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Past, Present And Future

March 2026

"All That Glitters"

Mining Culture And Biz

Media Man Group Watercooler

March 3

Lynas shares rally after refinery licence deal signed with Malaysia

Matthew Hope from Ord Minnett says the extension of Lynas Rare Earths' licence to operate its Malaysian refinery will provide investment certainty. Lynas's current three-year licence was due to expire on Monday, but Lynas advised that the Malaysian government has agreed to extend it for another 10 years. Lynas's share price rose five per cent to $19.98 in reponse to the announcement. Lynas has benefited from the rally in the price of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) since the Trump administration agreed to a floor price of $US110 per kilogram in a deal with MP Materials in 2025. JP Morgan expects the price of NdPr to average $US123/kilogram in 2026. (RMS)

News

Mystery donor bails out EDO

Australian Energy Producers CEO Samantha McCulloch says the Environmental Defenders Office should be required to disclose the identity of all donors. The EDO's audited financial statements show that an unnamed donor has agreed to waive a $6.5m loan to the activist organisation. The EDO has posted a loss of $8.5m following the Federal Court's ruling in 2024 that it must pay more than $9m in legal costs arising from its failed challenge to Santos's Barossa LNG project. McCulloch says the debt waiver raises serious questions about who is funding activist lawfare in Australia. She adds that it is hypocritical for the EDO to demand transparency from Australian companies while citing 'commercial-in-confidence' to shield anonymous donors. (RMS)

News

Fortescue recalibrates, cuts back wind farm

The environmental approval application for Fortescue's proposed Bonney Downs wind farm in the Pilbara shows that it is now slated to have 100 turbines, compared with initial plans for 200. Fortescue contends that scaling back the size of the wind farm will significantly reduce its environmental impact; amongst other things, Fortscue estimates that it will now have to clear just 944 hectares of vegetation for the project, instead of more than 2,000 hectares. Fortescue has also indicated that it considered several alternatives to the Bonney Downs project, including a solar farm and converting the Solomon gas-powered power station to run on 'green' ammonia and hydrogen; the latter was deemed to be unviable due to the high cost of the green fuel. (RMS)

March 3

BHP Group Ltd
$57.70 -1.55 -2.62% (ASX)

Mineral Resources Ltd
$56.04 -3.66 6.13% (ASX)

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd
$19.04 -0.9 - 64.80% (ASX)

Media Watercooler

News Flashbacks (For historical, reference, data and educational purposes)

February 2026

Feb 14

BHP exports crash in China stand-off

Shipping data provider Kpler estimates that BHP exported just 1.18 million tonnes of Jimblebar Fines iron ore from the Pilbara during January, compared with 5.82 million tonnes for the same period in 2025. Kpler analyst Alexis Ellender says the firm believes that iron ore stockpiles at Chinese ports are now close to capacity, while Goldman Sachs estimates that Jimblebar Fines accounts for up to 10 per cent of this stockpile. The downturn in Jimblebar Fines shipments has coincided with China's growing pressure on BHP to switch to using iron ore price reporting agency Fastmarkets rather than S&P Global Platts. Fortescue and Rio Tinto have switched a portion of their iron ore sales to Fastmarkets. (RMS)

News

Feb 16

Lawyers hit gold from BHP disaster

Britain's High Court is scheduled to begin hearing a compensation claim against BHP in April, over the collapse of the Fundao iron ore tailings dam in Brazil in November 2015. The High Court had ruled in late 2025 that BHP is liable for the disaster at the Samarco iron ore mine, which it jointly owns with Vale. The class action launched by law firm Pogust Goodhead has already generated more than $600m in legal costs; Pogust Goodhead estimates that it has spent nearly Stg190m on the long-running case, while BHP says it has spent more than Stg125m on legal fees to date. Pogust Goodhead is seeking up to Stg36bn ($70bn) in compensation for victims of the disaster. (RMS)

News

Glencore legend hedged against deal

Glencore 'founding founder' Tor Peterson advised the London Stock Exchange on 14 January that he still controlled about 2.4 per cent of the Swiss mining company. It was his first such disclosure in almost eight years, but he went to update the LSE on his holdings 11 times over the next 22 days, at a time when Glencore and Rio Tinto were discussing a merger. His disclosures indicate Peterson would maximise his profits if Glencore's share price fell below the Stg5.31 the stock was fetching when speculation of a merger deal speculation peaked in early February; Rio abandoned the merger talks on 6 February when the two firms could not agree on a price.. It has been suggested that by betting on Glencore's shares falling that Peterson was seeking a compensation prize should bets he had made on on higher coal prices fail. (RMS)

News

WA outgunned on lithium costs

US-based Albemarle has invested about $4bn in its lithium hydroxide refinery at Kemerton in Western Australia since 2018. CEO Kent Masters says the cost of processing spodumene concentrate in WA is about $US5 per kg higher than in China, where Albemarle operates similar lithium refineries. Masters notes that labour, energy and waste disposal costs are much higher in Australia, which contributed to Albemarle's decision to shut down the Kemerton plant. The company is now expected to ship its share of spodumene from the Greenbushes mine to China for processing; it has not ruled out resuming production at Kemerton if market conditions become more favourable. (RMS)

News

Gold rush pulls in dirt pirates and backpackers

The price of gold has risen by 70 per cent in the last year, prompting a new wave of prospectors at historic goldfields such as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The state accounts for more than 70 per cent of Australia's gold production, primarily from the Kalgoorlie Goldfields. The gold boom has attracted a range pf people to the region, including amateur prospectors and families that travel there on caravan holidays. It has also resulted in extra work for Australia's gold stealing detection unit, with a sharp rise in the theft of ore from gold mine sites by criminals who process it in backyards by using a cement mixer and chemicals to extract the gold. (RMS)

News

Mining election message to Minns

The NSW Minerals Council contends that the mining industry injected $22 billion into the state's economy last financial year, while the council estimated its members supported 35,100 full time equivalent jobs. With a state election due in March next year, NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee contends that the thousands of workers in the mining sector will be looking to see which politicians are willing to grant approvals for new projects; there are currently 37 operating coalmines across NSW, with 17 approval or extension proposals awaiting a decision, but the Net Zero Commission has informed the Minns government that any additional extensions, expansions or approvals for coal projects would push NSW off track from its emissions targets and the Paris Agreement. (Roy Morgan Summary)

Media Man Int

News Flashbacks

Victims' misery a goldmine for chequebook TV - 7th May 2006
https://mediamanint.com/articles/victims.html

Human Statue Bodyart does bodypaint, bodyart and makeup for Diamond VIP event at The Star, Sydney
https://mediamanint.com/articles/human_statue17.html

Biofuel flight 'another Branson stunt' - 26th February 2008
https://mediaman.com.au/articles/biofuel_flight.html

GenerationOne ideas forum - 12th August 2010
https://mediamanint.com/articles/generationone_ideas.html

Markets, Cryptos (in progress)
https://mediamanint.com/articles/markets_cryptos.html

All The Glitters (in progress)
https://mediamanint.com/articles/all_that.html

Australian Mining (in progress)
https://mediamanint.com/articles/australian_mining.html

FiberSense Technology
https://mediamanint.com/articles/fibersense_technology.html

Media Man Group

News

Heavy Industry News

Heavy Industry Awards

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

News

Gold Movie

Gold is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance the appeal of the film, character names and story details were changed.

Trailer

Gold (YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0

Gold is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film is inspired by a true story.

News/Profile

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (HPPL) is a privately owned Australian mineral exploration and agriculture company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. As of 2026, it is recognized as one of the most successful private companies in Australian history.

Leadership and Ownership

Executive Chairwoman: Gina Rinehart AO, who has led the company since 1992.

CEO: Garry Korte.

Ownership: The company is owned by Gina Rinehart (76.6%) and the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).

Major Mining Operations

The company has transitioned from a prospecting firm into a major global miner, with primary interests in the Pilbara region:

Roy Hill: A flagship mega-project and Australia’s largest single iron ore mine, producing 60–70 million tonnes annually.

Hope Downs: A 50/50 joint venture with Rio Tinto, comprising four open-pit mines with a capacity of approximately 47Mtpa.

Atlas Iron: Acquired in 2018, it operates the Mount Webber, Sanjiv Ridge, and Miralga Creek mines.

Hancock Iron Ore: A new entity formed in July 2025 to consolidate Roy Hill and Atlas Iron operations.

Diversification and Strategic Investments

Under Rinehart’s leadership, the company has expanded significantly into other sectors:

Agriculture: Hancock is Australia's second-largest beef producer, owning over 25 properties including the iconic S. Kidman & Co. It also owns 50% of Bannister Downs Dairy.

Critical Minerals: Major stakes in lithium (Liontown Resources, Azure Minerals, Vulcan Energy) and rare earths (Arafura Rare Earths, MP Materials, Lynas Rare Earths).

Energy: Significant interests in oil and gas through Warrego Energy and Senex Energy.

International Ventures: In January 2026, the company signed a gold exploration license agreement with Saudi Arabia's state-owned miner, Ma’aden.

Current Events (January 2026)

Australia Day Sponsorship: The company is the principal partner for the 2026 Hancock Prospecting Australia Day celebrations in Perth.

Helipad Proposal: In December 2025, the City of Perth refused the company's proposal to build a helipad at its West Perth headquarters.

Financial Performance: For the 2025 fiscal year, the company reported a profit of AU$3.08 billion.

History

The company was founded on November 25, 1955, by Lang Hancock, who is credited with discovering the world's largest iron ore deposit in 1952. When Gina Rinehart took over following his death in 1992, the company was in a precarious financial state with significant debt.

News

Gold (1974)

Gold is a 1974 British action-thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt, starring Roger Moore and Susannah York. Based on the 1970 novel Gold Mine by Wilbur Smith, the film is set in the South African goldfields and follows a conspiracy by a global syndicate to manipulate the price of gold by sabotaging a rich mine.

Plot: Rod Slater (Moore), a newly appointed general manager, is manipulated by his boss, Manfred Steyner (Bradford Dillman), into drilling through a protective barrier into a subterranean lake. This is intended to flood the mine, causing a global gold shortage and driving up prices for a greedy cabal.

Production Controversy: The film was controversially shot on location in South Africa during the apartheid era. This led to a "black ban" by British film unions, though some crew members defied it to work on the production.

James Bond Connection: Many crew members were veterans of the James Bond franchise, including director Peter Hunt (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), editor John Glen, and title designer Maurice Binder.

Accolades: The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Wherever Love Takes Me," composed by Elmer Bernstein and sung by Maureen McGovern.

Cast & Crew

Rod Slater: Roger Moore
Terry Steyner: Susannah York
Hurry Hirschfeld: Ray Milland
Manfred Steyner: Bradford Dillman
Farrell: John Gielgud

Director: Peter R. Hunt

Music: Elmer Bernstein

Availability in 2026

As of 2026, the film is available through several formats and platforms:

Streaming: Accessible on Prime Video, Tubi, and Roku devices.

Physical Media: High-definition restorations are available on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino Lorber and 88 Films

News

Pop Culture

"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)

"Gold" is a signature 1983 hit by the British New Romantic band Spandau Ballet, written by Gary Kemp.

Lyrics

Thank you for coming home
I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here, I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

Thank you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today
Oh but I'm proud of you but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in
'Cause you are

Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return There's something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'

Oh after the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime It's only two years ago

The man with the suit and the face You knew that he was there on the case Now he's in love with you he's in love with you

My love is like a high prison wall But you could leave me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause you are

Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return There's something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'

My love is like a high prison wall And you could leave me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Oh always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause you are
Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return Something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'
Songwriter: Gary James Kemp

Spandau Ballet - Gold (HD Remastered)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ntG50eXbBtc

Official video of Spandau Ballet performing 'Gold' from their 1983 third album 'True'.

Gary Kemp wrote both the music and lyrics; the song was produced by the partnership of Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. The music video was filmed on location in Carmona, Spain and directed by Brian Duffy. The video featured Sadie Frost as a gold-painted nymph, in one of her earlier roles. Some parts of the music video were also filmed in Leighton House, which was also used in the video for "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers.

Spandau Ballet are one of Britain’s great iconic bands having sold over 25 million records, scored numerous multi-platinum albums and amassed 23 hit singles across the globe since their humble beginnings as a group of friends with dreams of stardom in the late 1970s. It wasn’t long before they became fully-fledged members of the iconic Blitz Club scene and established themselves as one of the super-groups of the 80s.

The band's classic line-up features brothers Gary and Martin Kemp on guitars, vocalist Tony Hadley, saxophonist Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble.

Spandau Ballet’s hits include Gold, True, To Cut A Long Story Short, Through The Barricades and many more.

News

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Business Of The Month' award

Sky News Australia wins Media Man 'Australian Media Outlet Of The Month' award

News

Best Quotes

Gold Quotes

“Gold is the money of kings.”

“He who has the gold makes the rules.”

“Gold is a living god and rules in scorn, all earthly things but virtue.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley

“Gold is a deep and liquid subject.”

“Gold is forever.”

Best Quotes Of The Day

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Mining, Energy, Resources, Markets. Biz, Heavy Industry, Blue Collar, Culture, News

Australia and World

January 2026

Heavy Industry Awards

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

Jim's Mowing wins Media Man 'Australian Business Of The Month' award

News

Jan 6

BHP iron ore carrier docks in China after a month in limbo

A BHP spokesman has indicated that it is continuing to negotiate with China Mineral Resources Group regarding a long-running dispute over iron ore shipments. However, one of two bulk carriers was allowed to enter a Chinese port on 31 December, having been moored off the coast of China since late November; the second vessel carrying BHP's Pilbara iron ore has yet to dock at the port of Qingdao, having arrived in Chinese waters in early December. Meanwhile, BHP has declined to comment on whether CMRG is exerting pressure to change the index it uses to price iron ore shipments to China; recent media reports suggest that both Rio Tinto and Fortescue have agreed to do so. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

AI digs out more profits at mining giant BHP

BHP's chief technical officer Johan van Jaarsveld says the resources group aims to generate annual savings and revenue gains of about $250m via the use of artificial intelligence technology. BHP is deploying AI across its operations, but it has had particular success at the Escondida copper mine in Chile. Machine learning technology has been used to help design the blast patterns that are used to break up orebodies at the mine; van Jaarsveld says mill throughout rose by five per cent on the day BHP started using the technology. (RMS)

News

Geologists uncover Earth's largest iron ore deposit ever recorded, worth $5.7 trillion

It was previously thought that the Pilbara Craton's iron ore bodies were formed at least two billion years ago. However, new dating techniques applied at key sites in the Hamersley Basin have concluded that these ore bodies were formed between 1.4 and 1.1 billion years ago; the new age range has been confirmed across multiple ore bodies in the region. The research has also found that the Pilbara Craton may contain about 55 billion metric tonnes of ore; this would be worth more than $5.7trn based on the current price of iron ore.(RMS)

News

Northern Star cops a crusher blow to forecast

Morgans Financial has downgraded its recommendation on Northern Star Resources' stock from 'accumulate' to 'hold' in response to the gold miner's reduced production guidance. Northern Star recently advised that it now expects to produce between 1.6 million and 1.7 million ounces of gold in 2025-26, compared with previous guidance of 1.7 million to 1.85 million ounces. The lower production outlook has been attributed to a series of equipment failures during the December quarter, including the breakdown of the primary crusher at the company's Kalgoorlie operations. (RMS)

News

Coronado halts Queensland production after death

Production at Coronado Global Resources' Mammoth coal mine in Queensland has been put on hold in the wake of a fatal accident. One worker died and another was injured on Friday when a roof collapsed at the underground mine, which is part of Coronado's Curragh mining complex. Resources Safety & Health Queensland will investigate the incident, which is the third fatality at Coronado's Queensland coal operations in recent years. A worker at its Lower War Eagle mine in the US also died in mid-December. (RMS)

News

Australia

Northern Star loses lustre as gold giant cuts production forecasts

Northern Star Resources has blamed a catalogue of equipment failures for slashing the amount of bullion it expects to produce this year, prompting investors to punish its stock.

Australia’s biggest listed gold miner took almost a month to alert the market that the primary crusher at its famed Super Pit mine in Western Australia had broken down in December.

Investors sold down Northern Star stock after the miner said it would produce up to 13 per cent less gold this year than previously forecast. Shares slumped 10 per cent on Friday, when the new estimate was first disclosed, and rose slightly to close at $24.95 on Monday after a call with analysts.

Northern Star, led by managing director Stuart Tonkin, had told investors that it now expected to produce as few as 1.6 million ounces in the year, down from earlier guidance of up to 1.85 million ounces.

“The full-year reduction has been necessary due to a number of isolated operational events late in the December quarter, which have largely now been rectified,” Tonkin told analysts on Monday.

“I’d like to reinforce our confidence in the underlying asset portfolio... Our long-term value creation strategy is sound,” he added.

The miner said the crusher problems at the Super Pit were expected to be resolved by the end of January, but that they were just the tip of the iceberg.

