Raglan Mine in Nunavik, Quebec, has reached a key automation milestone, with the first autonomous haul truck at the new Anuri underground nickel mine completing an autonomous ramp climb and successfully discharging ore at surface. The Glencore-owned complex now runs autonomous haulage alongside existing high-grade underground operations at Qakimajurq and Kikialik, signalling progressive automation across multiple orebodies. For mine planners and engineers, the achievement validates autonomous truck navigation on ramp profiles typical of deep Arctic underground operations, with implications for traffic management, communications and ramp design in similar cold-climate mines.

Vulcan Energy has secured a key German regulatory milestone for its Lionheart lithium project, clearing a major hurdle towards bringing geothermal brine–sourced lithium chemicals into commercial production in the Upper Rhine Valley. The project targets direct lithium extraction from deep geothermal reservoirs, integrating baseload renewable power and heat with lithium hydroxide output for European battery supply chains. For geotechnical and civil teams, the approval signals advancing timelines for drilling, wellfield development and surface plant construction in a densely populated, infrastructure-rich setting with strict environmental constraints.

Ark Mines has secured a Queensland mining lease for its Sandy Mitchell rare earths project, marking a key move from exploration to planned production. The licence positions the company to advance mine planning and approvals for heavy and light rare earth extraction in northern Queensland, a region already targeted for critical minerals development. Geotechnical and mine design teams can now progress detailed pit designs, waste storage layouts and haul road alignments under a defined tenure framework.