The New 1 Oz Gold Futures Are Catching On
CME Group introduced a 1‑ounce gold futures contract in January 2025, expanding its COMEX product suite. Daily trading volume has risen steadily, with a pronounced uptick since September, indicating growing market acceptance. The contract’s performance contrasts with many new derivatives that struggle for liquidity. Analysts view the upward trend as evidence that the smaller‑size contract resonates with both retail and institutional participants amid heightened volatility.
Implementing the Strategic Sourcing Strategy
The article outlines how to move a strategic sourcing plan from theory to market execution, emphasizing that implementation validates the insights from spend analysis, category profiling, and other diagnostics. It describes four primary engagement methods—direct negotiation, outsourcing versus in‑house production,...
Contesting Self-Governance in the South Pacific
New Zealand’s foreign minister announced a NZ $30 million aid suspension to the Cook Islands after the Pacific nation failed to consult Wellington on a deep‑sea mining partnership with China. The dispute centers on the interpretation of the Cook Islands’ free‑association status...
Appia Rare Earths & Uranium’s Tom Drivas Reports 300 Metres at 2.55% TREO From Surface in Brazil Carbonatite
Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. announced a 300‑metre drill hole in Brazil’s Ultra Hard Rock carbonatite that intersected 2.55% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from surface, including a 1.7‑metre interval grading 14.27% TREO and 2.3% magnet rare earths. The...
The Argentina Deal Is the Template of How Deals in the New World Order Will Work
On February 5, the United States and Argentina signed a bilateral agreement that goes beyond tariff cuts to align trade, investment, and national‑security priorities in critical minerals and energy. The pact obliges Argentina to facilitate U.S. investment across the entire...
5 Minutes with… Brooke Bibeault
In a brief interview, Brooke Bibeault, chief executive of Makor Resources, outlines the company’s growth strategy and its commitment to responsible mining. She stresses the need for greater public awareness of where metals originate and highlights Makor’s upcoming copper project...
US$28,74m Write-Down as Sibanye-Stillwater Reassesses Mimosa’s Long-Term Economic Outlook
Sibanye‑Stillwater recorded a $28.74 million impairment on its Zimbabwean Mimosa platinum operation after revising long‑term economic assumptions. The new model assumes an eight‑year life‑of‑mine, higher working and capital costs, and incorporates a 10 % beneficiation tax, reducing projected cash inflows. Despite a...
Gold Buying Prices in Zimbabwe per Gram/ Ounce, 25 February 2026
Fidelity Gold Refinery (FGR) released its gold buying rates for 25 February 2026, listing prices from $149.39 to $157.69 per gram (approximately $4,646.55‑$4,904.71 per ounce) across purity tiers. The highest cash price applies to fire‑assay gold above 100 g with no sample deduction,...
How Africa Keeps Losing Despite China V. West Race for Minerals
The United States hosted its first Critical Minerals Ministerial in February 2026, unveiling a preferential trading bloc, price‑floor mechanisms and a $12 billion strategic stockpile to curb China’s dominance. At the same time, a US‑backed consortium struck a $9 billion deal with...
President Mnangagwa Signals End of Raw Mineral Exports
President Emmerson Mnangagwa told Zimbabwean exporters that raw mineral shipments are effectively ending, insisting that value‑addition must occur domestically. The Finance Act now imposes a 10% export tax on unbeneficiated lithium and chrome, with chrome also subject to a 5%...
What Is a Water Quality Certification and Why Does Air Products Need One?
Air Products has moved to secure a Water Quality Certification from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, a prerequisite for its federal permit to build a blue‑hydrogen and carbon‑capture facility. The certification confirms compliance with Clean Water Act sections governing...
Detour Mine Expansion to Accelerate as Agnico Eagle Boosts Spending – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – February 24, 2026)
Canada’s largest gold producer Agnico Eagle announced an accelerated expansion of its Detour Lake mine and ongoing construction of the Upper Beaver project, aiming to boost output by up to 30% and exceed 4 million ounces by the early 2030s. The...
Chile’s Right-Wing Pivot Puts Mining Policy Under the Microscope – by Cecilia Jamasmie (Mining.com – February 24, 2026)
Chile’s right‑wing government, set to assume power on March 11, is reshaping mining policy. President‑elect José Antonio Kast campaigned on stricter border control and law‑and‑order, reflecting rising concerns over crime and Venezuelan migration. He merged the Mining and Economy ministries and...