Other technical problems included a slip in the open-cut wall at its South Kalgoorlie mine in October, and a failure at its crushing circuit at Jundee that is twice as bad as previously anticipated, resulting in 20,000 fewer ounces than forecast. Simon Jessop, Northern Star’s chief operating officer, blamed October’s wall slip on heavy rainfall around Kalgoorlie. (AFR) *Full article and coverage via subscription to The Australian Financial Review

News

Australian Mining News

Tragic Incident at Queensland Coal Mine

A worker was found dead following a roof collapse at the Curragh coal mine in central Queensland. The incident occurred on January 2, with the miner trapped underground; search teams recovered the body on January 3-4. This has prompted investigations into safety protocols at the site, operated by Coronado Global Resources.

Acquisitions and Deals

IPD Group (ASX:IPG) acquired Platinum Cables, a key supplier of cables for the mining and resources sector, for $37.5 million. The deal aims to bolster electrification efforts in Australian mining operations.

Ongoing asset sales and agreements, such as Horizon Minerals divesting the Lake Johnston Project to Forrestania Resources for $35 million.

Capricorn Metals is advancing acquisition of the Yalgoo gold project in Western Australia from Tempest Minerals.

Critical Minerals and Future Outlook

Several ASX-listed companies are positioning for growth in critical minerals, with projects expected to ramp up supply in 2026. This includes advancements in rare earths processing (e.g., a new facility in Sydney set for completion) and antimony-gold developments.

Government support continues for domestic processing to reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.Industry Trends and ForecastsGold production remains strong, with high prices driving earnings forecasts to around $60 billion for 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Preparations for 2026 include industry-government alignments in Western Australia for decarbonisation, digital transformation, and critical minerals demand.

Workforce projections indicate over 22,000 new jobs from 96 mining and energy projects by 2030, though challenges like skills shortages persist.

Upcoming events: Future of Mining Australia 2026 conference and potential shareholder votes on major takeovers (e.g., Fortescue's interest in copper projects).

News

Pop Culture News

Landman (Paramount Plus)

(In Case You Missed It)

Plot

Set against the backdrop of the booming West Texas oilfields, Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a crisis manager and landman for an independent oil company. Tommy navigates cutthroat deals, family tensions, and moral dilemmas while trying to keep his business afloat. The story kicks off with an investigation into a fatal accident involving an out-of-town lawyer, weaving in elements of drug cartels.

Landman is an American drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, inspired by Wallace's podcast Boomtown. It explores the high-stakes world of the oil industry in West Texas, blending themes of fortune-seeking, corporate intrigue, and personal drama amid roughnecks, billionaires, and geopolitical shifts.

The series premiered on Paramount+ on November 17, 2024, and has been renewed for a second season.

Landman: Season 2. Trailer (Paramount Plus)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=mhzQawESdqg

"You think you understand how this business works, but you don't." Things are heating up in the final Landman trailer. Season 2 premieres November 16, 2025, only on Paramount+.

"Death and a Sunset"
November 16, 2025

"Sins of the Father"
November 23, 2025

"Almost a Home"
November 30, 2025

"Dancing Rainbows"
December 7, 2025

"The Pirate Dinner"
December 14, 2025

"Dark Night of the Soul"
December 21, 2025

"Forever Is an Instant"
December 28, 2025

"Handsome Touched Me"
January 4, 2026

"Plans, Tears and Sirens"
January 11, 2026

"Tragedy and Flies"
January 18, 2026

News

Gold Movie

Trailer

Gold (YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0

News

Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

Markets, Cryptos and Biz

December 2025

Dec 30

Sydney, Australia to Wall St, New York

Digital Bush Telegraph

Markets

ASX 200 futures pointing down 6 points/0.1% to 8711

AUD -0.3% to US66.93¢

Bitcoin $87,218.84 -0.73%

Wall St:
Dow -0.5%
S&P -0.4%
Nasdaq -0.5%
VIX +0.59 to 14.19

Gold -4.4% to $US4335.01 an ounce
Silver -6.8% to $US71.94/oz
Platinum -13.8% to $US2118.03/oz
Brent oil +1.8% to $US61.75 a barrel
Iron ore +1.3% to $US106.05 a tonne

10-year yield: US 4.11% Australia 4.75%

Cryptos

Bitcoin $87,218.84 -0.73%
XRP $1.8529 -0.70%
BNB $852.81 -0.71%
Dogecoin $0.1231 -0.64%

Stockmarket

US Stock Market Overview (as of late December 2025)

The US stock market is in a strong bull run heading into the final days of 2025, with major indices near all-time highs and on track for a robust year-end close. Trading volume has been light post-holidays, but sentiment remains positive amid resilient economic growth, AI-driven gains, and expectations of a "Santa Claus rally" (the seasonal uptrend in the last five trading days of the year and first two of the next).

Key Index Levels (from the most recent close on December 26, 2025)

S&P 500 — Closed at approximately 6,930 (down slightly that day but hit an intraday high near 6,946). Up nearly 18% year-to-date, with the index eyeing the psychological 7,000 milestone in the coming sessions.

Dow Jones Industrial Average — Closed at around 48,711 (fractionally lower), up solidly for the year.

Nasdaq Composite — Closed near 23,593, up about 22% YTD, led by tech and AI stocks

Markets were closed on December 27 (weekend) and reopen on December 29 for the last few trading days of 2025. Expect thin liquidity and potential for modest moves as investors position for 2026.

Broader Context

2025 has been a resilient year despite challenges like early tariff impacts, AI spending concerns, and Fed rate adjustments (benchmark now at 3.50%-3.75%). Tech and AI names (e.g., Nvidia crossing $5T market cap) have dominated, but there's been rotation into cyclicals, materials, and foreign equities. Precious metals like gold and silver are at historic highs amid safe-haven demand.

Wall Street forecasts for 2026 are bullish, with many targeting S&P 500 levels between 7,100–8,100. However, history suggests potential pullbacks after strong years, so caution on overvaluation is advised. (Grok)

News

Dec 24

Precious metals rewarded for success

The US dollar is falling as a safe-haven asset amid growing risk appetite.

Gold is performing well, but other assets in the sector are looking even better.

GDP growth of 4.3% in the third quarter did not help the US dollar. It would seem that the strength of the economy, the rise in Treasury bond yields and the decline in the likelihood of the Fed easing monetary policy in March to less than 50% should have cooled the hot heads of the EURUSD bulls. However, greed reigns supreme in the financial markets.

The S&P 500 closed at a record high, which had a negative impact on the USD index.

Donald Trump was encouraged by the success of the US economy, citing tariffs as the main reason. The president said that the new Fed chairman would cut rates if the market was performing well. Investors should be rewarded for their success. Support from the White House is helping US stock indices, improving global risk appetite and reducing demand for the dollar as a safe-haven asset. In such conditions, high-yield currencies feel most at home.

The British pound reached a three-month high against the greenback, and the Australian dollar reached a 14-month high. After the Reserve Bank signalled the end of the monetary policy easing cycle, the futures market began to price in expectations of a cash rate hike in 2026.

By Christmas, the start date for monetary tightening had shifted to June, which created a tailwind for AUDUSD.

Investors in a Bloomberg survey see the Bank of England's neutral rate at 3.25% and estimate the chances of it falling to 3% in 2026 as fifty-fifty. They are more dovish than the BoE. At their December meeting, Andrew Bailey and his colleagues opted for caution, which supported GBPUSD. Meanwhile, gold has broken through the psychologically important level of $4,500 per ounce.

JP Morgan forecasts XAUUSD to rise to 5,000 by the end of 2026 and estimates the scale of bullion purchases by central banks and retail investors at 585 tonnes per quarter. According to the bank, every 100 tonnes above the base 350 tonnes leads to a 2% increase in precious metal prices.

Gold has already gained more than 70% in value in 2025 and is heading for its best performance since 1979.

Other assets in the precious metals sector are growing even faster. Prices for silver, platinum and palladium have more than doubled this year. Along with strong investment demand, fears about the introduction of US import duties are playing into their hands. (FxPro)

News

Dec 29

A confident Euro and a vulnerable Yen

Rapid GDP growth in the eurozone has helped EURUSD.

USDJPY risks rising to 164. Christmas week turned out to be the worst for the US dollar since June. Falling Treasury yields and new S&P 500 records caused the USD index to retreat. The chances of the Fed easing monetary policy in March rose above 50% again, and there is active discussion in Forex about the new Fed chair. Historically, central bank chiefs have had a significant influence on the FOMC. Donald Trump's man could bring down interest rates and the greenback. However, the Fed is not a one-man show. Decisions are made collectively based on incoming data. The longer the pause in the monetary expansion cycle lasts, the higher the chances of a correction in the EURUSD to an upward trend. In this case, the yield differential between US and German bonds will remain wide. Money will flow from Europe to the United States, strengthening the dollar. In the medium term, monetary policy divergence and a narrowing gap in GDP growth could play in favour of the euro. Financial Times experts expect the eurozone economy to expand by 1.2% in 2026 and 1.4% in 2027. In 2025, it will grow by 1.4%, significantly more than the 0.9% forecast at the end of 2024. Faster economic growth in the currency bloc has been one of the key drivers of the EURUSD's 13.5% rally this year. Another trump card for the euro has been the divergence in monetary policy. Financial Times experts believe that the ECB's deposit rate will remain at 2% until the end of 2026 and rise to 2.25% in 2027. The futures market expects two acts of monetary expansion from the Fed next year. The narrowing of the spread between US and German bond yields is a strong argument in favour of maintaining the upward trend in EURUSD. Meanwhile, the number of yen bears is growing after the Bank of Japan failed to bring about a serious correction in USDJPY by raising the overnight rate in December. BNP Paribas forecasts the pair to rise to 160 by the end of 2026, while JP Morgan forecasts 164. The strengthening of the greenback has caused gold to retreat from record highs. The precious metal is heading for its best annual performance since 1979. Since the beginning of the year, it has risen by more than 70%, partly due to capital inflows into ETFs. The reserves of the largest specialised exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Shares, have increased by more than 20%.

News

Dec 29

Miners and Metals

Nickel price jumps as Indonesia signals big production cut

Nickel prices are at a seven-month high after Indonesia, the world’s biggest producer, signalled plans to cut supply of the metal in a Christmas gift for struggling Australian miners who have been shuttering projects.

The rising prices came after Indonesian media reported Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia had confirmed plans for unspecified production cuts. A group representing Indonesian nickel miners this month said it expected Jakarta to enforce a 34 per cent cut in volumes next year.

While the size of the cuts has not been finalised, the comments suggest the worst could be over for miners after a two-and-a-half year period in which prices for the metal were crushed by excess production in Indonesia.

Nickel was a fashionable commodity for investors between 2017 and 2022 on expectations that demand would rise in line with the metal’s use in the batteries used in electric vehicles. Prices reached $US30,000 a tonne in late 2022, but a wave of Indonesian supply emerged in 2023 as new technology allowed low-grade material to be cheaply processed into top quality metal.

The extra supply pushed nickel prices below $US20,000 since mid-2023, forcing Australian miners like BHP and Panoramic Resources to mothball their Western Australian mines, refineries and smelters.

The price had slumped to $US14,110 a tonne at the London Metal Exchange on December 16, but has rallied to $US15,430 after reports of Indonesian production cuts. The price had not been above $US15,400 since May.

The recovery could help BHP’s nickel assets just 14 months before a self-imposed deadline to decide whether they should be permanently closed. BHP mothballed the assets last year in the belief the supply surge was a structural change to nickel markets, and not merely a cyclical one.

BHP announced at its August half-year results that it would attempt to sell the assets, but finding a buyer has proved difficult given the enormous rehabilitation obligations attached to them. If a buyer cannot be found, BHP will permanently shut the nickel division in February 2027.

Another potential winner from a nickel price recovery would be businessman Duncan Saville, whose companies control the mothballed Savannah mine in WA. The mine closures have seen Australian exports slump from about 180,000 tonnes in 2017 to 81,000 tonnes this year.

The Industry Department provided a gloomy outlook for the sector in a report published on December 19, predicting prices would stay low, and export volumes would fall further as IGO Limited prepared for the Nova-Bollinger nickel mine in WA to reach the end of its working life.

Closure of Nova would leave Glencore’s Murrin Murrin operation as the last remaining major nickel mine in the country.

Industry Department economists predicted Australia will ship just 49,000 tonnes of nickel in 2027; down 73 per cent in a decade.

Batteries account for about 16 per cent of global nickel demand, with the stainless-steel sector still buying about 63 per cent of the world’s nickel.

Fitch predicts nickel prices will average $US16,000 a tonne in 2026.

Silver continues to soar

Signs of recovery in nickel prices come as silver prices have soared. The precious metal was fetching $US28.83 an ounce on the final trading day of 2024, but soared to a record high $US79.27 on Boxing Day 2025.

Financial markets have traditionally used gold prices to determine an appropriate price for silver, and the rally in silver prices is partly linked to the earlier rally in gold prices over the last 12 months.

Very few mines are primarily focused on silver production, with the metal typically occurring as a byproduct at mines that are focused on copper, zinc or lead. Australia’s biggest silver producers include South32’s Cannington mine in Queensland, Glencore’s Mount Isa hub and BHP’s Olympic Dam.

Iltani Resources, an ASX-listed miner exploring for silver, zinc, lead and indium near Herberton in Queensland, is one producer that has seen its share price jump more than 200 per cent alongside the silver rally.

“It puts us in a really good position to hit 2026 with a really aggressive drill program,” said Iltani managing director Donald Garner. (AFR). *Full article and coverage via The Australian Financial Review

News

VC/Sports Biz/Tech News

Jake & Logan Paul Announce $30M Venture Fund Backing AI, Robotics Startups

Anti Fund, co-founded by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and entrepreneur Geoffrey Woo, closed its oversubscribed $30 million Anti Fund I on December 3, bringing the firm’s total assets under management to more than $65 million. The firm named influencer and WWE star Logan Paul as a general partner, marking the first time the Paul brothers have become business partners.

According to a press release, the venture capital firm concentrates its investments in artificial intelligence and robotics companies. Anti Fund focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage ventures, as well as select growth-stage industry leaders. The portfolio includes OpenAI, Anduril, Ramp, Cognition, Polymarket, Flock Safety, and Physical Intelligence.

Investment Strategy

Anti Fund employs what it calls an “extreme barbell strategy,” making first checks of $100,000 to $500,000 for 10% ownership in technical founders, while also deploying $10 million or more in growth investments into industry leaders.

The fund’s limited partners include institutional investors Aquarian Holdings and Autilus Partners, as well as individual investors Marc Andreessen and Chris Dixon. Focuspoint Private Capital Group served as the exclusive placement agent for the fund.

Founder Background
Woo holds a bachelor’s degree with honors and distinction in computer science from Stanford and has co-authored numerous U.S. patents and peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Jake Paul built his career as a professional boxer and entrepreneur. Logan Paul founded PRIME, a beverage brand, and performs as a professional wrestler.

“Jake, what I realized is that he is essentially an avatar of the American dream, and I think Logan, in a very similar parallel sense, also represents that,” Woo said in an interview with FOX Business.

“When Jake named Anti Fund, I think we all share the same belief, that the people that create the future are the crazy ones that believe they can do it.”

Business Philosophy
The firm positions itself as founder-friendly, emphasizing what it calls the intersection of capital and attention. While capital remains a commodity, Anti Fund leverages the Paul brothers’ cultural influence to source founders and accelerate portfolio company growth.

Jake Paul discussed his long-standing interest in venture capital, noting he met with companies including Google, Uber, and Twitter in Silicon Valley as a teenager.“

Not only are we investors, but we can disrupt Logan with PRIME, me with W, Betr is always in the top five in the App Store is absolutely crushing it,” Paul told FOX.

“And these are companies that we’ve incubated ourselves, because if no one else is building it and we see a hole in the market, we can hire the best teams and grow and scale these companies in a major way.”

Anti Fund has incubated and funded several of Jake Paul’s business ventures, including W and Betr Media.

Rudy Sahay, founder and managing partner of Aquarian Holdings, said the fund closing “validates the confidence investors have in their strategy” and noted the firm “carved out a unique position at the intersection of frontier technologies and culture.”

Best Quotes

Cryptocurrency, Finance and World

"Volatility is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful." - Michael Saylor

"Bitcoin is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme." — Naval Ravikant

"We have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical framework that is free of politics and human error." — Tyler Winklevoss

"You can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere, and the world will have to readjust. World governments will have to readjust." — John McAfee

"Bitcoin is the most important invention in the history of the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver

"Cryptocurrency is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn governments." — Charles Lee

"In the future, national currencies will become obsolete. Bitcoin will become the single global currency." — Jack Dorsey

"The future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng Zhao

"Crypto offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged." — Elizabeth Stark

"The new frontier of innovation is in decentralization. Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott

"Digital currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter of how long before governments embrace it." — Brad Garlinghouse

Pop Culture

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking

Santa vs Grinch
Bulls vs Bears
Crypto King vs Mr World Bank
Citizens vs NWO
Neo vs Agent Smith
John McAfee vs You Know Who!
TKO vs Naysayers
Jake Paul, Polymarket and BETR vs Naysayers
Pro Boxing vs Newspaper Reports
VKM vs The World
Paul Bros vs Mainstream Wokes
Mr X vs Mr Bluesky

News

Media Man Favs

TKO $216.11 -1.33 -0.61%
Alphabet Inc Class A $313.56 +0.050 +0.016%
Netflix Inc $94.15 -0.32 -0.34%
Paramount Skydance Corp $13.50 -0.090 -0.66%
Porsche Automobile Holding SE Unsponsored Germany ADR $4.60 -0.040 +0.86%
Mercedes Benz Group ADR $17.54 +0.11 +0.63%

Mining/Energy/Resources: Australia and World

October 2025

October 27, 2025

Monday Money: All That Glitters ...

