Australian Mining News

Markets, Cryptos And Culture

January 2025

Jan 21

Sydney to New York

Mining For Intel Edition

Deep Dive Into Markets, Streaming And Mining!

Biz And Culture!

ASX 200 futures down 56 points/0.6 per cent to 8732

AUD +0.3% to US67.34¢

Bitcoin $89,460.28 -3.32%

Wall St:

Dow -1.8%
S&P -2%
Nasdaq -2.3%
VIX +1.90 to 20.74
Gold +1.9% to $US4759.38 an ounce
Brent oil +0.7% to $US64.36 a barrel
Iron ore -0.4% to $US104.20 a tonne

10-year yield:
US 4.29%
Australia 4.78%

News

Numbers Double Check

Australian Dollar: $0.6730 USD (up $0.0017 USD)
Iron Ore: $104.20 USD (down $0.75 USD)
Oil Price: $60.53 USD (up $1.09 USD)
Gold Price: $4,754.77 USD (up $83.88 USD)
Copper Price (CME): $5.8060 USD (down $0.0955 USD) Dow Jones: 48,515.62 (down 843.71 points)

News

Trump jitters hit ASX as BHP, CBA sell off

The Australian sharemarket lost ground on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 shedding 0.7 per cent to close at 8,815.9 points amid the Trump administration's plans to impose tariffs on European nations that oppose his plans for Greenland. BHP was down two per cent at $47.78, the Commonwealth Bank fell 1.8 per cent to $150.48 and ARB Corporation ended the session 12 per cent lower at $28.42. However, Bellevue Gold rose five per cent to $1.78 and DroneShield was up 4.2 per cent at $4.75. (RMS)

News

Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin tumbles below $US90,000 Bitcoin slid to its lowest level in more than a week, tracking a sharp sell-off across global financial markets as investors continued to de-risk amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.The largest cryptocurrency fell below $US90,000 for the first time since January 9, moving in tandem with declines in equities, long-dated Treasuries and Japanese bonds as volatility rippled through debt markets.Small, less liquid tokens fell more, with Ether dropping more than 7 per cent and Solana slumping 5.3 per cent. Shares in crypto-linked stocks also slumped. Coinbase Global fell more than 5 per cent, while Bitcoin accumulator Strategy slumped near 10 per cent earlier.“Bitcoin’s sharp drop over the weekend mirrors a broader exodus from risk assets in traditional macro markets due to the White House’s threat of tariffs on European nations as well as geopolitical frictions over Greenland,” said Shiliang Tang, managing partner of Monarq Asset Management. “Gold and Silver’s rally as well as the dollar’s weakness all underscore this narrative of capital fleeing to safety triggered by aggressive US posturing.”

News

Gold And Silver/Markets

Gold rose past $US4700 an ounce to a record high, while silver also reached an all-time peak, as the standoff between the US and Europe over control of Greenland showed no sign of de-escalation. Markets are waiting for Europe’s response to Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on eight European nations that oppose his Greenland ambitions. The US Supreme Court once again didn’t issue a ruling on Trump’s country-specific tariffs.Elsewhere, a meltdown in Japanese government debt rippled through global bond markets, while a gauge of US dollar strength fell by the most in over a month. The US threat toward its NATO allies has rattled markets, adding renewed impetus to a record-breaking rally that lifted gold prices nearly 75 per cent over the past 12 months. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s tax-cutting election pitch has highlighted the mounting sovereign debts among developed economies worldwide. High fiscal deficits have helped fuel bullion’s gains through 2025, as investors bet on inflation as the only path to solvency. A weaker dollar also makes commodities more affordable for buyers in other currencies. Investors are also watching for developments from Davos, where Trump said he will meet with several parties to discuss his plan to take control of the Danish territory. French President Emmanuel Macron intends to request activation of the European Union’s anti-coercion instrument, although German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he’s trying to get him to tone down his response.

News

Crypto News

Trump, Crypto, Fintech

Trump family’s $10b fortune and crypto When Donald Trump was sworn in for his second presidential term, his trove of financial assets already differed from when he first took the oath of office. As he returned to power on a frigid day in January 2025, Trump had a social media company, a crypto platform he’d co-founded and even a new meme coin bearing his name — departures from the real estate projects and brand licensing deals that were long the main remit of the Trump Organisation. One year on, the universe of the Trump family’s wealth has expanded even further, touching industries including firearms, rare earth magnets, artificial intelligence and prediction markets. But the most notable change has been the growing concentration of the family’s net worth in cryptocurrencies: The Trumps have generated about $US1.4 billion ($2.1 billion) from crypto projects that are new to his second term, a Bloomberg analysis shows. These have gotten a boost from Trump’s own policies, as he has signed crypto legislation and appointed regulators who tossed out lawsuits against the industry.Despite the new projects, the family’s overall net worth looks remarkably similar to last year at $US6.8 billion ($10.1 billion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Even as crypto made the Trumps richer, the gains were offset by the plunging value of his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. Its shares are down 66 per cent over the past 12 months, despite efforts to diversify into finance, crypto and most recently, fusion power.The way the Trumps’ wealth is distributed now — particularly its concentration in virtual assets and public companies, some of which didn’t exist when he left office in 2021 — represents a sea change in how they’ll earn money for years to come. (BB)

News

Australia: Coal

Nation's largest coal-fired power plant closure delayed by two more years

Origin Energy has agreed to extend the operating life of its Eraring coal-fired power station for another two years. The ageing plant was initially slated to close in 2025, but Origin struck a deal with the NSW government to keep Eraring operating until 2027. CEO Frank Calabria says the decision to further extend Eraring's operational life until 2029 will allow for more time to develop renewable energy infrastructure. However, the decision has been criticised by environmental groups such as the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. (RMS)

News

Resources And Energy: Australia

Standoff with China buyer is hurting iron ore prices: BHP

BHP has advised that its iron ore division achieved an average realised price of $US84.71 per tonne in the December quarter. This is four per cent higher than the same period in 2024, although it represents a large discount to the benchmark price. BHP is continuing to hold talks with state-run iron ore trader China Mineral Resources Group on annual contract terms, and BHP has acknowledged that the long-running dispute has affected the price it receives for the iron ore it ships from the Pilbara. BHP has also advised that the first stage of its Jansen potash project in Canada is now expected to cost $US8.4bn ($12.5bn); this compares with a previous forecast of between $US7bn and $US7.4bn. (RMS)

Rio must buy Glencore whole: shareholders

Some of Glencore's biggest shareholders have stated that Rio Tinto must agree to buy the entire company rather than merely its most desirable assets, such as its copper and zinc mines. Rio Tinto is unlikely to want to retain Glencore's coal assets if the proposed merger goes ahead, given that it exited the sector about eight years ago. However, some Glencore shareholders have warned that they are unlikely to support Rio Tinto's bid if it seeks to 'cherry-pick' the company's assets. The investors also contend that Rio Tinto will need to offer a takeover premium if its management team led by CEO Simon Trott is to run the merged group. (RMS)

News

Culture/Sports

Tennis player play claim 'business, not greed'

The prize pool for this year's Australian Open is a record $111.5 million, with this year's men's and women's winners to receive $4.15 million, a 19 percent increase on last year. However, despite the increased prize pool, tennis players still believe the AO and the other grand slam events should be paying them more prize money, arguing they should get a bigger share of the enormous amount of revenue that the events generate. Alex de Minaur claims players are not being "greedy" in their push for a bigger slice of event revenue, while Daniil Medvedev says the players just want a percentage of revenue similar to other sports. (RMS)

News

Heavy Industry News

Heavy Industry Awards

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

News

Gold Movie

Gold is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance the appeal of the film, character names and story details were changed.

