Rio, BHP-backed US copper project clears major legal hurdle

By Chloe Coutinho

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

InternationalNews

Resolution Copper will move into its next phase after a lengthy legal battle over the transfer of land in Arizona came to an end.

The MOU supports Metallium’s plan to develop a national network of e-waste processing facilities, strategically located near major e-waste collection hubs, rapidly expanding U.S. data centre industrial parks and regional industrial corridors with strong logistics and waste generation.

Gruyere hits commercial production

CommoditiesDevelopmentsInternationalNews

Gruyere hits commercial production

AUSTRALIA’S biggest new gold mine, Gruyere, has hit commercial production ahead of schedule, with annual guidance for gold production predicted to be at the upper end on 75,000-100,000oz. The JV between WA company Gold Roads (ASX: GOR) and South African giant Gold Fields has been ramping up to be slightly ahead of the deadline since the ball mill was commissioned in early August. The $621m Gruyere mine, 200km north-east of Laverton, was Australia’s last major gold discovery since 2013, and took the JV just six years to reach commercial production. Commercial production was defined by the predetermined rate of 70pc throughput of nameplate capacity at a minimum average gold recovery rate of 85pc of expected mine metallurgical recovery. The company…

Newcrest progresses Chilean project

InternationalNews

Newcrest progresses Chilean project

BY JESSICA CUMMINS NEWCREST Mining has entered into the farm-in stage of its agreement with Mirasol Resources’ Altazor gold project in Chile. The two companies first signed an option and farm in agreement in November 2017, which saw Newcrest set to acquire up to 80 per cent of the project by completing a series of exploration and development milestones. After completing an aggressive exploration program comprising systematic soil sampling, detailed geological mapping, magnetics and electrical geophysics last year, Newcrest presented an exploration budget totalling $US3.3 million for this season’s exploration program. Exploration works would be focussed on a maiden drilling program, subject to obtaining applicable permits and permissions. Mirasol president and chief executive Stephen Nano said the company was pleased…

Galileo, the next Fraser Range nickel success story?

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Galileo, the next Fraser Range nickel success story?

In December 2019, Legend Mining (ASX: LEG) catapulted to a $200 million market capitalisation after exploration drilling revealed a nickel-sulphide discovery at its Rockford Project’s Mawson Prospect in the Fraser Range nickel belt in Western Australia. The stock doubled in price in a single day on speculation that the exploration drilling was the first sign of Mawson being the region’s “next Nova discovery”. Prior to this, the 2012 discovery of the Nova nickel deposit, also in the Fraser Range nickel belt, shot Sirius Resources to fame, returning shareholders a return of circa 10,000% in a matter of months and led to Sirius’ acquisition by Independence Group (ASX:IGO) for $1.8 billion. Located 50 kilometres along strike from Legend’s Mawson Prospect is…

Black Rock A Step Closer To Production

InternationalNews

Black Rock A Step Closer To Production

Image: Black Rock Mining BY GERARD MCARTNEY BLACK Rock Mining has been granted two contiguous mineral licences to begin development of the Mahenge graphite mine. Mahenge Resources, Black Rock’s 100 per cent owned Tanzanian subsidiary, announced it was granted the licences by the Tanzanian ministry of minerals on 26 February, which complemented the environmental permit awarded to the company on 5 September 2018. The Mahenge project was expected to have a 32-year mine life, capable of delivering up to 250,000 tonnes per annum of 98.5 per cent graphite concentrate. Black Rock delivered its scoping study in March 2016 and, in June 2016, produced the world’s first 99.1 per cent TGC purity by lab flotation. In May 2018, the company produced…

Macmahon is an ASX-listed company offering the complete package of mining and civil infrastructure services throughout Australia and Southeast Asia.

