical‑Minerals Projects
The United States and Australia have sealed a $5 billion financing agreement to fund Australian critical‑minerals projects, aiming to boost production of lithium, rare earths and other materials vital for the energy transition. The deal is expected to strengthen supply chains...
America-First Puts Aussie Miners in the Running for Big Bucks
Washington’s “America‑first” push is channeling billions into critical‑minerals projects, putting several ASX‑listed junior miners in line for U.S. funding and strategic contracts. Project Vault alone offers about $12 billion to build a U.S. Critical Minerals Reserve, while a $10 billion EXIM loan...
FireFox Gold – Mustajärvi Drill Results: Expanding the East Zone & Connecting High-Grade Discoveries
FireFox Gold announced drill results from Finland's Mustajärvi Project, highlighting systematic expansion of the East Zone with 22 holes drilled using a fence‑drilling approach. The company reported high‑grade intercepts, including 13 meters at 6.29 g/t gold and 10 meters at 3.5 g/t gold, bolstering...
Hormuz Crisis Slashes OPEC Output, Sparks Global Energy Turmoil
🎡The Hormuz Crisis Reduces OPEC Production by 7.9 mb/d 🎡Kazakhstan's Crude Production Recovers 🎡EU Dependence on Russian Gas to Increase 🎡Iran War, Hormuz & Petrodollar 🎡US Blockade of the Blockade 🎡Panic and Oil Hoarding 🎡Saudi Oil to China: Watch Chinese Inventories 🎡India to Get Iranian Oil, But...
Fortescue Calls Fossil‑Free Transition a No‑Brainer, Others Lag
Fortescue says ditching fossil fuels is a “no-brainer:” So why aren’t other companies rushing to follow #energysky -- via Renew Economy: https://t.co/Ik7uaMvCv8 https://t.co/SWLlGYSuFI
USDA’s Vaden Slams Mosaic for Fertilizer Cuts Amid Crisis
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Stephen Vaden publicly rebuked The Mosaic Company for idling its Araxá and Patrocínio phosphate mines in Brazil, warning that removing roughly a million tons of supply will push global fertilizer prices higher. Mosaic defended the shutdown as...
KSM JV Talks Narrowed to Single Preferred Partner
@GoldSeabridge 's Rudi Fronk said discussions with joint venture partners for KSM have moved "down to one single company who we're calling our preferred company." $SEA https://t.co/sV5DBrKyes https://t.co/FOmovg6Fc7
Oil's Hidden Role Powers Every Corner of Economy
"Oil is an absolutely essential commodity that's built into our economy in all sorts of ways that are not immediately obvious." https://t.co/cLvjjzdJDU
Uganda: Miners Protest Eviction As Police Enforce Mining Ban in Kassanda
Uganda's Mineral Protection Unit deployed police to enforce a Ministry directive ordering gold miners at Mugobwa‑Katuugo in Kassanda District to vacate the site. Miners assert they operate legally under small‑scale mining guidelines and fear loss of income and equipment. The...
Congo Miners Slash Chemicals Amid Iran War Supply Disruption
Exclusive: Congo copper and cobalt miners cut chemical use as Iran war disrupts supplies, sources say - https://t.co/5DDE1vPMdu
Join Bloomberg's Commodity Outlook Webinar April 17
Please join our commodity Outlook Webinar I will host our Bloomberg Intelligence Commodity outlook webinar on Friday April 17 at 10am ET. This session should be both fun and edmucational. As independent strategists, we will discuss and debate our differing...
Dig, Baby, Dig: What It Means for Canada to Build the Mines Its ‘Clean’ Future Depends on – by Falice...
Canada’s clean‑energy ambitions hinge on dramatically expanding domestic mining for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and rare earths. The article argues that the real bottleneck in the energy transition is supply‑side infrastructure, not demand, and that scaling mining, processing...
Boundary Divide: Beneath the Minnesota Wilderness Lies Untouched Deposits of Critical Minerals. A Town Near the Canadian Border Confronts What...
The U.S. Senate is poised to decide whether to lift the mining ban in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, a region that sits atop the massive Duluth Complex. This undeveloped deposit holds roughly a third of the nation’s copper, 88 % of its...
Fujimori Leads Peru Presidential Vote as Mining Risks Rise – by Cecilia Jamasmie – April 13, 2026)
Keiko Fujimori topped Peru’s first‑round presidential vote with 17.17%, narrowly ahead of former Lima mayor Rafael López Aliaga’s 16.97%, triggering a June 7 runoff. Fujimori positions herself as pro‑U.S. and investor‑friendly, promising clearer mining regulations to attract foreign capital. The election comes...
Prolonged Hormuz Strait Closure Would Have ‘Profound’ Impact on Mining: Friedland – by Frederic Tomesco (Northern Miner – April 13,...
Ivanhoe Mines co‑chairman Robert Friedland warned that a prolonged shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz would sharply tighten global sulfur markets, cutting roughly half of the seaborne sulfur supply. With about 20% of worldwide copper production dependent on sulfuric‑acid leaching,...
Forty Years After Chernobyl, Uranium Market Rebounds but Fragility Persists – by Aurel Sèdjro Houenou (Ecofin Agency – April 12,...
Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, the uranium market has rebounded, with spot prices climbing to $101 per pound in early 2026. The surge reflects renewed global interest in civil nuclear power as part of the broader energy transition. Higher...
“Rotten Eggs”: The Hidden Role of Sulfur in the Global Economy – by Amanda Van Dyke (Substack – April 13,...
Sulfur, the element behind the smell of rotten eggs, underpins food production, metal refining, battery manufacturing, and data‑center cooling. Most elemental sulfur today is recovered as a by‑product of sour oil and gas refining through the Claus process, feeding the...
‘Energy Dominance’ Agenda Sidelines Tribes – by Anna V. Smith (High Country News – April 13, 2026)
The federal government granted the Velvet‑Wood uranium mine in Utah a permit through a newly created 14‑day NEPA “emergency” review, slashing the usual months‑long environmental analysis. Tribal governments received only a seven‑day window to comment, and the standard public comment...
