Search the Skillings archive
Charles Pitts is the publisher of Skillings Mining Review, the trade journal that has covered mining since 1912. He writes on the macro forces behind metal prices: commodity cycles, sovereign capital and the shifting sources of demand. His current work argues that hyperscale AI, and the gigawatt-scale power its data centres need, is becoming a buyer of lithium and copper in its own right, competing with the automotive supply chain for tier-one reserves.
China controls 70% of rare earths, dictating prices and supply. Japan reduced dependence—can the U.S. learn before the next crisis?
Barnsley’s proud coal heritage was once again placed firmly at the centre of civic life this week as the Barnsley Boy statue returned to the town…
BEIJING, Aug 28 – China, the world’s largest coal consumer and producer, has moved to cap coal production after a supply surge in the first half…
Silver prices surged 33% in 2025, hitting 14-year highs. Supply deficits and solar demand fuel the rally—can silver keep outperforming gold?
US DoI draft 2025 Critical Minerals List adds copper, potash, silver. What it means for supply chains, retailers, and national security.
Zero-carbon mining is forcing equipment OEMs to become energy integrators. Electrification is now a survival strategy, not an option.
Trump’s UNESCO withdrawal by 2026 reduces global oversight on Grand Canyon uranium mining. What it means for U.S. miners and ESG risks.
Energy Fuels dysprosium oxide production at 99.9% purity marks a U.S. first. White Mesa Mill’s milestone reshapes America’s rare earth supply chain.
Mining equipment in 2025 is more than machines — it’s about cost, ESG, and survival. From autonomous trucks to tailings monitors, Skillings Mining Review highlights the…
Marimaca Copper to acquire a $2.5M sulfuric acid plant in Chile, targeting 30% lower costs and stronger copper project economics.
Our newsletters on critical minerals, policy and the week’s deals, free through LinkedIn or by email.
Your privacy We use cookies that the site needs to work. With your permission we also use analytics cookies (Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity) to see which stories are read and how the site is used, so we can improve it. We do not use advertising cookies or sell your data. Cookie Policy · Privacy Policy
Keep the site working and secure, and remember this choice. Always on.
Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity: which pages are read, how readers move through the site, and where it is hard to use. Clarity can record how a page is scrolled and clicked; it masks what you type.
