Fertiliser: The Forgotten History Linking the Agricultural Commodity and Empire in Wartime – by Lorenzo Feltrin (The Conversation – May...
Fertiliser, long treated as a simple agricultural input, has been a strategic resource shaping imperial ambitions and wartime logistics for over a century. Recent US and Israeli actions against Iran have disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for bulk fertiliser and its feedstocks, causing a sharp price surge. The spike threatens to lift food costs globally, echoing historic patterns where fertiliser availability influenced conflict outcomes. Lorenzo Feltrin’s research highlights this forgotten link between the commodity and empire.
B.C., Gitxaała Nation Welcome Supreme Court Hearing for Controversial Mineral Rights Case – by Emily Fagan (CBC News British Columbia...
The British Columbia Court of Appeal ruled that the province’s mining claim process violated the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). The government appealed, and the Supreme Court of Canada has granted leave to hear the case....
Pentagon Doubts over Rare Earths Deal Provoke White House Clash – by Joe Deaux and Kate O’Keeffe (Mining.com – May...
The Pentagon is reconsidering an $80 million conditional loan to rare‑earths refiner ReElement Technologies after internal doubts about the company’s ability to scale its technology and meet revenue forecasts. The loan, announced in November as part of a broader effort to...
Agnico Eagle CEO Bets on Arctic Barge Shipping to Keep Costs Low at Hope Bay Gold Mine (Arctic Today –...
Agnico Eagle is committing $2.4 billion to restart the Hope Bay gold mine in Nunavut, aiming to produce gold at less than $1,000 per ounce. CEO Ammar Al‑Joundi told Reuters the company will rely on barge transport through the Northwest Passage...
The Fertilizer Shock Could Be Far Worse than the Oil Shock – by Amanda Van Dyke (Substack – May 25,...
Industrial fertilizers—nitrogen, phosphate, and potash—support roughly half of global food production, making their supply chains critical to civilization. Recent geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, a major fertilizer export hub, have exposed a looming “fertilizer shock” that could eclipse the current...
B.C. Mineral Claims Case Heads to the Supreme Court of Canada – by Aya Dufour (iPolitics.ca – May 21, 2026)
The Supreme Court of Canada will hear British Columbia’s appeal of a December ruling that declared the province’s Indigenous rights law incompatible with its mineral‑claims system. The case stems from a challenge by the Gitxaała and Ehattesaht First Nations to...
USA Rare Earth Wins up to $19.3M in DOE Backing – by Staff (Mining.com – May 21, 2026)
USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ: USAR) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive up to $19.3 million under the Critical Materials Innovation, Efficiency and Alternatives program. The funding will support a pilot‑scale rare earth separation facility, part of...
Inside the Village that Could Host the G7’s Largest Graphite Mine – by Lu Fan (CTV News Canada – May...
The Matawinie Graphite Mine, slated to become the G7’s largest graphite operation, has broken ground in Saint‑Michel‑des‑Saints, Quebec after more than a decade of exploration and financing. The project targets a region of fewer than 3,000 residents that has been...
Deep Sea Mining Part 1 – by Amanda Van Dyke (Substack – May 16, 2026)
The 21st‑century economy now hinges on a suite of critical minerals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium and rare earths. Over the past 25 years global extraction volumes have more than doubled, and analysts project a further doubling or even tripling...
EU Ban on Russian Uranium to Boost Canadian Exports – by Andreas Walstad (Mining.com – May 18, 2026)
The European Union is intensifying efforts to bar Russian uranium imports, a move that would end a supply chain that currently provides about 25% of its enrichment services. Canada already accounts for more than 30% of the EU’s uranium imports,...
How Central Asia Can Seize the Critical Minerals Moment – by Marsha McGraw Olive (National Interest – May 18, 2026)
Central Asian nations must boost regulatory transparency and deepen regional integration to lure Western capital into critical mineral projects, especially a pending tungsten megaproject in Kazakhstan backed by US interests. Letters of interest from the Export‑Import Bank ($900 million) and the...
Jeff Currie Turns Near-Term Bearish on Gold, but Sees Massive Commodity Upside – by Neils Christensen (Kitco News – May...
Jeff Currie, executive co‑chairman of Abaxx Markets and former Goldman Sachs commodity chief, warned that gold is likely to underperform in the near term. He attributes the bearish view to rising global inflation and the ongoing Iran conflict, which strain...
Pentagon’s ‘Deal Team Six’ Aims to Challenge China’s Grip on Rare Earth Power – by Kate O’Keeffe (Japan Times –...
