Today's Mining Pulse
Updated 3h ago
Australian court orders Gina Rinehart to pay $200M in royalties
Australia’s Supreme Court ordered mining magnate Gina Rinehart to pay roughly US$200 million in royalties to the heirs of Peter Wright. The ruling lets Hancock Prospecting keep its Hope Downs and East Angelas iron‑ore tenements, and the payout represents a modest dent in Rinehart’s estimated US$25 billion fortune.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Virtus acquires DRC miner Chemaf for $30M
Neila Creek Site Visit Takeaways and What’s Ahead for Golden Globe's Gold Projects
Golden Globe Resources (ASX:GGR) is advancing its Neila Creek project in New South Wales, having completed two diamond drill holes and started a third. Samples from the first two holes are now in the assay lab, with results expected soon. The recent broker site visit highlighted strong momentum and enthusiasm for rapid assay turnaround. Rising gold and copper prices give the project a favorable pricing environment as it moves toward its next development phase.
Helium Shortage Exposes Hidden Bottleneck Threatening Chip Production
A looming global helium shortage, sharpened by recent Strait of Hormuz tensions, is constraining ultra‑high‑purity helium supplies essential for semiconductor fabs. The bottleneck threatens to slow chip output at TSMC, Samsung and other makers, potentially driving up technology prices.
Oil Spikes 8% After Trump Blocks Iranian Ports
Oil prices have surged roughly 8% following news of President Trump's announced blockade of Iranian ports. Brent crude is currently trading around $102 per barrel. Was above $104 earlier.
Resourcing Tomorrow Awards to Highlight Mining Excellence at London Event Dec 3, 2026
The Resourcing Tomorrow Outstanding Achievement Awards will take place in London on Dec 3, 2026, coinciding with the close of the Resourcing Tomorrow Conference. The ceremony will recognize breakthroughs in sustainability, operational transformation and leadership across the global mining sector, signaling where...
2025 Lithium Mine Rankings Reveal Top Producers and Shifting Supply Landscape
Discovery Alert's 2025 ranking of lithium mines identifies South America’s brine operations and Australia’s hard‑rock sites as the dominant producers. Tier 1 mines, each outputting over 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), now account for the bulk of a 22%...
Tivan Names Robert Gerrard COO to Accelerate Critical Minerals Projects
Tivan Limited announced the appointment of Robert Gerrard as Chief Operating Officer, effective 20 April 2026. Gerrard brings more than 18 years of experience in large‑scale mining and LNG projects, most recently at KBR, to oversee engineering, construction and commissioning of the company’s...
High-Grade Gold Strengthens GoldArc Production Path at Mt Stirling JV
GoldArc Resources reported high‑grade gold intercepts from grade‑control drilling at its Mt Stirling joint‑venture in Western Australia. A key hole delivered 10 metres at 8.04 g/t Au, including a 2‑metre zone of 23.2 g/t, confirming grade continuity for the 137,000‑ounce resource. The results are...
Australia-First Sandvik MC431 Marks Continuous Mining Milestone
Sandvik has shipped the first MC431 continuous miner to Australia after completing factory acceptance testing in Austria. The double‑pass, 400 kW machine is purpose‑built for place‑change mining and inherits the reliability of the MC430, which logged 13 years of service in...
PTR Adds Titanium Firepower as Rosewood Takes Shape
PTR Minerals is strengthening its Rosewood titanium project by hiring former Iluka metallurgist Victor Bruinsma to head up metallurgy and seasoned mineral sands marketer Neil Patten‑Williams to lead product marketing. The new hires will focus on testwork, flowsheet optimisation, grade...
Axel REE Selects Woolrich as First Field Trial Site for Rare Earth ISR at Caladão
Australian‑listed Axel REE (ASX: AXL) has chosen the Woolrich deposit in the Caladão project’s Area B as the site for its first in‑situ recovery (ISR) field trial of rare earth elements. The 2‑hectare test will generate pregnant leach solution using magnesium‑sulphate,...
