Botswana: Illegal Sand Mining On the Rise in Ntlhantlhe
Kgosi Malepa Orekeng warned Ntlhantlhe residents that illegal sand miners, many armed, are increasingly operating trucks across the Molopye River. The village’s long‑standing rule limiting sand collection to manual, resident‑only methods has been ignored, prompting a surge in unregulated extraction. Local police lack vehicles and manpower, while previous Botswana Defence Force patrols proved temporary. Orekeng called for a permanent, government‑led special operation and highlighted the potential for regulated sand sales to boost the community’s economy.
Dateline Stakes Claim on District-Scale US Rare Earths Play
Dateline Resources has dramatically expanded its Music Valley heavy‑rare‑earth project in California by filing 969 additional claims, boosting the footprint by 1,800% to 20,520 acres across 1,026 contiguous claims. The new land package spans roughly nine kilometres of strike on...
Chinese Billionaire Zhang Bo Sees Wealth Surpassing $48B as Aluminum Prices Jump
Chinese billionaire Zhang Bo’s net worth has topped $48 billion as aluminum prices surged over 25 % in the past year. Shares of his China Hongqiao Group jumped 585 % since he took control in 2019, making him Asia’s richest metals magnate. The price...
How Critical Are Critical Minerals in the Brazil-US Economic Relationship?
Policymakers and experts convened to examine how critical minerals shape the Brazil‑US economic partnership. Brazil’s abundant rare‑earth and battery‑grade mineral reserves are increasingly vital to the United States’ energy‑transition agenda. The discussion highlighted supply‑chain vulnerabilities, especially reliance on China, and...
First Large XCMG XDE260 Mining Trucks Arrive in Australia
On March 9 2026 XCMG Group delivered the first six XDE260 diesel‑electric mining trucks to Port Hedland, Australia, with another six slated to join the same customer for a 12‑unit fleet. The XDE260 combines a Cummins QSK60 engine with a Wabtec AC...
Lundin, BHP’s Vicuña Project Targets 395,000 Tpy of Copper Concentrate From Argentina
Lundin Mining and BHP’s 50‑50 Vicuña joint venture in the Argentina‑Chile border region plans to produce an average of 395,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per year, alongside 711,000 ounces of gold and 22.2 million ounces of silver. The three‑stage development requires...
IPO Watch: Kaoko Gears up for Namibian Copper Hunt as ASX Listing Draws Near
Kaoko Metals, fresh from a $6.5 million IPO, is gearing up to explore its flagship Chalkos copper‑silver project and the multi‑commodity Karibib deposit in Namibia’s underexplored Kaoko belt. Surface assays at Chalkos have returned extraordinary copper grades up to 69.6% and...
US Natural Gas Balance
The latest US Natural Gas Balance report shows inventories climbing by 0.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) to a total of roughly 2.9 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). Production dipped about 1% as several key processing plants underwent scheduled maintenance, while demand...
As Gas Prices Soar, Trump Is Ignoring the Lessons of the Last Oil Crisis
The U.S. faces a new oil shock as the Strait of Hormuz closure drives gasoline prices above $3 per gallon, echoing the 1973 embargo. While domestic shale production and higher vehicle fuel economy have reduced the economy’s gasoline intensity, the...
Global Ferrous Scrap Markets Post Mixed Trends in Feb 2026
February 2026 saw a split in global ferrous scrap pricing, with Europe and China posting modest gains while the United States and Turkey experienced declines. Turkish HMS 1&2 (80:20) slipped 0.6% to $373.1 per tonne, and U.S. East Coast HMS...
JPMorgan Backs Clean Iron Startup Electra
Electra, a Colorado clean‑iron startup, secured a $30 million venture‑debt facility from J.P. Morgan to move toward its first commercial plant. The company’s low‑temperature electro‑refining process converts iron ore into 99% pure iron using renewable electricity, eliminating coal and high‑grade ore...
Thiess Set to Retrofit Caterpillar 793D with FLANDERS Hybrid Kit
Thiess’ 2025 Sustainability Report acknowledges a slower‑than‑expected energy transition and pivots to interim hybrid solutions for its mining fleet. After a 2024 memorandum of understanding with FLANDERS, the companies completed installation planning and risk assessments in 2025 and aim to...
