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Factored
Websites
The
Australian Financial Review: Mining
Mining
(Wikipedia)
FX
Pro
NASDAQ
Mining.com.au
The
Australian Mining Review
FOX
Business FOX
News - US Economy
Daily
Updates via Media
Man Int X
Mining/Energy/Resources/Culture:
Australia and World
2025
News
Landman
Oil
and Gas Industry: A landman is a professional who
negotiates and manages land and mineral rights for
oil, gas, or energy companies. They research property
titles, negotiate leases with landowners, ensure compliance
with regulations, and handle contracts. Landmen can
be in-house (working directly for a company) or independent
field landmen (contractors who research records and
negotiate on behalf of companies).
Certifications
like Registered Landman (RL) or Certified Professional
Landman (CPL) are offered by the American Association
of Professional Landmen (AAPL). Their role is critical
in securing rights for exploration and production,
often requiring legal knowledge, negotiation skills,
and courthouse research.
Cultural
References: "Landman" is also the title
of a Paramount+ TV series (premiering 2024, with Season
2 set for November 16, 2025), starring Billy Bob Thornton
as a West Texas oil worker. The show, created by Taylor
Sheridan, portrays the oil industry and has gained
attention for its authenticity and strong performances.

Mining/Energy/Rare
Earths/Biz/Culture/Politics: Australia, U.S and World
Mad
Monday Edition
News
November
2025
Markets
Nov
17
Australian
Dollar: $0.6529 USD (up 0.0001 USD)
Iron Ore: $102.50 USD (down 0.35 USD)
Oil: $60.09 USD (up $1.34 USD)
Gold: $4,080.78 USD (down $82.66 USD)
Copper: $5.0500 USD (up $0.0015 USD)
Bitcoin: $94,324.41USD (down 1.62%)
Dow: 47,147.48 (down 309.74 points)
Bitcoin:
(Near Live) $95,096.48 -0.79%
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
Wyloo
bets on nickel future as part of critical minerals
boom
Wyloo's
financial accounts show that it booked a $377.6m profit
in 2024-25, after a massive impairment charge on its
nickel assets resulted in a $352.8m loss for the previous
financial year. The private company of Andrew and
Nicola Forrest is continuing to explore for nickel
near its mothballed mines in Western Australia, while
it is also considering the construction of a nickel
concentrator near Kambalda. Wyloo's CEO Luca Giacovazzi
stated in its latest annual report that its future
growth is likely to be on mining and selling nickel,
while this focus is expected to be expanded to include
rare earths. (RMS)
Nov
15
Make
coal great again or China gets your data: Hanson
One
Nation leader Pauline Hanson will release details
of the party's energy policy during the last parliamentary
sitting week for 2025. However, Hanson contends that
amongst other things Australia must withdraw from
the Paris climate agreement and extend the operating
lives of the nation's existing fleet of coal-fired
power stations. Hansen has emphasised the importance
of coal-fired power generation to data centres in
Australia, warning that they will not be able to compete
with China. Hanson adds that it "frightens the
hell out of me" that China will dominate global
data storage due to its lower electricity prices,
which will be at least partly due to coal imported
from Australia. (RMS)
News
Former
Rio boss called to Mongolian probe
A
Mongolian parliamentary inquiry into cost blowouts
at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine was announced in September,
with public hearings due to be held between December
8 and 12. Slated to be one of the world's top-five
producers of copper by the end of the decade, the
Oyu Tolgoi mine cost almost $US1.7 billion more than
planned and took almost two years longer than expected
to build. Former Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques
is one of close to 300 witnesses called to appear
before the inquiry, with Jacques having been CEO of
Rio from 2016 to 2020. (Roy Morgan Summary)
Nov
14
BHP
to learn class action fate for $72b Brazil dam disaster
The
UK's High Court will shortly issue a ruling on whether
BHP is legally for an iron ore tailings dam disaster
in Brazil which killed 19 people and caused massive
environmental damage in November 2015. The tailing
dam was owned by the Samarco joint venture between
BHP and iron ore rival Vale. Should BHP be found to
be legally liable, individual claimants' eligibility
for compensation and the size of any payouts will
be determined in the next stage of the long-running
case. BHP and Vale have already paid billions in compensation
to people who were affected by the disaster. (RMS)
News
Fresh
probe launched into MinRes, Ellison
It
has been revealed that the Australian Taxation Office
has launched a new investigation into Mineral Resources
and its billionaire founder Chris Ellison. News of
the investigation was revealed in a request sent by
the ATO to the Federal Court in October for access
to previously sealed documents that had been filed
in the unfair dismissal case brought by MinRes' former
procurement manager Steve Pigozzo in 2022. The new
investigation will focus on how MinRes and Ellison
calculated income and fringe benefit taxes, with the
revelation regarding the new probe coming as MinRes
prepares to hold its AGM next week, at which shareholders
will be asked to approve a lucrative share options
package for new chairman Malcolm Bundey. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Rio
ends two-decade Serbia lithium mining dream as cost
cuts bite
Rio
Tinto has advised that its Jadar lithium project in
Serbia has put in 'care and maintenance' mode. The
company will cease undertaking environmental, heritage
and geological surveys at the site in the Jadar Valley,
four years after revealing plans to invest $US2.4bn
($3.7bn) on developing what it claimed would be the
biggest lithium mine in Europe. There is growing competition
for capital within Rio Tinto's lithium division, and
its $10bn deal to acquire Arcadium Lithium earlier
in 2025 added several mines that are already in production
to its lithium portfolio. (RMS)
News
American
activist claims IperionX more dud than minerals gem
Trading
in the shares of Australian-listed IperionX were halted
on Thursday, following the release of a report into
the company by New York hedge fund Spruce Point Capital
Management, which specialises in short-selling. With
the US-based IperionX seeking to develop titanium
extraction technology and having been backed by the
Trump administration as part of its bid to secure
domestic production of critical minerals, Spruce Point's
report sought to raise doubt about IperionX's prospects.
(RMS)
News
Biotech
gets $20m in critical minerals push
US-based
biotechnology firm Endolith has raised $US13.5m ($20.6m)
via its initial round of venture funding, while it
aims to raise an additional $3m in a second tranche.
The start-up is developing technology that can be
used to extract critical minerals such as copper from
low-grade ore and waste rock that would be unprofitable
to process using traditional methods. Endolith's technology
uses microbes and artifical intelligence, and the
company aims to commence real-world trials at a mine
site within 6-12 months. (RMS)
News
Oversupply
of oil could create glut of 4m barrels a day, says
energy watchdog
The
International Energy Agency has stated in its latest
monthly report that the world is producing more oil
than it needs, and that there could be a glut of 4m
excess barrels a day entering the market by 2026.
The IEA's warning has come in the same week that it
issued its latest energy outlook report, which included
a controversial scenario in which global oil demand
would continue to grow until 2050. It had dropped
the scenario in 2020 after it was accused of repeatedly
criticised for underestimating the growth of renewable
energy in its annual report, but returned the scenario
to its outlook this year after calls from the White
House to present a more optimistic view for the future
of oil. (RMS)
News
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6528 USD (down $0.0012 USD) Iron Ore: $102.85
USD (up $0.20 USD) Oil: $58.75 USD (up $0.33 USD)
Gold: $4,163.44 USD (down $33.38 USD) Copper: $5.0485
USD (down $0.0345 USD) Bitcoin: $98,332.56 USD (down
3.01%) Dow Jones: 47,460.49m (down 794.33 points)
Bitcoin:
(Near Live) $97,618.71 =5.38%
News
The
cryptocurrency market is stagnating, lagging its competitors
Market
Overview
The cryptocurrency market capitalisation has changed
little over the past day, fluctuating around $3.5
trillion. The cryptocurrency fear index has fallen
to 15, its lowest level since 4 March. Notably, the
cryptocurrency market has been left out of the recent
rally in precious metals and stock indices. If this
is not an attempt by whales to lock in profits from
the rally since April or even from the growth of the
last two years, then it is an alarming signal of deep-seated
risk aversion that is about to manifest itself in
larger markets.
Bitcoin
continues to struggle to remain within the bull market
on weekly timeframes, trying to stay above the 50-week
moving average. Last week's close was on the edge
and attempts to develop an offensive this week are
running into sell-offs, despite the favourable external
backdrop. The previous such transition occurred at
the end of 2021, and so far, everything aligns with
the 4-year halving cycles that many were quick to
dismiss.
News
Background
Over
the past three months, a clear break has occurred
in the correlation between Bitcoin and the stock market.
The S&P 500 stock index has risen 7% during this
time, while BTC has lost 15%. Judging by four years
of close correlation, it can be argued that Bitcoin
is currently undervalued, according to Santiment.
Jan3
founder Samson Mow attributes Bitcoin's decline to
a massive sell-off by investors who bought it over
the past 12 to 18 months. They are rushing to lock
in profits amid rumours of an imminent bearish trend
in the crypto market.
The
crypto market's growth phase is nearing its end, so
it is time for investors to consider locking in profits
and reducing the share of crypto assets in their portfolios,
according to Morgan Stanley, which cites a four-year
cycle that the cryptocurrency market has consistently
followed since 2009.
The
bitcoin mining industry is facing a difficult period
due to growing competition and declining profitability,
said MARA CEO Fred Thiel. According to him, only those
miners who have access to cheap energy or new business
models will survive.
According
to SoSoValue, spot Solana ETFs in the US have attracted
more than $350 million in 11 trading sessions. The
steady inflow of funds into new SOL ETFs came as a
surprise to the market. The results significantly
exceeded initial conservative forecasts, according
to LVRG Research.
Visa
has unveiled a pilot project called Visa Direct, which
allows US customers to make direct cross-border payments
in USDC stablecoin to recipients' wallets. The initiative
is aimed at content creators and freelancers.
The
crypto industry is entering a new phase of capital
raising. The launch of Coinbase's ICO platform is
expected to be a key event in this trend, according
to Bitwise. The exchange will select and launch one
verified project per month. (FxPro)
News
The
dollar emerging from the data fog
The US government shutdown is over. Central
bank policy convergence helps EURUSD. Political
scandal causes the pound to fall. Japan's currency
interventions are ineffective The House of Representatives
voted 222 to 209 to resume government operations.
The president immediately signed the document. The
record-long shutdown is over. This fact promises that
the Fed and investors will soon begin to exit their
positions. The president immediately signed the document.
The record-breaking shutdown is over. This fact suggests
that the Fed and investors will quickly start to emerge
from the fog once statistics are published again,
allowing them to make data-driven decisions. But will
they like what they see when the picture becomes clearer?
Alternative sources show a slowdown in the US GDP.
The IMF forecasts a decline in its growth rate from
2.8% to 2% in 2025. The eurozone, on the other hand,
is expected to accelerate from 0.9% to 1.2%. At the
same time, the Bank of France plans to raise its estimates
for the country, despite the ongoing political turmoil.
The narrowing divergence in economic growth argues
in favour of maintaining the upward trend for EURUSD.
The same can be said about monetary policy. The ECB
has most likely ended its easing cycle, barring any
major shocks. The federal funds rate is likely to
continue falling amid a cooling US labour market and
economy. The euro has advantages over the dollar.
However, in the short term, mixed data could lead
to mixed movements in EURUSD.
The conflict on Downing Street has allowed GBPUSD
bears to launch a new attack. When Labour came to
power in Britain in 2024, the pound gained preference
thanks to hopes for political stability after constant
ministerial changes under the Conservatives. However,
since then, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ratings
have been falling. Rumours of a plot to replace the
leader have made investors nervous and prompted them
to sell sterling. Doubts about the effectiveness of
potential currency interventions continue to push
the USDJPY pair higher. The current conditions differ
from those of last year. Back then, Tokyo intervened
in the FOREX market before raising the overnight rate.
Now, Sanae Takaichi is sticking to a policy of fiscal
and monetary stimulus. Any purchase of the yen will
only have short-term success. In addition, it will
require the expenditure of foreign exchange reserves.
These are needed to make the investments in the US
economy promised to Donald Trump. (FxPro)
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
Media
Google
Finance wins Media Man 'Business News Website Of The
Month' award; Runner-up: Yahoo! Finance
Netflix
wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award;
YouTube and Paramount Plus are runner-ups! Strong
mention: Tubi
News
News
Pop
Culture News
Landman
(Paramount Plus)
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"
"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."
Media
Man
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Provider Of The
Month' award; Runner-ups: X, Google News, Yahoo! Finance
Mining/Energy/Resources/Markets/Politics/Culture:
Australia, US and World
October
2025
Thirsty
Thursday Media Watercooler: All That Glitters? Drill,
Baby Drill!
Search For Industry Culture and Beyond The Harsh Earth
Surface; Wealth Found In Dirty Jobs
Oct
30
Pop
Culture News
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
Oct
30
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6570 USD (down $0.0010 USD)
Iron Ore: $107.75 USD (up $1.35 USD)
Oil: $60.40 USD (up $0.48 USD)
Gold: $3,933.57 USD (down $20.40 USD)
Copper: $5.2030 USD (up $0.0320 USD)
Bitcoin: $111,274.01 USD (down 1.22%)
Dow: 47,632.00 (down 74.37 points)
News
Fading
Roy Hill seeks new riches
Iron
ore miner Roy Hill has posted a net profit of $1.8bn
for 2024-25, compared with $3.2bn in the previous
financial year; it is the Gina Rinehart-backed company's
lowest profit since 2019-20. Roy Hill's iron ore shipments
totalled 61.6 million tonnes in 2024-25, compared
with 64 million tonnes previously. The company's latest
results were marred by factors such as lower iron
ore prices and production disruptions caused by Cyclone
Zelia in early 2025. Roy Hill's flagship mine is estimated
to have a remaining production life of about seven
years, but Rinehart says the new McPhee mine will
extend the operating life of the Roy Hill mine. (RMS)
News
Northern
Minerals faces battle for board
A
spokesman for Northern Minerals says its four directors
take their role of acting in the best interests of
all shareholders very seriously. They add that the
board supports the re-election of executive chairman
Adam Handley at the upcoming AGM in order to maintain
a "stable, united and effective board",
while it opposes the election of non-endorsed nominees
for the same reasons. Chinese businessman Enping Fu
and Sydney-based businesswoman Joanna Yanis are seeking
to be elected to the board of the heavy rare earths
miner; the former narrowly failed to do so in 2024.
The federal government ordered companies with Chinese
links to divest shares in Northern Minerals last year,
due to the strategic importance of its Browns Range
project. (RMS)
News
Trunp's
$121b nuclear deal fresh blow to uranium short-sellers
The
share prices of Australian-listed uranium producers
rallied on Wednesday after the Trump administration
revealed plans to spend US80bn ($121.4bn) on new nuclear
reactors across the US. The deal with Westinghouse
Electric is aimed at ensuring a reliable electricity
supply for the power-hungry data centres that will
drive the artificial intelligence revolution. Westinghouse
is owned by private equity firm Brookfield and uranium
miner Cameco; the latter's shares rose by 23 per cent
in response to the deal. Meanwhile, the proportion
of Australian uranium stocks that are held by short-sellers
has fallen sharply in recent weeks. (RMS)
Oct
29
BHP-backed
firm adds value to US-Australia deal
Innovative
technology that can extract critical minerals from
mining waste is being trialled at Rio Tinto's Kennecott
copper mine in the US. SiTration is seeking to commercialise
its silicon membrane filter, and BHP's ventures arm
participated in its second round of fundraising from
seed investors in 2024. SiTration's co-founder and
CEO Brendan Smith says its filter is being used to
process acid mine drainage at Kennecott to extract
"market-ready" copper. Recent academic research
from the Colorado School of Mines suggested that waste
by-products stored at 54 hard-rock metal mines may
contain at least $US10bn worth of copper and more
than $US1bon of rare earths. SiTration was spun off
by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2020.
(RMS)
News
Gold
below $US4000, 'deeper' losses ahead
The
gold price has fallen 9.1 per cent since reaching
a record high of $US4,381 an ounce last week. Tony
Sycamore from IG Markets says the gold price's fall
below $US4,000/ounce indicates that a deeper pullback
to around the $US3,500 level is likely. Ole Hansen
from Saxo Bank says the price of bullion could take
some time to rebound if there is a deep pullback,
and suggests that any recovery may not occur until
next year. The prospect of a US-China trade deal may
also weigh on the gold price, given that economic
concerns and geopolitical tensions have been a key
driver of demand for the traditional 'safe haven'
asset. (RMS)
News
Rinehart
weathers the storm as Atlas profits plunge from weaker
prices
Hancock
Propecting-owned Atlas Iron has posted a $260m profit
for 2024-25, which is nearly 41 per cent lower than
previously. The result was marred by lower iron ore
prices and the impact of Cyclone Zelia on production
at its Mount Webber, Sanjiv Ridge and Miralga iron
oire mines in the Pilbara; Atlas achieved annual sales
totalled $10m for the financial year. Mining magnate
Gina Rinehart amalgamated Atlas and Roy Hill in mid-2025
to form Hancock Iron Ore. The group's new McPhee iron
ore mine is slated to commence production in the current
financial year. (RMS)
News
Gina
Rinehart backs Arafura's $475m raise in rare earths
stampede
Hancock
Prospecting will increase its stake in Arafura Rare
Earths from 9.4 per cent to 15.7 per cent after agreeing
to buy $125m worth of shares in the rare earths group's
proposed $475m placement. Arafura intends to issue
new shares at $0.28 apiece, which is a 28 per cent
discount to its most recent trading price. The share
placement will provide nearly all of the remaining
capital Arafura needs for its Nolans rare earths project
in the Northern Territory. Arafura aims to make a
final investment decision on Nolans in early 2026.
(RMS)
News
Taxpayer-backed
Liontown burns through cash after $363m raise
Liontown
Resources has advised that it produced 87,172 tonnes
of lithium concentrate in the September quarter, which
is one per cent higher than the previous quarter.
However, sales volumes were 20 per cent lower at 77,474
tonnes and revenue fell 29 per cent to $68m. Meanwhile,
its cost of production was $US715 per tonne, while
it received an average of $US700 per tonne from buyers.
Liontown raised $363m from investors in August, while
it spent $44m during the September quarter. The federal
government's National Reconstruction Fund recently
invested $50m in Liontown. (RMS)
News
Glencore
walks away from taxpayer-funded clean energy pivot
Anglo-Swiss
miner Glencore has advised that it will not proceed
with a proposed renewable energy and battery hub at
its Murrin Murrin nickel mine and refinery in Western
Australia. Glencore had received a $35m grant from
the federal government's Powering the Regions Fund
to help finance the development of an 849-hectare
renewables hub at Murrin Murrin, which currently operates
its own gas-fired power station. A spokesman for Glencore
says it decided to cancel the onsite hybrid renewable
energy project due to a range of macroeconomic and
cost factors. Glencore and the government have agreed
to mutually terminate the grant. (RMS)
News
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6580 USD (up $0.0020 USD) Iron Ore: $106.40
USD (up $0.70 USD) Oil Price: $59.92 USD (down $1.64
USD) Gold: $3,953.97 USD (down $45.33 USD) Copper
(CME): $5.1710 USD (up $0.0125 USD) Bitcoin: $112,972.09
USD (down 1.57%) Dow: 47,706.37 (up 161.78 points)
News
Oct
28
US
expects China to shelve restrictions on rare earths
US
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says that staving
off China's rare earth restrictions was one of the
major objectives of the talks between the US and China
during the ASEAN summit in Malaysia. A Chinese official
has indicated that the two sides reached a preliminary
consensus on a number of issues, including export
controls on rare earths, shipping levies and fentanyl.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in turn believes
that China will delay its rare earth restrictions
for 12 months, while it re-examines the policy. (RMS)
News
PM
reassures Beijing over US minerals deal
Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese has met with Chinese Premier
Li Qiang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala
Lumpur. Xi urged Australia to deepen its co-operation
with China amid growing global instability and uncertainty,
while Albanese said he is committed to maintaining
a stable relationship with China. Albanese also contended
that the $13bn critical minerals and rare earths deal
with the US should not affect Australia's bilateral
relationship with China. President Donald Trump is
scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi
Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea on Thursday,
with hopes that they will be able to secure a trade
deal. (RMS)
News
Trump's
critical minerals advisor jets to Perth for talks
with leaders after Albanese's deal
Anita
Logiudice from the Chamber of Minerals & Energy
of Western Australia says the state is "ground
zero" for America's interest in critical minerals.
She notes that WA accounts for half of Australia's
critical minerals reserves, and it is the world's
fourth biggest producer of rare earths. The importance
of WA has been underlined by the Trump administration's
decision to send its deputy assistant secretary for
critical minerals and metals to Perth in the wake
of the landmark critical minerals deal between Australia
and the US. A state government spokesperson says Assistant
Secretary Joshua Kroon will hold talks with mining
industry executives on growing links and investment
in WA's resources sector. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Australia's
plan to challenge China's dominance in critical minerals
and rare earths
About
90 per cent of all rare earths are refined in China,
but the nation has a complete monopoly when it comes
to heavy rare earths. Companies or countries that
produce rare earths ship their raw material to China
for processing, giving it almost complete control
over marketing and pricing. The ABC's chief business
correspondent Ian Verrender explains to The Business
host, Kirsten Aiken, that to maintain its monopoly,
China has never been afraid of using its market power.
Verrender says it has alternatively flooded markets
with material to make it uneconomic for others to
establish rival industries, or denied access to refined
product to others as punishment. Such overwhelming
supply domination, and the pricing power that comes
with it, has raised questions over whether governments
should continue to allow market forces to determine
the supply of materials vital for national security
and development in an increasingly divided world.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Bowen
told: electricity bills will jump
The
unredacted version of the incoming government brief
to Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen shows that
his department had warned that there is likely to
be a "further significant increase" in retail
electricity prices during 2025-26. The Department
of Climate Change, Energy, Environment &
Water also advised that emissions reductions will
need to accelerate rapidly for the federal government
to achieve its 2030 climate targets, and that "full
and timely" implementation of Bowen's first-term
reforms will be essential. The brief was prepared
by Bowen's department following the election in May,
but it initially resisted requests to release the
document in full. (RMS)
News
Mining
billionaire's economic warning
Fortescue's
founder and executive chairman Andrew Forrest says
Australia has a "fantastic" future in manufacturing.
Forrest adds that Australia can compete against the
best of the world, but he contends that the nation
must target areas where it is the best rather than
simply trying to prop up "old industries".
He also says Australia must avoid trying to compete
with industrial powerhouses like China and the US
in these industries. Meanwhile, Forrest says governments
are underestimating Australians by propping up struggling
or failing businesses such as the Mount Isa copper
smelter in Queensland and the Port Pirie lead smelter
in South Australia. (RMS)
News
ASX
rises in broad rally; rare earths tumble
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Monday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.4 per cent to close
at 9,055.6 points. Investor sentiment was boosted
by growing expectations of further monetary policy
easing in the US and hopes that the US and China will
negotiate a trade deal. Life360 was up 4.7 per cent
at $50.14, Woodside Energy rose 1.2 per cent to $24.69
and Qantas ended the session 3.4 per cent higher at
$10.87. However, Arafura Rare Earths fell 9.6 per
cent to $0.37 and Ramelius Resources was down 5.7
per cent at $3.30. (RMS)
News
Commodities
boom boosts ASX profits by $4b
Analysts
are upbeat about the earnings outlook for companies
in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index. The rise in
commodity prices over the last two months have prompted
analysts to forecast earnings growth of 7.1 per cent
for top-200 stocks in 2025-26; this compares with
forecasts of just 3.1 per cent at the end of the August
reporting season. The resources sector is now forecast
to post earnings growth of 11 per cent in the current
financial year, compared with expectations in August
that earnings would fall by one per cent. Analysts
are also upbeat regarding some non-resources stocks,
including the ANZ Bank, CSL and James Hardie Industries.
(RMS)
News
Major
Tomago investor writes off smelter in gloomy update
Norsk
Hydro has written down the value of its 12.4 per cent
stake in the Tomago aluminium smelter in NSW to zero.
The Oslo-based company has progressively written down
its stake over recent years, and it has warned that
the smelter faces an uncertain future when AGL Energy's
electricity supply contract ends in 2028; Norsk Hydro
adds that it has been difficult to find an affordable
renewable supply for Tomago. The smelter's biggest
shareholder, Rio Tinto, has previously indicated that
it will not continue to operate smelters in Australia
beyond 2030 unless they can be converted to use clean
energy. (RMS)
News
Going
where the profit is
For
most of the first 130 years of BHP's existence, the
focus of successive CEOs was increasing and developing
the company's resources base, rather than profits.
With BHP recently celebrating its 140th anniversary,
profits and returns on capital now take precedence.
Likewise, during BHP's first 130 years Australia knew
that its prosperity would depend on exports of agriculture
and mining products, which would in turn require cheap
energy and strong agricultural support. However, the
nation now makes mining and agricultural development
harder, and it has abandoned low-cost energy. Meanwhile,
BHP's South Australian copper project has been pushed
back to the 2030s, and the company will use its iron
ore cash flows to develop copper mines in countries
where returns and energy costs are competitive. (Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
Antimony
miner shoots down US takeover bid
Critical
minerals producer Larvotto Resources has formally
rejected a takeover offer from the United States Antimony
Corporation. Larvotto's directors have concluded that
the $723m all-scrip bid materially undervalues the
company, which is set to resume production at the
mothballed Hillgrove gold and antimony mine in NSW
in 2026; Larvotto bought the mine from administrators
in late 2023. Meanwhile, Northern Minerals has completed
a $60.5m share placement to new investors; its Browns
Range project in Western Australia includes heavy
rare earths such as terbium and dysprosium. (RMS)
News
Long
haul, but it's a win for MinRes
Mineral
Resources has advised that 8.75 million tonnes of
iron ore were transported via its 150km private haulage
road between 1 August and 27 October. This lifted
the Onslow Iron venture's annualised haulage rate
to 35 million tonnes; this in turn triggered a $200m
contingency payment from Morgan Stanley Infrastructure
Partners, which acquired a 49 per cent stake in the
private road in 2024. Mineral Resources' MD Chris
Ellison says that achieving the haul-road's performance
target so early in Onslow Iron's ramp-up phase demonstrates
the quality of the company's people, partners and
infrastructure. The private road has been the subject
of safety concerns amid a number of truck rollovers
and costly resurfacing work. (RMS)
News
Haoma
Mining Shareholder Update
Haoma
Mining NL Announcements
28
October 2025
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
The
2025 Annual General Meeting of Haoma Mining NL will
be held at 9.30am on 26 November at Tonic House, 386
Flinders Lane, Melbourne. A formal Notice of Meeting
will be sent to all shareholders. Meanwhile, the Haoma
Rare Earths Overview has brought together an overview
of the company's Pilbara assets and their geological
status; test-work undertaken over several years on
those assets by BHP, Anglo America, SQM and Haoma;
and their potential for Heavy Rare Earths as well
as gold. Haoma's shareholder update also includes
progress on Bamboo Creek Test-work from July to October
2025, including physical gold recovered from recent
Elazac Process test-work conducted in Haoma's Bamboo
Creek Laboratory. Haoma's Board in turn resolved on
22 October to allocate performance rights to a number
of employees, consultants and contractors who are
associated with Haoma. (RMS)
News
$US50m
deal for development of Ravensthorpe gold project
Medallion
Metals has advised that it has secured a deal for
Trafigura to arrange and provide a $US50m ($77m) senior
secured prepayment facility. Medallion says the debt
financing facility will underpin the funding required
for the development of its Ravensthorpe Gold Project
in Western Australia, as well as the processing operations
at the Forrestania nickel assets that it has agreed
to buy from IGO. The deal with Trafigura also includes
an offtake agreement for gold dore, copper and precious
metal concentrate. (RMS)
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"
"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."
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
27, 2025
Monday
Money: All That Glitters ...
(Australia
to New York, Wall St)
Mining
Stocks: (Near Live)
BHP
Group Ltd $43.54 +0.30 +0.69%
Fortescue Ltd $20.79 +0.27 +1.32%
Rio Tinto $133.49 +1.67 +1.27%
Northern Star $24.07 +0.37 +1.56%
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.64 +0.14 +1.33%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.37 -0.45 -2.39%
Mineral Resources Ltd $44.93 -0.0100 -0.022%
Gold
Price Today: 4,059.70 USD -51.50 (-1.25%)
Recent
Trend: Gold has risen approximately 6.42% over the
past month but is down 0.79% today.
Year-to-Date Performance: Up about 48.64% in 2025.
The
Lead up ...
News
Flashback (In Case You Missed It)
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 2029six
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 89,
Perth Convention Centrespotlighting future tech,
sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to
draw thousands for networking and demos.
International
Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October
2123, Sydneyfeaturing leaders from 120+
countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine
King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.
Asia-Pacific
International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):
September
2325, 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 ...
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"
"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."
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 2029six
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 89,
Perth Convention Centrespotlighting future tech,
sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to
draw thousands for networking and demos.
International
Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October
2123, Sydneyfeaturing leaders from 120+
countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine
King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.
Asia-Pacific
International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):
September
2325, 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 ...
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"
"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."
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
17, 2025
(New
York, Wall St)
Mining
Stocks: (Near Live)
BHP
Group Ltd $43.60 -0.17 -0.39%
Fortescue Ltd $20.18 +0.37 +1.87%
Rio Tinto $130.88 +1.61 +1.25%
Northern Star $26.05 +0.59 +2.32%
Evolution Mining Ltd $11.67 +0.22 +1.92%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $19.24 -1.16 -5.69%
Mineral Resources Ltd $41.77 -0.72 -1.69%
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
Rare
earths strategy
Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese should tell President Donald
Trump at their meeting next week that Australia can
solve the western world's heavy rare earths crisis.
He must also outline eight steps that will help to
counter China's dominance of the heavy rare earths
market, particularly terbium and dysprosium. Amongst
other things, Haoma Mining's pilot plant for its Elazac
process - which is currently extracting gold and platinum
from Bamboo Creek tailings - should be expanded more
rapidly; Elazac can also extract terbium and dysprosium
concentrate, which can then be shipped to Iluka Resources'
Eneabba plant or the US for refining. Haoma also has
a major area of prospective heavy rare earth ore in
the Bamboo Creek Valley; analysis of bulk samples
suggests that these terbium grades are much higher
than other Australian mines. (RMS)
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
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
'Lethal
warming' from Woodside gas mega-project
A
study published in Nature journal Climate Action claims
the emissions caused by Woodside Energy's Scarborough
gas project will increase global warming to the extent
that it will cause an additional 484 heat-related
deaths in Europe. The study was partly financed by
the Minderoo Foundation, a philanthropic foundation
established by Andrew Forrest, who has a long history
of criticising Woodside and its CEO Meg O'Neill. Located
off the coast of Western Australia, the $19.5 billion
Scarborough project is due to begin exporting LNG
late next year. (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
Forrests
sell out of magnet maker as China ups rare earths
heat
Wyloo
Metals has sold its near 19.9 per cent stake in Neo
Performance Materials, with Wyloo being the Forrest
family's private mining company. With Neo being one
of the few Western companies using rare earths to
produce permanent magnets, Wyloo sought to take advantage
in a jump in its share price that has resulted from
the trade spat between China and the US over the supply
of rare earths and permanent magnets, with Wyloo selling
its stake in Neo for total proceeds of around $182
million. (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
Gold
Mining News
Gold
prices continue their record-breaking rally, hitting
a new high of $3,949.71 per ounce amid central bank
buying, geopolitical tensions, and expectations of
further U.S. interest rate cuts. This surge is boosting
the sector, with miners' stocks outperforming AI-driven
chip ralliesgold equities up 135% year-to-date,
led by heavyweights like Newmont and Agnico Eagle,
whose shares have more than doubled. However, analysts
warn of a potential production "cliff" after
2025, with global output peaking at ~3,250 tonnes
(105 million oz.) next year before a decline due to
dwindling reserves and limited new projects.
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 2029six
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.
Gold
Sector Booms on Bullish Forecasts:
ASX
gold stocks rallied after UBS and Citi hiked 2026
price targets to US$3,800$3,825/oz.
Westgold
Resources reported a 24% resource increase to 16.3
million ounces in WA.
Genesis
Minerals surged 13%, Northern Star 8%, and Evolution
Mining 6%.
Critical
Minerals Momentum Builds:
Liontown
Resources achieved break-even cash flow in its first
lithium production year despite low prices.
Mineral
Resources (MinRes) acquired assets from Resource Development
Group and is refinancing US$700M in debt.
Impact
Minerals partnered with Kuniko on a NSW gold-silver-copper
project;
Cloudbreak
Discovery optioned the Paterson project near Telfer
mine.
Northern
Minerals' Browns Range rare earths study forecasts
an 11-year life at A$592M capex, targeting premiums
over Chinese supply.
Fortescue's
Green Energy Push:
Andrew
Forrest's firm acquired Spanish wind tech company
Nabrawind to advance decarbonization. However, a new
report doubts full electric haulage by 2030, with
diesel emissions persisting until 2035. Joint CEOs
could earn up to A$7.5M each in 202526 via performance
rights.
Santos
Takeover Bid Collapses:
A
US$36.4B offer from an ADNOC-led consortium failed
due to due diligence issues and FIRB hurdles, potentially
pushing Santos toward a demerger or merger with Woodside.
Geopolitical
Flashpoint:
Trump
Stake Proposal Draws Backlash:
Discussions
of granting U.S. President Donald Trump stakes in
Australian critical minerals firms have sparked outrage,
with critics calling it a "disaster" and
potentially illegal under foreign investment rules.
Upcoming
Events
The
sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation
and investment:
WA
Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 89,
Perth Convention Centrespotlighting future tech,
sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to
draw thousands for networking and demos.
International
Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October
2123, Sydneyfeaturing leaders from 120+
countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine
King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.
Asia-Pacific
International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):
September
2325, 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 ...
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"
"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."
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
8, 2025
(New York, Wall St)
Mining
Stocks: (Near Live)
BHP
Group Ltd $41.89 -0.070 -0.17%
Fortescue Ltd $19.20 -0.050 -0.26%
Rio Tinto $125.29 +1.11 +0.89%
Northern Star $24.73 -0.060 -0.24%
Evolution Mining Ltd $11.28 +0.030 +0.27%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $19.55 +0.28 +1.45%
Mineral Resources Ltd $43.63 +1.33 +3.14%
Gold
Price: $4,006.68 and set to rise further!
Bonus:
Elders
$7.33 -0.070 -0.95%
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6580 USD (down $0.0040 USD)
Iron Ore: $104.10 USD (up $0.35 USD)
Oil Price: $62.04 USD (up $0.24 USD)
Gold: $3,981.26 USD + + + (up $20.48 USD).. and rising!
Copper: $5.0920 USD (up $0.0430 USD)
Bitcoin: $122,184.81 USD (down 2.35%)
Dow Jones: 46,602.98 (down 91.99 point)
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
Iron
ore told to clean up its act
BHP
is seeking approval for the second major extension
of its Jimblebar iron ore hub since it opened in 1989.
However, Western Australia's Environmental Protection
Authority has stated in its assessment of the expansion
plans at Jimblebar that BHP and its Pilbara rivals
Fortescue and Rio Tinto will find it more difficult
to gain approval for future projects if they fail
to prove that they can rehabilitate land and waterways
after mining has ended. The EPA noted that there is
"limited evidence" that big mining companies
have successfully rehabilitated any such areas after
six decades of mining in 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
Gold
Mining News
Gold
prices continue their record-breaking rally, hitting
a new high of $3,949.71 per ounce amid central bank
buying, geopolitical tensions, and expectations of
further U.S. interest rate cuts. This surge is boosting
the sector, with miners' stocks outperforming AI-driven
chip ralliesgold equities up 135% year-to-date,
led by heavyweights like Newmont and Agnico Eagle,
whose shares have more than doubled. However, analysts
warn of a potential production "cliff" after
2025, with global output peaking at ~3,250 tonnes
(105 million oz.) next year before a decline due to
dwindling reserves and limited new projects.
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
October
2025
News
Lead Up
October
3
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group Ltd $42.12 +0.18 +0.43%
Fortescue Ltd $19.33 +0.13 +0.70%
Rio Tinto $124.88 +0.83 +0.67%
Northern Star $24.41 -0.42 -1.69%
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.98 -0.18 -1.57%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.02 +0.50 +2.88%
Gold
Price: $3,856.37 USD (down $9.29 USD)
News
Australia
close to minerals carve-out
President
Donald Trump signed an executive order in April which
could allow the US to impose tariffs and other trade
restrictions on imports of processed critical minerals.
The federal government and executives of some Australian
producers of critical minerals are increasingly optimistic
that Trump will agree to exempt the nation from a
tariff on such minerals. Arafura Rare Earths CEO Darryl
Cuzzubbo says it is clear that the US wants multiple
sources of rare earths and "they want them now".
Details of the critical minerals tariff are expected
to be announced later in October, around the time
when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled
to meet Trump at the White House. (RMS)
Biz
News:
Australia
Optus
rings up no tax as miners and banks support the budget
The
Australian Taxation Office's latest corporate tax
report shows that the nation's largest private and
public companies had combined income of $3.3trn in
2023-24. Tax receipts of $95.7bn were slightly lower
than the record high of the previous financial year.
The mining and energy sector accounted for $48.7bn
of the tax take; Rio Tinto topped the list of corporate
taxpayers, contributing $6.3bn to government coffers
from total income of $52.8bn. Meanwhile, 28 per cent
of large companies did not pay any tax in 2023-24;
they include Optus, Netflix, JBS and Tabcorp. (RMS)
News
BHP
keeps shipping despite China deadlock
BHP
has declined to comment on reports that China has
imposed a ban on its iron ore shipments from the Pilbara,
citing commercial confidentiality. The fact that BHP
has not released an ASX announcement on the issue
suggests that the resources giant is not unduly concerned,
given that listing rules require it to disclose anything
that could have a material impact on its shares. Meanwhile,
data from marine tracking websites show that bulk
carriers loaded with BHP's iron ore and bound for
China have continued to leave Port Hedland since reports
of the ban emerged on Tuesday. (RMS)
News
New
owner should 'sweat' mothballed BHP assets: opposition
Glencore
is said to be among the potential buyers of BHP's
nickel assets in Western Australia, while Wyloo Metals
is believed to have expressed interest in some of
them. Glencore currently owns one of the two nickel
mines in WA that are still operating; Wyloo in turn
suspended production at its nickel mines near Kambalda
in 2024, in response to the downturn in the nickel
price that prompted BHP to put its Nickel West mines,
smelter and refinery in 'care and maintenance' mode.
The federal Coalition contends that selling the assets
may be the 'next best option' for BHP, and shadow
resources minister Susan McDonald says a potential
new owner should be encouraged to make better use
of the Nickel West infrastructure. (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)
Newsfeed
October
2
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group Ltd $41.47 -1.06 -2.49%
Fortescue Ltd $18.94 +0.26 +1.39%
Rio Tinto $122.58 +0.55 +0.45%
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 2029six
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.
Gold
Sector Booms on Bullish Forecasts:
ASX
gold stocks rallied after UBS and Citi hiked 2026
price targets to US$3,800$3,825/oz.
Westgold
Resources reported a 24% resource increase to 16.3
million ounces in WA.
Genesis
Minerals surged 13%, Northern Star 8%, and Evolution
Mining 6%.
Critical
Minerals Momentum Builds:
Liontown
Resources achieved break-even cash flow in its first
lithium production year despite low prices.
Mineral
Resources (MinRes) acquired assets from Resource Development
Group and is refinancing US$700M in debt.
Impact
Minerals partnered with Kuniko on a NSW gold-silver-copper
project;
Cloudbreak
Discovery optioned the Paterson project near Telfer
mine.
Northern
Minerals' Browns Range rare earths study forecasts
an 11-year life at A$592M capex, targeting premiums
over Chinese supply.
Fortescue's
Green Energy Push:
Andrew
Forrest's firm acquired Spanish wind tech company
Nabrawind to advance decarbonization. However, a new
report doubts full electric haulage by 2030, with
diesel emissions persisting until 2035. Joint CEOs
could earn up to A$7.5M each in 202526 via performance
rights.
Santos
Takeover Bid Collapses:
A
US$36.4B offer from an ADNOC-led consortium failed
due to due diligence issues and FIRB hurdles, potentially
pushing Santos toward a demerger or merger with Woodside.
Geopolitical
Flashpoint:
Trump
Stake Proposal Draws Backlash:
Discussions
of granting U.S. President Donald Trump stakes in
Australian critical minerals firms have sparked outrage,
with critics calling it a "disaster" and
potentially illegal under foreign investment rules.
Upcoming
Events
The
sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation
and investment:
WA
Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 89,
Perth Convention Centrespotlighting future tech,
sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to
draw thousands for networking and demos.
International
Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October
2123, Sydneyfeaturing leaders from 120+
countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine
King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.
Asia-Pacific
International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):
September
2325, Adelaide (ongoing as of early October)showcasing
automation and safety, with the Australian Mining
Prospect Awards at Adelaide Oval.
October
1
BHP
stays silent on China's iron ore ban
State-run
iron ore trader China Mineral Resources Group is said
to have imposed a temporary ban on BHP's shipments
of the steel input due to an ongoing dispute over
the renewal of long-term supply contracts. The dispute
began in mid-September, when CMRG instructed steel
mills not to accept delivery of a BHP product known
as Jimblebar blend fines or to buy such shipments
on the spot market; the ban has now been extended
to all BHP iron ore shipments, according to Bloomberg.
CMRG was established in 2022 to improve China's ability
to negotiate with iron ore miners, and it now represents
more than half of China's steelmakers in contract
discussions. BHP has declined to comment on the import
ban. (RMS)
News
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
Gold
rush to the exit at two top miners
Newmont
Corporation has advised that president and chief operating
officer Natascha Viljoen will succeed CEO Tom Palmer
at the end of 2025. Palmer will become a strategic
adviser to Newmont before retiring in March 2026.
he says it is time to step down after nearly 40 years
in the mining industry, including 12 at Newmont; Palmer
has been the gold miner's CEO since 2019. Meanwhile,
Mark Bristow has resigned as CEO of rival Barrick
Gold; Mark Hill has been appointed as interim president
and CEO while the company recruits a permanent successor.
(RMS)
News
Beetaloo
gas to hit market in 2026 with NT pilot project
Tamboran
Resources has advised that it will undertake a five-well
pilot program at its Beetaloo Basin gas project in
the Northern Territory. Tamboran has secured a $179.8m
project finance facility from Alpha Wave Global and
Macquarie Group, with the NT government to underwrite
$75m of this loan. The government has also agreed
to buy 40 terajoules of gas per day from the pilot
program from mid-2026; gas from the Beetaloo Basin
could also eventually be shipped to the eastern states
to address looming supply concerns.
Development
of the Beetaloo Basin has been opposed by environmentalists
and some traditional owners, due to the need to extract
gas via fracking. (RMS)
News
News
Flashback
Profile
Snapshot:
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 ...
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
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
7
(New York, Wall St)
Mining
Stocks: (Near Live)
BHP
Group Ltd $42.00 +0.095 +0.23%
Fortescue Ltd $19.20 -0.27 -1.39%
Rio Tinto $124.65 +1.07 +0.87%
Northern Star $24.63 -0.14 -0.57%
Evolution Mining Ltd $11.19 -0.075 -0.67%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $19.32 -0.040 - 0.21%
Mineral Resources Ltd $41.92 +0.96 +2.34%
Gold
Price: $3,960.78 USD (up $73.98 USD)
Bonus:
Elders
$7.34 -0.040 -0.54%
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6620 USD (up $0.0040 USD) Iron Ore Price
(SGX): $103.75 USD (down $0.25 USD) Oil: $61.80 USD
(up $0.92 USD) Gold: $3,960.78 USD (up $73.98 USD)
Copper: $5.0490 USD (down 0.360 USD) Bitcoin: $125,164.50
USD (up 1.99% in last 24hrs) Dow: 46,694.97 at 4.20pm
NY time (down 63.31 points)
News
Gold
Mining News
Gold
prices continue their record-breaking rally, hitting
a new high of $3,949.71 per ounce amid central bank
buying, geopolitical tensions, and expectations of
further U.S. interest rate cuts. This surge is boosting
the sector, with miners' stocks outperforming AI-driven
chip ralliesgold equities up 135% year-to-date,
led by heavyweights like Newmont and Agnico Eagle,
whose shares have more than doubled. However, analysts
warn of a potential production "cliff" after
2025, with global output peaking at ~3,250 tonnes
(105 million oz.) next year before a decline due to
dwindling reserves and limited new projects.
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
October
2025
News
Lead Up
October
3
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group Ltd $42.12 +0.18 +0.43%
Fortescue Ltd $19.33 +0.13 +0.70%
Rio Tinto $124.88 +0.83 +0.67%
Northern Star $24.41 -0.42 -1.69%
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.98 -0.18 -1.57%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.02 +0.50 +2.88%
Gold
Price: $3,856.37 USD (down $9.29 USD)
News
Australia
close to minerals carve-out
President
Donald Trump signed an executive order in April which
could allow the US to impose tariffs and other trade
restrictions on imports of processed critical minerals.
The federal government and executives of some Australian
producers of critical minerals are increasingly optimistic
that Trump will agree to exempt the nation from a
tariff on such minerals. Arafura Rare Earths CEO Darryl
Cuzzubbo says it is clear that the US wants multiple
sources of rare earths and "they want them now".
Details of the critical minerals tariff are expected
to be announced later in October, around the time
when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled
to meet Trump at the White House. (RMS)
Biz
News:
Australia
Optus
rings up no tax as miners and banks support the budget
The
Australian Taxation Office's latest corporate tax
report shows that the nation's largest private and
public companies had combined income of $3.3trn in
2023-24. Tax receipts of $95.7bn were slightly lower
than the record high of the previous financial year.
The mining and energy sector accounted for $48.7bn
of the tax take; Rio Tinto topped the list of corporate
taxpayers, contributing $6.3bn to government coffers
from total income of $52.8bn. Meanwhile, 28 per cent
of large companies did not pay any tax in 2023-24;
they include Optus, Netflix, JBS and Tabcorp. (RMS)
News
BHP
keeps shipping despite China deadlock
BHP
has declined to comment on reports that China has
imposed a ban on its iron ore shipments from the Pilbara,
citing commercial confidentiality. The fact that BHP
has not released an ASX announcement on the issue
suggests that the resources giant is not unduly concerned,
given that listing rules require it to disclose anything
that could have a material impact on its shares. Meanwhile,
data from marine tracking websites show that bulk
carriers loaded with BHP's iron ore and bound for
China have continued to leave Port Hedland since reports
of the ban emerged on Tuesday. (RMS)
News
New
owner should 'sweat' mothballed BHP assets: opposition
Glencore
is said to be among the potential buyers of BHP's
nickel assets in Western Australia, while Wyloo Metals
is believed to have expressed interest in some of
them. Glencore currently owns one of the two nickel
mines in WA that are still operating; Wyloo in turn
suspended production at its nickel mines near Kambalda
in 2024, in response to the downturn in the nickel
price that prompted BHP to put its Nickel West mines,
smelter and refinery in 'care and maintenance' mode.
The federal Coalition contends that selling the assets
may be the 'next best option' for BHP, and shadow
resources minister Susan McDonald says a potential
new owner should be encouraged to make better use
of the Nickel West infrastructure. (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)
Newsfeed
October
2
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group Ltd $41.47 -1.06 -2.49%
Fortescue Ltd $18.94 +0.26 +1.39%
Rio Tinto $122.58 +0.55 +0.45%
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 2029six
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.
Gold
Sector Booms on Bullish Forecasts:
ASX
gold stocks rallied after UBS and Citi hiked 2026
price targets to US$3,800$3,825/oz.
Westgold
Resources reported a 24% resource increase to 16.3
million ounces in WA.
Genesis
Minerals surged 13%, Northern Star 8%, and Evolution
Mining 6%.
Critical
Minerals Momentum Builds:
Liontown
Resources achieved break-even cash flow in its first
lithium production year despite low prices.
Mineral
Resources (MinRes) acquired assets from Resource Development
Group and is refinancing US$700M in debt.
Impact
Minerals partnered with Kuniko on a NSW gold-silver-copper
project;
Cloudbreak
Discovery optioned the Paterson project near Telfer
mine.
Northern
Minerals' Browns Range rare earths study forecasts
an 11-year life at A$592M capex, targeting premiums
over Chinese supply.
Fortescue's
Green Energy Push:
Andrew
Forrest's firm acquired Spanish wind tech company
Nabrawind to advance decarbonization. However, a new
report doubts full electric haulage by 2030, with
diesel emissions persisting until 2035. Joint CEOs
could earn up to A$7.5M each in 202526 via performance
rights.
Santos
Takeover Bid Collapses:
A
US$36.4B offer from an ADNOC-led consortium failed
due to due diligence issues and FIRB hurdles, potentially
pushing Santos toward a demerger or merger with Woodside.
Geopolitical
Flashpoint:
Trump
Stake Proposal Draws Backlash:
Discussions
of granting U.S. President Donald Trump stakes in
Australian critical minerals firms have sparked outrage,
with critics calling it a "disaster" and
potentially illegal under foreign investment rules.
Upcoming
Events
The
sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation
and investment:
WA
Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 89,
Perth Convention Centrespotlighting future tech,
sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to
draw thousands for networking and demos.
International
Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October
2123, Sydneyfeaturing leaders from 120+
countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine
King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.
Asia-Pacific
International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):
September
2325, Adelaide (ongoing as of early October)showcasing
automation and safety, with the Australian Mining
Prospect Awards at Adelaide Oval.
October 1
BHP
stays silent on China's iron ore ban
State-run
iron ore trader China Mineral Resources Group is said
to have imposed a temporary ban on BHP's shipments
of the steel input due to an ongoing dispute over
the renewal of long-term supply contracts. The dispute
began in mid-September, when CMRG instructed steel
mills not to accept delivery of a BHP product known
as Jimblebar blend fines or to buy such shipments
on the spot market; the ban has now been extended
to all BHP iron ore shipments, according to Bloomberg.
CMRG was established in 2022 to improve China's ability
to negotiate with iron ore miners, and it now represents
more than half of China's steelmakers in contract
discussions. BHP has declined to comment on the import
ban. (RMS)
News
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
Gold
rush to the exit at two top miners
Newmont
Corporation has advised that president and chief operating
officer Natascha Viljoen will succeed CEO Tom Palmer
at the end of 2025. Palmer will become a strategic
adviser to Newmont before retiring in March 2026.
he says it is time to step down after nearly 40 years
in the mining industry, including 12 at Newmont; Palmer
has been the gold miner's CEO since 2019. Meanwhile,
Mark Bristow has resigned as CEO of rival Barrick
Gold; Mark Hill has been appointed as interim president
and CEO while the company recruits a permanent successor.
(RMS)
News
Beetaloo
gas to hit market in 2026 with NT pilot project
Tamboran
Resources has advised that it will undertake a five-well
pilot program at its Beetaloo Basin gas project in
the Northern Territory. Tamboran has secured a $179.8m
project finance facility from Alpha Wave Global and
Macquarie Group, with the NT government to underwrite
$75m of this loan. The government has also agreed
to buy 40 terajoules of gas per day from the pilot
program from mid-2026; gas from the Beetaloo Basin
could also eventually be shipped to the eastern states
to address looming supply concerns.
Development
of the Beetaloo Basin has been opposed by environmentalists
and some traditional owners, due to the need to extract
gas via fracking. (RMS)
News
News
Flashback
Profile
Snapshot:
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 ...
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
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
3
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group Ltd $42.12 +0.18 +0.43%
Fortescue Ltd $19.33 +0.13 +0.70%
Rio Tinto $124.88 +0.83 +0.67%
Northern Star $24.41 -0.42 -1.69%
Evolution Mining Ltd $10.98 -0.18 -1.57%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd $18.02 +0.50 +2.88%
Gold
Price: $3,856.37 USD (down $9.29 USD)
News
Australia
close to minerals carve-out
President
Donald Trump signed an executive order in April which
could allow the US to impose tariffs and other trade
restrictions on imports of processed critical minerals.
The federal government and executives of some Australian
producers of critical minerals are increasingly optimistic
that Trump will agree to exempt the nation from a
tariff on such minerals. Arafura Rare Earths CEO Darryl
Cuzzubbo says it is clear that the US wants multiple
sources of rare earths and "they want them now".
Details of the critical minerals tariff are expected
to be announced later in October, around the time
when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled
to meet Trump at the White House. (RMS)
Biz
News:
Australia
Optus
rings up no tax as miners and banks support the budget
The
Australian Taxation Office's latest corporate tax
report shows that the nation's largest private and
public companies had combined income of $3.3trn in
2023-24. Tax receipts of $95.7bn were slightly lower
than the record high of the previous financial year.
The mining and energy sector accounted for $48.7bn
of the tax take; Rio Tinto topped the list of corporate
taxpayers, contributing $6.3bn to government coffers
from total income of $52.8bn. Meanwhile, 28 per cent
of large companies did not pay any tax in 2023-24;
they include Optus, Netflix, JBS and Tabcorp. (RMS)
News
BHP
keeps shipping despite China deadlock
BHP
has declined to comment on reports that China has
imposed a ban on its iron ore shipments from the Pilbara,
citing commercial confidentiality. The fact that BHP
has not released an ASX announcement on the issue
suggests that the resources giant is not unduly concerned,
given that listing rules require it to disclose anything
that could have a material impact on its shares. Meanwhile,
data from marine tracking websites show that bulk
carriers loaded with BHP's iron ore and bound for
China have continued to leave Port Hedland since reports
of the ban emerged on Tuesday. (RMS)
News
New
owner should 'sweat' mothballed BHP assets: opposition
Glencore
is said to be among the potential buyers of BHP's
nickel assets in Western Australia, while Wyloo Metals
is believed to have expressed interest in some of
them. Glencore currently owns one of the two nickel
mines in WA that are still operating; Wyloo in turn
suspended production at its nickel mines near Kambalda
in 2024, in response to the downturn in the nickel
price that prompted BHP to put its Nickel West mines,
smelter and refinery in 'care and maintenance' mode.
The federal Coalition contends that selling the assets
may be the 'next best option' for BHP, and shadow
resources minister Susan McDonald says a potential
new owner should be encouraged to make better use
of the Nickel West infrastructure. (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)
Newsfeed
October
2
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group Ltd $41.47 -1.06 -2.49%
Fortescue Ltd $18.94 +0.26 +1.39%
Rio Tinto $122.58 +0.55 +0.45%
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 2029six
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.
Gold
Sector Booms on Bullish Forecasts:
ASX
gold stocks rallied after UBS and Citi hiked 2026
price targets to US$3,800$3,825/oz.
Westgold
Resources reported a 24% resource increase to 16.3
million ounces in WA.
Genesis
Minerals surged 13%, Northern Star 8%, and Evolution
Mining 6%.
Critical
Minerals Momentum Builds:
Liontown
Resources achieved break-even cash flow in its first
lithium production year despite low prices.
Mineral
Resources (MinRes) acquired assets from Resource Development
Group and is refinancing US$700M in debt.
Impact
Minerals partnered with Kuniko on a NSW gold-silver-copper
project;
Cloudbreak
Discovery optioned the Paterson project near Telfer
mine.
Northern
Minerals' Browns Range rare earths study forecasts
an 11-year life at A$592M capex, targeting premiums
over Chinese supply.
Fortescue's
Green Energy Push:
Andrew
Forrest's firm acquired Spanish wind tech company
Nabrawind to advance decarbonization. However, a new
report doubts full electric haulage by 2030, with
diesel emissions persisting until 2035. Joint CEOs
could earn up to A$7.5M each in 202526 via performance
rights.
Santos
Takeover Bid Collapses:
A
US$36.4B offer from an ADNOC-led consortium failed
due to due diligence issues and FIRB hurdles, potentially
pushing Santos toward a demerger or merger with Woodside.
Geopolitical
Flashpoint:
Trump
Stake Proposal Draws Backlash:
Discussions
of granting U.S. President Donald Trump stakes in
Australian critical minerals firms have sparked outrage,
with critics calling it a "disaster" and
potentially illegal under foreign investment rules.
Upcoming
Events
The
sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation
and investment:
WA
Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 89,
Perth Convention Centrespotlighting future tech,
sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to
draw thousands for networking and demos.
International
Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October
2123, Sydneyfeaturing leaders from 120+
countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine
King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.
Asia-Pacific
International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):
September
2325, Adelaide (ongoing as of early October)showcasing
automation and safety, with the Australian Mining
Prospect Awards at Adelaide Oval.
October
1
BHP
stays silent on China's iron ore ban
State-run
iron ore trader China Mineral Resources Group is said
to have imposed a temporary ban on BHP's shipments
of the steel input due to an ongoing dispute over
the renewal of long-term supply contracts. The dispute
began in mid-September, when CMRG instructed steel
mills not to accept delivery of a BHP product known
as Jimblebar blend fines or to buy such shipments
on the spot market; the ban has now been extended
to all BHP iron ore shipments, according to Bloomberg.
CMRG was established in 2022 to improve China's ability
to negotiate with iron ore miners, and it now represents
more than half of China's steelmakers in contract
discussions. BHP has declined to comment on the import
ban. (RMS)
News
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
Gold
rush to the exit at two top miners
Newmont
Corporation has advised that president and chief operating
officer Natascha Viljoen will succeed CEO Tom Palmer
at the end of 2025. Palmer will become a strategic
adviser to Newmont before retiring in March 2026.
he says it is time to step down after nearly 40 years
in the mining industry, including 12 at Newmont; Palmer
has been the gold miner's CEO since 2019. Meanwhile,
Mark Bristow has resigned as CEO of rival Barrick
Gold; Mark Hill has been appointed as interim president
and CEO while the company recruits a permanent successor.
(RMS)
News
Beetaloo
gas to hit market in 2026 with NT pilot project
Tamboran
Resources has advised that it will undertake a five-well
pilot program at its Beetaloo Basin gas project in
the Northern Territory. Tamboran has secured a $179.8m
project finance facility from Alpha Wave Global and
Macquarie Group, with the NT government to underwrite
$75m of this loan. The government has also agreed
to buy 40 terajoules of gas per day from the pilot
program from mid-2026; gas from the Beetaloo Basin
could also eventually be shipped to the eastern states
to address looming supply concerns.
Development
of the Beetaloo Basin has been opposed by environmentalists
and some traditional owners, due to the need to extract
gas via fracking. (RMS)
News
News
Flashback
Profile
Snapshot:
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 ...
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
Mining/Energy/Resources:
Australia and World
October
2025
October
2
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group Ltd $41.47 -1.06 -2.49%
Fortescue Ltd $18.94 +0.26 +1.39%
Rio Tinto $122.58 +0.55 +0.45%
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 2029six
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.
Gold
Sector Booms on Bullish Forecasts:
ASX
gold stocks rallied after UBS and Citi hiked 2026
price targets to US$3,800$3,825/oz.
Westgold
Resources reported a 24% resource increase to 16.3
million ounces in WA.
Genesis
Minerals surged 13%, Northern Star 8%, and Evolution
Mining 6%.
Critical
Minerals Momentum Builds:
Liontown
Resources achieved break-even cash flow in its first
lithium production year despite low prices.
Mineral Resources (MinRes) acquired assets from Resource
Development Group and is refinancing US$700M in debt.
Impact Minerals partnered with Kuniko on a NSW gold-silver-copper
project; Cloudbreak Discovery optioned the Paterson
project near Telfer mine. Northern Minerals' Browns
Range rare earths study forecasts an 11-year life
at A$592M capex, targeting premiums over Chinese supply.
Fortescue's
Green Energy Push:
Andrew
Forrest's firm acquired Spanish wind tech company
Nabrawind to advance decarbonization. However, a new
report doubts full electric haulage by 2030, with
diesel emissions persisting until 2035. Joint CEOs
could earn up to A$7.5M each in 202526 via performance
rights.
Santos
Takeover Bid Collapses:
A
US$36.4B offer from an ADNOC-led consortium failed
due to due diligence issues and FIRB hurdles, potentially
pushing Santos toward a demerger or merger with Woodside.
Geopolitical
Flashpoint:
Trump
Stake Proposal Draws Backlash:
Discussions
of granting U.S. President Donald Trump stakes in
Australian critical minerals firms have sparked outrage,
with critics calling it a "disaster" and
potentially illegal under foreign investment rules.
Upcoming
Events
The
sector gears up for major gatherings focusing on innovation
and investment:
WA
Mining Conference & Exhibition: October 89,
Perth Convention Centrespotlighting future tech,
sustainability, and critical minerals. Expected to
draw thousands for networking and demos.
International
Mining & Resources Conference (IMARC): October
2123, Sydneyfeaturing leaders from 120+
countries, including Federal Resources Minister Madeleine
King. Themes include global investment and decarbonization.
Asia-Pacific
International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX):
September
2325, Adelaide (ongoing as of early October)showcasing
automation and safety, with the Australian Mining
Prospect Awards at Adelaide Oval.
October 1
BHP
stays silent on China's iron ore ban
State-run
iron ore trader China Mineral Resources Group is said
to have imposed a temporary ban on BHP's shipments
of the steel input due to an ongoing dispute over
the renewal of long-term supply contracts. The dispute
began in mid-September, when CMRG instructed steel
mills not to accept delivery of a BHP product known
as Jimblebar blend fines or to buy such shipments
on the spot market; the ban has now been extended
to all BHP iron ore shipments, according to Bloomberg.
CMRG was established in 2022 to improve China's ability
to negotiate with iron ore miners, and it now represents
more than half of China's steelmakers in contract
discussions. BHP has declined to comment on the import
ban. (RMS)
News
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
Gold
rush to the exit at two top miners
Newmont
Corporation has advised that president and chief operating
officer Natascha Viljoen will succeed CEO Tom Palmer
at the end of 2025. Palmer will become a strategic
adviser to Newmont before retiring in March 2026.
he says it is time to step down after nearly 40 years
in the mining industry, including 12 at Newmont; Palmer
has been the gold miner's CEO since 2019. Meanwhile,
Mark Bristow has resigned as CEO of rival Barrick
Gold; Mark Hill has been appointed as interim president
and CEO while the company recruits a permanent successor.
(RMS)
News
Beetaloo
gas to hit market in 2026 with NT pilot project
Tamboran Resources has advised that it will undertake
a five-well pilot program at its Beetaloo Basin gas
project in the Northern Territory. Tamboran has secured
a $179.8m project finance facility from Alpha Wave
Global and Macquarie Group, with the NT government
to underwrite $75m of this loan. The government has
also agreed to buy 40 terajoules of gas per day from
the pilot program from mid-2026; gas from the Beetaloo
Basin could also eventually be shipped to the eastern
states to address looming supply concerns. Development
of the Beetaloo Basin has been opposed by environmentalists
and some traditional owners, due to the need to extract
gas via fracking. (RMS)
News
News
Flashback
Profile
Snapshot:
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 ...
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
Mining/Energy/Resources:
Australia and World
September
2025
News
September
30, 2025
Mining
Stocks: (Near Live)
BHP
Group Ltd $41.91 -0.31 -0.73%
Fortescue Ltd $18.73 -0.40 -2.09%
Rio Tinto $121.25 -1.95 -1.58%
News
Australian
Mining News
Australia's
mining sector continues to navigate a mix of challenges
and opportunities in September 2025, with coal operations
facing job cuts and royalty pressures, while critical
minerals and gold projects show promise amid rising
global demand.
Iron
ore and lithium markets remain volatile, influenced
by Chinese demand and energy transition goals.
BHP
Closes Queensland Coal Mine Amid Royalty Backlash:
BHP
announced the closure of its Saraji South coal mine
in the Bowen Basin, putting 750 jobs at risk. The
decision stems from falling coal prices and what BHP
calls an unsustainable tax and royalty burdeneight
times higher than profits in 2024.
CEO
Mike Henry criticized Queensland's regime as a "crisis
point" for the industry, prompting urgent talks
with Premier David Crisafulli.
Anglo
American followed with undisclosed job cuts at its
Brisbane office and Grosvenor mine, potentially adding
over 1,000 redundancies in the region. Treasurer David
Janetzki ruled out royalty changes but hinted at relief
via faster approvals and fee reductions.
Fortescue
Acquires Spanish Wind Tech Firm: Mining billionaire
Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest's Fortescue completed
its purchase of Nabrawind, a self-lifting wind tower
engineering company, to bolster its green energy pivot.
This aligns with Fortescue's decarbonization goals,
though a new Climate Change Authority report questions
the feasibility of fully electric haulage trucks by
2030, estimating diesel still dominates emissions
(14% of sector total) until 2035.
Gold
Miners Rally on Bullish Forecasts: ASX gold stocks
surged after UBS and Citi raised 2026 price targets
to US$3,825$3,800/oz (around A$6,000/oz). Genesis
Minerals jumped 13%, Northern Star 8%, and Evolution
Mining 6%. Westgold Resources reported a 24% resource
increase to 16.3 million ounces in Western Australia.
Critical
Minerals Deals and Funding:
Liontown
Resources achieved break-even cash flow in its first
lithium production year despite low prices. Mineral
Resources (MinRes) signed a binding deal to acquire
assets from Resource Development Group and is negotiating
a US$700 million debt refinance to extend maturities
into the next decade.
Impact
Minerals farmed out a gold-silver-copper project in
NSW to Kuniko Limited, while Cloudbreak Discovery
optioned the Paterson gold-copper-molybdenum project
near Greatland Gold's Telfer mine.
Northern
Minerals' Browns Range rare earths feasibility study
projects an 11-year mine life at A$592 million capex,
targeting premiums over Chinese supply (up to US$138/kg
for key elements like neodymium).
Santos
Takeover Collapses: A US$36.4 billion bid for Santos
by an ADNOC-led consortium fell through just before
the deadline, citing due diligence issues and a tough
letter from Santos demanding FIRB approval upfront.
Analysts speculate this could pressure Santos toward
a demerger or merger with peers like Woodside.
Other
Notable Updates:
Auric
Mining wrapped up its Jeffreys Find gold project,
netting A$14.5 million in profits.
Brightstar Resources gained approvals for its Lord
Byron open-pit gold mine near Laverton, WA, with development
slated for 2026.
Ghana's Lands Minister pitched investment opportunities
at an Australian mining conference, highlighting global
ties.
Unions pushed BHP for a new enterprise agreement covering
400+ Port Hedland workers, amid broader retrenchments.
News
Two
top Fortescue executives in quest for $7.5m pay
A
resolution to issue 342,254 performance rights shares
to each of Fortescue's joint CEOs will be put to investors
at its AGM in October. Dino Otranto heads the group's
mining arm, while Agustin Pichot is in charge of its
growth and energy assets. Their fixed remuneration
packages will be $2.08m in 2025-26, but the performance
rights could potentially boost their earnings for
the financial year to around $7.5m apiece. The number
of shares they will ultimately receive will be based
on performance targets that are set by Fortescue's
board. (RMS)
News
MinRes
completes $230 million upgrade of trouble-plagued
Pilbara iron ore haul road
Mineral
Resources' Onslow Iron project shipped 3.2 million
tonnes of iron ore in August, and the company says
it remains on track to reach annual nameplate capacity
of 35 million tonnes. MD Chris Ellison says Onslow
Iron is a "cash generative, low-cost asset"
that continued to perform strongly during a now-completed
upgrade of the 150-kilometre private road that is
used to transport ore from the Ken's Bore mine to
the port at Ashburton. There have been seven road
train accidents on the private road since it opened
in October 2024, prompting a $230m repair program
and a Worksafe investigation. (RMS)
News
Canberra
to shake up gas export rules
Sources
have indicated that the federal government may require
LNG producers to supply a certain amount of gas to
the domestic market before they receive approval to
supply overseas buyers. The proposed model is said
to be one of the preferred options by the government,
and industry insiders have indicated that they expect
Labor to make a formal announcement on it before the
end of 2025. The scheme would benefit the Australia
Pacific LNG and Queensland Curtis LNG ventures, which
both produce more gas than their ship overseas. In
contrast, the Santos-backed Gladstone LNG project
currently purchases gas from third parties to fulfill
its export contracts. (RMS)
News
September
30
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6576 USD (up $0.0028 USD) Iron Ore: $103.25
USD (down $0.40 USD) Oil: $63.13 USD (down $2.59 USD)
Gold: $3,833.89 USD (up $74.03 USD) Copper: $4.9045
USD (up 0.1400 USD) Bitcoin: $114,376.31 USD (up 3.16%)
Dow Jones: 46,316.07 (up 68.78 points)
News
News
Flashback
Profile
Snapshot:
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 ...
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
Business/Markets/Comms/Mining/Energy:
Australia and World
News
September
2026
Sydney,
Australia
Markets
Sept
26
Australian
Dollar: $0.6540 USD (down $0.0040 USD)
Iron Ore: $105.95 USD (down $0.20 USD)
Oil (WTI): $65.22 USD (up $0.41 USD)
Gold: $3,749.38 USD (up $13.29 USD)
Copper: $4.7885 USD (down 0.0390 USD)
Bitcoin: $109,185.00 USD (down 3.88%)
Dow Jones: 45,947.32
News
Bitcoin:
(Near Live)
$109,713.74 -0.05%
News
Mining
Stocks: (Near Live)
New York
Sept
26
BHP
Group $42.22 +0.55 +1.32%
Rio Tinto Ltd $123.20 +1.43 +1.17%
Fortescue Ltd $19.13 -0.010 -0.052%
News
Mining/Energy
Liontown
eyes rebound after loss triples
Liontown
Resources has booked a 2024-25 post-tax of $193m,
following a loss of $65m for the previous financial
year. The lithium producer last made a profit in 2022,
when the price of the battery metal was near its peak.
CEO Tony Ottaviano says a statutory loss was to be
expected during a commissioning year, and stresses
that Liontown's underlying performance was positive
and cash neutral. Production of spodumene concentrate
commenced at the company's Kathleen Valley mine during
2024-25; the federal government's National Reconstruction
Fund recently invested $50m in Liontown via the company's
capital raising. (RMS)
News
Rare
earths: The 'picks and shovels' powering a $20 trillion
AI gold rush
The
development of humanoid robots is likely to be the
next phase of the artificial intelligence boom. This
will in turn result in rising demand for rare earth
elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium
and terbium. These rare earths are used to make the
magnets that are critical to the multitude of electric
motors in the humanoid robots that may eventually
replace or complement jobs in a range of sectors.
US companies such as MP Materials are set to benefit
from the growing demand for rare earth magnets; the
Pentagon recently announced a $US400m investment in
MP Materials, whose Mountain Pass mine in California
is currently the only active rare earths project in
North America. (RMS)
'North
West Shelf rules risk Browse'
A
60 per cent reduction in the North West Shelf LNG
project's emissions by 2030 was a key condition for
the federal government's approval for a 45-year extension
of its operating life. However, analysts suggest that
Woodside Energy may need to decommission another two
of the project's five LNG production trains in order
to comply with this requirement. The three oldest
production trains were built in the 1980s, and one
of them was recently decommissioned. Macquarie Research
analysts also believe that the emission requirements
will make the Browse LNG project less likely to proceed.
(RMS)
News
'Sue
me': Forrest says Trump is telling lies about climate
change
Fortescue's
founder Andrew Forrest has responded to US President
Donald Trump's comments on climate change in his controversial
United Nations General Assembly speech. Amongst other
things, Trump claimed that climate change is a 'con
job' and that investing in renewable energy is destroying
Western nations. Forrest has told a climate conference
in New York that the Trump administration is propagating
the myth that global warming is not happening. Forrest
also said he is prepared to put Trump in a court witness
box when he leaves office if the President pursues
legal action against him. (RMS)
News
Australia
takes AI risks as big tech scoops rewards
The
University Technology Sydney's Human Technology Institute
has released a report which urges the federal government
to take a proactive approach to regulating artificial
intelligence technology. The head of the HTI, Ed Santow,
contends that regulation must ensure that Australia
gains the economic benefits of AI, rather than large
technology companies that are based overseas. Andrew
Charlton, the assistant minister for the digital economy,
will shortly begin a consultation process for Australia's
national AI capability. (RMS)
News
Miners
buoy ASX amid a broader sell-off
The
Australian sharemarket posted a small gain on Thursday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.1 per cent to close
at 8,773 points. BHP rose 3.6 per cent to $41.67,
Capstone Copper advanced 10.8 per cent to $12.47 and
Woodside Energy was up 2.5 per cent at $23.45. However,
Northern Star Resources was down two per cent at $22.66,
Fisher & Paykel shed five per cent to end the
session at $31.87 and Myer Holdings fell 3.2 per cent
to $0.46. (RMS)
News
Race
against time for machines to keep power 'heartbeat'
on
Global
Power Energy's CEO Greg Elkin has warned that the
operating life of the Eraring coal-fired power station
may need to be extended again. Eraring had originally
been slated to close this year, but Origin Energy
struck a deal with the NSW government in 2024 to keep
the plant operational for an additional two years.
However, Elkins warns that Transgrid may not receive
the first synchronous condensers (syncons) before
Eraring's revised closure date of August 2027. These
machines provide stability to the electricity grid,
and they will be essential as coal-fired stations
are shut down. However, it typically takes 2-3 years
for a syncon to be delivered. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
News
Flashback
Profile
Snapshot:
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
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
Mining/Energy/Resources/Markets:
Australia and World
September
2025
Sept
23
BHP
Group $40.61 +0.58 +1.45%
Rio Tinto Ltd $119.66 +2.74 +2.34%
Fortescue Ltd $19.39 +0.080 +0.41%
News
MinRes'
US debt deal a critical confidence test
Mineral
Resources is looking to replace $US700 million ($1062
million) in high-yield bonds that are due to mature
in early 2027, and is hoping to do so by the end of
this week. It is aiming to replace them with bonds
that will take MinRes into the next decade, while
it is expected its new bonds will be slightly cheaper
than its current ones. The debt replacement deal is
seen as a test of confidence in new chairman Malcolm
Bundey, while MinRes' long-term challenge revolves
around improving its balance sheet. (RMS)
News
Gold
miners surge amid gaming-changing forecast
Shares
in Australian gold miners surged on Monday after Wall
Street banks Citi and UBS released their latest predictions
for the precious metal. With UBS upgrading its 2026
gold price forecast to $US3,825 per ounce or around
$A6,000 per ounce, and Citi announcing a near-term
target of $US3,800 per ounce, Genesis Minerals rose
by 13 percent, while Northern Star was up eight per
cent. Evolution Mining climbed by six per cent, while
Newmont was up five per cent. (RMS)
News
'Stiffed'
mine investors try to put heat on Albanese
Investors
in NuCoal Resources hope to draw their plight to the
attention of President Donald Trump with a mobile
billboard campaign in New York and Washington DC.
The campaign has been timed to coincide with Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese's official visit to the
US. The former NSW government had cancelled NuCoal's
licence for the Doyles Creek coal mine in 2014, following
a ruling that corruption had been involved in the
awarding of the licence to the mine's previous owner.
NuCoal chairman Gordon Galt says the federal government
should force NSW to compensate the company's investors
as part of negotiations with the US for an exemption
from the Trump administration's tariffs regime. (RMS)
News
Coal
royalties out as state tries to aid miners
Queensland's
Treasurer David Janetzki has ruled out any changes
to the state's controversial coal royalty regime,
He says the state government is providing certainty
for the coal industry with faster decisions, streamlined
approvals and a stable royalty regime, in line with
its pre-election commitment. However, the government
is widely tipped to provide the state's coal mining
sector with some form of financial relief amid an
ongoing downturn in coal prices. BHP, Anglo American
and QCoal recently announced job cuts at their Queensland
coal mines. (RMS)
Sept
22
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group $40.11 +0.47 +1.19%
Rio Tinto Ltd $116.79 +2.79 +2.45%
Fortescue Ltd $19.32 +0.60 +3.21%
News
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6586 USD (down $0.0025 USD) Iron Ore: $106.60
USD (up $1.00 USD) Oil: $62.68 USD (down $0.96 USD)
Gold: $3,685.78 USD (up $41.42 USD) Copper: $4.6305
USD (up 0.0305 USD) Bitcoin: $115,367.59 USD (down
0.39%) Dow Jones: 46,315.27 (up 172.85 points)
News
Jobs
in the balance as PM snubs Glencore amid copper crisis
Glencore
recently advised that its copper smelter and refinery
in Queensland are expected to post a cumulative loss
of $2.2bn over the next seven years. Sources have
claimed that Glencore is seeking taxpayer assistance
of about $600m over three years as part of ongoing
negotiations with the federal and state governments
to keep the copper facilities open. The federal government
is said to have urged its state counterpart to increase
its contribution to the joint rescue package. Glencore
has previously delayed a decision on the future of
the copper operations until mid-September. (RMS)
BHP
exec dusts Crisafulli vision
BHP's
president of its Australian operations, Geraldine
Slattery, has criticised the Queensland government's
controversial coal royalty regime. Slattery argues
that the resources sector has helped underwrite Australia's
prosperity. However, she has warned that Queensland's
coal industry is reaching a crisis point, which is
a risk to the nation's future prosperity. She has
called for "courage and vision" to encourage
investment in Queensland, particularly the Bowen Basin.
Media reports in the UK have suggested that Slattery
is now the leading contender to eventually succeed
CEO Mike Henry. (RMS)
News
China
orders steel mills to stop using some BHP iron ore
China
Mineral Resources Group has told Chinese steel mills
to suspend purchases of BHP's Jimblebar blend fines,
with CMRG being China's state-run iron ore trader.
It is understood that CRMG's actions were in response
to a breakdown in talks in regard to long-term action,
with its actions having the support of the China Iron
and Steel Association. Jimblebar is one of BHP's main
mines in Western Australia, and it supplies ores with
around 60 per cent iron content that are extensively
used in Chinese sintering blends, while a BHP spokesperson
said it would not comment on commercial arrangements.
(RMS)
News
Sept
20
Rio
Tinto expected to join corporate culling season
Rio
Tinto has declined to comment on speculation that
it plans to make further job cuts at management level.
The resources group has already sacked Sinead Kaufman
and Kellie Parker as part of a restructuring under
new CEO Simon Trott, which reduced its commodity group
from four to three. Rio Tinto is now tipped to slash
the number of managing directors at the level below
its nine-person executive committee, amid suggestions
that about one-third of these roles could be abolished.
BHP, Anglo American and QCoal have recently announced
job cuts. (RMS)
News
Emissions
report pokes holes in Forrest's green mine truck dream
Fortescue
aims to fully decarbonise its fleet of iron ore haulage
trucks by 2030; BHP and Rio Tinto in turn have backed
down on their initial targets for transitioning their
haulage fleets to 'green' fuel sources. Meanwhile,
a report from the Climate Change Authority has concluded
that iron ore and coal miners are only likely to begin
replacing diesel trucks with battery electric or hydrogen
alternatives between 2030 and 2035. The Climate Change
Authority estimates that diesel trucks account for
14 per cent of the resources sector's emissions. (RMS)
News
Billionaire
family feud takes a new twist in litigation
The
lengthy dispute between the children of Peter Wright,
who helped unlock the iron ore wealth of Western Australia's
Pilbara region with business partner Lang Hancock,
is again back in court. Julian Wright had claimed
his older siblings Angela and Michael, who along with
him were heirs to their father's billion-dollar iron
ore fortune, had cheated him out of his stake in the
family company Wright Prospecting. The WA Supreme
Court would decide in 2020 that Julian Wright had
proven his case in regard to his allegations against
his siblings, but lawyers for his sister Angela are
now trying to find out who funded Julian Wright's
case against she and her brother Michael. (RMS)
News
A
100-fold return marks end of line for $3.7bn miner
Gold
Road Resources' shareholders are expected to approve
South Africa-baed Gold Fields's $3.7 billion takeover
bid today. The deal values Gold Road's shares at about
$3.40 apiece, compared with just $0.03 in mid-2013,
which is the year in which it discovered a gold deposit
in Western Australia that became the Gruyere mine.
Gold Fields paid $350m for a 50 per cent stake in
the then-undeveloped project in 2019. Meanwhile, Gold
Road held a 17.3 per cent stake in De Grey Mining
prior to the latter's acquisition by Northern Star
Resources earlier this year, and Paul Hissey from
Moelis Australia says this deal may have prompted
Gold Fields to make a move on its joint venture partner.
Top
Mitsui
says 2035 climate target bolsters case for gas expansions
Takashi
Yamamura, the new head of Australia for Japan-based
Mitsui says his nation's demand for gas will rise
in the medium-term. Yamamura says gas can play a role
in the energy transition, both in terms of bolstering
electricity supply during periods when wind and solar
generation wane, as well as helping to facilitate
the shutdown of coal-fired power stations. He says
he understands the need for Australian gas producers
to supply domestic markets, but that supplying offshore
markets is also important. (RMS)
News
Flashback
Sept
19
WA
court keeps lid on explosive MinRes papers
The
Federal Court has rejected Nine Publishing's application
to lift suppression orders that have prevented the
release of key documents in a legal dispute at Mineral
Resources. The documents in question relate to the
falling-out between MinRes founder Chris Ellison and
the miner's former head of procurement, Steven Pigozzo;
they had filed claims and counter-claims against each
other before settling the dispute last year. However,
the court has also ruled that more than a dozen MinRes
documents should be redacted and released. (RMS)
News
Santos
runs out of friends
Santos
chairman Keith Spence is upbeat about the oil and
gas group's outlook, despite the XRG consortium's
decision to abandon a takeover bid just days before
it was required to make a binding offer. Spence has
noted amongst other things that Santos's unit production
costs are set to fall over time, while the Barossa
LNG project and the first phase of the Pikka oil project
in Alaska will boost output. Santos has also held
merger talks with Woodside Energy and Harbour Energy
in the past decade; some analysts believe that the
latest failed deal may put pressure on its board to
a restructuring, which could potentially include a
demerger. (RMS)
News
Santos
and XRG: The letter that killed the deal
XRG
indicated that a "combination of factors"
contributed to the decision to withdraw its takeover
bid for Santos. Sources have indicated that a letter
from Santos that XRG received two days before pulling
out of the deal had been a key factor. Santos made
a number of demands in the letter, including the requirement
that the XRG consortium must make a binding offer
by the agreed dealine of 19 September, with the due
diligence period having already been extended several
times. Santos also wanted XRG to secure the Foreign
Investment Review Board's approval for the deal before
putting it to shareholders, while a tax liability
in Papua New Guinea was another major sticking point.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Markets
Sept
19
Australian
Dollar: $0.6611 USD (down $0.0039 USD) Iron Ore: $105.60
USD (down $0.25 USD) Oil: $63.64 USD (down $0.33 USD)
Gold: $3,644.36 USD (down $15.57 USD) Copper: $4.6000
USD (down 0.0155 USD) Bitcoin: $117,484.61 USD (up
1.73%) Dow Jones: 46,142.42 (up 124.10 points)
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group $39.58 -0.39 -0.98%
Rio Tinto Ltd $114.10 -1.44 - 1.25%
Fortescue Ltd $18.65 -0.10 -0.53%
Sept
18
News
BHP
called 'un-Australian' over job cuts
BHP
has advised that it will close down its Saraji South
coal mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin, with the loss
of 750 jobs. BHP has attributed the move to factors
such as falling coal prices and the impact of the
state's coal royalty regime. CEO Mike Henry had recently
warned that the coal royalty burden could result in
job losses and mine closures. BHP's coal asset president
Adam Lancey has stated that the group's Queensland
coal division paid eight times more in taxes and royalties
in 2024 than it made in profits; he adds that this
is not sustainable, and some "difficult but necessary
decisions" had to be made. BHP has also indicated
that it may close the FutureFit skills and training
academy. (RMS)
News
Unions
drag BHP to the negotiating table at Port Hedland
BHP
has agreed to hold negotiations for a new enterprise
agreement that may cover more than 400 workers at
its iron ore port in Western Australia. The Australian
Workers Union says that 74 per cent of its members
at BHP's Port Hedland export facility have signed
a petition to bargain for a new enterprise agreement.
The Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Manufacturing
Workers' Union are also pursuing a workplace agreement
for BHP's maintenance and electrical workers at Port
Hedland. BHP may seek to consolidate the separate
union bargaining actions into one enterprise agreement
covering its maintenance and production workers at
Port Hedland. (RMS)
News
Coal
miner Anglo American confirms job cuts in Brisbane,
Bowen Basin
The
Isaac Regional Council's mayor Kelly Vea Vea claims
that more than 1,000 jobs will be lost in the latest
round of redundancies in Queensland's coal mining
sector. Anglo American has advised that it will shed
an undisclosed number of jobs at its Brisbane office
and the Grosvenor coking coal mine, which has yet
to resume production in the wake of an underground
fire in mid-2024. Ben Mansour from Anglo American
Australia says the job cuts are necessary to ensure
the long-term sustainability of the company's coal
operations in the state. BHP has also revealed plans
to retrench 750 workers at its Saraji South coal mine.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Massive
$36.4b Santos takeover deal collapses as ADNOC walks
away
The
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-led consortium has
withdrawn its takeover bid for Santos just days before
the deadline for submitting a binding offer. ADNOC
subidiary XRG has advised that while the consortium
retains a positive view of the Santos business, a
combination of factor have impacted the assessment
of its indicative offer of $US5.76 per share; the
consortium had increased its offer several times since
making its first offer at $US5.04 per share in March.
Saul Kavonic from MST Marquee says the market is now
likely to raise questions about Santos's valuation.
(RMS)
News
Markets
September
18
Australian
Dollar: $0.6650 USD (down $0.0030 USD) Iron Ore: $105.85
USD (down $0.45 USD) Oil: $63.97 USD (down $0.58 USD)
Gold: $3,659.93 USD (down $26.90 USD) Copper: $4.6155
USD (down 0.0835 USD) Bitcoin: $115,850.80 USD (down
0.71%) Dow Jones: 46,018.32 (up 260.42 points)
News
Aussie
Mining Stocks: Losing modest shine leading into Friday;
Play The Long Game! (Media Man Group)
BHP
Group $39.97 -0.34 -0.84%
Rio Tinto Ltd $115.54 -0.79 -0.68%
Fortescue Ltd $18.75 -0.13 -0.69%
News
Flashback
September
17
Miners
boost ASX; Super Retail, CSL drop
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.3 per cent to close
at 8,877.7 points. Rio Tinto was up 1.9 per cent at
$117.49, Bellevue Gold rose 6.3 per cent to $1.01
and New Hope Corporation finished 5.1 per cent higher
at $4.58. However, Super Retail Group was down 4.3
per cent at $16.52 and CSL shed 1.3 per cent to end
the session at $201.91. (RMS)
News
ASX
stocks to fire as Fed kicks off cuts
Bond
traders have fully priced in a 25 basis point interest
rate cut at the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy
meeting this week. They are expect at least another
four rate cuts over the next year, although David
Bassanese from BetaShares and Sebastian Mullins from
Schroders contend that the central bank will be less
aggressive in reducing monetary policy. Meanwhile,
Australian stocks are widely tipped to rally if the
Federal Reserve does reduce the cast rate; Jun Bei
Liu from Ten Cap says James Hardie Industries stands
to benefit the most, given its exposure to the US
housing market. (RMS)
News
Multi-year
rally tipped for energy sector
Mark
Taylor from Morningstar is bullish about the long-term
outlook for the crude oil price, forecasting that
it will trade within a range of $US60 to around $US75
a barrel until 2035. He expects demand for oil to
then fall by 15 per cent over the following 15 years,
although this will be offset by a 20 per cent decline
in supply. Taylor is also upbeat about Australian-listed
oil and gas producers, increasing his fair-value estimates
for Santos, Woodside Energy, Beach Energy and Karoon
Energy. Tom Allen from UBS in turn has a 'buy' rating
on Santos, and a 'neutral' rating on Woodside and
Beach (RMS)
News
Northern
Minerals bets on non-China premium
Northern
Minerals has released the definitive feasibility study
for its Browns Range rare earths project in Western
Australia. It estimates that the project will cost
about $592 million and have a mine life of 11 years.
Browns Range will produce rare earths such as dysprosium,
terbium, neodymium and praseodymium. The latter two
are currently fetching about $US70 per kilogram, but
Northern Minerals says it hopes to receive about $US107/kg
for the rare earths it produces at Browns Range; it
adds that prices could potentially rise to around
$US138/kg if the world moves to aggressively decouple
from Chinese supply chains. (RMS)
News
China
has a 'chokehold' on the rare earth supply chain.
Could Australia offer an alternative?
Magnetic
rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium,
dysprosium and terbium are critical for the energy
transition, defence industries and electric vehicles.
Extracting and refining rare earths can be costly,
complex and environmentally challenging, and China
controls around 90 per cent of global processing capacity.
However, federal Resources Minister Madeleine King
says Australia could become the world's alternative
supplier of refined rare earths. Iluka Resources is
currently building a rare earths refinery at Eneabba
in Western Australia; the project is being supported
via a $1.65 billion loan from the federal government,
which also plans to establish a Critical Minerals
Strategic Reserve. (RMS)
Mining/Energy/Resources/Markets:
Australia and World
September
2025
Sept
19
WA
court keeps lid on explosive MinRes papers
The
Federal Court has rejected Nine Publishing's application
to lift suppression orders that have prevented the
release of key documents in a legal dispute at Mineral
Resources. The documents in question relate to the
falling-out between MinRes founder Chris Ellison and
the miner's former head of procurement, Steven Pigozzo;
they had filed claims and counter-claims against each
other before settling the dispute last year. However,
the court has also ruled that more than a dozen MinRes
documents should be redacted and released. (RMS)
News
Santos
runs out of friends
Santos
chairman Keith Spence is upbeat about the oil and
gas group's outlook, despite the XRG consortium's
decision to abandon a takeover bid just days before
it was required to make a binding offer. Spence has
noted amongst other things that Santos's unit production
costs are set to fall over time, while the Barossa
LNG project and the first phase of the Pikka oil project
in Alaska will boost output. Santos has also held
merger talks with Woodside Energy and Harbour Energy
in the past decade; some analysts believe that the
latest failed deal may put pressure on its board to
a restructuring, which could potentially include a
demerger. (RMS)
News
Santos
and XRG: The letter that killed the deal
XRG
indicated that a "combination of factors"
contributed to the decision to withdraw its takeover
bid for Santos. Sources have indicated that a letter
from Santos that XRG received two days before pulling
out of the deal had been a key factor. Santos made
a number of demands in the letter, including the requirement
that the XRG consortium must make a binding offer
by the agreed dealine of 19 September, with the due
diligence period having already been extended several
times. Santos also wanted XRG to secure the Foreign
Investment Review Board's approval for the deal before
putting it to shareholders, while a tax liability
in Papua New Guinea was another major sticking point.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Markets
Sept
19
Australian
Dollar: $0.6611 USD (down $0.0039 USD)
Iron Ore: $105.60 USD (down $0.25 USD)
Oil: $63.64 USD (down $0.33 USD)
Gold: $3,644.36 USD (down $15.57 USD)
Copper: $4.6000 USD (down 0.0155 USD)
Bitcoin: $117,484.61 USD (up 1.73%)
Dow Jones: 46,142.42 (up 124.10 points)
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group $39.58 -0.39 -0.98%
Rio Tinto Ltd $114.10 -1.44 - 1.25%
Fortescue Ltd $18.65 -0.10 -0.53%
Sept
18
News
BHP
called 'un-Australian' over job cuts
BHP
has advised that it will close down its Saraji South
coal mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin, with the loss
of 750 jobs. BHP has attributed the move to factors
such as falling coal prices and the impact of the
state's coal royalty regime. CEO Mike Henry had recently
warned that the coal royalty burden could result in
job losses and mine closures. BHP's coal asset president
Adam Lancey has stated that the group's Queensland
coal division paid eight times more in taxes and royalties
in 2024 than it made in profits; he adds that this
is not sustainable, and some "difficult but necessary
decisions" had to be made. BHP has also indicated
that it may close the FutureFit skills and training
academy. (RMS)
News
Unions
drag BHP to the negotiating table at Port Hedland
BHP
has agreed to hold negotiations for a new enterprise
agreement that may cover more than 400 workers at
its iron ore port in Western Australia. The Australian
Workers Union says that 74 per cent of its members
at BHP's Port Hedland export facility have signed
a petition to bargain for a new enterprise agreement.
The Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Manufacturing
Workers' Union are also pursuing a workplace agreement
for BHP's maintenance and electrical workers at Port
Hedland. BHP may seek to consolidate the separate
union bargaining actions into one enterprise agreement
covering its maintenance and production workers at
Port Hedland. (RMS)
News
Coal
miner Anglo American confirms job cuts in Brisbane,
Bowen Basin
The
Isaac Regional Council's mayor Kelly Vea Vea claims
that more than 1,000 jobs will be lost in the latest
round of redundancies in Queensland's coal mining
sector. Anglo American has advised that it will shed
an undisclosed number of jobs at its Brisbane office
and the Grosvenor coking coal mine, which has yet
to resume production in the wake of an underground
fire in mid-2024. Ben Mansour from Anglo American
Australia says the job cuts are necessary to ensure
the long-term sustainability of the company's coal
operations in the state. BHP has also revealed plans
to retrench 750 workers at its Saraji South coal mine.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Massive
$36.4b Santos takeover deal collapses as ADNOC walks
away
The
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-led consortium has
withdrawn its takeover bid for Santos just days before
the deadline for submitting a binding offer. ADNOC
subidiary XRG has advised that while the consortium
retains a positive view of the Santos business, a
combination of factor have impacted the assessment
of its indicative offer of $US5.76 per share; the
consortium had increased its offer several times since
making its first offer at $US5.04 per share in March.
Saul Kavonic from MST Marquee says the market is now
likely to raise questions about Santos's valuation.
(RMS)
News
Markets
September
18
Australian
Dollar: $0.6650 USD (down $0.0030 USD) Iron Ore: $105.85
USD (down $0.45 USD) Oil: $63.97 USD (down $0.58 USD)
Gold: $3,659.93 USD (down $26.90 USD) Copper: $4.6155
USD (down 0.0835 USD) Bitcoin: $115,850.80 USD (down
0.71%) Dow Jones: 46,018.32 (up 260.42 points)
News
Aussie
Mining Stocks: Losing modest shine leading into Friday;
Play The Long Game! (Media Man Group)
BHP
Group $39.97 -0.34 -0.84%
Rio Tinto Ltd $115.54 -0.79 -0.68%
Fortescue Ltd $18.75 -0.13 -0.69%
News
Flashback
September
17
Miners
boost ASX; Super Retail, CSL drop
The
Australian sharemarket posted a solid gain on Tuesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.3 per cent to close
at 8,877.7 points. Rio Tinto was up 1.9 per cent at
$117.49, Bellevue Gold rose 6.3 per cent to $1.01
and New Hope Corporation finished 5.1 per cent higher
at $4.58. However, Super Retail Group was down 4.3
per cent at $16.52 and CSL shed 1.3 per cent to end
the session at $201.91. (RMS)
News
ASX
stocks to fire as Fed kicks off cuts
Bond
traders have fully priced in a 25 basis point interest
rate cut at the US Federal Reserve's monetary policy
meeting this week. They are expect at least another
four rate cuts over the next year, although David
Bassanese from BetaShares and Sebastian Mullins from
Schroders contend that the central bank will be less
aggressive in reducing monetary policy. Meanwhile,
Australian stocks are widely tipped to rally if the
Federal Reserve does reduce the cast rate; Jun Bei
Liu from Ten Cap says James Hardie Industries stands
to benefit the most, given its exposure to the US
housing market. (RMS)
News
Multi-year
rally tipped for energy sector
Mark
Taylor from Morningstar is bullish about the long-term
outlook for the crude oil price, forecasting that
it will trade within a range of $US60 to around $US75
a barrel until 2035. He expects demand for oil to
then fall by 15 per cent over the following 15 years,
although this will be offset by a 20 per cent decline
in supply. Taylor is also upbeat about Australian-listed
oil and gas producers, increasing his fair-value estimates
for Santos, Woodside Energy, Beach Energy and Karoon
Energy. Tom Allen from UBS in turn has a 'buy' rating
on Santos, and a 'neutral' rating on Woodside and
Beach (RMS)
News
Northern
Minerals bets on non-China premium
Northern
Minerals has released the definitive feasibility study
for its Browns Range rare earths project in Western
Australia. It estimates that the project will cost
about $592 million and have a mine life of 11 years.
Browns Range will produce rare earths such as dysprosium,
terbium, neodymium and praseodymium. The latter two
are currently fetching about $US70 per kilogram, but
Northern Minerals says it hopes to receive about $US107/kg
for the rare earths it produces at Browns Range; it
adds that prices could potentially rise to around
$US138/kg if the world moves to aggressively decouple
from Chinese supply chains. (RMS)
News
China
has a 'chokehold' on the rare earth supply chain.
Could Australia offer an alternative?
Magnetic
rare earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium,
dysprosium and terbium are critical for the energy
transition, defence industries and electric vehicles.
Extracting and refining rare earths can be costly,
complex and environmentally challenging, and China
controls around 90 per cent of global processing capacity.
However, federal Resources Minister Madeleine King
says Australia could become the world's alternative
supplier of refined rare earths. Iluka Resources is
currently building a rare earths refinery at Eneabba
in Western Australia; the project is being supported
via a $1.65 billion loan from the federal government,
which also plans to establish a Critical Minerals
Strategic Reserve. (RMS)
News
Flashback
Sept
17
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6680 USD (up $0.0011 USD)
Iron Ore: $106.30 USD (up $0.60 USD)
Oil: $64.55 USD (up $1.28 USD)
Gold: $3,689.83 USD (up $10.92 USD)
Copper: $4.6990 USD (down 0.0205 USD)
Bitcoin: $116,694.08 USD (up 1.06%)
Dow Jones: 45,757.90 (down 125.55 points)
News
Mining
Stocks
BHP
Group $40.36 -0.41 -1.01%
Rio Tinto Ltd $116.92 -0.57 -0.49%
Fortescue Ltd $18.91 -0.21 -1.10%
News
Profile
Snapshot:
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
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
Mining/Energy/Resources/Culture/Digital
Gold: Australia and World
September
2025
Newsfeed
Sept
9
Gold
rallies to new record as US rate cut bets surge
The
gold price has risen to a new record high of more
than $US3,604 an ounce. The latest spike in the price
of the precious metal has been driven by factors such
as the latest US payrolls and unemployment data, which
have heightened expectations of further interest rate
cutsin 2025. The price of gold has more than doubled
over the last three years, and Goldman Sachs recently
forecast that it could reach $US5,000 an ounce if
the Trump administration's move to sack Federal Reserve
governor Lisa Cook is upheld by a court. (RMS)
News
Sept
8
Guinea
pressures Rio to build ore refinery
Guinea's
minister of planning and international co-operation,
Ismael Nabe, says his nation wants companies that
are mining its resources to build refineries to process
those resources in his country. These companies include
Rio Tinto, which is behind the $US23.2 billion ($35.5
billion) Simandou iron ore project; it includes a
650-kilometre rail network and port infrastructure
to service two new mines. Nabe's comments come just
two months before Rio and its Simandou partners ship
their first ore from the mine in November. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Sept
5
MinRes
drivers 'asked to fill out false timesheets'
A
former employee of Mineral Resources has told Western
Australia's WorkSafe that the iron ore miner is not
complying with safety rules on its 148km private haulage
road. The ex-employee contends that truck drivers
are being asked to work 12-hour shifts in order to
meet Mineral Resources' targets for transporting iron
ore from the Ken's Bore mine in the Pilbara to its
export facility. It has also been alleged that drivers
have been "coerced" into falsifying their
timesheets. The company has spent more than $200m
on repairing the road, while there have been a number
of truck crashes and rollovers since the road opened.
(RMS)
News
Shell
plots exit from North West Shelf
Sources
have indicated that energy giant Shell is considering
the sale of its 16.67 per cent stake in the North
West Shelf LNG project. Shell previously decided to
withdraw from the $US30bn ($46bn) Browse LNG project,
which is likely to supply gas to the processing plant
at Karratha in Western Australia to replace the declining
NWS gas fields. Woodside Energy has a 50 per cent
stake in the NWS project, and Shell's potential exit
would allow it to either increase its own stake or
bring new partners into the venture. (RMS)
News
LNG
export blow as US, Qatar to flood market
Investment
bank Goldman Sachs has forecast that the LNG price
willl fall $US7.35 per million British thermal units
in calendar 2027. This is 42 per cent lower than in
the current quarter. Goldman Sachs notes that global
LNG supply is expected to rise by 50 per cent to a
record 200 million tonnes by the end of this decade,
amid increased production in the US and Qatar. Australia
currently exports about 81 million tonnes of LNG a
year, but the US appears to be on track to ship about
110 million tonnes in 2025; Qatar is aiming to ramp
its LNG output to a similar level. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Bass
Strait partners Mitsui, Woodside, ExxonMobil in $300m
feud
The
Federal Court is to hear a dispute involving Mitsui,
Woodside Energy and ExxonMobil. It involves Mitsui
being asked for a payment of $156.3 million from ExxonMobil
and $141.6 million from Woodside. The latter two companies
are of the view that Mitsui should make a greater
contribution to the petroleum resource rent tax payable
to the federal government for gas extracted from the
Kipper gas field in Bass Strait. The dispute is linked
to a demand from the Australian Taxation Office for
greater payments of the tax for the period between
2013 and 2017. Mitsui, which acquired Santos's 35
per cent stake in the Kipper field in 2016, does not
believe it should be liable for those debts. (RMS)
News
Sept
3
High-grade
threat to Australian iron ore
Australia
exported about $120 billion worth of iron ore from
the Pilbara during 2024-25. However, Vale executive
Rogerio Nogueira contends that Brazil has a key advantage
over Australia because its iron ore is better suited
to beneficiation; this process removes contaminants
such as silicon or alumina to produce the higher-grade
ore that will be needed to make steel using natural
gas or hyrogen instead of coal. Australia's iron ore
miners are already facing the problem of decline ore
grades in the Pilbara. (RMS)
South32
chief in blast over green tape
Diversified
miner South32 battled the bureaucracy for more than
seven years to secure approval to continue operating
its Worley bauxite and alumina business in Western
Australia. Meanwhile, difficulty in gaining approval
for an extension to the Dendrobium coal mine in the
Illawarra region of NSW prompted South32 to sell the
asset in 2024. South32 CEO Graham Kerr says the Trump
administration has made it much easier to gain environmental
approval for US mining projects compared with Australia.
The company is on track to gain all approvals for
its Hermosa critical minerals project in less than
four years; it was the first project to be added to
the FAST-41 list. (RMS)
News
Flashback
September
3, 2025
Medals/Rare
Earths News
Gold
may be targeting $4,500, silver $50 Precious metals
have returned to active growth, pushing the spot price
of gold to $3,490just $10 below its historic
high of 22 April. Meanwhile, silver has decisively
moved above $40, its highest level in 14 years.
The
news agenda continues to favour metals, with reports
that India is now actively selling US government bonds,
building up its gold reserves. China did the same
before, and Russia even earlier. However, this may
turn out to be nothing more than a glimpse into the
past, cleverly picked up by the global media. It should
also be remembered that years of net sales of gold
reserves did not initially prevent gold from rallying.
This could also work in the opposite direction: the
actions of finance ministers and central banks may
not have a very noticeable long-term effect.
The
lack of progress on a peaceful settlement between
Russia and Ukraine also helps gold. After months of
virtually empty promises, hopes are gradually fading.
A
more visible but at the same time short-term factor
is the growing expectation of a Fed key rate cut in
September from 75% on 21 August (before Powell's speech)
to 87% now. This leaves room for the rate to rise
by another 10-13 percentage points, which is negative
for the dollar and positive for commodities.
However,
we recommend paying more attention to the technical
picture now. The gold market has been in a prolonged
sideways trend since reaching highs in April. At the
same time, the bullish scenario is supported by sluggish
resistance from bears in recent days and a series
of higher local lows.
Silver
has been under less pressure from local profit-taking,
gaining in each of the last four months. Platinum
and palladium seem to be ending their corrective decline,
having risen sharply in early September. This behaviour
of precious metals indicates that traders are serious
about this direction, sharply increasing the chances
of new historical highs soon.
Nevertheless,
we urge caution when joining the gold rally in the
coming days. First, reaching historic highs could
trigger widespread selling in gold, as we saw in April
and as is happening with Bitcoin.
If
the breakout above $3,500 does not trigger a sell-off,
as was the case earlier this year, the potential target
is $4,500, close to which the 161.8% Fibonacci extension
level is located.
In
silver, it appears that the bulls are targeting the
area of historical highs near $50.
Platinum
also looks rested and ready to renew its multi-year
highs after a corrective pullback. Its technical growth
potential suggests a rise above $1,800, to the highs
of 2011. However, such ambitious growth will only
become the main scenario if the recent highs are exceeded
and the price rises above $1,500. (FxPro)
News
Gold
News
August
29, 2025
Gold
approached the upper limit of the 4-month trading
range Gold is trading above $3,400 again at the end
of the week. The upper limit of the trading range,
within which the price has been fluctuating since
April, is close to $3,430. Jerome Powell's signals
about a rate cut, unprecedented pressure from the
White House on the Fed, and the continuing high level
of geopolitical risks have brought the price back
to this level.
Washington's
introduction of 50% tariffs against India risks further
deepening the divide between the West and the East,
as well as the associated processes of de-dollarisation
and diversification of gold and foreign exchange reserves
by central banks in favour of precious metals.
For
the first time since 1996, central banks hold more
gold (about 25%) than US government bonds (about 20%)
in their gold and foreign exchange reserves. For comparison,
between 2008 and 2015, this ratio fluctuated between
10% and 30%, respectively.
Gold bulls are drawing strength from the dynamics
of the US yield curve. Yields on 2- and 10-year Treasuries
are falling. The market is painting a stagflationary
backdrop, which is the best food for gold bugs.
Gold's
ability to break through the resistance zone above
$3,430 will be an important signal of the market's
readiness to return to a rally after four months of
tug-of-war. But it is worth being cautious with early
bullish bets at these levels. Formally, there is now
a greater chance of another pullback to the lower
end of the range at $3,300-3,315.
At
the same time, investors should remember that whichever
way the breakout occurs, the subsequent movement could
be very strong, given how long the gold market has
been gathering strength while remaining in a sideways
trend. (FxPro)
News
Australian
Mining: Overview
Economic
Impact: Mining accounts for around 13.6% of Australia's
GDP (2023) and nearly 70% of total export revenue.
It generated $356.6 billion in company tax and royalties
over the past decade. Iron ore, coal, lithium, gold,
and bauxite are among the top exports, with Australia
being the worlds largest producer of lithium,
iron ore, and bauxite, and a top-five producer of
gold, lead, zinc, and nickel.
Key
Regions and Resources:
Western
Australia (WA): The epicenter of Australian mining,
hosting major iron ore, gold, lithium, and nickel
projects. It employed 134,871 full-time-equivalent
workers in 2023-24, with iron ore (62,950 FTEs), gold
(31,884 FTEs), and lithium (11,386 FTEs) leading employment.
Queensland
(QLD): Contributes $75 billion annually to the economy
and employs over 50,000 people, with high-grade graphite
and rhenium deposits.
New South Wales (NSW): Rich in coal, gold, and copper,
with the Cowal gold mine as the largest. It provides
40,000 jobs and nearly $2 billion in royalties.
Northern
Territory (NT): Home to the worlds largest manganese
mine and one-third of Australias uranium reserves,
valued at over $4 billion.
Victoria
(VIC): Known for gold, antimony, and brown coal, with
a strong mining equipment and technology sector.
Tasmania
(TAS): A century-long mineral producer with diverse
geology.
Critical
Minerals and Innovation: Australia is a global leader
in critical minerals like lithium, rare earths, and
manganese, essential for renewable energy and defense.
The industry is adopting automation (e.g., driverless
trucks), AI, and blue hydrogen to improve efficiency
and reduce emissions. The governments $1 billion
Value-Adding in Resources Fund aims to enhance domestic
processing.
Environmental
and Social Challenges: Mining faces scrutiny for environmental
impacts, including land destruction, water pollution,
and carbon emissions from fossil fuel production.
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) concerns and
commodity price uncertainty are top risks for 2024.
The industry is criticized for low tax contributions
relative to profits (6% of federal revenue) and benefits
from subsidies like the $3.5 billion Fuel Tax Credit
Scheme.
Employment
and Ownership: The sector employs about 229,500 people
(2% of the workforce), with high median earnings ($2,649/week).
However, its 86% foreign-owned, with major players
like BHP (76% foreign-owned) and Rio Tinto (83% foreign-owned)
dominating.
Future
Outlook: With 80% of Australias mineral potential
unexplored, the industry is poised for growth, particularly
in critical minerals for electric vehicles and renewable
energy. However, regulatory changes, climate goals,
and community expectations for fairer taxation and
environmental stewardship pose challenges. (Grok)
News
Flashback
September
1, 2025
BHP
call to voters in coal tax fight
BHP's
BMA coking coal joint venture in Queensland paid an
effective tax rate of about 67 per cent in 2024-25.
BHP CEO Mike Henry has warned that some of the joint
venture's mines may need to be shut down due to the
impact of low coal prices and the state's coal royalty
regime. Meanwhile, BMA's head of operations Mariette
Bylsma says Queensland has one of the world's highest
coal royalty regimes, which is making the state less
competitive and less predictable for investment. Bylsma
adds that the "unsustainable" coal tax is
having a real impact on regional jobs and communities,
and she has urged the general public to raise the
issue with their local MP. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
MinRes
takeover of miner run by Ellison's brother faces backlash
Resource
Development Group's administrator McGrathNicol recently
advised that it had received seven non-binding offers
to acquire the failed garnet miner. However, the firm
decided to recommend the offer from RDG's majority
shareholder, Mineral Resources, as it would result
in the highest return to shareholders. However, minority
investors in RDG claim that they are not being treated
fairly, and allege that Mineral Resources is hastening
the takeover without allowing time for other bids
to emerge. RDG's former MD Andrew Ellison is the brother
of Mineral Resources' founder and MD Chris Ellison.
(RMS)
News
Sunday
truck crash adds to MinRes woes
Mineral
Resources is under renewed scrutiny following another
incident on the private road that is used to transport
iron ore to port facilities at Onslow in Western Australia.
There has been a rear-end collision between one of
the company's road trains and a truck that was being
driven by a contractor; it is believed that nobody
was injured in yesterday's incident and both trucks
sustained only minor damage. However, there have been
a series of incidents on the 150km road since it was
opened in 2024, including a road train rollover last
week. Mineral Resources has also spent $230m on repairing
damage to the road caused by cyclones in early 2025.
(RMS)
News
Gas
industry frays over future of LNG as lobbying intensifies
Australia's
east gas market is facing a supply crisis that could
hit NSW and Victoria as early as 2029, with the nation's
$90 billion liquefied natural gas sector at odds as
to which of its participants should face the burden
of addressing the looming crisis. With the federal
government having announced a review of the LNG sector
earlier in the year, Australia Pacific LNG and Santos,
which is the operator of the Gladstone LNG project,
are both actively lobbying the federal government
as to their views as to how the two ventures believe
the sector should be reformed. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Bitcoin
Mining News
Industry
Challenges and Hashrate Records: Bitcoin mining difficulty
recently hit an all-time high of 126.9 trillion on
May 31, 2025, before slightly dropping to 126.4 trillion.
The network hashrate crossed 1 zetahash per second
(ZH/s) in April 2025, reflecting intense competition.
Miners face financial pressures from the April 2024
halving, which reduced block rewards, coupled with
rising operational costs. Despite this, companies
like MARA (mined 950 BTC in May 2025, holding 49,179
BTC) and CleanSpark (mined 694 BTC, holding 12,502
BTC) are expanding and retaining BTC as a treasury
asset.
Shift
to AI and Energy Competition: Bitcoin miners are increasingly
competing with AI data centers for cheap energy, prompting
some to pivot into AI infrastructure. For instance,
Bitmain plans to open a U.S.-based BTC mining hardware
facility by late 2025, and TeraWulf has secured Google
as its largest shareholder, validating its AI-integrated
strategy. This shift is driven by the need to monetize
power, with executives noting that energy, not just
hashrate, is now the critical factor.
Environmental
and Regulatory Concerns: A Harvard study revealed
that Bitcoin mining exposes 1.9 million Americans
to harmful PM2.5 air pollution, primarily from fossil
fuel-powered plants. The study highlights a "cross-state
domino effect," urging federal regulation. Meanwhile,
rural U.S. communities, like Dresden, NY, report noise
pollution from mining operations, sparking local backlash
despite support from some pro-crypto policies under
the current administration.
Centralization
Risks: Posts on X have raised alarms about mining
centralization, with two pools controlling over 51%
of the networks hash power, potentially enabling
a 51% attack. This has sparked debate about Bitcoins
decentralization, though these claims remain inconclusive
without further evidence.
Innovations
and Expansions: Companies like Cipher Mining launched
a 150MW Bitcoin mining site in Texas (Black Pearl),
aiming for 300MW, and BitFuFu reported a record 34.1
EH/s hashrate, mining 400 BTC in May 2025. Block introduced
Proto Rig, a modular, repairable miner, and Proto
Fleet, an open-source software to enhance mining efficiency.
Profitability
Struggles: Mining a single Bitcoin now costs approximately
$137,000 in electricity, exceeding its market value
of around $95,000-$104,000, rendering traditional
mining unprofitable for many. Miners are adapting
by holding BTC or diversifying into other cryptocurrencies
like Ethereum.
Song
Welcome
To The Blockchain (Song lyrics)
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of
economics, of politics, and government
Welcome
to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The
power to control the money is one that is now
In
the hands of those who pretend we can't function without
them
So
how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working
hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation
takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated
interest rates to give the banks
A
way to create money with the loans that they're giving
out daily (yup)
That
means our money is debt
That
we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No
wonder then why the middle class is going under
When
the one's above them gotta cover and come to collect
And
many have no access to banking
Making
payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And
every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We
can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open
up the gates
Systems
get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize
the trust
Security,
transparency
The
network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And
the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured
by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't
be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You
can send it anywhere and instantly
No
one can intervene, no third party in between
There's
no counterfeiting
Algorithms
control the outer limits of how many coins can get
released
Programmable
money, no government can seize it
Payments
can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts
can be written cementing your agreements
With
terms that can't be bent once you consent then it
completes it
Autonomous
businesses are possible
Where
profit is distributed amongst those adopting it
Paradigm
shift we must adjust to the ending
With
the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open
up the gates
Systems
get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize
the trust
Security,
transparency
The
network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're
not gonna let it go
My
people all around the globe
We
gotta keep building, building, building
Now
that we got control
We're
not gonna let it go
My
people all around the globe
We
gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open
up the gates
Systems
get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize
the trust
Security,
transparency
The
network's run by us
Bitcoin
By
di DECAP, Toby / Toby Ganger
News
Working
Man: Sony Lyrics
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At
the age of sixteen years Oh, he quarrels with his
peers Who vowed they'd never see another one In the
dark recess of the mines Where you age before your
time And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At
the age of sixty four Oh, he'll greet you at the door
And he'll gently lead you by the arm
Through
the dark recess of the mines
Oh,
he'll take you back in time And he'll tell you of
the hardships that were had
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And
I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length
of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will
go down under ground
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And
I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length
of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will
go down under ground
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And
I swear to God if l ever see the sun
Or
for any length of time I can hold it in my mind I
never again will go down under ground
God,
I never again will go down under ground
By
Rita Macneil
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
Mining/Energy/Resources/Culture/Digital
Gold: Australia and World
September
2025
Newsfeed
Sept
5
MinRes
drivers 'asked to fill out false timesheets'
A
former employee of Mineral Resources has told Western
Australia's WorkSafe that the iron ore miner is not
complying with safety rules on its 148km private haulage
road. The ex-employee contends that truck drivers
are being asked to work 12-hour shifts in order to
meet Mineral Resources' targets for transporting iron
ore from the Ken's Bore mine in the Pilbara to its
export facility. It has also been alleged that drivers
have been "coerced" into falsifying their
timesheets. The company has spent more than $200m
on repairing the road, while there have been a number
of truck crashes and rollovers since the road opened.
(RMS)
News
Shell
plots exit from North West Shelf
Sources
have indicated that energy giant Shell is considering
the sale of its 16.67 per cent stake in the North
West Shelf LNG project. Shell previously decided to
withdraw from the $US30bn ($46bn) Browse LNG project,
which is likely to supply gas to the processing plant
at Karratha in Western Australia to replace the declining
NWS gas fields. Woodside Energy has a 50 per cent
stake in the NWS project, and Shell's potential exit
would allow it to either increase its own stake or
bring new partners into the venture. (RMS)
News
LNG
export blow as US, Qatar to flood market
Investment
bank Goldman Sachs has forecast that the LNG price
willl fall $US7.35 per million British thermal units
in calendar 2027. This is 42 per cent lower than in
the current quarter. Goldman Sachs notes that global
LNG supply is expected to rise by 50 per cent to a
record 200 million tonnes by the end of this decade,
amid increased production in the US and Qatar. Australia
currently exports about 81 million tonnes of LNG a
year, but the US appears to be on track to ship about
110 million tonnes in 2025; Qatar is aiming to ramp
its LNG output to a similar level. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Bass
Strait partners Mitsui, Woodside, ExxonMobil in $300m
feud
The
Federal Court is to hear a dispute involving Mitsui,
Woodside Energy and ExxonMobil. It involves Mitsui
being asked for a payment of $156.3 million from ExxonMobil
and $141.6 million from Woodside. The latter two companies
are of the view that Mitsui should make a greater
contribution to the petroleum resource rent tax payable
to the federal government for gas extracted from the
Kipper gas field in Bass Strait. The dispute is linked
to a demand from the Australian Taxation Office for
greater payments of the tax for the period between
2013 and 2017. Mitsui, which acquired Santos's 35
per cent stake in the Kipper field in 2016, does not
believe it should be liable for those debts. (RMS)
News
Sept
3
High-grade
threat to Australian iron ore
Australia
exported about $120 billion worth of iron ore from
the Pilbara during 2024-25. However, Vale executive
Rogerio Nogueira contends that Brazil has a key advantage
over Australia because its iron ore is better suited
to beneficiation; this process removes contaminants
such as silicon or alumina to produce the higher-grade
ore that will be needed to make steel using natural
gas or hyrogen instead of coal. Australia's iron ore
miners are already facing the problem of decline ore
grades in the Pilbara. (RMS)
South32
chief in blast over green tape
Diversified
miner South32 battled the bureaucracy for more than
seven years to secure approval to continue operating
its Worley bauxite and alumina business in Western
Australia. Meanwhile, difficulty in gaining approval
for an extension to the Dendrobium coal mine in the
Illawarra region of NSW prompted South32 to sell the
asset in 2024. South32 CEO Graham Kerr says the Trump
administration has made it much easier to gain environmental
approval for US mining projects compared with Australia.
The company is on track to gain all approvals for
its Hermosa critical minerals project in less than
four years; it was the first project to be added to
the FAST-41 list. (RMS)
News
Flashback
September
3, 2025
Medals/Rare
Earths News
Gold
may be targeting $4,500, silver $50 Precious metals
have returned to active growth, pushing the spot price
of gold to $3,490just $10 below its historic
high of 22 April. Meanwhile, silver has decisively
moved above $40, its highest level in 14 years.
The
news agenda continues to favour metals, with reports
that India is now actively selling US government bonds,
building up its gold reserves. China did the same
before, and Russia even earlier. However, this may
turn out to be nothing more than a glimpse into the
past, cleverly picked up by the global media. It should
also be remembered that years of net sales of gold
reserves did not initially prevent gold from rallying.
This could also work in the opposite direction: the
actions of finance ministers and central banks may
not have a very noticeable long-term effect.
The
lack of progress on a peaceful settlement between
Russia and Ukraine also helps gold. After months of
virtually empty promises, hopes are gradually fading.
A
more visible but at the same time short-term factor
is the growing expectation of a Fed key rate cut in
September from 75% on 21 August (before Powell's speech)
to 87% now. This leaves room for the rate to rise
by another 10-13 percentage points, which is negative
for the dollar and positive for commodities.
However,
we recommend paying more attention to the technical
picture now. The gold market has been in a prolonged
sideways trend since reaching highs in April. At the
same time, the bullish scenario is supported by sluggish
resistance from bears in recent days and a series
of higher local lows.
Silver
has been under less pressure from local profit-taking,
gaining in each of the last four months. Platinum
and palladium seem to be ending their corrective decline,
having risen sharply in early September. This behaviour
of precious metals indicates that traders are serious
about this direction, sharply increasing the chances
of new historical highs soon.
Nevertheless,
we urge caution when joining the gold rally in the
coming days. First, reaching historic highs could
trigger widespread selling in gold, as we saw in April
and as is happening with Bitcoin.
If
the breakout above $3,500 does not trigger a sell-off,
as was the case earlier this year, the potential target
is $4,500, close to which the 161.8% Fibonacci extension
level is located.
In
silver, it appears that the bulls are targeting the
area of historical highs near $50.
Platinum
also looks rested and ready to renew its multi-year
highs after a corrective pullback. Its technical growth
potential suggests a rise above $1,800, to the highs
of 2011. However, such ambitious growth will only
become the main scenario if the recent highs are exceeded
and the price rises above $1,500. (FxPro)
News
Gold
News
August
29, 2025
Gold
approached the upper limit of the 4-month trading
range Gold is trading above $3,400 again at the end
of the week. The upper limit of the trading range,
within which the price has been fluctuating since
April, is close to $3,430. Jerome Powell's signals
about a rate cut, unprecedented pressure from the
White House on the Fed, and the continuing high level
of geopolitical risks have brought the price back
to this level.
Washington's
introduction of 50% tariffs against India risks further
deepening the divide between the West and the East,
as well as the associated processes of de-dollarisation
and diversification of gold and foreign exchange reserves
by central banks in favour of precious metals.
For
the first time since 1996, central banks hold more
gold (about 25%) than US government bonds (about 20%)
in their gold and foreign exchange reserves. For comparison,
between 2008 and 2015, this ratio fluctuated between
10% and 30%, respectively.
Gold bulls are drawing strength from the dynamics
of the US yield curve. Yields on 2- and 10-year Treasuries
are falling. The market is painting a stagflationary
backdrop, which is the best food for gold bugs.
Gold's
ability to break through the resistance zone above
$3,430 will be an important signal of the market's
readiness to return to a rally after four months of
tug-of-war. But it is worth being cautious with early
bullish bets at these levels. Formally, there is now
a greater chance of another pullback to the lower
end of the range at $3,300-3,315.
At
the same time, investors should remember that whichever
way the breakout occurs, the subsequent movement could
be very strong, given how long the gold market has
been gathering strength while remaining in a sideways
trend. (FxPro)
News
Australian
Mining: Overview
Economic
Impact: Mining accounts for around 13.6% of Australia's
GDP (2023) and nearly 70% of total export revenue.
It generated $356.6 billion in company tax and royalties
over the past decade. Iron ore, coal, lithium, gold,
and bauxite are among the top exports, with Australia
being the worlds largest producer of lithium,
iron ore, and bauxite, and a top-five producer of
gold, lead, zinc, and nickel.
Key
Regions and Resources:
Western
Australia (WA): The epicenter of Australian mining,
hosting major iron ore, gold, lithium, and nickel
projects. It employed 134,871 full-time-equivalent
workers in 2023-24, with iron ore (62,950 FTEs), gold
(31,884 FTEs), and lithium (11,386 FTEs) leading employment.
Queensland
(QLD): Contributes $75 billion annually to the economy
and employs over 50,000 people, with high-grade graphite
and rhenium deposits.
New South Wales (NSW): Rich in coal, gold, and copper,
with the Cowal gold mine as the largest. It provides
40,000 jobs and nearly $2 billion in royalties.
Northern
Territory (NT): Home to the worlds largest manganese
mine and one-third of Australias uranium reserves,
valued at over $4 billion.
Victoria
(VIC): Known for gold, antimony, and brown coal, with
a strong mining equipment and technology sector.
Tasmania
(TAS): A century-long mineral producer with diverse
geology.
Critical
Minerals and Innovation: Australia is a global leader
in critical minerals like lithium, rare earths, and
manganese, essential for renewable energy and defense.
The industry is adopting automation (e.g., driverless
trucks), AI, and blue hydrogen to improve efficiency
and reduce emissions. The governments $1 billion
Value-Adding in Resources Fund aims to enhance domestic
processing.
Environmental
and Social Challenges: Mining faces scrutiny for environmental
impacts, including land destruction, water pollution,
and carbon emissions from fossil fuel production.
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) concerns and
commodity price uncertainty are top risks for 2024.
The industry is criticized for low tax contributions
relative to profits (6% of federal revenue) and benefits
from subsidies like the $3.5 billion Fuel Tax Credit
Scheme.
Employment
and Ownership: The sector employs about 229,500 people
(2% of the workforce), with high median earnings ($2,649/week).
However, its 86% foreign-owned, with major players
like BHP (76% foreign-owned) and Rio Tinto (83% foreign-owned)
dominating.
Future
Outlook: With 80% of Australias mineral potential
unexplored, the industry is poised for growth, particularly
in critical minerals for electric vehicles and renewable
energy. However, regulatory changes, climate goals,
and community expectations for fairer taxation and
environmental stewardship pose challenges. (Grok)
News
Flashback
September
1, 2025
BHP
call to voters in coal tax fight
BHP's
BMA coking coal joint venture in Queensland paid an
effective tax rate of about 67 per cent in 2024-25.
BHP CEO Mike Henry has warned that some of the joint
venture's mines may need to be shut down due to the
impact of low coal prices and the state's coal royalty
regime. Meanwhile, BMA's head of operations Mariette
Bylsma says Queensland has one of the world's highest
coal royalty regimes, which is making the state less
competitive and less predictable for investment. Bylsma
adds that the "unsustainable" coal tax is
having a real impact on regional jobs and communities,
and she has urged the general public to raise the
issue with their local MP. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
MinRes
takeover of miner run by Ellison's brother faces backlash
Resource
Development Group's administrator McGrathNicol recently
advised that it had received seven non-binding offers
to acquire the failed garnet miner. However, the firm
decided to recommend the offer from RDG's majority
shareholder, Mineral Resources, as it would result
in the highest return to shareholders. However, minority
investors in RDG claim that they are not being treated
fairly, and allege that Mineral Resources is hastening
the takeover without allowing time for other bids
to emerge. RDG's former MD Andrew Ellison is the brother
of Mineral Resources' founder and MD Chris Ellison.
(RMS)
News
Sunday
truck crash adds to MinRes woes
Mineral
Resources is under renewed scrutiny following another
incident on the private road that is used to transport
iron ore to port facilities at Onslow in Western Australia.
There has been a rear-end collision between one of
the company's road trains and a truck that was being
driven by a contractor; it is believed that nobody
was injured in yesterday's incident and both trucks
sustained only minor damage. However, there have been
a series of incidents on the 150km road since it was
opened in 2024, including a road train rollover last
week. Mineral Resources has also spent $230m on repairing
damage to the road caused by cyclones in early 2025.
(RMS)
News
Gas
industry frays over future of LNG as lobbying intensifies
Australia's
east gas market is facing a supply crisis that could
hit NSW and Victoria as early as 2029, with the nation's
$90 billion liquefied natural gas sector at odds as
to which of its participants should face the burden
of addressing the looming crisis. With the federal
government having announced a review of the LNG sector
earlier in the year, Australia Pacific LNG and Santos,
which is the operator of the Gladstone LNG project,
are both actively lobbying the federal government
as to their views as to how the two ventures believe
the sector should be reformed. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Bitcoin
Mining News
Industry
Challenges and Hashrate Records: Bitcoin mining difficulty
recently hit an all-time high of 126.9 trillion on
May 31, 2025, before slightly dropping to 126.4 trillion.
The network hashrate crossed 1 zetahash per second
(ZH/s) in April 2025, reflecting intense competition.
Miners face financial pressures from the April 2024
halving, which reduced block rewards, coupled with
rising operational costs. Despite this, companies
like MARA (mined 950 BTC in May 2025, holding 49,179
BTC) and CleanSpark (mined 694 BTC, holding 12,502
BTC) are expanding and retaining BTC as a treasury
asset.
Shift
to AI and Energy Competition: Bitcoin miners are increasingly
competing with AI data centers for cheap energy, prompting
some to pivot into AI infrastructure. For instance,
Bitmain plans to open a U.S.-based BTC mining hardware
facility by late 2025, and TeraWulf has secured Google
as its largest shareholder, validating its AI-integrated
strategy. This shift is driven by the need to monetize
power, with executives noting that energy, not just
hashrate, is now the critical factor.
Environmental
and Regulatory Concerns: A Harvard study revealed
that Bitcoin mining exposes 1.9 million Americans
to harmful PM2.5 air pollution, primarily from fossil
fuel-powered plants. The study highlights a "cross-state
domino effect," urging federal regulation. Meanwhile,
rural U.S. communities, like Dresden, NY, report noise
pollution from mining operations, sparking local backlash
despite support from some pro-crypto policies under
the current administration.
Centralization
Risks: Posts on X have raised alarms about mining
centralization, with two pools controlling over 51%
of the networks hash power, potentially enabling
a 51% attack. This has sparked debate about Bitcoins
decentralization, though these claims remain inconclusive
without further evidence.
Innovations
and Expansions: Companies like Cipher Mining launched
a 150MW Bitcoin mining site in Texas (Black Pearl),
aiming for 300MW, and BitFuFu reported a record 34.1
EH/s hashrate, mining 400 BTC in May 2025. Block introduced
Proto Rig, a modular, repairable miner, and Proto
Fleet, an open-source software to enhance mining efficiency.
Profitability
Struggles: Mining a single Bitcoin now costs approximately
$137,000 in electricity, exceeding its market value
of around $95,000-$104,000, rendering traditional
mining unprofitable for many. Miners are adapting
by holding BTC or diversifying into other cryptocurrencies
like Ethereum.
Song
Welcome
To The Blockchain (Song lyrics)
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of
economics, of politics, and government
Welcome
to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The
power to control the money is one that is now
In
the hands of those who pretend we can't function without
them
So
how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working
hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation
takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated
interest rates to give the banks
A
way to create money with the loans that they're giving
out daily (yup)
That
means our money is debt
That
we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No
wonder then why the middle class is going under
When
the one's above them gotta cover and come to collect
And
many have no access to banking
Making
payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And
every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We
can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open
up the gates
Systems
get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize
the trust
Security,
transparency
The
network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And
the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured
by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't
be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You
can send it anywhere and instantly
No
one can intervene, no third party in between
There's
no counterfeiting
Algorithms
control the outer limits of how many coins can get
released
Programmable
money, no government can seize it
Payments
can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts
can be written cementing your agreements
With
terms that can't be bent once you consent then it
completes it
Autonomous
businesses are possible
Where
profit is distributed amongst those adopting it
Paradigm
shift we must adjust to the ending
With
the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open
up the gates
Systems
get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize
the trust
Security,
transparency
The
network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're
not gonna let it go
My
people all around the globe
We
gotta keep building, building, building
Now
that we got control
We're
not gonna let it go
My
people all around the globe
We
gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things
are about to change
Open
up the gates
Systems
get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize
the trust
Security,
transparency
The
network's run by us
Bitcoin
By
di DECAP, Toby / Toby Ganger
News
Working
Man: Sony Lyrics
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At
the age of sixteen years Oh, he quarrels with his
peers Who vowed they'd never see another one In the
dark recess of the mines Where you age before your
time And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At
the age of sixty four Oh, he'll greet you at the door
And he'll gently lead you by the arm
Through
the dark recess of the mines
Oh,
he'll take you back in time And he'll tell you of
the hardships that were had
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And
I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length
of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will
go down under ground
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And
I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any length
of time I can hold it in my mind I never again will
go down under ground
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And
I swear to God if l ever see the sun
Or
for any length of time I can hold it in my mind I
never again will go down under ground
God,
I never again will go down under ground
By
Rita Macneil
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
August
23, 2025
The
tedious seesaw for gold is about to end Gold's hopes
for an aggressive cut in the Fed's federal funds rate,
the associated decline in Treasury bond yields, and
the weakening of the US dollar have not yet materialised.
The Fed is likely to ease monetary policy in September.
However, it may then pause again. Its slowness is
bringing investors' interest back to the greenback.
Clouds are gathering over the precious metal due to
Donald Trump's efforts to end the armed conflict in
Ukraine. The start of hostilities, followed by the
West's freezing of Russia's gold and foreign exchange
reserves, was the starting point for the Golds
rally. Since February 2022, gold has risen 1.7x and
reached a record high of more than $3,500 per ounce
in April. The rally was driven by de-dollarisation,
active buying of bullion by central banks, and increased
demand for ETFs.
In the second quarter, central bank activity in the
precious metals market declined significantly, and
capital flows into specialised exchange-traded funds
slowed. Without these advantages, XAUUSD can forget
about recovering the upward trend. However, the favourable
external background in the form of monetary stimulus
from the Fed, lower Treasury yields, and a weaker
US dollar in the medium term will give gold a boost.
The gold chart clearly shows consolidation since April,
with the price right in the middle of the 12% range
from peak to correction lows. This tedious five-month
movement to the right is likely to end in the coming
weeks, as August often marks the start of major trends
in gold. The duration of consolidation is often directly
proportional to the strength of the breakout.
From a technical analysis perspective, given the accumulated
overbought condition, the downside potential is huge
up to $3000 or even $2200 per ounce. However,
the upside potential is no less impressive: $4600
in an extreme bullish scenario, including the Fed
switching to a mode of absolute softness. (FxPro)
News
August
26, 2025
Forrest's
miner rejects free ride
Iluka
Resources is getting $1.65 billion in taxpayer support
to construct a rare earths refinery at Eneabba in
Western Australia, while the federal government is
backing Arafura Rare Earths to the tune of almost
$1.2 billion. Wyloo Metals, which controls the half-built
Yangibana rare earths project in WA and which is Andrew
Forrest's private mining company, contends that while
it is good that the government wants to support a
domestic rare earths sector, it should avoid trying
to "pick winners" and subsidise their losses.
(RMS)
News
PLS
confident on lithium despite loss
Pilbara
Minerals has posted a 2024-25 statutory loss of $196m,
compared with a $257m for the previous financial year.
The result was marred by a sharp fall in the price
of lithium, which reached a low of $US575 per tonne
in June; the battery metal had peaked at more than
$US8,000 per tonne in 2023. The price has rebounded
by about 70 per cent since June, and Pilbara Minerals
CEO Dale Henderson is optimistic that the company
can ride out the turmoil until demand for lithium
recovers. Pilbara Minerals' revenue was 40 per cent
lower than previously at $769m. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
'Fake'
mining firm to be wound up
Tom
Peever and his wife Kirsten are the subject of allegations
in the Federal Court that they created a fake mining
operation in order to claim research and development
tax breaks and GST refunds worth $200 million. The
allegations are linked to around 30 companies, including
one called Elution Metals. That company is now in
the process of being wound up, while there are claims
that the Peevers breached freezing orders imposed
on them by the Australian Taxation Office. (RMS)
News
August
25, 2025
Death
at Rio mine darkens transition
Rio
Tinto's new CEO Simon Trott has issued a statement
in which he emphasises that the safety of every employee
is its main priority. He will visit Guinea to spend
time with the company's workforce at the Simandou
iron ore project, which has been rocked by the death
of a worker. Safety standards at Simandou have previously
come under scrutiny following the deaths of six people
who were building the project's associated port and
rail infrastructure. Trott will formally succeed Jakob
Stausholm today. Production at Simandou is scheduled
to commence by the end of 2025. (RMS)
News
BHP
puts WA nickel assets on the block
Western
Australia's Premier Roger Cook says BHP's decision
to seek a buyer from its nickel assets in the state
is disappointing. BHP will open a data room for potential
buyers of the WA Nickel business, which was formerly
known as Nickel West and includes mines, a smelter
and refinery. BHP will also spend some $450m per annum
on preparing the nickel operations for a potential
restart; the nickel assets were mothballed in 2024
in response to a global oversupply as China-backed
production of the battery metal in Indonesia ramped
up. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Santos
suitor heard union pitch
Abu
Dhabi National Oil Company executive Mohamed Al Aryani
recently held talks with the Australian Workers Union's
national secretary Paul Farrow. Al Aryani is the president
of international gas at ADNOC subsidiary XRG, which
is heading the $30bn takeover bid for Santos. He also
met with Santos executives as part of the due diligence
process. Farrow has criticised LNG producers for selling
gas from Queensland to overseas buyers without restriction,
with Santos purchasing third-party gas to fulfil its
export contracts. The AWU has also released a list
of new demands, including a domestic gas reservation
scheme. (RMS)
News
Australian
Mining
Mergers
and acquisitions are active, with companies like Mantle
Minerals selling assets to Northern Star Resources
for $13.5 million. Labor challenges persist, with
union disputes and job cuts reported at companies
like BHP. Despite these hurdles, the industry remains
a global leader, with innovation in automation and
green technologies shaping its future.
The
Australian mining industry is a cornerstone of the
nations economy, contributing significantly
to export income, employment, and GDP. In the 2022-23
financial year, it generated a record $455 billion
in export revenue, driven by commodities like iron
ore, coal, gold, and emerging critical minerals such
as lithium, copper, and rare earths.
Australia
is the worlds largest producer of iron ore and
bauxite, and a major player in gold, lithium, and
uranium, with Western Australia hosting some of the
largest mines globally.
Recent
developments highlight a focus on sustainability and
technology. Data and AI are transforming mine rehabilitation,
improving efficiency and environmental outcomes.
Companies
like BHP and Rio Tinto are advancing ESG (Environmental,
Social, and Governance) initiatives, with BHP collaborating
on biodiversity projects at Olympic Dam and Rio Tinto
enhancing transparency on tailings facilities.
Meanwhile,
the industry faces challenges from stricter regulations,
such as Western Australias 2022 Work, Health,
and Safety Regulations, and a global push for net-zero
emissions, which pressures coal production.
Critical
minerals are gaining prominence due to demand for
electric vehicles and renewable energy. Queensland
and Western Australia are key regions for lithium,
nickel, and rare earths, with projects like Magnetite
Mines reporting high-grade rare earth finds.
However,
the industry grapples with declining productivity
in some sectors, high energy costs, and foreign competition,
particularly from China in nickel and lithium processing.
(Grok)

