Kansanshi Commits US$5.5M to Solwezi Road
First Quantum Minerals' Kansanshi mine is allocating US$5.5 million to upgrade the main public road serving Solwezi, Zambia. The company’s in‑house roads department will oversee resurfacing, drainage, and bridge reinforcement. The investment aims to streamline ore transport from the mine while providing a higher‑quality corridor for local traffic. The project reflects a broader push by mining firms to fund critical infrastructure in host communities.
De-Risking Mineral Supply Chains as an Economic Opportunity
The U.S. undersecretary for Economic Affairs announced a new strategy to de‑risk critical mineral supply chains, positioning the effort as a growth engine for the domestic economy. The plan calls for $10 billion in public and private capital over the next...
'Critical Contractor': Record Revenue at Capital
Capital Mining Services reported record first‑quarter revenue of roughly $1.3 billion, an 18% increase year‑over‑year, driven by higher copper and gold contract volumes. The firm kept its full‑year earnings guidance intact despite ongoing regulatory turbulence at the Reko Diq project in Pakistan....
Burkina Faso Gets a Good Deal for Increased Kiaka Stake
Burkina Faso has increased its ownership in the Kiaka copper project to 75%, adding a 25% stake previously held by private investors. The government financed the purchase through the state treasury and announced that the cash outlay will be returned...
Crushing Circuit Fire Hits B2Gold's Goose
A fire erupted in the crushing circuit at B2Gold’s Goose mine in Nunavut, forcing an immediate shutdown of key processing equipment. The outage prompted the company to trim its 2024 production forecast for the mine by as much as 38%,...
MMD Partners with Autonomous Driving Firm CiDi
MMD, a leading mobility solutions provider, has announced a strategic partnership with autonomous‑driving specialist CiDi. CiDi will supply both the hardware and software that power TraxIQ, MMD’s cloud‑based platform for managing autonomous fleets. The deal aims to accelerate deployment of...
USA Rare Earth to Acquire Serra Verde for $2.8B
USA Rare Earth announced a $2.8 billion acquisition of Serra Verde, merging two of the United States' most advanced rare‑earth projects. The deal creates a vertically integrated producer with mining, processing and recycling capabilities across Nevada and Texas. Combined, the entities...
Liebherr Electric Excavator Lands at Assarel
Liebherr has delivered its R9350e fully electric excavator to the Assarel copper mine in Bulgaria, marking the first deployment of a zero‑emission digger in the country’s mining sector. The equipment, powered by lithium‑ion batteries, is expected to cut diesel consumption...
Greenland Mines Looks to Iceland for Refine
Greenland Mines announced plans to ship its Greenland ore to Iceland for processing, a journey of 400‑600 km by boat. The move leverages Iceland’s ultra‑low‑cost renewable electricity, estimated at under $0.06 per kilowatt‑hour, to offset the high energy expense of ore...
Pensana Receives First Tranche of Cascade Investment
Pensana announced that Cascade Investment has delivered the first $15 million tranche of a planned $165 million financing package for its Angola rare‑earth project. The funding targets the development of the Longonjo mine and downstream processing facilities, aiming to create a vertically...
New Lunar Deal for Vermeer
Vermeer, the Dutch construction‑equipment maker, has landed a roughly $150 million lunar contract to deliver autonomous excavators for NASA’s Artemis resource‑extraction program. The deal pairs Vermeer’s rugged mining hardware with Astroport’s AI‑driven robotic autonomy platform, enabling remote operation on the Moon’s...
TOMRA's Ore-Sorting for Gold in Colombia
TOMRA has installed its X‑ray transmission (XRT) and AI‑driven ore‑sorting system at a gold mine in Colombia. The technology separates valuable gold‑bearing rock from waste at the earliest processing stage, improving recovery and lowering tailings. Early tests show up to...
WAF Fears Realised as Burkina Faso Junta Set to Take Bigger Kiaka Stake
The Burkina Faso military junta is set to acquire a 40% stake in the Kiaka gold mine, though the terms remain undisclosed. The announcement prompted an immediate halt to the mine’s share trading on the regional exchange. Kiaka, which produces...
Critical Minerals on the Curriculum in Utah
The University of Utah announced the creation of an Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals, a move that will embed critical‑mineral studies into its academic curriculum. The institute will develop new degree programs and research labs focused on extraction, processing,...
On the Ground: Kansanshi Runs Trial of the 'World's First' Battery Electric Haul Truck
Kansanshi mine in Zambia has begun a trial of a battery‑electric version of Hitachi’s EH‑4000 AC haul truck, the first of its kind in the world. The truck was retrofitted with a large lithium‑ion battery pack that delivers the same...
Fuel Crisis Worsens in Australia Following Refinery Fire
A fire at Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery, one of only two oil‑refining sites in Australia, has intensified an already‑tight fuel market driven by the Middle‑East war. The outage reduces national fuel‑processing capacity by roughly 120,000 barrels per day, prompting shortages...
