Graphite Creek deposit dubbed largest in US now contains defense-qualifying materials including neodymium. A project heralded by Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and accelerated by President Donald Trump stands to deal a huge blow to China’s dominance in the nanotechnology, energy and automotive sectors as the GraphiteOne site near Nome uncovered vast reserves — for which Beijing previously accounted for 90% of production. As of 2024, the U.S. was at least 93% import-dependent on both rare earth elements (REEs) and graphite itself, according to the International Energy Agency, and the Graphite Creek deposit has already been dubbed the largest such tranche in the U.S. But, this week’s…
Author: TJ Markle
Southeast Alaska tribes and environmental groups have delivered nearly 30,000 messages to British Columbia lawmakers about transboundary mining. Earthjustice, the international conservation organization Re:wild and the tribal commission said the letters encourage British Columbia to pause mining developments in the headwaters of the Stikine, Unuk and Taku Rivers that drain into Southeast Alaska. The Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission represents 14 tribal nations downstream from the mines. Executive Director Guy Archibald said it wasn’t just Alaskans who sent the letters. “It was people from all over the country and all over the world that recognize that Southeast Alaska is a…
Large motors are vital components in modern mining, driving essential operations from ore extraction to material handling and processing. These motors, which can range from hundreds of kilowatts to several megawatts, not only ensure operational efficiency but also present a significant opportunity for energy optimisation, ABB writes. Mining operations are among the most energy-intensive industries in the world with motors often accounting for more than half of total electricity consumption. As mining companies face increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability, innovations in motor technology, process automation and energy management are becoming central to both operational cost savings…
The government will soon deploy low-flying aircraft to sweep Missouri and other Midwest states over the next year, scanning the ground for the presence of critical minerals. The U.S. Geological Survey announced Wednesday that the scans will map Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin as part of its Earth Mapping Resources Initiative to find minerals designated as “critical” to the nation’s economy and security by the Secretary of the Interior. The minerals are bedrock materials for modern technology, used in smartphones, renewable energy and artificial intelligence data centers. Both Missouri and Illinois residents can expect to see the scanning aircraft as early…
Colombia will no longer approve new oil or large-scale mining projects in its Amazon biome, which covers 42% of the nation’s territory, according to a Nov. 13 statement by its environment ministry. Acting Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres said the entire Colombian Amazon will be made a reserve for renewable natural resources. She made the announcement at a meeting of ministers with the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, during COP30, the U.N. climate summit taking place in Belém, Brazil. “This declaration is an ethical and scientific commitment. It seeks to prevent forest degradation, river contamination and biodiversity loss that threatens the continent’s climate balance,” Vélez…
Once a rarity, autonomous, autonomous-ready and tele-remote equipment now accounts for almost 5% of key mining equipment. The proportion of mining equipment that is autonomous, autonomous-ready and tele-remote is growing and now comprises nearly 5% of key mining equipment, a series of reports shows. According to GlobalData’s Development of Autonomous Trucks in the Global Mining Sector, Development of Tele-remote and Autonomous Equipment in the Global Underground Mining Sector and Development of Autonomous Surface Blasthole Drills in the Global Mining Sector reports, the share of such equipment amongst the total operating population of surface and underground trucks, surface drills and load-haul-dump machines (LHDs) has risen rapidly in recent…
Lithium prices in China fell sharply on Friday, short-circuiting a rally, after the main exchange stepped in to curb speculative trading and on a report that battery giant CATL could restart production at its flagship lithium mine. The most-active lithium carbonate contract on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange closed daytime trading down 9% at 91,020 yuan ($12,804.21) per metric ton, hitting its lower limit and giving back most of this week’s gains. The contract on Thursday hit its highest since June 2024 at 102,500 yuan a ton. On Thursday, GFEX said it would increase transaction fees for some futures contracts of lithium carbonate…
The US Defense Department will reissue an updated tender for up to $500 million worth of cobalt by end-November 2025, with an award expected in early February 2026, according to Argus News. The Defense Logistics Agency first sought offers in mid-August for up to 7,500 tons of cobalt over the next five years, but in mid October cancelled the tender due to “outstanding issues with the Statement of Work” after interested parties missed several deadlines. The DLA was seeking offers for alloy-grade cobalt from three producers: units of Vale SA in Canada, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. in Japan and Glencore Plc’s…
The global competition for critical minerals has reached the least glamorous part of the metallic supply chain. Aluminum scrap may not be most people’s idea of “a strategic commodity” but that’s exactly what it is, according to EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic. And too much of it, over a million metric tons a year, is leaking out of the bloc in the form of exports. The European Commission is preparing what Sefcovic described as “a balanced measure” to ensure more recyclable material stays in Europe. Industry association European Aluminium points the finger at the United States, arguing that the country’s import tariffs have created…
Sand Lake brings copper-rich target, logistical advantages to Roma. Blue Star Gold Corp. Nov. 20 announced an expansion of its Roma project to incorporate the Sand Lake prospect, adding a block in the northern part of the project that includes a 400-meter sand airstrip and flat ground suited for future infrastructure that is in direct alignment with the proposed Grays Bay Road, establishing a practical base for advancing work on the copper-rich target in the coming season. Situated roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the proposed Grays Bay deepwater port in western Nunavut and aligned with the corridor of…