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24 April
It is disturbing - but not entirely surprising - to read in Times Higher Education (24 April) that many of Australia’s Earth Science departments are being downsized, merged, or closed altogether. Affected universities include Macquarie, Wollongong, Queensland, Curtin, Tasmania, UNSW, Melbourne, and Newcastle.
The primary reasons cited for these cuts are modest student numbers and the relatively high costs of laboratory-based and fieldwork-intensive courses. However, the article rightly questions the logic behind this, particularly given the rising global demand for raw materials and need for environmental research and stewardship to support resource security and climate resilience.
Unfortunately, Australia is not be alone in this trend. Similar pressures are emerging in the UK and across Europe, and funding cuts are also affecting institutions in the United States.
At a time when informed environmental policy and responsible resource management are more crucial than ever, the reduction in Earth science education capacity raises serious concerns about long-term priorities and preparedness.
23 April
The gold price fell to just below $3,300 per ounce in early trading today (23 April), as reduced safe-haven demand followed signs of easing tensions between the United States and China. After soaring to a high of $3,500 on Tuesday, the market retreat appears driven by signals from the U.S. administration of a softer stance on trade tariffs and a withdrawal from efforts to dismiss Jerome Powell as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Are investors also beginning to question whether repeated threats of tariffs are losing their shock value. Is a "cry-wolf" effect setting in across global markets, leading to a more measured reaction to geopolitical tensions?
Factual source: https://www.fxstreet.com/news/gold-price-shows-signs-of-bullish-exhaustion-amid-positive-turnaround-in-risk-sentiment-202504230346
19 April
The gold price surged to a record high this week, surpassing $3,300 per ounce on Wednesday, which (when adjusted for inflation) is a peak not seen since 1980. Experts predict the price will continue to rise, with Goldman Sachs forecasting it could reach $3,700 per ounce by the end of the year and possibly $4,000 by mid-2026.
The surge is largely attributed to so-called "Fear Trade," as sentiment in financial markets falls to its lowest point in over thirty years, according to the April BofA Global Fund Manager Survey. A staggering 82% of survey respondents foresee a global economic downturn - the most pessimistic outlook in the survey's history.
https://www.mining.com/web/analysts-see-gold-at-4000-as-faith-in-the-us-dollar-tumbles/
17 April
Australia ranks among the world’s top 10 for ten critical minerals and boasts some of the largest known reserves of lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements - materials essential to the global clean energy transition. To capitalise on this, the Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus highlights a diverse portfolio of investment-ready projects across the country. These are designed to meet surging global demand, enhance supply chain security, and accelerate progress toward a net zero emissions future. With world-class geology and a stable investment environment, Australia offers exceptional opportunities for global investors looking to support the technologies of tomorrow.
15 April
We’re excited to share some important mining and geology industry news...
GEOXPERT HUB has officially launched! 🚀
Welcome to our community!
Thanks very much to all our prelaunch advertisers and those who have helped us along the way. ⛏️
13 April
According to Mining Technology website (9 April), advances in automation are transforming drilling in mineral exploration. While the industry has traditionally been viewed as relatively low-tech, this perception is rapidly becoming outdated with the uptake of sophisticated handheld and remote sensor systems, enhanced geochemical and geophysical techniques and improved mineral deposit models. Exploration drilling is now increasingly conducted remotely or through semi- and fully autonomous systems. The advances potentially offer enhanced worker safety, reduced reliance on highly skilled labour - which is often in short supply - and time and cost savings.
At the forefront of developments are companies such as Boart Longyear which are introducing systems for automated handling of multiple drill rods to maintain constant drilling and the extraction of rock core. The mining industry is particularly conservative when it comes to new technologies and will therefore be closely monitoring the safety and economic benefits of the developed systems.
https://www.mining-technology.com/features/automated-exploration-drill-rigs-the-next-frontier
8 April
According to Chile's state mining authority ENAMI, the country's total lithium resources are now estimated to be 28% larger than previously thought. This updated figure comes from a new study of the La Isla salt flat in northern Antofagasta, based on an external company analysis using ENAMI’s exploration data.