China to ‘Expand the Country’s Market Share and Influence on Prices in the International Gold Market’ – Hong Kong Official...
Hong Kong announced a concerted push to become a premier international gold trading hub, aligning with China’s goal to expand its market share and influence on global bullion prices. The city plans to increase gold storage capacity to over 2,000...
Why Canadian Critical Minerals Are More Critical Than Ever – by Christopher Hernandez-Roy (Canadian Politics and Public Policy – February...
Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, unveiled on 17 February 2026, places critical minerals at the core of national security and industrial policy. The government frames domestic mining as essential for defence supply chains, reducing reliance on China’s near‑monopoly over rare earths and...
Denison Mines Gets Green Light for Uranium Project in Northern Saskatchewan – by Nykole King (Regina Leader-Post – February 24,...
Denison Mines Corp. has secured regulatory approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to construct the Wheeler River uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin. The construction licence, effective until February 28, 2031, makes the project the province’s first new uranium mine...
Could Canada and Australia Form a Critical Minerals Supergroup? – by Ian Verrender (Australian Broadcasting Corporation – February 24, 2026)
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to address the Australian Parliament, signalling a push toward a Canada‑Australia critical minerals partnership. His recent World Economic Forum speech urged medium powers to forge new alliances, a message that provoked a sharp...
Are You Overpaying for a Lab-Grown Diamond? – by Tomi Joseph-Raji, Jeremy McDonald and Asha Tomlinson (CBC News Marketplace –...
Lab‑grown diamonds, touted as a cost‑effective alternative to mined stones, can be up to 90 percent cheaper. A CBC Marketplace investigation bought two one‑carat, D‑color, ideal‑cut, VS1‑clarity diamonds—one from Blue Nile and another from Alibaba—and found a stark price gap despite...
Managing Mining, Oil and Gas for National Development
The Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford, in partnership with the Natural Resource Governance Institute, has launched a five‑day executive programme titled “Managing Mining, Oil and Gas for National Development.” Applications open on 2 March 2026, targeting senior leaders from government, industry,...
Mining on Small Islands: The Struggle to Protect Sangihe Island and the Role of Canada's Baru Gold
A MiningWatch Canada field report reveals Canadian miner Baru Gold Corp is seeking to develop a gold mine on Indonesia’s Sangihe Island, a biodiversity hotspot. The grassroots Save Sangihe Island (SSI) coalition is mounting legal challenges and community actions to...
What Does Ai Think of Toll Milling
The blog showcases Claude, Anthropic’s AI, compiling recent mining studies (2024‑2026) that use toll‑milling as a base case, highlighting projects in Canada, Argentina, and Australia. It outlines the operational, commercial, metallurgical, financial, regulatory and strategic risks inherent to toll‑milling arrangements....
The Carbonatite Advantage: Appia Reports 300 Metres of Rare Earth Mineralization at 2.55% TREO in Brazil
Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. announced diamond drilling on its Ultra Hard Rock target in Goiás, Brazil, intersecting a 300‑metre interval grading 2.55% TREO, including a 1.7‑metre zone at 14.27% TREO. The results come from a carbonatite‑hosted system, delivering...
Seizing the High Ground: The Case for U.S. Leadership in Space Mining
The article argues that the United States must seize early leadership in space mining to secure economic, energy and geopolitical advantages as extraction technologies become viable. It highlights the trillion‑dollar profit potential of asteroid resources and the strategic value of...
InvestorTalk Alert: Kerem Usenmez From Volta Metals Ltd. To Host on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 9:00 AM EST
Volta Metals Ltd. announced a major resource expansion at its Springer rare‑earth project, now totaling 176.1 Mt with a 1,248% rise in indicated resources. Near‑surface zones exceeding 1% TREO support open‑pit potential, while a funded 6,000‑m drill program and a gallium...
ZIDA Urges Swift Rollout of E-Cadastre System as Investor Demand for Clarity Grows
The Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) is pressing the government to fast‑track the launch of an E‑Cadastre system that digitally records mining tenements. The platform, long delayed, is now slated for a 2025 rollout after recent investor inquiries at the...
Harmonised Regulation, PPPs Key to Unlocking SADC Energy Capital — Moyo
Zimbabwe’s Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo used the opening of the second SADC Sustainable Energy Week to call for tighter regulatory harmonisation and stronger public‑private partnerships across the region. He argued that aligned laws, tariffs and standards would boost...
