The AOCE and WB have moderate overall forecasts for the metals in 2025 inline with IMF forecasts for a decline in economic growth and inflation, although we see the probability of a stagflationary scenario as still reasonably high.Read More

The past year was a difficult one overall for the metals, with the main standouts to the upside being a geopolitical risk-driven gain in gold, a China-driven rise in iron ore and a surge in uranium on broadening global support for nuclear power (Figure 1). A jump in global interest rates to near two-decade highs saw recession fears persist all year, and while one still did not actually eru...Read More

This year the post-global health crisis boom was brought to an end by a surge in inflation to forty-year highs, a major rise in global interest rates in an attempt to curb the rising prices and surging geopolitical risk after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While precious metals held up reasonably well as markets turned to them as a risk hedge, by Q2/22 the higher interest rates put an end t...Read More

Chile is the world leader in copper production, at 28.5% of the total in 2020, and this looks set to continue, with the country having the largest global reserves, at 23.0% of total. It is also the global leader for molybdenum, which is often found along with copper, and is a major lithium player, holding 51.1% of global reserves. Read More

Newfoundland has become a gold exploration hotspot over the past few years, with the sector seeing some of its strongest activity ever. While the province remains a small contributor to Canadian gold production, it has a substantial mineral industry well supported by the government, focused on iron ore, copper and nickel, and the surge in exploration suggests that gold output from the...Read More

Nevada is the core of the U.S. gold output, accounting for by far the majority, at 75.4% on average for the past year. The state looks set to remain a dominant player in U.S. gold, as it accounts for 49% of total U.S. reserves, with Alaska slightly ahead with 51% of reserves, but just 8.6% of current production. The U.S. accounts for 6.1% of global gold output, making Nevada one of the largest gol...Read More

The Golden Triangle in northwestern British Columbia has historically been a major site of Canadian gold production, beginning as early as the mid 1800s. There was a wave of production in the 1990s which cooled as the gold price declined, but larger scale production resumed in 2017, and the area has seen surging exploration interest over the past year, given that the region has some of the largest...Read More

In this report we outline the Quebec gold mining industry, including its major producers, and a survey of many of the junior miners focused on the province. Quebec accounts for 34% of Canadian gold production (second to Ontario, with 44%) and remains a major focus for both producers and junior miners.Read More

Red Lake has been one of the most prolific gold mining districts in Canada and the world, with exploration having started in the 1920s, and production, which began in the 1930s, continuing to the present day. The district is known for the high grade of its gold, its infrastructure, and strong institutional support, given the long history of mining in the area.Read More

The spot price on the London Metal Exchange rose a further 1.75% yesterday to US$7,095.25 per tonne, its highest point since late February.Broker SP Angel said the Escondida union was presenting its "most ambitious wage proposal" and noted last year's failed talks at the mine, majority owned by BHP, had led to a 44-day strike that pushed copper prices higher.  Red metal stocks around the glob...Read More

Nevsun this week held a ground-breaking ceremony at Timok for the start of an exploration decline at "one of the world's best undeveloped copper projects", that was attended by company and government dignitaries.Read More

The opposite seems more likely, according to the highly-regarded investment bank, Credit Suisse, which reckons that copper is heading for surplus this year and a price fall.Read More

Jefferies analysts lead by Christopher LaFemina said "rumours of coal's death are premature" and they increased their seaborne price forecast for Australian 6,000 kcal/kg NAR FOB Newcastle thermal coal to US$105 per tonne for the rest of 2018 from the previous $90/t.Read More

Dowling shared his thoughts on transformation in the industry for the "Mining Journal Global Leadership Report: Preparing for transformation" report being released later this month.In the wide-ranging interview, Dowling used the example of driverless trucks and autonomous vehicles as one area of development."My personal view of this is that we can't imagine what's coming at us," he said."I think t...Read More

The gold major released its 16th annual sustainability report this week assessing the company's environmental and social performance for 2017.It did not meet its 2017 total reportable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) aim of 0.32 but said its result of 0.35 was a 12.5% reduction from 2016 and Barrick's safest year on record.However Dushnisky said this result was marred by the tragic deaths of Eulogio...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Belgium's polished diamond exports increased by 5% in May, according to data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).   Polished exports rose 5.0% on the year in May to $1.12 billion, with a rise of almost 4% in carat terms.   Increases were more modest in the January-May period, rising by 0.6% to $5.09 billion, with an increase in carat terms of just 0.2% to 2.11 mi...Read More