NT Strengthens Asia Ties with Targeted Investor Roadshow
The Northern Territory government launched a targeted investor roadshow to Japan and South Korea, led by Trade Minister Robyn Cahill. The delegation will meet more than 50 Japanese and 20 Korean firms, showcasing opportunities in energy, digital infrastructure, and critical...
Queen Alexandra Infill Hits Boost Redcastle’s Gold Development Plans
Redcastle Resources’ infill drilling at the Queen Alexandra (QA) gold project in Western Australia returned high‑grade assays, including 4 m at 12.3 g/t Au from 32 m depth, confirming that mineralisation extends below and beyond the 2025 conceptual pit. The results broaden the...
EV Resources Advances Mexico Antimony Hub Toward Near-Term Production
EV Resources (ASX: EVR) has progressed all major workstreams at its Mexico antimony hub, launching geophysical surveys at Los Lirios and advancing a maiden drilling campaign while refurbishing the Tecomatlán processing plant for second‑half 2026 production. Eleven diamond holes were completed...
Australia Acts To Secure Urea Amid Supply Risk From Iran War
Australia has created a government‑industry working group to protect urea supplies threatened by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war. About 60% of the nation’s urea imports travel through the strait, and while current reserves are adequate,...
FSP Launches World’s First Wet Regeneration Plant, Cutting Fresh Sand Demand by up to 90%
FSP Foundry Sand Processing GmbH commissioned the world’s first wet regeneration facility, capable of handling 60,000 t of spent sand per year and supplying about 100 t weekly to a major automotive foundry. The plant’s patented process recovers up to 90% of...
Second Inflation Wave Revives Commodity Prices
My latest monthly client memo: The Second Wave of Inflation and the Commodity Comeback https://t.co/4L7dEvdDn4 https://t.co/eRCYHTHapt
Gold Tumbles as US Blockade of Hormuz Raises Inflationary Risks
Gold prices plunged 2.2% on Monday, slipping below $4,650 an ounce after the United States announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The move triggered a sharp rise in oil and natural‑gas prices, pushing the Bloomberg Dollar Spot...
How AEM's 'Rare-Earth-Free' Tech Aims to De-Risk EV Supply Chains
Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) has moved its rare‑earth‑free electric‑motor technology from the lab to commercial pilots, promising EV manufacturers a path away from neodymium‑based magnets. The design replaces rare‑earth materials with copper windings and optimized iron cores while maintaining comparable...
Powering Australia’s Next Phase of Decarbonisation: Why Long-Duration Storage Must Lead
Western Australia has launched an expression of interest for a 500 MWh vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) project, positioning long‑duration storage at the heart of its decarbonisation agenda. CEO James Costello of EORA Energy argues that VRFBs, with discharge times exceeding...
Iron Ore Waits on the War
Iron ore markets are in a holding pattern as improving peace prospects in the Gulf reduce geopolitical risk, but the broader ferrous complex remains weak. Steel prices have resumed their decline, reflecting lingering demand concerns. Port inventories have risen to...
Osaka Titanium Slashes Sales Forecast Amid Weak Demand
Osaka Titanium cut its sales forecast as aerospace inventory adjustment and weak industrial demand hurt titanium sponge sales. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/osaka-titanium-sales-forecast-cut.html
How the Iran War Is Disrupting Gulf Economies: 5 Key Effects
The Iran‑U.S./Israel war has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, cutting global oil flows by roughly 8 million barrels per day and driving war‑risk insurance premiums up to 1,000 %. Gulf Cooperation Council economies are confronting steep GDP declines—up to 14 % in...
Yeah, Nah to Gallium as a Side Hustle: Alumina Route Shortchanges Recoveries
Gallium, a critical metal for semiconductors and defence, is overwhelmingly supplied by China, exposing U.S. security interests. Australia is positioning its alumina industry as a low‑risk source, with projects at Alcoa's Wagerup refinery and emerging miners like Mount Ridley, Nimy...
