Nth Cycle has signed a joint development and licensing deal with Ionic Rare Earths (ASX: IXR) to integrate its modular electro-extraction technology into IonicRE’s rare earth recycling and refining operations, starting at the Belfast facility in Q4 2026. The partners aim to replace the conventional oxalic-acid-based precipitation step with Nth Cycle’s closed-loop, electricity-driven process to produce high-purity rare earth oxides from recycled swarf, creating a refining pathway that bypasses Chinese chemical supply. Nth Cycle’s platform, already applicable to nickel, cobalt and copper, follows a separate 10-year, $1.1 billion offtake agreement with Trafigura signed in March.

Agnico Eagle Mines has more than doubled its stake in Wallbridge Mining, buying about 244 million new shares in a C$22.44 million private placement at C$0.092 per share, lifting its holding to 19.62% (potentially 19.9% with warrants) alongside a matching 19.9% partially diluted stake for Waratah Capital Advisors. Wallbridge will use the C$56 million raise to fund infill drilling and a pre-feasibility study for the Fenelon gold project, which currently carries 1.75 million oz indicated and 1.65 million oz inferred, with a 2025 PEA outlining a 16-year, 107,000 oz/y operation and C$706 million NPV (5%) at 21% IRR. The 598 km² Sunday Lake deformation zone land package, on trend with Agnico’s Detour Lake mine, plus a proposed 20:1 share consolidation and rebrand to Sunday Lake Gold, signal a push towards construction-ready status.

Boston Metal has raised $75 million, taking total funding above $500 million, to accelerate deployment of its Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE) platform for emissions-free production of steel and critical metals. The capital will be used to scale MOE cells and associated high-temperature power electronics for commercial plants in the US and other regions, moving from pilot-scale units towards industrial modules. For mining and metallurgical projects, this signals growing investor backing for alternative smelting routes that can bypass coke-based blast furnaces and potentially alter future project flowsheets.