Gold
Mining News
Recent
developments in gold mining highlight a mix of exploration,
production advancements, and market dynamics:
Exploration
and Discoveries:
In
Uganda, a massive 31 million metric tonnes of gold
ore, containing over 320,000 tonnes of refined gold
worth approximately $12 trillion, was uncovered, potentially
positioning the country as a top global gold producer.
In
India, geologists confirmed significant gold deposits
across 100 hectares in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Production
and Operations:
Navoi
Mining in Uzbekistan is expanding its Muruntau gold
deposit, one of the worlds largest opencast
mines. Nevada Gold Mines in the U.S. is automating
its haul truck fleet with Komatsus autonomous
system.
B2Gold
Corp. received approval for underground operations
at Malis Fekola Mine. In Australia, Mandalay
Resources and Betolar Plc are developing a cementless
rockfill solution for the Costerfield gold-antimony
mine.
Market
Performance:
Gold
prices have recently hit record highs, with futures
rising over 14% since January 2025, boosting miners
like Australias largest gold producer, which
benefited from the bullion price surge.
Newmont,
the worlds largest gold producer, reported a
120% increase in its all-in sustaining cost margin
to $1,727 per ounce in Q2 2025. Senior gold stocks,
including AngloGold, Kinross, and Agnico Eagle, have
shown strong performance, with the GDX index hitting
multi-year highs.
Revived
Projects:
In
Western Australia, old mines like Youanmi and Sandstone
are being revived due to high gold prices, with companies
like Rox Resources and Brightstar Resources planning
production restarts by 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Challenges
and Concerns:
In
Venezuela, a pit gold mine collapse reportedly buried
over 100 people, and U.S. sanctions were reinstated
against the state-owned gold mining company due to
political issues. Ghanas Kwame Pianim called
for a temporary freeze on non-industrial gold mining
to address environmental threats from illegal operations.
News
Bitcoin
Mining

