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Critical Metals (CRML) has commenced a 10,000m diamond drilling programme at its wholly owned Tanbreez Rare Earth Project in southern Greenland, as the company advances one of the world's largest undeveloped rare earth deposits. 

The campaign is designed to support resource expansion, geological modelling, mine planning and future feasibility work at a project known for its significant concentrations of heavy rare earth elements, which are used in permanent magnets, electric vehicles, defence applications and advanced manufacturing. 

The company recently completed accommodation and operational infrastructure at the site, with drilling contractors and support teams now mobilised and rigs deployed across priority target areas. Over the coming weeks, field teams will verify ground conditions, finalise drill collar locations and prepare access routes to support the programme. 

In addition to drilling, the programme will include geological mapping and environmental, health and safety monitoring, with data collected during the 2026 campaign expected to support development planning.

Leadership quality, career progression and workplace culture are more influential than pay when mining professionals consider changing jobs, according to a survey by MPI Recruitment. 

The recruitment firm surveyed 1,238 Australian mining workers already open to new opportunities during May 2026. The findings follow an earlier survey in which 86% of 217 respondents said they would consider changing employers in 2026. 

MPI said the latest research challenges the assumption that salary is the primary driver of attraction and retention in the sector. While competitive pay remains important, respondents ranked opportunities to develop and use their skills, supportive leadership and positive workplace culture more highly. 

Across both blue-collar and white-collar groups, the strongest themes were career development, leadership quality and day-to-day support from managers. 

MPI said employers risk oversimplifying retention challenges by focusing mainly on pay, arguing that long-term workforce stability depends on leadership, growth opportunities, employee engagement and workplace culture.

UK-based consultancy CRU has been appointed to lead a government-backed study into the future of north-west Queensland’s copper industry as part of a joint Commonwealth-Queensland initiative. 

Working with consortium partners, CRU will assess the region’s copper value chain across the North West Minerals Province, including operations stretching from the Mount Isa Copper Smelter to the Townsville Copper Refinery. The study will examine mining, smelting and refining activities using market intelligence, cost analysis and facility-level data. 

The work will also evaluate long-term opportunities for industrial facilities, workers and the wider copper sector beyond the current period of government support. 

CRU global head of consulting Hugh Greene said the project would help identify practical pathways to strengthen the region’s industrial capability, resilience and competitiveness. 

Stakeholder engagement will take place throughout 2026, with a final report due to be submitted to the Commonwealth and Queensland governments by year-end.

UK tungsten projects are attracting increased attention as MPs examine the country's dependence on Chinese-controlled critical mineral supply chains for defence and industrial applications. 

During a parliamentary inquiry into critical minerals and economic security, Kathryn Moore of the Camborne School of Mines described tungsten as a "very important commodity" for defence, citing its use in hardened steel and armaments. However, she warned that future UK mine production could still depend on Chinese processing, creating a "net loss of mineral wealth" if concentrates are exported for refining. 

The discussion comes as Tungsten West targets a 2026 restart of the Hemerdon mine in Devon, one of the largest tungsten resources outside China. Meanwhile, Cornwall Resources recently secured funding to advance the Redmoor tungsten-tin-copper project. 

Witnesses told MPs that reducing dependence will also require investment in refining, processing and supply chain capabilities.

Experts have warned MPs that the UK remains heavily exposed to critical mineral supply chain risks, particularly in refining and processing, during the latest hearing of Parliament’s inquiry into critical minerals and economic security. 

Dr Gavin Mudd of the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre told the committee that processing and refining remain the main supply chain bottlenecks and the areas where China has been most successful. Critical Minerals Association founder Jeff Townsend described Chinese dominance of the midstream sector as the West’s “biggest vulnerability”. 

Witnesses also highlighted concerns over the UK’s ability to retain strategic assets and develop domestic refining capacity, citing high industrial electricity prices as a major constraint. Evidence from industry and academic experts suggested the UK remains vulnerable to geopolitical disruption across critical mineral supply chains. Mudd told MPs that while Western governments are responding, “China has leap-frogged way ahead” in critical minerals processing and refining.