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Australia, Oceania, U.S and World
Past, Present And Future
March 2026
"All That Glitters"
Mining Culture And Biz
Media Man Group Watercooler
March 3
Lynas shares rally after refinery licence deal signed with Malaysia
Matthew Hope from Ord Minnett says the extension of Lynas Rare Earths' licence to operate its Malaysian refinery will provide investment certainty. Lynas's current three-year licence was due to expire on Monday, but Lynas advised that the Malaysian government has agreed to extend it for another 10 years. Lynas's share price rose five per cent to $19.98 in reponse to the announcement. Lynas has benefited from the rally in the price of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) since the Trump administration agreed to a floor price of $US110 per kilogram in a deal with MP Materials in 2025. JP Morgan expects the price of NdPr to average $US123/kilogram in 2026. (RMS)
News
Mystery donor bails out EDO
Australian Energy Producers CEO Samantha McCulloch says the Environmental Defenders Office should be required to disclose the identity of all donors. The EDO's audited financial statements show that an unnamed donor has agreed to waive a $6.5m loan to the activist organisation. The EDO has posted a loss of $8.5m following the Federal Court's ruling in 2024 that it must pay more than $9m in legal costs arising from its failed challenge to Santos's Barossa LNG project. McCulloch says the debt waiver raises serious questions about who is funding activist lawfare in Australia. She adds that it is hypocritical for the EDO to demand transparency from Australian companies while citing 'commercial-in-confidence' to shield anonymous donors. (RMS)
News
Fortescue recalibrates, cuts back wind farm
The environmental approval application for Fortescue's proposed Bonney Downs wind farm in the Pilbara shows that it is now slated to have 100 turbines, compared with initial plans for 200. Fortescue contends that scaling back the size of the wind farm will significantly reduce its environmental impact; amongst other things, Fortscue estimates that it will now have to clear just 944 hectares of vegetation for the project, instead of more than 2,000 hectares. Fortescue has also indicated that it considered several alternatives to the Bonney Downs project, including a solar farm and converting the Solomon gas-powered power station to run on 'green' ammonia and hydrogen; the latter was deemed to be unviable due to the high cost of the green fuel. (RMS)
Shares
March 3
BHP Group Ltd
$57.70 -1.55 -2.62% (ASX)
Mineral Resources Ltd
$56.04 -3.66 6.13% (ASX)
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd
$19.04 -0.9 - 64.80% (ASX)
Media Watercooler
News Flashbacks (For historical, reference, data and educational purposes)
February 2026
Feb 14
BHP exports crash in China stand-off
Shipping data provider Kpler estimates that BHP exported just 1.18 million tonnes of Jimblebar Fines iron ore from the Pilbara during January, compared with 5.82 million tonnes for the same period in 2025. Kpler analyst Alexis Ellender says the firm believes that iron ore stockpiles at Chinese ports are now close to capacity, while Goldman Sachs estimates that Jimblebar Fines accounts for up to 10 per cent of this stockpile. The downturn in Jimblebar Fines shipments has coincided with China's growing pressure on BHP to switch to using iron ore price reporting agency Fastmarkets rather than S&P Global Platts. Fortescue and Rio Tinto have switched a portion of their iron ore sales to Fastmarkets. (RMS)
News
Feb 16
Lawyers hit gold from BHP disaster
Britain's High Court is scheduled to begin hearing a compensation claim against BHP in April, over the collapse of the Fundao iron ore tailings dam in Brazil in November 2015. The High Court had ruled in late 2025 that BHP is liable for the disaster at the Samarco iron ore mine, which it jointly owns with Vale. The class action launched by law firm Pogust Goodhead has already generated more than $600m in legal costs; Pogust Goodhead estimates that it has spent nearly Stg190m on the long-running case, while BHP says it has spent more than Stg125m on legal fees to date. Pogust Goodhead is seeking up to Stg36bn ($70bn) in compensation for victims of the disaster. (RMS)
News
Glencore legend hedged against deal
Glencore 'founding founder' Tor Peterson advised the London Stock Exchange on 14 January that he still controlled about 2.4 per cent of the Swiss mining company. It was his first such disclosure in almost eight years, but he went to update the LSE on his holdings 11 times over the next 22 days, at a time when Glencore and Rio Tinto were discussing a merger. His disclosures indicate Peterson would maximise his profits if Glencore's share price fell below the Stg5.31 the stock was fetching when speculation of a merger deal speculation peaked in early February; Rio abandoned the merger talks on 6 February when the two firms could not agree on a price.. It has been suggested that by betting on Glencore's shares falling that Peterson was seeking a compensation prize should bets he had made on on higher coal prices fail. (RMS)
News
WA outgunned on lithium costs
US-based Albemarle has invested about $4bn in its lithium hydroxide refinery at Kemerton in Western Australia since 2018. CEO Kent Masters says the cost of processing spodumene concentrate in WA is about $US5 per kg higher than in China, where Albemarle operates similar lithium refineries. Masters notes that labour, energy and waste disposal costs are much higher in Australia, which contributed to Albemarle's decision to shut down the Kemerton plant. The company is now expected to ship its share of spodumene from the Greenbushes mine to China for processing; it has not ruled out resuming production at Kemerton if market conditions become more favourable. (RMS)