(Australia to New York, Wall St)

Mining Stocks: (Near Live)

BHP Group Ltd $43.54 +0.30 +0.69%
Fortescue Ltd $20.79 +0.27 +1.32%
Rio Tinto $133.49 +1.67 +1.27%
Northern Star $24.07 +0.37 +1.56%
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.64 +0.14 +1.33%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.37 -0.45 -2.39%
Mineral Resources Ltd $44.93 -0.0100 -0.022%

Gold Price Today: 4,059.70 USD -51.50 (-1.25%)

Recent Trend: Gold has risen approximately 6.42% over the past month but is down 0.79% today.
Year-to-Date Performance: Up about 48.64% in 2025.

The Lead up ...

News Flashback (In Case You Missed It)

Oct 22

Australia

Trump and Albanese Seal $8.5 Billion Critical Minerals Pact Amid Rudd Rebuke

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a framework agreement on October 20, 2025, at the White House, valued at up to $8.5 billion, to enhance supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths, including over $3 billion in investments for mining and processing 30 essential metals for defense, technology, and clean energy. The deal aims to reduce reliance on China's dominance in these resources while reinforcing the U.S.-Australia alliance, including AUKUS submarine efforts. During the meeting, Trump publicly confronted Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd over his prior criticisms, stating 'I don't like you either,' prompting varied reactions from Australian officials and widespread social media attention.

News

Albanese hits critical mass

The $US8.5bn ($13bn) critical minerals framework agreement between Australia and the US will result in each country contributing at least US$1bn to critical minerals and rare earths projects over the next six months. They include a gallium project in Western Australia and the Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says the AUKUS alliance will be a "deterrence" to Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump contends that AUKUS will not be needed to defend Taiwan, because he does not think China will invade the self-governed territory. Trump has also ruled out reviewing the current tariffs on Australian imports, stating that the nation "pays among the lowest tariffs"; this includes a baseline tariff of 10 per cent and a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium products. (RMS)

News

The Victorian towns poised to benefit from critical minerals deal

Edith Cowan University's Amir Razmjou says Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia will benefit the most from the landmark critical minerals deal with the US, followed by Victoria. Meanwhile, the Victorian government notes that the state has "globally significant" quantities of titanium, zirconium and rare-earth elements, as well as Australia's only operating antimony mine. It adds that growth in critical minerals could "inject billions of dollars of benefits" into regional Victoria; the Gippsland, Wimmera and Mallee regions account for the bulk of the state's critical minerals. However, farmers have warned that developing these deposits must not jeopardise the state's food bowl.

News Flashback

News Lead Up

PM to meet White House mining gurus to help solve crisis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend an event in Washington on Tuesday to mark the 140th anniversary of mining company BHP. US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and National Security Council adviser David Copley will be present at the event, with both men heavily involved in trying to solve the US's critical minerals crisis. A former executive of US gold, copper and zinc miner Newmont, Copley is viewed as the White House's unofficial mining guru, while Burgum has taken a keen interest in the efforts of BHP and fellow Australian mining firm Rio Tinto to establish a large copper mine in Arizona. (RMS)

News

NuCoal to blight pitch on minerals

There are claims that the cancellation of a coal mining licence by the NSW government in 2014 represents a breach of the Australian-US free trade act. The licence was held by NuCoal, with US investors in NuCoal seeking as much as $500 million in compensation for the cancellation. Nick Farr-Jones, director of Taurus Funds Management, which represents US shareholders in NuCoal, says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should use his trip to Washington and his meeting with US President Donald Trump as an opportunity to compensate the US investors. Farr-Jones says Australia needs to "right this wrong" if the federal government is to have any credibility when it comes to mineral rights. (RMS)

News

Gold Bulls have no choice but to push

Gold's rally to record highs above $4,300 per ounce resulted from a debasement trade. Governments cannot cope with budget deficits, are accumulating debt and demanding that central banks cut interest rates, as in the US, or keep them low, as in Japan. As a result, investors are losing confidence in government bonds and currencies. They are looking for alternatives and turning their attention to precious metals. As a result, gold has been gaining for the last nine weeks, the fifth time in the history of free currency conversion since the 1970s. However, there has never been a 10-week consecutive growth period. The gap from the 200-week moving average also shows the excessiveness of the rally. The spot price at its peak exceeded this line by 90%. There has only been one larger gap once before, in 1980. At the very least, the market needs a technical respite. But historically, its beginning could be the start of a significant multi-year reversal. Now, we are on the side of the bears, but at the same time, we understand that the bulls simply have no choice but to push the price further up, as stopping would ruin the whole game. Each time, gold finds a new driver of growth. In the summer, there were expectations of a resumption of the Fed's easing cycle. To be cont... (FxPro)

News

Rinehart's rare earths shares top $3.5b as Trump needles China

Hancock Prospecting has increased its exposure to the rare earths sector after participating in St George Mining's $72.5m capital raising. The latter had initially sought to raise $40m, but increased this to $50m in response to strong demand from institutional investors. St George subsequently also agreed to issue Hancock with $22.5m worth of shares, lifting the Gina Rinehart-controlled company's stake to around six per cent. St George will use the proceeds of the capital raising to expand its Araxa project in Brazil. Hancock's other investments in the sector include Lynas Rare Earths, Arafura Rare Earths and US-based MP Materials. (RMS)

News Flashback

PM has his work cut out striking rare earths deal with Trump

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is hoping to secure a deal with US President Donald Trump regarding the US getting access to Australia's rare earths, but it may not be as easy as Albanese might hope. The Trump administration is seen as being divided into two camps on the issue, namely the resource nationalists and the economic rationalists, and the first one is currently holding sway. They believe the US should create an end-to-end critical mineral supply chain, and it was probably behind the recent US government investments and equity stakes in US critical minerals mining firms Lithium Americas and MP Materials. The economic rationalists camp believes the US needs the help of its allies to meet its critical mineral needs, at least in the short term, with it being noted it can take more than 20 years to open a new mine in the US. (RMS)

News

Minerals/Politics

Stockpile of critical metals urgent: miners

The federal government aims to establish its $1.2bn critical minerals strategic reserve by late 2026. However, the mining industry has warned the government that it must act more quickly to build the minerals stockpile, contending that another mining nation could potentially trump Australia and become a supplier of choice to defence partners such as the US and Japan. Meanwhile, the industry is believed to have been told that the government may use contracts for difference to set a 'floor price' for critical minerals. The strategic reserve is expected to a priority when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets US President Donald Trump at the White House next week. (RMS)

News

Australian/Asia Pacific News

Rio set to shutter Tomago smelter

The Tomago aluminium smelter's coal-fired power supply contract with AGL Energy is set to expire in 2028, and it faces the prospect of a massive increase in power costs under any new supply agreement. This makes it highly likely that Rio Tinto and its partners in Tomago will permanently shut down the NSW smelter in 2028, unless investment in renewable energy in the state is ramped up significantly in the next few years. The cost of electricity is also a major threat to the future of Rio Tinto's Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania, with its current supply deal to expire at the end of this year. The Tomago smelter employs more than 1,000 people. (RMS)

News

Ellison loses key ally in MinRes board exodus

Iron ore and lithium producer Mineral Resources has appointed Colin Moorhead and Susan Ferrier as non-executive directors. Their recruitment follows the departure of six members of Mineral Resources' board in recent months; this includes Zimi Meka, whose resignation was announced on Friday. The recent departures mean that only three of the nine MinRes directors who attended its 2024 AGM will front shareholders at this year's meeting; they include embattled MD Chris Ellison, who has previously committed to stepping down by mid-2026. (RMS)

News

Rare earths market splits into light and medium-heavy segments

There are increasing signs that the rare earths market is splitting into two distinct segments, namely light elements such as as neodymium and praseodymium, and medium-heavy elements such as dysprosium and terbium. The Shanghai Metal Market suggests that while demand for light elements remains stable, demand for medium-heavy elements is weak, and procurement teams need to differentiate between these segments when negotiating contracts. US buyers need to cultivate relationships with non-Chinese suppliers, as well as keeping an eye on government equity moves, as Washington's willingness to take direct stakes in projects like Tanbreez suggests future deals are likely.

News

Rio, Japanese in Pilbara mine deal

Rio Tinto has secured state and federal government approvals to develop new iron ore deposits at the West Angelas hub in the Pilbara. Rio Tinto and its Robe River joint venture partners, Mitsui and Nippon Steel, will invest $US733m ($1.1bn) to expand the West Angelas mine, with Rio Tinto to contribute $US389m. The expansion of West Angelas will maintain its annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes. Rio Tinto launched its Western Range iron ore joint venture with China-based Baowu in June, as part of its ongoing commitment to the Pilbara. (RMS)

News

Loophole use in $2.4b gold deal leads to reform calls

Shares in gold miner Predictive Discovery have rallied in the wake of a proposed merger with Toronto-listed Robex. Predictive's shareholders will control 51 per cent of the merged group, although they will not be given a vote on the deal. In contrast, the merger will need to be approved by at least two-thirds of Robex shareholders. The proposed merger has prompted renewed scrutiny of the ASX's listing rules, which allow companies to waive the requirement for a shareholder vote under certain circumstances. Simon Mawhinney from Allan Gray Australia has likened the Predictive deal to James Hardie's merger with Azek earlier this year. (RMS)

News

GoldMining Inc. launches 2025 exploration at São Jorge, Brazil

Comprehensive program targets copper-gold zones; recent drilling hit 2.79 g/t AuEq over 79m, including antimony mineralization. Company also expands land package and updates mineral resource estimates.

News

Nevada Gold Mines deploys autonomous haul trucks

Fleet of 300- and 230-tonne trucks automated using Komatsu's FrontRunner system across U.S. surface operations for efficiency gains.

News

Calls for uranium listing as US goes all out on nuclear power

Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan says White House officials emphasised during his recent visit to the US thart a secure supply of uranium is a priority for the Trump administration. Tehan contends that the federal government should therefore add uranium to its critical minerals list, and include it in any deal with the US for an exemption from its reciprocal tariffs regime. Australia accounts for about one-third of the world's known reserves, although the nation's exports of unenriched uranium comprises just 10 per cent of global supply at present. Tehan recently reiterated that nuclear power will remain part of the Coalition's energy policy. (RMS)

News

BHP salutes Japan 'trust'

BHP's president of its Australian operations, Geraldine Slattery, addressed an Australia-Japan business conference on Monday. She declined to comment on unconfirmed reports that China has banned the resources group's Pilbara iron ore shipments. Instead, she emphasised BHP's "deep" relationship with Japan and the free-trade relations between the two nations. Slattery highlighted the level of trust and transparency in the relationship between Australia and Japan. (RMS)

News

MinRes appoints company secretary

Iron ore and lithium producer Mineral Resources has appointed Sarah Standish as its joint company secretary. Standish will replace CFO Mark Wilson in the role, which she will share with Derek Oelofse. Mineral Resources has released a statement in which it notes that Standish has 20 years of experience in legal, governance, risk and compliance functions at both ASX-listed and international companies in the mining and energy sectors. Her appointment has coincided with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission investigation into corporate governance issues at Mineral Resources. (RMS)

News

Upstart glisters among surging gold miners

The gold price has risen by almost 50 per cent in US dollar terms so far in 2025. This has in turn boosted the share prices of Australian gold producers; Northern Star Resources' market capitalisation has increased by 60 per cent so far in 2025, reaching a record high of $35bn last week. Meanwhile, Westgold Resources' share price rose by 24 per cent last week, lifting its market capitalisation from $4bn to $5.1bn; this followed its announcement of plans to lift gold production by 45 per cent to 470,000 ounces over the next three years. (RMS)

News

Lynas revisited: Can it reclaim its crown in rare earths?

Lynas Rare Earths is one of the few players in the sector outside China with genuine scale, but it is now at a critical juncture. A vertically integrated business model allows Lynas to produce a range of refined products, particularly neodymium and praseodymium. However, its product mix has leaned heavily toward light rare earths, leaving it exposed to pricing volatility. The most notable development in 2025 has been Lynas's breakthrough into heavy rare earths; the company announced its first production of dysprosium oxide in May, followed by terbium oxide at its Malaysian plant in June. This milestone currently makes Lynas the only commercial-scale producer of separated heavy rare earths outside China. Potential risks for Lynas include cost inflation, the ongoing threat of competition from China and uncertainty regarding the future of its licence in Malaysia. (RMS)

News

MinRes scores legal win on port levies

The Supreme Court of Western Australia has ruled that Mineral Resources and its lawyers should be allowed to see details of a controversial agreement between the state government and Chevron. The state-owned Pilbara Ports Authority had sought to block access to the agreement, which requires MinRes to pay a levy for using a cargo wharf and part of a shipping channel that had been dredged by Chevron for its Wheatstone LNG project. Chevron also built the Port of Ashburton, which MinRes now uses to export iron ore from its Onslow Iron project. (RMS)

News

Rare earth magnets have become the new battleground for global power

The unique properties of rare earth magnets have resulted in them becoming strategic assets, and supply chain control is increasingly being viewed as a matter of national security. China dominates the global production and supply of rare earth magnets, and this dependence on China was underlined earlier this year when the nation imposed export controls. Four rare earth magnet factories are currently under construction in the US, but China has been investing in rare earths processing for decades; it also manufactures most of the world's refining equipment and employs most of the specialised technicians, so ending China's dominance is likely to take years. (RMS)

News

BHP Faces Chinese Iron Ore Ban Amid Pricing Dispute:

Reports emerged that China's state-run iron ore buyers have instructed steelmakers to halt purchases of dollar-denominated cargoes from BHP, causing the company's shares to drop 1.8%. This escalates a broader pricing row, with BHP's stock closing at A$41.91 (down 0.73%). Analysts warn of potential supply chain disruptions for Australia's largest exporter.

Rio Tinto Eyes Early Closure of Queensland's Largest Coal Power Station:

The mining giant notified the Australian Energy Market Operator of a potential shutdown of its 1,000 MW coal-fired plant at the Tarong site as early as March 2029—six years ahead of schedule. This aligns with Rio's decarbonization push but raises concerns over energy reliability in coal-dependent Queensland.

Alcoa Permanently Closes Kwinana Alumina Refinery:

The U.S.-based firm confirmed the shutdown of its Western Australian facility after 60 years, citing high energy costs and global oversupply. This impacts 400 jobs and underscores aluminium sector struggles, with WA's government exploring support for affected workers.

Coal Royalty Pressures Lead to Job Cuts:

BHP's closure of the Saraji South mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin will eliminate 750 jobs, blamed on royalties eight times higher than 2024 profits.

Anglo American announced further redundancies at its Grosvenor mine and Brisbane office (potentially 1,000+ roles). Queensland's government offers fee relief but resists royalty cuts.

News Flashback

Events

The sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation and investment:

WA Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 8–9, Perth Convention Centre—spotlighting future tech, sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to draw thousands for networking and demos.

International Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October 21–23, Sydney—featuring leaders from 120+ countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.

Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):

September 23–25, Adelaide (ongoing as of early October)—showcasing automation and safety, with the Australian Mining Prospect Awards at Adelaide Oval.

News Flashback

Trump seeks equity stakes in critical mineral producers

The US Department of Defense bought $US400m ($607m) worth of shares in rare earths producer MP Materials earlier in 2025. The Trump administration is said to be looking at buying equity-like stakes in other producers of critical minerals, according to executives of Australian mining companies who recently held talks with officials from various US government agencies. Amongst other things, the government is said to be interested in buying stock warrants, which would grant it the right to buy shares in a mining company. The US aims to reduce its reliance on China for minerals that are crucial for defence technology and the energy transition. (RMS)

News

Argonaut tips gold to hit $US4500, lithium revival as supply tightens

The gold price has risen by 45 per cent so far in 2025, and it is currently trading above $US3,800 per ounce. Perth-based stockbroker Argonaut is bullish about the outlook for bullion, lifting its peak price forecast to US$4,500. Argonaut's executive chairman and co-founder Eddie Rigg also anticipates further consolidation in the gold sector. Meanwhile, Rigg expects the lithium price to rebound, arguing that proposed new projects in South America and Africa are unlikely to proceed in the near-term; he notes that they will be capital-intensive, while many are in volatile jurisdictions. (RMS)

News

News Flashback

Profile

Hancock Prospecting

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd is an Australian-owned mining and agricultural business run by Executive Chairwoman Gina Rinehart and CEO Garry Korte. At various stages of its trading history, the company has been known as Hancock Prospecting Ltd, Hancock Resources Ltd, Hanwright Pty Ltd, Hancock & Wright Ltd, and Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd.

