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 a funding boost for the Port of Churchill, pressure on Anglo American to redomicile to Canada, and Denison acquires interests around its Wheeler River uranium project in Saskatchewan.

Equinox Gold has achieved commercial production at its Valentine gold mine in Newfoundland and Labrador. Valentine is expected to reach the higher end of its fourth quarter production range of 15,000 to 30,000 ounces of gold. With Valentine’s ramp-up on track, the processing plant is expected to reach its nameplate capacity of 6,850 tonnes per day by the second quarter of 2026 and the mine is anticipated to produce between 150,000 and 200,000 ounces of gold in 2026.

A recent survey conducted by consultancy firm Transfert Environnement et Société and global data science company Voconiq found that Canadians hold largely positive views of the mining industry, with about 70 per cent of respondents expressing a preference for sourcing minerals domestically rather than relying on imports. Over three-quarters of participants view mining as crucial for employment, regional development and the energy transition. The study also flagged procedural fairness as a key concern, with only one-third of respondents feeling they could meaningfully participate in the consultation process around mining decisions.

Barrick is considering splitting into two companies—one focused on North America and another on Africa and Asia—several sources told Reuters. The move could involve Barrick selling its Reko Diq copper-gold project in Pakistan and its African assets once financing is secured. Sources also indicated that Barrick is seeking to resolve its ongoing dispute with Mali’s military government before considering the sale of its Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex. Barrick has not yet commented on the matter.

The Manitoba government is providing $51 million to improve storage and loading systems at the Port of Churchill, along with upgrading the Hudson Bay Railway, CBC News reported. The Arctic Gateway Group, which owns and operates the port and the railway, shared in March that it plans to double the port’s critical minerals export volumes and triple its storage capacity, though the expansion has yet to appear on Ottawa’s major projects list. Premier Wab Kinew said that more detailed plans and a strategy for the expansion are expected to be released next spring.

Ottawa is urging Anglo American to redomicile to Canada while its proposed merger with Teck Resources undergoes federal review, sources told The Globe and Mail. Anglo has taken significant steps to gain federal approval—planning to move its headquarters to Vancouver, rename itself Anglo Teck and relocate several top executives to Canada—though formally redomiciling would officially make the company Canadian and make it subject to Canada’s tax code and financial reporting rules. A review of the proposed deal under the Investment Canada Act is expected to extend well into next year, with shareholders of both companies set to vote on the deal next month.

Natural resources were a key element in a trade agreement between Canada and the United Arab Emirates announced this week. The deal includes $1 billion toward expanding critical mineral processing capacity in Canada. This investment is part of a larger plan for the U.A.E. to commit $70 billion to Canada directed towards “energy, artificial intelligence, logistics, mining and other priority national and strategic industries in Canada, benefiting the peoples of both nations.”

Denison Mines and Skyharbour Resources have agreed to form four joint ventures at Skyharbour’s Russell Lake uranium project in northern Saskatchewan, with Denison set to invest up to $61.5 million in exchange for ownership stakes in the ventures. The Russell Lake project, which is located directly adjacent to Denison’s Wheeler River uranium project, will be divided into four separate areas, including the main Russell Lake claims. The funding will help Skyharbour to continue its exploration programs and support corporate activities throughout 2026.

Impala Canada’s Lac des Iles palladium mine in Ontario will now continue operating until June 2027, reversing the company’s initial plans to end production next spring due to declining palladium prices, CBC News reported. A spokesperson for Impala Canada told CBC News that the recent rise in palladium prices will allow the company to invest in tailings facilities, underground development, equipment and more to continue operations through 2027.

First Mining released an updated prefeasibility study for its Springpole gold project in northwestern Ontario, which outlines a 30,000 tonnes-per-day open-pit operation with a 9.4-year life of mine. Gold production is at 330,000 ounces annually for the first five years, then averaging about 281,000 ounces per year over the full mine life. The study shows an after-tax net present value of US$2.1 billion at a five per cent discount rate based on a gold price of US$3,100 per ounce, rising to US$3.8 billion at US$4,200 per ounce. Since a previous prefeasibility study that was published in 2021, which assumed a gold price between US$1,600 and US$1,800 per ounce, the company has refined several aspects of the project design, including tailings management and site infrastructure.

Freeport-McMoRan plans to resume large-scale production at its Grasberg copper-gold mine complex in Indonesia during the second quarter of next year, Mining.com reported. The decision comes after a September mudslide at Grasberg’s Block Cave underground mine that killed seven workers and halted operations. Remediation is under way to prepare for a phased restart and ramp up at the Block Cave mine, while the unaffected Deep Mill Level Zone and Big Gossan mines have already restarted. Freeport expects the Grasberg complex to produce around one billion pounds of copper and 900,000 ounces of gold in 2026.

Global yttrium supplies are under pressure as China’s export controls on seven rare earth elements, imposed in April, remain in effect, Reuters reported. Despite pausing some of the rare earth restrictions, China and the U.S. have yet to reach a formal deal. Traders and analysts note that China’s current export licensing requirements are restricting yttrium shipments, contributing to global shortages and driving prices sharply higher.

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?