Mining & Mineral Exploration Drilling https://www.thedriller.com/rss/2659 en-us A Driller's Life: In It For The Big Hole Jim Beath’s latest “A Driller’s Life” follows a Miami deep-well job, a jump to underground mining in Nevada, and the hard lessons that came with chasing bigger holes.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93867 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:43:31 -0400 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93867-a-drillers-life-in-it-for-the-big-hole PDAC 2026 Wraps Up in Toronto After Four Days As PDAC 2026 concludes today, many participants are already turning their attention to exploration projects, financing decisions, and policy developments that were shaped during the week’s meetings in Toronto.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93856 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93856-pdac-2026-wraps-up-in-toronto-after-four-days Global Race for Critical Minerals Picks Up Speed Growing demand from EVs, energy systems and technology is reshaping global mining priorities.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93857 Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93857-global-race-for-critical-minerals-picks-up-speed Mining Yesterday’s Waste for Tomorrow’s Energy Re-mining won’t eliminate the need for new extraction altogether. But it could dramatically shrink mining’s footprint while tackling some of its most persistent environmental scars.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93845 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93845-mining-yesterdays-waste-for-tomorrows-energy East Texas Eyes a New Energy Frontier with Geothermal Power and Lithium Extraction

T5 Smackover Partners plans a modular project in the Smackover Formation that pairs geothermal electricity with large-scale lithium production, though technical and economic hurdles remain.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93841 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93841-east-texas-eyes-a-new-energy-frontier-with-geothermal-power-and-lithium-extraction Fracking Waste Is Piling Up in the Permian As wastewater volumes surge across West Texas, contaminated wells, rising underground pressure, and limited disposal options are forcing regulators and oil companies to rethink how drilling byproducts are handled.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93821 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93821-fracking-waste-is-piling-up-in-the-permian Coal Is Back (Again) johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) The U.S. Department of Energy wants you to know one thing loud and clear: coal is not going quietly into the energy-transition night.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93817 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93817-coal-is-back-again Trafag Highlights the EXNT 8292 Ex Pressure Transmitter for Demanding Industrial Applications Engineered for hazardous locations, hydrogen systems, and marine sectors, the EXNT 8292 combines certified safety, high performance, and versatile customization to meet the needs of modern industry.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93807 Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93807-trafag-highlights-the-exnt-8292-ex-pressure-transmitter-for-demanding-industrial-applications Family vs Career: Is There a Choice? An easy question like this can be difficult to answer on the spot. Recently, I was given this same list and asked to rank my top three most important things in my life. 

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93801 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:11:46 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93801-family-vs-career-is-there-a-choice Despite Orders to Close, Colorado Coal Plant Ordered to Stay Online for the Winter Critics often focus on the tradeoffs that come with emergency extensions for coal plants.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93799 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93799-colorado-coal-plant-ordered-to-stay-online-for-winter-reliability Energy Department Puts $134M Behind Domestic Rare Earth Supply Chains The U.S. Department of Energy is opening the door to as much as $134 million in new funding aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains for rare earth elements

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93781 Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93781-energy-department-puts-134m-behind-domestic-rare-earth-supply-chains Titan Mining Pushes Toward U.S. Graphite Independence Beyond economics, the project promises a significant local impact. 

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93762 Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93762-titan-mining-pushes-toward-us-graphite-independence Silver Named Critical Mineral as Apollo Pushes Forward on Major U.S. Project Federal designation could streamline development of Apollo Silver’s Calico Project in California

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93751 Sat, 29 Nov 2025 19:49:31 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93751-silver-gains-critical-status-as-apollo-advances-major-us-deposit Epiroc partners with Cal-Nevada Precision Blasting in USA In addition to the equipment, Epiroc will provide a comprehensive package of spare parts, drilling tools, technical service, and training to support optimal performance.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93749 Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93749-epiroc-partners-with-cal-nevada-precision-blasting-in-usa Speedcast Taps Starlink HTS to Boost Connectivity Across COSL Drilling Fleet Speedcast has integrated Starlink’s High Throughput Service into COSL Drilling’s fleet, boosting offshore connectivity. The upgrade improves speed, reliability, and support for remote operations and crew welfare.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93746 Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93746-speedcast-integrates-starlink-hts-across-cosl-drilling-fleet American Rare Earths Expands Work With Tetra Tech Both American Rare Earths and Tetra Tech believe Halleck Creek can play a meaningful role in that effort, offering a stable mix of light and heavy rare earth elements to support the growing magnetics sector.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93734 Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93734-american-rare-earths-expands-work-with-tetra-tech Canada’s New Infrastructure Push Highlights Yukon’s Growing Role in Critical Minerals Still, for firms like White Gold and others with stakes in the Yukon, the momentum appears to be building. 