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd is owned by Rinehart (76.6%) and the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).

The company was founded in 1955 by Rinehart's father, the late Lang Hancock. Hancock Prospecting holds the mineral rights to some of the largest Crown land leases in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Gina Rinehart has disputed accusations that she is an heiress. Through Rinehart's spokesperson and chief financial officer at Hancock Prospecting, Jay Newby, Rinehart has claimed that upon assuming the role of the Executive Chairwoman, she took over a company that was in a perilous financial position with significant debt and major assets mortgages and under threat of seizure.

Projects:

Balfour Downs Station Manganese Operation, northeast of Newman, a joint venture with Mineral Resources

Hope Downs mine, northwest of Newman, a joint venture with Rio Tinto

Roy Hill project, south of Port Hedland, a joint venture between Hancock Prospecting (70%), Marubeni (15%), POSCO (12.5%), and China Steel Corporation (2.5%)

Alpha Coal project, Galilee Basin in Central Queensland

Kevin's Corner coal project, Galilee Basin in Central Queensland

Nicholas Downs mine, northwest of Newman, a joint venture with Mineral Resources

(Developing profile/news). To be cont ...

News

Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

Mining/Energy/Resources: Australia and World

October 7
(New York, Wall St)

Mining Stocks: (Near Live)

BHP Group Ltd $42.00 +0.095 +0.23%
Fortescue Ltd $19.20 -0.27 -1.39%
Rio Tinto $124.65 +1.07 +0.87%
Northern Star $24.63 -0.14 -0.57%
Evolution Mining Ltd $11.19 -0.075 -0.67%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $19.32 -0.040 - 0.21%
Mineral Resources Ltd $41.92 +0.96 +2.34%

Gold Price: $3,960.78 USD (up $73.98 USD)

Bonus:

Elders $7.34 -0.040 -0.54%

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6620 USD (up $0.0040 USD) Iron Ore Price (SGX): $103.75 USD (down $0.25 USD) Oil: $61.80 USD (up $0.92 USD) Gold: $3,960.78 USD (up $73.98 USD) Copper: $5.0490 USD (down 0.360 USD) Bitcoin: $125,164.50 USD (up 1.99% in last 24hrs) Dow: 46,694.97 at 4.20pm NY time (down 63.31 points)

News

Gold Mining News

Gold prices continue their record-breaking rally, hitting a new high of $3,949.71 per ounce amid central bank buying, geopolitical tensions, and expectations of further U.S. interest rate cuts. This surge is boosting the sector, with miners' stocks outperforming AI-driven chip rallies—gold equities up 135% year-to-date, led by heavyweights like Newmont and Agnico Eagle, whose shares have more than doubled. However, analysts warn of a potential production "cliff" after 2025, with global output peaking at ~3,250 tonnes (105 million oz.) next year before a decline due to dwindling reserves and limited new projects.

News

GoldMining Inc. launches 2025 exploration at São Jorge, Brazil

News

Nevada Gold Mines deploys autonomous haul trucks

Fleet of 300- and 230-tonne trucks automated using Komatsu's FrontRunner system across U.S. surface operations for efficiency gains.

News

Calls for uranium listing as US goes all out on nuclear power

News

BHP salutes Japan 'trust'

News

MinRes appoints company secretary

News

Upstart glisters among surging gold miners

News

Lynas revisited: Can it reclaim its crown in rare earths?

News

October 2025

News Lead Up

October 3

Mining Stocks

BHP Group Ltd $42.12 +0.18 +0.43%
Fortescue Ltd $19.33 +0.13 +0.70%
Rio Tinto $124.88 +0.83 +0.67%
Northern Star $24.41 -0.42 -1.69%
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.98 -0.18 -1.57%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.02 +0.50 +2.88%

Gold Price: $3,856.37 USD (down $9.29 USD)

News

Australia close to minerals carve-out

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in April which could allow the US to impose tariffs and other trade restrictions on imports of processed critical minerals. The federal government and executives of some Australian producers of critical minerals are increasingly optimistic that Trump will agree to exempt the nation from a tariff on such minerals. Arafura Rare Earths CEO Darryl Cuzzubbo says it is clear that the US wants multiple sources of rare earths and "they want them now". Details of the critical minerals tariff are expected to be announced later in October, around the time when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House. (RMS)

Biz

News: Australia

Optus rings up no tax as miners and banks support the budget

The Australian Taxation Office's latest corporate tax report shows that the nation's largest private and public companies had combined income of $3.3trn in 2023-24. Tax receipts of $95.7bn were slightly lower than the record high of the previous financial year. The mining and energy sector accounted for $48.7bn of the tax take; Rio Tinto topped the list of corporate taxpayers, contributing $6.3bn to government coffers from total income of $52.8bn. Meanwhile, 28 per cent of large companies did not pay any tax in 2023-24; they include Optus, Netflix, JBS and Tabcorp. (RMS)

News

BHP keeps shipping despite China deadlock

BHP has declined to comment on reports that China has imposed a ban on its iron ore shipments from the Pilbara, citing commercial confidentiality. The fact that BHP has not released an ASX announcement on the issue suggests that the resources giant is not unduly concerned, given that listing rules require it to disclose anything that could have a material impact on its shares. Meanwhile, data from marine tracking websites show that bulk carriers loaded with BHP's iron ore and bound for China have continued to leave Port Hedland since reports of the ban emerged on Tuesday. (RMS)

News

New owner should 'sweat' mothballed BHP assets: opposition

Glencore is said to be among the potential buyers of BHP's nickel assets in Western Australia, while Wyloo Metals is believed to have expressed interest in some of them. Glencore currently owns one of the two nickel mines in WA that are still operating; Wyloo in turn suspended production at its nickel mines near Kambalda in 2024, in response to the downturn in the nickel price that prompted BHP to put its Nickel West mines, smelter and refinery in 'care and maintenance' mode. The federal Coalition contends that selling the assets may be the 'next best option' for BHP, and shadow resources minister Susan McDonald says a potential new owner should be encouraged to make better use of the Nickel West infrastructure. (RMS)

News

MinRes scores legal win on port levies

News

Rare earth magnets have become the new battleground for global power

Newsfeed

October 2

Mining Stocks

BHP Group Ltd $41.47 -1.06 -2.49%
Fortescue Ltd $18.94 +0.26 +1.39%
Rio Tinto $122.58 +0.55 +0.45%

News

BHP Faces Chinese Iron Ore Ban Amid Pricing Dispute:

Rio Tinto Eyes Early Closure of Queensland's Largest Coal Power Station:

Alcoa Permanently Closes Kwinana Alumina Refinery:

Coal Royalty Pressures Lead to Job Cuts:

BHP's closure of the Saraji South mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin will eliminate 750 jobs, blamed on royalties eight times higher than 2024 profits.

Anglo American announced further redundancies at its Grosvenor mine and Brisbane office (potentially 1,000+ roles). Queensland's government offers fee relief but resists royalty cuts.

Gold Sector Booms on Bullish Forecasts:

ASX gold stocks rallied after UBS and Citi hiked 2026 price targets to US$3,800–$3,825/oz.

Westgold Resources reported a 24% resource increase to 16.3 million ounces in WA.

Genesis Minerals surged 13%, Northern Star 8%, and Evolution Mining 6%.

Critical Minerals Momentum Builds:

Liontown Resources achieved break-even cash flow in its first lithium production year despite low prices.

Mineral Resources (MinRes) acquired assets from Resource Development Group and is refinancing US$700M in debt.

Impact Minerals partnered with Kuniko on a NSW gold-silver-copper project;

Cloudbreak Discovery optioned the Paterson project near Telfer mine.

Northern Minerals' Browns Range rare earths study forecasts an 11-year life at A$592M capex, targeting premiums over Chinese supply.

Fortescue's Green Energy Push:

Andrew Forrest's firm acquired Spanish wind tech company Nabrawind to advance decarbonization. However, a new report doubts full electric haulage by 2030, with diesel emissions persisting until 2035. Joint CEOs could earn up to A$7.5M each in 2025–26 via performance rights.

Santos Takeover Bid Collapses:

A US$36.4B offer from an ADNOC-led consortium failed due to due diligence issues and FIRB hurdles, potentially pushing Santos toward a demerger or merger with Woodside.

Geopolitical Flashpoint:

Trump Stake Proposal Draws Backlash:

Discussions of granting U.S. President Donald Trump stakes in Australian critical minerals firms have sparked outrage, with critics calling it a "disaster" and potentially illegal under foreign investment rules.

Upcoming Events

The sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation and investment:

WA Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 8–9, Perth Convention Centre—spotlighting future tech, sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to draw thousands for networking and demos.

Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):

September 23–25, Adelaide (ongoing as of early October)—showcasing automation and safety, with the Australian Mining Prospect Awards at Adelaide Oval.

October 1

BHP stays silent on China's iron ore ban

State-run iron ore trader China Mineral Resources Group is said to have imposed a temporary ban on BHP's shipments of the steel input due to an ongoing dispute over the renewal of long-term supply contracts. The dispute began in mid-September, when CMRG instructed steel mills not to accept delivery of a BHP product known as Jimblebar blend fines or to buy such shipments on the spot market; the ban has now been extended to all BHP iron ore shipments, according to Bloomberg. CMRG was established in 2022 to improve China's ability to negotiate with iron ore miners, and it now represents more than half of China's steelmakers in contract discussions. BHP has declined to comment on the import ban. (RMS)

News

Trump seeks equity stakes in critical mineral producers

News

Argonaut tips gold to hit $US4500, lithium revival as supply tightens

News

Gold rush to the exit at two top miners

Newmont Corporation has advised that president and chief operating officer Natascha Viljoen will succeed CEO Tom Palmer at the end of 2025. Palmer will become a strategic adviser to Newmont before retiring in March 2026. he says it is time to step down after nearly 40 years in the mining industry, including 12 at Newmont; Palmer has been the gold miner's CEO since 2019. Meanwhile, Mark Bristow has resigned as CEO of rival Barrick Gold; Mark Hill has been appointed as interim president and CEO while the company recruits a permanent successor. (RMS)

News

Beetaloo gas to hit market in 2026 with NT pilot project

Tamboran Resources has advised that it will undertake a five-well pilot program at its Beetaloo Basin gas project in the Northern Territory. Tamboran has secured a $179.8m project finance facility from Alpha Wave Global and Macquarie Group, with the NT government to underwrite $75m of this loan. The government has also agreed to buy 40 terajoules of gas per day from the pilot program from mid-2026; gas from the Beetaloo Basin could also eventually be shipped to the eastern states to address looming supply concerns.

Development of the Beetaloo Basin has been opposed by environmentalists and some traditional owners, due to the need to extract gas via fracking. (RMS)

News

News Flashback

Profile Snapshot:

Hancock Prospecting

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd is owned by Rinehart (76.6%) and the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).

Projects:

Balfour Downs Station Manganese Operation, northeast of Newman, a joint venture with Mineral Resources

Hope Downs mine, northwest of Newman, a joint venture with Rio Tinto

Roy Hill project, south of Port Hedland, a joint venture between Hancock Prospecting (70%), Marubeni (15%), POSCO (12.5%), and China Steel Corporation (2.5%)

Alpha Coal project, Galilee Basin in Central Queensland

Kevin's Corner coal project, Galilee Basin in Central Queensland

Nicholas Downs mine, northwest of Newman, a joint venture with Mineral Resources

(Developing profile/news). To be cont ...

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

Mining, Energy, Resources and Culture: Australia and World

August 2025

Profile

Mining: Western Australia

Western Australia is a global mining powerhouse, renowned for its vast mineral wealth and significant contribution to the world's raw material supply. The state boasts a diverse range of mining operations, including iron ore, gold, lithium, nickel, and more. WA's mining industry is a major economic driver, employing a large workforce and generating substantial revenue through royalties and exports.

Key Aspects of Mining in Western Australia:

Dominant Player: WA is a major global supplier of iron ore, particularly from the Pilbara region, and a leading producer of gold, lithium, and other minerals.

Economic Significance: The mining sector is a critical component of the state's economy, contributing significantly to employment, exports, and government revenue.

Major Commodities: Iron ore, gold, lithium, nickel, copper, lead, zinc, alumina, coal, diamonds, salt, and mineral sands are among the key commodities mined in WA.

Extensive Operations: The state hosts a large number of mining and exploration projects, including major iron ore mines in the Pilbara, and numerous gold mines.

Investment Hub: WA is a favored destination for mining investment, attracting significant capital for exploration and development.

Technological Advancement: The state is at the forefront of mining innovation, with increasing automation and remote operations.

Environmental Responsibility: Mining companies in WA are increasingly focused on sustainable mining practices and reducing their environmental impact.

Government Support: The WA government actively supports the mining industry through funding, infrastructure development, and regulatory frameworks.

Community Engagement: Mining companies are working to strengthen their relationships with Aboriginal communities and ensure that mining operations benefit all stakeholders.

News

August 14, 2025

Supply chain worry as China blocks ship

Alkane Resources sent a 55-tonne shipment of antimony concentrate to a US buyer via a port in China. However, Chinese authorities held the shipment at Ningbo port in Zhejiang Province for three months; the shipment was only released after Alkane agreed to return it to Australia rather than forward it to the customer, US Antimony Corporation. Alkane's CEO Nick Earner says antimony from the Costerfield mine in Victoria had been sent to the US via Chinese ports in the past without incident, but his company will no longer take that risk. Antimony is a critical mineral that is used by defence manufacturers; it is also used in the production of fire retardant products, electronics and solar panels. (RMS)

News

Investors take on lithium shorts fuelling rebound

Data from S&P Global Platts shows that the price of spodumene has rebounded by about 70 per cent since reaching a low of $US575 per tonne in June. The price of spodumene - the type of lithium that is mined in Australia - has risen strongly in recent days after China-based CATL suspended production at its Jianxiawo lithium mine. David Franklyn from Argonaut Securities is among the fund managers who are upbeat regarding the outlook for lithium; Argonaut participated in the recent capital raising of Liontown Resources, which is one of Australia's most heavily shorted stocks. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Global Lithium signs native title agreement for Manna

Global Lithium Resources will be able to proceed to the next phase of its proposed Manna lithium project in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields region after signing a native title agreement with the traditional owners. Global Lithium's MD Dianmin Chen says that negotiating a deal that will benefit the native title holders as well as shareholders was a top priority for himself and his team when he became MD in February. Manna has an estimated mineral resource of 51.6 million tonnes at one per cent lithium oxide. (RMS)

News

Evolution doubles profit on unprecedented gold surge

Evolution Mining has posted a 2024-25 net profit of $926m, which is 119 per cent higher than previously. The company produced 750,512 ounces of gold during the financial year, and its achieved gold price rose by 35 per cent to $4,300 an ounce. Meanwhile, Evolution expects its gold production in 2025-26 to be within the range of 710,000 to 780,000 ounces. The company's shares rose 3.9 per cent to $7.99 on Wednesday. (RMS)

News

Santos suitor fires back at Stokes over national interest claim

A spokesman for the consortium that is seeking to buy Santos has criticised recent comments made by Ryan Stokes, the CEO of SGH Limited. Stokes contended that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-led consortium's proposed buyout of Santos is not in the national interest. However, the consortium's spokesman says Stokes' comments are "clearly opportunistic" and reflect a commercial interest in the outcome of the bid. SGH is the largest shareholder in Beach Energy, which is Santos's partner in the Cooper Basin joint venture; Beach is keen to acquire additional domestic gas assets, and would be in a strong position to do so if ADNOC is cleared to buy Santos but directed to sell its Australian assets. (RMS)

News

Tamboran clinches Beetaloo land deal

Tamboran Resources has secured a deal with native titleholders and the Northern Land Council regarding the sale of appraisal gas from its exploration wells in the Beetaloo Basin. Appraisal gas sales will provide an early revenue stream for Tamboran's operations in the Beetaloo Basin. The Northern Territory's regulations allow Tamboran to sell up to 60 petajoules of gas from the exploration wells each day; the appraisal gas would have been burned off if Tamboran had not secured the deal with the traditional owners. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Welcome To The Blockchain (Song Lyrics)

We're now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain

verse

Power corrupts, money is power
The power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain

chorus

Welcome to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin

verse

Bitcoin is a decentralized ledger
And the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning

chorus

Welcome to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin

bridge

Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building

chorus

Welcome to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin

By di DECAP, Toby / Toby Ganger

News

Working Man: Sony Lyrics

It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will go down under ground
At the age of sixteen years Oh, he quarrels with his peers Who vowed they'd never see another one In the dark recess of the mines Where you age before your time And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will go down under ground
At the age of sixty four Oh, he'll greet you at the door And he'll gently lead you by the arm Through the dark recess of the mines Oh, he'll take you back in time And he'll tell you of the hardships that were had
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will go down under ground
God, I never again will go down under ground

By Rita Macneil

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

News

News Bonus

Gold by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony Swain

Music Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today

Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus] Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing

You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return

There's something I could have learned

You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime

It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you

And love is like a high prison wall And you could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return Something I could have learned You're indestructible, always believing

[Bridge]

Love is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return

Something I could have learned

You're indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul

You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing

You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return

There's something I could have learned You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime

It's only two years ago The man with the suit and the face You knew that he was there on the case

Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you And love is like a high prison wall

And you could leave me standing so tall

News

Markets

August 14, 2025

Australian Dollar: $0.6540 USD (up $0.0010 USD)

Iron Ore: $103.70 USD (down $0.70 USD)

Oil Price: $62.74 USD (down $0.34 USD)

Gold: $3,355.91 USD (up $8.03 USD)

Copper: $4.4975 USD (down $0.0195 USD)

Bitcoin: $122,815.70 USD (up 2.48%)

Dow Jones: 44,922.27 (up 463.66 points)

Mining Events and Conferences

Vancouver Resource Investment Conference (VRIC): January 19–20, Vancouver, Canada. Attracts over 9,000 investors and 300+ mining companies, focusing on investment opportunities and industry trends.

