Latest Critical Minerals Supply Chains News

Lodestar Minerals has verified xenotime as the dominant heavy rare earth mineral at its Virgin Mountain project in Arizona, highlighting critical elements essential for US defence and clean energy. The discovery positions the project as a strategic domestic source of scarce heavy rare earths.

Sovereign Metals has significantly upgraded its Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project resource, increasing measured and indicated rutile by 32% ahead of its definitive feasibility study. This cements Kasiya as the world’s largest natural rutile deposit, reinforcing its strategic importance in critical mineral supply chains.

Almonty Industries has completed Phase 1 commissioning of the Sangdong Tungsten Mine in South Korea, marking its first production in over 30 years and setting the stage for a major expansion.

Renascor Resources has completed construction of its Purified Spherical Graphite demonstration facility in Adelaide, marking a pivotal step towards commercialising its innovative HF-free purification process for battery anode materials.

Terrain Minerals has launched a targeted air-core drilling campaign at its Lort River Project in Western Australia, aiming to expand on previously identified high-grade rare earth element mineralisation within a large regolith clay basin.

Brazilian Rare Earths (ASX: BRE) has significantly expanded its Sulista Rare Earth District in Bahia, Brazil, extending the strike length from over 10 km to more than 17 km with multiple high-grade mineralised corridors. The latest drilling results underpin a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate expected mid-2026 and support BRE’s strategic hub-and-spoke development plan.

IRIS Metals has secured a farm-in agreement to earn up to 100% ownership of the Finley Basin Tungsten Project in Montana, marking a strategic expansion into a critical mineral vital for defence and advanced manufacturing.

Pioneer Minerals reports a remarkable 17.6-fold upgrade in tungsten grade from historic tailings at its Springfield Tungsten Mine, advancing its North Pine Project in Idaho with promising metallurgical test results.

Cadoux Ltd has secured a $600,000 milestone payment from the Western Australian Government’s Investment Attraction Fund, marking significant progress in its high purity alumina project development.

Black Bear Minerals has reported significant high-grade silver intercepts outside the existing Mineral Resource Estimate at its Shafter Silver Project in Texas, signalling potential for resource expansion and enhanced polymetallic value.

Lindian Resources has executed a binding agreement to acquire full ownership of a rare earths processing facility in Kazakhstan, marking a strategic shift from concentrate production to higher-value Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) output by late 2026.

Resolution Minerals has completed the acquisition of the Johnson Creek Tungsten & Antimony Mill and 2,000 tonnes of tungsten ore stockpiles near its Horse Heaven Project in Idaho, positioning itself to fast-track critical mineral production in the US.