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:
Kavango Extends Nara Gold Project Acquisition Deadline as Parties Finalize Legal Formalities
London-listed Kavango Resources has pushed the closing date for its 100% acquisition of the Nara Gold Project to March 2026, marking a second delay as legal paperwork is finalized. The Nara asset comprises 45 contiguous gold claims in Matabeleland South, bolstering Kavango’s existing Hillside Gold Project in the Filabusi Greenstone Belt. The extension follows a December deadline of February 27, 2026 and comes after the company raised roughly $8.4 million to fund production growth and exploration. Both Kavango and the seller remain committed to completing the transaction.
Kenmare Suspends Dividend, Cuts Staff to Stabilise Finances
Kenmare Resources announced it will suspend its 2025 final dividend and cut about 15% of its Moma workforce as weak titanium feedstock prices and a delayed WCP A upgrade pressure its finances. The company posted a $23.7 million adjusted loss for...
Gold Buying Prices in Zimbabwe per Gram/ Ounce, 25 March 2026
Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) published its Zimbabwean gold buying rates on 25 March 2026, listing prices per gram and per ounce for several purity grades. The top tier (SG 90% and above) commands $134.03 per gram ($4,168.80 per ounce), while the fire‑assay cash price...
Rio's Boyne Aluminium Smelter Lands $2B Handout
Rio Tinto has secured a landmark $2 billion taxpayer‑funded package from the Queensland and Australian governments to support its Boyne aluminium smelter, the second‑largest in the country. The agreement also bundles roughly $7.5 billion in green‑energy investments aimed at decarbonising the plant...
3ME Achieves Major Milestone with IECEx Certification for BladeVOLT Battery System
Australian specialist 3ME Technology has secured IECEx hazardous‑area certification for its BladeVOLT battery system, a milestone after eight years of engineering and testing. The certification, based on IEC 60079 standards, validates the system’s ability to operate safely in explosive underground...
Rio Tinto Secures Power Deal to Keep Boyne Aluminium Smelter Lights On
Rio Tinto, the Queensland and Commonwealth governments have sealed a A$2 bn ($1.4 bn) partnership to guarantee power for the Boyne aluminium smelter through 2040, extending its competitive edge beyond the current contract that expires in 2029. The deal builds on Rio...
Golden Dragon Flags Million-Ounce-Plus Gold Potential in WA
Golden Dragon Mining announced that its Cue project in Western Australia targets a million‑ounce‑plus gold resource after an independent review of 14 priority targets. The 600‑square‑kilometre land package hosts over 50 km of mineralised shear zones comparable to other orogenic gold...
Weak Refining Economics Heighten Strategic Pressure on US Smelters
US copper smelters face rising strategic pressure as weak refining economics reshape the copper supply chain. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/us-copper-smelters-face-strategic.html
Australian Critical Minerals Approaches First Drilling of Flint Gold-Silver Targets
Australian Critical Minerals (ASX:ACM) is set to commence its maiden diamond drilling at the Flint gold‑silver project in northern Peru on March 31. The program will test two high‑sulphidation epithermal systems within a 4‑km corridor that sits in a prolific...
Parliamentary Hearing to Examine Future of Critical Minerals Sector
Australia’s House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries will hold its first public hearing on March 26 to scrutinize the nation’s critical minerals sector. The inquiry ties into the government’s $22.7 billion Australian Future Made plan—about US$15 billion—highlighting processing capabilities as a...
Trump‑Iran Talks Spark Hormuz Oil Fears, Lift Prices
Trump Iran talks revived Strait of Hormuz oil flow fears and pushed global energy prices higher. https://www.metalnomist.com/2026/03/trump-iran-talks-put-strait-of-hormuz.html
Saudi Red Sea Exports Avert Major Hormuz Oil Disruption
Saudi oil exports from its Western ports on the Red Sea represented the most immediate and largest mitigation of the Hormuz crisis. Logically, any oil transported via pipelines from east to west and loaded at the Red Sea ports must be...
