Mining and natural-resource companies reported fresh operating results, exploration activity, financing and policy developments on August 6, 2026. Today’s roundup covers rare earths, copper, gold, critical-minerals exploration and the regulatory backdrop for concentrate exports.
MP Materials reports higher NdPr production and sales
MP Materials reported second-quarter 2026 NdPr production of 840 metric tons, up 41% year over year, while NdPr sales reached 1,006 metric tons, up 127%. The company reported $108.5 million of revenue and $17.6 million of price-protection-agreement income. MP Materials also said it signed a long-term offtake agreement with a new American aerospace and defense customer for separated gadolinium and launched Project Swarm to aggregate demand and standardize specifications for the drone industry.
DRC concentrate policy adds a new copper and cobalt variable
Reuters reported that a Democratic Republic of Congo order dated June 29 prohibits exports of copper and cobalt concentrates, with the ban taking effect immediately. The order allows one-year waivers in strategic circumstances and introduces a three-month transition for a new tax regime covering economically significant mining by-products. Ivanhoe Mines said that a ban on unbeneficiated concentrate has been in place and enforced in the DRC for close to 10 years, and that Kamoa-Kakula currently smelts copper concentrate at its on-site smelter or the Lualaba Copper Smelter under existing arrangements.
Atico reports Q2 copper and gold production from El Roble
Atico Mining reported 2.08 million pounds of copper and 1,465 ounces of gold contained in concentrates for the second quarter from its El Roble mine in Colombia. Copper head grade was 1.91% and copper recovery was 92.3%; gold head grade was 1.25 grams per tonne and gold recovery was 68%. Compared with Q2 2025, copper production declined 4% and gold production declined 38%, while the company said copper grades and metal recovery improved from the first quarter.
Thor drilling continues below Segilola open pit
Thor Explorations reported further high-grade gold intersections from ongoing diamond drilling beneath the Segilola open pit in Nigeria. Highlights included 19.4 metres at 3.01 grams per tonne gold in hole SNMDD089, 5.3 metres at 5.66 grams per tonne in SNMDD166, 2 metres at 9.27 grams per tonne in SNMDD171 and 1.2 metres at 11.31 grams per tonne in SNMDD178. The company said the program is intended to upgrade parts of the remaining inferred underground resource and evaluate potential mine-life extensions.
Coppernico closes strategic financing with Teck participation
Coppernico Metals closed a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of approximately C$995,350. The company issued 2,843,856 units at C$0.35 per unit, with each unit comprising one common share and one warrant exercisable at C$0.50 until August 6, 2028. Teck Resources acquired 1,843,856 units for approximately C$645,350. Coppernico said proceeds will support drill permitting and community agreements for the Sombrero Project in Peru, as well as corporate and working-capital purposes.
Aya expands Morocco exploration portfolio
Aya Gold & Silver acquired a Moroccan exploration portfolio comprising three mining licenses and 18 exploration permits covering approximately 259 square kilometres across the Zagora, Agadir-Melloul and Goulmim projects. The company cited potential for combinations of nickel, cobalt, lead, zinc, silver, gold, copper and rare earth elements, depending on the project. Total consideration was MAD 10 million, consisting of cash and assumed debt, with milestone payments and a 2% net smelter return royalty also described in the announcement.
Chile clears Irruptive’s deep porphyry drilling program
Irruptive Metals said Chile’s Environmental Assessment Service confirmed that its “Deep Porphyry Confirmation Drilling – Pimentón” program is exempt from submission to the country’s Environmental Impact Assessment System. The decision means no prior environmental assessment is required for the planned diamond drilling at the Central zone of the copper-gold Pimentón Project. The company said the program is intended to test continuity at depth and expand the known mineralized footprint.
What to watch
Investors following the resource sector may want to monitor how the DRC policy is implemented, whether companies convert exploration results into updated resources or mine plans, and how rare-earth and copper developers progress permitting, offtake and project financing. Exploration announcements remain subject to follow-up drilling, technical studies, permitting and other execution risks.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
