Chile Makes Entry Requirements for New Lithium Mines on Demand Boom from Electric Vehicle Battery

[SMM Titanium Flash] Dingsheng Minerals could resume heavy-mineral-sands operations in Mozambique’s Chibuto district in the coming days, according to an AIM report published by Club of Mozambique. Citing Gaza Secretary of State Jaime Neto’s comments to O País, the report identified tugboats expected at Chongoene port by the end of October as an important requirement. Operations have been disrupted by regulatory obstacles and damage to five production lines, with water supply and export equipment also affecting the recovery. The development offers a possible route towards restoring titanium-mineral supply and export revenue, but remains a restart prospect rather than confirmed production or shipment. Neto said transporting small quantities through Maputo was not economically viable, highlighting the importance of bulk export facilities at Chongoene. For the market, confirmation of tugboat arrival, sustained plant operation and actual vessel loading would provide stronger evidence of returning supply than the announced restart expectation alone.

[SMM Niobium and Tantalum Flash] Globe Metals & Mining announced that early mining activities had begun at its Kanyika niobium project in Malawi. Excavation is proceeding in batches of approximately 5,000 tonnes of material, with mineralised material being stockpiled for future processing-plant commissioning. The programme will also provide bulk samples for grade verification and non-ore material for roads, foundations and plant terraces. The company continues to target first production in early 2028. The work marks a physical development milestone for a potential African niobium and tantalum supplier, although commercial concentrate or oxide production has not been established. Estimated grades in the planned mining area—approximately 0.45% niobium pentoxide and 0.015% tantalum pentoxide—derive from existing drilling and the resource model and remain subject to sampling verification. The programme should provide further evidence on grade distribution, excavation conditions and material handling as the project advances towards processing.

Spartan Metals Corp. released an updated mineral resource estimate for the Victorio tungsten-molybdenum project in New Mexico. Measured and indicated resources total 84.54 million short tons grading 0.09% molybdenum, containing 147.85 million lb (about 67,064 tonnes) of molybdenum. Inferred resources total 101.84 million short tons grading 0.06%, containing 130.02 million lb (about 58,976 tonnes). At a US$50-per-short-ton gross metal value cutoff, the two categories increased 9.5% and 31.9%, respectively, from the historical 2012 estimate. The update will support a preliminary economic assessment expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. These are in-situ resources, not reserves or recoverable production; the project has no current supply impact.