Congo Expands State Gold Trading to Strengthen National Reserves
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s state‑owned DRC Gold Trading aims to purchase up to 15 metric tons of artisanal gold by 2026, after the government assumed full ownership in 2024. A February agreement gives the Central Bank of Congo priority...
From Forest to Flatpack, IKEA Faces Timber Traceability Test Under EUDR
The EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect at the end of 2026, requires companies like IKEA to provide geolocation data proving their timber was not sourced from land deforested after December 2020. Although IKEA already sources nearly 100 % of...
QIMC Completes 711 Metre Discovery Hole DDH-26-01 at West-Advocate, Nova Scotia: Hydrogen System Confirmed at Depth
Québec Innovative Materials Corp. completed discovery borehole DDH-26-01 at its West‑Advocate project in Nova Scotia, reaching 711 m depth. Visible gas bubbles and instrument exceedances confirmed a persistent, pressurised hydrogen‑bearing system from roughly 505 m to the bottom of the hole. Diluted...
Lara Raising $33.7 Million for Brazilian Copper-Gold Project
Lara Exploration Ltd. announced a $33.7 million financing plan to advance its Planalto copper‑gold project in Brazil. The company will conduct a brokered private placement of up to 6.75 million shares at $3 each, targeting roughly $20.25 million, alongside a non‑brokered placement of...
Nevada Sunrise Resamples Historical Drill Hole at the Griffon Gold Mine Project, Nevada
Nevada Sunrise Metals resampled four historic 2020 drill holes at the Griffon Gold Mine, confirming gold grades and revealing classic Carlin-type pathfinder elements. The 52‑element geochemical analysis matched Fremont Gold’s original gold assays, showing 1.01 g/t Au over 50.2 m in hole...
Standard Uranium Confirms Anomalous Uranium and High-Grade Rare Earths at Surface on the Rocas Project, Saskatchewan
Standard Uranium reported final assay results from its 2025 surface program on the Rocas Project in Saskatchewan, confirming anomalous uranium mineralization and high‑grade rare earth element (TREO) values up to 9.83%. Grab samples yielded uranium grades as high as 0.409%...
Tenke Fungurume Mine Accused of Polluting Air and Harming Communities in DR C
The Environmental Investigation Agency and PremiCongo released the "Toxic Transition" report accusing CMOC’s Tenke Fungurume Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo of emitting pollutants that may be harming nearby residents. The study, based on more than 1,200 anonymized medical...
Vital's Rare Earth Footprint Gets Bigger
Vital Metals released final assay results from its Nechalacho rare‑earth‑niobium project, confirming record‑high total rare‑earth oxide (TREO) grades across six newly identified targets. The standout 1029A target delivered 292,145 ppm TREO, the highest ever recorded at the site, with notable neodymium‑praseodymium...
New Episode: Sustainable Reporting in Mining
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched its first mining‑specific sustainability framework, GRI 14, in January 2026. The standard offers a unified methodology for reporting environmental, social and economic impacts, with material issues identified through stakeholder engagement and data‑driven analysis. In an Energy...
Banks Failing to Screen for Illegal Mining Risks
A Reuters‑cited study by WWF and Themis finds that roughly 40% of banks and investors do not screen for illegal mining risks, despite 84% operating in high‑risk sectors such as transport and trade. Illegal mining generates at least $48 billion in...
Brixton Rallies on High Grade Ontario Silver Results
Brixton Metals reported its first 2026 drill results from the Langis Silver Project in Ontario, highlighting two holes with more than 700 g/t silver over 14 metres and a peak of 15,522 g/t. The results push the company's share price up 9% to...
Sandvik DTH Rigs Deploy to Zambian Copper
Sandvik announced the sale of 16 D25KX down‑the‑hole rotary drill rigs to a major Zambian copper mine. The new rigs will join an existing fleet of nine D25KS and four Pantera DP1500i units that have been operating since 2016. Sandvik...
Tsurumi on Battery Powered Pump Possibilities in Mining
Tsurumi tested its LB480 and KTV3-55 submersible pumps using an Instagrid mobile battery unit, demonstrating that battery power can replace generators on mining sites. Both pumps moved roughly 40,000 litres per charge, with the larger KTV3-55 delivering 44 m³ in under 50 minutes....
