‘Critical minerals corridor’ seen linking mines, markets

Canadian property developer BMI Group says the clutch of industrial buildings it’s amassed in Ontario and Quebec could help strengthen Canada’s role in the battery supply chain by linking mines with processing hubs and customers. Dubbed the “Critical Minerals Corridor,” BMI’s asset portfolio includes five former industrial sites such as pulp and paper mills that have been repurposed into “deployment-ready” hubs with …

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WGC unpacks gold, silver market differences as investors seek crisis diversification

During times of global uncertainty and geopolitical uncertainty, commodities such as gold and silver tend to benefit from increased demand; however, the World Gold Council (WGC) says the demand drivers for the two precious metals are distinct and behave quite differently during periods of market stress. Gold has historically acted as the more defensive, lower-volatility diversifier, while silver tends to behave as a hybrid …

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US and Chile sign joint declaration on critical minerals and rare earth elements: Top points

On March 12, 2026, following the inauguration of President José Antonio Kast in Chile, the United States and Chile signed a joint declaration titled “Joint Declaration for the Establishment of Consultations on Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements” (Declaration), establishing a framework for bilateral consultations and cooperation on critical minerals and rare earth elements. The Declaration reaffirms cooperation between the …

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Can Central Asia Cash in on the Critical Minerals Rush?

As the geopolitical race to secure alternative sources for critical minerals heats up, interest in Central Asia’s mining sector has kicked into a new gear. “Critical minerals” are all the rage these days, and for good reason: these are the raw materials that go into making any technologically advanced product, from a smartphone to a fighter jet. And many of …

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BlackRock World Mining beats benchmarks as gold, copper plays pay off

BlackRock World Mining Trust smashed its comparative benchmark with returns over 2025 after a “very strong year”, and noted a “supportive” backdrop for the mining sector despite current macro uncertainty and geopolitical volatility. Net asset value per share (NAV) total return for the year was 74.2%, compared with returns from the reference index (MSCI ACWI Metals & Mining) of 64.2% and …

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How Europe Is Racing to Secure Lithium Supply with New Mining Efforts

Lithium is emerging as a strategic resource, pushing Europe to develop domestic mining and reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled critical mineral supply chains. In recent years, the European Union (EU) has become increasingly focused on the strategic implications of concentrated supply chains. Lithium is emerging as a resource for the 21st-century economy, with an importance comparable to that of petroleum in the 20th …

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All Signs Point to Gold Price Strength

Inflation, higher interest rates and a strong dollar are bad for gold prices. On the other hand, war, geopolitical stress, bad job reports and stagflation are good for gold. The consensus on gold prices for 2026 is cautiously bullish, with many analysts expecting the precious metal to consolidate at higher levels. I believe gold will see resistance at $5,000, with $100-200 …

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IEA: Largest Oil Disruption in History. What It Means for Silver

Oil above $100. The economy just lost 92,000 jobs. India opens institutional silver buying in 19 days. And the mining industry can’t respond. On March 12, Brent crude closed above $100 per barrel for the first time since August 2022—after Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, declared that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed. The International Energy Agency responded by announcing the largest …

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Open-pit gold miners most exposed to inflation: Jefferies

Gold miners with large open-pit operations could face the biggest margin pressure from the conflict in the Middle East as higher oil prices threaten to lift fuel and consumable costs in the near term, Jefferies says. Open-pit mines are particularly vulnerable to fuel inflation because diesel powers haul trucks, electricity generation and much of the processing chain, Jefferies mining analysts led by …

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