On May 19, Sinomine Resource Group Co., Ltd. issued an announcement stating that it plans to issue A-shares to specific qualified investors, raising a total amount of approximately 5.2 billion yuan through the private placement. The maximum number of shares to be issued is 216,447,563, not exceeding 30% of the company's total share capital before the issuance. The fund-raising investment projects for this private placement focus on Sinomine Resource's main business, including the annual 100,000-ton lithium sulfate project in Zimbabwe, the Kitumba copper mine project in Zambia, and the annual 2,000-ton cesium-rubidium product project of Jiangxi Sinomine Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.

Ionic Mineral Technologies (IMT) from Utah announced the discovery of a massive rare earth and other critical metals deposit, which it may be "one of the largest deposits in North America" to date. Last week, IMT revealed that analysis of samples from the Silicon Ridge project in Utah indicates this is a halloysite-controlled ion-adsorption type deposit. Resources in such deposits are easier to extract compared to conventional "hard-rock" lithium ore. The company also stated that over 70% of the world's heavy rare earth resources come from ion-adsorption type rare earth deposits. Furthermore, this deposit is not only rich in rare earth resources but also contains various critical metals such as gallium, germanium, rubidium, cesium, scandium, lithium, vanadium, tungsten, and niobium.

A mining company from Utah claims to have discovered a massive deposit of rare earths and other critical metals, describing it as potentially "one of the largest deposits in North America discovered to date." Ionic Mineral Technologies (IMT) announced last week that sample analysis from its Silicon Ridge project in Utah confirmed it as a halloysite-controlled ion-adsorption deposit, which is easier to extract compared to traditional "hard-rock" lithium ore. The company stated that ion-adsorption rare earth deposits account for over 70% of the world's heavy rare earth resources. Additionally, the deposit is not only rich in rare earths but also contains gallium, germanium, rubidium, cesium, scandium, lithium, vanadium, tungsten, and niobium.

Canadian mining company PMET announced a series of significant achievements from its large-scale 2025 drilling program at its wholly-owned Shaakichiuwaanaan property in Quebec. The results not only substantially expanded the scale of the main ore bodies and led to the discovery of new mineralized zones but also revealed rare, high-grade mineralization. The key details are as follows: Firstly, regarding the expansion of the ore bodies, the strike length of the CV5 Pegmatite has been extended to 5.0 km and that of CV13 to 3.2 km. Furthermore, extremely high-grade cesium mineralization assaying 0.5 meters at 17.92% Cs₂O was intersected in the CV5 Pegmatite. Secondly, in terms of new discoveries, drilling revealed a potential new lithium zone extending up to 1.5 km in the CV4 Pegmatite (e.g., drill hole CV25-1013 intersected 27.0 meters at 1.14% Li₂O) and identified a new, near-surface, high-grade cesium zone in the CV12 Pegmatite (e.g., drill hole CV25-875 intersected 3.0 meters at 5.82% Cs₂O). Concurrently, the CV12 Pegmatite also yielded multiple high-grade lithium intersections, such as 29.0 meters at 1.31% Li₂O in drill hole CV25-875, which includes a richer zone of 12.5 meters at 2.76% Li₂O.

Assay results of rock chips from the Fonlo and Iganna lithium projects owned by Chariot have been released, revealing that the lithium-bearing pegmatites at both sites boast high-grade potential, with lithium oxide (Li₂O) grades ranging from 2.66% to 5.96%. Initial identification suggests that the lithium mineral at the Fonlo Project is spodumene, while the Iganna Project contains both spodumene and lepidolite, and these findings are pending further verification through subsequent mineralogical analysis. In addition, notable associated mineral values have been detected at the two projects. The grade of tantalum pentoxide reaches up to 0.15%, which is expected to bring substantial by-product revenues. The cesium content is also at a high level; one sample has a cesium content exceeding 2.5%, which is above the detection limit of the current assay process and is therefore undergoing re-assay. These assay results confirm the presence of lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite systems at both Fonlo and Iganna, verifying the previously announced visual observations of coarse-grained lithium minerals and explaining the success of historic artisanal mining activities in these areas. For these two lithium projects, Chariot is formulating a large-scale exploration and development program, including the continued implementation of surface sampling, trenching, detailed mapping and geophysical surveys, as well as the launch of an initial 2,000–4,000-metre diamond drilling campaign.