Fireweed Assembles Expert Team for Tungsten Project Study
Fireweed Metals has hired a slate of top-tier engineering and technical consultants to produce an updated feasibility study for its Mactung tungsten project, targeting early 2027 completion. The study will integrate the 2025 field program, extensive historical data, and new...
Drone Strike Sparks Fire at ADNOC’s Ruwais Industrial Complex
Abu Dhabi’s state oil company ADNOC shut its Ruwais refinery after a fire broke out following a drone strike on the complex. The facility, which can process up to 922,000 barrels of oil per day and hosts major chemical, fertilizer...
Venezuela Gains Initial Approval for New Mining Bill
Venezuela's National Assembly gave preliminary approval to a mining reform bill aimed at attracting foreign investment. The legislation would replace a three‑decade‑old framework, adding stronger legal guarantees, mediation and arbitration for disputes. It targets bauxite, gold and other strategic minerals,...
Viridien Starts Seismic Reprocessing Initiative for India’s Offshore Basins
Viridien has launched a regional multi‑client seismic reprocessing initiative targeting India’s offshore basins, beginning with a Phase 1 reimaging of roughly 9,000 sq km of 3D data in the Mahanadi Basin. The project will deliver fast‑track results by June 2026 and complete datasets by...
DRC Boosts Oil Revenue and Fights Fraud with Innovative Fuel Traceability Program
The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a molecular marking program for petroleum products, using invisible chemical tracers to track fuel from import to retail. Partnering with Authentix Inc., the initiative aims to curb smuggling and improve tax compliance. Early...
SpectraFlow Crossbelt Analyzer Optimising Concentrate Mix at Dye Non-Ferrous Metal Group Ausmelt TSL Copper Smelter
SpectraFlow Analytics secured an order for its Crossbelt Analyzer to be installed at Dye Non-Ferrous Metal Group’s Ausmelt TSL copper smelter in Huangshi, China. The near‑infrared online analyzer will sit in the concentrate blending zone, continuously measuring and adjusting the...
Connectivity Is Infrastructure: Strategic Partnerships Are Redefining Mining in Africa
Vodacom Business positions connectivity as core infrastructure for African mining, deploying Mobile Private Networks (MPNs) at sites like Sasol’s synthetic fuel facility. Integrated IoT solutions, including edge gateways and drone mapping, shift operations from reactive to predictive maintenance, cutting unplanned...
Tin Market Volatility Intensifies as Global Demand for Strategic Metals Grows
Tin prices surged to a projected $54,925 per ton for the week of March 9‑14 2026, according to the DRC’s National Market Commission, while Boursorama data on March 10 showed a daily dip to $48,275 per ton, underscoring sharp volatility. The metal’s small...
Epiroc Announces Ground Support Partnership with DYWIDAG Australia
Epiroc has formed a strategic partnership with DYWIDAG Australia to distribute its ground support solutions throughout Oceania and Indonesia. The agreement makes DYWIDAG the official regional distributor, providing technical support and maintaining local inventory. This is Epiroc’s first ground‑support partnership...
Market Spinning After 'Most Epic Price Reversal in Oil History'
Oil prices surged past $100 per barrel before reversing sharply, marking what analysts call the most epic price reversal in oil history. The swing was driven by mixed signals about the U.S.–Iran conflict, including President Trump's comments and hopes of...
Illegal Mining and Child Labor Concerns Raised in Bas-Uélé Province
Congolese entrepreneur Obed Mutuale warned that illegal artisanal mining is booming in Bas‑Uélé province, with under‑age children increasingly employed at hazardous sites. During a Jan. 18‑25 visit, he called on the DRC central government to intervene urgently, citing weak state oversight...
Chinese Launch Next-Gen Deepwater Multi-Purpose Offshore Engineering Vessel
Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC) has launched a 126‑metre deepwater multi‑purpose offshore engineering vessel for China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s Shenzhen Offshore Engineering Technology Service. The ship features a 400‑ton crane, a 3,000‑ton cable reel, a 1,600‑HP trencher, a 12‑person...
