Core Lithium reported the longest downhole mineralised intersection yet at the Blackbeard prospect of its Finniss operation in the Northern Territory: 92 metres at 1.25 percent lithium oxide in hole NMRD104, including 73 metres at 1.45 percent, with an estimated true width of about 45 metres. Partial results from a second hole returned 29 metres at 1.35 percent. The 12,150 metre diamond programme is the first six holes into a pegmatite system less than 20 kilometres from the Finniss plant, and Core says Blackbeard could support throughput expansion beyond the plant’s 1.2 million tonne a year base case.
Minerals 260 reported a high grade gold intercept from drilling in Western Australia, Australian Mining reported, the latest in a run of junior gold results this month as explorers work through spring programmes. Firebird Metals has successfully produced ultra high purity manganese sulphate, Mining Weekly reported, a product qualification step for battery grade manganese supply outside China. Shenghe Resources said it will sell majority stakes in some businesses, Mining Weekly reported; Shenghe is one of China’s principal rare earth producers, and any restructuring of its holdings will be read for what it says about Beijing’s consolidation of the sector.
Liberia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has launched Limec 2026, its mining and energy investment conference, calling for responsible investment, allAfrica reported. The launch follows the revenue authority’s October 15 restatement of mining collections, which this site merged into its October 12 Liberia story last edition: 612 million dollars in 2023, 700 million in 2024 and 848 million in 2025, with a 2026 target of about 1.3 billion dollars.
The United States needs about 48,000 tonnes of rare earth magnets a year and produces roughly 300 tonnes, OilPrice reported in an analytical piece on the magnet gap. The figures are the site’s compilation rather than an official release, but the direction is not in dispute: magnet capacity, not rare earth mining, is the binding constraint in the Western supply chain, which is why separation and magnet projects keep drawing policy support ahead of new mines.
Two feed items need date discipline. Peabody Energy’s evacuation of part of its North Antelope Rochelle mine in Wyoming, recirculated by Mining Weekly today, followed an MSHA imminent danger order issued on July 9 over loose material that could fall from a highwall onto a haul road; no miners were injured and MSHA terminated the order the same day, per the company filing reported by Reuters on October 16. It is a disclosure item, not a new incident. Separately, POSCO’s approval for its 3 billion dollar low carbon iron plant at Port Hedland also recirculated today; the Western Australian approval was granted in April 2026, the final investment decision is still pending, and it is not a new approval.