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Larvotto Resources has signed a seven-year mine-gate offtake agreement with Glencore for approximately 15,000 dry metric tonnes per year of gold concentrate from its 100%-owned Hillgrove antimony-gold project in New South Wales, with Glencore handling all logistics to end customers. Combined with an existing antimony concentrate offtake with Wogen Resources, the deal locks in marketing for Hillgrove’s primary concentrates ahead of first production, with plant commissioning targeted for August. Metallurgical testwork has reported 90% tungsten recovery and a 16-fold feed grade upgrade, supporting a simple, low-cost circuit for a potential tungsten by-product.

Gold’s long-term bull case is being tied by Sprott to the late stages of a global debt cycle, with US federal debt near 120% of GDP, annual deficits around 5% of GDP and interest costs approaching US$1 trillion a year, eroding confidence in sovereign bonds. Central banks bought 244 tonnes of gold in Q1 2026 and, in cases like Turkey, sold US Treasuries while largely retaining gold via swaps, treating bullion as core collateral rather than a trading asset. Sprott argues this shift, combined with constrained mine supply, supports gold as a structural store of value even as spot prices recently slipped to about US$4,230/oz.

Spence and Sierra Gorda SCM copper mines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Exponor 2026 in Antofagasta to identify and evaluate joint technical and commercial initiatives to boost operational efficiency and competitiveness. The MoU links BHP’s Spence operation with Sierra Gorda SCM, owned 55% by KGHM and 45% by South32, creating a formal framework for shared work on items such as processing performance, cost structures and supply contracts. For engineers, the move signals potential alignment on plant benchmarking, technology trials and common service providers across neighbouring large-scale sulphide operations in northern Chile.

Komatsu and partners are advancing automated megawatt-class charging for battery-electric haul trucks, focusing on DC arc flash management, battery chemistry trade-offs and robust battery management systems discussed at The Electric Mine 2026 in Lisbon. Technical sessions examined safe operation of high-voltage DC connectors at MW power levels, thermal behaviour of different chemistries under rapid charge, and integration of BMS with mine energy management. For mine designers, the work signals tighter coupling between charger layout, electrical protection schemes and vehicle interface standards in future BEV fleets.

PLS has opened Australia’s first mine-site lithium mid-stream processing facility at its Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia, aiming to process spodumene concentrate on site rather than exporting raw material. The demonstration-scale plant, located adjacent to existing open pits and concentrators, will trial conversion steps typically performed in Chinese refineries to assess technical performance, reagent consumption and product quality under Pilgangoora ore conditions. Outcomes will inform potential scale-up to commercial mid-stream capacity, with implications for mine-site power demand, tailings management and logistics design.

REMA TIP TOP is deploying tailored rubber, ceramic and composite lining systems across mill feed chutes, cyclones and slurry pipelines to balance wear life, cost and shutdown frequency in mineral processing plants. The company matches lining thickness, hardness and chemistry to specific duties such as coarse ore abrasion, high-velocity slurry impact and chemical attack, with modular panels designed for rapid replacement during planned outages. For plant engineers, the approach shifts decisions from generic wear packages to circuit-by-circuit optimisation of liner selection, installation method and inspection intervals.

Bellevue Gold’s namesake mine in Western Australia has operated for 155 consecutive hours on 100 per cent renewable power, running engine-off for more than six and a half days in early May. The off-grid hybrid system combines a large-scale solar farm, battery energy storage and a reduced reliance on diesel generation to maintain continuous underground and processing operations. For miners planning remote decarbonised sites, the run provides a real-world reference for renewable penetration, storage sizing and contingency planning in isolated grids.

Zenith Minerals has agreed a binding takeover implementation deed with Forrestania Resources for an all-scrip, off‑market acquisition valuing Zenith at about $93.5 million. Zenith shareholders will receive one new Forrestania share for every 4.3 Zenith shares, implying $0.132 per Zenith share based on the agreed exchange ratio. The deal consolidates Forrestania’s and Zenith’s gold and battery metals exploration portfolios under a single ASX vehicle, which may affect future drilling priorities, capital allocation and JV negotiations across their Western Australian tenements.

Shanghai Boonray Intelligent Technology, Zhongguancun Technology Leasing and Iridium Molybdenum Technology have signed a tripartite strategic cooperation agreement, dated 1 June, to accelerate intelligent and electric transformation in open-pit mining. The partnership centres on developing new energy intelligent equipment for haulage and production scenarios, backed by structured leasing and financing support from Zhongguancun to move fleets away from diesel. For mine operators, the deal signals faster access to OEM-backed electric and autonomous-ready machinery without large upfront capital outlay.

