Strikes, severe weather, accidents and geotechnical issues are putting an average 5.2% of output at Chile’s 14 largest copper mines at risk, with GEM Mining Consulting’s new Production-at-Risk Index scoring El Teniente at 9%, Los Pelambres at 8% and Escondida at 7.5%. The model compounds eight disruption categories—labour, water, weather, geotechnical, metallurgy/grades, ramp-up, safety and permitting—where a single high rating equates to an expected 3% annual loss, or about 11 days of production. Current events validate the exposure, with over 700 workers on strike at Centinela, Escondida halted after a fatal accident, and storms disrupting Los Pelambres and Caserones.

Stellar Resources has extended high-grade tin mineralisation at the Heemskirk project in western Tasmania, with step-out drilling north of the Severn deposit intersecting 3.9m at 0.82 per cent Sn from 206.1m, including 2.1m at 1.40 per cent Sn. Additional mineralised intervals in hole ZM194 include 3.7m at 0.41 per cent Sn, supporting a larger, structurally continuous tin system. For mine planning and geotechnical teams, the deeper, high-grade intercepts point to potential expansion of underground resource envelopes and revised stope designs.

Barton Gold has completed assays for its Tunkillia resource‑upgrade campaign in South Australia, returning broad, high‑grade gold intersections within the proposed starter pits. Final results include 53m at 2.51g/t Au from 60m in hole TKB0745, with higher‑grade zones of 2m at 18.25g/t from 72m and 1m at 26.3g/t, plus several similarly mineralised intervals. The data support potential early pit designs focused on thicker, near‑surface mineralisation, improving options for initial strip ratios and mill feed grade scheduling.