Trailer

Gold (YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0

Gold is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film is inspired by a true story.

News

Streaming Wars

The "Streaming Wars" refers to the intense competition among digital media platforms to dominate the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) market by capturing and retaining global audiences.

As of early 2026, the landscape has shifted from a period of rapid expansion into a phase of major consolidation and a focus on profitability over subscriber volume.

The "Winner" and Current State (2026)

Netflix Dominance: Industry analysts increasingly cite Netflix as the victor. In January 2026, Netflix reported 18% year-over-year revenue growth and is currently pursuing a high-stakes $83 billion all-cash acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming assets (including HBO/Max).

The "Big 3": Despite fierce competition, the market is primarily dominated by Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+.

YouTube's Rise: Some experts argue YouTube is the true winner of the broader attention economy, surpassing traditional streaming services in total viewership by pivoting back to user-generated content.

Key Strategies in 2026

Consolidation: Smaller or struggling services are being shuttered or merged. For example, Disney recently shut down Hulu as a standalone service.

Monetization Shifts: Platforms have moved away from "growth at all costs" to strategies like password-sharing crackdowns, ad-supported tiers, and price hikes.

Live Sports & Events: Services are increasingly bidding on live sports rights (e.g., Netflix hosting WWE's Raw starting in 2025) to differentiate their offerings.

Bundling: To combat "subscription fatigue," platforms are forming strategic partnerships with telecommunications companies and banks to offer bundled service hubs.

Consumer Impact

Price Hikes: Many consumers are canceling services due to rising costs; over 40% of Americans cited price as their primary reason for unsubscribing in late 2025.

Resurgence of Piracy: Fragmented content and high costs have led to a significant comeback for pirate sites, which some users now find more comprehensive than paid services.

"South Park: The Streaming Wars": The term was popularized in mainstream culture by a 2-part South Park special released on Paramount+ in 2022, which satirized the industry's aggressive competition.

News/Profile

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (HPPL) is a privately owned Australian mineral exploration and agriculture company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. As of 2026, it is recognized as one of the most successful private companies in Australian history.

Leadership and Ownership

Executive Chairwoman: Gina Rinehart AO, who has led the company since 1992.

CEO: Garry Korte.

Ownership: The company is owned by Gina Rinehart (76.6%) and the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).

Major Mining Operations

The company has transitioned from a prospecting firm into a major global miner, with primary interests in the Pilbara region:

Roy Hill: A flagship mega-project and Australia’s largest single iron ore mine, producing 60–70 million tonnes annually.

Hope Downs: A 50/50 joint venture with Rio Tinto, comprising four open-pit mines with a capacity of approximately 47Mtpa.

Atlas Iron: Acquired in 2018, it operates the Mount Webber, Sanjiv Ridge, and Miralga Creek mines.

Hancock Iron Ore: A new entity formed in July 2025 to consolidate Roy Hill and Atlas Iron operations.

Diversification and Strategic Investments

Under Rinehart’s leadership, the company has expanded significantly into other sectors:

Agriculture: Hancock is Australia's second-largest beef producer, owning over 25 properties including the iconic S. Kidman & Co. It also owns 50% of Bannister Downs Dairy.

Critical Minerals: Major stakes in lithium (Liontown Resources, Azure Minerals, Vulcan Energy) and rare earths (Arafura Rare Earths, MP Materials, Lynas Rare Earths).

Energy: Significant interests in oil and gas through Warrego Energy and Senex Energy.

International Ventures: In January 2026, the company signed a gold exploration license agreement with Saudi Arabia's state-owned miner, Ma’aden.

Current Events (January 2026)

Australia Day Sponsorship: The company is the principal partner for the 2026 Hancock Prospecting Australia Day celebrations in Perth.

Helipad Proposal: In December 2025, the City of Perth refused the company's proposal to build a helipad at its West Perth headquarters.

Financial Performance: For the 2025 fiscal year, the company reported a profit of AU$3.08 billion.

History

The company was founded on November 25, 1955, by Lang Hancock, who is credited with discovering the world's largest iron ore deposit in 1952. When Gina Rinehart took over following his death in 1992, the company was in a precarious financial state with significant debt.

News

Gold (1974)

Gold is a 1974 British action-thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt, starring Roger Moore and Susannah York. Based on the 1970 novel Gold Mine by Wilbur Smith, the film is set in the South African goldfields and follows a conspiracy by a global syndicate to manipulate the price of gold by sabotaging a rich mine.

Plot: Rod Slater (Moore), a newly appointed general manager, is manipulated by his boss, Manfred Steyner (Bradford Dillman), into drilling through a protective barrier into a subterranean lake. This is intended to flood the mine, causing a global gold shortage and driving up prices for a greedy cabal.

Production Controversy: The film was controversially shot on location in South Africa during the apartheid era. This led to a "black ban" by British film unions, though some crew members defied it to work on the production.

James Bond Connection: Many crew members were veterans of the James Bond franchise, including director Peter Hunt (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), editor John Glen, and title designer Maurice Binder.

Accolades: The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Wherever Love Takes Me," composed by Elmer Bernstein and sung by Maureen McGovern.

Cast & Crew

Rod Slater: Roger Moore

Terry Steyner: Susannah York

Hurry Hirschfeld: Ray Milland

Manfred Steyner: Bradford Dillman

Farrell: John Gielgud

Director: Peter R. Hunt

Music: Elmer Bernstein

Availability in 2026

As of 2026, the film is available through several formats and platforms:

Streaming: Accessible on Prime Video, Tubi, and Roku devices.

Physical Media: High-definition restorations are available on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino Lorber and 88 Films

News

Pop Culture

"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)

"Gold" is a signature 1983 hit by the British New Romantic band Spandau Ballet, written by Gary Kemp.

Lyrics

Thank you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here, I could have sworn These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

Thank you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn

These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh but I'm proud of you but I'm proud of you

Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in

'Cause you are

Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return There's something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'

Oh after the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime It's only two years ago

The man with the suit and the face You knew that he was there on the case Now he's in love with you he's in love with you

My love is like a high prison wall But you could leave me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause you are

Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return There's something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'

My love is like a high prison wall And you could leave me standing so tall

Gold (gold)

Oh always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause you are

Gold (gold)

Glad that you're bound to return Something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'

Songwriter: Gary James Kemp

Spandau Ballet - Gold (HD Remastered)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ntG50eXbBtc

Official video of Spandau Ballet performing 'Gold' from their 1983 third album 'True'.