The new findings solidify Chile’s position as a leading global lithium producer, currently ranked second in the world. It holds the third-largest lithium resources, behind Bolivia and Argentina, and has the highest reserves.
ENAMI has received proposals to mine the newly assessed salt flats from Chinese carmaker BYD, as well as mining companies Rio Tinto, Posco, and Eramet.
8 April
Ukraine's Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has recently announced that a delegation will be sent to Washington next week to begin talks on a new U.S.-proposed deal granting access to its critical mineral resources. The updated draft, leaked earlier, includes not only rare earths but also oil and gas. The initial framework, which focused on a jointly managed investment fund for reconstruction, was derailed after a tense Oval Office meeting. The new draft reflects only the U.S. position so far. Kyiv seeks to protect its interests and ensure mutual agreement as negotiations enter a more technical and high-stakes phase.
5 April
World stock markets tumbled on Thursday and Friday (April 3–4) after China announced tit-for-tat tariffs of 34% on U.S. imports and imposed further restrictions on the supply of rare earth elements (REEs), sparking fears of a global multi-commodity trade war and recession.
The REE supply restrictions are particularly concerning due to China’s overwhelming dominance in their production and the crucial role of these metals in high-tech and green energy technologies such as wind turbines, lithium-ion batteries, and hydrogen production.
Markets now face a tense wait to see whether a politically and market-acceptable compromise can be reached before the US implements its planned tariffs on April 9.
4 April
In a recent report by S&P Global (27 February 2025), mineral exploration activity saw an uptick in January compared to the previous month, driven by a general improvement in drilling results, initial resource statements, and project milestones. A standout achievement was Aya Gold & Silver Inc.'s reported 21-meter drill intersection at their Zgounder silver and gold mine in Morocco, which yielded an impressive average grade of 2,165 grams of gold per metric ton.
In addition to these improvements, S&P Global Market Intelligence's Exploration Price Index experienced a boost, largely due to increases for gold, platinum, and copper. However, this positive momentum was somewhat tempered by declines for the battery metals nickel and cobalt, as well as a decrease in levels of fundraising by junior and intermediate mining companies.
4 April
According to a recent BBC News update (5 March 2025), authorities in Kyiv estimate that Ukraine hosts approximately 5% of the world’s critical raw materials. This includes one of the world’s top five reserves of graphite and 33% and 7% of Europe’s lithium and titanium, respectively. Additionally, Ukraine has significant deposits of beryllium, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, silver, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. Many in the media and politics have also highlighted the country’s considerable potential for rare earth metals, which are essential in a range of high-tech and green energy devices and are apparently of particular interest to the United States.
However, according to a recent article by S&P Global (13 February 2025), Kyiv’s assessment of its rare earth metal potential is based on outdated information from the Soviet era. Furthermore, many possible deposits are now located in regions under Russian control. It is also likely that, due to the complex nature of rare earth element deposits and the high-tech and costly processing required, they will be uneconomic to mine. A true understanding of Ukraine’s rare earth element potential will require a lengthy and costly in-depth assessment.
S&P Global 2025: https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2025/2/ukraine-rare-earths-potential-relies-on-soviet-assessments-may-not-be-viable-87318842
3 April
Just published, a cutting-edge multimethod toolset to explore for small-scale, buried pegmatites, which are key sources of Li, high-purity quartz, REEs, Ta, Be, and Cs. Developed within the EU H2020 GREENPEG project, our approach integrates new geophysical devices, databases and advanced methodologies tailored to diverse environments across Europe. The toolset optimizes exploration strategies whilst taking into account environmental, social, and governance factors. The GREENPEG Experts’ Network behind the publication can offer advice on the use of the toolset and a range of exploration consultancy services, see: https://greenpeg.eu/