Astral Resources Weaves a Golden Web with High-Grade Spargoville Hits
Astral Resources reported high‑grade gold intersections from its latest 39‑hole, 4,234‑metre infill and extension program at the Wattle Dam Complex in the Spargoville project. Highlights include a 13‑metre interval grading 7.1 g/t Au with a 2‑metre sub‑zone at 34.6 g/t, and multiple...
European Majors Eye US Gas as Future Energy
"Historically, European companies’ attempts to enter the US shale sector have been largely unsuccessful. The question is whether this time will be any different. What is clear, however, is that this move reflects a growing realization—even among European majors—that natural...
China’s ISA Vessels Under Scrutiny as Tonga Signs US Deep‑Sea Mining Deal
Chinese state‑owned vessels have logged just 6% of their open‑water time in International Seabed Authority‑designated mining zones, prompting accusations of dual‑use activity, while Tonga’s new agreement with the United States to explore deep‑sea minerals has ignited local environmental concerns. Both...
Pioneer Steps Into US Defence Supply Chain Spotlight with DIBC Entry
Pioneer Minerals has been accepted into the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), linking its Idaho North Pine tungsten project to defence supply‑chain initiatives. Membership gives Pioneer direct access to government agencies, contractors and potential non‑dilutive funding to boost domestic...
White House Wins Jawboning, yet Oil Prices Defy Expectations
The White House is (truly) winning the oil jawboning battle against Tehran — still to be seen if Trump would win the physical oil market war. But to see Brent trading at sub-$100 a barrel (and WTI below $90) after...
OPEC+ March Crude Supply Hits 2020 Low
OPEC+ crude supply in March will be the lowest since the major production cuts during COVID lockdown in 2020.
Thailand Court Holds Gold Mine Operator Liable in Landmark Environmental Class Action
A Thai court ruled that Akara Resources, operator of the Chatree gold mine, is liable for environmental damage and health harms suffered by more than 300 villagers in Phichit and Phetchabun provinces. The judgment marks Thailand’s first environmental class‑action suit,...
Hormuz Crisis Opens Historic Window for Canadian Oil
🇨🇦The ongoing Hormuz crisis presents a historic opportunity for Canada’s oil and LNG industries. 🇨🇦This is the moment. If we miss it, there may not be another. 👇👇👇 Daily Energy Report Link: https://t.co/9c26JYBjru
Kazakhstan's Export Surge Signals Shifts for OPEC+
Kazakhstan's oil exports recovered: What are the implications for OPEC+ and the oil market? (SEE CHART) DAILY ENERGY REPORT https://t.co/3Iw9dtfnRU
West Coast Silver Drilling to Grow Elizabeth Hill Silver Footprint
West Coast Silver has launched a 4,000‑metre reverse‑circulation drilling campaign at its Elizabeth Hill silver project in Western Australia, targeting extensions of high‑grade mineralisation along the Munni Munni Fault. The program aims to delineate shallow, near‑surface ore that could support...
U.S. Poised to Export Lithium, Power Future Batteries
#RockStockChannel just published its first ever 1-on-1 interview with @LithiumAmericas CEO Jon Evans. For the first 7 years of my now ~18-year lithium journey, the only project I promoted was what I’ve titled this video America’s Lithium. Lithium Americas. Like Mountain Pass...
Magnetic Lifts Lady Julie Underground Production Target in WA
Magnetic Resources has lifted the underground production target for its wholly‑owned Lady Julie gold project in Western Australia to roughly 13 million tonnes at 2 g/t gold, following scoping‑level optimisation. The revised plan forecasts a 14‑19‑year underground mine life with annual output...
Second Diamond Hole Underway as Lodestar Chases Scale at Chile IOCG Target
Lodestar Minerals has begun a second diamond drill hole at its Three Saints IOCG project in northern Chile, following a maiden hole that intersected visible copper‑bearing sulphides from 190 m to 600 m depth. The new hole is being sunk vertically to...
Expro to Deliver Geothermal Well Testing for Vulcan Energy’s Lionheart Project in Germany
Expro has secured a contract to provide geothermal well‑testing services for the first Schleidberg well of Vulcan Energy’s Lionheart project in Germany. The Lionheart initiative, classified under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, aims to pair geothermal power generation with...