Gum Creek Greenstone Belt Consolidation Draws Attention to Its Gold Riches
The emerging Gum Creek Greenstone Belt in Western Australia hosts a mix of historic production and a growing modern gold resource base. Horizon Gold’s flagship Gum Creek project reports a 38 Mt resource at 1.89 g/t, equivalent to about 2.3 Moz of gold,...
Kristie Batten: Javelin Counting Down to Gold Production
Javelin Minerals (ASX:JAV) is gearing up to produce gold at its Eureka mine in Western Australia after signing a right‑to‑mine agreement with MEGA Resources. MEGA will provide up to AUD 25 million (~US $16.5 million) in funding and $250,000 AUD (~US $165,000) per month in...
India Unveils Incentive Plan to Process Lithium and Nickel Domestically
India's mining secretary Piyush Goyal said the government is finalising an incentive scheme to encourage domestic lithium and nickel processing. The move targets import dependence for electric‑vehicle batteries and seeks to build local refining capacity, a policy first reported by...
Chinese Rare Earth Producer Hikes Q2 Price by 44%
China Northern Rare Earth Group announced a Q2 2026 concentrate price of 38,804 yuan ($5,390) per tonne, a 44.6% jump from the first quarter and more than double the level a year earlier. The price is tied to a formula that...
Colombia’s Energy Crisis Deepens as Oil Output Falls and Imports Rise
Colombia’s oil production slipped to 734,924 barrels per day in February, a 2.7% year‑over‑year decline and the lowest level since July 2021. Natural‑gas output also fell, pushing imports to roughly 20% of total consumption, up from under 4% a year earlier....
Deep-Sea Mining Heats up as New Player Challenges Early Mover Advantage
Deep Sea Minerals (CNSX: SEAS), a rebranded Canadian firm, closed an oversubscribed $4.22 million private placement and has applied for a U.S. deep‑seabed exploration license in the Clarion‑Clipperton Zone and the Cook Islands EEZ. The company plans an asset‑light approach, contracting...
Op-Ed: How Gold Became National Security Infrastructure
In April 2026 the Banque de France moved its entire sovereign gold holdings back to French soil, swapping 129 tonnes of legacy bars for compliant bullion and realizing a €12.8 billion (≈ $13.8 billion) gain. France joins Germany, India and other nations in an...
Rio Tinto to Cease Production at Diavik Diamond Mine by 2026, Ending 23‑Year Run
Rio Tinto announced that the Diavik diamond mine in Canada will stop production in early 2026, concluding a 23‑year operation that yielded more than 150 million carats. The decision reflects declining ore grades, rising costs and shifting global diamond demand, and...
Researchers Examine Role of Leafy Vegetables in Alternative Mining Methods
Researchers at the University of Queensland have shown that common Brassicaceae vegetables, such as kale and broccoli, can accumulate the toxic yet valuable metal thallium in their leaves. Using micro‑X‑ray fluorescence and X‑ray diffraction mapping, the team observed crystallised thallium...
Central Asia: The New Energy Battleground Not On Your Radar
The Iran‑Hormuz crisis exposed the fragility of global energy routes and turned attention to Central Asia’s untapped oil and gas reserves. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are quietly shifting export reliance from Russia toward China, which has already financed and built...
Oil Tankers U-Turn In Hormuz As US-Iran Talks Break Down
Two empty crude tankers and an Aframax‑class vessel attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday but made last‑minute U‑turns near Iran's Larak and Qeshm islands. The VLCC Mombasa B succeeded in navigating the Iran‑approved corridor, while Agios Fanourios I...
Pogo at 20: Looks Ahead to Golden Future
Pogo mine marked its 20th anniversary after producing more than 5.4 million ounces of gold since 2006, with 2025 output around 270,000 ounces. Owned by Northern Star Resources, the operation has extended its life beyond the original ten‑year plan through increased...
Here’s A List Of Gulf Energy Infrastructure Damaged In Iran War
Missile and drone strikes have damaged dozens of oil refineries, gas processing plants, pipelines and ports across the Gulf since the Iran‑Israel conflict erupted six weeks ago. Key facilities such as Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery (550,000 bbl/day), the East‑West pipeline, and...