Develon Gets Smart with Series 9 Safety Solution
Develon has equipped its Series 9 crawler excavators, the DX230LC‑9 and DX260LC‑9, with an AI‑powered safety suite that includes an E‑Stop system and a Smart All‑Around Viewing Monitor (SAVM). The E‑Stop automatically halts the machine when a person enters a 4‑meter...
Antofagasta Maintains Production Guidance
Antofagasta plc reaffirmed its 2024 copper production guidance, targeting roughly 1.2 million tonnes despite anticipated lower ore grades at its Los Pelambres and Centinela mines. The company cited strong cash flow, cost‑saving initiatives, and upcoming expansion projects as reasons it can...
Turner Lands $150M Equipment Financing
Turner Mining Group, a U.S. contractor based in Bloomington, Indiana, secured a $150 million equipment financing package from Wingspire Equipment Finance. The deal includes an initial $20 million tranche that provides on‑demand access to capital for fleet expansion. The financing will fund...
Harmony's Eva to Use ABB Drives
Harmony Gold is moving ahead with its Eva copper‑gold project, a US$1.73 billion development that targets both copper and gold extraction. The mine will be equipped with ABB’s 24 MW gearless mill drive (GMD) and ring‑geared mill drive (RMD) technologies. While the...
Recovering Critical Minerals Using Geothermal Heat
Oxford University spin‑out Ascension has secured £6.2 million (about $7.9 million) to develop a geothermal‑driven process for extracting critical minerals from volcanic glass deposits. The technology leverages underground heat to leach metals such as rare earth elements and battery‑grade copper, nickel and...
Hexagon's Digital Twins Mapping Nature in Brazil
Hexagon announced the launch of aerial 3D‑mapping flights across Brazil to create digital twins of natural habitats. The initiative uses high‑resolution LiDAR and photogrammetry to capture terrain, vegetation and water features in near‑real time. Data will be fed into Hexagon’s...
Big Bill for Hancock, but Gina's Empire Intact
Australia's High Court delivered a landmark ruling in the long‑running dispute between former mining executive Hancock and billionaire Gina Rinehart. The court ordered Hancock to pay roughly A$1.2 billion (≈US$800 million) in damages for alleged breach of a joint‑venture agreement. Rinehart’s mining...
Earthquake Forces Underground Stoppage at Cadia
Newmont has suspended all underground operations at its Cadia mine in New South Wales after a 4.5‑magnitude earthquake struck the area on Tuesday evening. The quake’s epicentre was just 3 km from the site, making it the strongest seismic event recorded...
The Resurgence of Chinese Overseas Mining Investment
Chinese mining companies are launching a fresh wave of overseas foreign direct investment, buoyed by stronger balance sheets and a weaker yuan. In 2023, Chinese FDI into mining projects abroad climbed roughly 28% to about $12 billion, focusing on copper, lithium...
KoBold Sets Off on the 'Most Ambitious' DRC Exploration Programme
KoBold Metals has launched what it calls the most ambitious exploration programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo, targeting the Manono lithium district. The company plans to drill over 200 holes across a 2,000‑square‑kilometre area, partnering with local firms and...
'There Has Never Been a More Favourable Time for Mining'
WSP analysts argue that the convergence of soaring demand for clean‑energy technologies, heightened geopolitical tensions with China, and supportive U.S. policy creates an unprecedented window for rare‑earth mining. They highlight that the United States now has access to multiple domestic...
Sandvik Integrates Underground Resin Bolting
Sandvik has launched an end‑to‑end resin bolting solution that integrates drilling, resin mixing and bolt installation for underground mining. The system is designed to streamline the rock‑support process, delivering faster cycle times and reducing the need for multiple pieces of...
Freeport Close to Sulphide Leach Advance
Freeport‑McMoRan announced that its long‑awaited sulphide leach project is nearing a critical milestone, with pilot‑scale testing slated to begin later this year. The company expects to generate performance data on its new leach chemistry by the end of 2024. If...
Chinese Miner Boosts Rare Earth Prices
China Northern Rare Earth Group, the world’s largest producer of light rare earths, announced a sharp increase in concentrate prices for the second quarter of 2026. The company lifted prices for 50% rare earth oxide concentrates, signaling tighter supply in...
Prairie's Saskatchewan DLE Plant Nears Completion
Prairie Lithium announced that its commercial‑scale direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant in Saskatchewan is nearing construction completion. The ASX‑listed firm expects to commence its first lithium production in the fourth quarter of 2026. The facility will process lithium‑rich brine using...
Lloyds Metals & Energy to Use Metso for Iron Plant Expansion
Lloyds Metals & Energy (LMEL), an Indian iron miner and steelmaker, has contracted Metso to deliver ten Larox fast‑opening filter presses for its iron beneficiation plants. The equipment will support LMEL's ongoing expansion of its pellet production capacity, though the...
How High-Performance Lubrication Cools Costs and Extends Gear Life in Copper Mining
Bel‑Ray replaced a high‑viscosity greased open‑gear lubricant in a South American copper mine’s ball mill with its synthetic Clear Gear lubricant. The new fluid eliminated metal‑to‑metal contact, dropping pinion temperatures and cutting friction‑related energy use. The change delivered a 5.61%...