Decmil awarded $80m in contracts

Macmahon Holdings’ (ASX: MAH) wholly owned subsidiary, Decmil, has been awarded two new contracts from Eva Copper Mine and Arrow Energy. Decmil will deliver the new operations permanent village at the Eva Copper Mine in Queensland, adding about $70m to Macmahon’s secured orderbook. The project involves the design and construction of a 454-person accommodation village, including accommodation units, central facilities, water and wastewater treatment plants, internal roads, drainage, bulk earthworks, services installation and associated infrastructure. Works are set to commence in mid-2025, with completion expected in 2026. In WA, Decmil will also design and construct the Girrawheen satellite warehouse and operations facility for Arrow Energy, adding about $10m to Macmahon’s secured orderbook. The scope of work for Decmil involves the…

Resolution is one of only three ASX-listed companies to have a project included in the program.

InternationalNews

Resolution wins US support for antimony project

The Antimony Ridge project in Idaho will be included in the US Federal FAST-41 Permitting Transparency Program, as Resolution Minerals (ASX: RML) looks to advance proposed bulk sampling and drilling activities.FAST-41 designation is expected to accelerate permitting timelines through enhanced inter-agency coordination, transparent milestone tracking and dedicated federal oversight.Resolution said the program inclusion is expected to enhance investor visibility and support engagement with potential strategic partners and funding sources aligned with the US critical minerals policy.The designation comes in response to the Trump Administration’s move to reduce reliance on foreign adversaries for the supply of critical minerals with the White House calling for immediate measures to facilitate domestic mineral production.US Congressman Russ Fulcher says antimony is a key component in the production of defence weaponry and energy technology.“I am pleased to see the Antimony Ridge project receive FAST-41 transparency status,” he said.“Ensuring we have a strong domestic supply of this natural resource — sourced right here in Idaho in an environmentally friendly way — is vital to US national defence and economic security.”The US remains heavily reliant on imported antimony, with China dominating global production.Resolution Minerals says US antimony and tungsten supplies are critically low due to ongoing global conflicts and export restrictions.Resolution US operations chief executive Craig Lindsay says Antimony Ridge is a key part of the company’s broader strategy to develop a US-based critical minerals platform.“With exploration, processing infrastructure and multiple development pathways now coming together at Horse Heaven, we believe the company is uniquely positioned to capitalise on strong demand for antimony, tungsten and gold,” he said.Antimony Ridge is part of the Horse Heaven project, which includes a recently acquired processing mill and infrastructure, historical tungsten stockpiles and a fully funded Phase 2 drilling program at Golden Gate.Resolution will now work with the US Forest Service to advance the Antimony Ridge plan of operations through the FAST-41 process.Following approval, Resolution intends to commence a bulk sampling program of near-surface high-grade antimony mineralisation, alongside a drilling campaign designed to define the scale of the system.

(Image source: Fortescue) IUCN, recognised globally as a leader in nature conservation and sustainable resource use, brings decades of expertise in collaborating with the mining sector on biodiversity-related issues.

Fortescue’s path to protecting biodiversity

Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has entered into a strategic three-year collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to develop a comprehensive nature roadmap aimed at achieving a net positive impact on biodiversity. The rapid transition to a low-carbon economic model is accompanied by growing demand for mining products to supply key inputs, including for green technologies. While awareness of the sector’s impact on the environment and livelihoods has never been higher, there is also a growing recognition that business has a key role to play in driving action to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss, as highlighted in the final text of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). Already known for its commitments for decarbonisation, Fortescue has set…

If the transaction is implemented, each Rex shareholder will receive a cash amount of A$0.47 per share.

$393m deal pushes Hillside copper forward

MACH is set to acquire all remaining shares of Rex Minerals (Rex) (ASX: RXM) in a new scheme implementation deed. The Rex board has unanimously recommended the transaction. The offer follows a competitive global partnering process which identified a $854m funding and development pathway for mining operations at Rex’s Hillside copper-gold project in South Australia. Rex Minerals chief executive Richard Laufmann says this option provides certainty for stakeholders in Hillside, including the local community, the South Australian Government and Rex employees. “The Transaction provides certainty of value and a significant premium representing a 98% uplift relative to Rex’s 90-day volume-weighted average price, as well as the opportunity for Rex shareholders to realise their investment at a 10-year historical share price…