Inside the American Startups Trying to Break China's Mineral Chokehold
Phoenix Tailings, a New Hampshire startup, has raised $120 million to process rare‑earth metals from mine tailings, aiming to close the U.S. supply‑chain gap that China dominates at the mid‑stream stage. The company claims a zero‑emission process that extracts, separates, and...
Coal Imports Fall 8.5% in February Amid High Stockpiles, Firm Global Prices
India’s coal imports dropped 8.5% in February, reaching 16.55 million tonnes, as record domestic stockpiles and firm seaborne prices curbed demand. Non‑coking coal fell to 9.80 MT, while coking coal rose slightly to 3.92 MT. Domestic production rose 4.98% to 1,047.5 MT, keeping power‑plant...
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FUELLING WAR: ‘Hypocrisy’: Critics Slam SA for Boosting Coal Exports to Israel Despite Gaza Genocide Case
South Africa’s coal exports to Israel surged in the past two years, reaching roughly 2.99 million tonnes between October 2023 and December 2025, even as Pretoria pursues a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The increase followed Colombia’s decision...
Codelco, Quiborax Secure Ascotan Lithium, Boost State Strategy
Codelco and Quiborax moved to secure lithium rights at Ascotan, deepening Chile’s state-led lithium strategy. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/codelco-lithium-ascotan-move-expands.html
Macquarie Ups Near‑Term Copper, Lithium Forecasts Amid Strong Financial Flows
Macquarie raised near-term copper and lithium forecasts as financial flows continue to outweigh soft physical signals. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/04/macquarie-near-term-copper-outlook.html
India’s BEML Launches All Electric 35 T Class Mining Truck
BEML Ltd unveiled the BH35-2 EV, India’s first indigenous 35‑tonne electric dump truck, at its Mysuru complex. The truck features a 300 kWh lithium‑ion battery, a permanent‑magnet synchronous motor and regenerative braking, delivering 85‑90% drivetrain efficiency. BEML claims the vehicle can...
Australian EV Surge Won’t Lift Lithium Prices Soon
Australian electric vehicle boom won’t drive higher lithium prices in the near term: Wood Mackenzie https://t.co/D6uz3IGI8N
From Sanctions Relief to Blockade in Three Weeks
I’m old enough to remember when the Trump administration eased US sanctions on Iranian oil. “In essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against Tehran to keep the price down,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the time....
Tin Prices Surge in 2026 as Supply Constraints and Tech Demand Tighten Market
Tin prices have surged in 2026, driven by a tight supply base concentrated in unstable regions and accelerating demand from the electronics sector. The combination of geopolitical risk, a depleted mine base and limited new projects is reshaping the tin...
Aramco Restores East-West Pipeline, No Port Disruptions
Now the flow of crud in the Saudi East-West pipeline is restored to full capacity, it is important to know that Saudi daily loading in western ports was not affected. Oil in storage was more than enough. https://t.co/I1FOWuECCi
Vitol’s Star Trader Loses Hundreds of Millions in Iran War
A team at Vitol led by a star trader took a several hundred million dollar hit early in the Iran war after bets in the oil market went awry, people familiar with the matter said https://t.co/wVuSf1Bx1e
Latin America Races to Secure Rare‑Earth Supply as Brazil Proposes State‑Run Critical‑Mineral Firm
Brazil's ruling PT party introduced legislation to create Terrabras, a state‑owned enterprise to explore and process critical minerals, signaling a sovereign push in Latin America. The move comes as the region draws attention from the U.S., EU and other powers...
Panicked Barrel Rush Fuels Global Oil Market Turmoil
A panicked race for barrels is gripping the global oil market https://t.co/BFDckZshjd via @yongchang_chin @Bill_Lehane https://t.co/TY5ixVnnec
India Tackles Fuel Shortage with Export Tax, Not Ban
🇮🇳Several countries, including China, banned exports of petroleum products. India is doing the same using a different approach. India Raises Export Tax on Diesel, Jet Fuel Amid Energy Crisis
