Share Holman, GM of mining for Mesabi Metallics tells that first blast is going to be the first step of production as they are now moving from preparation to production step. From this blast, this plant was able to fracture about 211,000 metric tons of ore that can provide first ramp of 400-metric-ton. This will be the first ew iron ore mine and pellet plant built in Minnesota in 50 years & according to GM, the ore blasted will be processed into highest-quality DR-grade pellets.

Overseas rare earth markets diverged this week between light and heavy types. Driven by the uptrend in China, terbium oxide and terbium metal prices rose, while light rare earths remained stable. Trading-wise, heavy rare earths saw few transactions due to export controls. On the industrial front, U.S. companies accelerated domestic recycling and purification, while European and Japanese firms advanced R&D on magnetic material recycling and rare-earth-free alternative technologies. Meanwhile, Indo-Pacific and South Korean players actively restructured supply chains, and resource development and processing projects were intensively launched in locations such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil. The global “de-risking” layout for rare earths continued to deepen.

The Mesabi Metallics taconite iron ore facility in Nashwauk, Minnesota — described as the first new mine in the state in roughly half a century — is reported to be weeks away from opening, with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work 95.5% complete as of early July. The $2.5 billion project, one of the largest economic investments in Minnesota's history, has approximately 1,500 contractors passing through site security daily to meet the schedule. A related SEC filing from The Metals Royalty Company dated June 30, 2026, indicates that commissioning of the facility's Line 1 is targeted to begin in July or August 2026, a shift from the project's original Q1 2026 target. All major permits and financial backing are reported to be secured. Once operational, the mine is expected to add new domestic taconite pellet supply to the US Great Lakes iron ore market.

North American Iron announced the completion of additional follow-on financing, which closed on June 28, 2026, to advance its integrated project to reclaim existing iron ore stockpiles in Minnesota and convert them into pig iron at a facility in North Dakota. The North Dakota facility is positioned within a 2,400-acre site, with engineering and design work advancing and permitting anticipated to be completed in the third or fourth quarter of 2026. The company describes the project as an integrated reclamation-to-pig-iron model that would give it control over both raw material recovery and downstream processing. No production start date or total capital cost was disclosed in the release. This is a company press release and has not yet been independently corroborated by trade press.

EGA (Emirates Global Aluminium) has successfully exceeded 400,000 mt/year of total secondary aluminum capacity across the UAE, Europe, and the US by adding capacity at its Al Taweelah recycling plant and planning to acquire the Italian aluminum recycling enterprise Eco Green. In addition, another 200,000 mt/year secondary aluminum capacity project is under construction in Europe and the US. On the acquisition front, EGA completed acquisitions of secondary aluminum plants in Germany and the US in 2024: EGA Light Metals Germany will expand its capacity to more than 6 times the original level and build a second site near Hannover, adding 150,000 mt/year of capacity, expected to be completed by 2028; EGA Spectro Alloys in Minnesota, US, plans to complete the first-phase expansion in 2025, adding 65,000 mt/year capacity, and add another 35,000 mt/year capacity in 2027. In addition, in April this year, EGA announced its intention to acquire an 80% stake in Italy's Eco Green, and this acquisition plan is currently pending regulatory approval.

Pulsar Helium (TSXV: PLSR) has acquired 1,360 acres of surface land at its flagship Topaz project in Minnesota for $2.48 million. The transaction secures surface rights directly overlying its leased mineral rights, including the critical Jetstream #7 well site. This integrated control streamlines logistics and provides long-term operational certainty as the company advances toward production. Following a successful appraisal program where all drilled wells encountered high-pressure gas, Pulsar is now seeking quotes to drill up to four new production wells to supplement two existing production-ready sites.

The U.S. Senate narrowly voted to overturn a mining ban in Minnesota, reopening the path for the Twin Metals copper-nickel project, highlighting growing emphasis on domestic critical mineral supply despite environmental concerns.

Mesabi Metallics Company, backed by the Essar Group, announced on March 31, 2026, that it has secured a $520 million senior secured credit facility to complete its iron ore mine and pellet plant in Nashwauk, Minnesota. The project, which is in an advanced stage of development, is now on track to commence commercial operations in the third quarter of 2026. This facility is designed to produce 7 million tonnes of high-grade iron ore pellets annually, providing a critical domestic supply of feedstock for North American blast furnaces and future direct reduction plants.

According to foreign media: Recently, Emirates Global Aluminium Spectro Alloys (EGA Spectro Alloys) signed a major contract with Presezzi Extrusion, under which the latter will supply core scrap recycling equipment for the former. This marks an important milestone in the company's ongoing efforts to advance aluminum processing technology. Since 2024, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has held an 80% stake in Spectro Alloys. The company is currently further expanding its aluminum recycling capacity in Minnesota, US. In July 2025, the company completed a large-scale expansion, increasing the total annual production of secondary aluminum billets to 120 million pounds.

Nickel surged early this month on fresh speculation that Indonesia may tighten ore-production quotas this year, but not everyone is convinced the rally has legs – or that it will be enough to kick-start a new wave of western sulphide projects.