Lithium price may soften this year on ‘slight oversupply’ but EVs driving future optimism

The lithium price might be in for a rough ride this year, as a supply response might overshoot what the market actually needs, London-based pricing intelligence firm Metal Bulletin’s head of... 

Oil & gas, mining industries anxious about top brass succession planning

There is real anxiety in the oil and gas and mining industries regarding the lack of aptitude to replace an ageing top-level management talent pool, Stephen Diotte, partner and head of leadership... 

Strong PEA opens door for Eastmain to advance Eau Claire

Toronto-headquartered gold developer Eastmain Resources says the strong economics demonstrated in the recent preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on its flagship Eau Claire project, located in... 

Miners expect to weather one-day Canadian Pacific rail worker strike

A one-day strike by Canadian Pacific (CP) Railway engineers and conductors is not expected to have a lasting impact on Canada’s mining operations, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) said on... 

E3 Metals rises on successful petro-lithium extraction bench tests

The TSX-V-quoted equity of technology firm E3 Metals Corp jumped on Wednesday following an announcement by the company that it has succeeded in concentrating raw brine from 75 mg/ℓ to 1 206 mg/ℓ... 

‘There is no knowing where the change will end’ – analyst

The wave of change that the electrification of automobiles brings is moving beyond electric vehicles (EV) to the micro, artificial intelligence and autonomous mobility options, which should... 

Newmont sells royalty, streaming portfolio; takes 28% stake in Maverix Metals

Gold major NYSE-listed Newmont Mining has agreed to sell its royalty and streaming portfolio to junior TSX-V-listed Maverix Metals in a cash-and-scrip deal that will see Newmont take a 28% stake in... 

Ottawa buys Kinder Morgan pipeline, expansion project for C$4.5bn

Ottawa announced on Tuesday that it has reached agreement with pipeline builder and operator Kinder Morgan to buy the existing Trans Mountain pipeline and associated controversial expansion project... 

Kinder Morgan cleans up Trans Mountain spill as high noon looms

Canadian pipeline operator Kinder Morgan reported on Sunday that it is clearing medium crude blend from the Darfield pump station along the existing Trans Mountain pipeline, near Barriere, British... 

Pacton rises on prospective Pilbara property, mining lease buy

Canadian exploration junior Pacton rose to a new 52-week high on Monday after it announced that it has agreed to acquire the Friendly Creek exploration licence and mining leases, in Western... 

Ontario Chamber of Commerce roundtable calls for provincial resources strategy

A roundtable comprising representatives from diverse sectors of society has resolved to call for clearer legislative direction regarding Ontario’s wealth of resources, the Ontario Chamber of... 

Summer doldrums could see lower lows for gold as upside headwinds mount

Gold bug Mickey Fulp does not expect the gold price to break out this year, bar any substantial geopolitical event that upsets the state of the global economy. During a recent mining conference... 

D1 Mint buys 1 500 investment-grade diamonds for new diamond-backed crypto coin

The emergence of blockchain technology is helping to turn diamonds into a new investment asset class that, in turn, could drive future demand for natural diamonds, the creator of a new... 

McEwen Mining PEA outlines new lease on life for El Gallo Complex

Dual-listed precious metals producer McEwen Mining has published a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on its El Gallo Complex, in Sinaloa state, Mexico, outlining a redevelopment plan called... 

Centerra agrees to extend first Kyrgyz agreement longstop date by a month

TSX-listed gold producer Centerra Gold has agreed to a month’s extension of the first longstop date of a strategic accord it signed with the Kyrgyz government on September 11, 2017. The... 

Northern Dynasty tumbles on First Quantum’s Pebble pull-out

The TSX-traded stocks of base metals producer First Quantum Minerals and Northern Dynasty Minerals tumbled on Friday following an overnight joint announcement that the companies have terminated a... 

Nautilus unveils spider-inspired sediment sampler

Marine mining pioneer Nautilus Minerals has unveiled a new autonomous sediment sampler called the 'Nautilus Jumping Spider’ for use in sampling deep-sea deposits, that could cut exploration costs... 

Fireweed tumbles following positive Macmillan Pass PEA

Vancouver-based explorer Fireweed Zinc has reported strong economic indicators for its Macmillan Pass project, in Canada’s Yukon Territory, sending its TSX-V-listed stock up 6% on Thursday to open... 

EY’s Canadian Mining Eye Index falls in Q1

The EY Canadian Mining Eye Index has shown a decline in first-quarter performance, falling 8% from the fourth quarter of 2017, the professional services firm reported on Thursday. Based on the 2018... 

Only one-third of the 15 largest copper producers reported positive production trends – S&P Global

Only about one-third of the 15 largest copper producers with output of more than 40 000 t of copper per quarter reported positive production trends during the first quarter of this year, driving... 