Caledonia Lines Up US$150m Local Bank Facility to Drive Bilboes Development
Caledonia Mining has appointed Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe and CBZ Bank as co‑lead arrangers for an up to US$150 million interim financing facility, expected to close by mid‑2026. The bridge loan complements a recent US$150 million convertible notes offering, a gold‑price hedging programme,...
Road to Ring of Fire Reaches Milestone as Marten Falls First Nation Approves Environmental Assessment – by Dan Bertrand (CTV...
Marten Falls First Nation has filed the final environmental assessment for a 184‑kilometre all‑season access road linking the remote community to the provincial highway network north of Nakina. The submission, announced jointly with Ontario’s government, represents a key milestone in...
Ontario Mining at a Moment of Consequence: Turning Policy Commitments Into Global Leadership – by Priya Tandon (Canadian Mining Journal...
Ontario’s mining sector faces heightened global competition as nations vie for critical minerals essential to clean energy and technology. The province’s policy framework emphasizes certainty, efficiency, and reliability to lure investment. Industry leaders argue that turning policy commitments into concrete...
B.C. to Speed up Three Critical Mineral Projects – by Daisy Xiong (Business In Vancouver – February 2026)
British Columbia announced early government backing for three critical‑mineral projects—Northisle Copper, Suns Copper’s Berg, and Defense Metals’ rare‑earth venture—by adding them to the province’s Critical Minerals Office. The move is designed to fast‑track assessment and permitting processes. Northisle is projected to...
The Surprising Story Of Bonaire’s Salt Pyramids – by Joseph V Micallef (Forbe Magazine – April 22, 2019)
The salt pyramids of Bonaire, towering white mounds on the Caribbean island, have evolved from a historic salt‑export hub into a signature visual for visitors. In the 17th‑19th centuries, Bonaire’s salt was a linchpin in trade routes linking the original...
Why Copper May Give Silver a Major Boost
The author’s long‑standing bullish thesis on copper is now materialising, with the base metal entering a sustained up‑trend that also benefits silver. Recent market data shows copper prices accelerating as renewable‑energy projects, electric‑vehicle production, and infrastructure spending drive demand. At...
How Rare Earth Elements Power Hybrid Car Batteries and Transform Transportation
Hybrid car batteries, paired with compact rare‑earth‑based electric motors, have reshaped vehicle efficiency by enabling high‑power assist, regenerative braking, and smoother launches. Neodymium‑iron‑boron magnets deliver the torque density needed for these systems, while dysprosium and terbium protect performance at elevated...
Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Secures Iodine Collaboration with Bayer
Voyageur Pharmaceuticals announced a milestone‑based collaboration with Bayer that could provide up to US$2.35 million to fund an iodine extraction feasibility study in Oklahoma. The agreement releases $350,000 at signing, $1 million when the study starts, and another $1 million upon its completion,...
Another Nickel Mine Waste Landslide Leads to a Death in Indonesia
A tailings landslide at Indonesia's Morowali Industrial Park on February 18, 2026 killed a worker and forced a shutdown of the nickel‑smelting complex. The incident follows a 2025 landslide that claimed three lives and a 2025 flood that breached a...
Gold Daily Call for February 23rd, 2026
In the February 23, 2026 Gold Daily Call, Florian Grummes analyzes the current gold market, noting a sideways consolidation phase with higher lows and higher highs suggesting a potential breakout toward the $5,350 level. He highlights the bullish momentum in...
‘Go Ahead and Occupy the Space’: President Urges Youth to Seize Mining Opportunities Under Vision 2030
President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged Zimbabwe’s 30,000‑strong youth audience to seize opportunities in the mining sector as part of the National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030. He highlighted the growing impact of young entrepreneurs, citing Ionosphere Investments’ lithium processing plant and BlackBull...
Copper Rebound Anchors CAFCA’s Q1 Performance as Export Demand Surges
CAFCA Limited posted a 3% year‑on‑year increase in total sales volumes for Q1 2025, propelled by a 21% surge in copper product volumes. Export shipments to regional markets leapt 77% after the company overhauled its distribution model and eliminated consignment...
