Mineral prices reached record levels this week as geopolitical tensions, specifically involving the US administration’s stance on Greenland, drove demand for safe-haven assets. Gold traded as high as US$4,877.00/oz and silver reached US$95.71/oz as market participants reacted to potential tariff escalations and transatlantic trade uncertainty.
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Silver Prices Drop Following Delay in US Critical Mineral Tariffs
Silver prices experienced a decline on Jan. 15, 2026, after hitting an all-time high of US$93.75/oz the previous day. The spot price fell as much as 7% during morning trading before recovering to settle near US$90/oz by midday. This pullback follows a year-to-date gain of 15% for the metal.
Power Skills, Culture Enhance Women’s Role in Mining: WIM Mexico
Marisol Barragán, President, Mujeres WIM de México, notes that a shift in industry culture is essential to overcome career stagnation for the over 77,000 women in the sector. She is prioritizing power skills, leadership and emotional management to ensure women excel as executives and navigate the sector’s challenges effectively.
US, Brazil Seek Rare Earths Partnership
The United States and Brazil are entering a high-stakes rare earths partnership designed to counter China’s 91% stranglehold on global refining. Following a strategic rapprochement between Presidents Donald Trump and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in late 2025, this initiative aims to mobilize Brazil’s 21Mt of reserves to secure the Western Hemisphere’s technological and defense future.
Quality Management Redefines Trust in Chinese Brands: Sany
Sany’s Marlin Ma and Miguel Reyes stress that overcoming the quality stigma associated with Chinese machinery requires a focus on durability and comprehensive after-sales support. They aim to build trust in the Mexican mining sector by demonstrating a low Total Cost of Ownership and maintaining a permanent local presence.
GR Silver Targets Resource Growth in 2026
GR Silver Mining has outlined its corporate guidance and exploration strategy for 2026, setting the stage for a year focused on resource growth and project advancement in Sinaloa. The company’s plans center on expanding mineralization at its San Marcial Area while progressing the integration of San Marcial and the Plomosas Mine into a unified silver development project.
The Implementation of Blockchain in the Mining Industry
Santiago Suárez, Partner, Servicios Legales Mineros S.C., argues that blockchain technology serves as a trust-building infrastructure capable of modernizing the mining industry’s administrative and commercial frameworks. By utilizing immutable, decentralized ledgers, Suárez suggests the public sector can secure concession registries and land titles, while the private sector can leverage smart contracts and tokenization to automate mineral transactions and democratize asset ownership.
Geopolitics, Energy, Strategic Capital to Shape Mining in 2026
Geopolitical tensions, the energy transition, and cautious capital deployment are set to define the mining sector in 2026. According to Wood Mackenzie, rising uncertainty in China and the United States, technological shifts in energy and battery metals, and safe-haven demand for gold and silver are reshaping commodity markets and investment strategies, highlighting a year of navigating complexity for miners and investors alike.
US Congress Unveils Initiative to Secure Mineral Supply Chains
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has unveiled the SECURE Minerals Act, a US$2.5 billion initiative designed to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals essential to clean energy, electrification, and national defense, reducing reliance on foreign sources and safeguarding the US economy.
Mexico Mining 2026: Growth, Regulatory Reform, and Water Security
Pablo Mendez, Managing Partner, EC Rubio, considers that Mexico’s mining recovery depends on balancing the 2023 regulatory reforms with geological competitiveness. He notes that administrative congestion and legal uncertainty are currently stifling exploration and driving capital to other jurisdictions.
Gold, Silver Hit Record Highs Again Amid Greenland Threats
Gold and silver reached record highs in January as investors sought safe-haven assets amid mounting geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The latest surge followed US President Donald Trump’s threat of additional tariffs on European countries over the Greenland dispute.