New Cat® 6040 Mining Shovel to Help Mining Operations Improve Productivity & Efficiency
Caterpillar unveiled the next‑generation Cat 6040, a 400‑ton class hydraulic mining shovel designed to boost material movement while curbing fuel use and downtime. The machine pairs twin 1,550 kW Cat C32B engines with a variable‑flow hydraulic system that delivers up to 15%...
Fenner Conveyors Takes Major Circularity Step with Launch of INFINITYSERIES Recycled-Content Belts
Fenner Conveyors, a Michelin Group subsidiary, launched the INFINITYSERIES, a new conveyor‑belt line that incorporates 10% locally sourced recycled material. Unveiled at the K‑MIX Material Innovation Hub, the belts target heavy‑industry applications such as mining, ports, processing and agriculture while...
Aluminum Prices Surge 12‑40% Amid US‑Israel Conflict
As a result of the US-Israeli war in Iran, ALUMINUM prices are UP 12-40% THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. The world’s biggest carmakers are reportedly “panic buying.” CARMAKERS SHOULD SEND A BILL FOR DAMAGES TO TRUMP & NETANYAHU. https://t.co/yRInvBpEdm
Pan American Announces Revised PEA for the La Colorada Skarn Project, Positions La Colorada as a Future Top-Tier Silver Mine
Pan American Silver released a revised Preliminary Economic Assessment for its 100% owned La Colorada Skarn Project in Zacatecas, Mexico, outlining a 15,000‑tonne‑per‑day plant and a 37‑year mine life. The plan combines newly identified high‑grade veins with the existing skarn deposit,...
Erdene Announces 2025 Results - Provides Bayan Khundii Gold Mine and Exploration Update
Erdene Resource Development completed construction of the high‑grade Bayan Khundii Gold Mine in Q3 2025 and began production in September, selling 7,434 oz of gold at a weighted‑average $4,187 per ounce, generating roughly $31 million in gross revenue. The mill operates near its 85,000‑oz...
Federal Offshore Critical Minerals Leasing Gains Momentum Near CNMI
On March 18, 2026 the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management issued an Area Identification Recommendation covering more than 69 million acres offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, effectively doubling the original 35.5‑million‑acre request for information. The recommendation advances Executive...
Why IRMA Prioritizes Government Engagement and Robust Legal Frameworks
IRMA stresses that governments must set and enforce mining laws, embedding this principle in its Responsible Mining Standard. The Standard requires operators to meet all host‑country legal requirements and then exceed them with best‑practice measures. IRMA reinforces its legal focus...
U.S. Pushes for Strategic Mineral Reserve Amid Geopolitical Tensions
U.S. policymakers are urging the creation of a strategic reserve for critical minerals used in weapons, electric vehicles and electronics, but details of the plan were not disclosed. The move comes as Middle‑East conflict spikes oil prices and fuels concerns...
CRU Overh
No doubt this is a significant asset but when will #CRU learn how to calculate LCE from spod in a realistic manner and stop over hyping supply that has been all talk for over a decade. https://t.co/e1b41gYPD2
Rick Rule on Goliath: “A Really, Really Interesting Target”
Rick Rule, the veteran mining investor, told Rule Investment Media that Goliath Resources is a "really, really interesting target." The comment came during a brief interview and highlighted Goliath’s copper‑gold exploration assets in Nevada. Although the interview provided few specifics,...
Speed and Security Don't Justify Government Equity Stakes
"Rare Earths, Vulcan, and Government Equity Stakes" https://t.co/O8xyNepv2V via @CatoInstitute @DeHavenTad "The case for speed is not a case for ownership—and the case for national security is not a case for normalizing a model in which politically favored firms receive...
Adelayde Targets Critical Tungsten, Lithium Near Sisson Project
Adelayde Exploration Inc $ADDY.CA $SPMTF Involved in early-stage exploration for critical minerals, including antimony, tungsten, and lithium in Canada and the US. Involved in the Sisson North Tungsten Project in New Brunswick, directly bordering Northcliff Resources Ltd.'s Sisson project.
