For the first time ever the price of an ounce of gold went above $4,000 this week. The price has shot up by 50% since the start of the year. Bitcoin’s a cyberslacker by comparison. It’s only gone up 30% year-to-date. Gold’s skyrocketing price has even outpaced the ballooning (some say bubbling) price of Nvidia stock, up 43% so far in 2025. Earlier this week Goldman Sachs predicted gold’s run of good fortune will continue, projecting the price will be pushing $5,000 by the end of next year. Given its frantic pace — it was only six months ago that…
Author: TJ Markle
Ambler Mining District contains copper, cobalt, gallium needed to reduce China dependence. The Trump administration on Monday announced the approval of a mining project in Alaska and took a stake in a Canadian company that will potentially develop portions of the project as it looks to reduce reliance on imports of critical minerals. President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing the Ambler Road Project to proceed, which would build a 211-mile road to the remote Ambler Mining District. The area has large deposits of critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, gallium and germanium, among others. The Trump administration also announced a partnership with…
The National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel, and Related Workers of the Mexican Republic considered it urgent to publish secondary laws regulating exploration and environmental remediation in the mining industry, given the sector’s stagnation and the decline in investment in recent years. “The sector faces significant challenges that limit its growth and projection,” warned the union’s president and general secretary, Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, who maintained that to take advantage of the country’s mining potential, “it is essential to strengthen it under three fundamental principles: respect for national laws and international conventions, respect for labor and community rights, and respect for…
For decades, it’s been known that subtle chemical patterns exist in metal alloys, but researchers thought they were too minor to matter — or that they got erased during manufacturing. However, recent studies have shown that in laboratory settings, these patterns can change a metal’s properties, including its mechanical strength, durability, heat capacity, radiation tolerance, and more. Now, researchers at MIT have found that these chemical patterns also exist in conventionally manufactured metals. The surprising finding revealed a new physical phenomenon that explains the persistent patterns. In a paper published in Nature Communications today, the researchers describe how they tracked the patterns and…
Environmental groups are knocking the Trump administration’s decision to open thousands of acres for coal mining that are a stone’s throw away from beloved public lands like Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks. The lease announcements came last week, and follow the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act this summer, along with President Donald Trump’s “Reinvigorating America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Industry” executive order issued in April. Investing in the nation’s coal industry will help meet the nation’s insatiable energy demand and bring blue-collar jobs back to rural communities, federal officials said. “Washington doesn’t build prosperity,” Interior…
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has now restricted exports of 12 rare earths, adding holmium, erbium, thulium, europium and ytterbium. China has broadened its export restrictions on rare earth elements by including five additional elements under the new regulations. Furthermore, the country has implemented more stringent rules that specifically target users in the semiconductor industry. This move, announced by the Ministry of Commerce, comes as Beijing seeks to tighten its grip on the sector ahead of talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. China, considered to be the largest producer of rare earths in the world,…
Political uncertainty ahead of Argentina’s October midterm elections is holding back investment decisions in the mining sector, the country’s main industry group said on Thursday, warning that instability and unclear policy signals are delaying project development. “No one is going to make any decisions these days. That’s crystal clear,” said Roberto Cacciola, president of the Argentine Chamber of Mining Companies (CAEM), in a meeting with journalists. Argentina is set to hold midterm elections on October 26, a crucial test for President Javier Milei as he enters the second half of his term amid falling approval ratings and stalled legislation in…
Botswana has enforced a new rule requiring mining companies to sell a 24% stake in new concessions to local investors if the government chooses not to buy the stake, its mines ministry said on Friday. The rule was proposed last year as part of draft legislation, but the government had not said when it would take effect. The Mines and Minerals Act previously gave Botswana’s government the right to buy a 15% shareholding in any mining concession upon being licensed, with an option for a higher stake in diamond projects. The Southern African country is the world’s top diamond producer by value and an…
Mine of the Future Initiatives: Transforming the Mining Industry The mining sector is undergoing a profound transformation through innovative Mine of the Future initiatives. These forward-thinking programs are reimagining traditional mining practices by integrating cutting-edge technologies, sustainable approaches, and strategic investments to create a more efficient, environmentally responsible, and economically viable industry. The Evolution of Modern Mining The traditional mining landscape is rapidly evolving from conventional extraction methods to technology-driven operations. This transformation represents a fundamental shift in how mining companies approach resource development, with a strong emphasis on automation, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions. Modern mining operations increasingly focus…
Precious metals have served as a foundation of wealth and artistry for centuries. Each carries unique properties, uses, and economic value that influence markets and demand. While gold often receives the most attention, other metals such as palladium, platinum, and silver play equally significant roles. Their value is not solely tied to rarity but also to industrial demand, durability, and global economic factors. Gold has traditionally symbolized security and luxury. Its resistance to corrosion and ease of shaping made it ideal for jewelry and currency throughout history. Central banks hold reserves of gold because it represents stability. Investors continue to…