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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.
Salton Sea geothermal infrastructure and lithium development landscape in California’s Imperial Valley. The latest lithium price forecast 2026 is being shaped by a supply question that…
Mining M&A has moved beyond simple reserve replacement. Buyers are competing for assets that combine geological quality with permits, infrastructure, processing access, skilled workforces and a…
Lion Rock Minerals’ latest assays from the Minta Est project in Cameroon include a standout result: 0.3 metres at 21.15% TREO within a broader 2.3-metre interval…
Underground equipment works in a modern gold-mining drift. Gold enters the next phase of its cycle with two competing forces in view: structural demand from central…
A tailings storage facility failure at Samancor’s Dikwena Chrome operation near Brits, South Africa, has brought a practical question into sharper focus for mining companies: can…
Byline: Penny Langford Mining project finance is becoming less forgiving. Higher capital costs, construction uncertainty, stricter ESG reviews and volatile commodity assumptions are changing how lenders…
An autonomous ultra-class haul truck moves through a terraced open-pit mine. Komatsu’s commissioning of its 1,000th ultra-class autonomous haul truck marks a significant change in mining…
An underground mining face equipped with modern drilling and ground-support systems. Silver enters its next phase with two competing forces in view. Industrial users continue to…
Rare earth separation and refining remain among the most closely watched stages of the global minerals supply chain. The critical minerals supply chain in 2026 is…
Carbon reporting is becoming a financial control, while water, tailings and community data increasingly influence permits, lending terms and project valuations. For mining companies, ESG compliance…
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