Gary Kemp wrote both the music and lyrics; the song was produced by the partnership of Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. The music video was filmed on location in Carmona, Spain and directed by Brian Duffy. The video featured Sadie Frost as a gold-painted nymph, in one of her earlier roles. Some parts of the music video were also filmed in Leighton House, which was also used in the video for "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers.

Spandau Ballet are one of Britain’s great iconic bands having sold over 25 million records, scored numerous multi-platinum albums and amassed 23 hit singles across the globe since their humble beginnings as a group of friends with dreams of stardom in the late 1970s. It wasn’t long before they became fully-fledged members of the iconic Blitz Club scene and established themselves as one of the super-groups of the 80s.

The band's classic line-up features brothers Gary and Martin Kemp on guitars, vocalist Tony Hadley, saxophonist Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble.

Spandau Ballet’s hits include Gold, True, To Cut A Long Story Short, Through The Barricades and many more.

News

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Business Of The Month' award

Sky News Australia wins Media Man 'Australian Media Outlet Of The Month' award

News/Profile

Mad Men

Mad Men is a critically acclaimed American period drama series created by Matthew Weiner that aired on AMC from 2007 to 2015. Set primarily in the 1960s, the show centers on the high-pressure world of Madison Avenue advertising and the enigmatic personal and professional life of Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a talented creative director at the fictional Sterling Cooper agency.

Core Premise and Themes

The series explores the "Golden Age" of advertising, where image is everything and truth is often a secondary concern. It serves as a historical tour of 1960s America, depicting major cultural shifts including the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War, and the changing roles of women in society.

Key themes include:

Identity and Secrets: Much of the plot revolves around characters—specifically Don Draper—hiding their true pasts while creating new personas.

Ambition and Power: The series tracks the cutthroat competition within the office and the rise of characters like Peggy Olson from secretary to head copywriter.

Social Change: It examines the sexism, racism, and shifting moral codes of the era with high attention to historical authenticity.

Main Cast and Characters

Don Draper (Jon Hamm): The mysterious, charismatic creative lead whose hidden past haunts his professional success.

Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss): A pioneering career woman who starts as Don's secretary and eventually becomes his intellectual equal.

Pete Campbell (Vincent Kartheiser): An ambitious, entitled young executive from a wealthy family who often clashes with Don.

Betty Draper/Francis (January Jones): Don’s wife, who struggles with the stifling expectations of being a 1960s suburban housewife.

Joan Holloway/Harris (Christina Hendricks): The savvy office manager who uses her intelligence and power to navigate the firm's gender dynamics.

Roger Sterling (John Slattery): A witty, hard-drinking founding partner of the agency and Don's mentor-figure.

Accolades and Legacy

Emmy Awards: Mad Men was the first basic cable series to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, a feat it accomplished for four consecutive years (2008–2011).

Critical Impact: It is widely regarded as one of the greatest television dramas of all time, ranked 6th by TV Guide and 7th by the Writers Guild of America on their respective "best of" lists.

Visual Style: The show is noted for its meticulous production design and costume work, which revitalized interest in mid-century modern aesthetics.

Where to Watch

As of early 2026, the series is available for streaming on platforms such as Netflix, Disney+, and AMC+, depending on your region.

Media Man: Strong thumbs up. Must watch for media execs and media/ad execs to be! Watch and learn (or unlearn)!!!

News

Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley refers primarily to a global center of high technology and innovation in the southern San Francisco Bay Area. It also commonly refers to the acclaimed HBO comedy series that satirizes this culture.

Silicon Valley

The Region

Location: Geographically, it encompasses Santa Clara County, southeastern San Mateo County, and parts of the East Bay, with San Jose serving as its largest city.
Origins: The name was coined in 1971 by journalist Don Hoefler, referring to the high concentration of silicon chip (semiconductor) manufacturers in the Santa Clara Valley.

Economic Impact: As of 2026, it remains the premier hub for venture capital, receiving approximately one-third to 40% of all U.S. venture investment.

Key Companies: It is headquarters to global giants including Apple (Cupertino), Google/Alphabet (Mountain View), Meta (Menlo Park), Intel (Santa Clara), and Nvidia.

Current Trends (2026): While still a dominant force, the region faces challenges such as extreme wealth inequality and a continued "wealth tax" flight where some billionaires and companies relocate to states like Texas.

The Television Series

Premise: A satirical comedy created by Mike Judge that follows Richard Hendricks and his startup, Pied Piper, as they navigate the absurdities of the tech industry.

Run: The show aired on HBO for six seasons from 2014 to 2019, totaling 53 episodes.

Cast: Stars included Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, and Zach Woods.

Mining/Energy/Resources/Biz/Politics/Culture

Australia and World

January 2026

Jan 16

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6701 USD (up $0.0021 USD)
Iron Ore: $107.20 USD (down $1.05 USD)
Oil Price: $59.05 USD (down $0.89 USD)
Gold Price: $4,614.43 USD (down $19.13 USD)
Copper Price): $5.9890 USD (down $0.0970 USD)
Bitcoin: $95,584.86 -1.47%
Dow Jones: 49,401.51 (up 251.88 points)

News

Rivals Rio and BHP ponder tie-up to help open new Pilbara deposits

BHP and Rio Tinto are considering a tie-up that would see them mine an previously inacessible iron ore deposit on the boundary of their adjoining Yandi and Yandicoogina operations in Western Australia's Pilbara region. The tie-up would see the two companies mine 200 million tonnes of ore, with mining expected to commence early next decade, with BHP and Rio having previously joined forces in 2023 to mine the Mungadoo Pillar, which also 'unlocked' ore on a shared boundary. (RMS)

News

Trump backs warfare-focused critical minerals reserve

The federal government's critical minerals strategic reserve is being tailored to help meet the needs of the US military in the wake of Chinese trade restrictions on minerals used in weapon-making. The reserve is likely to operate under a floor and ceiling price system, and President Donald Trump has issued a directive under the Trade Expansion Act that commits the US to working with its allies on adopting "price floors" for trade in "processed critical minerals and their derivative products". Resources Minister Madeleine King says the reserve is of "great interest to our friends in the US", while the government has prioritised three minerals that are vital in modern warfare - antimony, gallium and rare earths - in the strategic reserve. (RMS)

News

Top

Industry frustrated over delay to WA emissions reforms

The Western Australian government promised in October 2024 to hand over responsibility for policing greenhouse gas emissions to Canberra, a pledge that angered environmental groups and the WA Greens. It was welcomed by the resources sector, which was told the changes would take only months to implement, but as of January 2026, they have not happened. As a result, many resources and energy companies operating in WA are still having to report their missions to both the WA and federal governments, a situation that is causing confusion and frustration in the sector. (RMS)

