Republic of Mining

A $250M investment will help this lithium mine get up and running. That’s bad news for these tribes. – by Anita Hofschneider (Grist.org – March 13, 2025)

March 13, 2025

Tribes have tried and failed to stop the project in court. A new report says it violates Indigenous rights.

A Canadian mining company behind a massive new lithium mine in northern Nevada has received a $250 million investment to complete construction of the new mine — a project that aims to accelerate America’s shift from fossil fuel-powered cars but that has come under fierce criticism from neighboring tribal nations and watchdog groups for its proximity to a burial site.

Lithium Americas is developing the mine in an area known as Thacker Pass where it plans to unearth lithium carbonate that can be used to make batteries for electric vehicles. The area, known as Peehee Mu’huh in the Numu language of the Northern Paiute, is home to what could be the largest supply of lithium in the United States and is also a site that tribal citizens visit every year to honor dozens of Native men, women, and children who fled American soldiers in an 1865 unprovoked attack at dawn.

U.S. states rely on B.C. to export thermal coal. Should the shipments be taxed? – by Yasmine Ghania (CBC News British Columbia – March 12, 2025)

March 13, 2025

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/

Proposal also brings fear of retaliation after U.S. president lashed out at Ontario

As President Donald Trump’s tariff threats continue to hang over Canada, B.C. Premier David Eby wants the federal government to impose a tax on U.S. thermal coal shipped out of the province as a way to pressure the White House.

But after the president lashed out at Canada for Ontario’s levies, there are also fears that any more retaliation from provinces could backfire.

Sudbury’s mining companies have to plan carefully: Mark Cutifani – by Hugh Kruzel (Sudbury Star – March 11, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.thesudburystar.com/

Vale Base Metals chairman speaks to the Goodman School of Mining about sustainability and caring during difficult times for nickel miners

Lower nickel prices and ore that is harder to get at mean mine companies operating in Sudbury will have to be smarter and more innovative as they plan for the future, the chairman of Vale Base Metals says.

Mark Cutifani made the observations during a talk last week at the Goodman School of Mines Lecture in the Cliff Fielding Innovation Space in Sudbury. “It is a tough time for nickel,” Cutifani told the audience. Because of Indonesian nickel, he said the industry will not see a significant increase in nickel prices before 2030.

Vale Base Metals chair hopes ‘cool heads will prevail’ in U.S.-Canada trade dispute – – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – March 10, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.sudbury.com/

International nickel miner has contingency plans in place should U.S. nickel exports be halted.

It’s still too early in the U.S.-Canada trade dispute to determine what impact tariffs will have on Vale Base Metals’ U.S.-bound nickel shipments, given the rapidly changing situation, according to company chair Mark Cutifani. Cutifani’s hope is that federal and provincial parties can return to discussions to agree on a long-term solution.

“We hope that, from a political point of view, the U.S., Canada, Ontario can all come together and sort out what should occur and, at least once the rhetoric sort of settles down a little bit, we hope that cool heads will prevail and we’ll find solutions that work,” Cutifani told Northern Ontario Business in an interview.

Ontario’s mining sector caught up in tariff uncertainty – by Jonathan Migneault (CBC News Sudbury – March 10, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/

The Ontario Mining Association says it’s not clear if minerals get a reprieve from U.S. tariffs

Ontario’s mining industry association says it’s unclear whether the latest 30-day reprieve on U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods will apply to the province’s minerals.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Canadian and Mexican goods that are “compliant” with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) would not face 25 per cent tariffs in his country until April 2. Priya Tandon, the president of the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), said the province’s mineral trade with the U.S. falls under a different agreement, which makes the situation more uncertain.

Trump threatens to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum after Ontario electricity surcharge – by Antoine Trépanier and Stephanie Taylor (National Post – March 11, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://nationalpost.com/

The latest outburst from the American president appears to have been triggered by tariffs imposed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford

OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will impose a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum, up from his previous 25 per cent threat, starting on Wednesday. If Canada does not reverse its retaliation and “immediately” remove its dairy tariffs, he said he will “significantly” increase tariffs on cars coming from Canada to the United States on April 2.

“(That would) permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada,” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Update on top critical mining projects in Ontario – by Diane L.M. Cook (Canadian Mining Journal – March 5, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.canadianminingjournal.com/

The surging demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is breathing new life into Ontario’s mining industry. Several critical strategic mineral mines will produce the minerals required to manufacture EV batteries and renewable energy storage for the North American market. The following are the top critical strategic minerals’ (CSM) mining projects in the development phase:

Canada Nickel: Crawford nickel sulphide project

Canada Nickel is a Toronto-based company that is advancing the next generation of net-zero carbon nickel-cobalt projects with plans to supply the critical mineral to Canada’s EV battery industry. The company’s Crawford nickel sulphide project is the second largest nickel resource and reserve globally, with 3.8 million tonnes of proven and probable nickel contained.

What’s so special about Ukraine’s minerals? A geologist explains – by Munira Raji (The Conversation – March 10, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://theconversation.com/

Ukraine’s minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky to access them. But what are these minerals exactly and why are they so sought after? Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the world’s most remarkable geological formations, the “Ukrainian Shield”.