Mines and Money Miami: February 20–21, Miami, USA. Connects 600+ attendees, including mining companies and investors, with a focus on critical minerals and supply chain strategies.

MINEXCHANGE 2025 SME Annual Conference & Expo: February 23–26, Denver, USA. Co-located with the Colorado Mining Association’s 127th National Western Mining Conference and World Gold 2025, expecting 5,000+ attendees. Covers innovative practices and sustainable mining solutions.

BMO Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference: February 23–26, Hollywood, USA. Focuses on metals, mining, and critical minerals with high-level networking for industry executives.

PDAC 2025 Convention: March, Toronto, Canada. The world’s largest mining event, attracting 30,000+ attendees from 135+ countries. Emphasizes mineral exploration, sustainability, and networking.

Life of Mine | Mine Waste and Tailings Conference: July 29–30, Brisbane, Australia. Combines two AusIMM events, offering insights into mine lifecycle management and tailings best practices.

AIMEX 2025: September 23–25, Adelaide, Australia. Features professional development, networking, and showcases mining technologies.

The Digital Mine Conference: September 25, location TBD. Focuses on digital transformation in mining, hosted by Global Mining Review.

International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC): October 21–23, Sydney, Australia. Australia’s largest mining event, connecting global leaders with technology and finance sectors. Features six concurrent conferences and 500+ exhibitors.

African Mining Week (AMW): October 1–3, Cape Town, South Africa. Brings together industry leaders and policymakers to drive innovation and partnerships.

Mining World Congress 2025: December 10–11, London, UK. Focuses on exploration, critical minerals, investments, and AI in mining.

Mining, Resources, Energy, Markets, Gold and Gold Culture, News: Australia and World

July 1, 2025

News

ASX winners and losers for 2025 revealed

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 10.2 per cent in the 2024-25 financial year, posting its biggest annual gain since 2021. Ship builder Austal tops the list of best-performing stocks for 2024-25, rising by 152 per cent; it is followed by gold producers Regis Resources (up 150 per cent) and Genesis Minerals (145 per cent). Meanwhile, IDP Education recorded the biggest loss among the top-200 stocks, shedding 76 per cent; other major underperformers included Mineral Resources (down 60 per cent) and Pilbara Minerals (57 per cent). The ASX 200 ended the financial year at 8,542.3 points, and Shane Oliver from AMP says it could potentially rise to around the 8,700-point level by the end of 2025. (RMS)

News

Vales Point coal plant owner sued by ASIC for market manipulation

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission has filed legal action against Delta Power & Energy in the Federal Court. Delta is the operator of the Vales Point coal-fired power station in NSW; ASIC has accused Delta of market manipulation with regard to energy futures contracts, with the alleged manipulation taking place on 30 occasions between 8 September and 6 October 2022. ASIC claims Delta's conduct that had the potential to undermine public confidence in the ASX 24 market for quarterly futures, along with its integrity. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Mining News: Australia

Trends and Sentiment: Gold projects are gaining traction, with coal losing ground as an export leader. Environmental concerns persist, especially with projects like Wyloo’s wetland exploration. Critical minerals like lithium and nickel are seeing increased focus amid global demand Fenix Resources started mining at its Beebyn-W11 iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Mid-West, marking its third operation in the region. A 17.6km private haul road to connect it to the Iron Ridge mine is nearly complete, facilitating direct transport to Geraldton Port.

Ausgold released a strong definitive feasibility study (DFS) for its Katanning gold project in Western Australia, projecting 140,000 ounces of gold annually for the first four years and 1.14 million ounces over a 10-year mine life, with all-in sustaining costs of $2,180/oz initially.

Benz Mining reported high-grade gold results at its Glenburgh project in Western Australia’s Gascoyne Province, bolstered by a recent capital raise to fund ongoing exploration. A maiden Mineral Resource Estimate is expected soon.

Trade Challenges: Australia’s mining sector faces a projected $27 billion drop in export earnings for iron ore and liquefied gas due to U.S.-China trade tensions and tariffs, particularly impacting demand from China. However, critical minerals like lithium and manganese are expected to see earnings rise from $1.7 billion in 2024–25 to $4.8 billion by 2026–27.

Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo lodged exploration applications for a critical wetland near Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia, shortly after a salt company abandoned similar plans, raising environmental concerns.

Brightstar Resources completed a DFS for its Menzies and Laverton gold projects, targeting 70,000 ounces annually, with plans to scale to 200,000 ounces by 2029, supported by cash flow from its Fish mine.

Rio Tinto and Hancock Prospecting are investing $1.6 billion in the Hope Downs 2 iron ore project in the Pilbara, boosting Australia’s iron ore sector.

Peabody Energy extended a lockout at its Helensburgh coal mine, escalating tensions with the Mining and Energy Union amid strong thermal coal prices.

Larvotto Resources gained approval for its Hillgrove antimony-gold project, aiming for production in 2026.

Chalice Mining is on track to release a pre-feasibility study for its Gonneville multi-element (nickel, copper, PGE) project by year-end, with environmental approvals progressing.

Astron Corporation’s Donald rare earths and mineral sands project in Victoria received final regulatory approval, with $183 million in funding from Energy Fuels for Phase 1.

Westgold Resources awarded a $130 million contract to Barminco for underground mining at its Great Fingall project, targeting over 45,000 ounces annually.

Greatland Resources debuted on the ASX, raising $490 million, with shares jumping 12% after acquiring the Telfer gold mine.

Mount Isa Copper Smelter: Federal and Queensland governments are engaging with Glencore to explore options for keeping the smelter operational, critical for regional jobs. (Grok)

Bitcoin Mining: News

Note: Always conduct your own research before engaging with cloud mining platforms, as some may carry risks. Regulatory and environmental developments could further shape the industry’s trajectory.

Cloud Mining Growth: Cloud mining platforms are gaining traction in 2025 as accessible alternatives to traditional mining.

Topnotch Crypto launched a zero-cost cloud mining platform on June 30, 2025, aiming to make Bitcoin mining universally accessible without hardware or technical expertise. Similarly, BAY Miner expanded AI-driven cloud mining services for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin, offering hardware-free mining with daily returns. Other platforms like BTC Miner, QFSCOIN, MiningCoop, and PS Miner also introduced free or low-cost cloud mining options, emphasizing ease of use and passive income amid market volatility.

Market Volatility and Miner Revenue: Bitcoin miner revenues dropped to a two-month low of $34 million daily on June 22, 2025, due to declining transaction fees and a post-halving block subsidy cut. Despite this, miners are holding onto their coins, with only 150 BTC sold by Satoshi-era miners in 2025 compared to 10,000 BTC in 2024, signaling confidence in a potential market rebound. However, the network hashrate fell 3.5% over the past 10 days, the largest drop since July 2024.

Mining Difficulty Adjustment: Bitcoin mining difficulty is expected to drop by about 9%, the largest decline since China’s 2021 ban, potentially boosting miner revenues. This follows a period of high difficulty squeezing margins, with heatwaves in Texas forcing temporary shutdowns due to energy grid stress.

Environmental and Regulatory Concerns: Environmental scrutiny persists, with a 2023 UN study equating Bitcoin mining’s carbon footprint to burning 84 billion pounds of coal. The Trump administration’s relaxed regulations in the U.S. have spurred mining expansion, but environmental groups criticize fossil fuel reliance. Some miners are shifting to renewables, like hydroelectric power in Canada and wind farms in Texas.

Meanwhile, Norway plans to temporarily halt energy-intensive mining facilities, and Kuwait banned mining due to grid strain, while Iceland incentivizes renewable-powered operations.

Corporate Moves and Infrastructure: Tether aims to become the largest Bitcoin miner by year-end, prioritizing network security over profit.

Core Scientific is in talks with CoreWeave for a potential sale, reflecting the overlap between Bitcoin mining and AI data center infrastructure.

Cipher Mining launched its 150MW Black Pearl site in Texas, with plans to reach 300MW.

Chinese mining giants Bitmain, Canaan, and MicroBT are setting up U.S. production to avoid tariffs.

Profitability and Industry Trends:

Bitcoin mining profitability rose 18.2% in May 2025, driven by a 20% Bitcoin price increase and North American miners capturing 26.3% of the global network.

MARA Holdings mined 950 BTC in May, bolstering its treasury to 49,179 BTC, one of the largest corporate holdings.

The industry is consolidating, with less profitable miners struggling and larger players like Marathon and CleanSpark expanding.

Home Mining Options:

Home mining remains viable in 2025, with lower equipment costs (ASICs at $16 per terahash vs. $80 in 2022). Options include lottery mining (high-risk, low-cost), solo mining with ASICs, or joining mining pools for steady payouts.

The EU’s MiCA regulation has reduced regulatory uncertainty, supporting retail miners. (Grok)

News

MinRes sells troubled Yilgarn iron ore projects

Perth-based Yilgarn Iron Investments has secured a deal to buy the mothballed Yilgarn iron ore projects in Western Australia from Mineral Resources. The Yilgarn mines in the state's Goldfields region were shut down in late 2024, and more than 800 workers were redeployed to the company's other projects. Mineral Resources has advised that the commercial terms of the deal are 'confidential and immaterial'. The deal only comprises the Yilgarn hub's iron ore assets, and Mineral Resources will retain the rights to gold and lithium deposits. (RMS)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

News

News Bonus

Gold by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony Swain

Music Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today

Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus] Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing

You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return

There's something I could have learned

You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime

It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you

And love is like a high prison wall And you could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

[Bridge]

Love is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return

Something I could have learned

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home Sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul

You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing

You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return

There's something I could have learned You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime

It's only two years ago The man with the suit and the face You knew that he was there on the case

Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you And love is like a high prison wall

And you could leave me standing so tall

Markets

July 1, 2025

Australian Dollar: $0.6580 USD (up $0.0045 USD)
Iron Ore July Spot Price: $94.20 USD (down $0.55)
Iron Ore Aug Spot Price: $94.20 USD (down $0.08)
Oil: $64.97 USD (down $0.55 USD)
Gold: $3,303.22 USD (up $28.99 USD)
Copper : $5.1075 USD (down $0.0145 USD)
Bitcoin: $107,498.09 (up 0.04% in last 24 hours)
Dow Jones: 44,094.77 (up 275.50 points)

Mining, Resources, Energy, Markets,News: Australia and World

June 30, 2025

War, tariffs, growth slump take $33bn toll on miners

The Department of Industry, Science & Resources has forecast that Australia's resources export earnings will fall to $369bn in 2025-26, compared with an estimated $385bn in the current financial year. The quarterly resources and energy report also forecasts that the sector's export earnings will fall to $352bn in 2026-27. The report notes a number of risks for the sector, including geopolitical tensions, the Trump administration's tariffs regime and slowing global economic growth. The report forecasts that iron ore export earnings will fall by $11bn to $104.8bn in 2025-26; however, gold shipments are expected to rise by $10bn to $56bn, and become the nation's third-biggest resources export in 2025-26. (RMS)

News

Iran could resume uranium enrichment 'in a matter of months', UN nuclear watchdog says

International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi says Iran might be able to resume uranium enrichment 'in a matter of months', despite the US and Israeli attacks on several of its nuclear facilities. There have also been questions as to whether Iran was able to relocate some or all of its estimated 408.6-kilogram (900-pound) stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the attacks, with Grossi admitting to CBS News that "we don't know where this material could be". Iran has decided to suspend co-operation with the IAEA, and has Grossi's request for a visit to the damaged facilities. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Rio Tinto puts hunt for CEO on fast-track

Sources have indicated that Rio Tinto is likely to announce the successor to CEO Jakob Stausholm after its half-year results are released on 30 July. The resources group has commenced the process of interviewing and assessing the shortlisted candidates for the role; the leading internal contenders include chief commercial officer Bold Baatar and the head of iron ore, Simon Trott. Stausholm revealed plans to step down in May, prompting speculation that he had been pushed out. Rival BHP is said to be preparing for the eventual departure of CEO Mike Henry. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Beach touted as Narrabri buyer

Citi has stated that regulators might require Santos to divest its undeveloped Narrabri gas field in NSW in order for them to approve its $30 billion takeover by Abu Dhabi's XRG consortium. It comes as XRG was given an exclusive four-week period of due diligence on Friday to progress its bid for Santos, while the Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy is seen as a potential buyer for the Narrabri gas field, which contains an estimated 1,500 petajoules of gas. Potential daily production of 200 terajoules is equivalent to half of NSW's current gas consumption. (RMS)

News

June 26, 2025

Australia sues China-linked rare earths investors

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has lodged Federal Court action against Indian Ocean International Shipping & Service for breaching Australian foreign investment laws; action is also being taken against a former unnamed associate of the firm. The company is one of five foreign investors with links to China that Chalmers ordered in 2024 to divest their shares in rare earth miner Northern Minerals due to national interest concerns, with Chalmers' legal action against Indian Ocean International Shipping & Service said to be the first of its kind. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyzes every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

News

Gold holds decline as ceasefire saps haven demand

Gold held a decline as a shaky Iran-Israel ceasefire appeared to hold, reducing demand for haven assets. Bullion was near $US3330 an ounce, after closing down 1.3 per cent on Tuesday. The truce between Israel and Iran continued after US President Donald Trump lashed out at both sides for early breaches. Geopolitical uncertainties, along with Trump’s aggressive trade policy and central bank buying, have spurred a 27 per cent advance in gold this year. The rally has lost momentum over the last couple of months, however, with bullion mostly trading between $US3300 and $US3400 an ounce. Spot gold rose 0.2 per cent to $US3330.85 an ounce in Asian trading. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was flat. Silver was steady, while platinum and dipped.

News

Bonus

Gold by Spandau Ballet

Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony Swain

Music Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home
Sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away
Just another play for today
Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small
Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus] Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing

[Bridge]

Love is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul

You got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (You are, gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing 'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)

[Verse 1]

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall

News

Markets

June 30, 2025

Australian Dollar: $0.6535 USD (down $0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore July Spot Price (SGX): $94.75 USD (up $1.20)
Oil (WTI): $65.52 (up $0.33)
Gold: $3,274.23 (down $53.78)
Copper (CME): $5.1220 (up $0.0690)
Bitcoin: $107,356.68 (up 0.13%)
Dow Jones: 43,819.27 (up 432.43)

Markets

June 27, 2025

Australian dollar +0.5% to 65.46 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones +0.9%
Nasdaq +1%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.2%
FTSE +2%,
DAX +0.6%
CAC -0.01%

Bitcoin +0.1% to US$107,875

Gold $US3329.90 an ounce at 6.41am AEDT
US oil +0.5% to $US62.26 a barrel at 8.42am AEDT
Brent Crude Oil +0.1% to $US67.78 a barrel
Iron ore -1% at $US94.52 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.24% Australia 4.1% Germany 2.57%

News

Gold once again approaches a cliff edge

The Israel and Iran ceasefire has reduced demand for gold as a safe-haven asset. The precious metal failed to break out of the medium-term consolidation range of $3,100 to $3,400 per troy ounce and resume its upward trend. This signals weakness among bulls and allows Citigroup to predict a fall in prices below $3,000 in 2026. According to the bank, thanks to Donald Trump's ‘big and beautiful’ tax bill, the acceleration of the US economy will push gold prices down. The decrease in geopolitical risks will also contribute to gold's decline.

Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, maintains its forecast for the precious metal to rise to $4,000. It cites the insatiable appetite of central banks, the weakening dollar, and the fall in US Treasury bond yields. Indeed, the White House is keen on lower debt market rates and a weaker currency. A recent survey by the World Gold Council shows that 43% of central banks plan to increase their bullion purchases over the next 12 months, up from just 29% a year ago.

The recent de-escalation has once again tested gold's support at its uptrend, marked by the 50-day moving average. On Friday, sellers pushed the price below this level, which passes through 3324, and are even attempting to stabilise below 3300. In May, a sharp movement managed to push the price back above this line. However, this metric is now turning downward, reflecting over two months of consolidation after reaching recent highs.