Bitcoin
mining is the process by which new bitcoins are created
and transactions are verified on the Bitcoin network.
Miners use specialized hardware to solve complex mathematical
puzzles, which secures the network and earns them
rewards in the form of newly minted bitcoins and transaction
fees.
Key
Points:
Purpose:
Validates transactions and prevents double-spending
by adding them to the blockchain, a decentralized
ledger.
Process:
Miners compete to solve cryptographic puzzles (Proof
of Work) to create a new block. The first to solve
it broadcasts the block to the network for verification.
Hardware:
Modern mining uses Application-Specific Integrated
Circuits (ASICs) for efficiency, as GPUs and CPUs
are no longer competitive.
Rewards:
As of August 2025, the block reward is 3.125 BTC (halved
from 6.25 BTC in April 2024). Rewards halve every
210,000 blocks (roughly every 4 years).
Energy
Use: Mining is energy-intensive, often requiring significant
electricity, leading to debates about environmental
impact.
Difficulty:
Adjusts every 2,016 blocks (about every two weeks)
to maintain a 10-minute block time, increasing as
more miners join.
Profitability:
Depends on electricity costs, hardware efficiency,
Bitcoin price, and network difficulty. Many miners
join pools to share rewards and reduce variance.
Geographic
Trends: Miners often locate in areas with cheap electricity,
like parts of the U.S., China, or regions with renewable
energy.
Current
Context (August 2025):
Market
Dynamics: Recent X posts suggest mining remains profitable
for some, with firms like Marathon Digital expanding
operations (e.g., acquiring a 200 MW data center).
However, smaller miners face challenges due to rising
difficulty and energy costs.
Energy
Debate: There's ongoing discussion about Bitcoin mining's
environmental impact, with some miners adopting renewables
or flared gas to mitigate criticism.
Halving
Impact: The 2024 halving reduced rewards, pushing
less efficient miners out and increasing competition
among larger players.
News
Digital
Gold
Recommendation:
If youre interested in digital gold as a gold
investment, research trusted platforms like MMTC-PAMP
or SafeGold and understand the terms, fees, and storage
policies. For cryptocurrencies, consider your risk
tolerance due to their volatility.The term "digital
gold" can have different meanings depending on
the context. Based on the information available, here
are the two primary interpretations:
Digital
Gold as a Form of Gold Investment:
Definition: Digital gold refers to an investment in
24-karat, 99.9% pure gold purchased online through
digital platforms without the need to physically own
or store the metal. The gold is stored in secure,
insured vaults by providers on behalf of the investor.
Each unit of digital gold is backed by an equivalent
amount of physical gold, ensuring its value tracks
the market price of gold.
How
It Works: Investors can buy, sell, or hold digital
gold via apps or websites like Paytm, Google Pay,
PhonePe, or Tanishq, often in small denominations
starting as low as ?1 or ?100. The gold is stored
by trusted providers like MMTC-PAMP, Augmont Goldtech,
or SafeGold.
Investors can also convert digital gold into physical
gold (e.g., coins, bars, or jewelry) or sell it at
real-time market prices, with proceeds credited to
their bank accounts.
Benefits:
Convenience: Buy, sell, or track gold prices anytime
via digital platforms.
No
Storage Hassle: Eliminates the need for physical storage,
reducing risks of theft or loss and avoiding locker
or insurance costs.
Purity
and Transparency: Guarantees 24K gold with real-time
pricing and no making charges (unlike jewelry).
Liquidity: Easily convertible to cash or physical
gold, with high flexibility for small investments.
Accessibility:
Low entry points make it affordable for a wide range
of investors.
Risks:
Regulatory
Gaps: Digital gold is not directly regulated by SEBI
or RBI, which introduces some risk.
Platform
Dependency: Investors rely on the platforms
security and solvency.
Price
Volatility: Value fluctuates with global gold prices.
GST and Fees: A 3% GST applies, and some platforms
may charge management or delivery fees.
Where
to Buy: In India, digital gold is offered by platforms
like Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe, Tanishq, and Bajaj
Finserv, partnered with providers like MMTC-PAMP,
Augmont, or SafeGold.
Digital
Gold as Cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin):
Definition:
In some contexts, "digital gold" refers
to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, seen
as modern equivalents to gold due to their limited
supply, decentralized nature, and potential as a store
of value. This analogy emphasizes their role as a
hedge against inflation or economic instability, similar
to physical gold.
How
It Works: These cryptocurrencies operate on blockchain
technology, providing a secure, transparent ledger
for transactions. Unlike physical gold, they are purely
digital and not backed by physical assets unless specifically
designed as gold-backed tokens.
Sentiment
on X: Posts on X often compare Bitcoin to "digital
gold," highlighting its scarcity and independence
from traditional financial systems. However, some
argue golds supply can expand with demand, unlike
Bitcoins fixed supply, sparking debates about
their relative value. Risks: Cryptocurrencies face
higher volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and technological
risks compared to physical or vaulted digital gold.
They also lack universal acceptance and are subject
to market speculation.
Digital
Gold Currency (DGC):
Definition:
A less common meaning, DGC is an electronic currency
backed by physical gold reserves held in vaults by
private entities. Each unit represents a specific
amount of gold (e.g., grams or troy ounces). Examples
include historical systems like E-Gold or modern ones
like Zimbabwes ZiG token.
How
It Works: DGCs allow users to transact in gold-backed
digital units, with 100% of client funds held as physical
gold. They aim to combine golds stability with
digital convenience but face challenges like limited
acceptance and management risks.
Risks:
Lack of universal acceptance, potential for fraud,
and operational risks (e.g., poor management or security
breaches) make DGCs less mainstream. Historical examples
like E-Gold failed due to regulatory issues and fraud.
Key
Distinctions: Digital Gold (Vaulted) is a direct investment
in physical gold stored securely, offering simplicity
and low entry points, ideal for traditional gold investors.
Cryptocurrency
as Digital Gold is a metaphorical comparison, emphasizing
scarcity and decentralization but with higher risk
and no physical backing.
DGC
is a niche system blending golds value with
digital transactions, less common due to practical
and regulatory challenges.
Why
Invest in Digital Gold?
For
vaulted digital gold, its a convenient, cost-effective
way to invest in gold without physical ownership,
suitable for portfolio diversification or small-scale
investments, especially in markets like India.
For
cryptocurrencies, some investors see them as a modern
alternative to gold, though with greater volatility
and speculative risk. DGCs appeal to those seeking
gold-backed digital transactions, but their use is
limited.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain

Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
News
Gold
Price News
As
of August 21, 2025, gold prices have experienced a
slight decline, with the spot price falling to $3,342.75
per troy ounce, down 0.07% from the previous day,
according to Trading Economics.
Over
the past month, gold prices have dropped by 2.58%,
though they remain 34.38% higher than a year ago.
The price movement is influenced by several factors,
including a stronger U.S. dollar and reduced expectations
for a significant Federal Reserve rate cut in September,
prompted by hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data
and a drop in jobless claims.
Recent
market sentiment, as reflected on X, indicates volatility,
with some posts noting a sharp rise in gold prices
earlier in August, reaching around $3,500 per ounce,
driven by factors like U.S. tariff uncertainties and
strong safe-haven demand. However, prices pulled back
after clarifications that tariffs would not be imposed
on gold bar imports.
In
India, gold prices have also softened, with 24-karat
gold priced at ?10,074 per gram and 22-karat at ?9,234
per gram as of August 20, 2025. The Multi Commodity
Exchange (MCX) reported October gold futures trading
at ?99,240 per 10 grams, down 0.16%, amid easing geopolitical
tensions and focus on the U.S. Federal Reserves
Jackson Hole symposium.
News
Best
Quotes
"All
that glitters is not gold"
News
Gold
Price: (Near Live)
3,358.43
USD -14.21 -0.42%
Bitcoin
Price (Near Live)
$109,924.14
USD -3.09%
News
Google
Finance wins Media Man 'Business Website Of The Month'
award
https://www.google.com/finance/
Runner-up:
Yahoo! Finance
https://finance.yahoo.com/
Mining/Energy/Resources:
Australia and World
Thank
God It's Friday Edition
All
That Glitters ...
News
August
22, 2025
Northern
Star ups dividend by 37pc as profit approaches record
Northern
Star Resources has posted a 2024-25 net profit of
$1.34bn, which is more than 100 per cent higher than
previously. The result was boosted by a rally in the
gold price, which began the financial year at $3,600
an ounce in Australian dollar terms and peaked at
about $5,400 an ounce. Northern Star Resources' shareholders
will receive a record full-year dividend of $0.55
per share. Meanwhile, the company expects gold production
for 2025-26 to be within a range of 1.7 million to
1.85 million ounces, after output for the last financial
year of 1.6 million ounces; this was in line with
its downwardly revised guidance. (RMS)
News
Lithium's
wild rally may be running out of gas
The
lithium price has gained more than 30 per cent over
the last month, and spodumene - the type of lithium
that is mined in Australia - has risen by 70 per cent
since reaching a low in June. The rally has in turn
boosted the shares of Australian-listed producers
of the battery metal, with Mineral Resources up 98
per cent since June and Pilbara Minerals rising 90
per cent. Morgan Stanley has an 'overweight' recommendation
on both stocks, but Citi is cautious about the near-term
outlook for the price of lithium. (Roy Morgan Resources)
News
Whitehaven
blasts royalties as jobs at risk in cost cuts
Whitehaven
Coal has booked a 2024-25 underlying net profit of
$319m, which is 57 per cent lower than previously.
It has posted an underlying loss of $9m for the second
half, following a sharp fall in the coal price during
the final quarter. However, MD Paul Flynn say the
price of both coking and thermal coal appears to have
recovered. He has flagged plans to reduce Whitehaven's
cost by up to $80m in 2025-26, and warns that job
cuts cannot be ruled out. Flynn adds that Queensland's
current coal royalty regime is not sustainable, and
he hopes that reducing it will be on the state government's
policy agenda for the next election. (RMS)
News
Australian
Mining
Mergers
and acquisitions are active, with companies like Mantle
Minerals selling assets to Northern Star Resources
for $13.5 million. Labor challenges persist, with
union disputes and job cuts reported at companies
like BHP. Despite these hurdles, the industry remains
a global leader, with innovation in automation and
green technologies shaping its future.
The
Australian mining industry is a cornerstone of the
nations economy, contributing significantly
to export income, employment, and GDP. In the 2022-23
financial year, it generated a record $455 billion
in export revenue, driven by commodities like iron
ore, coal, gold, and emerging critical minerals such
as lithium, copper, and rare earths.
Australia
is the worlds largest producer of iron ore and
bauxite, and a major player in gold, lithium, and
uranium, with Western Australia hosting some of the
largest mines globally.
Recent
developments highlight a focus on sustainability and
technology. Data and AI are transforming mine rehabilitation,
improving efficiency and environmental outcomes.
Companies
like BHP and Rio Tinto are advancing ESG (Environmental,
Social, and Governance) initiatives, with BHP collaborating
on biodiversity projects at Olympic Dam and Rio Tinto
enhancing transparency on tailings facilities.
Meanwhile,
the industry faces challenges from stricter regulations,
such as Western Australias 2022 Work, Health,
and Safety Regulations, and a global push for net-zero
emissions, which pressures coal production.
Critical
minerals are gaining prominence due to demand for
electric vehicles and renewable energy. Queensland
and Western Australia are key regions for lithium,
nickel, and rare earths, with projects like Magnetite
Mines reporting high-grade rare earth finds.
However,
the industry grapples with declining productivity
in some sectors, high energy costs, and foreign competition,
particularly from China in nickel and lithium processing.
(Grok)
Gold
Mining News
Recent
developments in gold mining highlight a mix of exploration,
production advancements, and market dynamics:
Exploration
and Discoveries:
In
Uganda, a massive 31 million metric tonnes of gold
ore, containing over 320,000 tonnes of refined gold
worth approximately $12 trillion, was uncovered, potentially
positioning the country as a top global gold producer.
In
India, geologists confirmed significant gold deposits
across 100 hectares in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Production
and Operations:
Navoi
Mining in Uzbekistan is expanding its Muruntau gold
deposit, one of the worlds largest opencast
mines. Nevada Gold Mines in the U.S. is automating
its haul truck fleet with Komatsus autonomous
system.
B2Gold
Corp. received approval for underground operations
at Malis Fekola Mine. In Australia, Mandalay
Resources and Betolar Plc are developing a cementless
rockfill solution for the Costerfield gold-antimony
mine.
Market
Performance:
Gold
prices have recently hit record highs, with futures
rising over 14% since January 2025, boosting miners
like Australias largest gold producer, which
benefited from the bullion price surge.
Newmont,
the worlds largest gold producer, reported a
120% increase in its all-in sustaining cost margin
to $1,727 per ounce in Q2 2025. Senior gold stocks,
including AngloGold, Kinross, and Agnico Eagle, have
shown strong performance, with the GDX index hitting
multi-year highs.
Revived
Projects:
In
Western Australia, old mines like Youanmi and Sandstone
are being revived due to high gold prices, with companies
like Rox Resources and Brightstar Resources planning
production restarts by 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Challenges
and Concerns:
In
Venezuela, a pit gold mine collapse reportedly buried
over 100 people, and U.S. sanctions were reinstated
against the state-owned gold mining company due to
political issues. Ghanas Kwame Pianim called
for a temporary freeze on non-industrial gold mining
to address environmental threats from illegal operations.

