Welcome back to your weekly mining news recap, where we catch you up on some of the news you may have missed. This week’s headlines include job cuts at Newmont, Canada and Germany forming a critical minerals collaboration, and Rio Tinto’s restructuring plan that could affect its Quebec operations. 

Construction at Foran Mining’s McIlvenna Bay project in Saskatchewan has passed the halfway mark, remaining on budget and on track for commercial production in mid-2026, Canadian Mining Journal reported. Foran said July marked record monthly progress, including 570 metres of underground development, ball mill lining, flotation cell installation and structural steelworks. The ore stockpile grew to 90,000 tonnes, which will support upcoming mill commissioning.  

Northern Graphite will receive up to $6.2 million from Natural Resources Canada to extend the life of its Lac des Îles (LDI) graphite mine in Quebec by seven to 10 years. The funding will support a pit extension that will preserve 55 existing jobs, create new roles and maintain the production of graphite used in batteries and other technologies. LDI is currently North America’s only operating graphite mine. 

The Nisga’a Nation, Tahltan Nation and Arrow Transportation Systems formed a joint venture called Portland Canal Holdings to acquire the Port of Stewart bulk terminal in northwestern British Columbia, The Canadian Press reported. The acquisition is the first in B.C.’s history where Indigenous nations will own and operate a deep-sea port terminal. Supported by a $5 million provincial grant, the joint venture will also merge two regional trucking operations to streamline the transportation of critical minerals from mines located within the Nations’ territories. 

Newmont is planning extensive job cuts to reduce costs by US$300 per gold ounce, potentially affecting thousands of employees, Bloomberg reported. The company’s costs rose two per cent to US$1,593 per ounce in the second quarter of this year, up from $1,562 in 2024. Newmont has four mines currently operated in Canada.

Junior miners Troilus Gold and Torngat Metals and cleantech company Rock Tech Lithium signed offtake agreements with Germany-based companies this week during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Berlin, as part of efforts to strengthen critical minerals ties between Canada and Germany. The two countries also signed a joint declaration of intent to co-fund projects, collaborate on research and development and secure supply chains for critical minerals to support the electric vehicle, defence and clean energy industries. 

Rio Tinto is conducting a strategic review of several of its operations, including its iron and titanium operations in Quebec, as part of new CEO Simon Trott’s restructuring plan, The Globe and Mail reported. The new operating structure groups its operations into three business units and assigns its borates and iron and titanium divisions to the company’s chief commercial officer’s portfolio for review. The review was prompted by sluggish demand and reduced output from the company’s titanium operations. 

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions is providing roughly $2.4 million to support five mining-related businesses in Quebec’s Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. Among the recipients are HydroTech Mining, a company that specializes in pumping and dewatering systems, and engineering company, ASDR Canada. The funding is intended to help acquire equipment, boost production and develop new markets in the mining sector. 

The United States has proposed adding copper, potash and silicon to its list of critical minerals, marking the most significant update to the list since 2018, Mining.com reported. Other recommended changes include adding silver, lead and rhenium to the list, while removing tellurium and arsenic; this would bring the list’s total to 54. A new three-tier risk system will rank minerals by supply disruption impact. The final list will be published after a 30-day comment period. 

While serving as mayor of Kangiqsujuaq, Quebec, Charlie Arngak negotiated with Falconbridge to secure Inuit community involvement in the region’s nickel mining, culminating in the landmark 1995 Raglan Agreement, Canada’s first impact benefits agreement. On the agreement’s 30th anniversary, Cedric Gallant reported on its legacy for the August issue of CIM Magazine, including creating a model for long-term mining partnerships and sustainable post-mining planning. 

Adopted in Canada in 2001 following the Bre-X scandal to improve mining disclosure, NI 43-101 has bolstered investor trust but remains flawed, argued mining engineer Anoush Ebrahimi in the August issue of CIM Magazine. He asserted that reports should add stand-alone chapters on geotechnical issues, waste management and mine closure—critical yet underrepresented topics—while merging and reordering overlapping geology and property sections for clarity. Currently there are several amendments proposed for NI 43-101. These are open for public comment until October 10, 2025.

That’s all for this week. If you’ve got feedback, you can always reach us at editor@cim.org. If you’ve got something to add, why not join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram pages?