LUANDA – Angola will make changes to how its secretive diamond industry works in order to attract more investment, increase production and secure higher government revenue, President João Lourenço said on a visit to Antwerp, Belgium.Africa's second-largest crude producer is trying to open up and diversify its economy after suffering a dramatic slowdown due to lower oil pric...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The GIA said it is offering its new Advanced Synthetic Diamond Seminars in August in Mumbai and London, and in October at its world headquarters in Carlsbad, California.   The seminar dates coincide with gem and jewelry events or tradeshows in each city. Participants will have the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of advanced diamond identification techniques and to have...Read More

(IDEX Online) - The World Diamond Council (WDC) System of Warranties (SoW) has entered a public review period following the completion of an industry review.   The SoW review and reform process is part of the WDC Strategic Plan and is intended to help industry participants better implement and demonstrate commitment to responsible business conduct when buying or selling rough and polished di...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Botswana Diamonds has been awarded the 2.5 hectare Mooikloof kimberlite pipe concession close to De Beers' flagship Venetia Mine.   "The award of the Mooikloof Prospecting Licence is an important development for Botswana Diamonds," the firm said. "Mooikloof is a known 2.5 hectare diamondiferous kimberlite pipe last prospected in 1986. The adjacent Oaks mine was owned and...Read More

(IDEX Online) - Synova, a manufacturer of high-precision laser diamond cutting systems, has opened its second Micro-Machining Center (MMC) in India.   The new MMC, located in Mumbai, will allow Synova to better serve existing local customers and to meet the growing market demand in the area, the firm said.   The new MMC offers laser sawing jobs such as straight sawing, pie sawing and fa...Read More

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A return of capital expenditure (capex) and inorganic sources of growth are seen as a key corporate priority for 2018 and beyond, CRU Group senior consultant Aleksander Popovic said on Wednesday.The provider of marketing intelligence to mining told the Junior Indaba that the company’s 200-response April survey showed that the managing of supply-side fu...Read More

Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has been awarded a prospecting licence for the 2.5 ha Mooikloof diamondiferous kimberlite pipe concession, in Limpopo, South Africa.The award of the Mooikloof prospecting licence is an important development for Botswana Diamonds, since the company believes that past explorers have systematically underestimated the kimberlite pipe size, grade and diamond quality of the...Read More

SHANGHAI, Jun 6 (SMM) – A potential disruption in supply from domestic environmental reviews and a declining US dollar buoyed prices of SHFE copper recently, SMM senior analyst Ye Jianhua believed.  The SHFE copper 1808 contract jumped over 2% to close at 53,320 yuan/mt on Wednesday June 6. LME copper currently stands at around $7,150/mt, with gains of 5% in the last four cons...Read More

SHANGHAI, Jun 6 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals rose across the board on Wednesday June 6 with SHFE nickel leading the gains with a rise of nearly 2%. Copper jumped 1.96%, zinc grew almost 1.9%, aluminium and lead rose over 1%, and tin inched up. The ferrous complex also soared as rebar led the gains and closed nearly 2% higher. Iron ore went over 1.8% higher, and hot-rolled coil rose over 1%...Read More

SHANGHAI, Jun 6 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals rose across the board on Wednesday June 6 with SHFE nickel leading the gains with a rise of nearly 2%. Copper jumped 1.96%, zinc grew almost 1.9%, aluminium and lead rose over 1%, and tin inched up. The ferrous complex also soared as rebar led the gains and closed nearly 2% higher. Iron ore went over 1.8% higher, and hot-rolled coil rose over 1%...Read More

SHANGHAI, Jun 6 (SMM) – Nonferrous metals rose across the board on Wednesday June 6 with SHFE nickel leading the gains with a rise of nearly 2%. Copper jumped 1.96%, zinc grew almost 1.9%, aluminium and lead rose over 1%, and tin inched up. The ferrous complex also soared as rebar led the gains and closed nearly 2% higher. Iron ore went over 1.8% higher, and hot-rolled coil rose over 1%...Read More

SHANGHAI, Jun 6 (SMM) – To ease concerns of shortages of charging stations, Guangdong Power Grid will invest 2.7 billion yuan to build over 10,000 charging points across the province by the end of 2020, Chinanews reported on Tuesday June 5.The company will also work with the Guangdong Provincial Communication Group to develop charging infrastructure along expressways across th...Read More

SHANGHAI, Jun 6 (SMM) – To ease concerns of shortages of charging stations, Guangdong Power Grid will invest 2.7 billion yuan to build over 10,000 charging points across the province by the end of 2020, Chinanews reported on Tuesday June 5.The company will also work with the Guangdong Provincial Communication Group to develop charging infrastructure along expressways across th...Read More