Southeast Asian Gas Drilling Ops Edging Closer with ‘Major Milestone’ Reached
UK‑based, AIM‑listed Sunda Energy has secured a Category A environmental licence for its Chuditch‑2 appraisal well in Timor‑Leste’s offshore Chuditch field. The licence, issued on 9 March 2026 and valid until March 2028, follows the submission and endorsement of a detailed environmental impact statement...
Mining for Key Energy-Transition Minerals Is Not a Major Source of Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions, ICMM Research Finds
The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) released a Global Mining & Metals GHG Emissions Dataset covering 1,700 facilities and 87% of production across 14 key commodities. The dataset provides a sector‑wide estimate of scope 1 and scope 2 emissions for...
'Quality' Coal Rallies as LNG Spikes
LNG spot prices in Asia surged to a two‑year high of $22.50 per mmBtu after strikes closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting Qatar’s supply. The spike lifted high‑quality 6,000 kcal/kg thermal coal to $129.62 a ton, a 14‑month peak, while European...
Italy Opens New LNG Chapter with FSRU Ticking Off First Small Scale Cargo
Italy’s OLT Offshore LNG Toscana, a Snam subsidiary, has begun commercial small‑scale LNG operations at its FSRU Toscana off Livorno. The inaugural cargo of 4,000 cubic metres arrived on the Green Zeebrugge carrier, marking the first SSLNG service in the country....
Hormuz Closure Sends Bunker Prices to Record Levels
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran‑US/Israeli conflict has driven bunker fuel prices to record highs, with IFO 380 averaging $841.50 per tonne globally and Singapore reaching $1,073. At least 20% of the world’s HSFO exports are now...
Huawei: Helping Miners Build a Sustainable Digital and Intelligent Foundation
Huawei’s Mining Business Unit is positioning the company as the leading provider of AI‑enabled connectivity for the mining sector. It highlights the deployment of a 5G‑A network and the world’s first fleet of 100 autonomous electric trucks at China’s Yimin...
Equinor Hits the Jackpot Twice in North Sea with New Oil, Gas & Condensate Finds
Equinor announced two commercial hydrocarbon discoveries in Norway’s North Sea. The Byrding C well, drilled near the Fram field in the Troll area, is estimated to contain 4‑8 million barrels of recoverable oil, while the Frida Kahlo well, drilled from the...
De Beers Sale Gets Cheaper, Though Not Easier
Anglo American slashed De Beers' balance‑sheet value to $2.3 bn, intensifying a sale that has lingered for two years. The diamond market is under pressure from lab‑grown stones, now accounting for up to 25% of jewellery sales and half of engagement rings....
Sustaining Strength in a Higher Gold Price Environment>
Imaru Casanova’s latest market note highlights that gold miners are generating strong free cash flow and maintaining all‑in sustaining costs below $2,000 per ounce, even as gold prices hover near record highs. The sector’s disciplined capital allocation—emphasizing dividends, buybacks and...
Solaris Resources (TSX:SLS) Expands Warintza Copper District as Investor Interest Grows
Solaris Resources secured an option agreement with Ecuador's state‑owned ENAMI EP, granting the right to acquire up to 100 % of additional exploration areas and adding roughly 40,000 hectares to its Warintza copper district. The expanded land package enables a district‑scale...
Volvo Says Loader Updates Improve Efficiency
Volvo Construction Equipment unveiled a suite of safety and productivity upgrades for its entire wheel‑loader lineup at ConExpo‑Con/Agg. The large L350 now uses a D17 engine delivering up to 5% better fuel efficiency and Smart Control integration, while the midsize...
Mount Hope Sharpens Gold Targets at Mt Solitary
Mount Hope Mining completed a CSAMT geophysical survey at its Mt Solitary gold prospect in the Cobar Basin, mapping structural architecture to depths exceeding 500 m. The data refined the model of a structurally controlled gold system, highlighting the MS2 and...
OzAurum Clears Key Hurdle for Mulgabbie North
OzAurum Resources secured environmental approval for stage one open‑pit mining and heap‑leach operations at its Mulgabbie North project in Western Australia. The approval, issued under the state’s Small Mining Operation Policy, removes a key regulatory hurdle and enables the company...
