Mining – Other Metals

The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame inducted four industry leaders in 2026 for their long-standing contributions to mineral exploration, mining finance, and industry standards. Honoured at the annual induction ceremony in Toronto, the recipients were David Harquail, Don Lindsay, Catherine McLeod-Seltzer, and Gordon Garfield Morrison; executives, entrepreneurs, and exploration leaders whose work has influenced capital markets, governance frameworks, and major mineral discoveries. The event highlighted careers spanning royalty companies, diversified miners, exploration success, and industry leadership. Collectively, the inductees have helped shape modern mining practices, advanced responsible development, and contributed to the long-term growth and credibility of Canada’s mining sector. [more]

PDAC 2026 Technical Sessions outline how artificial intelligence and advanced geophysics are being applied in mineral exploration. The program includes an AI session covering computer vision, machine learning for structural modeling, and implementation considerations for large language models. Two geophysics sessions focus on integrated exploration case histories and newer methods, including magnetotellurics, inversion workflows, airborne geophysics analytics, and muon tomography. Regional technical sessions add examples from Latin America and brownfield exploration. Across the agenda, presentations emphasize multi-dataset interpretation, risk reduction, and operational constraints. The sessions collectively frame technology adoption as workflow-driven and incremental. This article summarizes sessions and key themes. [more]

Elemental Altus Royalties Corp. (TSXV: ELE | OTCQX: ELEMF) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire EMX Royalty Corp. (TSXV: EMX | NYSE American: EMX) in an all-share transaction valued at US$456 million. The Elemental EMX merger is expected to close in Q4/2025, subject to shareholder, court, and regulatory approvals. The combined company will operate as Elemental Royalty Corp., holding 16 producing royalties and more than 200 assets globally. Management expects the Elemental EMX merger to support approximately US$80 million in adjusted revenue by 2026. [more]

Royal Gold (NASDAQ: RGLD) will acquire Sandstorm Gold (TSX: SSL | NYSE: SAND) and Horizon Copper (TSXV: HCU) in transactions valued at approximately US$3.5 billion and $196 million, respectively. The deals are expected to close in late 2025 and will significantly expand Royal Gold’s streaming and royalty portfolio to 393 assets, including 80 producing properties. The company anticipates a 26% increase in gold equivalent output and an 87% revenue mix from precious metals. The acquisitions align with a broader trend of consolidation and diversification in the mining royalty space amid rising demand for gold and copper. [more]

The U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement gives U.S. firms access to Ukraine’s rare earths, lithium, and hydrocarbons in exchange for ongoing aid and a revenue-sharing model. The deal establishes a reinvestment fund for infrastructure and energy development, though the governance structure remains incomplete. Ukraine’s Parliament must still ratify the agreement, and the war adds significant uncertainty. Several U.S. and European mining and defense companies are reportedly assessing opportunities. With no production timeline and limited transparency rules, the arrangement reflects geopolitical positioning as much as economic strategy. However, investors are watching for signs of stability before capital begins to flow at scale. [more]

Canadian North Resources Inc (TSXV: CNRI) continues to advance its 100%-owned Ferguson Lake Project in Nunavut, Canada. The polymetallic resource includes copper, nickel, cobalt, palladium, and platinum, all key metals for the clean energy transition. A 2024 mineral resource estimate outlines 66.1 Mt Indicated and 25.9 Mt Inferred, including 1.093 billion pounds of copper and 678 million pounds of nickel in the Indicated category, with most of the resource mineable by open pit. Ongoing metallurgical and geophysical work supports further resource expansion. With over C$190 million in historical investment, the project is positioned as a potential joint venture or acquisition target as CNRI works toward future technical studies and project de-risking. [more]

At PDAC 2025, Fleet Space Technologies CEO Flavia Tata Nardini highlighted how AI, machine learning, and satellite technology could significantly accelerate and improve mineral exploration. Drawing parallels with space missions, she emphasized the importance of hiring data scientists and integrating cross-disciplinary datasets to stay competitive. With AI already helping reduce project timelines from months to days, she warned that mining companies risk being overtaken by tech firms if they fail to adapt. Fleet’s space-driven exploration technologies are also targeting lunar seismic mapping, further underscoring how Earth and space discoveries are increasingly interconnected. [more]

PDAC’s Technical Program on “The Next Big Moves In Commodities” spotlighted key shifts in the global commodities market. Discussions covered leadership challenges in volatile markets, the copper vs. gold investment case, the complex trajectory of lithium demand, and uranium’s strategic re-entry. Speakers emphasized how capital allocation, community engagement, and geopolitical awareness are shaping investment strategies across metals. Lithium’s volatility, copper’s infrastructure potential, gold’s financial role, and uranium’s resurgence formed the core of the debate. No clear winner emerged, but the case was made for diversification and long-term thinking in a landscape increasingly shaped by energy transition and technological disruption. [more]