News
Gold rush pulls in dirt pirates and backpackers
The price of gold has risen by 70 per cent in the last year, prompting a new wave of prospectors at historic goldfields such as Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The state accounts for more than 70 per cent of Australia's gold production, primarily from the Kalgoorlie Goldfields. The gold boom has attracted a range pf people to the region, including amateur prospectors and families that travel there on caravan holidays. It has also resulted in extra work for Australia's gold stealing detection unit, with a sharp rise in the theft of ore from gold mine sites by criminals who process it in backyards by using a cement mixer and chemicals to extract the gold. (RMS)
News
Mining election message to Minns
The NSW Minerals Council contends that the mining industry injected $22 billion into the state's economy last financial year, while the council estimated its members supported 35,100 full time equivalent jobs. With a state election due in March next year, NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee contends that the thousands of workers in the mining sector will be looking to see which politicians are willing to grant approvals for new projects; there are currently 37 operating coalmines across NSW, with 17 approval or extension proposals awaiting a decision, but the Net Zero Commission has informed the Minns government that any additional extensions, expansions or approvals for coal projects would push NSW off track from its emissions targets and the Paris Agreement. (Roy Morgan Summary)
Media Man Int
News Flashbacks
Victims' misery a goldmine for chequebook TV - 7th May 2006
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Human Statue Bodyart does bodypaint, bodyart and makeup for Diamond VIP event at The Star, Sydney
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Biofuel flight 'another Branson stunt' - 26th February 2008
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GenerationOne ideas forum - 12th August 2010
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Markets, Cryptos (in progress)
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All The Glitters (in progress)
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Australian Mining (in progress)
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FiberSense Technology
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News
Heavy Industry News
Heavy Industry Awards
Mack Trucks wins Media Man 'Truck Manufacturer Of The Month' award
Caterpillar wins Media Man 'Heavy Equipment Manufacturer Of The Month' award
Bingo Industries wins Media Man 'Construction Brand Of The Month' award
Elders wins Media Man 'Agribusiness Of The Month' award
Landman wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month' award (Oil/mining industry based story via Paramount Plus)
News
Gold Movie
Gold is a 2016 American epic crime drama film directed by Stephen Gaghan and written by Patrick Massett and John Zinman. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Édgar Ramírez, Bryce Dallas Howard, Corey Stoll, Toby Kebbell, Craig T. Nelson, Stacy Keach and Bruce Greenwood. The film is loosely based on the true story of the 1997 Bre-X mining scandal, when a massive gold deposit was supposedly discovered in the jungles of Indonesia; however, for legal reasons and to enhance the appeal of the film, character names and story details were changed.
Trailer
Gold (YouTube Movies and TV)
youtube.com/watch?v=yc0S96OZ…
Gold is the epic tale of one man's pursuit of the American dream, to discover gold. Starring Oscar® winner Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar, Dallas Buyers Club, The Wolf Of Wall Street) as Kenny Wells, a modern day prospector desperate for a lucky break, he teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on an amazing journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia. Getting the gold was hard, but keeping it would be even harder, sparking an adventure through the most powerful boardrooms of Wall Street. The film is inspired by a true story.
News/Profile
Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd
Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (HPPL) is a privately owned Australian mineral exploration and agriculture company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. As of 2026, it is recognized as one of the most successful private companies in Australian history.
Leadership and Ownership
Executive Chairwoman: Gina Rinehart AO, who has led the company since 1992.
CEO: Garry Korte.
Ownership: The company is owned by Gina Rinehart (76.6%) and the Hope Margaret Hancock Trust (23.4%).
Major Mining Operations
The company has transitioned from a prospecting firm into a major global miner, with primary interests in the Pilbara region:
Roy Hill: A flagship mega-project and Australia’s largest single iron ore mine, producing 60–70 million tonnes annually.
Hope Downs: A 50/50 joint venture with Rio Tinto, comprising four open-pit mines with a capacity of approximately 47Mtpa.
Atlas Iron: Acquired in 2018, it operates the Mount Webber, Sanjiv Ridge, and Miralga Creek mines.
Hancock Iron Ore: A new entity formed in July 2025 to consolidate Roy Hill and Atlas Iron operations.
Diversification and Strategic Investments
Under Rinehart’s leadership, the company has expanded significantly into other sectors:
Agriculture: Hancock is Australia's second-largest beef producer, owning over 25 properties including the iconic S. Kidman & Co. It also owns 50% of Bannister Downs Dairy.
Critical Minerals: Major stakes in lithium (Liontown Resources, Azure Minerals, Vulcan Energy) and rare earths (Arafura Rare Earths, MP Materials, Lynas Rare Earths).