News
Bitcoin
Mining

Bitcoin
mining is the process by which new bitcoins are created
and transactions are verified on the Bitcoin network.
Miners use specialized hardware to solve complex mathematical
puzzles, which secures the network and earns them
rewards in the form of newly minted bitcoins and transaction
fees.
Key
Points:
Purpose:
Validates transactions and prevents double-spending
by adding them to the blockchain, a decentralized
ledger.
Process:
Miners compete to solve cryptographic puzzles (Proof
of Work) to create a new block. The first to solve
it broadcasts the block to the network for verification.
Hardware:
Modern mining uses Application-Specific Integrated
Circuits (ASICs) for efficiency, as GPUs and CPUs
are no longer competitive.
Rewards:
As of August 2025, the block reward is 3.125 BTC (halved
from 6.25 BTC in April 2024). Rewards halve every
210,000 blocks (roughly every 4 years).
Energy
Use: Mining is energy-intensive, often requiring significant
electricity, leading to debates about environmental
impact.
Difficulty:
Adjusts every 2,016 blocks (about every two weeks)
to maintain a 10-minute block time, increasing as
more miners join.
Profitability:
Depends on electricity costs, hardware efficiency,
Bitcoin price, and network difficulty. Many miners
join pools to share rewards and reduce variance.
Geographic
Trends: Miners often locate in areas with cheap electricity,
like parts of the U.S., China, or regions with renewable
energy.
Current
Context (August 2025):
Market
Dynamics: Recent X posts suggest mining remains profitable
for some, with firms like Marathon Digital expanding
operations (e.g., acquiring a 200 MW data center).
However, smaller miners face challenges due to rising
difficulty and energy costs.
Energy
Debate: There's ongoing discussion about Bitcoin mining's
environmental impact, with some miners adopting renewables
or flared gas to mitigate criticism.
Halving
Impact: The 2024 halving reduced rewards, pushing
less efficient miners out and increasing competition
among larger players.
News
Digital
Gold