$16 Million Awarded for Breakthrough Metal-Recovery Innovations
The NSF‑backed Tech Metal Transformation Challenge, run through Stride Ventures, awarded roughly $16 million to eight winning teams for metal‑recovery technologies. Each winner receives up to $2 million in the first 10‑month stage, with potential follow‑on funding of $2.5 million and $3 million for...
Ghana’s Mining Contractor & Owner Operator E&P to Invest US$1.2 Billion at Tarkwa and Damang
Ghanaian contract mining firm Engineers & Planners (E&P) announced a $1.2 billion investment to expand its operations at Gold Fields’ Tarkwa and Damang gold mines. The plan includes deploying 30 Caterpillar 785D haul trucks and builds on a prior $650 million outlay...
U.S. Rare‑Earth Stocks Surge as Government Funding Fuels Investor Interest
USA Rare Earth secured $1.6 bn in U.S. government funding and $1.5 bn from private investors, while MP Materials received a 15% government stake and a $110/kg price floor from the Department of Defense. The twin capital moves have lifted both stocks...
North America Drops 21 Rigs Week on Week
North America’s weekly rig count fell by 21 units to 729, with the United States slipping one rig to 552 and Canada losing 20 rigs, down to 177. U.S. oil rigs rose two while gas rigs fell two, and Canada’s...
InvestorTalk Alert: Brett Marsh From Spartan Metals Corp. To Host on Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Spartan Metals Corp. will host an InvestorTalk with CEO Brett Marsh on March 25, 2026. The company announced it has secured an option to earn 100 % of the Victorio Tungsten‑Molybdenum Project, the largest historic tungsten resource in the United States. The deal...
Malawi: Parliament Proposes Higher Mining Fees and Dollar Payments for Foreign Investors to Boost Malawi's Revenue and Forex
Malawi's Parliament has tabled a proposal to raise mining fees and require foreign investors to pay in US dollars, aiming to increase state revenue and alleviate chronic foreign‑exchange shortages. The minimum fee for local firms would jump from K10,000 (≈$10)...
Homerun Resources Inc. Announces Binding Distribution Agreement with Cristal Sand Group, Securing First Commercial Sales of High-Purity Industrial Silica Sand...
Homerun Resources Inc. has signed a binding 12‑month exclusive sales distribution contract with Cristal Sand Group for high‑purity industrial silica sand from the Santa Maria Eterna district in Bahia, Brazil. The agreement secures the company’s first commercial volumes, with a...
Zijin’s Congo Lithium Mine to Rank Among World’s Biggest
Zijin Mining Group’s Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic of Congo is slated for commissioning in June and will become one of the world’s largest hard‑rock lithium operations. At full capacity it will produce 130,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate...
Record Gold Prices Fail to Lift SA Output
South Africa’s gold production has stalled at roughly 90 tons a year, a sharp decline from its 1970 peak of 1,000 tons, despite a 60% surge in gold prices over the past year. Dwindling reserves, labor unrest and the extreme...
UP Cabinet Approves ₹2,242 Crore for Pashwara South Coal Block in Jharkhand
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet approved a ₹2,242.9 crore (≈ $270 million) investment for the Pashwara South coal block in Jharkhand. The block, allocated to joint venture NUPPL, will supply coal to the Ghatampur thermal power project in Kanpur, which comprises three 660 MW units,...
Addressing Lithium Supply Risks for U.S. Battery Resilience
The United States relies on foreign sources for more than 90% of the lithium used in its batteries, exposing warehouses, manufacturers and logistics networks to geopolitical risk and price volatility. With global demand projected to quintuple by 2040, policymakers and...
More Steps Being Taken to Advance Promising South African Uranium/Gold Endowment
Neo Energy Metals announced negotiations with Sibanye‑Stillwater to obtain unrestricted access to the New Beisa Complex, a combined uranium‑gold site in South Africa’s Free State and Northern Cape. The company aims to restart mining at the former Beatrix 4 shaft and target...