The Briefing on Mining
The latest news, trends and data from the mining industry
In Data
Mining in Numbers
303%
According to the Institute of International Finance, China’s debt levels have risen to 303% of GDP, raising concern about continued commodity demand amongst others.
$1,400/oz
Gold is trading at above $1,400/oz for the first time in six years, as it enters a major bull market.
Double
The market for cobalt is forecast to double in the next decade according to a recent report by Roskill.
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57%
There was a 75% year-on-year growth in nickel in passenger EV batteries as of May, according to battery metals tracker Adamas.
$105,000
BlueRock Diamonds has sold its second best diamond, a 12.2ct stone, for $105,000. Taken from its Kareevlei mine in South Africa, it follows the sale of a 24.98ct diamond for $196,000 in June.
Trump enlists Pentagon to find other sources of rare earth magnets
On Monday 22 July, US President Donald Trump announced that he had instructed the Pentagon to look for more ways to procure rare earth magnets. The group of 17 metals have come into the limelight in recent years due to their high use in electronics, particularly in speciality motors such as in electric vehicles, as well as in military hardware.
Concerns have risen recently given China’s dominance in production and the growing tensions between the US and China. This has given rise to fears that the later may manipulate global exports, and that the US could suffer without adequate stockpiles.
In a letter to Representative Maxine Waters, the chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, and to Senator Mike Crapo, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Houston and Urban Affairs, Trump called the production of rare earth magnets “essential to the national defense.” The letter also stated that American industry “cannot reasonably be expected to provide the production capability” for the magnets without action.
Trump has therefore invoked the Defense Production Act in an effort to shore up supplies, a 69-year-old act that allows the president to prioritise materials or build up domestic manufacturing. It was originally designed to preserve the countries steelmaking capacity, and is thought that it will benefit rare earth sources around the world such as Peak Resources’ Ngualla projecy, in Tanzania, and Mkango Resources’ Songwe Hill project, in Malawi.
Read the full article on Reuters.
In the News
Top Project News This Month
Western Australia approves BHP expansion plans for Pilbara
The Western Australian Government has approved BHP’s expansion proposal for its Pilbara operations over the next 50 to 100 years. BHP’s Pilbara Expansion Strategic Proposal outlines plans for new as well as existing mines, along with a vision to create several jobs for Western Australians.
VVC gets environmental approval for Northern Mexico project
VVC Exploration has received an environmental permit from the Mexican government for its Northern Mexico Copper Project. It has also received a land use change permit for the project located on the company’s Kaity Claim. The approvals enable the company to begin mining operations in the Gloria Zones of the Kaity Claim.
Greatland begins drilling campaign at Black Hills project
Precious and base metals exploration and development company Greatland Gold has commenced a drilling campaign at its 100%-owned Black Hills gold project. The project is located in the Paterson region of Western Australia and hosts several gold and copper deposits, including Telfer and Nifty. Approximately 20 reverse circulation holes have been drilled at a depth of up to 300m for around 6,000m.
M&As: This Month's Top Deals
Barrick Gold and Acacia Mining reach buyout deal
Barrick Gold has signed an agreement to acquire a stake in Acacia Mining not currently owned by the company. The acquisition is intended to be implemented by means of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act. Under the terms of the deal, Barrick will swap 0.168 of a Barrick share for each share of Acacia in a transaction that values the company at about €951m.
Source: The Citizen
Auroch Minerals to acquire Saints and Leinster nickel projects
Auroch Minerals has signed a formal share sale agreement with Minotaur Exploration to acquire 100% of the Saints Nickel Project and the Leinster Nickel Project in Western Australia. Auroch also announced an exploration strategy for its recently acquired Saints Nickel project.
Source: Universe Today
21C Metals purchases Agnew Lake palladium project in Ontario
Canada-based exploration company 21C Metals has acquired the Agnew Lake palladium project in Ontario. The Agnew Lake property is 80km west of Sudbury, Ontario. It is an area that is home to Glencore and Vale’s Canadian Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements mining and smelting operations. Comprising more than 260 claims covering 6,000ha, the property is part of the larger East Bull Lake-Agnew Lake mafic-ultramafic complex.
Source: New York Times
Jubilee Metals secures approval for Sable Zinc refinery acquisition
Jubilee Metals has secured approval from the Zambian Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to acquire the Sable Zinc Kabwe refinery. The company confirmed in March that it had secured funding for its acquisition of the refinery in Kabwe leaving it only to obtain regulatory approval, which was the final condition prior to closing the deal. Jubilee Metals is now ready to start a programme of circuit upgrades at the refinery site to process lead, zinc and vanadium.
Source: Science Alert
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