There is one goal each resource company intends to achieve before calling it quits hindering the progression of a specific mine. And that is reaching production.
The average mine progresses from exploration, to development, before reaching production.
As of September 2025, the Australian Government’s Geoscience Department recorded 350 mines operating across the country, producing 19 different minerals.
Several explorers are hoping to contribute to this statistic in 2026 – the year of new beginnings.
Spanning from 17 February through until 3 March 2026, the Chinese New Year is transitioning from the Year of the Snake into the Year of the Fire Horse.
New beginnings is a term often popping up in relation to the Year of the Fire Horse, bringing many rapid changes, fresh opportunities, and overall, a fresh start.
While the new beginnings motif has a positive connotation, Commodity Discovery Fund Researcher Samson Li describes the new year can also bring instability, volatility, fear, and wars on a global scale, due to the reference of the fire horse.
“I expect global production or global demand will continue to be hindered by geopolitics which may affect logistics as well as buyers only wanting to buy from a source whom they can fully trust,” Li tells this news service.
One commodity in hot demand with production ramping up is gold. S&P Global’s Mine Cost Outlook 2026 reports global production of the precious metal to have risen in 2025, which is expected to follow through until 2027 before tapering off after 2030.
Global gold production is expected to increase by 7% in 2026 to a total of 72.8 million ounces. This is followed by a projected 24% increase in gold prices, allowing producers to capitalise on market conditions.
S&P Global predicts 2026 to be a “banner year” for precious metals producers, with prices climbing faster than costs, streamlining high profits.
Full gallop at Dianne
Similar to gold’s highs, copper is also projected to reach new heights in line with the globally accelerating pace of electrification, according to S&P Global’s copper study for 2026.
The base metal is expected to surge in demand to 42 million tonnes by 2040, representing a 50% increase from current global output. Copper production is forecast to peak in 2030 with 33 million tonnes, which may bring a substantial shortfall of 10 million tonnes by 2040.
Revolver Resources (ASX:RRR) is one copper explorer nearing production at the Dianne Copper Mine in Queensland. The company expects to be producing copper cathode in the second half of 2026, Managing Director Pat Williams tells Mining.com.au.
“We’re going to take a very small, finite project – some would even call it boutique – and we’re going to make 15,000 tonnes of copper cathode at a time where the copper price is at an all-time high over a three-year period, we’re going to make more than $100 million of free cash,” Williams tells this news service.
“$100 million into a small company like Revolver is life-changing. We get to develop our own projects, we get to buy more, we get to look at corporate growth that’s very quickly accelerated by such a generous amount of cash.
“That’s the reason it’s a real stepout company growth opportunity.”
As of 10 February, copper was priced at US$5.91 per pound, representing a 28.74% increase from this year over year, according to Trading Economics.
JP Morgan Global Research predicts copper prices to reach US$12,500 per tonne in Q2 2026, for an average of US$12,075 across the year.
Prior to Revolver’s holding of the asset, the Diane Copper Mine was in operation up until the mid-1980s.
“It was Australia’s highest grade and still is Australia’s highest grade producing copper mine ever,” Williams adds.
“There’s a small little remaining deposit. People have looked at it, everyone’s gone, not interested.
“We look at it and we go, keep it small, keep it simple, and don’t overspend. There’s a hundred million bucks in three years. How good is that?
“With the eyes that we have to see value where others don’t, that’s what we’re taking forward.”
As reported by Mining.com.au earlier this year, Revolver identified the asset to have a mining and processing capacity of around 1.65 million tonnes over a four-year period in its recommencement study.
Revolver Resources is an Australian explorer focused on developing resources needed for the global shift towards electrification.
Production in full stride
Black Canyon (ASX:BCA) Managing Director Brendan Cummins expects 2026 to bring further highs for the resources sector, speaking to Mining.com.au.
“2026 seems to have the hallmarks of a good year for selective markets, and in turn, mining companies with producing or near term producing assets,” Cummins tells this news service.
“Investors are becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they allocate capital and are looking for good projects with real assets.
“Fundamentally consumption continues through the growth of emerging markets and in more mature markets the push toward decarbonisation which ironically requires more copper, lithium, aluminium and nickel.
“So in my view, subject to black swan events, 2026 looks set to outperform.”
Chinese culture is celebrating the transition from Year of the Snake into the Year of the Horse, with Chinese New Year celebrations kicking off on 17 February 2026, lasting through until 3 March.
“The Chinese New Year is probably the most important festival in a year to the Chinese,” Li adds in his conversation with Mining.com.au, regarding the holiday.
The Year of the Horse represents vibrant and fiery energy, symbolizing adventure, vitality, and momentum, according to Chinese New Year.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Mining.com.au, Unsplash & Black Canyon