Global copper surplus falls 12.8% to 110 000 t

The global refined copper balance for the first two months of this year indicates a surplus of about 110 000 t, a 12.8% drop year-on-year, the International Copper Study Group has found. The... 

Optimistic diamond price outlook could underpin a return to profit, dividends – Zimnisky

Absent any significant global economic disturbances disrupting consumer diamond demand, incremental year-on-year diamond production declines are forecast to drive real diamond prices up by about... 

Copper shortfall expected – Antofagasta CEO

London-based base metals company Antofagasta said on Wednesday it expects a shortfall of copper to emerge because of the slow rate at which new mines are permitted and built. Antofagasta... 

Advantage Lithium reports six-fold resource upgrade at Cauchari

The TSX-listed equity of explorer Advantage Lithium rose more than 7% on Wednesday after it reported a six-fold resource increase at the Cauchari joint venture (JV), in Argentina. The... 

Euro Sun says Rovina Valley mining licence working its way through Romania govt

TSX-listed project developer Euro Sun Mining reported on Wednesday that the mining licence for its flagship Rovina Valley copper/gold project, in Romania, is working its way through government,... 

Cobalt 27 announces first-ever cobalt/nickel streaming deal

Canadian cobalt company Cobalt 27 has created the world’s first cobalt/nickel streaming deal with ASX-listed Highlands Nickel on the Ramu mine, in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The two partners have... 

Rio Tinto confirms talks to sell $3.5bn Grasberg stake

Multinational diversified miner Rio Tinto confirmed on Tuesday that it is in talks to potentially sell its stake in the Grasberg copper/gold mine, in Indonesia, to PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium... 

Oil pipeline plot thickens as British Columbia files Alberta suit over ‘tariff-like’ Act

A significant disruption in the supply of gasoline, diesel and crude oil from Alberta to British Columbia would cause British Columbia “irreparable harm” and could “injure human health and safety... 

Gensource project development secured as formal offtake accord is signed

The development of Gensource Potash’s first 250 000 t/y production module at its Vanguard project, in Saskatchewan, is another step closer to realisation after the company announced on Friday that... 

Yamana pours first gold at Cerro Moro

Canadian gold producer Yamana Gold announced this week that it has poured the first gold and silver doré at its Cerro Moro project, in Argentina. The operation started feeding ore to the 1 000 t/d... 

Centerra sells royalty portfolio, Kemess silver stream for $200m

Canadian gold miner Centerra Gold has agreed to sell its royalty portfolio and silver stream on the Kemess project, in British Columbia, to Triple Flag Mining Finance Bermuda for $200-million. The... 

Semafo hits 97% completion at Boungou, expects first gold by June

Montreal-based miner Semafo reports that construction of its $231-million Boungou mine, in Burkina Faso, is 97% complete. Commissioning of the process plant is under way, with the first ore... 

Argonaut appeals La Colorada explosives suspension, reports hearing delay

The TSX-listed equity of gold producer Argonaut Gold traded lower on Thursday after it announced that it has appealed an April Mexican court decision that suspended its explosives permit for the La... 

Tianqi Lithium picks up minority SQM stake for $4.07bn

Lithium producer Tianqi Lithium has secured a 24% stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM) from crop nutrient producer and distributor Nutrien, for $4.07-billion. Nutrien's sale of its SQM... 

Leagold gets antitrust thumbs up to acquire Brio Gold

Gold miner Leagold Mining said on Wednesday it has received clearance from the Mexican Competition Commission to proceed with the proposed $264-million all-scrip deal to acquire Brio Gold. The... 

Premier’s Cove PEA sets stage for Nevada-focused exploration camp

Canadian miner Premier Gold has reported strong economic metrics for its 100%-owned Cove project, near Battle Mountain, Nevada. Based on a gold price assumption of $1 250/oz, the PEA calculated an... 

Golden Reign inks LoI to merge with Wexford Capital’s Marlin Gold

The TSX-V-listed equity of Golden Reign Resources jumped nearly 32% on Tuesday after it announced that it has signed a letter of intent (LoI) to acquire private firm Wexford Capital’s Marlin Gold... 

Katanga ramps up DRC copper, cobalt production as legal woes mount

Commodity giant Glencore’s majority owned and publicly traded Democratic Republic of Congo- (DRC-) focused copper/cobalt unit Katanga Mining is ramping up output after resuming production from the... 

Mountain Province welcomes former De Beers CFO as new CEO

Canadian diamond producer Mountain Province Diamonds has appointed Stuart Brown as incoming president and CEO, effective from July 1, to replace interim president and CEO David Whittle, who took... 

WPM hopeful of reaching CRA settlement deal; progress on new $500m+ contracts

The world’s largest precious metals streaming firm Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM) has reached out to the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) to try and reach a settlement, but to no avail yet, president...