Washington has assembled a covert unit dubbed “Deal Team Six” to break China’s monopoly over rare‑earth minerals and permanent magnets. The team, composed mainly of former Wall Street financiers, is designing multi‑billion‑dollar deals that combine equity stakes, long‑term price floors,...
‘The World Needs Us’: PH-Indonesia Nickel Pact to Corner Global Supply – by Morexette Marie B. Erram (Cebu Daily News...
Indonesia and the Philippines, two of the world’s largest nickel producers, signed MOUs at the ASEAN summit to deepen cooperation on critical minerals. The pact focuses on joint investments, technology sharing, and market coordination to secure nickel supply for electric‑vehicle...
Lumina Metals’ Poland Copper Silver Project: A World-Class Asset – by Muflih Hidayat (Discovery Alert – May 10, 2026)
Lumina Metals’ Nowa Sól deposit in southwestern Poland is being positioned as a world‑class copper‑silver project that delivers the rare commodity of certainty in a volatile mining sector. The asset ticks every box—massive scale, consistent grades, ready‑made infrastructure, a skilled local...
Silver Price Sees Solid Momentum and $90 Could Be Just the Start – by Neils Christensen (Kitco News – May...
Silver surged past $88 an ounce, gaining 2% as industrial demand outstrips supply, positioning the metal near a key $90 resistance level. The rally coincides with copper futures hitting a record $6.70 per pound, underscoring broader strength in base metals....
From Hormuz to Farms and Food, a Crisis Is Looming – by Terence Corcoran (Financial Post – May 13, 2026)
At the Milken Institute Global Conference, ICC Secretary General John Denton warned that the ongoing blockage of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will soon cripple global fertilizer supplies, creating a severe food‑security shock. The disruption threatens to push...
‘We’re Definitely in for a Rougher Year’ at IOC, Says Union President – by Maddie Ryan (CBC News Newfoundland and...
Rio Tinto, the majority owner of the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC), projects 15‑18 million tonnes of ore production in 2026, down from its usual 20 million tonnes. United Steelworkers 5795 president Michael Furlong warned that the mine will face a...
Clean Energy’s Nickel Rush Is Heading Straight for some of Earth’s Richest Ecosystems – by University of Queensland (Phys.org –...
An international study led by University of Queensland researcher Jayden Hyman warns that meeting the surging demand for nickel—driven by stainless steel and clean‑energy technologies—will likely draw heavily on ecologically sensitive regions. By 2050, roughly half of the world’s mined...
Agnico Eagle Makes Waves: Avenir Minerals Acquires Fox River in Unexpected $94.3M Phosphate Play – by Small Cap Steve (The...
Avenir Minerals, the mining arm of Agnico Eagle, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Fox River Resources for C$94.3 million (approximately $70 million USD). The all‑cash deal offers Fox River shareholders C$1.10 per share, a roughly 20% premium to the recent average...
Trudeau’s Big EV Bet Is Officially a Flop – by John Ivison (National Post – May 6, 2026)
Canada’s high‑profile push to become North‑America’s EV hub hit a setback when Honda announced the indefinite suspension of its $15 billion (≈ $11 bn USD) electric‑vehicle plant in Ontario. The move underscores the fragility of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s strategy, which hinged on...
Top Gemstones To Invest In 2026 (Gemstones For Sale – April 6, 2026)
Gemstones are gaining traction as an alternative investment, offering intrinsic and emotional value that differs from volatile equities and speculative cryptocurrencies. The article highlights rubies, Paraiba tourmalines and amethysts as the leading stones for 2026, driven by soaring luxury demand...
Op-Ed: The Copper Supply Crisis Is a Sulfur Management Crisis – by Randy Allen (Mining.com – May 4, 2026)
China abruptly halted sulfuric acid exports on May 1, 2026, sending shockwaves through commodity markets. The move exposed a hidden bottleneck: sulfuric acid is essential for copper leaching, yet the mining sector has treated it as a waste byproduct. With global...
‘Gateway to the Klondike’: Skagway Port Securing U.S. Funds Energizes Yukon Mine – by Dana Hatherly (CBC News North –...
The U.S. Department of Transportation approved a $38.6 million grant to build a modern industrial dock in Skagway, Alaska, part of a seven‑project federal port‑infrastructure program. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy highlighted the port as a lifeline for remote communities, while Yukon officials...
A $250-Million Plan Could Bring Graphite Mining Back to Kearney, Company Says – by Sarah Cooke (Bay Today – May...
Global Battery Materials COO Karl Trudeau announced a $250 million plan to restart the long‑dormant graphite mine near Kearney, Nebraska, positioning it as North America’s first active source of battery‑grade graphite. The initiative taps soaring demand for graphite anodes in electric‑vehicle...