News

LNG importers confident despite reservation plan

Squadron Energy's CEO Rob Wheals says LNG import terminals will be vital to the success of the federal government's domestic gas reservation scheme, and the facilities will be necessary. The Andrew Forrest-backed Squadron has invested more than $200m in its import terminal at Port Kembla in NSW. Wheals notes that the gas reservation scheme will primarily affect LNG exporters in Queensland rather than increasing gas supply in NSW and Victoria, because the gas pipelines linking Queensland to the southern states are already operating at capacity most of the time. (RMS)

News

Steps to valuing BlueScope

SGH and Steel Dynamics have launched a $30 per share bid for steelmaker BlueScope, but a scenario has been suggested that could see BlueScope valued by as much as $50 in five years time. The key figure in determining that amount is the $2 billion in cash flow that BlueScope is currently generating, and it will need to demonstrate how that figure can be maintained or boosted and how it can be used for the benefit of shareholders; it will also need to show it has no more large capital expenditure plans in mind. (RMS)

News

US president's family in talks to build Trump Tower in Surfers Paradise

It is understood that the Trump Organisation is in discussion with developers over plans to construct Australia's first Trump Tower in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, with the Trump Organisation being the family business of US President Donald Trump. It is believed that the site under consideration is located on Trickett Street and was once home to the Iluka Resort, while the office of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says that it would be a "great outcome for Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast" if the idea was to go ahead. (RMS)

News

Kalshi, Polymarket race to crack ‘multis’ as sports bet stakes rise

Kalshi and Polymarket are racing to build enough liquidity to offer lucrative multi-leg sports bets, as the fast-growing prediction market providers intensify their efforts to upend the $US14 billion ($20.1 billion) US sports gambling industry.

The bets, known as “multis” in Australia, “parlays” in the US and “accumulators” in the UK, deliver bettors a big payout if a series of wagers come good. But while they form a cornerstone of the mainstream sports gambling market, parlays are difficult for prediction markets to facilitate.

Prediction markets allow gamblers to bet on binary outcomes of future events, such as the result of a football match, with the prices and implied odds determined by how participants bet.

To offer parlays, prediction markets have to establish liquidity pools for each individual bet, whereas traditional gambling groups, such as DraftKings and FanDuel owner Flutter, can simply bundle preset odds.

“The current downfall [of prediction markets] is their inability to offer the same range of exotic bets that US gamblers love so much, like same-game parlays ... but the market is beginning to find a way to serve certain sports,” said Adam Rivers, a managing director at consultancy Alvarez & Marsal. (AFR) *Full article and coverage via subscription to The Australian Financial Review

News

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newpspaer Of The Month' award

News Lead Up

Jan 15

Mining/Exploration/Minerals

Japan plums the depths for rare earths

The Japanese government hopes a deep-sea exploration program will kickstart a domestic critical minerals program and reduce the nation's reliance on China for rare earths. A Japanese mining vessel will shortly commence a drilling program beneath the seabed around Minamitori Island. Mud from six kilometres beneath the seabed is believed to contain high levels of rare earths; it will be extracted by the vessel, and a full-scale mining trial could begin in 2027 if the test phase is successful. The Japanese government has invested about 40 billion yen ($374m) in the project since 2018; the project's importance has been underlined by China's latest move to restrict exports of critical minerals. (RMS)

News

ASX higher as energy offsets bank sell-off

The Australian sharemarket edged higher on Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.1 per cent to close at 8,820.6 points. BHP rose 1.1 per cent to $48.12, Beach Energy was up 5.2 per cent at $1.20 and Neuren Pharmaceuticals advanced 6.1 per cent to end the session at $20.47. However, the Commonwealth Bank was down 1.3 per cent at $152.88, Mayne Pharma shed 2.3 per cent to end the session at $2.94 and BlueScope Steel finished 0.3 per cent lower at $29.76. (RMS)

News

Virgin's pet-friendly flights trial extended

Virgin Australia has advised that its trial of pet-friendly flights on some domestic routes will be extended until the end of June. The trial on flights between Melbourne and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast began in October and was initially slated to end in late January. Up to four small cats and dogs are allowed to travel in airplanes' cabins with their owners, and more than 300 pets travelled in this way during the peak Christmas period. Virgin is believed to be planning to expand its pet-friendly flights to include the Adelaide, Launceston and Canberra routes, amid positive feedback from pet owners, cabin crew and passengers who do not have pets. (RMS)

News

Balance of power shifts in job hunt

Research from global recruitment firm Robert Half shows that the balance of power in Australia's corporate jobs market is shifting from employers to highly-skilled candidates. The firm's survey of 500 hiring managers across a range of sectors has found that 88 per cent of candidates have rejected a job offer in the last year. Some 32 per cent said they had received a better offer, and 31 per cent said the proposed salary or compensation package was not competitive. Emma Sestic from Robert Half notes that candidates with a strong skillset match and a strong fit with an organisation's values will often have a choice of jobs. (RMS)

News

Time to right a Rio wrong

Rio Tinto's proposed merger with Glencore should not be approved until its previous undertakings are honoured and control of Rio's Australian assets is returned to the Australian-listed company in the dual-listed structure. That company must have an Australian-based CEO and at least three Australians on its board; if Rio Tinto believes that this is administratively too hard, control of the whole Rio Tinto operation should come to Australia. Rio Tinto's London board has proved to be a disaster over the last three decades, so shareholders stand to benefit from proper management. (RMS)

News

Rio Tinto, Glencore deal could spark wave of mining takeovers

Rio Tinto would overtake BHP as the world's biggest mining company if its proposed merger with Glencore proceeds. Brian Szeto from Morningstar DBRS says this deal would most likely put pressure on BHP to pursue its own mega-merger. BHP has in recent years made four attempts to merge with Anglo American, but the latter opted to merge with Teck Resources. Meanwhile, Szeto adds that 2026 is likely to be a big year for mergers and acquisitions acrosss the mining sector. Freeport-McMoRan, Vale and China's Zijin Mining Group are among the other big miners that could potentially seek expansion opportunities. (RMS)

News

BHP less likely to gatecrash Rio deal

BHP is not expected to make a rival bid for Glencore; it is believed to ascribe less value to Glencore's copper assets than Rio Tinto, and is said to have doubts about Glencore's ability to meet its annual copper production targets. Meanwhile, Rio Tinto has a deadline of 5 February under the UK's Takeover Code to announce a firm intention to make a formal bid for Glencore. Sources have indicated that Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott will not be rushed with regard to the proposed merger. The team of banks that Rio Tinto has engaged to advise on the deal include JPMorgan, Macquarie and Evercore; Simon Robey is a senior executive of the latter, and previously helped to advise Rio Tinto on Glencore's merger offer in 2014. (RMS)