How Salt Helped Win the Civil War – by Anne Ewbank (Atlas Obscura – September 28, 2018)
During the American Civil War, salt emerged as a strategic commodity, vital for preserving food, curing leather, and maintaining soldiers’ health. Union forces quickly recognized that Confederate salt production facilities, especially those in the South, were critical supply nodes and...
The Gold and Salt Economy of Medieval West Africa – by Jimi Obawole (Nia Nexus Africa – October 3, 2025)
Medieval West Africa’s economy revolved around a vast gold‑and‑salt trade network that connected savannah kingdoms to North African and Mediterranean markets for nearly a millennium. The introduction of the camel and Islam in the 8th century transformed the Sahara into a...
US Blocks Sea Salt Imports From South Korean Salt Farm over Forced Labor Concerns – by Kim Tong-Hyung (Associated Press...
The United States Customs and Border Protection issued a withhold‑release order blocking imports of sea‑salt from South Korea’s Taepyung farm, citing reasonable indications of forced labor. Taepyung, the nation’s largest salt producer, accounts for roughly 6% of South Korea’s total...
![[History of Salt] Age of Invention: The Second Soul, Part I – by Anton Howes (Substack – March 8, 2024)](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://hixhlmpcokxhartfkpyi.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/images/thumbnails/8a3abc1da294a54652c1d06963a57332.webp)
[History of Salt] Age of Invention: The Second Soul, Part I – by Anton Howes (Substack – March 8, 2024)
The article highlights salt’s pivotal role in the 17th‑century economy, where it was deemed as essential as grain and fuel. Control over salt sources drove military campaigns and even sparked wars, underscoring its strategic value. Technological advances in the 18th...
💥New Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing - Vanderbilt Minerals, LLC💥
The episode examines Vanderbilt Minerals, LLC’s recent Chapter 11 sale filing, tracing its roots back to the 1916-founded R.T. Vanderbilt Company and its evolution from paper clay mining to industrial talc production. It highlights the long‑standing regulatory challenges with OSHA...
Fault Lines in Nevada: Governance, Gold, and the Future of NGM
Newmont Corporation filed a formal notice of default against Barrick Gold over the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, citing alleged mismanagement and resource diversion. The JV, formed in 2019, gives Barrick a 61.5% operating stake while Newmont holds 38.5% of...
New Partnership to Keep Thompson Mine Open, Eyes Expansion After Partial Sale – by Eric Westhaver (CBC News Manitoba –...
Vale Base Metals has sold a majority stake in its Thompson nickel mine to a consortium of Exiro Minerals, Orion Resource Partners, and the Canada Growth Fund. The new Exiro Nickel Company will operate the mine, backed by up to...
Wall Street Bears Turn Tail After Gold Rises to $5,100/Oz, Main Street Bullishness Unchanged as Iran Tensions Mount – by...
Gold prices rebounded from early‑week weakness, reclaiming the $5,000 support level and climbing to $5,100 per ounce by week’s end. The initial dip was tied to reduced Chinese demand during the Lunar New Year, but safe‑haven buying spurred by rising...
Corb Lund Launching Water Not Coal Petition Campaign Friday in Lethbridge, with Event Saturday in Calgary – by Stephen Tipper...
Southern Alberta country singer Corb Lund has relaunched his “Water Not Coal” petition campaign to ban new coal exploration and mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. He received official clearance from Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer and has...
B.C.’s Booming Mine Industry Is Scrambling to Recruit More Workers – by Derrick Penner (Vancouver Sun – February 19, 2026)
British Columbia’s mining sector is experiencing a rapid boom as gold and silver prices reach historic highs and Canada intensifies its focus on critical minerals like copper and nickel. The surge has created a sharp demand for skilled workers, especially...
True North: A Look at the Development of the Most Northerly Base Metal Mine in the World – by Ailbhe...
The Polaris zinc‑lead underground mine on Little Cornwallis Island, Nunavut, is the world’s most northerly base‑metal mine. Discovered in 1971 after a seven‑year Cominco exploration program, the first drill hole intersected a Mississippi Valley‑type orebody. The deposit holds about twenty...
Mine. Mine. Mine. How One Corrupt Billionaire Kicked Off the Global Cobalt Spree – by Nicolas Niarchos (Vanity Fair –...
Dan Gertler, an Israeli businessman, leveraged deep political connections to dominate Congo's cobalt mining, turning the country into a linchpin of the global battery supply chain. His network of opaque contracts and bribes enabled Western tech firms to secure cheap...
