Deep beneath the surface of the earth and within the complex refining towers of the modern petroleum industry lies an unassuming, bright yellow element that acts as the silent engine of global development. Sulfur, often overlooked in favor of flashier commodities like lithium or cobalt, serves as the indispensable precursor to sulfuric acid—the “heart of industrial chemistry.” Without it, the vast machinery of modern mining grinds to a halt. As global geopolitical tensions boil over, the fragility of this elemental supply chain has emerged as a singular, systemic threat to the very technologies intended to power the future. The Invisible…
Author: TJ Markle
A critical minerals company has reported a record reserve of tungsten in Nevada (Interesting Engineering). Tungsten has numerous uses in aerospace and defense manufacturing, but the U.S. largely relies on foreign sources for its supply. The details: According to 3 Proton Lithium, its Railroad Valley Minerals project could contain about 1.78 million tons of tungsten, alongside substantial amounts of lithium, potash and boron. The deposit is five times larger than the current biggest tungsten deposit in the U.S., according to the company. “Its in-situ value is estimated at about USD 152 billion based on current market prices,” Reuters notes. A wrinkle: About…
The International Energy Agency’s newly released Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2026 highlights a reality that is becoming increasingly clear: demand for critical minerals continues to rise as the world accelerates the deployment of electric vehicles, battery energy storage systems, renewable energy technologies, and AI-driven infrastructure. The report notes that energy technologies are now driving the majority of growth in demand for key minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper, while battery storage has emerged as a major contributor to this growth. At the same time, the IEA warns that critical mineral supply chains remain highly concentrated geographically, creating potential vulnerabilities for…
As the country places more priority on the mining industry in this financial year, Namayingo District, known for its gold deposits, has raised an alarm on the changing climatic conditions brought by excessive mining in the area, posing greater risks in the future. With an aim of promoting occupational safety in this area, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is sensitising miners on how they could protect the environment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3gzzjj24LY&time_continue=53&source_ve_path=NzY3NTg&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fntv.co.ug%2F
Opening the Chamber of Mines expo in Windhoek, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah urged mining firms to turn pledges into jobs, investment and value addition to growth. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on Namibia’s mining industry to move beyond discussions and accelerate the delivery of jobs, investment and value addition through stronger cooperation between government and the private sector. Speaking at the opening of the 13th Chamber of Mines Mining Expo and Conference in Windhoek, Nandi-Ndaitwah described the event as an important platform for engaging stakeholders, showcasing investment opportunities and strengthening collaboration across the sector. The three-day conference, held from Aug. 4…
President Donald Trump’s Department of War announced today over $80 million in investments in multiple schools of mines and metallurgy, including the Colorado School of Mines, the South Dakota School of Mines, and Johns Hopkins University. Since taking office, President Trump has taken unprecedented action to restore America’s military and national security, securing reliable supplies of critical materials and supply chains. The intended investments will be used to build technology innovation hubs, form project-focused partnerships between students and defense industry, develop new processes and prototypes, and certify hundreds of new students with advanced degrees in mining, geology, and metallurgy. These…
Harare (Fides News Agency) – The Zimbabwean government has decided to establish a task force to tackle illegal mining, which the authorities consider to be at the root of many of the problems affecting the country. The decision came at the end of July following the presentation of a report on the phenomenon in the town of Bindura, in the northern province of Mashonaland Central. The report lists a series of social and environmental problems affecting the mining town, ranging from the destruction of roads and railways to damage to land earmarked for public facilities such as hospitals, schools and…
Newmont says it has successfully commissioned the Cat® 6040 next generation hydraulic mining shovel at its Ahafo South mine, in Ghana, making it the first operation within Newmont and one of only three mine sites globally to deploy this cutting-edge technology. The new 400 t-class shovel is designed to enhance safety, improve productivity and strengthen the reliability of mining operations through advanced technology and industry-leading safety features. It loads the 147 t Cat 785 in four passes and offers eight-pass loading capabilities on the 327 t Cat 796 AC. The new design integrates more standard technologies such as Cat Payload,…
President Donald Trump announced more than $180 million in grants to boost the American mining industry through education and trade programs. He shared the news at a mining industry roundtable attended by nearly 200 people Friday at the State Department. During the event, Trump made several major announcements intended to support and strengthen the nation’s mining industry. “The mining industry has never had a greater champion than President Trump,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told The National News Desk in an emailed statement. “His unprecedented support has driven record investment, streamlined permitting, and delivered real results for American workers, companies,…
Cummins Inc has announced a series of technological developments for its portfolio of mining solutions that, it says, reinforces its strategy of disciplined investment and execution while strengthening its position in key growth markets. The developments include updates to the QSK60 high-horsepower mining engine, new capabilities within the PrevenTech remote monitoring platform, continued refinement of hybrid-electric haulage solutions and an all-new, clean-sheet mining engine. Starting in the September quarter, these Cummins mining advancements are designed to help boost productivity, reduce ownership costs and deliver greater lifecycle value across the installed based, while offering practical solutions for lower emissions in modern…