Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The second fiscal quarter of 2026 marked a transformational period for the company, with significant progress in financing, customer engagement, and project readiness [3][4] - The pre-feasibility study confirmed a strong economic foundation for the Fort Cady project, indicating a nearly 40-year mine life based on proven and probable mineral reserves [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully completed a full-scale glass trial, which has advanced commercial discussions with future customers [4][11] - Engagement with additional customers has expanded, particularly in specialty applications such as Ferroboron, a critical component in permanent magnet manufacturing [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The global borates market remains tight, with Turkey controlling approximately 70% of global reserves and 65% of global production [5] - Demand for boron-based materials is increasing across various sectors, including energy transition technologies and advanced manufacturing [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on progressing customer engagement towards structured offtake agreements and executing pre-FID and FEED work streams [11][12] - The strategic positioning of Fort Cady as a long-life, scalable U.S.-based asset aligns with national supply chain priorities and enhances its competitive advantage [5][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management emphasized the importance of security of supply and jurisdiction diversification in the current market, which plays to Fort Cady's strengths [5] - The company is positioned to become a major U.S. boron producer, creating long-term value for shareholders [12][15] Other Important Information - The company is engaged with various federal financing pathways, leveraging the critical minerals designation to access larger pools of capital [8][9] - An omnibus patent has been filed covering the in-situ leaching mining process, which is expected to enhance the company's competitive position [10] Q&A Session Summary - There were no questions from participants during the Q&A session, indicating a lack of immediate inquiries from investors or analysts [14]

Core Insights - The United States is now fully reliant on imports for 16 critical minerals, with over half of 90 tracked commodities sourced from foreign suppliers, highlighting a significant supply chain vulnerability [1] - Global refined copper production is approximately 26.5 million tonnes, falling short of the demand of 27.2 million tonnes, resulting in a 700,000-tonne deficit, which could increase due to AI data center requirements [1] - The U.S. State Department held a Critical Minerals Ministerial in February 2026, resulting in the signing of eleven new bilateral frameworks and the announcement of a $10 billion strategic critical minerals reserve under Project Vault [1] Company Developments - GoldHaven Resources confirmed gold mineralization at its Copeçal West Target in Brazil, with the first drilling returning 39 meters at 0.11 g/t gold, indicating a mineralized system beneath a thick saprolite layer [3][4] - The Copeçal Gold Project is located in Brazil's Alta Floresta Mineral Province, where GoldHaven holds 3,681 hectares, and previous drilling at the East Target discovered bornite, suggesting potential for a substantial gold-copper system [4] - GoldHaven also confirmed high-grade tungsten mineralization at its Magno Property in British Columbia, with surface samples showing silver grades up to 2,370 grams per tonne and tungsten values reaching 6,550 ppm [5] Industry Trends - Junior exploration companies are adopting dual-track strategies that combine exploration with near-term production potential, which helps reduce funding risk while maintaining upside potential [2] - Scottie Resources reported high-grade gold intercepts from its Blueberry Contact Zone, with drill hole SR25-420 returning 34.3 g/t gold over 3.30 meters [6][7] - Goliath Resources reported high-grade drill results from its Golddigger property, with highlights including 19.13 g/t gold over 6.10 meters, indicating strong continuity of mineralization [8][9] - Sun Summit Minerals confirmed high-grade gold and silver potential at the Finn Zone within its JD Project, with drill hole FZ-25-002 returning 46.0 meters of 1.03 g/t gold and 44.9 g/t silver [10][11] - Thesis Gold appointed Coille van Alphen to its Board of Directors as it transitions from exploration to project development at its Lawyers-Ranch gold project, which has a Prefeasibility Study showing an after-tax IRR of 54.4% [13][14]

Core Viewpoint - Western Star Resources Inc. is increasing its non-brokered Private Placement to raise up to $3,000,000 by offering 20,000,000 units at a price of $0.15 per unit, reflecting strong interest in tungsten and critical minerals as strategic resources in North America [1][4]. Group 1: Private Placement Details - The Private Placement will consist of units, each comprising one common share and one common share purchase warrant, with warrants allowing the purchase of additional shares at $0.30 for 24 months [2]. - The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to define high-priority drill targets at the Western Star Project, facilitate the company's move into Nevada, and for general working capital and market awareness [3]. Group 2: Company Strategy and Operations - The company aims to enhance shareholder value through the development of exploration properties and seeks partnerships via joint ventures or sales with industry leaders [6]. - Western Star currently holds nine non-surveyed contiguous mineral claims totaling 4,740 hectares in British Columbia, located approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Revelstoke [6]. Group 3: Management Insights - The President and CEO, Blake Morgan, expressed satisfaction with the financing interest, emphasizing the importance of tungsten and critical minerals for defense, infrastructure, and advanced technologies [4]. - The company has also granted 150,000 stock options to a consultant, exercisable at $0.27 per share for three years [4].