Epiroc’s 2026 Capital Markets Day in Örebro set out slower-than-expected uptake of its automation and battery-electric fleets as major miners cut capex for next-generation equipment, affecting orders for systems such as 6th Sense automation and Scooptram BEV loaders. President and CEO Helena Hedblom detailed a shift towards retrofit and brownfield upgrades, remote monitoring, and staged autonomy rather than full greenfield roll-outs. For mine planners and engineers, the message is to expect incremental deployment of teleremote drilling, autonomous haulage layers, and underground charging infrastructure rather than rapid fleet-wide conversion.

TECO’s new E710 Next Gen Compact Current Vector Control Variable Speed Drive adds built‑in predictive maintenance to mining auxiliary drives by continuously monitoring internal components from commissioning and issuing advance failure warnings. The unit delivers full rated output up to 50°C and 150% torque at 0.5Hz in Sensorless Vector mode, targeting demanding conveyor, pump and fan duties. A plug‑in Copy Module can transfer complete parameter sets between drives on site, cutting commissioning and replacement time for maintenance teams.

Nederman Mikropul is supplying advanced wet scrubbers and gas absorbers for mining and minerals processing plants, designed for >99 per cent collection efficiency on sub-micron dust while simultaneously treating hazardous process gases from crushing and related operations. The systems combine particulate scrubbing and gas absorption in a single unit, targeting fine aerosols and corrosive or toxic species that are difficult to capture with dry filters alone. For plant designers and operators, this enables tighter control of stack emissions and easier compliance with stringent site-specific air quality limits.

Queensland has approved a 21‑year extension of Stanwell’s Meandu thermal coal mine, enabling access to about 200 million tonnes of additional coal reserves. The project secures ongoing supply to the adjacent Tarong and Tarong North coal‑fired power stations, which together generate roughly 20 per cent of Queensland’s electricity. For mine planners and geotechnical teams, the decision signals two more decades of pit development, overburden management and slope stability work in the South Burnett coalfield.

QME 2026 will return to the Mackay Showgrounds as Australia’s largest regional mining gathering, combining a full-scale equipment and technology exhibition with structured networking and deal-making. Organisers are positioning the event less as a static display of trucks, drills and processing kit and more as a hub for supplier–operator collaboration, with dedicated business development sessions and evening networking drinks. For contractors, OEMs and mine operators, the emphasis on in-person relationship building signals continued value in regional trade shows alongside remote procurement and digital vendor engagement.

Victoria has created a Mineral Sands Agricultural Land Restoration Working Group to bring together mineral sands operators, farmers, researchers and government agencies to advise on critical minerals development in farming regions. The group will focus on rehabilitation and soil restoration standards for projects such as VHM’s Goschen mineral sands development in north-west Victoria, one of Australia’s largest rare earth and zircon deposits. Outcomes are expected to influence mine planning, topsoil handling, backfilling strategies and post-mining land capability assessments across the state’s agricultural basins.

Belgian investigators have formally placed Trafigura-owned Nyrstar NV under suspicion of forgery, use of false annual accounts and misuse of corporate assets, escalating a long-running criminal probe into its controversial restructuring and asset transfer to Trafigura. The Antwerp investigating judge has notified Nyrstar, which says it has no access to the criminal file but continues to cooperate, while any charging decision rests with judicial authorities at a later stage. Separately, Belgium’s FSMA fined Nyrstar €80,000 in 2025 for breaching market-abuse and disclosure rules on its pre-restructuring liquidity disclosures.

Eldorado Gold’s McIlvenna Bay underground mine in Saskatchewan has produced first copper concentrate after completing wet commissioning of its processing plant, and is ramping toward nameplate capacity of 4,900 tonnes per day with commercial production targeted for Q3 2026. The volcanogenic massive sulphide operation, valued at about C$1.24 billion and acquired via Foran Mining, is designed to average 41 million lb copper, 54 million lb zinc, 20,000 oz gold and 444,000 oz silver annually over an 18-year mine life. Near-term work centres on optimising the flotation circuit, reagent regimes and completing the paste plant and underground backfill infrastructure.