Recommendation:
If youre interested in digital gold as a gold
investment, research trusted platforms like MMTC-PAMP
or SafeGold and understand the terms, fees, and storage
policies. For cryptocurrencies, consider your risk
tolerance due to their volatility.The term "digital
gold" can have different meanings depending on
the context. Based on the information available, here
are the two primary interpretations:
Digital
Gold as a Form of Gold Investment:
Definition:
Digital gold refers to an investment in 24-karat,
99.9% pure gold purchased online through digital platforms
without the need to physically own or store the metal.
The gold is stored in secure, insured vaults by providers
on behalf of the investor. Each unit of digital gold
is backed by an equivalent amount of physical gold,
ensuring its value tracks the market price of gold.
How
It Works: Investors can buy, sell, or hold digital
gold via apps or websites like Paytm, Google Pay,
PhonePe, or Tanishq, often in small denominations
starting as low as ?1 or ?100. The gold is stored
by trusted providers like MMTC-PAMP, Augmont Goldtech,
or SafeGold. Investors can also convert digital gold
into physical gold (e.g., coins, bars, or jewelry)
or sell it at real-time market prices, with proceeds
credited to their bank accounts.
Benefits:
Convenience: Buy, sell, or track gold prices anytime
via digital platforms.
No
Storage Hassle: Eliminates the need for physical storage,
reducing risks of theft or loss and avoiding locker
or insurance costs.
Purity
and Transparency: Guarantees 24K gold with real-time
pricing and no making charges (unlike jewelry).
Liquidity:
Easily convertible to cash or physical gold, with
high flexibility for small investments.
Accessibility:
Low entry points make it affordable for a wide range
of investors.
Risks:
Regulatory
Gaps: Digital gold is not directly regulated by SEBI
or RBI, which introduces some risk.
Platform
Dependency: Investors rely on the platforms
security and solvency.
Price
Volatility: Value fluctuates with global gold prices.
GST
and Fees: A 3% GST applies, and some platforms may
charge management or delivery fees.
Where
to Buy: In India, digital gold is offered by platforms
like Paytm, Google Pay, PhonePe, Tanishq, and Bajaj
Finserv, partnered with providers like MMTC-PAMP,
Augmont, or SafeGold.
Digital
Gold as Cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin):
Definition:
In some contexts, "digital gold" refers
to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, seen
as modern equivalents to gold due to their limited
supply, decentralized nature, and potential as a store
of value. This analogy emphasizes their role as a
hedge against inflation or economic instability, similar
to physical gold.
How
It Works: These cryptocurrencies operate on blockchain
technology, providing a secure, transparent ledger
for transactions. Unlike physical gold, they are purely
digital and not backed by physical assets unless specifically
designed as gold-backed tokens.
Sentiment
on X: Posts on X often compare Bitcoin to "digital
gold," highlighting its scarcity and independence
from traditional financial systems. However, some
argue golds supply can expand with demand, unlike
Bitcoins fixed supply, sparking debates about
their relative value.
Risks:
Cryptocurrencies face higher volatility, regulatory
uncertainty, and technological risks compared to physical
or vaulted digital gold. They also lack universal
acceptance and are subject to market speculation.
Digital
Gold Currency (DGC):
Definition:
A less common meaning, DGC is an electronic currency
backed by physical gold reserves held in vaults by
private entities. Each unit represents a specific
amount of gold (e.g., grams or troy ounces). Examples
include historical systems like E-Gold or modern ones
like Zimbabwes ZiG token.
How
It Works: DGCs allow users to transact in gold-backed
digital units, with 100% of client funds held as physical
gold. They aim to combine golds stability with
digital convenience but face challenges like limited
acceptance and management risks.
Risks:
Lack of universal acceptance, potential for fraud,
and operational risks (e.g., poor management or security
breaches) make DGCs less mainstream. Historical examples
like E-Gold failed due to regulatory issues and fraud.
Key
Distinctions: Digital Gold (Vaulted) is a direct investment
in physical gold stored securely, offering simplicity
and low entry points, ideal for traditional gold investors.
Cryptocurrency
as Digital Gold is a metaphorical comparison, emphasizing
scarcity and decentralization but with higher risk
and no physical backing.
DGC
is a niche system blending golds value with
digital transactions, less common due to practical
and regulatory challenges.
Why
Invest in Digital Gold?
For
vaulted digital gold, its a convenient, cost-effective
way to invest in gold without physical ownership,
suitable for portfolio diversification or small-scale
investments, especially in markets like India.
For
cryptocurrencies, some investors see them as a modern
alternative to gold, though with greater volatility
and speculative risk.
DGCs
appeal to those seeking gold-backed digital transactions,
but their use is limited.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
News
Gold
Price News
As
of August 21, 2025, gold prices have experienced a
slight decline, with the spot price falling to $3,342.75
per troy ounce, down 0.07% from the previous day,
according to Trading Economics.
Over
the past month, gold prices have dropped by 2.58%,
though they remain 34.38% higher than a year ago.
The price movement is influenced by several factors,
including a stronger U.S. dollar and reduced expectations
for a significant Federal Reserve rate cut in September,
prompted by hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data
and a drop in jobless claims.
Recent
market sentiment, as reflected on X, indicates volatility,
with some posts noting a sharp rise in gold prices
earlier in August, reaching around $3,500 per ounce,
driven by factors like U.S. tariff uncertainties and
strong safe-haven demand. However, prices pulled back
after clarifications that tariffs would not be imposed
on gold bar imports.
In
India, gold prices have also softened, with 24-karat
gold priced at ?10,074 per gram and 22-karat at ?9,234
per gram as of August 20, 2025. The Multi Commodity
Exchange (MCX) reported October gold futures trading
at ?99,240 per 10 grams, down 0.16%, amid easing geopolitical
tensions and focus on the U.S. Federal Reserves
Jackson Hole symposium.
News
Best
Quotes
"All
that glitters is not gold"
News
Gold
Price: (Near Live)
$3,337.05USD
Bitcoin
Price (Near Live)
$112,870.37
USD -0.92%
News
Google
Finance wins Media Man 'Business Website Of The Month'
award
https://google.com/finance/
Runner-up:
Yahoo!
Finance
https://finance.yahoo.com
Mining/Energy/Resources:
Australia And World
News
August
21, 2025
Miners
hit with delay but find ally in Trump
US
President Donald Trump has held talks with BHP CEO
Mike Henry and Rio Tinto counterpart Jakob Stausholm,
as well as the latter's successor Simon Trott. A spokesman
for Rio Tinto said the discussions centred on the
mining industry's capacity to deliver long-term domestic
supplies of copper and other critical minerals, as
well as the long-stalled Resolution Copper project
in Arizona. The White House meeting has coincided
with a US court's decision to award an injunction
to temporarily block a land transfer deal that is
crucial to the project. Rio Tinto has a 55 per cent
stake in the Resolution Copper joint venture. (RMS)
News
Multi-billion-dollar
hot briquetted iron project gets environmental approval
in Port Hedland
Western
Australia's Environmental Protection Authority has
approved a $4 billion hot briquetted iron plant at
Port Hedland. The processing plant is backed by South
Korea-based steel-maker POSCO and will refine raw
iron ore from the Pilbara and turn it into direct
reduction process hot briquetted iron, which is also
known as briquetted steel. The plant will produce
more than two million tonnes of iron briquettes annually,
and a report published by the Superpower Institute
in May estimated that hot briquetted iron could more
than double Australia's iron ore export revenue. (Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
Rare
earths 'floor price' will lift: Iluka
Iluka
Resources has posted a 2025 interim net profit of
$92m, which is 31 per cent lower than previously.
Meanwhile, CEO Tom O'Leary says a 'non-China price'
for rare earths is clearly emerging, which will boost
prices across the sector. The US Department of Defense
recently agreed to provide a 'floor price' for neodymium
and praseodymium (NdPr) that will be produced by MP
Materials at its Mountain Pass mine in California.
The guaranteed minimum price of $US110 per kilogram
compares with the current market price for NdPR of
about $US89/kg; the federal government is considering
its own floor price for rare earths. Iluka will begin
producing rare earths at its Eneabba refinery in Western
Australia from 2027. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
China
lithium giant says IGO must stay in 'marriage'
The
future of the Kwinana lithium hydroxide plant in Western
Australia remains in doubt after part-owner IGO Limited
recently advised that it will write down the value
of its stake to zero. IGO owns the plant in partnership
with China's Tianqi Lithium; the latter's CEO Frank
Ha is adamant that the $1.2bn plant will stay open,
despite the concerns of IGO CEO Ivan Vella. The troubled
refinery has a nameplate capacity of 24,000 tonnes
of battery-grade lithium hydroxide per annum, and
Ha says its output now regularly reaches 50 per cent
of this; production at the Kwinana refinery began
in May 2022. (RMS)
News
Australian
Mining News
Hillgrove
Resources discovered a new high-grade mineralised
zone between its Kavanagh and Nugent mining areas,
boosting potential at its operations.
Glencore
applied for its El Pachón and Agua Rica projects
to be included in an incentive regime, signaling expansion
plans.
Magnetite
Mines reported high-grade rare earth oxide intersections
(up to 1153 ppm TREO) at its project, highlighting
Australias growing role in critical minerals.
BHP
and Curtin University are collaborating to enhance
biodiversity at the Olympic Dam operation, reflecting
a focus on environmental sustainability.
Rio
Tinto released updated information on 14 global tailings
facilities, emphasizing transparency in environmental,
social, and governance (ESG) practices.
Mantle
Minerals sold its subsidiary Mt Roe Mining to Northern
Star Resources for $13.5 million, streamlining operations
in Western Australia.
Mineral
Resources faced challenges with an $807 million net
loss in the first half of the financial year, amid
a tumultuous period for lithium and iron ore markets.
Adanis
mine expansion in Queensland was approved by Premier
David Crisafulli, but it sparked controversy, with
other miners threatening to exit due to market conditions.
GoldOre
developed a new mineral processing technology for
Australias sulphuric orebodies, potentially
redefining industry standards.
Anglo
American reported a strong rebound in manganese production
in Australia for the June quarter, doubling output
after cyclone recovery.
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
News
Gold
Price News
As
of August 21, 2025, gold prices have experienced a
slight decline, with the spot price falling to $3,342.75
per troy ounce, down 0.07% from the previous day,
according to Trading Economics.
Over
the past month, gold prices have dropped by 2.58%,
though they remain 34.38% higher than a year ago.
The price movement is influenced by several factors,
including a stronger U.S. dollar and reduced expectations
for a significant Federal Reserve rate cut in September,
prompted by hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data
and a drop in jobless claims.
Recent
market sentiment, as reflected on X, indicates volatility,
with some posts noting a sharp rise in gold prices
earlier in August, reaching around $3,500 per ounce,
driven by factors like U.S. tariff uncertainties and
strong safe-haven demand. However, prices pulled back
after clarifications that tariffs would not be imposed
on gold bar imports.
In
India, gold prices have also softened, with 24-karat
gold priced at ?10,074 per gram and 22-karat at ?9,234
per gram as of August 20, 2025. The Multi Commodity
Exchange (MCX) reported October gold futures trading
at ?99,240 per 10 grams, down 0.16%, amid easing geopolitical
tensions and focus on the U.S. Federal Reserves
Jackson Hole symposium.
News
Best
Quotes
"All
that glitters is not gold"
Mining,
Energy, Resources and Culture: Australia and World
August
2025
Profile
Mining:
Western Australia
Western
Australia is a global mining powerhouse, renowned
for its vast mineral wealth and significant contribution
to the world's raw material supply. The state boasts
a diverse range of mining operations, including iron
ore, gold, lithium, nickel, and more. WA's mining
industry is a major economic driver, employing a large
workforce and generating substantial revenue through
royalties and exports.
Key
Aspects of Mining in Western Australia:
Dominant
Player: WA is a major global supplier of iron ore,
particularly from the Pilbara region, and a leading
producer of gold, lithium, and other minerals.
Economic
Significance: The mining sector is a critical component
of the state's economy, contributing significantly
to employment, exports, and government revenue.
Major
Commodities: Iron ore, gold, lithium, nickel, copper,
lead, zinc, alumina, coal, diamonds, salt, and mineral
sands are among the key commodities mined in WA.
Extensive
Operations: The state hosts a large number of mining
and exploration projects, including major iron ore
mines in the Pilbara, and numerous gold mines.
Investment
Hub: WA is a favored destination for mining investment,
attracting significant capital for exploration and
development.
Technological
Advancement: The state is at the forefront of mining
innovation, with increasing automation and remote
operations.
Environmental
Responsibility: Mining companies in WA are increasingly
focused on sustainable mining practices and reducing
their environmental impact.
Government
Support: The WA government actively supports the mining
industry through funding, infrastructure development,
and regulatory frameworks.
Community
Engagement: Mining companies are working to strengthen
their relationships with Aboriginal communities and
ensure that mining operations benefit all stakeholders.
News
August
14, 2025
Supply
chain worry as China blocks ship
Alkane
Resources sent a 55-tonne shipment of antimony concentrate
to a US buyer via a port in China. However, Chinese
authorities held the shipment at Ningbo port in Zhejiang
Province for three months; the shipment was only released
after Alkane agreed to return it to Australia rather
than forward it to the customer, US Antimony Corporation.
Alkane's CEO Nick Earner says antimony from the Costerfield
mine in Victoria had been sent to the US via Chinese
ports in the past without incident, but his company
will no longer take that risk. Antimony is a critical
mineral that is used by defence manufacturers; it
is also used in the production of fire retardant products,
electronics and solar panels. (RMS)
News
Investors
take on lithium shorts fuelling rebound
Data
from S&P Global Platts shows that the price of
spodumene has rebounded by about 70 per cent since
reaching a low of $US575 per tonne in June. The price
of spodumene - the type of lithium that is mined in
Australia - has risen strongly in recent days after
China-based CATL suspended production at its Jianxiawo
lithium mine. David Franklyn from Argonaut Securities
is among the fund managers who are upbeat regarding
the outlook for lithium; Argonaut participated in
the recent capital raising of Liontown Resources,
which is one of Australia's most heavily shorted stocks.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Global
Lithium signs native title agreement for Manna
Global
Lithium Resources will be able to proceed to the next
phase of its proposed Manna lithium project in Western
Australia's Eastern Goldfields region after signing
a native title agreement with the traditional owners.
Global Lithium's MD Dianmin Chen says that negotiating
a deal that will benefit the native title holders
as well as shareholders was a top priority for himself
and his team when he became MD in February. Manna
has an estimated mineral resource of 51.6 million
tonnes at one per cent lithium oxide. (RMS)
News
Evolution
doubles profit on unprecedented gold surge
Evolution
Mining has posted a 2024-25 net profit of $926m, which
is 119 per cent higher than previously. The company
produced 750,512 ounces of gold during the financial
year, and its achieved gold price rose by 35 per cent
to $4,300 an ounce. Meanwhile, Evolution expects its
gold production in 2025-26 to be within the range
of 710,000 to 780,000 ounces. The company's shares
rose 3.9 per cent to $7.99 on Wednesday. (RMS)
News
Santos
suitor fires back at Stokes over national interest
claim
A
spokesman for the consortium that is seeking to buy
Santos has criticised recent comments made by Ryan
Stokes, the CEO of SGH Limited. Stokes contended that
the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-led consortium's
proposed buyout of Santos is not in the national interest.
However, the consortium's spokesman says Stokes' comments
are "clearly opportunistic" and reflect
a commercial interest in the outcome of the bid. SGH
is the largest shareholder in Beach Energy, which
is Santos's partner in the Cooper Basin joint venture;
Beach is keen to acquire additional domestic gas assets,
and would be in a strong position to do so if ADNOC
is cleared to buy Santos but directed to sell its
Australian assets. (RMS)
News
Tamboran
clinches Beetaloo land deal
Tamboran
Resources has secured a deal with native titleholders
and the Northern Land Council regarding the sale of
appraisal gas from its exploration wells in the Beetaloo
Basin. Appraisal gas sales will provide an early revenue
stream for Tamboran's operations in the Beetaloo Basin.
The Northern Territory's regulations allow Tamboran
to sell up to 60 petajoules of gas from the exploration
wells each day; the appraisal gas would have been
burned off if Tamboran had not secured the deal with
the traditional owners. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Welcome
To The Blockchain (Song Lyrics)
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function
without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're
giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to
collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins
can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then
it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting
it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
By
di DECAP, Toby / Toby Ganger
News
Working
Man: Sony Lyrics
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At the age of sixteen years Oh, he quarrels with his
peers Who vowed they'd never see another one In the
dark recess of the mines Where you age before your
time And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At the age of sixty four Oh, he'll greet you at the
door And he'll gently lead you by the arm Through
the dark recess of the mines Oh, he'll take you back
in time And he'll tell you of the hardships that were
had
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
God, I never again will go down under ground
By
Rita Macneil
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
News
Markets
August
14, 2025
Australian
Dollar: $0.6540 USD (up $0.0010 USD)
Iron
Ore: $103.70 USD (down $0.70 USD)
Oil
Price: $62.74 USD (down $0.34 USD)
Gold:
$3,355.91 USD (up $8.03 USD)
Copper:
$4.4975 USD (down $0.0195 USD)
Bitcoin:
$122,815.70 USD (up 2.48%)
Dow
Jones: 44,922.27 (up 463.66 points)
Mining/Energy/Resources/Mining/Culture:
Australia and World
Newsfeed
August
2025
August
12, 2025
Fire
lit under lithium stocks
Shares
in Australian lithium miners rallied on Monday in
response to reports that China-based CATL will suspend
production at its Jianxiawo lithium mine for at least
three months. The suspension is said to be due to
CATL's failure to renew a key mining license that
had been slated to expire on 9 August. Liontown Resouces'
shares rose 18.3 per cent to $1, Mineral Resources
was up 12.2 per cent at $38.12 and Pilbara Minerals
finished 19.6 per cent higher at $2.31. The federal
government's National Reconstruction Fund recently
invested $50m in Liontown via the company's capital
raising. (RMS)
News
Rio
Tinto tests low-cost potash mining
BHP
has invested nearly $US12bn ($18.4bn) in its Jansen
potash mine in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan
over the last 14 years. BHP has used conventional
mining methods at Jansen, which includes drilling
deep shafts to extract the potash. However, Rio Tinto
will consider an alternative extraction process known
as selective solution mining at its own potash tenements
in Saskatchewan. Chief technical officer Mark Davies
says it could significantly reduce potash mining costs,
but stresses that the process is in the trial stage
and may not prove to be feasible. (RMS)
News
ADNOC
wins extension for $36b Santos bid
Santos
has advised that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-led
consortium had "substantially completed"
its assessment of the oil and gas group before its
exclusive due diligence period recently lapsed. The
consortium has been granted a two-week extension to
finalise its $36.4bn takeover bid; the new deadline
of 22 August is two days after Santos is slated to
release its financial results for the first half of
2025. The bid will require approval from the Foreign
Investment Review Board and Treasurer Jim Chalmers.
(Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Bitcoin
Mining
Bitcoin
mining is the process of validating transactions and
securing the Bitcoin network by solving complex mathematical
problems using specialized hardware. Miners compete
to find a hash that meets the network's difficulty
target, earning newly minted bitcoins and transaction
fees as rewards. Here's a concise overview based on
current insights:
How
It Works: Miners use powerful computers (ASICs) to
solve cryptographic puzzles, adding validated transactions
to the blockchain in blocks. The first miner to solve
the puzzle broadcasts the block, and if validated
by the network, they receive the block reward (currently
3.125 BTC, halved in April 2024) plus fees.
Hardware
& Costs: Modern mining requires Application-Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASICs) due to high computational
demands. Costs include hardware (e.g., Bitmain Antminer
S19, ~$1,500-$3,000), electricity (often $0.04-$0.10/kWh
for profitability), cooling, and facility expenses.
Profitability:
Depends on electricity costs, hardware efficiency,
Bitcoin price (~$60,000-$70,000 recently), and network
difficulty (which adjusts every ~2 weeks). Small-scale
miners often join pools to share rewards and reduce
variance.
Environmental
Impact: Mining consumes significant energy (~150 TWh
annually, comparable to small countries). Some operations
use renewable energy (e.g., hydro in Canada or geothermal
in Iceland) to mitigate impact.
Challenges:
High upfront costs, regulatory risks (e.g., bans in
China), and competition from large-scale operations.
The 2024 halving reduced rewards, squeezing margins
for inefficient miners.
Trends:
Shift toward sustainable energy, adoption of liquid
cooling, and geographic diversification (e.g., U.S.,
Kazakhstan). Some miners pivot to AI computing to
offset costs. (Grok)
News
The
sector faces a dynamic landscape of high costs, regulatory
shifts, and environmental scrutiny, with miners adapting
through strategic sales, diversification, or renewable
energy adoption
Recent
developments in Bitcoin mining highlight a mix of
technological advancements, economic challenges, and
environmental concerns:
Industry
Performance: June 2025 saw mixed results for miners.
Australian-based IREN reported record revenues but
lower Bitcoin production, while CleanSpark hit a 50
EH/s hashrate milestone, holding 12,608 BTC despite
selling 578 BTC for over $61 million.
MARA
Holdings mined 950 BTC in May 2025, a 35% increase
from April, boosting its reserves to 49,179 BTC without
selling any.
Mergers
and Acquisitions: CoreWeave acquired Core Scientific
for $9 billion in an all-stock deal to enhance AI
and high-performance computing capabilities. Meanwhile,
Gryphon Digital Mining merged with American Bitcoin
Corp, backed by Eric and Donald Trump Jr., aiming
to leverage pro-crypto policies under the Trump administration.
Mining
Difficulty and Hashrate: Bitcoins mining difficulty
hit a record 127.6 trillion in early August 2025,
increasing operational costs after the April 2024
halving reduced block rewards. A slight 3% difficulty
drop is expected around August 9, potentially easing
pressure on less efficient miners. The network hashrate
crossed 1 zetahash per second in April 2025, reflecting
intense competition.
Environmental
and Social Impact: Bitcoin minings energy consumption,
estimated at 2.3% of the U.S. grid, has raised concerns.
A Harvard study found that 34 major U.S. mines, primarily
fossil-fuel-powered, increased PM2.5 air pollution,
affecting 1.9 million Americans. Noise pollution from
mining facilities, like one in Dresden, New York,
has sparked community backlash, with residents reporting
health issues and disrupted peace.
Policy
and Regulation: The Trump administrations push
to make the U.S. the crypto-mining capital
includes plans for a national Bitcoin stockpile, boosting
mining stocks like MARA, Core Scientific, and Riot
Platforms. However, the IMF blocked Pakistans
plan for cheap electricity in crypto mining, citing
energy market risks. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis
proposed addressing double taxation for miners.
Cloud
Mining and Scams: Cloud mining platforms like PAIRMiner
and VN Bit Cloud gained traction, driven by pro-crypto
policies and Bitcoins price surge past $94,000
in January 2025. However, warnings about scams like
Tophash and GlobaleCrypto highlight risks of high
fees and centralization.
Innovations
and Shifts: Some miners, like Bit Digital, are pivoting
to Ethereum staking, while others, like HIVE Digital
Tech, scaled up to mine 6.5 BTC daily using hydro-cooled
facilities. Auradine Inc. announced next-generation
mining hardware at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference. (Grok)
News
Welcome
To The Blockchain (Song Lyrics)
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function
without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're
giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to
collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins
can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then
it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting
it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
By
di DECAP, Toby / Toby Ganger
News
Working
Man: Sony Lyrics
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At the age of sixteen years Oh, he quarrels with his
peers Who vowed they'd never see another one In the
dark recess of the mines Where you age before your
time And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At the age of sixty four Oh, he'll greet you at the
door And he'll gently lead you by the arm Through
the dark recess of the mines Oh, he'll take you back
in time And he'll tell you of the hardships that were
had
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
God, I never again will go down under ground
By
Rita Macneil
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
News
Markets
August
12, 2025
Australian
Dollar: $0.6512 USD (down $0.0008 USD) Iron Ore (SGX):
$103.55 USD (up $1.50 USD)
Oil: $63.99 USD (up $0.11 USD)
Gold: $3,342.85 USD (down $55.32 USD)
Copper: $4.4455 USD (down $0.0395 USD)
Bitcoin: $118,838.40 USD (up 0.60%)
Dow Jones: 43,975.09 (down 200.52 points)
Mining/Energy/Resources/Mining/Culture:
Australia and World
Newsfeed
August
2025
August
7
Rio
moves to cut three-month sick leave entitlement
Western
Mine Workers Alliance spokesman Brad Gandy says Rio
Tinto's proposal to significantly reduce sick leave
entitlements will boost support for collective bargaining
amongst its workforce. Rio Tinto proposes reducing
sick leave for its iron ore workers from 49 days a
year to just 12. The current policy allows Pilbara
workers to accrue the equivalent of three months'
sick leave in any rolling 12-month period, based on
their 'fly-in, fly-out' roster. Gandy contends that
the policy change would put pressure on FIFO workers
to travel to work when they are sick. The Alliance
comprises the Australian Workers' Union and the Mining
& Energy Union. (RMS)
News
Langer
resigns as a director of MinRes
Mineral
Resources' MD Chris Ellison has praised the contribution
of Justin Langer, who has resigned as a non-executive
director of the embattled iron ore and lithium miner.
The former Test cricketer had been appointed to the
company's board in January 2023; he also recently
joined its ethics and governance committee, which
was hit by the sudden resignation of three members
earlier in 2025. Langer has attributed his resignation
to an increased cricket workload. (RMS)
News
Iluka
to import rare earths from Africa for WA refinery
Iluka
Resources has secured a 15-year offtake agreement
with Lindian Resources regarding the latter's Kangankunde
rare earths project in Malawi. Iluka will process
rare earth monazite concentrate from the Kangankunde
project at its Eneabba refinery in Western Australia.
The refinery will be able to process up to 65,000
tonnes of feedstock per annum; this will include 6,000
tonnes a year from the Kangankunde mine. Iluka had
always intended to process third-party feedstock at
the Eneabba refinery, in addition to its own stockpiles
and output from its mines. As part of the deal, Iluka
will also provide Lindian with a $US20m ($30.9m) loan
to help build the mine. (RMS)
News
'Glencore
has been very good to Australia', CEO tells PM
Glencore's
CEO Gary Nagle says the company is open to all options
for its copper smelter in Mount Isa and its refinery
in Townsville, including allowing governments to acquire
an equity stake in the assets. However, he has rejected
suggestions that Glencore should cross-subsidise these
facilities via its coal mines. Nagle has also responded
to comments made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,
who said Mount Isa has been good to Glencore, so the
multinational should in turn be good to Mount Isa.
Nagle says Glencore has been "very, very good"
to Australia for "many, many years", noting
that it has contributed more than $100bn to the economy
in the last six years. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
August
6
Rinehart
a winner in rare earths move
Shares
in Lynas Rare Earths and Iluka Resources rose strongly
on Tuesday, in response to the federal government's
plans to create a floor price for rare earths. Resources
Minister Madeleine King has indicated hat the government
is also open to taking equity stakes in rare earths
companies, as part of its proposal to establish a
critical minerals strategic reserve. Arafura Rare
Earths' CEO Darryl Cuzzubbo says an Australian floor
price would disrupt China's dominance of the rare
earths sector; he adds that any strategic reserve
for rare earths should be linked to a non-China controlled
price index. Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has an eight
per cent in Arafura and a similar stake in Lynas.
(RMS)
News
US
defence firms scrambling for rare earth minerals after
China blocks exports
The
prices of some rare earths have increased more than
60-fold since the Chinese government imposed export
controls earlier in 2025; the export restrictions
also include critical minerals such as germanium,
gallium and antimony. China's new export licensing
regime has imposed onerous conditions on US buyers
of rare earths and critical minerals, including proof
that they will not be used for military purposes;
this has resulted in delivery delays of several months
for some of these commodities. Experts have warned
that China's dominance of the rare earths and critical
minerals sector has given the nation a "stranglehold"
over the US defence industry. (RMS)
Gold
'fires on all cylinders' as traders gear up for rally
The
gold price has been range-bound since peaking at a
record high of $US3,500 per ounce in early April.
However, the precious metal has rallied in recent
days, and it was fetching around $US3,377 an ounce
on Tuesday. Factors such as expectations of further
interest rate cuts in the US have prompted renewed
investor support for gold. Citi is bullish about the
outlook for the traditional 'safe haven' investment,
forecasting that it will trade within a range of $US3,300
to $US3,600 an ounce over the next three months. (RMS)
News
Windfall
turns miner from 'cretinous idiot' to hero
Larvotto
Resources' decision to buy the mothballed Hillgrove
gold and antimony mine in late 2023 has proven to
be an astute move. The company's market capitalisation
was just $5.6m at the time of the deal, but it has
since risen to more than $290m. The stock's surge
has been largely due to China's decision to impose
export controls on antimony, which is on the federal
government's critical minerals list. CEO Ron Heeks
notes that Larvotto's shareholders had opposed the
acquisition of the mine, which had been in the hands
of administrators for several years. Antimony is currently
trading at around $US58,000 per tonne, compared with
about $US9,000 when Larvotto bought the NSW mine.
(RMS)
News
Regis
blasts Plibersek as mine delays add up
Regis
Resources' MD Jim Beyer says the company's focus is
on securing approval for its McPhillamys gold mine
in NSW and starting the project. He concedes that
the terms of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Heritage Protection Act means that Regis is unlikely
to be able to obtain compensation if a court rules
in its favour. The McPhillamys project was blocked
by former enviroment ministrer Tanya Plibersek on
Indigenous heritage grounds. Beyer says the mine would
be employing about 300 people and generating free
cashflow of up to $1.5m a day if it was currently
in production. (RMS)
August
4/5, 2025
August
4
ASX-listed
gold miners arrive at Diggers & Dealers with more
than $7.5b in cash and bullion
The
annual Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum begins in
Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Monday, with the price of gold
having risen by 38 per cent in Australian dollar terms
since last year's event. ASX-listed producers of gold
collectively held more than $7.5 billion of cash and
bullion as of 30 June, with how they intend to spend
that money certain to be a dominant topic of conversation
at the three-day event. Surbiton Associates director
Sandra Close suggests the money could be spent on
further acquisitions, while she is sure shareholders
would like it spent on higher dividends. (RMS)
News
Court
looms for Anglo, Peabody in $5.8b deal dispute
Peabody
Energy is slated to acquire four Queensland coking
coal mines from Anglo American in a $US3.78 billion
($5.87 billion) deal. However, it has become complicated
by an underground fire at the Moranbah North mine
on 31 March. Peabody and Anglo American are at odds
over whether the fire represents a "material
adverse change" event, which would allow the
terms of the deal to be renegotiated, with the companies
prepared to go to court over the issue. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
The
new Great Game: how China's grip on critical minerals
is redrawing the world order
China
is the chief player and reigning champion in what
has been described as the new Great Game, namely the
control of critical mineral supply chains and the
mineral resources that power modern technologies such
as EVs and mobile phones. China's dominance of critical
minerals is something that has developed over decades,
and which saw it control 97 per cent of global rare
earth element production by 2010. It has taken time
for the West to wake up to China's critical minerals
dominance, and closing this gap will not be easy;
a war-time mindset is needed. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
AVZ
'hell-bent' on getting best deal for Congo project
AVZ
Minerals' MD Nigel Ferguson says he is determined
to get the best deal for shareholders in any sale
of its Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic
of Congo. US-based KoBold Metals is regarded as the
leading contender to buy the project, although Ferguson
says the company will have to "step up"
its offer in order to secure a deal. KoBold's shareholders
include US billionaire Marc Andreessen, who is a backer
of Vice President JD Vance. Any breakdown in negotiations
between AVZ and KoBold could therefore potentially
jeopardise a proposed critical mineral pact between
the US and the DRC, which could be signed within weeks.
(RMS)
Newsfeed
August
5
Fortescue
safety jobs relocated to India
A
decision by Fortescue to shift safety alert monitoring
roles to India is said to be causing confusion at
its iron ore mines in Western Australia. It is understood
that calls to workers at the mines to alert them of
potential problems are displaying as overseas numbers,
prompting staff to decline the calls because they
believed they are being scammed. The safety alert
monitoring roles were moved to India a few weeks ago
as part of cost-cutting measures, while it is understood
that local workers who were performing the jobs have
been redeployed in other roles. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Canberra
to follow Trump's lead on rare earths to counter China
Resources
Minister Madeleine King says the federal government
is looking at national offtake agreements for the
sale of Australia's rare earths as part of its Critical
Minerals Strategic Reserve policy. King says the government
is considering creating a floor price for rare earths
as part of its policy, while she stopped short of
saying that the government would directly invest in
rare earth mining companies. The US Department of
Defense recently acquired a 15 per cent stake in MP
Materials, which is the biggest rare earth producer
in the US. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Santos
deal is not in national interest: Beach
The
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-led consortium's exclusive
due diligence period regarding a proposed takeover
bid for Santos will shortly end. Beach Energy is Santos's
partner in the Cooper Basin gas venture, which supplies
gas for both exports and the domestic markets. Beach
CEO Brett Woods contends that it is not in the national
interest for the Cooper Basin assets to be sold to
foreign operators; he adds that it is not certain
that the ADNOC-led consortium would be committed to
continuing to supply the domestic market. Meanwhile,
Beach has posted a loss of $43.8m for 2024-25, due
primarily to a large impairment charge. (RMS)
News
Bitcoin
Mining
Bitcoin
mining is the process of validating transactions and
securing the Bitcoin network by solving complex mathematical
problems using specialized hardware. Miners compete
to find a hash that meets the network's difficulty
target, earning newly minted bitcoins and transaction
fees as rewards. Here's a concise overview based on
current insights:
How
It Works: Miners use powerful computers (ASICs) to
solve cryptographic puzzles, adding validated transactions
to the blockchain in blocks. The first miner to solve
the puzzle broadcasts the block, and if validated
by the network, they receive the block reward (currently
3.125 BTC, halved in April 2024) plus fees.
Hardware
& Costs: Modern mining requires Application-Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASICs) due to high computational
demands. Costs include hardware (e.g., Bitmain Antminer
S19, ~$1,500-$3,000), electricity (often $0.04-$0.10/kWh
for profitability), cooling, and facility expenses.
Profitability:
Depends on electricity costs, hardware efficiency,
Bitcoin price (~$60,000-$70,000 recently), and network
difficulty (which adjusts every ~2 weeks). Small-scale
miners often join pools to share rewards and reduce
variance.
Environmental
Impact: Mining consumes significant energy (~150 TWh
annually, comparable to small countries). Some operations
use renewable energy (e.g., hydro in Canada or geothermal
in Iceland) to mitigate impact.
Challenges:
High upfront costs, regulatory risks (e.g., bans in
China), and competition from large-scale operations.
The 2024 halving reduced rewards, squeezing margins
for inefficient miners.
Trends:
Shift toward sustainable energy, adoption of liquid
cooling, and geographic diversification (e.g., U.S.,
Kazakhstan). Some miners pivot to AI computing to
offset costs. (Grok)
News
The
sector faces a dynamic landscape of high costs, regulatory
shifts, and environmental scrutiny, with miners adapting
through strategic sales, diversification, or renewable
energy adoption
Recent
developments in Bitcoin mining highlight a mix of
technological advancements, economic challenges, and
environmental concerns:
Industry
Performance: June 2025 saw mixed results for miners.
Australian-based IREN reported record revenues but
lower Bitcoin production, while CleanSpark hit a 50
EH/s hashrate milestone, holding 12,608 BTC despite
selling 578 BTC for over $61 million.
MARA
Holdings mined 950 BTC in May 2025, a 35% increase
from April, boosting its reserves to 49,179 BTC without
selling any.
Mergers
and Acquisitions: CoreWeave acquired Core Scientific
for $9 billion in an all-stock deal to enhance AI
and high-performance computing capabilities. Meanwhile,
Gryphon Digital Mining merged with American Bitcoin
Corp, backed by Eric and Donald Trump Jr., aiming
to leverage pro-crypto policies under the Trump administration.
Mining
Difficulty and Hashrate: Bitcoins mining difficulty
hit a record 127.6 trillion in early August 2025,
increasing operational costs after the April 2024
halving reduced block rewards. A slight 3% difficulty
drop is expected around August 9, potentially easing
pressure on less efficient miners. The network hashrate
crossed 1 zetahash per second in April 2025, reflecting
intense competition.
Environmental
and Social Impact: Bitcoin minings energy consumption,
estimated at 2.3% of the U.S. grid, has raised concerns.
A Harvard study found that 34 major U.S. mines, primarily
fossil-fuel-powered, increased PM2.5 air pollution,
affecting 1.9 million Americans. Noise pollution from
mining facilities, like one in Dresden, New York,
has sparked community backlash, with residents reporting
health issues and disrupted peace.
Policy
and Regulation: The Trump administrations push
to make the U.S. the crypto-mining capital
includes plans for a national Bitcoin stockpile, boosting
mining stocks like MARA, Core Scientific, and Riot
Platforms. However, the IMF blocked Pakistans
plan for cheap electricity in crypto mining, citing
energy market risks. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis
proposed addressing double taxation for miners.
Cloud
Mining and Scams: Cloud mining platforms like PAIRMiner
and VN Bit Cloud gained traction, driven by pro-crypto
policies and Bitcoins price surge past $94,000
in January 2025. However, warnings about scams like
Tophash and GlobaleCrypto highlight risks of high
fees and centralization.
Innovations
and Shifts: Some miners, like Bit Digital, are pivoting
to Ethereum staking, while others, like HIVE Digital
Tech, scaled up to mine 6.5 BTC daily using hydro-cooled
facilities. Auradine Inc. announced next-generation
mining hardware at the Bitcoin 2025 Conference. (Grok)
News
Welcome
To The Blockchain (Song Lyrics)
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function
without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're
giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to
collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins
can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then
it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting
it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
By
di DECAP, Toby / Toby Ganger
News
Working
Man: Sony Lyrics
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At the age of sixteen years Oh, he quarrels with his
peers Who vowed they'd never see another one In the
dark recess of the mines Where you age before your
time And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At the age of sixty four Oh, he'll greet you at the
door And he'll gently lead you by the arm Through
the dark recess of the mines Oh, he'll take you back
in time And he'll tell you of the hardships that were
had
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
God, I never again will go down under ground
By
Rita Macneil
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
Mining/Energy/Resources/Mining/Culture:
Australia and World
Newsfeed
August
4/5, 2025
August
4
ASX-listed
gold miners arrive at Diggers & Dealers with more
than $7.5b in cash and bullion
The
annual Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum begins in
Kalgoorlie-Boulder on Monday, with the price of gold
having risen by 38 per cent in Australian dollar terms
since last year's event. ASX-listed producers of gold
collectively held more than $7.5 billion of cash and
bullion as of 30 June, with how they intend to spend
that money certain to be a dominant topic of conversation
at the three-day event. Surbiton Associates director
Sandra Close suggests the money could be spent on
further acquisitions, while she is sure shareholders
would like it spent on higher dividends. (RMS)
News
Court
looms for Anglo, Peabody in $5.8b deal dispute
Peabody
Energy is slated to acquire four Queensland coking
coal mines from Anglo American in a $US3.78 billion
($5.87 billion) deal. However, it has become complicated
by an underground fire at the Moranbah North mine
on 31 March. Peabody and Anglo American are at odds
over whether the fire represents a "material
adverse change" event, which would allow the
terms of the deal to be renegotiated, with the companies
prepared to go to court over the issue. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
The
new Great Game: how China's grip on critical minerals
is redrawing the world order
China
is the chief player and reigning champion in what
has been described as the new Great Game, namely the
control of critical mineral supply chains and the
mineral resources that power modern technologies such
as EVs and mobile phones. China's dominance of critical
minerals is something that has developed over decades,
and which saw it control 97 per cent of global rare
earth element production by 2010. It has taken time
for the West to wake up to China's critical minerals
dominance, and closing this gap will not be easy;
a war-time mindset is needed. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
AVZ
'hell-bent' on getting best deal for Congo project
AVZ
Minerals' MD Nigel Ferguson says he is determined
to get the best deal for shareholders in any sale
of its Manono lithium project in the Democratic Republic
of Congo. US-based KoBold Metals is regarded as the
leading contender to buy the project, although Ferguson
says the company will have to "step up"
its offer in order to secure a deal. KoBold's shareholders
include US billionaire Marc Andreessen, who is a backer
of Vice President JD Vance. Any breakdown in negotiations
between AVZ and KoBold could therefore potentially
jeopardise a proposed critical mineral pact between
the US and the DRC, which could be signed within weeks.
(RMS)
Newsfeed
August
5
Fortescue
safety jobs relocated to India
A
decision by Fortescue to shift safety alert monitoring
roles to India is said to be causing confusion at
its iron ore mines in Western Australia. It is understood
that calls to workers at the mines to alert them of
potential problems are displaying as overseas numbers,
prompting staff to decline the calls because they
believed they are being scammed. The safety alert
monitoring roles were moved to India a few weeks ago
as part of cost-cutting measures, while it is understood
that local workers who were performing the jobs have
been redeployed in other roles. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Canberra
to follow Trump's lead on rare earths to counter China
Resources
Minister Madeleine King says the federal government
is looking at national offtake agreements for the
sale of Australia's rare earths as part of its Critical
Minerals Strategic Reserve policy. King says the government
is considering creating a floor price for rare earths
as part of its policy, while she stopped short of
saying that the government would directly invest in
rare earth mining companies. The US Department of
Defense recently acquired a 15 per cent stake in MP
Materials, which is the biggest rare earth producer
in the US. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Santos
deal is not in national interest: Beach
The
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company-led consortium's exclusive
due diligence period regarding a proposed takeover
bid for Santos will shortly end. Beach Energy is Santos's
partner in the Cooper Basin gas venture, which supplies
gas for both exports and the domestic markets. Beach
CEO Brett Woods contends that it is not in the national
interest for the Cooper Basin assets to be sold to
foreign operators; he adds that it is not certain
that the ADNOC-led consortium would be committed to
continuing to supply the domestic market. Meanwhile,
Beach has posted a loss of $43.8m for 2024-25, due
primarily to a large impairment charge. (RMS)
News
Bitcoin
Mining
Bitcoin
mining is the process of validating transactions and
securing the Bitcoin network by solving complex mathematical
problems using specialized hardware. Miners compete
to find a hash that meets the network's difficulty
target, earning newly minted bitcoins and transaction
fees as rewards. Here's a concise overview based on
current insights:
How
It Works: Miners use powerful computers (ASICs) to
solve cryptographic puzzles, adding validated transactions
to the blockchain in blocks. The first miner to solve
the puzzle broadcasts the block, and if validated
by the network, they receive the block reward (currently
3.125 BTC, halved in April 2024) plus fees.
Hardware
& Costs: Modern mining requires Application-Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASICs) due to high computational
demands. Costs include hardware (e.g., Bitmain Antminer
S19, ~$1,500-$3,000), electricity (often $0.04-$0.10/kWh
for profitability), cooling, and facility expenses.
Profitability:
Depends on electricity costs, hardware efficiency,
Bitcoin price (~$60,000-$70,000 recently), and network
difficulty (which adjusts every ~2 weeks). Small-scale
miners often join pools to share rewards and reduce
variance.
Environmental
Impact: Mining consumes significant energy (~150 TWh
annually, comparable to small countries). Some operations
use renewable energy (e.g., hydro in Canada or geothermal
in Iceland) to mitigate impact.
Challenges:
High upfront costs, regulatory risks (e.g., bans in
China), and competition from large-scale operations.
The 2024 halving reduced rewards, squeezing margins
for inefficient miners.
Trends:
Shift toward sustainable energy, adoption of liquid
cooling, and geographic diversification (e.g., U.S.,
Kazakhstan). Some miners pivot to AI computing to
offset costs. (Grok)
News
The
sector faces a dynamic landscape of high costs, regulatory
shifts, and environmental scrutiny, with miners adapting
through strategic sales, diversification, or renewable
energy adoption
Recent
developments in Bitcoin mining highlight a mix of
technological advancements, economic challenges, and
environmental concerns:
Industry Performance: June 2025 saw mixed results
for miners. Australian-based IREN reported record
revenues but lower Bitcoin production, while CleanSpark
hit a 50 EH/s hashrate milestone, holding 12,608 BTC
despite selling 578 BTC for over $61 million.
MARA
Holdings mined 950 BTC in May 2025, a 35% increase
from April, boosting its reserves to 49,179 BTC without
selling any.
Mergers and Acquisitions: CoreWeave acquired Core
Scientific for $9 billion in an all-stock deal to
enhance AI and high-performance computing capabilities.
Meanwhile, Gryphon Digital Mining merged with American
Bitcoin Corp, backed by Eric and Donald Trump Jr.,
aiming to leverage pro-crypto policies under the Trump
administration.
Mining Difficulty and Hashrate: Bitcoins mining
difficulty hit a record 127.6 trillion in early August
2025, increasing operational costs after the April
2024 halving reduced block rewards. A slight 3% difficulty
drop is expected around August 9, potentially easing
pressure on less efficient miners. The network hashrate
crossed 1 zetahash per second in April 2025, reflecting
intense competition.
Environmental and Social Impact: Bitcoin minings
energy consumption, estimated at 2.3% of the U.S.
grid, has raised concerns. A Harvard study found that
34 major U.S. mines, primarily fossil-fuel-powered,
increased PM2.5 air pollution, affecting 1.9 million
Americans. Noise pollution from mining facilities,
like one in Dresden, New York, has sparked community
backlash, with residents reporting health issues and
disrupted peace.
Policy and Regulation: The Trump administrations
push to make the U.S. the crypto-mining capital
includes plans for a national Bitcoin stockpile, boosting
mining stocks like MARA, Core Scientific, and Riot
Platforms. However, the IMF blocked Pakistans
plan for cheap electricity in crypto mining, citing
energy market risks. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis
proposed addressing double taxation for miners.
Cloud Mining and Scams: Cloud mining platforms like
PAIRMiner and VN Bit Cloud gained traction, driven
by pro-crypto policies and Bitcoins price surge
past $94,000 in January 2025. However, warnings about
scams like Tophash and GlobaleCrypto highlight risks
of high fees and centralization.
Innovations and Shifts: Some miners, like Bit Digital,
are pivoting to Ethereum staking, while others, like
HIVE Digital Tech, scaled up to mine 6.5 BTC daily
using hydro-cooled facilities. Auradine Inc. announced
next-generation mining hardware at the Bitcoin 2025
Conference. (Grok)
News
Welcome
To The Blockchain (Song Lyrics)
We're
now standing on the precipice of a global revolution
Of economics, of politics, and government
Welcome to the blockchain
verse
Power
corrupts, money is power
The power to control the money is one that is now
In the hands of those who pretend we can't function
without them
So how can we do something about it? (Huh?)
Working hard to get a raise, lifting that wage up
Inflation takes it like a hidden taxation
Manipulated interest rates to give the banks
A way to create money with the loans that they're
giving out daily (yup)
That means our money is debt
That we gotta pay back more than a hundred percent
No wonder then why the middle class is going under
When the one's above them gotta cover and come to
collect
And many have no access to banking
Making payments, or saving, so more fees are taken
And every day the gatekeepers are trying to stop change
We can not wait, welcome to the blockchain
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
verse
Bitcoin
is a decentralized ledger
And the currency is its first enterprise ever
Secured by the worldwide incentivized network
Can't be stolen or controlled by any sized effort
You can send it anywhere and instantly
No one can intervene, no third party in between
There's no counterfeiting
Algorithms control the outer limits of how many coins
can get released
Programmable money, no government can seize it
Payments can be customized by sender and receiver
Contracts can be written cementing your agreements
With terms that can't be bent once you consent then
it completes it
Autonomous businesses are possible
Where profit is distributed amongst those adopting
it
Paradigm shift we must adjust to the ending
With the blockchain, bitcoin is just the beginning
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
bridge
Now
that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
Now that we got control
We're not gonna let it go
My people all around the globe
We gotta keep building, building, building
chorus
Welcome
to the blockchain
Things are about to change
Open up the gates
Systems get replaced
Bitcoin
Decentralize the trust
Security, transparency
The network's run by us
Bitcoin
By
di DECAP, Toby / Toby Ganger
News
Working
Man: Sony Lyrics
It's
a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At the age of sixteen years Oh, he quarrels with his
peers Who vowed they'd never see another one In the
dark recess of the mines Where you age before your
time And the coal dust lies heavy on your lungs
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
At the age of sixty four Oh, he'll greet you at the
door And he'll gently lead you by the arm Through
the dark recess of the mines Oh, he'll take you back
in time And he'll tell you of the hardships that were
had
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
It's a working man l am And I've been down under ground
And I swear to God if l ever see the sun Or for any
length of time I can hold it in my mind I never again
will go down under ground
God, I never again will go down under ground
By
Rita Macneil
News
Markets
August
6, 2025
Australian
Dollar: $0.6467 USD (up $0.0005 USD) Iron Ore: $101.20
USD (up $0.60 USD) Oil: $66.23 USD (down $1.10 USD)
Gold: $3,373.82 USD (up $10.81 USD) Copper (CME):
$4.4560 USD (up $0.0205 USD) Bitcoin: $114,898.78
USD (up 0.41%) Dow: 44,173.64 (up 585.06 points)
Cryptos:
(Near Live)
August
5, 2025
(Sydney, Australia)
Bitcoin
$114,226.74 USD -0.23%
Ethereum $3,652.44 USD +3.15%
XRP $3.02 USD +1.36%
Tether $1.00 USD +0.00%
BNB $763.64 USD +1.12%
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
Mining,
Energy and Resources: Australia and World
News
July
21, 2025
BHP
abandons $1.4b Tanzanian nickel project
Lifezone
Metals, which is BHP's partner in the Kabanga nickel
project in Tanzania, realised a feasibility study
on Firday. It concluded that Kabanga would be viable
at current nickel prices, but BHP has has chosen not
to exercise an option to increase its stake in the
project to 51 per cent. BHP will instead sell its
17 per cent stake in Kabanga to Lifezone Metals for
a maximum of $US83m; the actual price will be determined
by a series of production milestones. BHP had invested
$US100m in the Kabanga project in 2022. (RMS)
News
Woodside's
CEO in $100b hot seat
Woodside
Energy's first major deal under current CEO Meg O'Neill
was the $40bn merger with BHP's petroleum arm. That
deal made Woodside one of the world's 10 biggest independent
oil and gas producers. Four projects over the next
five years, with a combined value of about $60bn,
will make Woodside one of the world's biggest publicly
listed LNG producers. The company's shares have shed
14.7 per cent over the last year, while the S&P
ASX/200 risen by 10.4 per cent over the same period.
However, Woodside's shares have slightly outperformed
the benchmark index since O'Neill became CEO in August
2021. Meanwhile, Saul Kavonic from MST Marquee says
O'Neill is highly regarded in the US, and it may be
only a matter of time before one of that nation's
big energy companies tries to poach her. (RMS)
News
BHP
investors fret over potash returns after costs blowout
BHP
has advised of a 30 per cent blowout in the cost of
the first stage of its Jansen potash project in Canada.
The resources group also indicated that stage one
of the project will now commence production in 2027
rather than 2026. Meanwhile, first production from
the second stage of Jansen has been pushed back by
two years, to 2031. Clime Investment Management's
chief investment officer Will Riggall says the cost
blowout means that the return on investment for the
first stage of Jansen will fall; BHP has estimated
the ROI to be within the range of 12-14 per cent,
and Riggall contends that the project will have to
be reviewed if this metric falls below 10 per cent.
(RMS)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
Mining,
Energy and Resources: Australia and World
July
15, 2025
Gold
Price: $3,342.80 USD (down $13.15 USD)
News
Gold
Mining News
These
developments highlight a robust gold mining sector
in 2025, driven by high gold prices, operational advancements,
and geopolitical shifts, though challenges like environmental
concerns and state interventions persist.
Queensland
Court Approves Dittmer Gold Mine Expansion: On July
11, 2025, the Land Court of Queensland recommended
the expansion of Ballymore Resources Dittmer
gold mine in the Whitsunday region, despite local
opposition and environmental concerns over acid mine
drainage. New gold-finding technology is being deployed
at the site.
Shandong
Gold Mining Profit Surge: Shandong Gold Mining Co.,
Ltd. reported an 84.3-120.5% year-on-year increase
in net profit for the first half of 2025, driven by
its gold production and sales, with 96.4% of revenue
from China.
Serabi
Golds Record Production: Brazil-based Serabi
Gold achieved a record 10,532 ounces of gold production
in Q2 2025, bolstered by strong brownfield exploration
results.
Gold
Price Surge: Gold prices rose by about $40 per ounce
to nearly $3,360/oz on July 11, 2025, amid tariff
concerns and anticipation of the next US Federal Reserve
interest rate decision. HSBC forecasts an average
price of $3,215/oz for 2025, with Goldman Sachs predicting
up to $4,000 by mid-2026.
G
Mining Ventures Hits Milestone: G Mining Ventures
Tocantinzinho mine in Brazil reached nameplate capacity,
producing 42,587 ounces in Q2 2025, with 2025 guidance
set at 175,000-200,000 ounces.
Mali
Seizes Barrick Gold: Malis government seized
over a ton of gold (worth ~$117 million) from Barrick
Mining on July 14, 2025, following a law granting
the junta leader indefinite rule, raising concerns
about state-driven asset seizures.
Matsas
Devon Pit Operational: Matsa Resources Devon
Pit gold mine in Western Australia began operations,
with haulage to processing expected by late July 2025,
benefiting from gold prices exceeding $5,000/oz.
Russian
Gold Miner Nationalized: Russias third-largest
gold producer, Yuzhuralzoloto, was ordered nationalized
by a Chelyabinsk court on July 12, 2025, amid wartime
government takeovers.
Mako
Minings Record Revenue: Mako Mining Corp reported
$38.1 million in gold revenue for Q2 2025, with operations
in Nicaragua, Arizona, and Guyana, and a cash reserve
increase of $18.2 million.
Australian
Miners Thrive: Australian gold miners like Gold Road
Resources (72,980 oz in Q2 2025) and Regis Resources
(373,000 oz in FY25) reported strong results, driven
by high gold prices and operational improvements.
Robex
Resources on Track: Robex Resources Kiniero
project in Guinea is set for its first gold pour in
Q4 2025, with drilling confirming strong mineral continuity.
Bitcoin
Adoption by Gold Miners: Publicly traded gold miners
Hamak Gold Limited and Panther Metals announced plans
to add Bitcoin to their treasuries, reflecting a growing
trend among gold mining firms. (Grok)
News
July
15, 2025
Alphabet
soup as BHP links with BYD, CATL
BHP
has a signed a memorandum of understanding with the
FinDreams Battery Co subsidiary of Chinese electric
car maker BYD. They will collaborate on the development
of battery-powered trucks for the resources group's
mining operations, including fast-charging technology.
BHP has secured a similar memorandum of understanding
with Hong Kong-listed CATL; the world's largest battery
maker has been blacklisted by the Pentagon due to
its alleged links to the Chinese military. The Chinese
deals are part of BHP's push to decarbonise its mining
operations by 2050. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Iron
ore rally under threat as China stockpiling to slow
Iron
ore futures in Singapore rose to $US99.75 per tonne
in trading on Monday, but Robert Rennie from Westpac
expects the price of the steel input to fall below
$US90 by the end of 2025. Rennie says China is "furiously"
building stockpiles of metals, including iron ore;
he adds that iron ore pricing will reflect fundamentals
when this stockpiling ends, which most likely will
result in a sharp fall in the iron ore price. The
looming start of production at Rio Tinto's Simandou
project in Guinea is likely to put further downward
pressure on the iron ore price. A weaker iron ore
would also affect the federal government's revenue
from taxes and royalties. (RMS)
News
Australian
miners warn on iron ore oversupply, steel glut
BHP
Australia president Geraldine Slattery has warned
that Australian iron ore miners are facing an environment
where there is an oversupply of the commodity, as
well as a glut of steel. Slattery was speaking on
the sidelines of an industry roundtable in Shanghai
that was held as part of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's
six-day trip to China. Fortescue executive chairman
Andrew Forrest, who also took part in the roundtable,
has called for a bilateral agreement between Australia
and China on green iron, with Forrest claiming that
green steel has the potential to generate hundreds
of thousands of new jobs. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Gold's
next move could make or break these ASX miners
Factors
such as gold's safe haven status and geopolitical
tensions prompted a strong rally in the price of the
precious metal in 2024-25, particularly in the second
half of the financial year. The gold price reached
a record high of around $US3,500 an ounce in April,
and Citi analysts believe that this may represent
its peak. However, Macquarie says there may be one
further rally due to the impact of the Trump administration's
proposed tax cuts on US government debt. MA Financial
has identified stocks that may benefit if the gold
price falls; they include Alkane Resources, Genesis
Minerals and Ora Banda Mining. (RMS)
News
Bowen
coal jobs hanging in balance
Australian-listed
Bowen Coking Coal has advised that it is taking active
steps to address its liquidity problems, amid the
current downturn in the price of coal. The company
says it is holding talks with multiple parties to
secure financing, while it is reviewing its coal operations
in Queensland in response to the challenging market
conditions. There are fears that up to 500 jobs at
its flagship Burton mine could be at risk due to factors
such as the falling price of coal and the impact of
the state government's coal royalty scheme. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
Mining,
Energy and Resources: Australia and World
Pop
Culture Element News Edition
News
Iron
ore sector pins hopes on China
July
7, 2025
Iron
ore futures rose to a six-week high of close to $US97
a tonne last week, following a pledge by the Chinese
government to address overcapacity in the country's
steel sector. It comes after the ASX 200 materials
index fell six per cent in the 2024-25 financial year,
compared to a 10 per cent rise in the ASX 200, with
shares in iron ore miners BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue
falling between 10 and 29 per cent. Overcapacity has
been a problem for the Chinese steel sector for for
nearly a decade, so it is hoped the government's latest
pledge results in sustained improvement for it and
delivers ongoing benefits for the Australian iron
ore mining sector. (RMS)
News
China
has paid a high price for its dominance in rare earths
China's
dominance in the processing and supply of rare earths
has come at a heavy cost in terms of environmental
damage, which the Chinese government tolerated for
many years. The worst damage has occurred in and around
Baotou, a flat, industrial city of two million people
in China's Inner Mongolia that dubs itself the world
capital of the rare earth industry. It is home to
an artificial lake of sludge that was created from
the waste from rare earth and iron ore processing,
but which was constructed without a liner to prevent
its contents from seeping into groundwater; any attempt
to remove and store that sludge would be quite a logistical
challenge. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
China
ramps up race to secure critical minerals
Analysis
of data from S&P and Mergermarket shows that Chinese
mining companies made 10 overseas acquisitions worth
more than $US100m in 2024, the highest volume of such
activity since 2013. Richard Horrocks-Taylor from
Standard Chartered says Chinese deal-making activity
in the mining sector is likely to remain strong in
the next several years. Appian Capital Advisory's
founder Michael Scherb in turn says Chinese deal-making
has ramped up in the last year due to concerns that
geopolitical concerns will make some countries more
cautious about investments from China. (RMS)
News
Wal
King cleared as ASIC loses case against TerraCom
July
5, 2025
Federal
Court judge Ian Jackman has ruled against the Australian
Securities and Investments Commission in its case
against mining company TerraCom. ASIC had alleged
that former and current directors of TerraCom, including
construction industry legend Wal King, had misled
the market about a whistleblower's claims that it
was rigging coal quality results, but Jackman rejected
all of its case against King and the other current
and former directors. ASIC stated that it will consider
Jackman's judgement carefully, while noting it has
28 days to appeal his ruling. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
Mining
Events and Conferences
Vancouver
Resource Investment Conference (VRIC): January 1920,
Vancouver, Canada. Attracts over 9,000 investors and
300+ mining companies, focusing on investment opportunities
and industry trends.
Mines
and Money Miami: February 2021, Miami, USA.
Connects 600+ attendees, including mining companies
and investors, with a focus on critical minerals and
supply chain strategies.
MINEXCHANGE
2025 SME Annual Conference & Expo: February 2326,
Denver, USA. Co-located with the Colorado Mining Associations
127th National Western Mining Conference and World
Gold 2025, expecting 5,000+ attendees. Covers innovative
practices and sustainable mining solutions.
BMO
Global Metals, Mining & Critical Minerals Conference:
February 2326, Hollywood, USA. Focuses on metals,
mining, and critical minerals with high-level networking
for industry executives.
PDAC
2025 Convention: March, Toronto, Canada. The worlds
largest mining event, attracting 30,000+ attendees
from 135+ countries. Emphasizes mineral exploration,
sustainability, and networking.
Life
of Mine | Mine Waste and Tailings Conference: July
2930, Brisbane, Australia. Combines two AusIMM
events, offering insights into mine lifecycle management
and tailings best practices.
AIMEX
2025: September 2325, Adelaide, Australia. Features
professional development, networking, and showcases
mining technologies.
The
Digital Mine Conference: September 25, location TBD.
Focuses on digital transformation in mining, hosted
by Global Mining Review.
International
Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC): October 2123,
Sydney, Australia. Australias largest mining
event, connecting global leaders with technology and
finance sectors. Features six concurrent conferences
and 500+ exhibitors.
African
Mining Week (AMW): October 13, Cape Town, South
Africa. Brings together industry leaders and policymakers
to drive innovation and partnerships.
Mining
World Congress 2025: December 1011, London,
UK. Focuses on exploration, critical minerals, investments,
and AI in mining.
Mining,
Resources, Energy, Markets, Gold and Gold Culture,
News: Australia and World
July
1, 2025
News
ASX
winners and losers for 2025 revealed
The
benchmark S&P/ASX 200 rose 10.2 per cent in the
2024-25 financial year, posting its biggest annual
gain since 2021. Ship builder Austal tops the list
of best-performing stocks for 2024-25, rising by 152
per cent; it is followed by gold producers Regis Resources
(up 150 per cent) and Genesis Minerals (145 per cent).
Meanwhile, IDP Education recorded the biggest loss
among the top-200 stocks, shedding 76 per cent; other
major underperformers included Mineral Resources (down
60 per cent) and Pilbara Minerals (57 per cent). The
ASX 200 ended the financial year at 8,542.3 points,
and Shane Oliver from AMP says it could potentially
rise to around the 8,700-point level by the end of
2025. (RMS)
News
Vales
Point coal plant owner sued by ASIC for market manipulation
The
Australian Securities & Investments Commission
has filed legal action against Delta Power & Energy
in the Federal Court. Delta is the operator of the
Vales Point coal-fired power station in NSW; ASIC
has accused Delta of market manipulation with regard
to energy futures contracts, with the alleged manipulation
taking place on 30 occasions between 8 September and
6 October 2022. ASIC claims Delta's conduct that had
the potential to undermine public confidence in the
ASX 24 market for quarterly futures, along with its
integrity. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Mining
News: Australia
Trends
and Sentiment: Gold projects are gaining traction,
with coal losing ground as an export leader. Environmental
concerns persist, especially with projects like Wyloos
wetland exploration. Critical minerals like lithium
and nickel are seeing increased focus amid global
demand Fenix Resources started mining at its Beebyn-W11
iron ore mine in Western Australias Mid-West,
marking its third operation in the region. A 17.6km
private haul road to connect it to the Iron Ridge
mine is nearly complete, facilitating direct transport
to Geraldton Port.
Ausgold
released a strong definitive feasibility study (DFS)
for its Katanning gold project in Western Australia,
projecting 140,000 ounces of gold annually for the
first four years and 1.14 million ounces over a 10-year
mine life, with all-in sustaining costs of $2,180/oz
initially.
Benz
Mining reported high-grade gold results at its Glenburgh
project in Western Australias Gascoyne Province,
bolstered by a recent capital raise to fund ongoing
exploration. A maiden Mineral Resource Estimate is
expected soon.
Trade
Challenges: Australias mining sector faces a
projected $27 billion drop in export earnings for
iron ore and liquefied gas due to U.S.-China trade
tensions and tariffs, particularly impacting demand
from China. However, critical minerals like lithium
and manganese are expected to see earnings rise from
$1.7 billion in 202425 to $4.8 billion by 202627.
Andrew
Forrests Wyloo lodged exploration applications
for a critical wetland near Exmouth Gulf, Western
Australia, shortly after a salt company abandoned
similar plans, raising environmental concerns.
Brightstar
Resources completed a DFS for its Menzies and Laverton
gold projects, targeting 70,000 ounces annually, with
plans to scale to 200,000 ounces by 2029, supported
by cash flow from its Fish mine.
Rio
Tinto and Hancock Prospecting are investing $1.6 billion
in the Hope Downs 2 iron ore project in the Pilbara,
boosting Australias iron ore sector.
Peabody
Energy extended a lockout at its Helensburgh coal
mine, escalating tensions with the Mining and Energy
Union amid strong thermal coal prices.
Larvotto
Resources gained approval for its Hillgrove antimony-gold
project, aiming for production in 2026.
Chalice
Mining is on track to release a pre-feasibility study
for its Gonneville multi-element (nickel, copper,
PGE) project by year-end, with environmental approvals
progressing.
Astron
Corporations Donald rare earths and mineral
sands project in Victoria received final regulatory
approval, with $183 million in funding from Energy
Fuels for Phase 1.
Westgold
Resources awarded a $130 million contract to Barminco
for underground mining at its Great Fingall project,
targeting over 45,000 ounces annually.
Greatland
Resources debuted on the ASX, raising $490 million,
with shares jumping 12% after acquiring the Telfer
gold mine.
Mount
Isa Copper Smelter: Federal and Queensland governments
are engaging with Glencore to explore options for
keeping the smelter operational, critical for regional
jobs. (Grok)
Bitcoin
Mining: News
Note:
Always conduct your own research before engaging with
cloud mining platforms, as some may carry risks. Regulatory
and environmental developments could further shape
the industrys trajectory.
Cloud
Mining Growth: Cloud mining platforms are gaining
traction in 2025 as accessible alternatives to traditional
mining.
Topnotch
Crypto launched a zero-cost cloud mining platform
on June 30, 2025, aiming to make Bitcoin mining universally
accessible without hardware or technical expertise.
Similarly, BAY Miner expanded AI-driven cloud mining
services for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin,
offering hardware-free mining with daily returns.
Other platforms like BTC Miner, QFSCOIN, MiningCoop,
and PS Miner also introduced free or low-cost cloud
mining options, emphasizing ease of use and passive
income amid market volatility.
Market
Volatility and Miner Revenue: Bitcoin miner revenues
dropped to a two-month low of $34 million daily on
June 22, 2025, due to declining transaction fees and
a post-halving block subsidy cut. Despite this, miners
are holding onto their coins, with only 150 BTC sold
by Satoshi-era miners in 2025 compared to 10,000 BTC
in 2024, signaling confidence in a potential market
rebound. However, the network hashrate fell 3.5% over
the past 10 days, the largest drop since July 2024.
Mining
Difficulty Adjustment: Bitcoin mining difficulty is
expected to drop by about 9%, the largest decline
since Chinas 2021 ban, potentially boosting
miner revenues. This follows a period of high difficulty
squeezing margins, with heatwaves in Texas forcing
temporary shutdowns due to energy grid stress.
Environmental
and Regulatory Concerns: Environmental scrutiny persists,
with a 2023 UN study equating Bitcoin minings
carbon footprint to burning 84 billion pounds of coal.
The Trump administrations relaxed regulations
in the U.S. have spurred mining expansion, but environmental
groups criticize fossil fuel reliance. Some miners
are shifting to renewables, like hydroelectric power
in Canada and wind farms in Texas.
Meanwhile,
Norway plans to temporarily halt energy-intensive
mining facilities, and Kuwait banned mining due to
grid strain, while Iceland incentivizes renewable-powered
operations.
Corporate
Moves and Infrastructure: Tether aims to become the
largest Bitcoin miner by year-end, prioritizing network
security over profit.
Core
Scientific is in talks with CoreWeave for a potential
sale, reflecting the overlap between Bitcoin mining
and AI data center infrastructure.
Cipher
Mining launched its 150MW Black Pearl site in Texas,
with plans to reach 300MW.
Chinese
mining giants Bitmain, Canaan, and MicroBT are setting
up U.S. production to avoid tariffs.
Profitability
and Industry Trends:
Bitcoin
mining profitability rose 18.2% in May 2025, driven
by a 20% Bitcoin price increase and North American
miners capturing 26.3% of the global network.
MARA
Holdings mined 950 BTC in May, bolstering its treasury
to 49,179 BTC, one of the largest corporate holdings.
The
industry is consolidating, with less profitable miners
struggling and larger players like Marathon and CleanSpark
expanding.
Home
Mining Options:
Home
mining remains viable in 2025, with lower equipment
costs (ASICs at $16 per terahash vs. $80 in 2022).
Options include lottery mining (high-risk, low-cost),
solo mining with ASICs, or joining mining pools for
steady payouts.
The
EUs MiCA regulation has reduced regulatory uncertainty,
supporting retail miners. (Grok)
News
MinRes
sells troubled Yilgarn iron ore projects
Perth-based
Yilgarn Iron Investments has secured a deal to buy
the mothballed Yilgarn iron ore projects in Western
Australia from Mineral Resources. The Yilgarn mines
in the state's Goldfields region were shut down in
late 2024, and more than 800 workers were redeployed
to the company's other projects. Mineral Resources
has advised that the commercial terms of the deal
are 'confidential and immaterial'. The deal only comprises
the Yilgarn hub's iron ore assets, and Mineral Resources
will retain the rights to gold and lithium deposits.
(RMS)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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."
News
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony
Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse 1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And
love is like a high prison wall And you could leave
me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul You've got the
power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something
I could have learned
You're
indestructible, always believing (You are, gold) Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home 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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You
are gold (gold) Glad that you're bound to return
There's
something I could have learned You're indestructible,
always believing
[Verse
2]
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 And love
is like a high prison wall
And
you could leave me standing so tall
Markets
July
1, 2025
Australian
Dollar: $0.6580 USD (up $0.0045 USD)
Iron Ore July Spot Price: $94.20 USD (down $0.55)
Iron Ore Aug Spot Price: $94.20 USD (down $0.08)
Oil: $64.97 USD (down $0.55 USD)
Gold: $3,303.22 USD (up $28.99 USD)
Copper : $5.1075 USD (down $0.0145 USD)
Bitcoin: $107,498.09 (up 0.04% in last 24 hours)
Dow Jones: 44,094.77 (up 275.50 points)
Mining,
Resources, Energy, Markets,News: Australia and World
June
30, 2025
War,
tariffs, growth slump take $33bn toll on miners
The
Department of Industry, Science & Resources has
forecast that Australia's resources export earnings
will fall to $369bn in 2025-26, compared with an estimated
$385bn in the current financial year. The quarterly
resources and energy report also forecasts that the
sector's export earnings will fall to $352bn in 2026-27.
The report notes a number of risks for the sector,
including geopolitical tensions, the Trump administration's
tariffs regime and slowing global economic growth.
The report forecasts that iron ore export earnings
will fall by $11bn to $104.8bn in 2025-26; however,
gold shipments are expected to rise by $10bn to $56bn,
and become the nation's third-biggest resources export
in 2025-26. (RMS)
News
Iran
could resume uranium enrichment 'in a matter of months',
UN nuclear watchdog says
International
Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi
says Iran might be able to resume uranium enrichment
'in a matter of months', despite the US and Israeli
attacks on several of its nuclear facilities. There
have also been questions as to whether Iran was able
to relocate some or all of its estimated 408.6-kilogram
(900-pound) stockpile of highly enriched uranium before
the attacks, with Grossi admitting to CBS News that
"we don't know where this material could be".
Iran has decided to suspend co-operation with the
IAEA, and has Grossi's request for a visit to the
damaged facilities. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Rio
Tinto puts hunt for CEO on fast-track
Sources
have indicated that Rio Tinto is likely to announce
the successor to CEO Jakob Stausholm after its half-year
results are released on 30 July. The resources group
has commenced the process of interviewing and assessing
the shortlisted candidates for the role; the leading
internal contenders include chief commercial officer
Bold Baatar and the head of iron ore, Simon Trott.
Stausholm revealed plans to step down in May, prompting
speculation that he had been pushed out. Rival BHP
is said to be preparing for the eventual departure
of CEO Mike Henry. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Beach
touted as Narrabri buyer
Citi
has stated that regulators might require Santos to
divest its undeveloped Narrabri gas field in NSW in
order for them to approve its $30 billion takeover
by Abu Dhabi's XRG consortium. It comes as XRG was
given an exclusive four-week period of due diligence
on Friday to progress its bid for Santos, while the
Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy is seen as a potential
buyer for the Narrabri gas field, which contains an
estimated 1,500 petajoules of gas. Potential daily
production of 200 terajoules is equivalent to half
of NSW's current gas consumption. (RMS)
News
June
26, 2025
Australia
sues China-linked rare earths investors
Treasurer
Jim Chalmers has lodged Federal Court action against
Indian Ocean International Shipping & Service
for breaching Australian foreign investment laws;
action is also being taken against a former unnamed
associate of the firm. The company is one of five
foreign investors with links to China that Chalmers
ordered in 2024 to divest their shares in rare earth
miner Northern Minerals due to national interest concerns,
with Chalmers' legal action against Indian Ocean International
Shipping & Service said to be the first of its
kind. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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 analyzes 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."
News
Gold
holds decline as ceasefire saps haven demand
Gold
held a decline as a shaky Iran-Israel ceasefire appeared
to hold, reducing demand for haven assets. Bullion
was near $US3330 an ounce, after closing down 1.3
per cent on Tuesday. The truce between Israel and
Iran continued after US President Donald Trump lashed
out at both sides for early breaches. Geopolitical
uncertainties, along with Trumps aggressive
trade policy and central bank buying, have spurred
a 27 per cent advance in gold this year. The rally
has lost momentum over the last couple of months,
however, with bullion mostly trading between $US3300
and $US3400 an ounce. Spot gold rose 0.2 per cent
to $US3330.85 an ounce in Asian trading. The Bloomberg
Dollar Spot Index was flat. Silver was steady, while
platinum and dipped.
News
Bonus
Gold
by Spandau Ballet
Producers:
Steve Jolley & Tony Swain
Music
Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home
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
[Chorus]
Gold (gold)
Always
believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know You're indestructible,
always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Bridge]
Love
is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You
got the power to know You're indestructible, always
believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (You are,
gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to
know
You're indestructible, always believing 'Cause you
are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)
[Verse
1]
Thank
you for coming home
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
[Chorus]
Gold
(gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing
[Verse
2]
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
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall
News
Markets
June
30, 2025
Australian
Dollar: $0.6535 USD (down $0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore July Spot Price (SGX): $94.75 USD (up $1.20)
Oil (WTI): $65.52 (up $0.33)
Gold: $3,274.23 (down $53.78)
Copper (CME): $5.1220 (up $0.0690)
Bitcoin: $107,356.68 (up 0.13%)
Dow Jones: 43,819.27 (up 432.43)
Markets
June
27, 2025
Australian
dollar +0.5% to 65.46 US cents
Wall
Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones +0.9%
Nasdaq +1%
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.2%
FTSE +2%,
DAX +0.6%
CAC -0.01%
Bitcoin
+0.1% to US$107,875
Gold
$US3329.90 an ounce at 6.41am AEDT
US oil +0.5% to $US62.26 a barrel at 8.42am AEDT
Brent Crude Oil +0.1% to $US67.78 a barrel
Iron ore -1% at $US94.52 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.24% Australia 4.1% Germany 2.57%
News
Gold
once again approaches a cliff edge
The
Israel and Iran ceasefire has reduced demand for gold
as a safe-haven asset. The precious metal failed to
break out of the medium-term consolidation range of
$3,100 to $3,400 per troy ounce and resume its upward
trend. This signals weakness among bulls and allows
Citigroup to predict a fall in prices below $3,000
in 2026. According to the bank, thanks to Donald Trump's
big and beautiful tax bill, the acceleration
of the US economy will push gold prices down. The
decrease in geopolitical risks will also contribute
to gold's decline.
Goldman
Sachs, on the other hand, maintains its forecast for
the precious metal to rise to $4,000. It cites the
insatiable appetite of central banks, the weakening
dollar, and the fall in US Treasury bond yields. Indeed,
the White House is keen on lower debt market rates
and a weaker currency. A recent survey by the World
Gold Council shows that 43% of central banks plan
to increase their bullion purchases over the next
12 months, up from just 29% a year ago.
The
recent de-escalation has once again tested gold's
support at its uptrend, marked by the 50-day moving
average. On Friday, sellers pushed the price below
this level, which passes through 3324, and are even
attempting to stabilise below 3300. In May, a sharp
movement managed to push the price back above this
line. However, this metric is now turning downward,
reflecting over two months of consolidation after
reaching recent highs.
All
signs indicate a potential repeat of the consolidation
seen in November-December last year, which laid the
groundwork for the subsequent rally. However, there
is also a high probability that the failure to break
through the $3500 level over the past two months signals
a global trend reversal. We await whether this will
mirror 2020, with a 20% correction in the next six
months and a two-year sideways movement or resemble
the nearly halving in gold prices from 2011 to 2015.
(FxPro)
News
ASX
dips on tech sell-off; lithium stocks rally
The
Australian sharemarket drifted lower on Thursday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.1 per cent to close
at 8,550.8 points. Northern Star Resources fell 2.3
per cent to $18.84, Xero was down 5.3 per cent at
$184 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 0.4 per cent
lower at $190.71. However, Mineral Resources was up
3.6 per cent at $20.90 and DroneShield added 11.7
per cent to end the session at $2.39. (RMS)
News
'Not
the moment' for abandoned rare earths mega-merger,
says Lynas boss
A
merger of Lynas Rare Earths with MP Materials would
create a monopoly of rare earths in the Western world,
and the idea that they should merge has been previously
flagged. Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze said on Wednesday
that she had been of the view that a merger of the
two was a good idea, but that for a "variety
of reasons, it didn't happen". Speaking on the
sidelines of a talk for the Western Australian Mining
Club, she said that there were no discussions between
Lynas and MP Materials about a merger at present.
She said that deals often have their moment, "and
now is not the moment, unfortunately", in terms
of one between the two companies. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Best
Quotes Of The Day
"The
best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears.
To find the gold, think deeply and think better."
"You
are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig
to find it and make it real."
"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."
"Even
if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to
dig." Broadway Mining
"There's
a gold mine in you that must be exploited"
Mining,
Energy and Resources: Australia, World
News
June
20, 2025
Rio
Tinto to settle class action over Mongolian mine for
$214m
Rio
Tinto has settled a lawsuit brought against it by
Florida hedge fund Pentwater Capital Management and
other investors in Canada-based Turquoise Hill Resources.
The legal action related to alleged losses that the
investors in Turquoise Hill had incurred because of
Rio's management of the Oyu Tolgoi copper project
in Mongolia, with the investors to receive $US138.7
million ($213.6 million) under the terms of the proposed
settlement. Settlement of the action comes a month
after the Mongolian government filed a lawsuit against
Rio in a British court, with the government accusing
Rio of corruption and political bribery. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
PNG
in demand to Santos suitor
Wapu
Sonk says that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
must commit to the development of the $US18bn ($28bn)
Papua LNG project if its $30bn bid for Santos is successful.
Sonk is the MD of Kumul Petroleum, which is Papua
New Guinea's national oil company. Santos owns a stake
of just under 23 per cent in the Papua LNG project,
for which a final investment decision is expected
by December. Kumul has a two per cent stake in the
project, and has an option to increase this to 22.5
per cent if it goes ahead. (RMS)
News
Woodside,
Petronas in LNG supply talks
Woodside
Energy has advised that it has secured a non-binding
heads of agreement with Petronas to supply Malaysia
with one million tonnes of LNG per annum for 15 years
from 2028. Woodside indicated that some of the gas
could be sourced from its Louisiana LNG project in
the US, which received final investment approval in
April. The project, which was formerly known as Driftwood,
is slated to produce 16.5 million tonnes of LNG annually
from 2029. (RMS)
News
Australian
Mining News
Iron
Ore Market Challenges: Iron ore, Australias
most valuable export, is facing declining prices due
to reduced demand from China and strong production
from Pilbara mines. Rio Tinto opened its Western Range
mine in Paraburdoo, with a capacity of 25 million
tonnes annually, but forecasts suggest export earnings
will drop from $117 billion in FY25 to $109 billion
in FY26.
Traditional
Owners and Mining Talks: Post-Juukan Gorge, some Pilbara
traditional owner groups have secured new deals with
mining companies, but others, like the Yinhawangka,
express dissatisfaction with negotiation outcomes,
highlighting ongoing tensions.
Munda
Gold Mine Progress: Auric Mining reported the first
blast at its Munda Gold Mine in Western Australia
on June 17, 2025, with 70,000 BCM mined in the first
month, fully funded by gold sales from Jeffreys Find.
Uranium
Production Success: Boss Energys Honeymoon uranium
mine in South Australia met its FY25 production guidance
of 850,000 pounds of triuranium octoxide, with plans
for a ramp-up in FY26.
Innovation
and Sustainability: BHPs innovation team announced
eight finalists for its Deep Mining Open Call, focusing
on underground mining advancements. Meanwhile, Viva
Energy is supplying renewable diesel to reduce emissions
in mining operations, aligning with new Australian
fuel standards.
ASX
Mining Stock Movements: An unnamed ASX mining stock
surged 11% on June 19, 2025, due to positive news,
while major miners like BHP and Rio Tinto faced declines
amid falling iron ore and copper prices.
New
Exploration Tools: CSIROs LandScape+ software,
part of its eXploration Toolkit, uses machine learning
to create landform maps, aiding mineral discovery
by analyzing geochemical data in complex landscapes.
(Grok)
News
Gold
Mining: News
West
Red Lake Gold Mines (Ontario, Canada): West Red Lake
Gold Mines Ltd. is restarting the Madsen Mine, leveraging
smart drilling and new infrastructure. The company
has overcome major hurdles like permitting and financing,
aiming to resume production in H2 2025. This positions
it as a rare single-asset gold company launching production
in a tier-one jurisdiction this year.
Cosmo
Metals (Australia): Cosmo Metals extended its footprint
at the Nundle Goldfield, confirming a 2.5km strike
length at the Folly Line gold trend. Shareholder support
was secured for acquiring the Bingara and Nundle gold-antimony
projects, with further developments expected by April
2025.
Auric
Mining Ltd. (Australia): Auric Mining commenced operations
at the Munda Gold Mine with a first blast on June
17, 2025. Approximately 70,000 BCM was mined in the
first month, with management optimistic about capitalizing
on a bullish gold market.
Savannah
Goldfields (Australia): Savannah Goldfields is restarting
gold production at Georgetown, utilizing stockpiled
material and tailings. It began transporting 850 tonnes
of crushed Agate Creek ore from Charters Towers for
processing.
Horizon
Minerals (Australia): Horizon Minerals is generating
cash flow from its Phillips Find and Boorara projects,
with $20.3 million in revenue to date. An agreement
with Norton Gold Fields will process 1.24 million
tonnes of Boorara ore at the Paddington Mill, yielding
$6.3 million in Q1 2025.
Asante
Gold (Ghana): Asante secured $470 million in refinancing
to clear debts from its 2022 Chirano acquisition.
The company expects to double production to 172,000
oz in 2025, with the Bibiani sulphide plant commissioning
in Q3.
Barrick
Mining (Mali): Barrick removed its Loulo-Gounkoto
gold complex from its 2025 output forecast due to
a dispute with Malis government, which seized
gold stock and blocked exports. Operations have been
suspended since January, impacting 11% of Barricks
expected 2025 EBITDA.
Ghanas
Gold Production: The Ghana Chamber of Mines projects
4.45.1 million ounces of gold production in
2025, driven by Newmonts Ahafo South and Shandongs
Namdini mines. Gold exports earned $11.6 billion in
2024.
Gold
Price Trends: Gold prices surged past $5,000/oz in
2025, boosting mining activity in regions like Western
Australia. However, Citigroup forecasts a decline
to $2,500$2,700/oz by H2 2026, contrasting Goldman
Sachs bullish outlook of $3,700 by late 2025.
Other
Developments: Pacgold is restarting drilling at Alice
River (Australia) in Q4 2025, targeting high-grade
gold. Magmatic Resources acquired the Weebo Gold Project
in Western Australia, set to close in July 2025. (Grok)
Best
Quotes Of The Day
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 analyzes 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."
News
Markets
June
12, 2025
ASX
futures down 26 points/0.3% to 8493
Australian
dollar -0.4% to 64.81 US cents
Wall
Street closed: public holiday
Europe:
Stoxx 50 -1.3%, FTSE -0.6%, DAX -1.1%, CAC -1.3%
Bitcoin -0.2% to $US104,318
Spot
gold flat at $US3370.79 per ounce
US oil +0.8% to $US75.00 a barrel
Brent crude oil +2.8% to $US78.85 a barrel
Iron ore +0.5% to $US92.90 per tonne
10-year yield: US 4.39% Australia 4.21% Germany 2.52%
Business
News: Mining: Australia, World
News
June
18, 2025
BHP-Rio
US copper mine clears environment hurdle
The
US Department of Agriculture has granted environmental
approval for the Resolution Copper project in Arizona.
The publication of the final environmental impact
statement for the underground copper mine will allow
the transfer of federal land to occur, which is the
next step in the long-running battle to develop the
Resolution deposit. Joint venture partners BHP and
Rio Tinto have yet to make a final investment decision
on the project, which has faced strong opposition
from environmentalists and Indigenous groups. (RMS)
News
Gold
and iron ore prices set to drop, Citi warns
US
investment bank Citi is bearish about the price of
both gold and iron ore. The gold price has risen by
about 30 per cent so far in 2025, and peaked at a
record $US3,500 an ounce in April. However, Citi has
forecast that it will fall around $US2,5000 to $US2,700
an ounce by the end of 2026, due to factors such as
lower investment demand, an improving outlook for
the global economy and US interest rate cuts. The
iron ore price in turn has shed about five per cent
in the year-to-date, and is currently trading at around
$US93 per tonne; Citi expects it to fall to around
$US90 per tonne over the medium-term. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Rush
for uranium stocks to front-run prices
Uranium
produers Boss Energy and Paladin Energy are the Australian
sharemarket's two most-shorted stocks, while several
of their peers also attract strong interest among
short sellers. Local uranium stocks have rallied in
recent days, while the spot price of uranium rose
by nine per cent on Monday. The renewed interest in
the uranium sector is at least partly attributable
to expectations that Canada-based asset manager Sprott
will use the proceeds from the sale of units in its
physical uranium trust to buy about 2.6 million pounds
of physical uranium. Bell Potter notes that Sprott's
previous big foray into the uranium market prompted
a surge in the spot price. (RMS)
News
Mining
Stocks Today
Key
Mining Stocks and Performance
VanEck
Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX): As shown in the finance
card above, GDX is trading at $53.51 USD, slightly
down from its previous close of $53.55. Over the past
month, it has risen from $47.15 on May 19, 2025, reflecting
a strong upward trend (+13.5%). The ETF, which tracks
major gold mining companies, benefits from gold prices
exceeding $3,200/oz, driven by inflation and geopolitical
concerns.
SPDR
Gold Shares ETF (GLD): GLD, representing physical
gold, is at $311.94 USD, marginally up from $311.78
yesterday. It has gained 5% over the past month, aligning
with gold's safe-haven appeal amid tariff uncertainties
and inflation expectations.
Barrick
Gold (GOLD): A leading gold miner, Barrick is noted
for its focus on Tier One assets, producing steady
low-cost gold and copper. Its stock has been resilient
despite gold price volatility, supported by a strong
balance sheet and a 30% production growth target by
2030.
BHP
Group: The largest mining company by market cap, BHP
focuses on copper, iron ore, and coal. Its stock has
faced volatility due to China's reduced iron ore demand,
but its $2 billion investment in a copper joint venture
with Lundin Mining signals long-term optimism.
Rio
Tinto: Known for iron ore, copper, and lithium, Rio
Tintos stock has been impacted by weaker Chinese
demand but bolstered by its $6.7 billion acquisition
of Arcadium Lithium, positioning it as a major lithium
producer.
Franco-Nevada:
A gold streaming company, it has outperformed gold
prices historically due to its debt-free balance sheet
and royalty model. It had $1.9 billion in capital
for new deals in early 2025, making it a stable pick.
Compass
Minerals International (CMP): Rated highly by WallStreetZen,
CMP has seen a 79.27% stock return over the past year,
though its trading 12.76% below its $17.50 target
price. Its a top pick for diversified mining
exposure.
Sector
Trends and Sentiment
Gold
Miners: Gold stocks are performing strongly, with
the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index showing robust gains.
Posts on X highlight optimism, with miners like Getchell,
Lahontan, and Orezone up 4.610.9% recently,
suggesting speculative interest in junior miners.
Golds price above $3,200/oz supports miners
margins, though investor caution persists due to past
operational risks.
Copper
and Lithium: Copper miners like Southern Copper benefit
from prices nearing $10,000/tonne, but momentum slowed
in Q3 2024. Lithium stocks, such as Arcadium, are
under pressure from oversupply, though Rio Tintos
acquisition signals confidence in future demand.
Iron
Ore and Coal: Iron ore miners like Fortescue face
challenges from Chinas reduced steel production,
with prices down 10% year-over-year. Metallurgical
coal remains stable, but thermal coal is shunned by
ESG-focused investors.
Uranium
and Critical Minerals: Uranium stocks like Cameco
and Energy Fuels are gaining traction due to rising
nuclear energy demand. Junior miners like Core Nickel
and Omai Gold are also attracting attention for high-grade
exploration results.
Market
Outlook
The
mining sectors performance is tied to commodity
price cycles and macroeconomic factors. Gold miners
are a strong bet for hedging volatility, with analysts
expecting further upside if gold sustains its rally.
Copper and uranium offer growth potential, but lithium
and iron ore stocks may lag until demand stabilizes.
Investors should focus on companies with strong balance
sheets and low-cost operations, like Barrick or Franco-Nevada,
to mitigate cyclical risks. (Grok)
News
Best
Quotes
He
who has the gold makes the rules. Unknown
All
that glitters is not gold. William Shakespeare
"The
reality is gas prices should be much more expensive
then they are because we're not incorporating the
true damage to the environment and the hidden costs
of mining oil and transporting it to the U.S. Whenever
you have an unpriced externality, you have a bit of
a market failure, to the degree that eternality remains
unpriced" Elon Musk
Australia-Japan
partnership to power critical minerals in NSW
June
10, 2025
Japanese powerhouse JX Advanced Metals Corporation
has signed an agreement for a $20 million investment,
with an additional contribution option of $5 million
and a further $5 million in convertible funding in
Australian-owned critical minerals company RZ Resources
Copi Project in western NSW.
RZ
Resources founder David Fraser said the collaboration
between the two companies was a testament to their
shared vision for the project and Australias
resilience in critical minerals.
This
is more than a financial investment it is a
deep strategic partnership that strengthens our ability
to deliver the Copi Project as a globally significant,
geopolitically aligned supply of critical minerals.
The
Copi Project, subject to NSW planning approvals, has
the potential to produce titanium feedstocks (rutile,
leucoxene, ilmenite), premium zircon products (ceramic-grade
and concentrates) and rare earth element concentrate,
ready for downstream refining.
News,
Markets, Comms and Culture
May
15, 2025
Sydney,
Australia
Markets
Australian
Dollar: $0.6420 USD (down $0.0050 USD)
Iron Ore June Spot Price (SGX): $101.70 USD (up $2.10
)
Oil Price (WTI): $62.89 USD (down $0.74)
Gold Price: $3,179.41 USD (down $72.13)
Copper Price (CME): $4.6435 USD (down $0.0650)
Bitcoin: $103,541.08 USD (down 0.93%)
Dow Jones: 42,051.06 (down 89.37 points)
News
Australia
Miners,
energy help ASX to sixth day of gains
The
Australian sharemarket posted a modest gain on Wednesday,
with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.1 per cent to close
at 8,279.6 points. Fortescue was up 2.2 per cent at
$16.97, Woodside Energy rose 3.4 per cent to $22.31
and the Commonwealth Bank firmed 0.8 per cent to end
the session at $167.50. However, Insignia Financial
shed 15.8 per cent to finish at $3.37 and Aristocrat
Leisure was down 8.9 per cent at $62.10. (Roy Morgan
Summary)
News
Media
CNN
and Fox take on their own legacies with new streaming
services
Fox
Corporation is set to launch its third streaming service
in the US. Fox One will feature content from across
the media group's operations, including news, sport
and entertainment. It will complement Fox Corp's existing
Fox Nation streaming news channel and Tubi, a free
advertising supported general entertainment streaming
platform. Meanwhile, Warner Bros Discovery-owned CNN
plans to launch a news streaming service that will
be bundled with subscriptions to http://cnn.com. Fox
Corp and CNN are both confident that their new streaming
products will not cannabilise the customer base for
their cable TV services. (RMS)
News
Rio
shows we must invest in green iron: Fortescue boss
Rio
Tinto recently advised that the iron content of its
flagship 'Pilbara Blend Fines' product will be downgraded
by nearly one percentage point, to 60.8 per cent;
BHP had previously reduced the iron content of two
iron ore products in 2024. Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto
says the trend underlines the need for Australia to
invest in more domestic refining, in order to produce
higher-grade iron ore. Otranto has indicated that
Fortescue is on track to finish construction of a
green iron plant at its Christmas Creek iron ore hub
and produce commercial quantities of green iron by
the end of 2025. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Beware
the rally in iron ore above $US100, it might not last
The
iron ore price has peaked at more than $US101 per
tonne in Singapore trading on Wednesday, which is
its highest level in about six weeks. Factors such
as the easing of trade tensions between the US and
China have bolstered the price of the steel input,
although market watchers say the rebound is unlikely
to be sustained. Headwinds include steel production
cutbacks in China and a looming increase in global
iron ore supply as new projects in Africa start to
commence shipments. (RMS)
News
Core
Lithium plan to revive mothballed Finniss
Perth-based
Core Lithium has advised that it may resume operations
at its Finniss mine in the Northern Territory. The
mine was placed in 'care and maintenance' mode in
2024, in response to a sharp downturn in the price
of lithium. Core hopes a plan to significantly reduce
mining and processing costs at Finniss, while also
boosting productivity, will enable the mine to reopen.
CEO Paul Brown says the quality of the Finniss deposit
and its proximity to the Port of Darwin gives it an
advantage over rival lithium mines in Western Australia.
(RMS)
News
Australian
Mining News
WA
Mining Conference and Exhibition: Scheduled for October
89, 2025, in Perth, this event will focus on
critical minerals, mine waste management, and innovative
technologies shaping the industrys future. It
aims to be a key platform for networking and industry
insights.
Global
Resources Innovation Expo (GRX25): Set for May 2022,
2025, in Brisbane, GRX25 will feature industry leaders
like Owen Hegarty, discussing transformation and sustainability
in mining.
Carbine
Resources: The company secured a 21-year mining lease
for its Muchea West silica sand project in Western
Australia, marking a significant milestone.
Federal
Government Cabinet: Following the re-election of Prime
Minister Anthony Albanese, the new cabinet has been
welcomed by mining bodies. The government is pushing
the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive (10%
refundable tax offset for processing 31 critical minerals)
and a Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive ($2/kg for
renewable hydrogen).
Prospect
Awards 2025: Nominations are open for the Australian
Mining Prospect Awards, recognizing excellence in
safety, occupational health, and industry leadership.
Legacy
Minerals: The company is advancing the Nico Young
nickel-cobalt project in New South Wales, leveraging
prior work by Jervois Global to reduce costs and accelerate
development.
Rio
Tintos Winu Project: Rio Tinto and Sumitomo
Metal Mining signed final joint venture agreements
for the Winu copper-gold project in Western Australias
Great Sandy Desert.
Sibanye-Stillwater:
The company reported a 92% increase in zinc production
(25,000 tonnes) at its Century zinc retreatment operation
in Queensland for the March 2025 quarter, with a feasibility
study for the Mt Lyell copper mine in Tasmania due
by late 2025.
Tivans
Speewah Fluorite Project: Tivan formed a joint venture
with Sumitomo Corporation, supported by a $5.3 million
investment and government funding, to develop Australias
first fluorite operation in Western Australia.
Hillgrove
Resources: The Kanmantoo copper mine in South Australia
produced 811 tonnes of copper in April, with annual
guidance set at 12,00014,000 tonnes for 2025.
Critical
Minerals and Sustainability: Australias mining
sector is poised to lead in the global energy transition,
with growing demand for critical minerals and a focus
on innovation and sustainable practices.
Queensland
Mining Coroner: Wayne Pennell was appointed Queenslands
first mining and resources coroner to investigate
fatalities and address a backlog of inquests, enhancing
safety accountability.
Social
Media Sentiment: Posts on X highlight ongoing exploration
(e.g., Verity Resources Monument Gold Project)
and acquisitions (e.g., Terra Metals Dante Project
expansion), reflecting active industry momentum. However,
a 119% mining rate hike by a Goldfields council has
sparked concern among local explorers. (Grok)
News
Pop
Culture/Entertainment
Media
Movies
Network
(1976) - Directed by Sidney Lumet, this satirical
drama follows a TV network exploiting a deranged anchors
rants for profit, highlighting media sensationalism.
Stars Faye Dunaway and Peter Finch.
Nightcrawler
(2014) - A thriller by Dan Gilroy about a drifter
(Jake Gyllenhaal) who becomes a freelance crime journalist,
blurring ethical lines for fame. Its a sharp
critique of modern medias vulture-like tendencies.
Zodiac
(2007) - Directed by David Fincher, this film chronicles
a cartoonist-turned-detectives obsession with
the Zodiac Killer, exploring medias role in
public fear and fascination.
Citizen
Kane (1941) - Orson Welles classic traces the
life of a newspaper magnate, loosely based on William
Randolph Hearst, examining media power and personal
ambition.
Sweet
Smell of Success (1957) - A biting satire about a
ruthless press agent and a powerful columnist, showcasing
media manipulation with sharp dialogue.
News
Gold:
Movie
Gold
(2016) is a crime drama inspired by the 1990s Bre-X
mining scandal. Matthew McConaughey stars as Kenny
Wells, a prospector who partners with geologist Michael
Acosta (Édgar Ramírez) to find gold
in Indonesia. After striking it rich, their success
unravels amid fraud and betrayal. Directed by Stephen
Gaghan, the film explores greed and ambition but received
mixed reviews for its uneven tone and pacing. It grossed
$14.8 million against a $20 million budget. Available
on platforms like Hulu or Amazon Prime (check current
listings). (Grok)
News/Profile
Gold
(1974)
Gold
(1974) is a British thriller directed by Peter R.
Hunt, based on Wilbur Smith's novel Gold Mine. Set
in South Africa, it follows Rod Slater (Roger Moore),
a mining engineer, who uncovers a conspiracy to flood
a gold mine to manipulate global gold prices. The
plot involves corporate greed, sabotage, and high-stakes
action, with Slater racing to stop the scheme.
Cast:
Roger Moore, Susannah York, Ray Milland, Bradford
Dillman.
Key
Details: 120 min, rated PG, released August 1974 (UK).
Filmed on location in Johannesburg, featuring intense
mining scenes.
Reception:
Mixed reviews; praised for action and Moores
charisma, criticized for pacing and dated elements.
IMDb rating: 5.7/10.
Availability:
Limited streaming; available for rent/purchase on
platforms like Amazon or on DVD.
News
Bitcoin
Movies Streaming
Money
Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery (2024, HBO)
A
documentary by Cullen Hoback exploring Bitcoins
origins and the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. Its
a thrilling investigation into Bitcoins rise
and its potential impact on global finance.
Streaming:
Available on HBOs streaming platform, Max. Check
JustWatch for additional services or free options
like Apple TV+ trials.
Bitconned
(2024, Netflix) A true-crime documentary about three
individuals who scammed millions in the unregulated
crypto market to fund lavish lifestyles. Streaming:
Exclusively on Netflix.
Banking
on Bitcoin (2016)
A
popular documentary diving into Bitcoins impact,
its challenge to centralized banking, and its early
history. Its a great pick for understanding
Bitcoins ethos. Streaming: Available on Amazon
Prime Video (free for subscribers), Fandango at Home,
and for purchase/rent on Amazon, YouTube Primetime,
or Apple TV.
The
Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014)
Follows
programmer Daniel Mross and early Bitcoin adopters,
offering insights into Bitcoins volatile early
days. Ideal for beginners.
Streaming: Available on Prime Video, Fandango at Home,
and for purchase on iTunes or Amazon.
Bitcoin:
The End of Money as We Know It (2015)
A
concise documentary tracing the history of money and
Bitcoins potential to disrupt fiat systems.
Features experts like Andreas Antonopoulos.
Streaming:
Available on Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Fandango at
Home. Free on YouTube in some regions (e.g., Ulterior
States).
Notes
on Streaming with Bitcoin:
Major
platforms like Netflix and HBO Max dont directly
accept Bitcoin payments. However, you can use crypto
via gift cards purchased from platforms like Bitrefill,
Coinsbee, or eGifter, which offer cards for services
like Amazon, Fandango, or Rakuten, usable for streaming
or movie tickets.
For
example, Bitrefill sells Showtime or Rakuten gift
cards (for US, Spain, Portugal, Italy) payable with
Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin.
Crypto
debit cards from providers like http://Crypto.com
or Coinbase can also convert Bitcoin to fiat for subscriptions
or purchases at non-crypto-accepting platforms.
Additional
Tips:
Check
platforms like JustWatch or IMDb for real-time streaming
availability, as services change frequently.
Some
older documentaries, like Ulterior States (2014),
are freely available on YouTube, offering ideological
perspectives on Bitcoins early days.
Be
cautious with free streaming sites; some, like Openload
or Streamango, have been linked to crypto-jacking
schemes that mine Monero using your devices
CPU. (Grok)
Rio
Tinto increases Australian supplier spend to A$17.7
billion