On December 1, 2025, Montreal-based Brunswick Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: BRW, OTCQB: BRWXF) announced additional results from the inaugural drilling campaign at its Anatacau Main Project, located in the Eeyou Istchee-James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. All drilling data have now been fully retrieved, and this exploration has further confirmed the project as a top-priority target for follow-up drilling within the company’s expanding portfolio of assets. The current round of drilling boasts prominent highlights, with multiple high-grade lithium and cesium mineralization results unveiled: Drill hole AN-25-04 intercepted a 53.9-meter-thick mineralized zone grading 1.53% lithium oxide (Li₂O) at a vertical depth of 23.7 meters; drill hole AN-25-01 discovered a high-quality 22.0-meter-thick mineralized layer grading 1.58% lithium oxide at a shallow vertical depth of only 14.2 meters. In addition, high-grade cesium mineralization was also intercepted in another secondary sub-parallel dyke, where a 1.4-meter interval graded 1.10% cesium oxide (Cs₂O). These findings further underscore the project’s enormous potential for the development of critical mineral resources such as lithium and cesium.

Located approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Menzies, the Mt Ida Critical Minerals Project is emerging as a pivotal development in Western Australia's mining sector. This integrated operation employs an innovative model, combining the extraction of three critical minerals – lithium, rubidium, and tantalum – within a unified development framework, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and economic returns while strongly supporting lithium industry innovation within Australia's critical minerals sector.

【SMM Scrap Aluminium Market Analysis】ASEAN’s aluminium scrap trade is emerging as a strategic pillar in the global shift toward low-carbon manufacturing. Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam dominate regional flows, but regulatory fragmentation and illicit trade challenge market stability. Recent U.S.–ASEAN critical-minerals deals and expanded ties with Canada and China highlight growing global interest in the region’s recycling capacity. To realise its potential, ASEAN must harmonise policies, strengthen traceability, and build a cohesive circular-economy framework for sustainable aluminium production.

Berkeley Energia Limited announced that its Conchas Project in Spain has achieved positive preliminary metallurgical test results, indicating strong potential for the recovery of key minerals such as lithium (Li) and rubidium (Rb). The results show that Conchas hosts shallow, thick zones of lithium and rubidium mineralization, with accessory tin, cesium, beryllium, niobium, and tantalum, mainly occurring within muscovitic leucogranite. Metallurgical test work conducted by SLR Consulting included sample characterization, mineralogical analysis, gravity separation, flotation, and magnetic testing. In the flotation tests, samples with particle sizes under 150 microns achieved recoveries of 78% for lithium and 63% for rubidium. Magnetic separation on coarser material (-300 to +150 microns) achieved stage recoveries of 77% lithium and 58% rubidium, suggesting that combining magnetic separation and flotation could enhance overall recovery efficiency. Next, the company plans to conduct 3D modeling of drilling data to refine geological interpretation of the lithium and rubidium mineralization, followed by a second phase of metallurgical testing to optimize processing methods. Rubidium, widely used in defense, aerospace, communications, and renewable energy, is classified as a critical mineral by the U.S. and Japan, reflecting its growing strategic and industrial importance.

Comet Lithium announced significant progress at its Elmer East project in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James region of Québec, Canada. Recent exploration indicates that the main lithium–cesium-bearing pegmatite dyke now extends over 200 meters along strike (previously about 80 meters), with a width of 1 to 4 meters, and remains open in all directions, showing strong expansion potential. Meanwhile, the company discovered a new spodumene-bearing pegmatite dyke about 40 meters north of the main structure, suggesting the presence of a broader lithium–cesium mineralized corridor in the area. Currently, seven mineralized outcrops and pegmatite dykes have been identified, forming a continuous mineralized corridor approximately 200 meters long, which remains open along strike and at depth. Fieldwork conducted in mid-October 2025 collected 134 samples, including 35 channel samples from five trenches. The mineralized bodies consist mainly of rocks containing 3–15 cm white to beige spodumene crystals, with quartz, possible pollucite (a cesium-bearing zeolite), muscovite, and minor tourmaline, hosted by amphibolite. All samples have been sent for geochemical analysis, with results expected in the coming weeks. The company plans to integrate mineralogical studies (XRD and LIBS) to define drill targets for 2026, aiming to test subsurface extensions and continuity of the mineralized zones.