News

Gold heads to $US7000 in '70s echo

The price of gold rose by 65 per cent during calendar 2025, and Cameron Judd from the Victor Smorgon Group says the current bull market in bullion has similarities to the 'supercycle' from 1978 to 1980. The gold price rose by 127 per cent in 1979, amid strong demand for 'safe haven' assets in response to geopolitical turmoil such as the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. Judd says that based on the rise in the gold price in 1980, the precious metal could potentially peak at more than $US7,000 per ounce in 2025; it recently reached a record high of $US4,634 an ounce. (RMS)

News

Lithium tops $US2000 as rally roars on

Rising demand for lithium saw the price of the battery metal rise above $US2,000 per tonne earlier this week, reaching this level for the first time in more than two years. Data from S&P Global Platts shows that the price of spodumene - the type of lithium that is mined in Australia - has in turn risen to $US2,305 per tonne; Barrenjoey still expects the price of spodumene to reach $US3,250 per tonne in 2026. Meanwhile, Bell Potter has upgraded its recommendation on PLS Group's share to from 'sell' to 'hold'; the firm has 'buy' ratings on Liontown Resources and Mineral Resources, and has increased its share price targets for all three stocks. (RMS)

News

Bitcoin aims to break out of a corrective rebound

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation has shown a slight increase to $3.26T over the past 24 hours, as it paused its growth, releasing steam after rallying to a total capitalisation of $3.30T. The recovery to a two-month high still keeps the market within a typical corrective rebound of 61.8% of the initial downward momentum. Although it would be too hasty to ignore the sequence of rising local lows, it is still worth being prepared for the recovery momentum to lose steam.

Bitcoin rose to $98K on Wednesday, gaining for the third day during the US session, while Asian and European trading saw a correction and lull, respectively. The price of BTC touched the 61.8% level of the decline from the peak of $126K to the November lows of $80K. Further growth from these levels, especially exceeding $100K, will be an important signal that the decline in October and November may have been a deep correction, but did not break the bull market.

The relatively small Dash coin is experiencing an impressive rally, gaining over 130% since the beginning of the week. Technically, buyers pushed off the 200-day moving average, which had been providing support since September. The last comparable rise in scale was in early November, after which the price fell even lower over the next month and a half. It seems that the main reason for the growth is insufficient liquidity and the pump & dump approach, rather than the start of the alt season.

News Background

The revival of institutional demand signals that investors are actively reallocating capital after a period of caution and risk reduction at the end of last year, according to LVRG Research.

For the first time since mid-2022, the 52-week correlation between Bitcoin and gold has fallen to zero. Historically, the decoupling of these assets has preceded rallies in the first cryptocurrency.

According to Validator Queue, the number of coins locked in Ethereum staking has reached a new all-time high. There are 35.8 million ETH in the Beacon Chain network, which is 29.57% of the market supply of the second-largest cryptocurrency by capitalisation.

Liquidity in cryptocurrencies ceased to be distributed evenly last year, mainly concentrating in Bitcoin, Ethereum and a few other major coins, Wintermute notes. The situation arose against the backdrop of large institutional players actively entering the market. (FxPro)

News

Jan 15

Cryptocurrency News

The crypto market has made a breakthrough

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation has increased by almost 5% over the past 24 hours to $3.25T. This rise above previous local highs confirms the formation of a bullish trend with a sequence of higher local highs and lows. The crypto market has few technical obstacles until it reaches $3.32T, which is the classic Fibonacci retracement level of 61.8% of the decline from the peak in early October.

The sentiment index jumped to 48. Although this is the lower half of the sentiment range, we are seeing the highest values for the indicator since the end of October, reflecting a significant change in sentiment. The crypto market did not need support from US stock indices for this, but metals and Asian markets still updated their highs.

Bitcoin is trading above $95K, its highest since November 17th. It managed to push off the 50-day MA, exceed previous highs and confirm a sequence of higher lows. What other bullish signals do you need? Technically, BTC now has a clear path towards the $100-106K area, limited by the psychologically crucial round level from below and the 200-day MA from above.

News Background

The weakening of the US dollar will be a powerful catalyst for Bitcoin’s growth, according to analysts David Brickell and Chris Mills. In their opinion, the first cryptocurrency is the optimal asset for trading depreciation.

Bitcoin is simultaneously forming three serious signals for a decline, notes analyst Doctor Profit. In his opinion, reaching the $70K level is ‘only a matter of time.’

Strategy made its largest weekly purchase of bitcoins since July last year. Between January 5 and 11, the company purchased 13,627 BTC ($1.25 billion) at an average price of $91,519 per coin. Strategy now owns 687,410 BTC, purchased for $51.8 billion at an average price of $75,353 per bitcoin.

BitMine added 24,266 ETH to its crypto reserves last week, accumulating a total of 4,167,768 ETH at an average price of $3,119. The company already owns 3.45% of the total Ethereum supply, with a stated target of 5%.

The collapse of Ethereum’s market value could disrupt the blockchain’s settlement mechanism and cause Ethereum’s infrastructure to collapse, according to a study by the Bank of Italy.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin outlined a set of technical requirements that will allow the blockchain to maintain long-term stability without the constant involvement of developers.
Spot crypto market trading volume reached $18.6 trillion at the end of 2025. The figure rose 9% from $17 trillion in 2024, according to CryptoQuant.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson called on White House cryptocurrency adviser David Sax to step down from his post for ‘complete failure.’ According to him, since the appointment of the ‘crypto czar’ at the end of 2024, the industry has not seen the progress that everyone was expecting. (FxPro)

News

Jan 14

The dollar does not tolerate dissent

US GDP growth is driven not by the White House, but by AI

The Bank of Japan's sluggishness is weighing on the yen.

JP Morgan believes that the White House's focus on lowering interest rates will have the opposite effect. Inflation will accelerate, and rates will rise. Donald Trump claims that Jamie Dimon is wrong and just wants rates to be high so that his bank can earn more. He went on to describe Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as a “bad person” who, in his view, is hindering the prosperity of the American economy. The US economy is indeed pleasantly surprising. The World Bank has pointed to its resilience to tariffs and raised its GDP forecast for 2025 from 1.4% to 2.1% and for 2026 from 1.6% to 2.2%. The growth in these indicators is not based on White House policy, but on large-scale investments in artificial intelligence technology. However, Donald Trump has his own opinion on this matter.

According to the president, in 11 months, the American administration has achieved explosive growth in the economy and productivity, victory over inflation, and prosperity in investment. Is more to come?

However, we have to adjust the midterm election promotions. Inflation in the US may have fallen to 2.6-2.7%, but it is still significantly above the 2% target. GDP growth is impressive, but the cooling labour market is causing the Fed to cut the rate from 4.5% to 3.75% in 2025. Currently, FOMC officials believe that monetary policy is well-positioned. They intend to maintain a pause in the cycle, which supports the dollar. Meanwhile, the yen continues to get battered. Investors expect Sanae Takaichi to dissolve parliament and call new elections as early as February. This is leading to higher Japanese bond yields and a surge in USDJPY to 18-month highs, returning to the previous territory of currency intervention. The stronger the Liberal Democratic Party's footing, the more chances of higher fiscal stimulus. At the same time, the government may put pressure on the central bank to prevent interest rates from rising, as this increases the cost of servicing the national debt.