Core Insights - The bioleaching market is experiencing significant growth, with a projected increase from $10.14 billion in 2024 to $21.37 billion by 2033, driven by rising demand for copper and critical minerals [7] - Major companies, including Rio Tinto and BiotaTec, are investing in bioleaching technologies to enhance copper extraction from low-grade ores and industrial waste [4][19] - Despite the potential, the adoption of bioleaching is slow due to high initial capital costs and a focus on low-grade ores, which limits its commercial viability [6][12] Bioleaching Techniques - Heterotrophic bioleaching utilizes microorganisms that metabolize sugars to extract copper from non-sulphidic materials like oxide ores [1] - Chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms oxidize iron and sulphur to produce soluble copper ions from copper ores [2][3] - Two primary methods of bioleaching are heap leaching, which is cost-effective but slower, and vat leaching, which offers higher recovery rates but at a higher cost [9][10] Market Dynamics - The copper bioleaching market holds over 47.8% of the total bioleaching market revenue share, indicating its dominance [4] - Countries like Chile are leading in bioleaching commercialization, using it to extend the operational life of mines by making lower-grade ores profitable [14] - In contrast, European markets show sluggishness in adopting bioleaching technologies, despite interest from mining operators [15] Commercialization Challenges - Many bioleaching companies face difficulties in reaching commercial feasibility, with some projects getting stuck at the corporate level due to lack of financing [16][17] - The economic viability of bioleaching is closely tied to the concentration of metals in the ores being processed [13] - BacTech and other companies are exploring downstream opportunities and diversifying their operations to include other metals and waste materials [17][20] Versatility and Future Prospects - The versatility of bioleaching is crucial for its success, with applications expanding beyond copper to include rare earth elements and industrial waste [20][22] - Bioleaching can also provide solutions for tailings management, contributing to decarbonization and additional revenue streams [24][27] - Companies like ekolive are focusing on agricultural applications of bioleaching, finding commercial success in producing biofertilizers [28]

The Lithuanian government may opt to sign a bilateral deal with the US on critical minerals if the European Union fails to finalize a joint partnership quickly enough, the Baltic nation’s top diplomat said https://t.co/JFOVrQvzlK ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q4 2025, the company reported a net loss of $79 million, or $1.54 per dilutive share, with adjusted EBITDA of $103 million, which includes $25 million of fire and idle costs from Leer South and $11 million from West Elk [12] - For the full year 2025, the net loss was $153 million, or $2.98 per dilutive share, with adjusted EBITDA of $512 million, impacted by $101 million related to Leer South fire and idle costs and $11 million from West Elk idle costs [13] - The company returned a total of $245 million to stockholders in 2025, constituting nearly 100% of free cash flow generation [7][8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Leer South mine resumed longwall mining in mid-December 2025 after a combustion event in early 2025, achieving its production target in January 2026 [5] - West Elk transitioned to the B seam, which has significantly better mining conditions, and is now running at high productivity levels [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. utility coal consumption increased by 12% in 2025 compared to 2024, with coal-fired generation in the PJM and MISO areas rising over 19% and 15%, respectively [14] - Global coal demand rose by approximately 0.5% to 8.9 billion metric tons in 2025, continuing a multi-year growth trend [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational excellence, capturing synergies from the merger, and expanding its customer base for high-quality coal [4][5] - The company supports the Trump administration's initiatives to preserve and upgrade the U.S. coal fleet and expand coal exports [25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the operational performance for 2026, expecting strong results from both Leer South and West Elk mines [24] - The company anticipates a significant reduction in merger-related expenses and an increase in insurance recovery compared to 2025 [21] Other Important Information - The company is advancing efforts in rare earth elements and critical materials, with ongoing projects in the PRB and Northern Appalachia [22][23] - Capital expenditures for 2026 are expected to be between $325 million and $375 million, with a focus on maintenance and growth initiatives [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you break out the high CV committed and priced for PAMC coal? - The company has approximately 20.5 million tons committed for high CV, with 12 million domestic and 8.5 million for export, linked to API2 pricing [30] Question: What is the outlook for shareholder returns? - The company plans to continue returning 75% of free cash flow to shareholders, with expectations for increased returns in 2026 [40] Question: What are the expectations for unit costs in 2026? - The company expects unit costs to improve in 2026 compared to 2025, with a focus on operational efficiency and cost management [57][58] Question: How is the market for high-volume coal with Leer South ramping up? - The company is seeing increased appetite in Asian markets and anticipates contracting significant volumes, particularly linked to PLV prices [62]

CLIMATE RULES, ROLLING BACK AN OBAMA HAPPEN AARON I'LL SEE REGULATING FOSSIL FUELS. -- OBAMA-ERA POLICY REGULAR IN FOSSIL FUELS. DOUG BURGUM, YOU HAVE BEEN THE MAN.I WANT TO GET TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH REGULATIONS. MR. SECRETARY, WHAT IS PROJECT VAULT AND HOW SHOULD I BE THINKING ABOUT THIS IN COMPARISON TO THE SPR.SEC. BURGUM: THE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE HAS CREATED A GREAT BUFFER ON PRICE SHOCKS FOR AMERICAN CONSUMERS FOR DECADES AND DECADES. HAVE NO EQUIVALENT ON CRITICAL MINERALS. THERE ARE 60 MIN ...