All signs indicate a potential repeat of the consolidation seen in November-December last year, which laid the groundwork for the subsequent rally. However, there is also a high probability that the failure to break through the $3500 level over the past two months signals a global trend reversal. We await whether this will mirror 2020, with a 20% correction in the next six months and a two-year sideways movement or resemble the nearly halving in gold prices from 2011 to 2015. (FxPro)

News

ASX dips on tech sell-off; lithium stocks rally

The Australian sharemarket drifted lower on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.1 per cent to close at 8,550.8 points. Northern Star Resources fell 2.3 per cent to $18.84, Xero was down 5.3 per cent at $184 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 0.4 per cent lower at $190.71. However, Mineral Resources was up 3.6 per cent at $20.90 and DroneShield added 11.7 per cent to end the session at $2.39. (RMS)

News

'Not the moment' for abandoned rare earths mega-merger, says Lynas boss

A merger of Lynas Rare Earths with MP Materials would create a monopoly of rare earths in the Western world, and the idea that they should merge has been previously flagged. Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze said on Wednesday that she had been of the view that a merger of the two was a good idea, but that for a "variety of reasons, it didn't happen". Speaking on the sidelines of a talk for the Western Australian Mining Club, she said that there were no discussions between Lynas and MP Materials about a merger at present. She said that deals often have their moment, "and now is not the moment, unfortunately", in terms of one between the two companies. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

"The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears. To find the gold, think deeply and think better."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig." Broadway Mining

"There's a gold mine in you that must be exploited"

Mining, Energy and Resources: Australia, World

News

June 20, 2025

Rio Tinto to settle class action over Mongolian mine for $214m

Rio Tinto has settled a lawsuit brought against it by Florida hedge fund Pentwater Capital Management and other investors in Canada-based Turquoise Hill Resources. The legal action related to alleged losses that the investors in Turquoise Hill had incurred because of Rio's management of the Oyu Tolgoi copper project in Mongolia, with the investors to receive $US138.7 million ($213.6 million) under the terms of the proposed settlement. Settlement of the action comes a month after the Mongolian government filed a lawsuit against Rio in a British court, with the government accusing Rio of corruption and political bribery. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

PNG in demand to Santos suitor

Wapu Sonk says that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company must commit to the development of the $US18bn ($28bn) Papua LNG project if its $30bn bid for Santos is successful. Sonk is the MD of Kumul Petroleum, which is Papua New Guinea's national oil company. Santos owns a stake of just under 23 per cent in the Papua LNG project, for which a final investment decision is expected by December. Kumul has a two per cent stake in the project, and has an option to increase this to 22.5 per cent if it goes ahead. (RMS)

News

Woodside, Petronas in LNG supply talks

Woodside Energy has advised that it has secured a non-binding heads of agreement with Petronas to supply Malaysia with one million tonnes of LNG per annum for 15 years from 2028. Woodside indicated that some of the gas could be sourced from its Louisiana LNG project in the US, which received final investment approval in April. The project, which was formerly known as Driftwood, is slated to produce 16.5 million tonnes of LNG annually from 2029. (RMS)

News

Australian Mining News

Iron Ore Market Challenges: Iron ore, Australia’s most valuable export, is facing declining prices due to reduced demand from China and strong production from Pilbara mines. Rio Tinto opened its Western Range mine in Paraburdoo, with a capacity of 25 million tonnes annually, but forecasts suggest export earnings will drop from $117 billion in FY25 to $109 billion in FY26.

Traditional Owners and Mining Talks: Post-Juukan Gorge, some Pilbara traditional owner groups have secured new deals with mining companies, but others, like the Yinhawangka, express dissatisfaction with negotiation outcomes, highlighting ongoing tensions.

Munda Gold Mine Progress: Auric Mining reported the first blast at its Munda Gold Mine in Western Australia on June 17, 2025, with 70,000 BCM mined in the first month, fully funded by gold sales from Jeffreys Find.

Uranium Production Success: Boss Energy’s Honeymoon uranium mine in South Australia met its FY25 production guidance of 850,000 pounds of triuranium octoxide, with plans for a ramp-up in FY26.

Innovation and Sustainability: BHP’s innovation team announced eight finalists for its Deep Mining Open Call, focusing on underground mining advancements. Meanwhile, Viva Energy is supplying renewable diesel to reduce emissions in mining operations, aligning with new Australian fuel standards.

ASX Mining Stock Movements: An unnamed ASX mining stock surged 11% on June 19, 2025, due to positive news, while major miners like BHP and Rio Tinto faced declines amid falling iron ore and copper prices.

New Exploration Tools: CSIRO’s LandScape+ software, part of its eXploration Toolkit, uses machine learning to create landform maps, aiding mineral discovery by analyzing geochemical data in complex landscapes. (Grok)

News

Gold Mining: News

West Red Lake Gold Mines (Ontario, Canada): West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. is restarting the Madsen Mine, leveraging smart drilling and new infrastructure. The company has overcome major hurdles like permitting and financing, aiming to resume production in H2 2025. This positions it as a rare single-asset gold company launching production in a tier-one jurisdiction this year.

Cosmo Metals (Australia): Cosmo Metals extended its footprint at the Nundle Goldfield, confirming a 2.5km strike length at the Folly Line gold trend. Shareholder support was secured for acquiring the Bingara and Nundle gold-antimony projects, with further developments expected by April 2025.

Auric Mining Ltd. (Australia): Auric Mining commenced operations at the Munda Gold Mine with a first blast on June 17, 2025. Approximately 70,000 BCM was mined in the first month, with management optimistic about capitalizing on a bullish gold market.

Savannah Goldfields (Australia): Savannah Goldfields is restarting gold production at Georgetown, utilizing stockpiled material and tailings. It began transporting 850 tonnes of crushed Agate Creek ore from Charters Towers for processing.

Horizon Minerals (Australia): Horizon Minerals is generating cash flow from its Phillips Find and Boorara projects, with $20.3 million in revenue to date. An agreement with Norton Gold Fields will process 1.24 million tonnes of Boorara ore at the Paddington Mill, yielding $6.3 million in Q1 2025.

Asante Gold (Ghana): Asante secured $470 million in refinancing to clear debts from its 2022 Chirano acquisition. The company expects to double production to 172,000 oz in 2025, with the Bibiani sulphide plant commissioning in Q3.

Barrick Mining (Mali): Barrick removed its Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex from its 2025 output forecast due to a dispute with Mali’s government, which seized gold stock and blocked exports. Operations have been suspended since January, impacting 11% of Barrick’s expected 2025 EBITDA.

Ghana’s Gold Production: The Ghana Chamber of Mines projects 4.4–5.1 million ounces of gold production in 2025, driven by Newmont’s Ahafo South and Shandong’s Namdini mines. Gold exports earned $11.6 billion in 2024.

Gold Price Trends: Gold prices surged past $5,000/oz in 2025, boosting mining activity in regions like Western Australia. However, Citigroup forecasts a decline to $2,500–$2,700/oz by H2 2026, contrasting Goldman Sachs’ bullish outlook of $3,700 by late 2025.

Other Developments: Pacgold is restarting drilling at Alice River (Australia) in Q4 2025, targeting high-grade gold. Magmatic Resources acquired the Weebo Gold Project in Western Australia, set to close in July 2025. (Grok)

Best Quotes Of The Day

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyzes every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

News

Markets

June 12, 2025

ASX futures down 26 points/0.3% to 8493

Australian dollar -0.4% to 64.81 US cents

Wall Street closed: public holiday

Europe:
Stoxx 50 -1.3%, FTSE -0.6%, DAX -1.1%, CAC -1.3%
Bitcoin -0.2% to $US104,318

Spot gold flat at $US3370.79 per ounce
US oil +0.8% to $US75.00 a barrel
Brent crude oil +2.8% to $US78.85 a barrel
Iron ore +0.5% to $US92.90 per tonne
10-year yield: US 4.39% Australia 4.21% Germany 2.52%

Business News: Mining: Australia, World

News

June 18, 2025

BHP-Rio US copper mine clears environment hurdle

The US Department of Agriculture has granted environmental approval for the Resolution Copper project in Arizona. The publication of the final environmental impact statement for the underground copper mine will allow the transfer of federal land to occur, which is the next step in the long-running battle to develop the Resolution deposit. Joint venture partners BHP and Rio Tinto have yet to make a final investment decision on the project, which has faced strong opposition from environmentalists and Indigenous groups. (RMS)

News

Gold and iron ore prices set to drop, Citi warns

US investment bank Citi is bearish about the price of both gold and iron ore. The gold price has risen by about 30 per cent so far in 2025, and peaked at a record $US3,500 an ounce in April. However, Citi has forecast that it will fall around $US2,5000 to $US2,700 an ounce by the end of 2026, due to factors such as lower investment demand, an improving outlook for the global economy and US interest rate cuts. The iron ore price in turn has shed about five per cent in the year-to-date, and is currently trading at around $US93 per tonne; Citi expects it to fall to around $US90 per tonne over the medium-term. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Rush for uranium stocks to front-run prices

Uranium produers Boss Energy and Paladin Energy are the Australian sharemarket's two most-shorted stocks, while several of their peers also attract strong interest among short sellers. Local uranium stocks have rallied in recent days, while the spot price of uranium rose by nine per cent on Monday. The renewed interest in the uranium sector is at least partly attributable to expectations that Canada-based asset manager Sprott will use the proceeds from the sale of units in its physical uranium trust to buy about 2.6 million pounds of physical uranium. Bell Potter notes that Sprott's previous big foray into the uranium market prompted a surge in the spot price. (RMS)

News

Mining Stocks Today

Key Mining Stocks and Performance

VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX): As shown in the finance card above, GDX is trading at $53.51 USD, slightly down from its previous close of $53.55. Over the past month, it has risen from $47.15 on May 19, 2025, reflecting a strong upward trend (+13.5%). The ETF, which tracks major gold mining companies, benefits from gold prices exceeding $3,200/oz, driven by inflation and geopolitical concerns.

SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD): GLD, representing physical gold, is at $311.94 USD, marginally up from $311.78 yesterday. It has gained 5% over the past month, aligning with gold's safe-haven appeal amid tariff uncertainties and inflation expectations.

Barrick Gold (GOLD): A leading gold miner, Barrick is noted for its focus on Tier One assets, producing steady low-cost gold and copper. Its stock has been resilient despite gold price volatility, supported by a strong balance sheet and a 30% production growth target by 2030.

BHP Group: The largest mining company by market cap, BHP focuses on copper, iron ore, and coal. Its stock has faced volatility due to China's reduced iron ore demand, but its $2 billion investment in a copper joint venture with Lundin Mining signals long-term optimism.

Rio Tinto: Known for iron ore, copper, and lithium, Rio Tinto’s stock has been impacted by weaker Chinese demand but bolstered by its $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, positioning it as a major lithium producer.

Franco-Nevada: A gold streaming company, it has outperformed gold prices historically due to its debt-free balance sheet and royalty model. It had $1.9 billion in capital for new deals in early 2025, making it a stable pick.

Compass Minerals International (CMP): Rated highly by WallStreetZen, CMP has seen a 79.27% stock return over the past year, though it’s trading 12.76% below its $17.50 target price. It’s a top pick for diversified mining exposure.

Sector Trends and Sentiment

Gold Miners: Gold stocks are performing strongly, with the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index showing robust gains. Posts on X highlight optimism, with miners like Getchell, Lahontan, and Orezone up 4.6–10.9% recently, suggesting speculative interest in junior miners. Gold’s price above $3,200/oz supports miners’ margins, though investor caution persists due to past operational risks.

Copper and Lithium: Copper miners like Southern Copper benefit from prices nearing $10,000/tonne, but momentum slowed in Q3 2024. Lithium stocks, such as Arcadium, are under pressure from oversupply, though Rio Tinto’s acquisition signals confidence in future demand.

Iron Ore and Coal: Iron ore miners like Fortescue face challenges from China’s reduced steel production, with prices down 10% year-over-year. Metallurgical coal remains stable, but thermal coal is shunned by ESG-focused investors.

Uranium and Critical Minerals: Uranium stocks like Cameco and Energy Fuels are gaining traction due to rising nuclear energy demand. Junior miners like Core Nickel and Omai Gold are also attracting attention for high-grade exploration results.

Market Outlook

The mining sector’s performance is tied to commodity price cycles and macroeconomic factors. Gold miners are a strong bet for hedging volatility, with analysts expecting further upside if gold sustains its rally. Copper and uranium offer growth potential, but lithium and iron ore stocks may lag until demand stabilizes. Investors should focus on companies with strong balance sheets and low-cost operations, like Barrick or Franco-Nevada, to mitigate cyclical risks. (Grok)

News

Best Quotes

“He who has the gold makes the rules.” – Unknown

“All that glitters is not gold.” William Shakespeare

"The reality is gas prices should be much more expensive then they are because we're not incorporating the true damage to the environment and the hidden costs of mining oil and transporting it to the U.S. Whenever you have an unpriced externality, you have a bit of a market failure, to the degree that eternality remains unpriced" Elon Musk

Australia-Japan partnership to power critical minerals in NSW

June 10, 2025

Japanese powerhouse JX Advanced Metals Corporation has signed an agreement for a $20 million investment, with an additional contribution option of $5 million and a further $5 million in convertible funding in Australian-owned critical minerals company RZ Resources’ Copi Project in western NSW.

RZ Resources founder David Fraser said the collaboration between the two companies was a testament to their shared vision for the project and Australia’s resilience in critical minerals.

“This is more than a financial investment – it is a deep strategic partnership that strengthens our ability to deliver the Copi Project as a globally significant, geopolitically aligned supply of critical minerals.”

The Copi Project, subject to NSW planning approvals, has the potential to produce titanium feedstocks (rutile, leucoxene, ilmenite), premium zircon products (ceramic-grade and concentrates) and rare earth element concentrate, ready for downstream refining.

News, Markets, Comms and Culture

May 15, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6420 USD (down $0.0050 USD)
Iron Ore June Spot Price (SGX): $101.70 USD (up $2.10 )
Oil Price (WTI): $62.89 USD (down $0.74)
Gold Price: $3,179.41 USD (down $72.13)
Copper Price (CME): $4.6435 USD (down $0.0650)
Bitcoin: $103,541.08 USD (down 0.93%)
Dow Jones: 42,051.06 (down 89.37 points)

News

Australia

Miners, energy help ASX to sixth day of gains

The Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.1 per cent to close at 8,279.6 points. Fortescue was up 2.2 per cent at $16.97, Woodside Energy rose 3.4 per cent to $22.31 and the Commonwealth Bank firmed 0.8 per cent to end the session at $167.50. However, Insignia Financial shed 15.8 per cent to finish at $3.37 and Aristocrat Leisure was down 8.9 per cent at $62.10. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Media

CNN and Fox take on their own legacies with new streaming services

Fox Corporation is set to launch its third streaming service in the US. Fox One will feature content from across the media group's operations, including news, sport and entertainment. It will complement Fox Corp's existing Fox Nation streaming news channel and Tubi, a free advertising supported general entertainment streaming platform. Meanwhile, Warner Bros Discovery-owned CNN plans to launch a news streaming service that will be bundled with subscriptions to http://cnn.com. Fox Corp and CNN are both confident that their new streaming products will not cannabilise the customer base for their cable TV services. (RMS)

News

Rio shows we must invest in green iron: Fortescue boss

Rio Tinto recently advised that the iron content of its flagship 'Pilbara Blend Fines' product will be downgraded by nearly one percentage point, to 60.8 per cent; BHP had previously reduced the iron content of two iron ore products in 2024. Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto says the trend underlines the need for Australia to invest in more domestic refining, in order to produce higher-grade iron ore. Otranto has indicated that Fortescue is on track to finish construction of a green iron plant at its Christmas Creek iron ore hub and produce commercial quantities of green iron by the end of 2025. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Beware the rally in iron ore above $US100, it might not last

The iron ore price has peaked at more than $US101 per tonne in Singapore trading on Wednesday, which is its highest level in about six weeks. Factors such as the easing of trade tensions between the US and China have bolstered the price of the steel input, although market watchers say the rebound is unlikely to be sustained. Headwinds include steel production cutbacks in China and a looming increase in global iron ore supply as new projects in Africa start to commence shipments. (RMS)

News

Core Lithium plan to revive mothballed Finniss

Perth-based Core Lithium has advised that it may resume operations at its Finniss mine in the Northern Territory. The mine was placed in 'care and maintenance' mode in 2024, in response to a sharp downturn in the price of lithium. Core hopes a plan to significantly reduce mining and processing costs at Finniss, while also boosting productivity, will enable the mine to reopen. CEO Paul Brown says the quality of the Finniss deposit and its proximity to the Port of Darwin gives it an advantage over rival lithium mines in Western Australia. (RMS)

News

Australian Mining News

WA Mining Conference and Exhibition: Scheduled for October 8–9, 2025, in Perth, this event will focus on critical minerals, mine waste management, and innovative technologies shaping the industry’s future. It aims to be a key platform for networking and industry insights.

Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX25): Set for May 20–22, 2025, in Brisbane, GRX25 will feature industry leaders like Owen Hegarty, discussing transformation and sustainability in mining.

Carbine Resources: The company secured a 21-year mining lease for its Muchea West silica sand project in Western Australia, marking a significant milestone.

Federal Government Cabinet: Following the re-election of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the new cabinet has been welcomed by mining bodies. The government is pushing the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive (10% refundable tax offset for processing 31 critical minerals) and a Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive ($2/kg for renewable hydrogen).

Prospect Awards 2025: Nominations are open for the Australian Mining Prospect Awards, recognizing excellence in safety, occupational health, and industry leadership.

Legacy Minerals: The company is advancing the Nico Young nickel-cobalt project in New South Wales, leveraging prior work by Jervois Global to reduce costs and accelerate development.

Rio Tinto’s Winu Project: Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Metal Mining signed final joint venture agreements for the Winu copper-gold project in Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert.

Sibanye-Stillwater: The company reported a 92% increase in zinc production (25,000 tonnes) at its Century zinc retreatment operation in Queensland for the March 2025 quarter, with a feasibility study for the Mt Lyell copper mine in Tasmania due by late 2025.

Tivan’s Speewah Fluorite Project: Tivan formed a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation, supported by a $5.3 million investment and government funding, to develop Australia’s first fluorite operation in Western Australia.

Hillgrove Resources: The Kanmantoo copper mine in South Australia produced 811 tonnes of copper in April, with annual guidance set at 12,000–14,000 tonnes for 2025.

Critical Minerals and Sustainability: Australia’s mining sector is poised to lead in the global energy transition, with growing demand for critical minerals and a focus on innovation and sustainable practices.

Queensland Mining Coroner: Wayne Pennell was appointed Queensland’s first mining and resources coroner to investigate fatalities and address a backlog of inquests, enhancing safety accountability.

Social Media Sentiment: Posts on X highlight ongoing exploration (e.g., Verity Resources’ Monument Gold Project) and acquisitions (e.g., Terra Metals’ Dante Project expansion), reflecting active industry momentum. However, a 119% mining rate hike by a Goldfields council has sparked concern among local explorers. (Grok)

News

Pop Culture/Entertainment

Media Movies

Network (1976) - Directed by Sidney Lumet, this satirical drama follows a TV network exploiting a deranged anchor’s rants for profit, highlighting media sensationalism. Stars Faye Dunaway and Peter Finch.

Nightcrawler (2014) - A thriller by Dan Gilroy about a drifter (Jake Gyllenhaal) who becomes a freelance crime journalist, blurring ethical lines for fame. It’s a sharp critique of modern media’s vulture-like tendencies.

Zodiac (2007) - Directed by David Fincher, this film chronicles a cartoonist-turned-detective’s obsession with the Zodiac Killer, exploring media’s role in public fear and fascination.

Citizen Kane (1941) - Orson Welles’ classic traces the life of a newspaper magnate, loosely based on William Randolph Hearst, examining media power and personal ambition.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957) - A biting satire about a ruthless press agent and a powerful columnist, showcasing media manipulation with sharp dialogue.

News

Gold: Movie

Gold (2016) is a crime drama inspired by the 1990s Bre-X mining scandal. Matthew McConaughey stars as Kenny Wells, a prospector who partners with geologist Michael Acosta (Édgar Ramírez) to find gold in Indonesia. After striking it rich, their success unravels amid fraud and betrayal. Directed by Stephen Gaghan, the film explores greed and ambition but received mixed reviews for its uneven tone and pacing. It grossed $14.8 million against a $20 million budget. Available on platforms like Hulu or Amazon Prime (check current listings). (Grok)

News/Profile

Gold (1974)

Gold (1974) is a British thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt, based on Wilbur Smith's novel Gold Mine. Set in South Africa, it follows Rod Slater (Roger Moore), a mining engineer, who uncovers a conspiracy to flood a gold mine to manipulate global gold prices. The plot involves corporate greed, sabotage, and high-stakes action, with Slater racing to stop the scheme.

Cast: Roger Moore, Susannah York, Ray Milland, Bradford Dillman.

Key Details: 120 min, rated PG, released August 1974 (UK). Filmed on location in Johannesburg, featuring intense mining scenes.

Reception: Mixed reviews; praised for action and Moore’s charisma, criticized for pacing and dated elements. IMDb rating: 5.7/10.

Availability: Limited streaming; available for rent/purchase on platforms like Amazon or on DVD.

News

Bitcoin Movies Streaming

Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery (2024, HBO)

A documentary by Cullen Hoback exploring Bitcoin’s origins and the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. It’s a thrilling investigation into Bitcoin’s rise and its potential impact on global finance.

Streaming: Available on HBO’s streaming platform, Max. Check JustWatch for additional services or free options like Apple TV+ trials.

Bitconned (2024, Netflix) A true-crime documentary about three individuals who scammed millions in the unregulated crypto market to fund lavish lifestyles. Streaming: Exclusively on Netflix.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016)

A popular documentary diving into Bitcoin’s impact, its challenge to centralized banking, and its early history. It’s a great pick for understanding Bitcoin’s ethos. Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime Video (free for subscribers), Fandango at Home, and for purchase/rent on Amazon, YouTube Primetime, or Apple TV.

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)

Follows programmer Daniel Mross and early Bitcoin adopters, offering insights into Bitcoin’s volatile early days. Ideal for beginners.
Streaming: Available on Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and for purchase on iTunes or Amazon.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015)

A concise documentary tracing the history of money and Bitcoin’s potential to disrupt fiat systems. Features experts like Andreas Antonopoulos.

Streaming: Available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Fandango at Home. Free on YouTube in some regions (e.g., Ulterior States).

Notes on Streaming with Bitcoin:

Major platforms like Netflix and HBO Max don’t directly accept Bitcoin payments. However, you can use crypto via gift cards purchased from platforms like Bitrefill, Coinsbee, or eGifter, which offer cards for services like Amazon, Fandango, or Rakuten, usable for streaming or movie tickets.

For example, Bitrefill sells Showtime or Rakuten gift cards (for US, Spain, Portugal, Italy) payable with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin.

Crypto debit cards from providers like http://Crypto.com or Coinbase can also convert Bitcoin to fiat for subscriptions or purchases at non-crypto-accepting platforms.

Additional Tips:

Check platforms like JustWatch or IMDb for real-time streaming availability, as services change frequently.

Some older documentaries, like Ulterior States (2014), are freely available on YouTube, offering ideological perspectives on Bitcoin’s early days.

Be cautious with free streaming sites; some, like Openload or Streamango, have been linked to crypto-jacking schemes that mine Monero using your device’s CPU. (Grok)

Rio Tinto increases Australian supplier spend to A$17.7 billion

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto strengthened its spend with Australian businesses to over A$17.7 billion in 2024, supporting both national and local suppliers.

This is an increase of 9.9% from the previous year and was spent with more than 6,000 suppliers across the country. This spend has helped boost local, regional, and national economies, contributing to employment and strengthening Australian owned and managed businesses.

As part of this spend, more than A$926 million was spent with 182 Indigenous businesses across Australia – an increase of about 27% since 2023. Of this, A$671 million was spent with Traditional Owner businesses that we have land use agreements with, contributing directly to the economic strength of the communities where we operate.

Spending with local suppliers across Australia also increased by 14.8%, reaching A$1.3 billion.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker said: “From one side of the country to the other, our suppliers - including Indigenous, small, and regional businesses - are at the heart of our success and ability to operate in Australia. Their contributions help keep local communities strong.

“We recognise the important role these Australian businesses play in creating jobs, strengthening local economies and supporting our operations. That’s why we continue to increase our investment with them.

“In 2024, we expanded our spend with Australian Indigenous businesses by 27.5% to A$926 million and with local businesses across Australia by 14.8% to A$1.38 billion. These partnerships drive economic growth and strengthen the communities they serve.”

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250403505411/en/

Mining. Energy and Resources: Australia

February 20, 21, 2025

Hydrogen rethink for Fortescue

Iron ore miner Fortescue released its interim results on Thursday, posting a net profit after tax of $US1.55 billion. This was significantly down on the $US3.3 billion result it posted a year ago, while revenue was down one-fifth at $US7.6 billion and Fortescue's interim dividend was down from $1.08 per share to $0.50. Meanwhile, Fortescue revealed that it is considering pausing almost $1 billion worth of approved hydrogen projects in Australia and the US while it evaluates the stance of the second Trump administration on clean energy. (RMS)

News

Investors dump big miners as iron ore heads for a glut

The iron ore price shed nearly 30 per cent during 2024, which was reflected in the latest financial results of Australia's biggest producers of the steel input. BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue have significantly reduced their interim or full-year dividends, which has in turn weighed on their share prices. Sam Berridge from Perennial expects the outlook for the nation's iron ore miners to remain challenging; he forecasts that the iron ore price will average $US80 per tonne in 2026, compared with around $US106 in Singapore trading at present. Berridge notes that the addition of iron ore from the Simandou project in Guinea will provide an additional headwind for the sector.

News

Japan Inc returns to the Pilbara

Japanese company Mitsui has paid $US5.34 billion ($8.4 billion) to acquire a 40 per cent in the Rio Tinto-led Rhodes Ridge project in Western Australia's Pilbara region, with Mitsui buying the stake from two descendants of noted WA iron ore explorer Peter Wright. Rhodes Ridge is set to produce its first iron ore in 2030, and contains enough ore to operate for 140 years to operate at its initial production rate of 40 million tonnes per year. Rio's CEO Jakob Stausholm says that Mitsui's investment shows that the Pilbara still "has got many, many great – not years – but decades ahead".

News

Lithium producer IGO falls to $782m loss

IGO Limited has posted revenue of $284m for the first half of 2024-25, which is 35 per cent lower than previously. The company has booked an interim net loss of $782m, compared with a $288.3m profit for the previous corresponding period. The result was marred by a $524.6m impairment charge on the lithium hydroxide refinery at Kwinana in Western Australia, which IGO owns in partnership with China's Tianqi Lithium. The impairment charge reflects the fact that the existing production unit at the refinery has never reached full capacity of 24,000 tonnes a year, as well as the partners' recent decision to cancel plans for a second production unit.

News

Boost for rare earths as lithium miners reveal big losses

Lithium producers Pilbara Minerals and IGO reported significant losses on Thursday, due to the ongoing downturn in the price of lithium. Pilbara Mineral announced an interim loss of $69 million, while IGO disclosed a loss of $782.1 million, which includes its share of a $525 million impairment on a lithium hydroxide plant owned in partnership with Chinese firm Tianqi. The announcement of the big losses by Pilbara Minerals and IGO comes as the Andrew Forrest-owned Wyloo announced it will form a joint venture with Hastings Technology Metals to develop the Yangibana rare earths and niobium project in Western Australia, in a deal that also sees Wyloo secure a 19.9 per cent stake in Toronto-listed Neo Performance Materials. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Company Of The Month' award

Mining News

Mining industry ‘critical’ to future energy transition

Breton Technology Middle East and Australia Chairman Lance Kawaguchi says the mining industry is “critical” to the future energy transition.

A prominent tech and manufacturing company is pushing the boundaries of sustainable mining globally through the deployment of battery-electric machinery and advanced autonomous technology.

“Our mission is to try to do our part to be sustainable,” Mr Kawaguchi told Sky News Australia.

“What we are trying to do is to find solutions ... to still be able to mine but reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption.”

Media Man: Sky's the limited with the right resources, media and business associates, vision and hard and smart work!

News

Mining via Grok

Mining is an essential industry that involves the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth. Here's an overview based on general knowledge and contemporary information:

Methods of Mining:

Underground Mining: Used for deep mineral deposits. This method involves creating shafts or tunnels to reach the ore. It's more expensive and can be hazardous but is necessary for high-value minerals located deep underground.

Open Surface (Pit) Mining: Best for minerals located near the surface. This method creates an open pit to extract the ore. It's generally safer and less expensive than underground mining when the ore body is near the surface.

Placer Mining: Utilizes water to extract minerals, typically gold, from sediments in river channels or other alluvial deposits.

In-Situ Mining: Involves dissolving the mineral resource in place using chemicals and then processing it at the surface without moving the rock. This method is often used for uranium.

Environmental Impact:

Mining has significant environmental impacts:

Land Disturbance: Open pits, spoil heaps, and tailings change landscapes dramatically, often leading to deforestation and habitat destruction.

Water Pollution: Mining can lead to acid mine drainage, where acids and heavy metals leach into water sources, which is harmful to aquatic life and human health.

Air Pollution: Dust from mining operations can affect air quality, and processing some ores releases harmful gases.

Rehabilitation: Modern mining practices often include plans for land rehabilitation post-mining, though the success of these efforts can vary widely.

Technological and Economic Aspects:

Technology: Modern mining uses advanced technology for exploration (like satellite imagery, geophysical methods), extraction (automated machinery), and processing (bioleaching, for instance).

Economics: Mining can be extremely lucrative, driving economic growth in many regions. However, the volatility in mineral prices can lead to boom-and-bust cycles in mining-dependent communities.

Energy Transition: There's an increasing focus on mining due to the demand for minerals critical for renewable energy technologies (like lithium for batteries).

Social and Political Dynamics:

Labor: Mining often employs significant numbers of workers, but conditions can be tough, leading to labor disputes. Automation in mining aims to reduce human risk but also affects employment.

Community Impact: Mining operations can bring development to remote areas but also social displacement, health issues, and conflicts over land use and water rights.

International Relations: Countries rich in resources can become focal points for international partnerships or competition, as seen with rare earth elements or, historically, with uranium, like the recent interest in Niger's uranium by countries like Turkey.

Bitcoin and Cryptomining:

Unlike traditional mining, cryptocurrency mining involves solving complex mathematical problems to validate transactions on the blockchain, which requires significant computational power and energy. Recent X posts highlight a growing intersection between digital and physical mining worlds through themes like Bitcoin mining games and the environmental debate around the energy consumption of crypto mining.

This overview captures the multifaceted nature of mining, from its methodologies to its broader implications on society, technology, environment, and global politics. (Grok)

News/Profile via Grok

Mining Industry

The mining industry continues to evolve, influenced by various economic, environmental, technological, and regulatory factors:

Technological Advancements: The industry is seeing a push towards automation and the use of advanced machinery, aiming for efficiency, safety, and reduced environmental impact. Technologies like autonomous drilling systems, AI for exploration and mine planning, and IoT for real-time monitoring of equipment are becoming more common.

Environmental Concerns and Sustainability: There's increasing pressure for the mining industry to adopt more sustainable practices. This includes efforts to reduce water usage, lower emissions, rehabilitate mined lands, and use renewable energy sources in mining operations. The concept of "green mining" is gaining traction, where the focus is on minimizing the environmental footprint throughout the lifecycle of a mine.

Regulatory Changes: Governments around the world are updating mining laws to boost growth while ensuring environmental protection and community rights. For instance, as seen in posts on X, Indonesia has updated its mining regulations to streamline operations but also to ensure compliance and environmental protection.

Demand for Critical Minerals: The rise in demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies has shifted focus towards minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper. These are crucial for batteries and electronics, leading to what might be described as a new mining boom for these specific resources.

Economic Impact and Market Dynamics: The mining sector's health often serves as a barometer for global economic activity. Recent sentiment, as reflected on platforms like X, indicates optimism with expectations of increased investment in the sector, though there are calls for more favorable conditions like lower power tariffs and stable policies.

Supply Shortfalls: There's growing concern over supply shortfalls for several key metals due to insufficient current mining output to meet the rising demand, especially for those used in high-tech products and green technologies.

Investment and Expansion: The industry is looking at significant expansion, with equipment industries related to mining expected to grow by a substantial margin. This growth is driven not just by traditional mining but also by the need for new mines to meet the demand for metals critical for the tech and green industries.

Global Perspective: While the U.S. remains a significant player, countries like Australia, with its gold rushes in the past, and now regions in Africa and South America, are central to the global supply of various minerals. The strategic importance of mining in national economies and for global supply chains continues to be a focal point in geopolitical discussions.

Social License to Operate: Mining companies are increasingly aware of the need for a social license, meaning gaining community and societal approval, not just regulatory permits. This involves better engagement with local communities, more transparent operations, and contributing positively to the areas they operate in.

Remember, while these insights reflect general trends and sentiments, the mining industry's specifics can vary greatly by region, the mineral in question, and current global economic conditions. Always consider the latest reports and local news for the most current state of affairs in the mining sector. (Grok)

News

Bitcoin Mining Profile And News via Grok

Bitcoin mining is the process by which new bitcoins are entered into circulation, but it's also a critical component of the maintenance and development of the blockchain ledger. Here's a simplified overview of how it works:

Transaction Verification: Miners collect transactions broadcasted to the network into a block. They verify that these transactions are legitimate according to the rules of the Bitcoin network (e.g., checking for double-spending).

Creating a Block: Once a set of transactions are verified, they are added to a block. Each block contains a reference to the previous block, forming a chain (hence, blockchain).