Canada Should Work With Washington on Critical Minerals Without Deferring to It – by Robert M. Cutler (Open Canada –...
Canada must collaborate with the United States on critical mineral strategy while preserving its own negotiating leverage. The article argues that critical minerals are now central to economic security and that Canada cannot afford to stay isolated or overly dependent...
CIM Connect: Teck Chief Pushes Permits, Power Lines as Canada’s Mining Bottlenecks – by Henry Lazenby (Northern Miner – May...
Teck Resources CEO Jonathan Price warned that Canada could miss the next wave of critical‑minerals investment unless it accelerates permitting, builds shared infrastructure, and backs strategic metals projects that private capital finds hard to fund. He framed permitting certainty as...
The Insurgency Threatening to Derail a U.S.-Pakistan Pact – by Elian Peltier, Zia Ur-Rehman, Christiaan Triebert and Pablo Robles (New...
In September, Pakistan’s army chief presented President Trump with a box of minerals, signaling a push for U.S. involvement in the country’s mining sector. The Trump administration subsequently pledged $1.3 billion for gold and copper projects in Balochistan, a region historically...
Owner of Ekati Diamond Mine in N.W.T. Files for Creditor Protection – Lauren Krugel (Canadian Press/Victoria Times Colonist – May...
Australia‑based Burgundy Diamond Mines Ltd. announced that the British Columbia Supreme Court granted creditor protection under the Company Creditors Arrangement Act to its Canadian arm, Arctic Canadian Diamond Co. Ltd., which operates the Ekati diamond mine in the Northwest Territories....
Fortune Minerals Positions Company as Key in Future Defence Supply Chains – by Kaila Jefferd-Moore (CBC News North – May...
Fortune Minerals is positioning its proposed NICO mine in the Northwest Territories as a strategic source of bismuth for the U.S. Department of War. The project, which would mine raw materials 50 kilometres north of Whatì and process them in...
Germany Sees U.S. as Vulnerable to Squeeze on Potash Due to Canadian Reliance – by Michael Nienaber (Financial Post/Bloomberg –...
German officials are charting U.S. supply‑chain weak points after President Donald Trump’s threats to seize Greenland. Their analysis flags potash as a critical leverage point because the United States imports more than 90 % of the fertilizer ingredient, primarily from Canada....
Canada’s Strategic Shift: What the Mining Industry Needs to Know About Canada’s New Sovereign Wealth Fund and Defence Industrial Strategy...
The Canadian government unveiled the Canada Strong Fund, its first sovereign wealth fund, with an initial $25 billion CAD (approximately $18.5 billion USD) endowment to be invested over three years. The fund’s mandate targets major projects of national interest, placing critical minerals...
Big Funds Bet Billions on Mining Supercycle – by Clara Denina, Pratima Desai and Melanie Burton (Reuters – April 30,...
Major fund managers are pouring record capital into mining as AI infrastructure, rising defence spending and a shift from high‑valuation tech stocks drive a perceived commodity supercycle. Mining ETFs saw assets under management double to $87.4 bn by March, while first‑quarter...
Barrick Picks U.S. over Canada for Primary Stock Listing of North American Spinout – by Niall McGee (Globe and Mail...
Barrick Mining Corp announced that its upcoming North American spin‑off, North American Barrick, will list primarily on the New York Stock Exchange with a secondary listing in Toronto. The spin‑off will involve a 10‑15% stake in its North American mines,...
The B.C. Law that Can Stop Carney’s Nation-Building Projects – by Donna Kennedy-Glans (National Post – April 24, 2026)
British Columbia’s NDP government has entrenched the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into provincial law, effectively granting First Nations a veto over any development on claimed lands. Premier David Eby now faces a constitutional impasse,...
Biomining’s Potential Unlocked – by Kristen Frisa (CIM Magazine – April 27, 2026)
University of British Columbia’s Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining has partnered with Genome British Columbia, embedding the effort within Rio Tinto’s Centre for Future Materials. The collaboration seeks to move biomining—using microbes to dissolve minerals—from lab proof‑of‑concept to...
Agnico Bulking up in Finland with Three Acquisitions Worth Roughly $3.8-billion – by Niall McGee (Globe and Mail – April...
Canadian gold miner Agnico Eagle announced three Finnish acquisitions valued at roughly $3.8 billion, including Rupert Resources for $2.9 billion, Aurion Resources for $481 million, and a 70% stake in Fingold Ventures for $325 million. The deals consolidate the company’s operations around its Kittilä...
