Mining – Industrial Minerals

Power Metallic Mines (TSXV: PNPN) is advancing the Nisk Project in Quebec, where recent metallurgy results have improved recoveries to roughly 95%. In a PDAC 2026 interview, CEO Terry Lynch discusses how the Lion Zone shifted the project from a nickel sulphide system to a rare orthomagmatic Ni-Cu-PGE discovery. The company has raised $50 million and is advancing a 100,000-metre drill program. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) is now targeted for later this year. Despite strong commodity prices and expanding land position, the stock has traded sideways, highlighting a potential disconnect between project progress and market valuation. [more]

EDM Resources Inc. is advancing plans to restart the Scotia Mine in Nova Scotia, a past-producing zinc-lead operation with existing infrastructure. CEO Mark Haywood highlighted new revenue streams, including gypsum, gold, and silver, alongside core zinc and lead production. A new prefeasibility study is expected in 2026, while the company moves through final permitting with a Fisheries Act application. EDM is also pursuing an OTCQB listing to expand investor access. With improving commodity prices across its metals and by-products, the Scotia Mine is positioned as a near-term restart opportunity with multiple catalysts ahead. [more]

At PDAC 2026, Glenn Mullan of Val D’Or Mining discussed the company’s exploration strategy and partnership model. Val D’Or Mining focuses on grassroots exploration in Quebec and Ontario and then options projects to partners who fund drilling. Eldorado Gold is the company’s main partner and is advancing multiple properties across the Abitibi region. Mullan also pointed to additional drilling activity from Kirkland Lake Discoveries and Juno Corp. The goal is to generate discoveries while building a portfolio of royalties from early-stage projects. This approach has roots in Mullan’s earlier companies, including Golden Valley Mines and Abitibi Royalties. [more]

BHP’s artificial intelligence (AI) mining strategy centers on execution, not technology alone. At PDAC 2026, Mikko Tepponen outlined how data integration, AI, and system-level platforms are reshaping mining decisions from exploration to operations. As ore bodies become deeper and more complex, and demand for critical minerals rises, BHP is prioritizing faster decision cycles, improved capital allocation, and operational stability. Key initiatives include centralized exploration data platforms, computer vision in iron ore operations, and digital twins at Escondida. The company reports over US$2 billion in value from digital initiatives, but emphasizes that scalable execution and integrated systems will define long-term competitive advantage. [more]

At the PDAC 2026 Investment Leaders Forum, Rick Rule argued investors may be entering a rare period when precious metals and industrial commodities advance together. He tied the setup to governments devaluing currencies and decades of underinvestment in mining exploration and broader industrial supply. Rule said the US dollar could lose up to 75% of its purchasing power over the next decade, a backdrop that could lift the nominal price of gold and reprice hard assets. His framework is to build a conservative base first, then add selective higher-risk positions where the market shows hate or boredom. [more]

At PDAC 2026, Vale S.A. CEO Gustavo Pimenta outlined a five-pillar strategy at Vale that he believes can help reshape mining’s role in the global markets. He said mineral demand could rise five to six times, driven by electrification, AI infrastructure, and global development. However, mining company valuations remain low due to weak public perception. Vale plans to meet this demand by focusing on iron ore, copper, and nickel, leveraging existing infrastructure, automation, and lower-carbon products. Pimenta emphasized that execution and social license, not just production growth, will determine whether mining companies can close the valuation gap. [more]

PDAC 2026 will feature two technical sessions examining brownfield and greenfield exploration strategies. The brownfield session focuses on expanding resources around existing or past-producing mines, highlighting lower geological risk, faster timelines, and capital efficiency. Case studies include copper, gold, and IOCG systems in established districts. The greenfield session reviews recent discoveries and emerging districts, including gold, potash, copper-gold, and uranium projects. These presentations illustrate differing risk-return profiles, infrastructure requirements, and exploration economics. Together, the sessions demonstrate how brownfield extensions and greenfield discoveries both contribute to long-term mineral supply and reserve replacement across global jurisdictions. [more]

Part of the PDAC 2026 technical program will examine supply security challenges across critical minerals, uranium, and potash, highlighting their strategic importance to energy, food production, and national security. Sessions will address by-product recovery from existing operations, uranium’s evolving role in the energy transition, and potash’s exposure to trade and geopolitical risks. Industry leaders, analysts, and technical specialists will discuss processing innovations, market fundamentals, and policy considerations shaping future supply. The program reflects how governments and companies are responding to resource constraints, geopolitical pressures, and shifting demand across these strategically significant commodity markets. [more]