South32 backs $35M push at Alaska copper project
The miner has signed off on a $35M work program to advance its Arctic copper project in Alaska through the Ambler JV.
Australia, NZ & South Pacific
US streamlines permitting for deep-sea miners
The Trump administration has adopted new rules slashing the permitting process for deep-sea mining in half. Effective immediately, the two-step process of getting an exploration license and then a commercial…
Rio Tinto copper output rises as merger talks loom
Rio Tinto’s (ASX, NYSE, LSE: RIO) copper production rose 5% in the fourth quarter as a surge from Mongolia’s Oyu Tolgoi underground expansion more than offset weaker output at Chile’s…
Copper at heart of probable Rio bid for Glencore: RBC
Investors are increasingly expecting Rio Tinto (NYSE, LSE, ASX: RIO) to make an all-share offer for Glencore (LSE: GLEN) in a deal driven by the will to control future copper…
What 2026 holds for mining investors: Sprott
Critical minerals dominated headlines in 2025 as vulnerabilities across their supply chains became increasingly apparent amid rising global trade tensions. At the same time, precious metals—gold and silver—both raced to…
Silver market deficit due all year: Fitch’s BMI
Industrial and retail demand for silver through last year into January pushed prices over $90 an oz. for the first time in history as it outperformed gold, the go-to safe-haven…
Ranked: Southern Copper knocks Rio from No. 2 spot
Global mining started 2026 the way it ended 2025 – with a huge rally. Gold now looks to have $5,000 in sight, silver’s wild swings are getting wilder, and copper…
Australia fast-tracks critical minerals stockpile
Australia plans to buy and stockpile key minerals from domestic producers to strengthen defence and technology supply chains and reduce reliance on China. The government will initially target rare-earth elements,…
Glencore holds merger talks with Rio
Rio Tinto (NYSE, LSE, ASX: RIO) and commodities trading giant Glencore (LSE: GLEN) are holding preliminary talks about combining some or all of their businesses in a deal that could…
AI to boost copper demand 50% by 2040: S&P
A rapid and exponential growth in artificial intelligence (AI), defence spending and robotics will lift global copper demand by 50% by 2040, leaving a supply shortfall of more than 10…
Nickel spikes on Indonesia quota risk
Nickel extended its rally on Wednesday after reports of deep mining-quota cuts this year in Indonesia tightened supply expectations. The London Metals Exchange (LME) three-month contract traded around $18,460 (about…
BlueScope Steel rejects $8.8B takeover offer
BlueScope Steel (ASX: BSL) has rejected an $8.8 billion takeover bid by U.S. steelmaker Steel Dynamics (Nasdaq: STLD) and Australian conglomerate SGH (ASX: SGH), accusing the bidders of trying to buy…