Critical Minerals: China’s Grip, America’s Volatility, Europe’s Choice – by Michael Barnard (Clean Technica – April 28, 2026)
The article warns that the global energy transition is vulnerable to supply‑chain bottlenecks in critical minerals such as lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese, phosphate, and rare earths. China currently dominates the mining, refining, and component‑manufacturing stages of these value...
China Ramps up Efforts to Establish Hong Kong Gold Hub with Major Moves in Public, Private Miners and New Market...
China is accelerating its push to turn Hong Kong into a global gold hub by establishing a state‑owned clearing house and expanding storage capacity. The Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing will begin trial operations by the end of 2026, while the...
An Old Factory in Welland, Ont., Sat Derelict for Years — Until Someone Discovered It Could Be Worth Billions –...
Steve Charest, a real‑estate investor known for reviving abandoned industrial sites, bought the 65 Canal Bank Street property in Welland, Ontario, and uncovered a massive stockpile of synthetic graphite. The landfill holds roughly 340,000 tonnes of high‑grade material, a key component in lithium‑ion batteries. At...
Op-Ed: Chile Must Act Fast as Argentina Inches Ahead in Copper Race – by Manuel Viera Flores (Mining.com – April...
Chile’s new administration under President Gabriel Kast has launched a fast‑track agenda to revive its copper sector. Daniel Mas was appointed dual minister of Economy and Mining, and the government is prioritizing $62 million of projects through the SEIA while a...
The $11 Trillion Engine Beneath the $110 Trillion Economy – by Amanda Van Dyke (Substack – April 26, 2026)
Amanda van Dyke argues that the $110 trillion global economy rests on a far smaller $11 trillion physical foundation of energy, minerals, chemicals, and food. This "commodity quad" forms an interlocking hierarchy that supplies the raw inputs for every sector, from data...
Karen Thompson on Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy, Processing Modernization, and Workforce Challenges – by Tamer Elbokl, PhD (Canadian Mining Journal...
Canada is moving its critical‑minerals agenda from announcements to on‑the‑ground execution, but success hinges on processing plants, equipment supply chains, and a skilled workforce. Karen Thompson, CEO of Haver & Boecker Niagara, warns that long permitting timelines and outdated processing infrastructure could...
Does Canada Need a New Copper Smelter? – by Trish Saywell (CIM Magazine – April 23, 2026)
Canada ranks among the world’s top copper producers, yet roughly two‑thirds of its concentrate is exported for overseas smelting. In December 2025, Natural Resources Canada issued a Request for Information to evaluate the economic case and strategic value of a...
CHART: Freeport-McMoRan Stock Craters on Grasberg Ramp-Up Delay – by Frik Els (Mining.com – April 23, 2026)
Freeport‑McMoRan reported Q1 earnings that beat profit estimates thanks to higher copper prices, yet the stock tumbled more than 13%, pushing its market value below $90 billion. Investors focused on the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, where a September mud‑rush halted production....
How a Challenge of the Mining Claim System Sparked B.C.’s Move to Claw Back DRIPA – by Edzi’u Loverin (CBC...
A recent British Columbia court case challenged the province’s Mineral Tenure Act, exposing tensions between the mining claim system and the 2019 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). The ruling highlighted how existing legislation can conflict with...
B.C.’s UNDRIP Law Was Doomed From the Start – by Jody Wilson-Raybould (Globe and Mail – April 23, 2026)
Former justice minister Jody Wilson‑Raybould argues that British Columbia’s 2019 Indigenous Rights Act (DRIPA) was fundamentally flawed from inception. She recalls warning in 2016 that merely codifying the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into law would...
In China, Battery Makers Bet Big on Sodium in Move Away From Critical Minerals – by You Xiaoying (Reuters –...
Chinese battery manufacturers are accelerating investment in sodium‑ion technology, a next‑generation alternative that draws sodium from seawater and promises rapid charging and superior low‑temperature performance. While lithium‑ion cells dominate today, China still imported about 60% of the lithium it refined...
Switzerland’s Gold Exports Rise 30% as Investors Seek Safe Haven Amid Global Uncertainty – by Ernest Hoffman (Kitco News –...
Swiss gold exports surged 30% month‑on‑month in March, driven by a sharp rebound in shipments to the United Kingdom and a solid rise to China. Deliveries to the UK jumped to 57.6 tonnes, the highest level since December, while exports...
Canada Signs over 20 Critical Mineral Deals but Faces $12-Billion U.S. Challenge to Turn Diplomacy Into Mines – by Staff...
Canada has signed more than 20 critical‑mineral agreements, including 30 new partnerships that together unlock roughly US$9 billion in project capital. The deals cover India, Peru, Greenland, Italy, the EU and a domestic memorandum linking western provinces with northern territories. Despite...