The gradual reopening of China’s economy through looser COVID-19 restrictions could propel iron ore prices as high as $US150 a tonne by June next year, predicts broker Citi (reports The Australian Financial Review).

“If you invested in the energy sector prior to 2022, congratulations – you’ve won the markets,” keynote speaker and Bell Potter market analyst Grady Wulff told investors at the Resources Rising Stars (RSS) Summer Series in Melbourne on Thursday (reports The Australian).

Shares in Chalice Mining opened strongly after the company reported promising sulphide mineralisation intersected at the Hooley prospect, 5km north of the world-class Gonneville deposit in Western Australia (reports MiningNews).

Street Talk understands Sandfire has mandated Azure Capital to shop DeGrussa to potential buyers that would be willing to take a punt on the unexplored gold within the copper mine (reports The Australian Financial Review).

Junior nickel explorer Nimy Resources is aiming to make a big discovery across its underexplored landholding in Western Australia (reports MiningNews).

Copper explorer New World Resources (ASX: NWC) has revealed “exceptional” assay results from deep drilling at its wholly-owned Antler copper project in Arizona, United States (reports Small Caps).

Copper prices will rocket to record levels in the next 12 months, according to Goldman Sachs, as a looming supply shortage coincides with growing demand, keeping the physical market for the metal in deficit in 2023 (reports The Australian Financial Review).

The former Pilbara Minerals MD sees America’s ‘huge lithium supply problems’ as a big opportunity for his new company Patriot Battery Metals.

Christmas came early this week for investors as interest rate pressure eased, the battery metals rush accelerated, gold bounced and Australia’s soccer team progressed to the final 16 of the World Cup.

Pilbara Minerals boss Dale Henderson says despite concerns about China, all the signs point to continued strong lithium demand and pricing (reports MiningNews).

South Korea’s biggest steel manufacturer is eyeing off WA’s critical minerals to shore up its supply chain and make batteries needed to power the global transition to electric vehicles (reports The West Australian).

Mincor Resources has hit another milestone on its ramp-up to full production, achieving the successful firing and extraction of the first production stope at the Cassini underground mine (reports The West Australian).

Cygnus Gold sees serious scale at its Pontax lithium project in Quebec, Canada (reports MiningNews).

A recent review of data and drill core from the Cayley Lode deposit at Stavely Minerals’ (ASX: SVY) namesake copper-gold project in Victoria has identified a significant new porphyry target (reports Small Caps).

New World Resources (ASX: NWC) has reported a substantial increase to the mineral resource estimate for its wholly-owned Antler copper deposit in northern Arizona following a year of exploration drilling (reports Small Caps).

Europe-based Sashi Davies says the market is “like back in the early 2000s” when the uranium price began to take off. This augurs well for Boss Energy, as shown by this week’s wave of broker buy recommendations following a site visit. Plus, lithium presenters to give a real-life version of the price outlook at next week’s Resources Rising Stars conferences.

Discovery and deal news was the highlight of a week of steadily rising share prices, but with the most significant event being signs of a breakdown in the relationship between governments and central banks which could cause economic chaos next year.

Chalice Mining shares have spiked more than 6 per cent higher after latest drilling over its promising Julimar metals discovery just outside of Perth suggest it is even bigger than first thought (reports The West Australian).

Kin Mining and its major German shareholder Delphi Group have acquired more than 10% of Dacian Gold, preventing Genesis Minerals from being successful in its scrip takeover bid (reports MiningNews).

Emerging Western Australian iron ore producer CZR Resources (ASX: CZR) has unveiled the highest-grade assays yet from drilling at its Robe Mesa project in the Pilbara, which will feed into resource and reserve updates (reports Small Caps).