In this regard, Kazuo Ueda's speech on continuing the cycle of monetary policy normalisation while meeting the conditions required by the Bank of Japan can be seen as justifiable. Investors do not expect an overnight rate hike before June, which, against the backdrop of a prolonged pause by the Fed, allows USDJPY to rise. (FxPro)

News

Mining, Energy, Resources, Markets, Biz, Heavy Industry, Blue Collar, Energy, Culture, News

Australia, Asia Pacific And World

January 2026

Heavy Industry Awards

Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award

Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award

Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award

Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)

Jim's Mowing wins Media Man 'Australian Business Of The Month' award

News

Pop Culture News

Landman (Paramount Plus)

(In Case You Missed It)

Plot

Set against the backdrop of the booming West Texas oilfields, Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a crisis manager and landman for an independent oil company. Tommy navigates cutthroat deals, family tensions, and moral dilemmas while trying to keep his business afloat. The story kicks off with an investigation into a fatal accident involving an out-of-town lawyer, weaving in elements of drug cartels.

Landman is an American drama television series created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, inspired by Wallace's podcast Boomtown. It explores the high-stakes world of the oil industry in West Texas, blending themes of fortune-seeking, corporate intrigue, and personal drama amid roughnecks, billionaires, and geopolitical shifts.

The series premiered on Paramount+ on November 17, 2024, and has been renewed for a second season.

Landman: Season 2. Trailer (Paramount Plus)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=mhzQawESdqg

"You think you understand how this business works, but you don't." Things are heating up in the final Landman trailer. Season 2 premieres November 16, 2025, only on Paramount+.

"Death and a Sunset"
November 16, 2025

"Sins of the Father"
November 23, 2025

"Almost a Home"
November 30, 2025

"Dancing Rainbows"
December 7, 2025

"The Pirate Dinner"
December 14, 2025

"Dark Night of the Soul"
December 21, 2025

"Forever Is an Instant"
December 28, 2025

"Handsome Touched Me"
January 4, 2026

"Plans, Tears and Sirens"
January 11, 2026

"Tragedy and Flies"
January 18, 2026

News

Gold Movie

Gold is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance the appeal of the film, character names and story details were changed.

Trailer

Gold (YouTube Movies and TV)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZhi0

Gold is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film is inspired by a true story.

News

Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

Media Man

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

Mining/Energy/Resources: Australia and World

October 2025

October 21, 2025

Monday Money: All That Glitters ...

(New York, Wall St)

Mining Stocks: (Near Live)

BHP Group Ltd $43.63 -0.50 -1.13%
Fortescue Ltd $20.31 -0.56%
Rio Tinto $130.11 -1.78 -1.35%
Northern Star $23.46 -2.38 -9.21%
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.58 -1.01 -8.71%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.11 -0.86 -4.51%
Mineral Resources Ltd $41.38 -0.79 -1.87%

Gold Price Today: 4,122.58 -219.77 -5.06%

News

Oct 22

Australia

Trump and Albanese Seal $8.5 Billion Critical Minerals Pact Amid Rudd Rebuke

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a framework agreement on October 20, 2025, at the White House, valued at up to $8.5 billion, to enhance supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths, including over $3 billion in investments for mining and processing 30 essential metals for defense, technology, and clean energy. The deal aims to reduce reliance on China's dominance in these resources while reinforcing the U.S.-Australia alliance, including AUKUS submarine efforts. During the meeting, Trump publicly confronted Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd over his prior criticisms, stating 'I don't like you either,' prompting varied reactions from Australian officials and widespread social media attention.

News

Albanese hits critical mass

The $US8.5bn ($13bn) critical minerals framework agreement between Australia and the US will result in each country contributing at least US$1bn to critical minerals and rare earths projects over the next six months. They include a gallium project in Western Australia and the Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump says the AUKUS alliance will be a "deterrence" to Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Trump contends that AUKUS will not be needed to defend Taiwan, because he does not think China will invade the self-governed territory. Trump has also ruled out reviewing the current tariffs on Australian imports, stating that the nation "pays among the lowest tariffs"; this includes a baseline tariff of 10 per cent and a 50 per cent levy on steel and aluminium products. (RMS)

News

The Victorian towns poised to benefit from critical minerals deal

Edith Cowan University's Amir Razmjou says Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia will benefit the most from the landmark critical minerals deal with the US, followed by Victoria. Meanwhile, the Victorian government notes that the state has "globally significant" quantities of titanium, zirconium and rare-earth elements, as well as Australia's only operating antimony mine. It adds that growth in critical minerals could "inject billions of dollars of benefits" into regional Victoria; the Gippsland, Wimmera and Mallee regions account for the bulk of the state's critical minerals. However, farmers have warned that developing these deposits must not jeopardise the state's food bowl.

News Flashback

News Lead Up

PM to meet White House mining gurus to help solve crisis

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attend an event in Washington on Tuesday to mark the 140th anniversary of mining company BHP. US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and National Security Council adviser David Copley will be present at the event, with both men heavily involved in trying to solve the US's critical minerals crisis. A former executive of US gold, copper and zinc miner Newmont, Copley is viewed as the White House's unofficial mining guru, while Burgum has taken a keen interest in the efforts of BHP and fellow Australian mining firm Rio Tinto to establish a large copper mine in Arizona. (RMS)

News

NuCoal to blight pitch on minerals

There are claims that the cancellation of a coal mining licence by the NSW government in 2014 represents a breach of the Australian-US free trade act. The licence was held by NuCoal, with US investors in NuCoal seeking as much as $500 million in compensation for the cancellation. Nick Farr-Jones, director of Taurus Funds Management, which represents US shareholders in NuCoal, says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should use his trip to Washington and his meeting with US President Donald Trump as an opportunity to compensate the US investors. Farr-Jones says Australia needs to "right this wrong" if the federal government is to have any credibility when it comes to mineral rights. (RMS)

News

Gold Bulls have no choice but to push

Gold's rally to record highs above $4,300 per ounce resulted from a debasement trade. Governments cannot cope with budget deficits, are accumulating debt and demanding that central banks cut interest rates, as in the US, or keep them low, as in Japan. As a result, investors are losing confidence in government bonds and currencies. They are looking for alternatives and turning their attention to precious metals. As a result, gold has been gaining for the last nine weeks, the fifth time in the history of free currency conversion since the 1970s. However, there has never been a 10-week consecutive growth period. The gap from the 200-week moving average also shows the excessiveness of the rally. The spot price at its peak exceeded this line by 90%. There has only been one larger gap once before, in 1980. At the very least, the market needs a technical respite. But historically, its beginning could be the start of a significant multi-year reversal. Now, we are on the side of the bears, but at the same time, we understand that the bulls simply have no choice but to push the price further up, as stopping would ruin the whole game. Each time, gold finds a new driver of growth. In the summer, there were expectations of a resumption of the Fed's easing cycle. To be cont... (FxPro)