MELBOURNE,
Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto strengthened
its spend with Australian businesses to over A$17.7
billion in 2024, supporting both national and local
suppliers.
This
is an increase of 9.9% from the previous year and
was spent with more than 6,000 suppliers across the
country. This spend has helped boost local, regional,
and national economies, contributing to employment
and strengthening Australian owned and managed businesses.
As
part of this spend, more than A$926 million was spent
with 182 Indigenous businesses across Australia
an increase of about 27% since 2023. Of this, A$671
million was spent with Traditional Owner businesses
that we have land use agreements with, contributing
directly to the economic strength of the communities
where we operate.
Spending
with local suppliers across Australia also increased
by 14.8%, reaching A$1.3 billion.
Rio
Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker said:
From one side of the country to the other, our
suppliers - including Indigenous, small, and regional
businesses - are at the heart of our success and ability
to operate in Australia. Their contributions help
keep local communities strong.
We
recognise the important role these Australian businesses
play in creating jobs, strengthening local economies
and supporting our operations. Thats why we
continue to increase our investment with them.
In
2024, we expanded our spend with Australian Indigenous
businesses by 27.5% to A$926 million and with local
businesses across Australia by 14.8% to A$1.38 billion.
These partnerships drive economic growth and strengthen
the communities they serve.
View
source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250403505411/en/
Mining.
Energy and Resources: Australia
February
20, 21, 2025
Hydrogen
rethink for Fortescue
Iron
ore miner Fortescue released its interim results on
Thursday, posting a net profit after tax of $US1.55
billion. This was significantly down on the $US3.3
billion result it posted a year ago, while revenue
was down one-fifth at $US7.6 billion and Fortescue's
interim dividend was down from $1.08 per share to
$0.50. Meanwhile, Fortescue revealed that it is considering
pausing almost $1 billion worth of approved hydrogen
projects in Australia and the US while it evaluates
the stance of the second Trump administration on clean
energy. (RMS)
News
Investors
dump big miners as iron ore heads for a glut
The
iron ore price shed nearly 30 per cent during 2024,
which was reflected in the latest financial results
of Australia's biggest producers of the steel input.
BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue have significantly reduced
their interim or full-year dividends, which has in
turn weighed on their share prices. Sam Berridge from
Perennial expects the outlook for the nation's iron
ore miners to remain challenging; he forecasts that
the iron ore price will average $US80 per tonne in
2026, compared with around $US106 in Singapore trading
at present. Berridge notes that the addition of iron
ore from the Simandou project in Guinea will provide
an additional headwind for the sector.
News
Japan
Inc returns to the Pilbara
Japanese
company Mitsui has paid $US5.34 billion ($8.4 billion)
to acquire a 40 per cent in the Rio Tinto-led Rhodes
Ridge project in Western Australia's Pilbara region,
with Mitsui buying the stake from two descendants
of noted WA iron ore explorer Peter Wright. Rhodes
Ridge is set to produce its first iron ore in 2030,
and contains enough ore to operate for 140 years to
operate at its initial production rate of 40 million
tonnes per year. Rio's CEO Jakob Stausholm says that
Mitsui's investment shows that the Pilbara still "has
got many, many great – not years –
but decades ahead".
News
Lithium
producer IGO falls to $782m loss
IGO
Limited has posted revenue of $284m for the first
half of 2024-25, which is 35 per cent lower than previously.
The company has booked an interim net loss of $782m,
compared with a $288.3m profit for the previous corresponding
period. The result was marred by a $524.6m impairment
charge on the lithium hydroxide refinery at Kwinana
in Western Australia, which IGO owns in partnership
with China's Tianqi Lithium. The impairment charge
reflects the fact that the existing production unit
at the refinery has never reached full capacity of
24,000 tonnes a year, as well as the partners' recent
decision to cancel plans for a second production unit.
News
Boost
for rare earths as lithium miners reveal big losses
Lithium
producers Pilbara Minerals and IGO reported significant
losses on Thursday, due to the ongoing downturn in
the price of lithium. Pilbara Mineral announced an
interim loss of $69 million, while IGO disclosed a
loss of $782.1 million, which includes its share of
a $525 million impairment on a lithium hydroxide plant
owned in partnership with Chinese firm Tianqi. The
announcement of the big losses by Pilbara Minerals
and IGO comes as the Andrew Forrest-owned Wyloo announced
it will form a joint venture with Hastings Technology
Metals to develop the Yangibana rare earths and niobium
project in Western Australia, in a deal that also
sees Wyloo secure a 19.9 per cent stake in Toronto-listed
Neo Performance Materials. (Roy Morgan Summary)
News
Roy
Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Company Of The
Month' award
Mining
News
Mining
industry critical to future energy transition
Breton
Technology Middle East and Australia Chairman Lance
Kawaguchi says the mining industry is critical
to the future energy transition.
A
prominent tech and manufacturing company is pushing
the boundaries of sustainable mining globally through
the deployment of battery-electric machinery and advanced
autonomous technology.
Our
mission is to try to do our part to be sustainable,
Mr Kawaguchi told Sky News Australia.
What
we are trying to do is to find solutions ... to still
be able to mine but reduce the carbon footprint and
energy consumption.
Media
Man: Sky's the limited with the right resources, media
and business associates, vision and hard and smart
work!
News
Mining
via Grok
Mining
is an essential industry that involves the extraction
of valuable minerals or other geological materials
from the Earth. Here's an overview based on general
knowledge and contemporary information:
Methods
of Mining:
Underground
Mining: Used for deep mineral deposits. This method
involves creating shafts or tunnels to reach the ore.
It's more expensive and can be hazardous but is necessary
for high-value minerals located deep underground.
Open
Surface (Pit) Mining: Best for minerals located near
the surface. This method creates an open pit to extract
the ore. It's generally safer and less expensive than
underground mining when the ore body is near the surface.
Placer
Mining: Utilizes water to extract minerals, typically
gold, from sediments in river channels or other alluvial
deposits.
In-Situ
Mining: Involves dissolving the mineral resource in
place using chemicals and then processing it at the
surface without moving the rock. This method is often
used for uranium.
Environmental
Impact:
Mining
has significant environmental impacts:
Land
Disturbance: Open pits, spoil heaps, and tailings
change landscapes dramatically, often leading to deforestation
and habitat destruction.
Water
Pollution: Mining can lead to acid mine drainage,
where acids and heavy metals leach into water sources,
which is harmful to aquatic life and human health.
Air
Pollution: Dust from mining operations can affect
air quality, and processing some ores releases harmful
gases.
Rehabilitation:
Modern mining practices often include plans for land
rehabilitation post-mining, though the success of
these efforts can vary widely.
Technological
and Economic Aspects:
Technology:
Modern mining uses advanced technology for exploration
(like satellite imagery, geophysical methods), extraction
(automated machinery), and processing (bioleaching,
for instance).
Economics:
Mining can be extremely lucrative, driving economic
growth in many regions. However, the volatility in
mineral prices can lead to boom-and-bust cycles in
mining-dependent communities.
Energy
Transition: There's an increasing focus on mining
due to the demand for minerals critical for renewable
energy technologies (like lithium for batteries).
Social
and Political Dynamics:
Labor:
Mining often employs significant numbers of workers,
but conditions can be tough, leading to labor disputes.
Automation in mining aims to reduce human risk but
also affects employment.
Community
Impact: Mining operations can bring development to
remote areas but also social displacement, health
issues, and conflicts over land use and water rights.
International
Relations: Countries rich in resources can become
focal points for international partnerships or competition,
as seen with rare earth elements or, historically,
with uranium, like the recent interest in Niger's
uranium by countries like Turkey.
Bitcoin
and Cryptomining:
Unlike
traditional mining, cryptocurrency mining involves
solving complex mathematical problems to validate
transactions on the blockchain, which requires significant
computational power and energy. Recent X posts highlight
a growing intersection between digital and physical
mining worlds through themes like Bitcoin mining games
and the environmental debate around the energy consumption
of crypto mining.
This
overview captures the multifaceted nature of mining,
from its methodologies to its broader implications
on society, technology, environment, and global politics.
(Grok)
News/Profile
via Grok
Mining
Industry
The
mining industry continues to evolve, influenced by
various economic, environmental, technological, and
regulatory factors:
Technological
Advancements: The industry is seeing a push towards
automation and the use of advanced machinery, aiming
for efficiency, safety, and reduced environmental
impact. Technologies like autonomous drilling systems,
AI for exploration and mine planning, and IoT for
real-time monitoring of equipment are becoming more
common.
Environmental
Concerns and Sustainability: There's increasing pressure
for the mining industry to adopt more sustainable
practices. This includes efforts to reduce water usage,
lower emissions, rehabilitate mined lands, and use
renewable energy sources in mining operations. The
concept of "green mining" is gaining traction,
where the focus is on minimizing the environmental
footprint throughout the lifecycle of a mine.
Regulatory
Changes: Governments around the world are updating
mining laws to boost growth while ensuring environmental
protection and community rights. For instance, as
seen in posts on X, Indonesia has updated its mining
regulations to streamline operations but also to ensure
compliance and environmental protection.
Demand
for Critical Minerals: The rise in demand for electric
vehicles and renewable energy technologies has shifted
focus towards minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel,
and copper. These are crucial for batteries and electronics,
leading to what might be described as a new mining
boom for these specific resources.
Economic
Impact and Market Dynamics: The mining sector's health
often serves as a barometer for global economic activity.
Recent sentiment, as reflected on platforms like X,
indicates optimism with expectations of increased
investment in the sector, though there are calls for
more favorable conditions like lower power tariffs
and stable policies.
Supply
Shortfalls: There's growing concern over supply shortfalls
for several key metals due to insufficient current
mining output to meet the rising demand, especially
for those used in high-tech products and green technologies.
Investment
and Expansion: The industry is looking at significant
expansion, with equipment industries related to mining
expected to grow by a substantial margin. This growth
is driven not just by traditional mining but also
by the need for new mines to meet the demand for metals
critical for the tech and green industries.
Global
Perspective: While the U.S. remains a significant
player, countries like Australia, with its gold rushes
in the past, and now regions in Africa and South America,
are central to the global supply of various minerals.
The strategic importance of mining in national economies
and for global supply chains continues to be a focal
point in geopolitical discussions.
Social
License to Operate: Mining companies are increasingly
aware of the need for a social license, meaning gaining
community and societal approval, not just regulatory
permits. This involves better engagement with local
communities, more transparent operations, and contributing
positively to the areas they operate in.
Remember,
while these insights reflect general trends and sentiments,
the mining industry's specifics can vary greatly by
region, the mineral in question, and current global
economic conditions. Always consider the latest reports
and local news for the most current state of affairs
in the mining sector. (Grok)
News
Bitcoin
Mining Profile And News via Grok
Bitcoin
mining is the process by which new bitcoins are entered
into circulation, but it's also a critical component
of the maintenance and development of the blockchain
ledger. Here's a simplified overview of how it works:
Transaction
Verification: Miners collect transactions broadcasted
to the network into a block. They verify that these
transactions are legitimate according to the rules
of the Bitcoin network (e.g., checking for double-spending).
Creating
a Block: Once a set of transactions are verified,
they are added to a block. Each block contains a reference
to the previous block, forming a chain (hence, blockchain).
Proof
of Work: Miners must solve a complex mathematical
puzzle that requires significant computational power.
This puzzle is essentially finding a hash that meets
certain criteria (the hash must start with a certain
number of zeros). The difficulty of this puzzle adjusts
to ensure that a new block is mined approximately
every 10 minutes.
Hash:
A hash is a function that converts an input of letters
and numbers into an encrypted output of a fixed length.
In Bitcoin, the SHA-256 hashing function is used.
Finding
the Solution: The first miner to solve the puzzle
gets to place the next block on the blockchain and
claim the rewards. This process involves a lot of
trial and error, with miners adjusting a value called
the "nonce" in the block header to try to
produce a hash that meets the criteria.
Rewards:
The successful miner is rewarded with:
Block Reward: A set amount of newly minted bitcoins.
This reward halves approximately every four years
in what's known as the "halving." As of
my last update, the block reward was 6.25 bitcoins,
but by 2024, it would have halved again if the schedule
continued as planned.
Transaction Fees: All the transaction fees from the
transactions included in the block.
Energy
Consumption: Bitcoin mining is notorious for its energy
consumption due to the computational power required
for proof of work. This has led to discussions about
the environmental impact of Bitcoin.
Mining
Pools: Because the probability of mining a block solo
has become very low due to the network's total computational
power, many miners join mining pools. Here, miners
combine their computational resources and share the
block rewards according to the amount of work they
contributed to the probability of finding a block.
Equipment:
Over time, mining has evolved from using CPUs to GPUs,
FPGAs, and now ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated
Circuits), which are designed specifically for mining
and offer significant efficiency improvements.
Decentralization
and Security: The mining process helps to secure the
network by making it economically infeasible to attack
or alter the blockchain. For an attacker to change
any part of the blockchain, they would need to redo
the proof of work for all subsequent blocks and outpace
the honest nodes, which is impractical without controlling
more than 50% of the network's mining power.
Since
we're now in 2024, if there have been significant
changes or updates to Bitcoin mining practices, technology,
or regulations since my last update, those would be
worth checking out for the most current information.
Would you like me to search for any recent developments
in Bitcoin mining? (Grok)
#Mining
#MiningNews #MiningIndustry #MiningStocks #Energy
#Resources #Technology #Innovation #Blockchaing #Bitcoin
#BTC #newsfeed #newsfeeds #newswire #Grok #MiningPR
#PR #News #media #mediaman #mediamanint #XMining
Markets
and Commodities
October
10, 2024
Australian
Dollar: $0.6710 USD (down $0.0040 USD)
Iron
Ore Nov Spot Price (SGX): $105.15 USD (unchanged -
public holiday)
Oil
Price (WTI): $73.36 USD (down $0.55 USD)
Gold
Price: $2,607.14 USD (down $15.75 USD)
Copper
Price (CME): $4.4080 USD (down 0.0605 USD)
Bitcoin:
$60,908.07 USD (down 2.11% in last 24 hours)
Dow
Jones: 42,512.00 at 4.20pm NY time (up 431.63 points
on yesterday's close)
Gina
Rinehart upgrades her airport (and email signature)
By
Mark Di Stefano
September
23, 2024
Whats
the point of being the countrys wealthiest person
if you cant make unilateral changes to drab
office life that give you a cute little thrill?
Take
Gina Rinehart, who treats her Hancock Prospecting
workforce to all sorts of perks. Theres the
high salaries. But also the $100,000 cash gifts she
draws out in a random ballot for workers on her birthday
each year.
Rinehart
recently appears to have hijacked the email signatures
of her Hancock underlings (something she does quite
regularly).
Under
their names and contact now sits a gargantuan goose
to announce her National Mining Day, which will be
held at Santos Moomba plant in November. (AFR)
@FinancialReview
Full
article and coverage via subscription to The Australian
Financial Review
https://afr.com/rear-window/gina-rinehart-upgrades-her-airport-and-email-signature-20240923-p5kcsp
Energy,
Resources And Mining News: Australia
September
30, 2024
Exports
shock on ore to hit $39bn
Treasurer
Jim Chalmers is set to reveal a final budget surplus
of $15.8bn for 2023-24; this is $6.4bn higher than
was forecast in the budget on 14 May. Chalmers claims
that Labor's second successive surplus is solely due
to lower government spending. However, falling commodity
prices are set to weigh on the budget bottom-line
in coming years. Revised government forecasts show
that resources and energy export earnings will
fall to $372bn in 2024-25, compared with $415bn in
2023-24; the value of iron ore exports is forecast
to fall to $107bn in 2024-25, down from $138bn in
2023-24. Nickel and lithium export earnings are also
expected to fall sharply.
(Roy
Morgan Australia)
News
Minister
told ERA wouldn't sue over lease
Federal
Resources Minister Madeleine King moved to formally
cancel Energy Resources of Australia's long-standing
lease on the Jabiluka uranium deposit in late July.
The Northern Territory government subsequently rejected
ERA's application to renew the lease. It has been
revealed that King's advisers had told her that ERA
would be unlikely to pursue legal action if the Jabiluka
lease was cancelled, given that major shareholder
Rio Tinto opposes mining at Jabiluka without the consent
of the traditional owners. ERA launched a Federal
Court challenge to King's ruling in early August,
claiming that it was denied procedural fairness.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
Telco
turned miner vies for desert gas
Australian-listed
Jade Gas Holdings has a market capitalisation of about
$70m. However, one broker has suggested that this
could potentially rise to around $500m due to its
coal-seam gas project in Mongolia. Jade Gas was initially
listed on the ASX as a Telstra reseller called Westel
Group, before transitioning to a resources group.
Meanwhile, Jade Gas is under scrutiny for commissioning
Hong Kong-based DWK to undertake a drilling program
at its Mongolian tenements; it claimed that DWK had
been drilling gas wells for a decade, but documents
show that the company had not been registered when
Jade announced the contract in June.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
Federal
police drop foreign bribery investigation into Australian
miner
September
28, 2024
The Australian Federal Police launched an investigation
into foreign bribery allegations against Sundance
Resources in 2016. However, an AFP spokeswoman has
advised that the probe has failed to yield sufficient
admissable evidence to refer criminal proceedings
to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The police
investigation centred on allegations that Sundance
had bribed government officials in the Republic of
Congo between 2006 and 2008 in order to advance its
Mbalam-Nabeba iron ore project. The investigation
was complicated by the deaths of several Sundance
executives in a plane crash in the Congo in 2010.
News
Prospector
Mark Creasy wins support for Calidus Resources rescue
September
28, 2024
Creditors of Calidus Resources have backed a proposal
from veteran prospector Mark Creasy to rescue the
failed gold miner from administration. Creasy's proposal
was supported by the majority of Calidus shareholders,
and will result in his West Coast Lending assuming
full ownership of Calidus. The deal with Creasy was
backed after Calidus directors withdrew their support
for an alternative proposal from Petra Capital. West
Coast Lending, which is controlled by Creasy's Yandal
Investments, aims to resume production at Calidus's
Warrawoona gold mine in the Pilbara within months.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
De
Grey quick to snuff out takeover speculation
September
28, 2024
De Grey Mining has dismissed recent media reports
which suggested that the listed gold miner has received
a buyout proposal from Canada-based Agnico Eagle.
De Grey has advised that the article which appeared
in The Australian is 'pure speculation'. De Grey owns
the Hemi deposit in the Pilbara, and it aims to commence
developing a gold mine at the site before the end
of 2024. Agnico Eagle owns the Fosterville mine near
Bendigo in Victoria, and there has been speculation
in recent months that the company is keen to acquire
assets in Western Australia.
News
Victorian
gas projects approved
September
28, 2024
The
federal government has approved two new gas production
licences for Beach Energy near existing projects off
the coast of Victoria. Resources Minister Madeleine
King says gas produced at the Artisan and La Bella
fields will be reserved solely for domestic use and
will help to put downward pressure on gas prices in
NSW and Victoria. The government's decision to approve
the new licences has coincided with the release of
the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's
latest gas inquiry report, which has warned that the
east coast's gas supply surplus for the March 2025
quarter is likely to be significantly lower than was
previously forecast.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
Mining via Grok
Mining
refers to the extraction of valuable minerals or other
geological materials from the Earth, which can range
from traditional minerals like gold, silver, coal,
and iron to more modern interests like lithium for
batteries or rare earth elements for technology. Here's
a detailed look into the concept of mining:
Traditional
Mining
Historical
Context: Mining has been pivotal since ancient times,
initially for materials like flint, ochre for body
painting, and later for metals like copper, tin, and
iron which ushered in the Bronze and Iron Ages.
Process:
Modern mining involves several steps: Exploration:
Identifying potential deposits through geological
surveys.
Feasibility Studies: Analyzing the economic viability
of mining operations, including costs, market conditions,
and environmental impact.
Extraction: Methods vary from open-pit mining for
near-surface deposits to underground mining for deeper
ores. Techniques include drilling, blasting, and mechanical
extraction.
Processing: Ore is usually refined to extract the
desired mineral, often involving crushing, grinding,
and chemical processes.
Reclamation: After mining, efforts are made to restore
the land, though this aspect has historically been
controversial due to environmental impacts.
Environmental
and Social Impact: Mining can lead to habitat destruction,
pollution (e.g., acid mine drainage), and social displacement.
However, it's also crucial for economic development
in many regions, providing jobs and contributing to
national economies.
Cryptocurrency
Mining
Concept:
In the context of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, mining
does not involve physical digging but rather computational
work. Here, miners validate transactions and add them
to the blockchain, a public ledger of all transactions.
Process:
Transaction Verification: Miners collect transactions
into blocks.
Proof of Work: Miners compete to solve complex mathematical
problems (hashing), requiring significant computational
power.
Block Creation: The first to solve the problem adds
the new block to the blockchain, earning newly minted
cryptocurrency and transaction fees as a reward.
Security: This process also secures the network against
fraudulent transactions.
Energy
Consumption: Cryptocurrency mining, especially for
Bitcoin, has been criticized for its high energy consumption,
leading to discussions on its environmental footprint.
Modern
Innovations and Issues
Sustainable
Practices: There's a push towards more sustainable
mining practices, including the use of renewable energy
for operations, better waste management, and rehabilitation
of mined lands.
Critical
Minerals: The demand for minerals essential for technology
like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements has
surged, highlighting new challenges in mining ethics,
geopolitics of mineral supply, and the environmental
impact.
Artisanal
and Small-Scale Mining (ASM): Often seen in developing
countries, ASM provides livelihood but also poses
significant health and environmental risks due to
methods like mercury use in gold extraction.
Technological
Advancements: From autonomous mining vehicles to drones
for exploration, technology is transforming mining
operations, making them safer, more efficient, and
potentially less harmful to the environment.
Mining,
in both its traditional and digital forms, remains
a cornerstone of human civilization, supporting economic,
technological, and societal development, while also
presenting ongoing challenges regarding sustainability
and ethics. (Grok)
Roy Morgan is a former Media Man 'News Outlet Of The
Month' award winner
Mining,
Energy and Resources: Australia and Oceania
August
9, 2024
News
Legal
fees for BHP class action top $680m
Law
firm Pogust Goodhead is representing about 600,000
participants in a class action over Brazil's Samarco
iron ore tailings dam collapse in 2015. The firm estimates
that its legal fees could be around Stg250m, while
total legal fees arising from the case could exceed
Stg350m. Documents filed with the UK's High Court
show that BHP's share of the legal costs have been
forecast at around Stg108m; however, this is just
for the first stage of the trial, and BHP will face
a further legal bill if the resources group is found
liable for the disaster in Brazil. Samarco is a joint
venture between BHP and Vale.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
Win
for Fortescue in private eye battle
Federal
Court judge Brigitte Markovic has dismissed an application
by Element Zero's founders to access the instructions
that Fortescue gave to private investigators who had
been hired to put them under surveillance. Fortescue
alleges that its former employees Bart Kolodziejczyk,
Bjorn Winther-Jensen and Michael Masterman used its
intellectual property to develop Element Zero's rival
green steel technology. Justice Markovic ruled that
the instructions given to the private investigators
are likely to be subject to legal professional privilege.
News
Creasy
in talks for Macquarie's $148m debt at miner Calidus
Macquarie
Bank has a four per cent stake in Calidus Resources,
while it holds $148m of the failed gold producer's
debt. Sources have indicated that Macquarie has finalised
the terms of a deal to sell its Calidus loan at a
price that is at or near its carrying value. The buyer
of the debt is believed to be Yandal Investments,
the private investment vehicle of Western Australian
billionaire Mark Creasy. His deal to acquire Macquarie's
debt could give Creasy an edge over other potential
bidders for Calidus or its assets, which include the
Warrawoona gold project and a 40 per cent stake in
the Pirra lithium joint venture.
News
Win
for Whitehaven, MACH as court rejects climate bid
The
High Court has dismissed the Environment Council of
Central Queensland's application for special leave
to appeal the Federal Court's decision to allow two
NSW coal mine extension projects to proceed. The court
had ruled in May that federal Environment Minister
Tanya Plibersek had acted lawfully in handling the
environmental approvals process for the Whitehaven
Coal and MACH Energy projects. The ECCQ had initiated
legal action against the proposed mine expansions
in 2022.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
Mining,
Energy and Resources: Australia and Oceania
August
7, 2024
News
Liontown
wants lithium breaks as prices teeter
Association
of Mining & Exploration Companies CEO Warren Pearce
says it is holding talks with the Western Australian
government with regard to royalty relief for lithium
producers. The price of spodumene has fallen to $US870
($1,337) per tonne, and Liontown Resources CEO Tony
Ottaviano contends that the government should intervene
in order to avert a similar crisis to the rout that
hit the nation's industry. He has also suggested that
the federal government should expand its production
tax credit scheme to include the upstream processing
of spodumene.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
MinRes
job cuts add to thousands lost in WA's mining sector
route
A
spokesman for Mineral Resources has confirmed that
the iron ore and lithium producer will reduce its
head count, although the bulk of the job cuts will
be at its Perth head office. Mineral Resources has
not disclosed the extent of the job losses, although
it is believed to be about 100. The move follows the
company's recent decision to mothball its high-cost
iron ore mines in Western Australia's Yilgarn region
and a delay in the expansion of the Wodgina lithium
mine. WA's mining sector has already been hit by massive
job losses in the nickel industry in 2024.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
News
Iron
ore 'must learn from nickel pain'
Dino
Otranto, the CEO of Fortescue's mining arm, has warned
that Australia risks missing out amid the global shift
to 'green' steel'. He has called for increased collaboration
between industry and government to ensure that the
nation capitalises on the decarbonisation of the steel
industry. He adds that the demise of Australia's nickel
industry provides a timely warning for iron ore producers.
News
Jilted
ERA heads to court over Jabiluka mine axing
Energy
Resources of Australia wants the Federal Court to
undertake a judicial review of the Northern Territory
government's decision to not renew its mining lease
for the Jabiluka uranium deposit. ERA contends that
it was denied "procedural fairness and natural
justice" in the decision to permanently ban mining
at Jabiluka. Amongst other things, ERA has questioned
the haste with which federal Resources Minister Madeleine
King advised the NT government to reject an extension
of the mining lease, which is slated to expire on
11 August.
News
Newmont
fights $130m 'restructuring' tax bill
The
Australian Taxation Office contends that Newmont Corporation
owes it some $132.6m in capital gains tax liabilities
arising from a restructuring in 2011. The tax dispute
is believed to centre on Newmont's decision to consolidate
ownership of its local mines under its Newmont Australia
subsidiary; this included a transaction in which two
of the mining giant's North American subsidiaries
sold their holdings in Newmont Australia back to it.
Newmont contends that the transfer was an internal
restructure rather than a share sale, and it should
therefore not attract capital gain taxes
News
Watchdog
threatens 'critical' Browse
Woodside
Energy's CEO Meg O'Neill has emphasised the importance
of the company's Browse LNG project. She contends
that Browse is the only gas field of sufficient size
to meet the forecast demand for energy over the near-term.
The Browse project's future is under scrutiny following
a preliminary ruling from Western Australia's Environmental
Protection Authority that it presents a "unacceptable
risk" to marine ecology. The EPA is expected
to make a final recommendation on the project in 2025,
although it can be overruled by the federal government.
O'Neill has also defended Woodside's deal to acquire
a low-carbon ammonia project in the US.
(Roy
Morgan Summary)
Markets
and Commodities
July
18, 2024
Australian
Dollar: $0.6730 USD (unchanged)
Iron
Ore Aug Spot Price (SGX): $105.05 USD (down $2.10
USD)
Oil
Price (WTI): $83.10 USD (up $2.28 USD)
Gold
Price: $2,458.69 USD (down $10.15 USD)
Copper
Price (CME): $4.4165 USD (down $0.0405 USD)
Bitcoin:
$64,196.81 USD (down 0.80% in last 24 hours)
Dow
Jones: 41,198.08 at 4.20pm NY time (up 243.60 points
on yesterday's close)
(Roy
Morgan Summary)

