Agnico Eagle Mines is acquiring Rupert Resources for about C$2.9 billion and, together with deals for Aurion Resources and B2Gold’s 70% stake in the Fingold JV, will control roughly 2,492 sq. km in Finland’s Central Lapland Greenstone Belt. The consolidated hub will link the Kittila mine (3.3 Moz probable reserves) with Rupert’s Ikkari project (3.5 Moz probable reserves), targeting about 500,000 oz/year of gold production within a decade and up to $500 million in operating and development synergies. Agnico plans C$20 million of Ikkari drilling in 18 months and C$60–100 million in regional exploration over three years, with an internal mine evaluation due by end-2027.

Peru has reauthorised the mining permit for Southern Copper’s $1.8 billion Tía María project, clearing La Tapada open-pit’s first-stage operations after Minem confirmed compliance on environmental certification, ownership, and safety and health obligations, including previously incomplete waste dump design and project scheduling. The project, in Arequipa, is slated to produce 120,000 tonnes of copper per year for 20 years, with start-up targeted between late 2026 and early 2027, adding to Southern Copper’s Toquepala, Cuajone and Ilo operations. The decision lands amid a chaotic presidential run-off and roughly $7 billion of stalled copper projects linked to illegal mining.

Australia’s CSIRO is positioning local mining technology and automation expertise as core to future lunar missions, drawing on decades of remote operations, autonomous haulage and real-time ore sensing in harsh, isolated mine sites. The agency points to mine-grade robotics, tele-remote control rooms in Perth managing equipment thousands of kilometres away, and advanced geoscience data processing as directly applicable to lunar regolith excavation and in-situ resource utilisation. For engineers, the move signals growing crossover between mine automation platforms and off-world excavation, materials handling and dust management systems.