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A large-scale moving loop electro-magnetic (MLEM) survey by junior explorer Nimy Resources (ASX: NIM) has identified three conductor plates at the Mons nickel project in Western Australia (reports Small Caps).

Prices for the lithium-rich spodumene concentrate that Australian miners send to the world’s battery manufacturers surged by 45.5 per cent in January, and experts say the record-breaking 15-month rally in lithium prices has further to run (reports The Australian Financial Review).

The end of the boom is in sight for America’s fracking companies. Less than 3½ years after the shale revolution made the US the world’s largest oil producer, companies in the oil fields of Texas, New Mexico and North Dakota have tapped many of their best wells (reports The Wall Street Journal).

Newly-minted gold producer Kingston Resources (ASX: KSN) has commenced exploration at the historic Mineral Hill copper-gold project in New South Wales, targeting near-mine or brownfields targets within the existing mining lease.

There is growing recognition that nuclear power is key to meeting both the energy and decarbonisation challenges. But the supply side of the uranium equation is yet to catch on, paving the way for further price increases. And Boss Energy, already among Australia’s uranium front runners, could add copper to its story. Plus, bumper drilling results add to the buzz at Genesis over pending arrival of Raleigh Finlayson.

Rare earths and other critical metals moved back into focus this week thanks to Australian Government project funding offers but it was gold which really caught the eye of investors as reports surfaced of a “whale” soaking up bullion every time the price slipped far below US$1800 an ounce.

Garimpeiro would be wasting everyone’s time if he tried to predict the next move in the US gold price (reports Barry FitzGerald on Stockhead).

Alicanto’s exploration has extended high-grade silver and zinc mineralisation at its Sala silver-lead-zinc project in Sweden over 3km of strike (reports Stockhead).

War in Ukraine could tighten several commodities markets as further sanctions on Russia crimp supply, providing a fresh tailwind to producers already enjoying buoyant conditions (reports The Australian Financial Review).

Canadian mining legend Ian Telfer says Barrick Gold is on the way to going out of business due to its failure to buy new assets because of what he says is a fixation on assets being able to generate returns at a US$1200 per ounce gold price (reports MiningNews).