Rio
Tinto appoints new Copper Chief Executive
July
17, 2024
LONDON--(BUSINESS
WIRE)-- Rio Tinto has appointed Katie Jackson to lead
its Copper business, succeeding Bold Baatar, who as
previously announced, will become Chief Commercial
Officer later this year.
Katie
is currently President of National Grid Ventures,
responsible for the development and operation of large-scale
energy infrastructure assets. She will join Rio Tinto
on 1 September 2024 and be based in London.
Katie
has strong international experience in the energy
sector, across both operational and commercial roles,
starting at Shell as a Drilling Engineer and working
in Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and
the USA. Following stints at Anadarko and Equinor,
where she latterly ran Development and Production
operations across Europe and Asia, she joined BG Group
as Executive Vice President for Global Business Development
and Strategy. Having rejoined Shell, she was subsequently
promoted to Executive Vice President of Acquisition,
Divestment and New Business Development with responsibility
across the Shell portfolio.
Rio
Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said: "Katie
brings diverse experience from across the energy sector.
Her leadership will be invaluable as we shape our
copper business for a successful future. As we continue
the ramp up of Oyu Tolgoi to become one of the worlds
largest copper suppliers, we are also looking to the
future with new opportunities across the world. We
are very excited that Rio Tinto will benefit from
Katies global perspective, proven operational
and strategic leadership capability and her passion
for driving sustainable growth.
Katie
Jackson said: I am inspired by Rio Tinto's ambition
to deliver the materials the world needs. It is an
exciting time to lead the copper business when we
have such a central role to play in delivering a low
carbon future and I believe my current role delivering
major infrastructure projects will help me bring a
new perspective. I look forward to collaborating with
our teams across the globe, in partnership with communities
and governments, and lead the business to an even
stronger future.
This
announcement is authorised for release to the market
by Andy Hodges, Rio Tintos Group Company Secretary.
News
In
Case You Missed It
Rio
Tinto to acquire Mitsubishis 11.65% stake in
Boyne aluminium smelter
June
10, 2024 06:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
MELBOURNE,
Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto has agreed to
acquire Mitsubishi Corporations 11.65% interest
in Boyne Smelters Ltd (BSL), which owns and operates
the Boyne Island aluminium smelter in Gladstone, Australia.
On
completion of this transaction, and the recent agreement
to acquire Sumitomo Chemical Companys 2.46%
interest in BSL, Rio Tintos interest in BSL
will increase to 73.5%.
The
acquisition, which is for an undisclosed price, is
subject to various conditions precedent, including
approval from Australias Foreign Investment
Review Board, and is expected to be finalised in the
second half of 2024.
Rio
Tinto looks forward to continuing to work with its
remaining BSL joint venture partners and other stakeholders
on securing a competitive low-carbon future for its
Gladstone operations.
After
completion of the two transactions, the BSL joint
venture partners will be: Rio Tinto (73.5%), YKK Aluminium
(9.50%), UACJ Australia (9.29%) and Southern Cross
Aluminium (7.71%).
Websites
Rio
Tinto
https://www.riotinto.com/
Rio
Tinto: Media Releases
https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/releases
Australian
mining and exploration sector embracing living statues
and bodypainting for special events and VIP functions

Human
Statue Bodyart does bodypaint, bodyart and makeup
for Diamond VIP event at The Star, Sydney

News
Trends Bitcoin
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Sky
News Australia - Business News


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Sydney Morning Herald - Business
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Australian Financial Review - Companies
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Financial
Times
In
economics, a commodity is an economic good or service
that has full or substantial fungibility: that is,
the market treats instances of the good as equivalent
or nearly so with no regard to who produced them.
The
price of a commodity good is typically determined
as a function of its market as a whole: well-established
physical commodities have actively traded spot and
derivative markets. The wide availability of commodities
typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes
the importance of factors (such as brand name) other
than price.
Most
commodities are raw materials, basic resources, agricultural,
or mining products, such as iron ore, sugar, or grains
like rice and wheat. Commodities can also be mass-produced
unspecialized products such as chemicals and computer
memory.
Hard
and soft commodities
Soft
commodities are goods that are grown, such as wheat,
or rice.
Hard
commodities are mined. Examples include gold ,silver,
helium, and oil.
Energy
commodities include electricity, gas, coal and oil.
Electricity has the particular characteristic that
it is usually uneconomical to store, and must therefore
be consumed as soon as it is produced.
(Wikipedia)
Oil

Commodities
News: Oil via Media Man and FxPro
June
3, 2024
Oil
is probably setting up for a repeat of 2020 or 2014
Oil
has lost 1.7% since the start of the day on Tuesday,
in addition to a more than 3% drop the day before,
clearly showing the market's reaction to the OPEC+
meeting over the weekend. The technical picture in
oil has turned very bearish. OPEC+ agreed to an impressive
extension of low production quotas, but markets are
paying more attention to the short-term supply-demand
balance and viewed the move as underwhelming.
In
the middle of last week, WTI crude bounced off resistance
in the form of the 200-day moving average and moved
closer towards the lower end of the May trading range.
Oil is also trading below its 50-day average, which
is pointing downwards. All of this is evidence of
an intensifying bearish medium and long-term trend.
Earlier,
we also pointed out that the cartel, especially Saudi
Arabia and Russia, is becoming hawkish, preferring
to give active signals or cut production when the
price gets close to the 200-week average. This curve
reflects ultra-long-term trends, averaging the price
over almost four years. Oil has been receiving impressive
support after touching this line in 2019 and 2023.
Since the beginning of this year, there have been
new attempts to break below, which have so far resulted
in strong upside momentum.
It
very much looks like that situation has now changed.
Oil is already more than 3% below its 200-week average,
having been under sustained pressure since the start
of the week. In addition, the intensified daily selling
of oil in US trading since last Wednesday has contributed
to this.
In
2020, the breakdown of this long-term support culminated
in a hike in some oil contracts into negative territory.
We saw just as much market drama in 2014 after a similar
signal. It was perhaps only in 2018 that oil managed
to turn to the upside, falling just 18% below its
200-week average.
Thus,
we may be seeing the beginning of the formation of
one of the significant downtrends in oil, capable
of being on par with the 2014-2016 or 2020 sell-offs.
In this case, the price may roll back to the $30 areathe
price area where most oil production projects lose
profitability.
However,
the bulls still have a significant support area of
around $65-$70 per barrel. This was the resistance
area in 2019 and the support area in the last three
years.
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Euro,
Gold, Crypto and more via Media Man and FX Pro
A
strong current account surplus may not help euro
The
eurozone's current account surplus climbed to a six-month
high of 31.9bn in December. Analysts, on average,
had expected a decline to 20.3 bn from 22.5 bn the
previous month. The current level was seen in the
eurozone during the relatively benign pre-Covid period
and sometime before Natural Gas prices spiked in the
second half of 2021.
The
normalisation of the surplus is good news for the
single currency, as it means more net capital inflows
into the region. But this growth has been fuelled
by falling imports, which can be the result of lower
commodity and energy prices (which is a very good
thing), but also partly indicative of a slowdown in
domestic demand. This threatens to translate into
economic contraction in the coming months.
The
euro area experienced periods of severe import contraction
in late 2008 and early 2010, and in both cases, the
economy experienced a severe downturn. Back in 2008,
all this was accompanied by the collapse of the euro.
Gold

Gold
rises but within a downward channel
Gold
rallied for the fourth consecutive session to reach
$2023, recovering almost all the losses suffered the
week before on the back of the inflation report. Gold's
ability to rally suggests continued domestic demand,
as some investors are clearly rushing to buy back
any losses.
At
the same time, however, we note that since the beginning
of the year, gold has been characterised by solid
selloffs on the news, forming a smooth downtrend.
In the context of this downtrend, a rise to $2040-2045,
which is the upper boundary of the bearish range,
looks quite acceptable.
The
area around $2035 - the highs of two weeks ago - also
appears to be a crucial intermediate level. Confident
buying from this level would be the first important
signal that the recent correction is over and that
gold is ready to make a fresh assault on the highs.
Much
more important, however, will be the behaviour of
gold as it approaches the $2050 level, where the reversal
of the decline in late January took place.
Consolidation
at this level would confirm the breakdown of the downtrend
and set the stage for a move towards $2100 and the
subsequent renewal of historic highs.
However,
as long as gold is trading within the downtrend, there
is a greater chance of a breakdown or even an acceleration
of the downtrend.
Among
the fundamental factors, the potential for growth
could be provided by the fall in the dollar if Fed
officials show a softening of their position, bringing
the start of interest rate cuts closer.
On
the bearish side, equities could come under pressure
following the optimistic rally in the tech giants
and the news of a sharp slowdown in economic activity.
We also do not rule out the possibility that the recent
support measures for the Chinese stock market and
property sector will cool demand for gold as a safe-haven
for investors from that part of the world.
Cryptocurrency


Crypto
market growth halted amid capital inflows
Market
picture
The
crypto market has corrected 0.46% in the last 24 hours,
fluctuating within a narrow range without a clear
direction. Bitcoin is down 1% but up 3.7% over seven
days, Ethereum is flat for the day but up 10.6% over
the week. The top coins are mixed with BNB +2% and
Solana -2.5%.
Bitcoin
is currently drawing its fourth daily candle with
opening and closing levels close to each other. Such
sideways consolidations are characteristic of strong
bull markets, as opposed to corrective pullbacks on
smoother rallies.
Ethereum
hit local highs on rumours of a positive regulatory
decision before the end of March. Bloomberg analyst
James Seyffarth bet 4 ETH that the SEC will not approve
a spot Ethereum ETF next month.
According
to data from CoinShares, investment in crypto funds
rose by a record $2.452 billion last week, following
inflows of $1.116 billion the previous week.
Bitcoin investments increased by $2.424 billion, Ethereum
by $21 million, Cardano lost $6 million, and Solana
lost $1.6 million.
Since
the beginning of the year, crypto funds have seen
inflows of an impressive $5.2 billion, with total
AUM rising to $67 billion, the highest since December
2021.
News
background
Bitcoin
will see institutional support in the next three to
six months, according to Coinbase. Bitcoin ETFs could
eventually become a major competitor to gold funds.
According to IntoTheBlock, there is an 85% chance
that Bitcoin will reach a new all-time high within
the next six months. Five factors could contribute
to this: the halving of the price, ETFs, monetary
easing, the US election, and companies accumulating
BTC as part of their treasuries.
Former
CIA contractor Edward Snowden, who has been living
in Russia since 2013, called bitcoin the most significant
achievement of the financial system in the entire
existence of money and means of exchange.
Amberdata
admitted that Ethereum will outpace Bitcoin in terms
of growth due to more constructive deflationary policies.
The supply of ETH has been decreasing since September
2022, thanks to the update of The Merge, as well as
the implementation of a mechanism to burn part of
the commissions. During this time, around 0.36 million
ETH, or 0.3% of the total supply of 120 million coins,
have been removed from circulation.
Via
Roy Morgan Research and Media Man social media
Copper,
gold, and Bitcoin rise; Iron ore and oil fall; ASX
to fall in response to selling on Wall Street; US
vetoes Arab-backed UN resolution demanding ceasefire
in Gaza; Assange's lawyers warn that he risks 'flagrant
denial of justice' if he is tried in US
Latest
updates on Key Economic Indicators
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Australian
Dollar: $0.6550 USD (up 0.0011 USD)
Iron Ore Mar Spot Price (SGX): $120.85 USD (down $6.40
USD)
Oil
Price (WTI): $78.27 USD (down $1.02 USD)
Gold
Price: $2,024.37 USD (up $6.43 USD)
Copper
Price (CME): $3.8595 (up $0.0465 USD)
Bitcoin:
$52,059.35 (up 0.35% in last 24 hours)
New
report reveals Roy Morgan is one of Australia's leading
data companies - with in-depth information on millions
of Australians based on their Helix Personas

Market
Research Update
20
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians. One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family".
Roy
Morgan CEO Michele Levine confirmed that the Helix
Personas market segments are based on statistical
information, not data from individual people. "It's
totally ethical. Unlike Facebook or any of these things,
it's not any particular individual", Roy Morgan's
chief executive Michele Levine, said.: 38,582.12 at
3.22pm NY time (down 45.87 points on Friday's close)
Roy
Morgan wins three-year contract to deliver domestic
tourism statistics for Austrade
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
From
2025, Roy Morgan will provide Austrade with the world's
best practice survey methodology, big data integration
and modelling techniques to deliver accurate domestic
tourism statistics. Roy Morgan has reimagined the
future of domestic tourism statistics to move Austrade
and its stakeholders to the forefront of tourism intelligence
with a new platform that will drive the future of
Australia's tourism industry, which is estimated to
be worth in excess of $160 billion. Portia Morgan,
the Head of Client Services at Roy Morgan, says that
using face-to-face interviewing, which is the gold-standard
for surveying the population, enhanced with big data
and cutting-edge data science techniques, Roy Morgan
will be delivering a future-proofed system that will
be cost effective, reliable, and accurate. She adds
that Roy Morgan has been delivering survey-based tourism
insights via its Holiday Tracking Survey for 20+ years
and the company is thrilled to be working with Austrade
and the broader industry to provide a deeper of understanding
of how many people are travelling, where they go,
what they do and how they spend their valuable tourism
dollars.
Anti-mining
PM pushes BHP's cash offshore
Roy
Morgan Summary
It
is somewhat hypocritical of the federal government
to flag possible support for Australia's nickel industry,
given that Labor's anti-mining legislation may jeopardise
the expansion of BHP's copper operations in South
Australia. BHP is still likely to proceed with an
expansion, but the previously touted investment of
between $10bn and $15bn is now only a 50 per cent
chance. The new labour laws in the government's industrial
relations reforms mean that BHP is now more likely
to redirect much of this capital investment to its
criticals minerals projects in other countries; rival
miner Rio Tinto is already doing this.
More
than 2.7 million New Zealanders now read newspapers
and magazine audiences surge to over 1.7 million
21
February 2024
Roy
Morgan has released its readership results for New
Zealand's newspapers and magazines for the 12 months
to December 2023. The data shows that 2.73 million
New Zealanders aged 14+ (64.4%) now read or access
newspapers in an average 7-day period via print or
online (website or app) platforms. In addition, 1.71
million New Zealanders aged 14+ (40.3%) read magazines,
whether in print or online either via the web or an
app. The New Zealand Herald is still the nation's
most widely-read publication, with a total cross-platform
audience of 1,720,000 in the 12 months to June 2023
- almost five times as many as the second placed Dominion
Post with a readership of 341,000. Meanwhile, New
Zealand's most widely read magazine is still the driving
magazine AA Directions, which had an average issue
readership of 379,000 during the year to December
(an increase of 63,000 on a year ago).
These
are the latest findings from the Roy Morgan New Zealand
Single Source survey of 6,254 New Zealanders aged
14+ over the 12 months to December 2023.
New
report reveals Roy Morgan is one of Australia's leading
data companies - with in-depth information on millions
of Australians based on their Helix Personas
Market
Research Update
20
February 2024
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians. One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family". Roy Morgan CEO Michele
Levine confirmed that the Helix Personas market segments
are based on statistical information, not data from
individual people. "It's totally ethical. Unlike
Facebook or any of these things, it's not any particular
individual", Roy Morgan's chief executive Michele
Levine, said.
(Credit:
Roy Morgan Research)
Roy
Morgan Summary
Roy
Morgan leads the way as one of Australia's leading
data companies. A special in-depth report into Australia's
leading data companies interviewed Roy Morgan CEO
Michele Levine and Executive Chairman Gary Morgan
about the role the company plays in compiling data
and building profiles of different Australians.
One
of Roy Morgan's key products is 'Helix Personas' which
profiles people under headings such as "young
and platinum", "smart money", "cautious
conservatives", "fair go", "working
hard" and nearly 50 other personas. For example,
the "young and platinum" group love their
mobile devices and are "always on the hunt for
the shiny, new and cool" and "making the
rent". Their income is around the $64,000 a year
mark and they can often be found "living a conventional
life centred around family". Roy Morgan CEO Michele
Levine confirmed that the Helix Personas market segments
are based on statistical information, not data from
individual people. "It's totally ethical. Unlike
Facebook or any of these things, it's not any particular
individual", Roy Morgan's chief executive Michele
Levine, said.
(Credit:
Roy Morgan Research)

Media
Man
Warrner
Bros
Profile
In
2010, the Warner Bros. Pictures Group broke the all-time
industry worldwide box office record with receipts
of $4.814 billion, which surpassed the prior record
of $4.010 billion (set by the Studio in 2009). Warner
Bros. also established a new industry benchmark for
the international box office with a total of $2.93
billion (marking a record third time of crossing the
$2 billion threshold) and retained its leading domestic
box office ranking with receipts of $1.884 billion.
2010 also marked the 10th consecutive year Warner
Bros. Pictures passed the billion dollar mark at both
the domestic and international box offices. Warner
Home Video was, once again, the industrys leader,
with an overall 20.6 percent marketshare in total
DVD and Blu-ray sales. The companies comprising the
Warner Bros. Television Group and Warner Bros. Home
Entertainment Group remain category leaders, working
across all platforms and outlets, and are trendsetters
in the digital realm with video-on-demand (transaction
and ad-supported), branded channels, original content,
anti-piracy technology and broadband and wireless
destinations.
The
Warner Bros. Pictures Group brings together the Studios
motion picture production, marketing and distribution
operations into a single entity. The Group, which
includes Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures
International, was formed to streamline the Studios
film production process and bring those businesses
organizational structures in line with Warner Bros.
television and home entertainment operations.
Warner
Bros. Pictures produces and distributes a wide-ranging
slate of some 18-22 films each year, employing a business
paradigm that mitigates risk while maximizing productivity
and capital. Warner Bros. Pictures either fully finances
or co-finances the films it produces and maintains
worldwide distribution rights. It also monetizes its
distribution and marketing operations by distributing
films that are totally financed and produced by third-parties.
The Studios 2011 slate includes Sucker
Punch, The Hangover Part II, Green
Lantern, Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows Part 2, Happy Feet 2
and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.
Warner
Bros. Pictures International is a global leader in
the marketing and distribution of feature films, operating
offices in more than 30 countries and releasing films
in over 120 international territories, either directly
to theaters or in conjunction with partner companies
and co-ventures.
New
Line Cinema, part of Warner Bros. Entertainment since
2008, coordinates its development, production, marketing,
distribution and business affairs activities with
Warner Bros. Pictures to maximize film performance
and operating efficiencies. Highlights of New Lines
2011 release slate, distributed by Warner Bros., include
Horrible Bosses, Final Destination
5, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
and New Years Eve.
The
Warner Bros. Television Group oversees and grows the
entire portfolio of Warner Bros. television
businesses, including worldwide production, traditional
and digital distribution, and broadcasting. In the
traditional television arena, WBTVG produces primetime
and cable (Warner Bros. Television and Warner Horizon
Television), first-run syndication (Telepictures Productions)
and animated (Warner Bros. Animation) programming,
which is distributed worldwide by two category-leading
distribution arms/operations (Warner Bros. Domestic
Television Distribution and Warner Bros. International
Television Distribution).
Among
the primetime series produced by divisions of the
Warner Bros. Television Group are Two and a
Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, The
Mentalist, Mike & Molly, Fringe,
Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries,
Nikita, The Middle, Southland,
The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles,
Supernatural, The Bachelor,
Pretty Little Liars, Randy Jackson
Presents Americas Best Dance Crew and
many more. Also produced by the company are first-run
syndicated programs such as The Ellen DeGeneres
Show, TMZ and Extra,
among others, as well as animated shows Scooby-Doo!
Mystery Incorporated and Young Justice.
WBTVG
is an innovative leader in developing new business
models for the evolving television landscape, including
ad-supported video-on-demand, broadband and wireless,
and has digital distribution agreements in place with
all of the broadcast networks. Internationally, the
Studio is one of the worlds largest distributors
of feature films, television programs and animation
to the worldwide television marketplace, licensing
some 50,000 hours of television programming, including
more than 6,000 feature films and 50 current series,
dubbed or subtitled in more than 40 languages, to
telecasters and cablecasters in more than 175 countries.
WBTVG
provides original shortform programming for the broadband
and wireless marketplace through its Studio 2.0 digital
venture, and its digital media sales unit is devoted
specifically to multiplatform domestic advertiser
sales for both broadband and wireless. WBTVG continues
its strategic expansion into digital production and
distribution with the launch of several advertiser-supported
entertainment destinations, including TheWB.com, a
premium, video-on-demand interactive and personalized
network and KidsWB.com, a premium destination built
around youth-oriented immersive entertainment.
The
final component of WBTVG is broadcasting: The CW Television
Network, launched (in partnership with CBS) in September
2006 with quality, diverse programming, is targeted
to the 1834 audience.
Warner
Bros. Animations combined classic and contemporary
library currently boasts 14,000 animated episodes
and shorts which air on domestic broadcast networks,
as well as cable networks and in direct-to-video releases
around the world. The classic library includes such
brands as Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Hanna-Barbera
and Ruby-Spears as well as such beloved characters
as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, Tweety, Taz,
Tom and Jerry, Popeye, Batman, Superman, the Flintstones,
the Jetsons and Scooby-Doo.
Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner
Bros. Entertainments home video (Warner Home
Video), digital distribution (Warner Bros. Digital
Distribution), interactive entertainment/videogames
(Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment), direct-to-consumer
production (Warner Premiere), technical operations
(Warner Bros. Technical Operations) and anti-piracy
(Warner Bros. Anti-Piracy Operations) businesses in
order to maximize current and next-generation distribution
scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution
of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and
transactional VOD, and delivery of theatrical content
to wireless and online channels. It is also a significant
worldwide publisher for both internal and third party
videogame titles.
In
2010, Warner Home Video dominated the U.S. market
as the number one company in total sell-through video
(DVD and Blu-ray combined) with 20.6% marketshare,
theatrical catalog, TV on DVD, non-theatrical family
and animation, Blu-ray and VOD. WHV has been the number
one studio in overall DVD sales 14 consecutive years,
and is also the leading studio in the international
home video space.
With
more than 3,700 active licensees worldwide, Warner
Bros. Consumer Products licenses the rights to names,
likenesses and logos for all of the intellectual properties
in Warner Bros. Entertainments vast film and
television library. With a global network of offices
and agents in key regions throughout the world, including
North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe, WBCP
maintains an ongoing commitment to expand and build
the power of its core brands recognition in
the international marketplace through strong and creative
merchandising, promotional marketing and retail programs.
DC
Entertainments DC Comics has been in continuous
publication for more than 60 years, and is the leading
comic book publisher in the industry and the creator
of some of the worlds most recognized icons.
DCs characters continue to headline blockbuster
feature films, live-action and animated television
series, direct-to-video releases, collectors
books, online entertainment, digital publishing, countless
licensing and marketing arrangements and, most recently,
graphic novels. DC continues to attract new readers
and fans all over the world with its signature characters
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Justice League
leading the way.
Warner
Bros. International Cinemas provides a true state-of-the-art
movie experience to audiences in Japan with more than
60 multiplex cinemas and more than 600 screens internationally.
One of the pioneers in multiplex development for the
international marketplace, WBIC is continually exploring
new markets for expansion. (Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment)
Press
Release
09
August 2010
MICROGAMING SET TO LAUNCH THE LORD OF THE RINGS:
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING ONLINE VIDEO SLOT GAME
First Title to Utilize Proprietary Cinematic Spins
Technology Allowing Players to Experience the Film
with Every Spin
ISLE
OF MAN Microgaming today announced the imminent
launch of a new flagship game, The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring Online Video Slot Game.
This slot game is the first to utilise Microgamings
new Cinematic Spins technology, allowing gamers
to see clips from the films with every spin.
The
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is a
new online slot game that is part of a multi-year
licensing agreement Microgaming signed with Warner
Bros. Digital Distribution in 2009. The company is
developing a series of cutting-edge, graphic rich
video slots based on this popular movie trilogy and
will use animation material, themes, and characters,
from the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings motion
pictures that include The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
These online slot games will be available to adults
only in countries where online gaming is permitted.
The
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is the
first online video slot to use Microgamings
Cinematic Spins state-of-the-art gaming technology.
This allows movie clips to act as moving backgrounds
behind the reels during spins providing players an
unprecedented level of excitement and immersion.
Win sequences and expanding wilds also use cinematic
clips, instead of traditional animated graphics. The
slots feature famous scenes from the film including
Ringwraiths during the attack at Weathertop, Balrog
in the Mines of Moria, and Uruk-hai in the woods of
Middle-earth. Players will also enjoy seeing characters
from the films that include Frodo, Aragorn, Saruman
and the deadly Black Riders.
Roger
Raatgever, CEO Microgaming comments: Microgaming
has always been ahead of the curve with innovative
offerings, but this game really does push the boundaries
of what an online slot can do. The Lord of the Rings:
The Fellowship of the Ring looks and feels like an
extension of the big screen film experience and were
confident that our operators will see a great deal
of demand from their players, when the game is released.
This is an important deal for Microgaming and highlights
our commitment to partner with the right brands, at
the right time. The Lord of the Rings is one of the
most successful and well loved brands on the planet
and we are excited about combining this widespread
appeal with Microgamings groundbreaking software.
The
Lord of the Rings Trilogy generated $3 billion in
worldwide box office receipts and was nominated for
a total of 30 Academy Awards®; of which they won
17, including Best Picture.
-
Ends -
Notes to editors:
*Cinematic Spins is a trademark held by Microgaming
©
2010 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of
the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of
the characters, items, events and places therein are
trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth
Enterprises under license to New Line Productions,
Inc.
For
further information please contact:
Duncan Skehens / Laura Moss/ Lyndsay Haywood
Lansons Communications
020 7490 8828
DuncanS@lansons.com / LauraM@lansons.com / LyndsayH@lansons.com
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Peter
Binazeski
818-977-5701
peter.binazeski@warnerbros.com
About Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)
Since the company developed the first true online
Casino software over a decade ago, it has led the
industry in providing innovative, reliable gaming
solutions. Thanks to an unrivalled R&D programme,
that averages 60 games per year and a unique partnership
approach to working with operators; Microgaming software
powers over 160 market-leading online gaming sites.
The companys front and back-end software supports
multi-player, multi-language games - over 500 of them,
all uniquely branded and provides platforms for land-based
and wireless gaming. Microgaming powers the worlds
largest Progressive Jackpot Network and has paid out
over €265million. In May 2009 it created the
biggest ever online jackpot winner with a single payment
win of €6.37m.
As
a founding member of eCOGRA, Microgaming is at the
forefront of an initiative focused on setting the
highest standards in the gaming industry, and leads
in the areas of fair gaming, responsible operator
conduct and player protection. Microgaming has been
awarded eCOGRAs Certified Software Seal following
a rigorous onsite assessment to ensure that the development,
implementation and maintenance of the software is
representative of industry best practice standards
Microgaming licensees are therefore eligible to apply
for the eCOGRA Safe & Fair Seal.
About
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (WBDD) manages Warner
Bros. Home Entertainment Group's (WBHEG) electronic
distribution over existing, new and emerging digital
platforms, including pay-per-view, electronic sell-through,
video-on-demand, wireless and more. WBDD also oversees
the WBHEG's worldwide digital strategy, partnerships
in digital services and emerging new clients and business
activities in the digital space.
News
2009
With
Time Warner sitting on $7 billion in cash, the
Marvel deal has ignited rumours of a second wave
of consolidation in the media industry. Dream
Works Animation, home of Shrek, is seen as a potential
takeover candidate, as is MGM with its huge library
of classic films. The games firms Electronic Arts
and Take Two Interactive, with its Grand Theft
Auto franchise, are also being touted as potential
buys.
Profile
Warner
Bros. Entertainment, Inc. (also known as Warner
Bros. Pictures, or simply Warner Bros.) is one
of the world's largest producers of film and television
entertainment.
It is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters
in Burbank, California and New York City. Warner Bros.
has several subsidiary companies, including Warner
Bros. Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros.
Interactive Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television,
Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Home Video, TheWB.com
and DC Comics. Warner owns half of The CW Television
Network.
Founded in 1918 by Jewish immigrants from Poland,
Warner Bros. is the third-oldest American movie studio
in continuous operation, after Paramount Pictures,
founded in 1912 as Famous Players, and Universal Studios,
also founded in 1912.
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