Sandvik, Rio Tinto Team up on Open‑pit Autonomous Drilling
Sandvik and Rio Tinto have announced a joint venture to deploy autonomous drilling systems in open‑pit mines, leveraging Sandvik's new AutoMine Aura platform. The partnership introduces a 3D perception system that enables driver‑less drill rigs to operate safely and efficiently. Sandvik also secured a global security certification, reinforcing its position as a trusted supplier of advanced mining equipment. The collaboration is expected to reduce drilling costs and accelerate automation across the sector.
CHARTS: How the Sulphuric Acid Crunch Is Driving up Critical Minerals Costs
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reports that the Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent sulphuric acid prices soaring, more than doubling in some regions. The price spike has pushed sulphuric acid from a 3% to...
Yukon Metals Lines up $10M Financing for Exploration Program
Yukon Metals has arranged a private‑placement financing of up to C$10 million (≈US$7.4 million) with ATB Cormark Capital Markets and Canaccord Genuity. The package comprises up to C$2.5 million in flow‑through units at C$0.57 and C$7.5 million in hard‑dollar units at C$0.50, each unit...
MP Materials Accuses USA Rare Earth of Magnet Tech Theft
MP Materials filed a Texas lawsuit accusing rival USA Rare Earth of stealing its proprietary magnet technology through a former employee. The suit claims USAR obtained “grain boundary diffusion” formulations and passed them to a third‑party tech firm, while also...
Festo Debuts GripperAI to Automate Robotic Tool Choice
Festo unveiled GripperAI, an AI‑driven software that automatically selects the optimal gripping tool for mixed‑product robotic handling without custom programming. The solution runs on standard industrial PCs paired with a 3D camera, recalibrating in real time if a grip fails....
Aya Logs High-Grade Hits at Morocco Silver-Gold Project
Aya Gold & Silver announced its strongest drill intercept at the Boumadine project in Morocco, with hole BOU‑DD25‑745 delivering 52 metres grading 535 g/t silver and 2.05 g/t gold. A second hole, BOU‑DD25‑746, returned 15 metres of 204 g/t silver and 5.24 g/t gold, including an...
MinRes Reboots Bald Hill Lithium Mine After 18-Month Pause
Mineral Resources (MinRes) announced the restart of its Bald Hill lithium project in Nevada after an 18‑month shutdown caused by permitting delays and a soft lithium price environment. The company plans to ramp production to roughly 12,000 tonnes of lithium...
Trump Leaves Beijing with No Rare Earth Deal Confirmed
President Donald Trump returned from a two‑day summit in Beijing without securing a concrete rare‑earth agreement, despite touting the trip as a success. The United States is seeking more reliable access to rare‑earth minerals essential for electric vehicles, semiconductors and...
Moose Jaw Backs Max Power’s Natural Hydrogen Ambitions
Max Power, a Canadian clean‑energy startup, announced that the city of Moose Jaw will back its natural hydrogen project with financial incentives, land access and workforce training. The partnership aims to produce roughly 10,000 tonnes of low‑carbon hydrogen per year, leveraging carbon‑capture...
Lithium Americas Sees up to $120M Tariff Hit on Thacker Pass
Lithium Americas disclosed that U.S. steel tariffs, inflation linked to the Iran‑Houthi conflict, and shipping disruptions could increase construction costs at its Thacker Pass lithium project by $80 million to $120 million. The company now projects Phase 1 spending between $1.3 billion and $1.6 billion,...
NESI Technology Powers New Low-Carbon Lithium Plant in Germany
Vulcan Energy Resources has begun building a low‑carbon lithium plant in Frankfurt using NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. (NESI) proprietary NORSCAND technology. The project is backed by a €2.2 billion (~$2.4 billion) funding package and targets 24,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide per year—enough for...
Silver Price Jumps to Two-Week High Despite US-Iran Deadlock
Spot silver surged 7% to nearly $86 per ounce, hitting a two‑month high despite a deadlock in US‑Iran peace talks. Gold edged up about 0.4% as investors weighed the geopolitical tension and broader macro data. Technical analysis shows silver breaking...
Flexicon Showcases Mobile Bag Dumping Station for Dust-Free Material Transfer
Flexicon unveiled a mobile bag dumping station that transfers bulk material from hand‑held sacks to elevated equipment without dust exposure. The self‑contained unit combines a glove‑box enclosure, bag compactor and a flexible screw conveyor, all mounted on a frame with...
Brokk Introduces Battery-Powered EL500 Mini Loader to North American Market
Brokk has launched the battery‑powered EL500 mini loader in North America, expanding its emission‑free construction equipment portfolio. The compact loader lifts up to 1,110 pounds and runs a full shift on a single 9.6 kWh AGM battery, offering lower operating and...
Orica Launches Next-Generation GroundProbe Monitoring System for Mining Operations
Orica has unveiled a next‑generation GroundProbe geotechnical monitoring system designed for mining sites that demand faster deployment and more reliable safety data. The platform introduces three purpose‑built hardware models—SSR‑XT, SSR‑FX and SSR‑Omni—paired with the MonitorIQ Next software suite to streamline...