News

Rinehart's rare earths shares top $3.5b as Trump needles China

Hancock Prospecting has increased its exposure to the rare earths sector after participating in St George Mining's $72.5m capital raising. The latter had initially sought to raise $40m, but increased this to $50m in response to strong demand from institutional investors. St George subsequently also agreed to issue Hancock with $22.5m worth of shares, lifting the Gina Rinehart-controlled company's stake to around six per cent. St George will use the proceeds of the capital raising to expand its Araxa project in Brazil. Hancock's other investments in the sector include Lynas Rare Earths, Arafura Rare Earths and US-based MP Materials. (RMS)

News Flashback

PM has his work cut out striking rare earths deal with Trump

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is hoping to secure a deal with US President Donald Trump regarding the US getting access to Australia's rare earths, but it may not be as easy as Albanese might hope. The Trump administration is seen as being divided into two camps on the issue, namely the resource nationalists and the economic rationalists, and the first one is currently holding sway. They believe the US should create an end-to-end critical mineral supply chain, and it was probably behind the recent US government investments and equity stakes in US critical minerals mining firms Lithium Americas and MP Materials. The economic rationalists camp believes the US needs the help of its allies to meet its critical mineral needs, at least in the short term, with it being noted it can take more than 20 years to open a new mine in the US. (RMS)

News

Minerals/Politics

Stockpile of critical metals urgent: miners

The federal government aims to establish its $1.2bn critical minerals strategic reserve by late 2026. However, the mining industry has warned the government that it must act more quickly to build the minerals stockpile, contending that another mining nation could potentially trump Australia and become a supplier of choice to defence partners such as the US and Japan. Meanwhile, the industry is believed to have been told that the government may use contracts for difference to set a 'floor price' for critical minerals. The strategic reserve is expected to a priority when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets US President Donald Trump at the White House next week. (RMS)

News

Australian/Asia Pacific News

Rio set to shutter Tomago smelter

The Tomago aluminium smelter's coal-fired power supply contract with AGL Energy is set to expire in 2028, and it faces the prospect of a massive increase in power costs under any new supply agreement. This makes it highly likely that Rio Tinto and its partners in Tomago will permanently shut down the NSW smelter in 2028, unless investment in renewable energy in the state is ramped up significantly in the next few years. The cost of electricity is also a major threat to the future of Rio Tinto's Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania, with its current supply deal to expire at the end of this year. The Tomago smelter employs more than 1,000 people. (RMS)

News

Ellison loses key ally in MinRes board exodus

Iron ore and lithium producer Mineral Resources has appointed Colin Moorhead and Susan Ferrier as non-executive directors. Their recruitment follows the departure of six members of Mineral Resources' board in recent months; this includes Zimi Meka, whose resignation was announced on Friday. The recent departures mean that only three of the nine MinRes directors who attended its 2024 AGM will front shareholders at this year's meeting; they include embattled MD Chris Ellison, who has previously committed to stepping down by mid-2026. (RMS)

News

Rare earths market splits into light and medium-heavy segments

There are increasing signs that the rare earths market is splitting into two distinct segments, namely light elements such as as neodymium and praseodymium, and medium-heavy elements such as dysprosium and terbium. The Shanghai Metal Market suggests that while demand for light elements remains stable, demand for medium-heavy elements is weak, and procurement teams need to differentiate between these segments when negotiating contracts. US buyers need to cultivate relationships with non-Chinese suppliers, as well as keeping an eye on government equity moves, as Washington's willingness to take direct stakes in projects like Tanbreez suggests future deals are likely.

News

Rio, Japanese in Pilbara mine deal

Rio Tinto has secured state and federal government approvals to develop new iron ore deposits at the West Angelas hub in the Pilbara. Rio Tinto and its Robe River joint venture partners, Mitsui and Nippon Steel, will invest $US733m ($1.1bn) to expand the West Angelas mine, with Rio Tinto to contribute $US389m. The expansion of West Angelas will maintain its annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes. Rio Tinto launched its Western Range iron ore joint venture with China-based Baowu in June, as part of its ongoing commitment to the Pilbara. (RMS)

News

Loophole use in $2.4b gold deal leads to reform calls

Shares in gold miner Predictive Discovery have rallied in the wake of a proposed merger with Toronto-listed Robex. Predictive's shareholders will control 51 per cent of the merged group, although they will not be given a vote on the deal. In contrast, the merger will need to be approved by at least two-thirds of Robex shareholders. The proposed merger has prompted renewed scrutiny of the ASX's listing rules, which allow companies to waive the requirement for a shareholder vote under certain circumstances. Simon Mawhinney from Allan Gray Australia has likened the Predictive deal to James Hardie's merger with Azek earlier this year. (RMS)

News

GoldMining Inc. launches 2025 exploration at São Jorge, Brazil

Comprehensive program targets copper-gold zones; recent drilling hit 2.79 g/t AuEq over 79m, including antimony mineralization. Company also expands land package and updates mineral resource estimates.

News

Nevada Gold Mines deploys autonomous haul trucks

Fleet of 300- and 230-tonne trucks automated using Komatsu's FrontRunner system across U.S. surface operations for efficiency gains.

News

Calls for uranium listing as US goes all out on nuclear power

Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan says White House officials emphasised during his recent visit to the US thart a secure supply of uranium is a priority for the Trump administration. Tehan contends that the federal government should therefore add uranium to its critical minerals list, and include it in any deal with the US for an exemption from its reciprocal tariffs regime. Australia accounts for about one-third of the world's known reserves, although the nation's exports of unenriched uranium comprises just 10 per cent of global supply at present. Tehan recently reiterated that nuclear power will remain part of the Coalition's energy policy. (RMS)

News

BHP salutes Japan 'trust'

BHP's president of its Australian operations, Geraldine Slattery, addressed an Australia-Japan business conference on Monday. She declined to comment on unconfirmed reports that China has banned the resources group's Pilbara iron ore shipments. Instead, she emphasised BHP's "deep" relationship with Japan and the free-trade relations between the two nations. Slattery highlighted the level of trust and transparency in the relationship between Australia and Japan. (RMS)

News

MinRes appoints company secretary

Iron ore and lithium producer Mineral Resources has appointed Sarah Standish as its joint company secretary. Standish will replace CFO Mark Wilson in the role, which she will share with Derek Oelofse. Mineral Resources has released a statement in which it notes that Standish has 20 years of experience in legal, governance, risk and compliance functions at both ASX-listed and international companies in the mining and energy sectors. Her appointment has coincided with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission investigation into corporate governance issues at Mineral Resources. (RMS)

News

Upstart glisters among surging gold miners

The gold price has risen by almost 50 per cent in US dollar terms so far in 2025. This has in turn boosted the share prices of Australian gold producers; Northern Star Resources' market capitalisation has increased by 60 per cent so far in 2025, reaching a record high of $35bn last week. Meanwhile, Westgold Resources' share price rose by 24 per cent last week, lifting its market capitalisation from $4bn to $5.1bn; this followed its announcement of plans to lift gold production by 45 per cent to 470,000 ounces over the next three years. (RMS)

News

Lynas revisited: Can it reclaim its crown in rare earths?