This massive, exposed crystalline rock formed over 2.5 billion years ago, stretches across much of Ukraine. It represents one of Earth’s oldest and most stable continental blocks. The formation has undergone multiple episodes of mountain building, the formation and movement of magma and other change throughout time.

Canadian miners flocking to the ASX – by Kristie Batten (Mining.com – March 6, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.mining.com/

The Australian Securities Exchange is experiencing an influx of Canadian producers seeking dual listings. There has been a trickle of dual listings on the ASX since 2018,, but the trend has significantly accelerated following Canadian uranium developer NexGen Energy (TSX: NXE), adding an Australian listing in 2021.

Capstone Copper’s (TSX: CS) ASX listing in February 2024, however, seemed to have open the floodgates, with a further four Canadian mining companies initiating the listing process since.

Mining the Northwest: Governments’ moves to fast-track critical minerals projects please lithium company – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – March 7, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Ottawa, Queen’s Park prepared to throw their support behind Frontier Lithium’s refinery plans for Thunder Bay

The federal and provincial governments are prepared to financially backstop Frontier Lithium’s proposed refinery in Thunder Bay. The Sudbury company said March 4 that it’s pocketed letters of intent (LOI) from the two orders of government to help fund construction at the former site of the Thunder Bay generating station.

The refinery is part of Frontier’s integrated plan to mine and ship lithium from its PAK Project, located in a remote area north of Red Lake, to Thunder Bay for processing. Frontier stresses these LOIs are non-binding and represent only an “initial step in ongoing discussions with the respective government agencies.” The parties are working toward completing a final term sheet.

What is potash and why is the U.S. dependent on Canada for it? – by Kenn Oliver (National Post – March 9, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://nationalpost.com/

Rare mineral found primarily in Saskatchewan, home to the world’s largest mines and deposits

Anyone following the on-again, off-again trade war between Canada and the U.S. will have seen potash mentioned among major Canadian exports to the U.S. subject to President Donald Trump’s new tariffs. But what is potash and why is it integral to the neighbouring nations’ trade relationship? Here’s a guide to understanding the rare earth mineral and its part in the dispute.

What is potash and what is it used for?

Potash is a group of minerals and chemicals that contain potassium – K on the periodic table. Its main form, after deep-earth mining and milling, is as potassium chloride (KCl), almost all of which is used as a fertilizer to improve crop root strength, disease resistance, water retention and yield by protecting and restoring soil fertility, making it essential to global food security.

Tariff battle set to escalate this week with U.S. levies on Canadian steel and aluminum – by Clare O’Hara (Globe and Mail – March 10, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/

The U.S. says 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum are still set to take effect on Wednesday, a move that would escalate the trade war between the two countries that President Donald Trump launched last week.

Mr. Trump initiated 25-per-cent tariffs on all Canadian goods last Tuesday, with energy and critical minerals facing a 10-per-cent tariff. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau quickly retaliated with 25-per-cent tariffs on $30-billion worth of imported goods from the U.S., rising to $155-billion if the U.S. levies aren’t lifted.

BC mineral exploration continues to slide – by Shane Lasley (North of 60 Mining News – March 5, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.miningnewsnorth.com/

Mining is a cornerstone of British Columbia’s economy – employing roughly 40,000 workers, paying C$1.1 billion ($760 million) in taxes, and contributing C$11.2 billion ($7.7 billion) to the province’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, the mineral exploration investments needed to advance the next generation of B.C. mines are on the decline.

Mineral exploration spending fell to $552 million in 2024. According to data collected by Ernst & Young for its annual British Columbia Mineral and Coal Exploration Survey, this marks the second consecutive year of declining mineral exploration.

Dubai’s Meteoric Rise to Global Diamond Hub – by Avi Krawitz (Rapaport Magazine – February 18, 2025)

March 11, 2025

New Home

The Emirati city’s central location and favorable business conditions have helped push it to prominence as a trading center.

Amid the frantic schedule of Dubai Diamond Week in November, executives of KGK Group casually welcomed visitors to their new diamond and jewelry office. Nestled on the 51st floor of Almas Tower, home of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE), the 1,200-square-meter space has a spectacular view of the Jumeirah Lakes Towers district and the ever-rising Dubai skyline.

KGK, a Mumbai-based manufacturer, expanded its presence in Almas to accommodate the distribution of polished diamonds from its non-Indian manufacturing facilities. Its factories in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa account for 50% to 60% of the company’s production, says vice chairman Sanjay Kothari.

Exclusive: Trump seeks minerals refining on Pentagon bases to boost US output, sources say – by Ernest Scheyder and Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters – March 10, 2025)

March 11, 2025

https://www.reuters.com/

March 10 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump aims to build metals refining facilities on Pentagon military bases as part of his plan to boost domestic production of critical minerals and offset China’s control of the sector, two senior administration officials told Reuters.

The move is one of several planned for an executive order Trump could sign as soon as Wednesday after he told the U.S. Congress last week he would “take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA.”