[ION Minerals Expands Its Lithium Resources Footprint in Texas and Saskatchewan] ION Minerals said it had achieved a major expansion of its diversified lithium resources portfolio in the US and Canada. In a late-March news release, the Houston-based company said the expanded land footprint was achieved through prudent acquisitions, targeted leasing, and focused geological assessments. ION now controls more than 280,000 acres across three project areas, further cementing its position as a leading developer of critical lithium resources for the North American battery supply chain. Smackover is a subsurface geological formation stretching from Florida to Texas and is rich in lithium brine. Source: https://www.mining.com/ [EnergyX's "Lone Star" Project Revolutionizes Domestic Lithium Production in the US] EnergyX's groundbreaking "Lone Star" project marked a major milestone in the US pursuit of critical minerals independence through advanced direct lithium extraction technology. This pioneering facility is the first commercial-scale direct lithium extraction plant to enter operation in the US, addressing long-standing supply chain vulnerabilities while establishing an operational framework for domestic battery-grade lithium production. As demand for critical minerals accelerates amid the global energy transition, the project demonstrates how innovative extraction technologies can transform regional resources into strategic assets. Direct lithium extraction differs fundamentally from traditional mining methods, targeting subsurface brine rather than hard-rock deposits or surface evaporation systems. EnergyX's "Lone Star" project demonstrated this approach through its GET-Lit™ technology, which uses advanced filtration and chemical separation processes to treat brine from the Smackover formation. Source: https://discoveryalert.com.au/ [University of Surrey Develops a Lithium-Ion Battery Anode to Enhance Energy Storage] Researchers at the University of Surrey's Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) developed a new-type battery design that could significantly extend EV driving range. In a study published in ACS Applied Energy Materials, the researchers introduced a lithium-ion battery anode. The anode achieved one of the highest energy storage capacities reported to date in a silicon-carbon nanotube system, while remaining stable after hundreds of charge cycles. Lithium-ion batteries power a wide range of devices in modern technology. Graphite is the most commonly used anode material, offering high stability but limited energy storage capacity. By contrast, silicon has a much higher capacity, but it expands during charging, causing cracking and performance degradation over time. Source: https://www.automotivepowertraintechnologyinternational.com/

US firm Virtus Minerals has acquired Congolese cobalt and copper producer Chemaf, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg said on Tuesday. Congo has been seeking to develop a minerals partnership with Washington and has drawn up a list of assets, including Chemaf’s mines, to attract US investment into a sector long dominated by Chinese firms.Virtus had earlier said it had agreed to acquire Chemaf for about $30 million. Chemaf also has $200 million in unsecured debt and $700 million in secured debt.The deal had faced opposition from the CEO and chair of state miner Gecamines, prompting Congo to remove them from their positions.

London-based mining services provider NorgeMineraler said that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would directly affect Europe’s ability to build up its military strength, especially if supplies of critical minerals were disrupted. NorgeMineraler founder Michael Wurmser noted that sulfur was of particular concern because the Gulf region supplied 25% of the world’s sulfur. Enterprises in the region produce sulfur as a by-product of crude oil refining. Sulfur is used to extract copper and cobalt, both of which are minerals essential for scaling up and maintaining military hardware production.

Australia and the European Union officially signed a new trade agreement on March 24, 2026, focused on securing supply chains for critical minerals and high-grade iron ore. This deal follows eight years of negotiations and is intended to diversify the EU's raw material sourcing away from China. The agreement provides European steelmakers with preferential access to Australian magnetite and high-purity hematite, while fostering joint investment in processing facilities that meet strict environmental and social governance standards required for the upcoming EU "green steel" mandates.

[SMM Rare Earth Flash] Australia’s Astron released the bankable feasibility study report for Phase I of the Donald rare earth and mineral sands project in Victoria, confirming the project’s strong economic value, and plans to make the final investment decision in Q2 2026. The report showed that total project investment was about AUD 450 million, pre-tax net present value was AUD 759 million, the internal yield was 19.3%, the mine life was about 40 years, and rare earth concentrate is expected to be produced in Q1 2028. The project’s main products include key rare earths such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, as well as zircon and titanium products. Phase I is expected to produce about 7,100 mt of rare earth concentrate annually.

[SMM Rare Earth Bulletin] US rare earth refiner ReElement Technologies announced that it had entered into a strategic partnership with Japan’s Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and received an equity investment. ReElement owns patented chromatographic separation technology that can efficiently process recycled materials, mine waste rock, and raw ore to produce high-purity critical minerals; Mitsubishi Materials will provide support in raw material sourcing and recycling infrastructure. The two parties plan to jointly assess commercialization opportunities for rare earth and critical minerals recycling solutions in the Japanese market. Mitsubishi Materials stated that rare earths are expected to become its third major pillar business after copper and tungsten.

[SMM Rare Earth Flash News] Australia's Arafura Rare Earths announced that it has signed binding equity subscription agreements with Germany's KfW and Export Finance Australia, under which the two institutions will invest a combined A$230 million (approximately $158.61 million). Of this, KfW subscribed €50 million (approximately A$84 million), while Export Finance Australia subscribed $100 million (approximately A$146 million) through its critical minerals fund. The financing will be used to develop the Nolans rare earth project. The project plans to supply 4,440 mt of Pr-Nd oxide annually from H2 2029, accounting for about 4% of global supply.

Indonesia recorded $31.7 billion in investment in its energy and natural resources sector in 2025, roughly equal to Rp 533 trillion, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. The earned funds were distributed across mining, oil and gas, electricity, as well as renewable energy and conservation efforts, with the oil and gas sector taking the largest portion. Besides, mining revenue outperformed previous projections from officers. Non-tax state revenue reached Rp 138.37 trillion, surpassing the Rp 127.44 trillion target, achieving 108.56%, despite declining prices for coal and other minerals.

Zimbabwe Cabinet received and approved the Report on Tours to Economic Flagship Projects in Midlands and Masvingo Provinces, which was presented by Honourable Vice President Gen. (Rtd.) Dr. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga.The Vice President led a high-profile delegation on a comprehensive tour of key economic flagship projects in Midlands and Masvingo Provinces as part of the ongoing nationwide assessment of their contributions to Gross Domestic Product, community development, and alignment with the country’s industrialisation and beneficiation objectives. The tour encompassed various mining, industrial, infrastructure, and health projects across both provinces, highlighting their strategic significance and developmental impact. In view of the observation that all the mining companies visited are engaged in ore extraction and the exportation of raw minerals, Cabinet reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the ban on raw mineral exports. This measure is intended to promote value addition, beneficiation, industrialization, and manufacturing initiatives. Additionally, Cabinet has directed that the Great Zimbabwe Hydro-power model be replicated at other dams across the country to enhance power generation capacity.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $12,216/mt and dipped to $12,181.5/mt in early trading. Copper prices then fluctuated upward in center and, near the close, touched a high of $12,420/mt, finally closing at $12,382.5/mt, up 1.64%. Trading volume reached 18,800 lots, and open interest stood at 298,900 lots, an increase of 3,875 lots from the previous trading day. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2605 contract opened at 95,730 yuan/mt and fluctuated rangebound in early trading, hitting a low of 95,550 yuan/mt. It then fluctuated upward all the way to a high of 96,780 yuan/mt, finally closing at 96,760 yuan/mt, up 1.26%. Trading volume reached 56,200 lots, and open interest stood at 186,300 lots, an increase of 598 lots from the previous trading day, mainly driven by increased long positions.