Energy: Significant interests in oil and gas through Warrego Energy and Senex Energy.
International Ventures: In January 2026, the company signed a gold exploration license agreement with Saudi Arabia's state-owned miner, Ma’aden.
Current Events (January 2026)
Australia Day Sponsorship: The company is the principal partner for the 2026 Hancock Prospecting Australia Day celebrations in Perth.
Helipad Proposal: In December 2025, the City of Perth refused the company's proposal to build a helipad at its West Perth headquarters.
Financial Performance: For the 2025 fiscal year, the company reported a profit of AU$3.08 billion.
History
The company was founded on November 25, 1955, by Lang Hancock, who is credited with discovering the world's largest iron ore deposit in 1952. When Gina Rinehart took over following his death in 1992, the company was in a precarious financial state with significant debt.
News
Gold (1974)
Gold is a 1974 British action-thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt, starring Roger Moore and Susannah York. Based on the 1970 novel Gold Mine by Wilbur Smith, the film is set in the South African goldfields and follows a conspiracy by a global syndicate to manipulate the price of gold by sabotaging a rich mine.
Plot: Rod Slater (Moore), a newly appointed general manager, is manipulated by his boss, Manfred Steyner (Bradford Dillman), into drilling through a protective barrier into a subterranean lake. This is intended to flood the mine, causing a global gold shortage and driving up prices for a greedy cabal.
Production Controversy: The film was controversially shot on location in South Africa during the apartheid era. This led to a "black ban" by British film unions, though some crew members defied it to work on the production.
James Bond Connection: Many crew members were veterans of the James Bond franchise, including director Peter Hunt (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), editor John Glen, and title designer Maurice Binder.
Accolades: The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for "Wherever Love Takes Me," composed by Elmer Bernstein and sung by Maureen McGovern.
Cast & Crew
Rod Slater: Roger Moore
Terry Steyner: Susannah York
Hurry Hirschfeld: Ray Milland
Manfred Steyner: Bradford Dillman
Farrell: John Gielgud
Director: Peter R. Hunt
Music: Elmer Bernstein
Availability in 2026
As of 2026, the film is available through several formats and platforms:
Streaming: Accessible on Prime Video, Tubi, and Roku devices.
Physical Media: High-definition restorations are available on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino Lorber and 88 Films
News
Pop Culture
"Gold" (Spandau Ballet)
"Gold" is a signature 1983 hit by the British New Romantic band Spandau Ballet, written by Gary Kemp.
Lyrics
Thank you for coming home
I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here, I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall
Thank you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today
Oh but I'm proud of you but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall
Gold (gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in
'Cause you are
Gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return There's something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'
Oh after the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face You knew that he was there on the case Now he's in love with you he's in love with you
My love is like a high prison wall But you could leave me standing so tall
Gold (gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause you are
Gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return There's something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'
My love is like a high prison wall And you could leave me standing so tall
Gold (gold)
Oh always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in 'Cause you are
Gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return Something I could have learned You're indestructible Always believin'
Songwriter: Gary James Kemp
Spandau Ballet - Gold (HD Remastered)
youtube.com/watch?v=ntG50eXb…
Official video of Spandau Ballet performing 'Gold' from their 1983 third album 'True'.
Gary Kemp wrote both the music and lyrics; the song was produced by the partnership of Steve Jolley and Tony Swain. The music video was filmed on location in Carmona, Spain and directed by Brian Duffy. The video featured Sadie Frost as a gold-painted nymph, in one of her earlier roles. Some parts of the music video were also filmed in Leighton House, which was also used in the video for "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers.
Spandau Ballet are one of Britain’s great iconic bands having sold over 25 million records, scored numerous multi-platinum albums and amassed 23 hit singles across the globe since their humble beginnings as a group of friends with dreams of stardom in the late 1970s. It wasn’t long before they became fully-fledged members of the iconic Blitz Club scene and established themselves as one of the super-groups of the 80s.
The band's classic line-up features brothers Gary and Martin Kemp on guitars, vocalist Tony Hadley, saxophonist Steve Norman and drummer John Keeble.
Spandau Ballet’s hits include Gold, True, To Cut A Long Story Short, Through The Barricades and many more.
News
The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award
Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Business Of The Month' award
Sky News Australia wins Media Man 'Australian Media Outlet Of The Month' award
News
Best Quotes
Gold Quotes
“Gold is the money of kings.”
“He who has the gold makes the rules.”
“Gold is a living god and rules in scorn, all earthly things but virtue.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley
“Gold is a deep and liquid subject.”
“Gold is forever.”
Best Quotes Of The Day
The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."
"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."
"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."
"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."
"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."
"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."
"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."
"Develop men the same way gold is mined"
"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."
"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"
"A prospector who analyses every speck of dirt won't find much gold"
"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not." "Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."
"All that is gold does not glitter."
"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"
"Gold is the money of kings"
"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."
"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."
"True gold fears no fire."
"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."
"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."
"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."
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