Miners invested $700 million in the three months ended Dec. 31, according to a report by consultancy BDO, up 11% on the prior quarter.

The need for battery metals is propelling many projects in resource-rich South America, but gold and silver projects retain their appeal, too.

American miners are frustrated the Pentagon is looking to Canada, Australia and elsewhere.

The court's ruling had been expected early this year, but was delayed by the filing of additional documents.

Blaming the Administration for inconsistency in how individual projects are treated is missing the point, writes Andy Home.

Biden's comments on Tuesday were the clearest to date about the rubric administration officials deploy when determining whether or not to support a proposed US mining project.