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93750 Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93750-canadas-new-infrastructure-push-highlights-yukons-growing-role-in-critical-minerals Dormer Pramet Launches New Force Solid Carbide Drills These innovations reinforce the commitment of Dormer Pramet to providing reliable, efficient, and high-performance drilling solutions while delivering on our promise of Certainty at every turn.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93744 Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93744-dormer-pramet-launches-new-force-solid-carbide-drills Lee Zeldin Completes Visits to All 50 States http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93722 Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93722-epa-administrator-lee-zeldin-completes-visits-to-all-50-states As AI Infrastructure Expands, Demand for Gold and Silver Tightens Supply Chains These developments illustrate how the growth of AI is tied directly to physical materials. 

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93741 Sat, 22 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93741-as-ai-infrastructure-expands-demand-for-gold-and-silver-tightens-supply-chains Carbon Capture Materials Market Set for Strong Growth Post-combustion capture is projected to stay the dominant technique because it can be retrofitted into existing plants without significant redesign.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93709 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93709-carbon-capture-materials-market-set-for-strong-growth Stardust Power Inks Deal for Utah Lithium Supply Stardust Power is advancing permitting and site preparation work in Muskogee as it aims to produce up to 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually. 

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93706 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93706-stardust-power-inks-deal-for-utah-lithium-supply McEwen Inc. Takes Strategic 31% Stake in Paragon Geochemical This technology enables faster data-driven decisions, optimizes drilling strategies and accelerates exploration timelines.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93705 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93705-mcewen-inc-takes-strategic-31-stake-in-paragon-geochemical Phosphate and Potash Considered ‘Critical Minerals’ Across North America Canada dominates potash exports to the U.S. but depends heavily on imported phosphate – new critical minerals policies and government incentives are driving expanded drilling and development activity across North America.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93704 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93704-phosphate-and-potash-considered-critical-minerals-across-north-america Canterra Minerals Begins Drilling at Wilding Gold Project in Newfoundland The program will include approximately 1,200 meters of large-diameter core drilling across 15 holes. 

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93698 Sun, 09 Nov 2025 22:53:11 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93698-canterra-minerals-begins-drilling-at-wilding-gold-project-in-newfoundland ReElement Technologies, Vulcan Elements, and U.S. Department of War Launch $1.4 Billion Rare Earth Partnership A new $1.4 billion agreement between ReElement Technologies, Vulcan Elements, and the U.S. Department of War aims to establish a fully domestic rare earth magnet supply chain critical to national security and clean energy manufacturing.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93695 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93695-reelement-technologies-vulcan-elements-and-us-department-of-war-launch-14-billion-rare-earth-partnership NASA’s Lunar Drill Survives a Crash Landing and Still Gets the Job Done NASA’s latest lunar mission, Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment 1, just pulled off a cosmic mic drop

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93689 Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93689-nasas-lunar-drill-survives-a-crash-landing-and-still-gets-the-job-done Utah Copper Mine Expansion Gets the Greenlight After Aquifer Exemption Approval EPA Regional Administrator Cyrus Western said the approval supports both resource development and environmental responsibility

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93679 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93679-utah-copper-mine-expansion-gets-the-greenlight-after-aquifer-exemption-approval Deep-Sea Mining Market Could Hit $40.79 Billion by 2032, But at What Cost? Unlike land-based mining, ocean ecosystems are less understood and recover more slowly, which raises the stakes for mistakes.

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93674 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93674-deep-sea-mining-market-could-hit-4079-billion-by-2032-but-at-what-cost Armenia’s Mining Forum Offers Key Lessons for U.S. Miners For American miners, the 2025 Mining Armenia Forum is more than a recap of a faraway conference. It’s a mirror. 

]]> http://www.thedriller.com/articles/93672 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.thedriller.com/articles/93672-armenias-mining-forum-offers-key-lessons-for-us-miners