Brightstar Resources has reported positive drilling results and a modest mineral resource estimate (MRE) increase at its Lord Byron gold deposit in Western Australia, strengthening confidence in extending mine life within the Laverton gold project. The updated MRE, derived from recent reverse circulation and diamond drilling, refines grade continuity and mineralisation geometry around existing pit shells, improving pit optimisation and potential ore reserve conversion. For mine planners and geotechs, the tighter model supports more reliable slope design, scheduling, and cutback decisions in a mature brownfields setting.

Gold ended 2025 at record levels after setting 53 all‑time price highs through the year, signalling sustained investor demand amid persistent inflation and geopolitical risk. Analysts cited strong central bank buying, robust over-the-counter trading in London and COMEX futures positioning as key drivers, with spot prices repeatedly breaking through previous resistance bands. For miners, the extended bull run is supporting higher cut-off grades, accelerated feasibility work on marginal orebodies, and renewed financing appetite for greenfield gold projects.

Merger talks between Rio Tinto and Glencore are reported to be closer than ever, with both majors exploring potential corporate combinations that would create one of the world’s largest diversified miners across iron ore, copper, aluminium, coal and trading. Any deal would integrate Rio’s Pilbara iron ore system and Oyu Tolgoi copper operation with Glencore’s global copper, zinc and coal portfolio and its dominant commodity marketing arm. For engineers and contractors, a combined group could rationalise capital spend, consolidate project pipelines and reshape procurement and offtake terms across multiple regions.