Proof of Work: Miners must solve a complex mathematical puzzle that requires significant computational power. This puzzle is essentially finding a hash that meets certain criteria (the hash must start with a certain number of zeros). The difficulty of this puzzle adjusts to ensure that a new block is mined approximately every 10 minutes.

Hash: A hash is a function that converts an input of letters and numbers into an encrypted output of a fixed length. In Bitcoin, the SHA-256 hashing function is used.

Finding the Solution: The first miner to solve the puzzle gets to place the next block on the blockchain and claim the rewards. This process involves a lot of trial and error, with miners adjusting a value called the "nonce" in the block header to try to produce a hash that meets the criteria.

Rewards: The successful miner is rewarded with:
Block Reward: A set amount of newly minted bitcoins. This reward halves approximately every four years in what's known as the "halving." As of my last update, the block reward was 6.25 bitcoins, but by 2024, it would have halved again if the schedule continued as planned.
Transaction Fees: All the transaction fees from the transactions included in the block.

Energy Consumption: Bitcoin mining is notorious for its energy consumption due to the computational power required for proof of work. This has led to discussions about the environmental impact of Bitcoin.

Mining Pools: Because the probability of mining a block solo has become very low due to the network's total computational power, many miners join mining pools. Here, miners combine their computational resources and share the block rewards according to the amount of work they contributed to the probability of finding a block.

Equipment: Over time, mining has evolved from using CPUs to GPUs, FPGAs, and now ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits), which are designed specifically for mining and offer significant efficiency improvements.

Decentralization and Security: The mining process helps to secure the network by making it economically infeasible to attack or alter the blockchain. For an attacker to change any part of the blockchain, they would need to redo the proof of work for all subsequent blocks and outpace the honest nodes, which is impractical without controlling more than 50% of the network's mining power.

Since we're now in 2024, if there have been significant changes or updates to Bitcoin mining practices, technology, or regulations since my last update, those would be worth checking out for the most current information. Would you like me to search for any recent developments in Bitcoin mining? (Grok)

#Mining #MiningNews #MiningIndustry #MiningStocks #Energy #Resources #Technology #Innovation #Blockchaing #Bitcoin #BTC #newsfeed #newsfeeds #newswire #Grok #MiningPR #PR #News #media #mediaman #mediamanint #XMining

Markets and Commodities

October 10, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6710 USD (down $0.0040 USD)

Iron Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $105.15 USD (unchanged - public holiday)

Oil Price (WTI): $73.36 USD (down $0.55 USD)

Gold Price: $2,607.14 USD (down $15.75 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.4080 USD (down 0.0605 USD)

Bitcoin: $60,908.07 USD (down 2.11% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 42,512.00 at 4.20pm NY time (up 431.63 points on yesterday's close)

Gina Rinehart upgrades her airport (and email signature)

By Mark Di Stefano

September 23, 2024

What’s the point of being the country’s wealthiest person if you can’t make unilateral changes to drab office life that give you a cute little thrill?

Take Gina Rinehart, who treats her Hancock Prospecting workforce to all sorts of perks. There’s the high salaries. But also the $100,000 cash gifts she draws out in a random ballot for workers on her birthday each year.

Rinehart recently appears to have hijacked the email signatures of her Hancock underlings (something she does quite regularly).

Under their names and contact now sits a gargantuan goose to announce her National Mining Day, which will be held at Santos’ Moomba plant in November. (AFR)
@FinancialReview

Full article and coverage via subscription to The Australian Financial Review

https://afr.com/rear-window/gina-rinehart-upgrades-her-airport-and-email-signature-20240923-p5kcsp

Energy, Resources And Mining News: Australia

September 30, 2024

Exports shock on ore to hit $39bn

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to reveal a final budget surplus of $15.8bn for 2023-24; this is $6.4bn higher than was forecast in the budget on 14 May. Chalmers claims that Labor's second successive surplus is solely due to lower government spending. However, falling commodity prices are set to weigh on the budget bottom-line in coming years. Revised government forecasts show that resources and energy export earnings will fall to $372bn in 2024-25, compared with $415bn in 2023-24; the value of iron ore exports is forecast to fall to $107bn in 2024-25, down from $138bn in 2023-24. Nickel and lithium export earnings are also expected to fall sharply.

(Roy Morgan Australia)

News

Minister told ERA wouldn't sue over lease

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King moved to formally cancel Energy Resources of Australia's long-standing lease on the Jabiluka uranium deposit in late July. The Northern Territory government subsequently rejected ERA's application to renew the lease. It has been revealed that King's advisers had told her that ERA would be unlikely to pursue legal action if the Jabiluka lease was cancelled, given that major shareholder Rio Tinto opposes mining at Jabiluka without the consent of the traditional owners. ERA launched a Federal Court challenge to King's ruling in early August, claiming that it was denied procedural fairness.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Telco turned miner vies for desert gas

Australian-listed Jade Gas Holdings has a market capitalisation of about $70m. However, one broker has suggested that this could potentially rise to around $500m due to its coal-seam gas project in Mongolia. Jade Gas was initially listed on the ASX as a Telstra reseller called Westel Group, before transitioning to a resources group. Meanwhile, Jade Gas is under scrutiny for commissioning Hong Kong-based DWK to undertake a drilling program at its Mongolian tenements; it claimed that DWK had been drilling gas wells for a decade, but documents show that the company had not been registered when Jade announced the contract in June.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Federal police drop foreign bribery investigation into Australian miner

September 28, 2024
The Australian Federal Police launched an investigation into foreign bribery allegations against Sundance Resources in 2016. However, an AFP spokeswoman has advised that the probe has failed to yield sufficient admissable evidence to refer criminal proceedings to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The police investigation centred on allegations that Sundance had bribed government officials in the Republic of Congo between 2006 and 2008 in order to advance its Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore project. The investigation was complicated by the deaths of several Sundance executives in a plane crash in the Congo in 2010.

News

Prospector Mark Creasy wins support for Calidus Resources rescue

September 28, 2024
Creditors of Calidus Resources have backed a proposal from veteran prospector Mark Creasy to rescue the failed gold miner from administration. Creasy's proposal was supported by the majority of Calidus shareholders, and will result in his West Coast Lending assuming full ownership of Calidus. The deal with Creasy was backed after Calidus directors withdrew their support for an alternative proposal from Petra Capital. West Coast Lending, which is controlled by Creasy's Yandal Investments, aims to resume production at Calidus's Warrawoona gold mine in the Pilbara within months.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

De Grey quick to snuff out takeover speculation

September 28, 2024
De Grey Mining has dismissed recent media reports which suggested that the listed gold miner has received a buyout proposal from Canada-based Agnico Eagle. De Grey has advised that the article which appeared in The Australian is 'pure speculation'. De Grey owns the Hemi deposit in the Pilbara, and it aims to commence developing a gold mine at the site before the end of 2024. Agnico Eagle owns the Fosterville mine near Bendigo in Victoria, and there has been speculation in recent months that the company is keen to acquire assets in Western Australia.

News

Victorian gas projects approved

September 28, 2024

The federal government has approved two new gas production licences for Beach Energy near existing projects off the coast of Victoria. Resources Minister Madeleine King says gas produced at the Artisan and La Bella fields will be reserved solely for domestic use and will help to put downward pressure on gas prices in NSW and Victoria. The government's decision to approve the new licences has coincided with the release of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's latest gas inquiry report, which has warned that the east coast's gas supply surplus for the March 2025 quarter is likely to be significantly lower than was previously forecast.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Mining via Grok

Mining refers to the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth, which can range from traditional minerals like gold, silver, coal, and iron to more modern interests like lithium for batteries or rare earth elements for technology. Here's a detailed look into the concept of mining:

Traditional Mining

Historical Context: Mining has been pivotal since ancient times, initially for materials like flint, ochre for body painting, and later for metals like copper, tin, and iron which ushered in the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Process: Modern mining involves several steps: Exploration: Identifying potential deposits through geological surveys.
Feasibility Studies: Analyzing the economic viability of mining operations, including costs, market conditions, and environmental impact.
Extraction: Methods vary from open-pit mining for near-surface deposits to underground mining for deeper ores. Techniques include drilling, blasting, and mechanical extraction.
Processing: Ore is usually refined to extract the desired mineral, often involving crushing, grinding, and chemical processes.
Reclamation: After mining, efforts are made to restore the land, though this aspect has historically been controversial due to environmental impacts.

Environmental and Social Impact: Mining can lead to habitat destruction, pollution (e.g., acid mine drainage), and social displacement. However, it's also crucial for economic development in many regions, providing jobs and contributing to national economies.

Cryptocurrency Mining

Concept: In the context of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, mining does not involve physical digging but rather computational work. Here, miners validate transactions and add them to the blockchain, a public ledger of all transactions.

Process:
Transaction Verification: Miners collect transactions into blocks.
Proof of Work: Miners compete to solve complex mathematical problems (hashing), requiring significant computational power.
Block Creation: The first to solve the problem adds the new block to the blockchain, earning newly minted cryptocurrency and transaction fees as a reward.
Security: This process also secures the network against fraudulent transactions.

Energy Consumption: Cryptocurrency mining, especially for Bitcoin, has been criticized for its high energy consumption, leading to discussions on its environmental footprint.

Modern Innovations and Issues

Sustainable Practices: There's a push towards more sustainable mining practices, including the use of renewable energy for operations, better waste management, and rehabilitation of mined lands.

Critical Minerals: The demand for minerals essential for technology like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements has surged, highlighting new challenges in mining ethics, geopolitics of mineral supply, and the environmental impact.

Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): Often seen in developing countries, ASM provides livelihood but also poses significant health and environmental risks due to methods like mercury use in gold extraction.

Technological Advancements: From autonomous mining vehicles to drones for exploration, technology is transforming mining operations, making them safer, more efficient, and potentially less harmful to the environment.

Mining, in both its traditional and digital forms, remains a cornerstone of human civilization, supporting economic, technological, and societal development, while also presenting ongoing challenges regarding sustainability and ethics. (Grok)

Roy Morgan is a former Media Man 'News Outlet Of The Month' award winner

Mining, Energy and Resources: Australia and Oceania

August 9, 2024

News

Legal fees for BHP class action top $680m

Law firm Pogust Goodhead is representing about 600,000 participants in a class action over Brazil's Samarco iron ore tailings dam collapse in 2015. The firm estimates that its legal fees could be around Stg250m, while total legal fees arising from the case could exceed Stg350m. Documents filed with the UK's High Court show that BHP's share of the legal costs have been forecast at around Stg108m; however, this is just for the first stage of the trial, and BHP will face a further legal bill if the resources group is found liable for the disaster in Brazil. Samarco is a joint venture between BHP and Vale.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Win for Fortescue in private eye battle

Federal Court judge Brigitte Markovic has dismissed an application by Element Zero's founders to access the instructions that Fortescue gave to private investigators who had been hired to put them under surveillance. Fortescue alleges that its former employees Bart Kolodziejczyk, Bjorn Winther-Jensen and Michael Masterman used its intellectual property to develop Element Zero's rival green steel technology. Justice Markovic ruled that the instructions given to the private investigators are likely to be subject to legal professional privilege.

News

Creasy in talks for Macquarie's $148m debt at miner Calidus

Macquarie Bank has a four per cent stake in Calidus Resources, while it holds $148m of the failed gold producer's debt. Sources have indicated that Macquarie has finalised the terms of a deal to sell its Calidus loan at a price that is at or near its carrying value. The buyer of the debt is believed to be Yandal Investments, the private investment vehicle of Western Australian billionaire Mark Creasy. His deal to acquire Macquarie's debt could give Creasy an edge over other potential bidders for Calidus or its assets, which include the Warrawoona gold project and a 40 per cent stake in the Pirra lithium joint venture.

News

Win for Whitehaven, MACH as court rejects climate bid

The High Court has dismissed the Environment Council of Central Queensland's application for special leave to appeal the Federal Court's decision to allow two NSW coal mine extension projects to proceed. The court had ruled in May that federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek had acted lawfully in handling the environmental approvals process for the Whitehaven Coal and MACH Energy projects. The ECCQ had initiated legal action against the proposed mine expansions in 2022.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Mining, Energy and Resources: Australia and Oceania

August 7, 2024

News

Liontown wants lithium breaks as prices teeter

Association of Mining & Exploration Companies CEO Warren Pearce says it is holding talks with the Western Australian government with regard to royalty relief for lithium producers. The price of spodumene has fallen to $US870 ($1,337) per tonne, and Liontown Resources CEO Tony Ottaviano contends that the government should intervene in order to avert a similar crisis to the rout that hit the nation's industry. He has also suggested that the federal government should expand its production tax credit scheme to include the upstream processing of spodumene.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

MinRes job cuts add to thousands lost in WA's mining sector route

A spokesman for Mineral Resources has confirmed that the iron ore and lithium producer will reduce its head count, although the bulk of the job cuts will be at its Perth head office. Mineral Resources has not disclosed the extent of the job losses, although it is believed to be about 100. The move follows the company's recent decision to mothball its high-cost iron ore mines in Western Australia's Yilgarn region and a delay in the expansion of the Wodgina lithium mine. WA's mining sector has already been hit by massive job losses in the nickel industry in 2024.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Iron ore 'must learn from nickel pain'

Dino Otranto, the CEO of Fortescue's mining arm, has warned that Australia risks missing out amid the global shift to 'green' steel'. He has called for increased collaboration between industry and government to ensure that the nation capitalises on the decarbonisation of the steel industry. He adds that the demise of Australia's nickel industry provides a timely warning for iron ore producers.

News

Jilted ERA heads to court over Jabiluka mine axing

Energy Resources of Australia wants the Federal Court to undertake a judicial review of the Northern Territory government's decision to not renew its mining lease for the Jabiluka uranium deposit. ERA contends that it was denied "procedural fairness and natural justice" in the decision to permanently ban mining at Jabiluka. Amongst other things, ERA has questioned the haste with which federal Resources Minister Madeleine King advised the NT government to reject an extension of the mining lease, which is slated to expire on 11 August.

News

Newmont fights $130m 'restructuring' tax bill

The Australian Taxation Office contends that Newmont Corporation owes it some $132.6m in capital gains tax liabilities arising from a restructuring in 2011. The tax dispute is believed to centre on Newmont's decision to consolidate ownership of its local mines under its Newmont Australia subsidiary; this included a transaction in which two of the mining giant's North American subsidiaries sold their holdings in Newmont Australia back to it. Newmont contends that the transfer was an internal restructure rather than a share sale, and it should therefore not attract capital gain taxes

News

Watchdog threatens 'critical' Browse

Woodside Energy's CEO Meg O'Neill has emphasised the importance of the company's Browse LNG project. She contends that Browse is the only gas field of sufficient size to meet the forecast demand for energy over the near-term. The Browse project's future is under scrutiny following a preliminary ruling from Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority that it presents a "unacceptable risk" to marine ecology. The EPA is expected to make a final recommendation on the project in 2025, although it can be overruled by the federal government. O'Neill has also defended Woodside's deal to acquire a low-carbon ammonia project in the US.

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Markets and Commodities

July 18, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6730 USD (unchanged)

Iron Ore Aug Spot Price (SGX): $105.05 USD (down $2.10 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $83.10 USD (up $2.28 USD)

Gold Price: $2,458.69 USD (down $10.15 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.4165 USD (down $0.0405 USD)

Bitcoin: $64,196.81 USD (down 0.80% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 41,198.08 at 4.20pm NY time (up 243.60 points on yesterday's close)

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Rio Tinto appoints new Copper Chief Executive

July 17, 2024

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto has appointed Katie Jackson to lead its Copper business, succeeding Bold Baatar, who as previously announced, will become Chief Commercial Officer later this year.

Katie is currently President of National Grid Ventures, responsible for the development and operation of large-scale energy infrastructure assets. She will join Rio Tinto on 1 September 2024 and be based in London.

Katie has strong international experience in the energy sector, across both operational and commercial roles, starting at Shell as a Drilling Engineer and working in Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Following stints at Anadarko and Equinor, where she latterly ran Development and Production operations across Europe and Asia, she joined BG Group as Executive Vice President for Global Business Development and Strategy. Having rejoined Shell, she was subsequently promoted to Executive Vice President of Acquisition, Divestment and New Business Development with responsibility across the Shell portfolio.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said: "Katie brings diverse experience from across the energy sector. Her leadership will be invaluable as we shape our copper business for a successful future. As we continue the ramp up of Oyu Tolgoi to become one of the world’s largest copper suppliers, we are also looking to the future with new opportunities across the world. We are very excited that Rio Tinto will benefit from Katie’s global perspective, proven operational and strategic leadership capability and her passion for driving sustainable growth.”

Katie Jackson said: “I am inspired by Rio Tinto's ambition to deliver the materials the world needs. It is an exciting time to lead the copper business when we have such a central role to play in delivering a low carbon future and I believe my current role delivering major infrastructure projects will help me bring a new perspective. I look forward to collaborating with our teams across the globe, in partnership with communities and governments, and lead the business to an even stronger future.”

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Andy Hodges, Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary.

News