Infographic: Who controls rare earth processing?
MINING.COM and The Northern Miner chart refined rare earth magnet output through a geopolitical lens, segmenting the world into four “Spheres of Control”: the Chinese Sphere, the American Sphere, the…
Asia
Japan to test mine seabed mud for rare earths
Japan will begin test mining rare earth rich mud from the deep seabed near Minamitori Island in 2026, aiming to secure a domestic supply of critical minerals amid tightening global…
CHART: The brutal economics of EV battery lithium
News this week that the world’s second-biggest lithium miner – SQM – has begun laying off 5% of its Chilean workforce would not come as a surprise to those following…
Rio Tinto settles hedge fund claims on Oyu Tolgoi
Rio Tinto (ASX, LSE: RIO) has agreed to pay nearly $139 million to settle a long-running class action lawsuit accusing the company of concealing development delays at its $7-billion giant…
Central banks expect more gold buying, de-dollarization
Central banks around the world continue to hold favourable expectations for gold, with most looking to add to their reserves over the coming months and even years, an annual survey…
G7 critical minerals statement targets China
At the June 16–17 summit in Kananaskis, Alta, G7 leaders released a joint statement and action plan on securing diversified, responsible critical mineral supply chains including rare earths. Although China…
Video: Cupel Advisory director flags M&A surge, industry image crisis as key trends
A new wave of mergers and acquisitions is rising in the mining sector and single-asset companies might be the first to sell out, Cupel Advisory director Nikki Adshead-Bell says. “We…
Sea floor developer TMC lands $85M from Korea Zinc
Canada’s The Metals Company (Nasdaq: TMC) said on Monday that South Korean refiner Korea Zinc will invest $85.2 million (C$116 million) in the company, a major boost for its plans…
China takes strides in rubidium extraction
China has achieved a technological breakthrough in the production of rubidium, the South China Morning Post has reported, as Beijing looks to expand its dominance in the critical minerals supply…
Infographic: Rare earth extraction spheres of control
The second edition of our Rare Earths series breaks down global extraction at the mine level, country by country. It then regroups those nations into five geopolitical spheres of control: the American Sphere, Chinese Sphere, Russian…
Trump confirms rare earth deal with China
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that trade negotiators have reached a deal under which Beijing will supply magnets and rare-earth minerals, while American colleges and universities will once…
Indonesia bars nickel mining at top diving spot
Indonesia has revoked four out of five nickel mining permits in Raja Ampat, one of the country’s most prized diving and snorkelling destinations, following mounting environmental concerns and pressure from…