(idexonline.com) - "There's diamonds in them thar oceans." The original quote, "There's gold in them thar hills", heralded the 1848 Gold Rush and appears in Mark Twain's 1892 novel The American Claimant. I've taken the liberty of updating it to reflect the prospect of a new mineral dash. This time for underwater gems. We've been digging diamonds out of the ground for centuries now, but known reserves won't last forever. And there's good evidence that many millions of carats are lying under the seabed, just waiting to be sucked up and sold. Digging for marine diamonds has become a reality in the last couple of decades, thanks to enormous advances in technology.
News
Ekati diamond mine to be closed down after failed attempts at sale
The Ekati diamond mine in Canada will be shut down by court order after its owner, Burgundy Diamond Mines, failed to find a buyer for the asset.
17 july 2026
Zijin begins lithium exports from DRC's Manono project to China — report
Zijin has started exporting lithium concentrate from its Manono project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Reuters.
17 july 2026
Nornickel CEO claims global demand for company’s metals ‘stable’
The demand for Norilsk Nickel metals in the global market is stable, but the situation with logistics and sales will remain difficult, said president of the company Vladimir Potanin during a meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
17 july 2026
Sibanye-Stillwater targets 75% chrome volume increase
Chrome is a growing value contributor to Sibanye-Stillwater's South African platinum group metals portfolio, delivering margins, resilience and project support, Mining Weekly has reported.
17 july 2026
Platinum and palladium to be produced in Russia’s Arctic zone
RT-Engineering, a holding company of the Rostec state corporation, has completed the main stage of construction at the Chernogorsk Mining and Processing Plant, which will become a major new center for mining and processing of ores containing platinum...
17 july 2026
