MDF Global MDF Global
Apple’s iPhone boom highlights critical minerals powering smartphones•Presenting a united front for Queensland’s copper sector•Thailand seeks Myanmar mine access amid arsenic pollution•Egypt to set up state-backed company to license artisanal gold miners, free detainees•Brixton closes $7.4 million raise for Thorn, Langis projects•Heliostar banks record $78.7 million for Ana Paula push•Mining giants bet billions on 2030 supply crunch•Gunnison Copper reports Q3 output, revenue surge•Triumph Gold targets $15.46 million for Yukon push•African Rainbow Minerals faces a jobs dispute at Nkomati mine•Angola seeks 10% stake in De Beers under Anglo’s proposed exit•Gold price rebounds but heads for biggest weekly loss since June•Teck copper strike reaches BC port as operator sues union•Copper benchmark rocked by miner-smelter tug-of-war•Zimbabwe mining bill targets community, environmental safeguards•Mount Isa critical minerals hub secures Feasibility Study funding•Eramet initiates $814.5 million capital raise to reduce debt•Richemont backs natural gemstones, declines De Beers comment•‘Tis the season for administration as Comlek falls a second time•OceanaGold Philippines trials wireless blasting at Didipio mine Apple’s iPhone boom highlights critical minerals powering smartphones•Presenting a united front for Queensland’s copper sector•Thailand seeks Myanmar mine access amid arsenic pollution•Egypt to set up state-backed company to license artisanal gold miners, free detainees•Brixton closes $7.4 million raise for Thorn, Langis projects•Heliostar banks record $78.7 million for Ana Paula push•Mining giants bet billions on 2030 supply crunch•Gunnison Copper reports Q3 output, revenue surge•Triumph Gold targets $15.46 million for Yukon push•African Rainbow Minerals faces a jobs dispute at Nkomati mine•Angola seeks 10% stake in De Beers under Anglo’s proposed exit•Gold price rebounds but heads for biggest weekly loss since June•Teck copper strike reaches BC port as operator sues union•Copper benchmark rocked by miner-smelter tug-of-war•Zimbabwe mining bill targets community, environmental safeguards•Mount Isa critical minerals hub secures Feasibility Study funding•Eramet initiates $814.5 million capital raise to reduce debt•Richemont backs natural gemstones, declines De Beers comment•‘Tis the season for administration as Comlek falls a second time•OceanaGold Philippines trials wireless blasting at Didipio mine
12 October 2026
WRITTEN BY Shae Russell

Better copper, not more copper

Russell Eley, Chief Geologist at MDF Global, is back for a special Drilling Deeper discussion on copper discoveries, exploration trends, and why the industry’s biggest challenge may not be finding copper at all.

The big picture:

  • Hidden discoveries: Some of the world’s largest copper discoveries have been made beneath existing mines over the past 20 years
  • Better copper, not more copper: Why location, economics, and development risk matter as much as grade
  • Discovery data: How brownfield discoveries may be underrepresented in industry supply discussions
  • AI and exploration: Why data science and emerging technologies could transform how future deposits are found

About the guest:
Russell Eley is Chief Geologist at MDF Global, with nearly 30 years of experience across global exploration, copper systems, and data-driven discovery.

Watch now.


Subscribe today.

Author Image
Written By Shae Russell
Shae has been an equities analyst with a focus on investment writing for 15 years; the last eight of which has centred on the domestic and international mining sector. She’s now bringing this expertise to enhance and strengthen Mining.com.au‘s role as Australia’s leading source of mining news.

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