Lynas Rare Earths is one of the few players in the sector outside China with genuine scale, but it is now at a critical juncture. A vertically integrated business model allows Lynas to produce a range of refined products, particularly neodymium and praseodymium. However, its product mix has leaned heavily toward light rare earths, leaving it exposed to pricing volatility. The most notable development in 2025 has been Lynas's breakthrough into heavy rare earths; the company announced its first production of dysprosium oxide in May, followed by terbium oxide at its Malaysian plant in June. This milestone currently makes Lynas the only commercial-scale producer of separated heavy rare earths outside China. Potential risks for Lynas include cost inflation, the ongoing threat of competition from China and uncertainty regarding the future of its licence in Malaysia. (RMS)

News

MinRes scores legal win on port levies

The Supreme Court of Western Australia has ruled that Mineral Resources and its lawyers should be allowed to see details of a controversial agreement between the state government and Chevron. The state-owned Pilbara Ports Authority had sought to block access to the agreement, which requires MinRes to pay a levy for using a cargo wharf and part of a shipping channel that had been dredged by Chevron for its Wheatstone LNG project. Chevron also built the Port of Ashburton, which MinRes now uses to export iron ore from its Onslow Iron project. (RMS)

News

Rare earth magnets have become the new battleground for global power

The unique properties of rare earth magnets have resulted in them becoming strategic assets, and supply chain control is increasingly being viewed as a matter of national security. China dominates the global production and supply of rare earth magnets, and this dependence on China was underlined earlier this year when the nation imposed export controls. Four rare earth magnet factories are currently under construction in the US, but China has been investing in rare earths processing for decades; it also manufactures most of the world's refining equipment and employs most of the specialised technicians, so ending China's dominance is likely to take years. (RMS)

News

BHP Faces Chinese Iron Ore Ban Amid Pricing Dispute:

Reports emerged that China's state-run iron ore buyers have instructed steelmakers to halt purchases of dollar-denominated cargoes from BHP, causing the company's shares to drop 1.8%. This escalates a broader pricing row, with BHP's stock closing at A$41.91 (down 0.73%). Analysts warn of potential supply chain disruptions for Australia's largest exporter.

Rio Tinto Eyes Early Closure of Queensland's Largest Coal Power Station:

The mining giant notified the Australian Energy Market Operator of a potential shutdown of its 1,000 MW coal-fired plant at the Tarong site as early as March 2029—six years ahead of schedule. This aligns with Rio's decarbonization push but raises concerns over energy reliability in coal-dependent Queensland.

Alcoa Permanently Closes Kwinana Alumina Refinery:

The U.S.-based firm confirmed the shutdown of its Western Australian facility after 60 years, citing high energy costs and global oversupply. This impacts 400 jobs and underscores aluminium sector struggles, with WA's government exploring support for affected workers.

Coal Royalty Pressures Lead to Job Cuts:

BHP's closure of the Saraji South mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin will eliminate 750 jobs, blamed on royalties eight times higher than 2024 profits.

Anglo American announced further redundancies at its Grosvenor mine and Brisbane office (potentially 1,000+ roles). Queensland's government offers fee relief but resists royalty cuts.

News Flashback

Events

The sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation and investment:

WA Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 8–9, Perth Convention Centre—spotlighting future tech, sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to draw thousands for networking and demos.

International Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October 21–23, Sydney—featuring leaders from 120+ countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.

Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):

September 23–25, Adelaide (ongoing as of early October)—showcasing automation and safety, with the Australian Mining Prospect Awards at Adelaide Oval.

News Flashback

Trump seeks equity stakes in critical mineral producers

The US Department of Defense bought $US400m ($607m) worth of shares in rare earths producer MP Materials earlier in 2025. The Trump administration is said to be looking at buying equity-like stakes in other producers of critical minerals, according to executives of Australian mining companies who recently held talks with officials from various US government agencies. Amongst other things, the government is said to be interested in buying stock warrants, which would grant it the right to buy shares in a mining company. The US aims to reduce its reliance on China for minerals that are crucial for defence technology and the energy transition. (RMS)

News

Argonaut tips gold to hit $US4500, lithium revival as supply tightens

The gold price has risen by 45 per cent so far in 2025, and it is currently trading above $US3,800 per ounce. Perth-based stockbroker Argonaut is bullish about the outlook for bullion, lifting its peak price forecast to US$4,500. Argonaut's executive chairman and co-founder Eddie Rigg also anticipates further consolidation in the gold sector. Meanwhile, Rigg expects the lithium price to rebound, arguing that proposed new projects in South America and Africa are unlikely to proceed in the near-term; he notes that they will be capital-intensive, while many are in volatile jurisdictions. (RMS)

News

News Flashback

Profile

Hancock Prospecting

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd is an Australian-owned mining and agricultural business run by Executive Chairwoman Gina Rinehart and CEO Garry Korte. At various stages of its trading history, the company has been known as Hancock Prospecting Ltd, Hancock Resources Ltd, Hanwright Pty Ltd, Hancock & Wright Ltd, and Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd.

Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd is owned by Rinehart (76.6%) and the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).

The company was founded in 1955 by Rinehart's father, the late Lang Hancock. Hancock Prospecting holds the mineral rights to some of the largest Crown land leases in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Gina Rinehart has disputed accusations that she is an heiress. Through Rinehart's spokesperson and chief financial officer at Hancock Prospecting, Jay Newby, Rinehart has claimed that upon assuming the role of the Executive Chairwoman, she took over a company that was in a perilous financial position with significant debt and major assets mortgages and under threat of seizure.

Projects:

Balfour Downs Station Manganese Operation, northeast of Newman, a joint venture with Mineral Resources

Hope Downs mine, northwest of Newman, a joint venture with Rio Tinto

Roy Hill project, south of Port Hedland, a joint venture between Hancock Prospecting (70%), Marubeni (15%), POSCO (12.5%), and China Steel Corporation (2.5%)

Alpha Coal project, Galilee Basin in Central Queensland

Kevin's Corner coal project, Galilee Basin in Central Queensland

Nicholas Downs mine, northwest of Newman, a joint venture with Mineral Resources

(Developing profile/news). To be cont ...

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Best Quotes

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

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Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance

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Australian mining and exploration sector embracing living statues and bodypainting for special events and VIP functions - May 2014

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