Magnetite Mines has started air core drilling at its Ironback Hill prospect in South Australia to test for rare earth element (REE) mineralisation alongside its existing magnetite iron ore resource. The program targets REE-bearing horizons identified in previous surface geochemistry and geophysics within the broader Razorback iron project area, where the company is already advancing high-grade magnetite concentrates for green steel feed. Any defined REE inventory could materially change project economics and mine planning, adding a critical minerals stream to the planned iron ore operation.

Rio Tinto has reported a near 10 per cent year-on-year increase in copper-equivalent production, driven largely by stronger iron ore output from its Pilbara operations and improved performance at key copper assets. The company pointed to higher plant throughput and more stable rail and port logistics in the Pilbara system, alongside incremental gains from brownfield debottlenecking at existing mines. For mine planners and process engineers, the results signal continued emphasis on incremental productivity gains from established ore bodies rather than major greenfield expansions.

PNG Industrial and Mining Resources Exhibition and Conference (PNG Expo) has confirmed the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) as an association partner for its 2026 event in Port Moresby. The partnership is expected to expand Australian supplier and contractor participation across mine development, processing plants and supporting civil works, particularly in PNG’s gold, copper and LNG-linked infrastructure projects. For geotechnical and mining engineers, this signals stronger cross-border collaboration on equipment standards, contractor capability and project pipelines in Papua New Guinea.