Core Viewpoint - Deep Sea Minerals Corp. is actively pursuing offshore critical minerals initiatives in the Cook Islands and the United States, leveraging recent regulatory changes and partnerships to enhance its strategic positioning in the critical minerals sector [1][2][3]. Corporate Strategy: United States (NOAA / DSHMRA) - The company is advancing its offshore critical mineral initiatives in the U.S. through permitting pathways under NOAA, which recently revised the DSHMRA permitting process to modernize and consolidate it [2][5]. - A federally funded hydrographic survey covering over 30,000 square nautical miles off American Samoa is part of the U.S. Offshore Critical Minerals Mapping Plan, indicating a shift towards a more structured permitting environment [2][6]. - The U.S. regulatory framework is seen as distinct due to its integration with supply chain policy and national security priorities, prompting the company to allocate capital for regulatory engagement and procedural readiness [2][4]. Corporate Strategy: Cook Islands (Exclusive Economic Zone) - The company is also pursuing initiatives in the Cook Islands EEZ, which has a well-established seabed mineral regulatory framework supported by scientific assessments [3][10]. - A formal cooperation framework between the Cook Islands Government and the U.S. on critical minerals was established in February 2026, aligning with U.S. policy objectives [3][12]. - The Cook Islands' licensing regime and extensive baseline datasets provide a structured environment for offshore mineral activities, consistent with the company's disciplined approach [3][11]. Industry Developments - Recent industry reports indicate increased attention to NOAA-administered pathways, suggesting that the U.S. regulatory channel is becoming a focal point for offshore critical minerals strategy [13]. - The U.S. has initiated "Project Vault," a $12 billion initiative aimed at strengthening strategic mineral resilience through stockpiling and supply chain measures, reflecting a heightened policy focus on securing critical mineral access [8][14]. Broader Market Context - A U.S.-led initiative to create a critical minerals trade bloc involving approximately 55 countries aims to counter China's dominance in the sector, proposing coordinated price floors and adjustable tariffs to stabilize markets [14]. - The U.S. administration's actions, including Project Vault, are designed to enhance supply chain resilience and reduce reliance on foreign processing capacity [14][15]. OTCQB Uplisting - The company has graduated from the OTC Pink Market to the OTCQB Venture Market, which is expected to enhance visibility and liquidity for investors [16][17].

Core Viewpoint - New Age Metals Inc. has acquired the Platreef PGM Project, enhancing its position in the platinum group metals sector and aligning with Canada's Critical Minerals Strategy [1][3][4]. Company Overview - New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration and development company focused on critical green metal projects in North America, with divisions in Platinum Group Elements, Lithium/Rare Metals, and Antimony-Gold [14][15]. Acquisition Details - The Platreef PGM Project consists of 834 mining claims covering approximately 16,680 hectares (about 41,200 acres) in Northwestern Ontario, located within the Lac des Îles Igneous Complex [5][7]. - The project is strategically positioned near Canada's only primary palladium mine, operated by Impala Canada Ltd., which has proven and probable mineral reserves of 40.9 million tonnes grading 2.31 g/t Pd [10]. Strategic Importance - The acquisition strengthens the company's PGM Division and enhances its strategic footprint in a well-established mining district with robust infrastructure and year-round exploration potential, approximately 80 km from Thunder Bay [2][5]. - The project aligns with the Government of Canada's recognition of platinum group metals as critical minerals essential for emissions control technologies and clean energy systems [3]. Exploration Potential - The geological setting of the Platreef PGM Project is interpreted to be prospective for intrusion-hosted PGM-Ni-Cu mineralization, supported by historical exploration data indicating the presence of magnetite-bearing gabbroic intrusions and sulphide-bearing zones [8][11]. - Historical exploration has identified multiple untested or underexplored intrusive and geophysical targets across the property [5][8]. Community Engagement - The company plans to engage and consult with local First Nations, adhering to its policy of meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities [5]. Future Plans - New Age Metals intends to advance the Platreef PGM Project through a phased exploration program aimed at refining geological understanding and defining priority targets for potential drill testing [11].

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