Argentina Passes Glacier Mining Bill
Argentina's Congress approved an amendment to the 2010 Glacial Law, opening high‑altitude glacial regions to mining. The new bill grants individual provinces the authority to set their own environmental standards for such operations. This shift overturns previous nationwide prohibitions on...
Venezuela Approves Mining Law to Open up for Foreign Investment
Venezuela’s National Assembly has approved a new mining law designed to liberalize the sector and attract foreign capital. The legislation allows 100% foreign ownership, sets royalty rates between 5% and 15%, and promises a faster licensing process. While the bill...
Epiroc Underground Loaders and Haulers Head for Zambia
Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia has placed an order for a new fleet of Epiroc underground equipment, including Minetruck MT42 haulers and Scooptram loaders. The machines will operate at the Nkana and Mufulira copper mines, where they are expected to...
Weekly Newsletter 10 April 2026
Gold’s price rally has dominated mining headlines over the past year, prompting heightened exploration and production activity across the sector. Mining Magazine’s weekly newsletter underscores this trend while promoting its suite of premium research, including the 2026 Future Fleets Insights,...
Case Study: Underground Digitalisation at Rampura Agucha
Hindustan Zinc is digitising its flagship Rampura Agucha underground mine in Rajasthan, deploying automated haul trucks, remote‑monitoring sensors, and low‑emission power systems. The initiative links equipment to a central control platform, enabling real‑time performance analytics and predictive maintenance. Early results...
Diana Mendez: Women Can Make a Difference
Diana Mendez, executive director of Insuco LatAm, highlighted how women can drive transformative change in the mining sector. Drawing on her experience in Peru, Canada and Mexico, she emphasized gender‑inclusive strategies that improve community relations and operational resilience. Insuco, a...
Volvo Brings Electric Articulated Haulers Into Serial Production
Volvo Construction Equipment has launched serial production of its electric articulated haulers, marking the first time a vehicle of this size and capability is offered fully electric. The e‑ACT series features a 600 kWh battery pack delivering up to 200 km of...
IFC Backs FQM's $5.25bn Taca Taca
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has pledged up to $5.25 billion to back FQM’s development of the Taca Taca porphyry deposit, which contains copper, gold and molybdenum. The financing package combines senior debt, equity and sustainability‑linked instruments, positioning the project for...
IMDEX Acquires 100% Stake in Krux Analytics
IMDEX has completed the acquisition of 100% of Krux Analytics, a provider of advanced drilling‑site data capture and analytics software. The deal brings Krux’s real‑time drilling analytics platform under IMDEX’s downhole sensor technology (DST) portfolio, creating a unified solution for...
Going From Analogue to Digital
Catalyst Metals is digitizing its Plutonic Gold Mine in Western Australia by integrating RCT’s mining‑automation platform, shifting the decades‑old underground operation from analogue controls to a fully digital workflow. The 195‑km‑north‑east Meekatharra site, a long‑running producer, will now leverage real‑time...
Altilium Files MHP Patent as Indonesia Clenches Supply
British clean‑tech firm Altilium has filed its tenth patent covering a process that converts end‑of‑life lithium‑ion batteries into a nickel mixed‑hydroxide precipitate (MHP). The technology extracts nickel while recovering other valuable metals, offering a circular alternative to traditional mining. Indonesia’s...
The Largest Gold Miners of 2025
In 2025 the ten largest gold miners collectively produced 25.8 million ounces, realizing an average gold price of $3,541 per ounce while operating at an average all‑in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1,571 per ounce. Barrick Gold slipped from its second‑place standing,...
Air Suspension Wheel Passes Tough Test
Global Air Cylinder Wheels (GACW) completed extreme‑condition validation trials of its air‑suspension wheel in Minnesota. The tests proved the wheel can operate reliably in subzero temperatures and harsh mining terrain. GACW says the design can cut tyre waste by up...
Afreximbank's $10B Package Puts Onus on African Governments
Afreximbank has unveiled a $10 billion trade‑finance package aimed at accelerating African exports, with a particular focus on mineral exporters. The package combines credit lines, guarantees and technical assistance, but its disbursement is contingent on participating governments implementing policy reforms and...
Orica Launches Next-Gen Groundprobe Geohazard Monitoring Platform
Orica unveiled the next‑generation Groundprobe platform, a geohazard monitoring system designed for mining and civil‑construction sites. The upgrade features an advanced engine‑mounting system that isolates vibrations and cuts operational noise. Integrated AI analytics provide real‑time alerts on rock‑fall, subsidence and...
Recovering the Cost of Battery-Electric Vehicles: Volvo
Volvo’s latest analysis addresses the primary concern of miners shifting to battery‑electric equipment: how quickly the higher upfront price can be recouped. The company highlights that while electric excavators such as the EC230 carry a premium, savings in diesel fuel,...
Appian Opens Unit in São Paulo to Invest in Latin America
Appian Capital Advisory announced the launch of a new headquarters in São Paulo to source and evaluate mining assets across Latin America. The move is part of a broader British fund strategy that aims to deploy roughly $220 billion in investments...