GoGold Resources has secured SEMARNAT approval to build the $227 million Los Ricos South bulk-tonnage underground gold-silver mine in Jalisco, with a 24‑month construction schedule and full funding from its C$261 million cash balance. The 15‑year operation is designed to produce 80 million oz silver-equivalent, averaging 7.3 million oz per year in the first five years, and carries a 2025 feasibility study after-tax NPV (5%) of $355 million and 28% IRR at $26.80/oz silver and $2,330/oz gold. Los Ricos South will join the Parral agglomerated heap leach tailings project and precedes potential development of the nearby Los Ricos North deposit.

According to Surbiton Associates Pty Ltd, Australian gold production slipped almost 3% quarter-on-quarter to 75 tonnes in Q1 2026, worth about A$17 billion, as heavy rain and bushfires disrupted operations at sites including Newmont’s Tanami (down 41,000 oz) and Boddington (down 35,000 oz) and Gold Fields’ Gruyere (down 20,200 oz). The impact was partly offset by higher output at Gold Fields’ Granny Smith (+19,600 oz), Newmont’s Cadia (+13,000 oz) and Northern Star’s KCGM Super Pit (+12,500 oz). Domestic gold prices swung from a record A$5,595/oz on 29 January to A$4,098/oz on 23 March, driven by Middle East tensions, portfolio rebalancing and central bank sales totalling 66 tonnes from countries including Turkey and Russia.

McEwen Mining’s pre-feasibility study for the Grey Fox underground project near Timmins, Ontario, outlines 87,000 oz/y of gold output from 2028–2041, peaking at 100,000 oz in 2029, extending the Fox Complex mine life by 15 years and feeding the existing Stock mill with 87.5% projected recovery. The $181 million initial capex project, based on 18.8 Mt at 3.28 g/t Au (nearly 2 million oz indicated, 980,000 oz in reserves), shows a post-tax NPV5 of $282 million, 25% IRR and 4.6-year payback at $3,000/oz gold. Two independent portal-accessed underground operations are planned, with construction targeted for spring 2027 and commercial production in 2029, plus a $5 million drilling programme to convert remaining resources.

Nova Scotia’s mining sector is being reshaped by reduced permitting red tape, repeal of the uranium exploration and mining ban, and new geoscience tools including a digitised drill core library and province-wide Minerals Play Fairway airborne geophysical surveys. Exploration licences doubled between 2024 and 2025, while NexGold’s Goldboro gold mine (735 jobs, C$2.1 billion GDP over 15 years), St Barbara’s Moose River stockpile processing (C$154 million GDP over 13 months) and CertainTeed’s Antrim gypsum quarry (60 jobs, ≥20-year life) move toward development. For engineers and developers, the signal is faster approvals, more data-rich targeting and a more supportive policy environment.

Antofagasta will invest $900 million to extend the Zaldívar copper mine in Chile’s Antofagasta region to 2051, under a plan that replaces all continental water use with treated wastewater supplied by sanitation company Econssa from 2028. The project centres on a new conveyance and pumping system from the La Negra sector and will generate up to 5,000 construction jobs at peak activity starting in the second half of 2026. For other operators in northern Chile’s arid copper belt, the scheme provides a full-scale reference for wastewater-based process water supply under tightening environmental constraints.

Vema Hydrogen has signed a non-binding LOI with First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt to form a 50/50 joint venture integrating engineered mineral hydrogen (EMH) production with the Pipestone XL awaruite nickel-cobalt project, a 30 km ultramafic belt 40 km from Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland. EMH accelerates serpentinisation in iron-rich ultramafic rocks to generate low-carbon hydrogen without grid electricity, with Vema targeting production costs below US$1/kg and leveraging operational experience from its Thetford ophiolite site in Quebec. Laboratory tests on Pipestone core at Vema’s Orléans facility confirmed stimulated serpentinisation and hydrogen generation, positioning the project as a template for co-located hydrogen, clean fuels and critical mineral developments at remote ultramafic mining districts.

Ericsson and Epiroc are expanding their 2018 collaboration into a global go‑to‑market alliance that embeds Ericsson’s LTE and Private 5G networks into Epiroc’s digital portfolio for both surface and underground mines. Epiroc will integrate Ericsson Private 5G with its telematics, vendor‑agnostic remote‑control platforms, and situational awareness and collision‑avoidance systems to support automation, remote operations and predictive maintenance. For mine operators, the move signals tighter coupling between OT systems and high‑reliability wireless backbones, simplifying deployment of site‑wide autonomous and semi‑autonomous fleets.