Greetings Contrarian,

This is The Next Big Rush, your daily drop of mining/energy investing news. Where we come together and thank God it’s Friday.

Here are the highlights:

🤌🏻 Army Pays Visit To Miner’s Rail In Mexico

🫣 UK to Ban Russian Diamonds, US Targets Gold Miners

🥸 REE In … Wyoming?

🤌🏻 Army Pays Visit To Miner’s Rail In Mexico

Shares in Grupo Mexico Transportes took a 4% tumble on Friday. Why, you ask? Well, a chunk of the railway it runs in the south of Mexico got a surprise visit from the armed forces.

The company, understandably a bit shaken, reported that the military made themselves at home at the Coatzacoalcos-Medias Aguas track facilities bright and early at 6 a.m. local time.

That same day, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's government gave the green light for this temporary takeover of the railway section. The reason? It's pretty key to a big-time infrastructure project they've got cooking.

This project, known as the Trans-Oceanic Corridor, is all about creating a railway link between Mexico’s Pacific and Gulf coasts on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. A little friendly competition for the Panama Canal, if you will.

Grupo Mexico Transportes said they'll keep providing their services, even with the military looking over their shoulder.

🫣 UK to Ban Russian Diamonds, US Targets Gold Miners

Britain's planning to ban imports of Russian diamonds, copper, aluminum, and nickel. They've also slapped some new sanctions against Russia, targeting companies suspected of snatching Ukrainian grain. This follows similar penalties from the US and Canada.

But, the UK's import ban won't shake things up too much as Russian exports of these commodities to the UK had already dipped due to tariffs. Despite the potential future diamond restrictions in the EU, the Kremlin seems pretty chill, saying there are plenty of other market options.

And here's the kicker: Britain, alongside other countries, has also banned new imports of Russian gold. They've even aimed sanctions at "shifty folks and entities" linked to Ukrainian grain theft, a claim Russia denies.

Bottom line: It's tough times for Russian commodity exports with all these sanctions flying around. Despite all this, Russian companies always find a loophole.

🥸 REE In … Wyoming?

Ramaco Resources, a US-based coal mining company, has found potential magnetic REEs at its Brook mine in Wyoming.

They're creating a hub for carbon tech innovation, dubbed "Carbon Valley", which aims to meet the growing demand for these elements in the US. Currently, most REEs are imported from China.

The Biden administration is on board with the idea of using coal waste and other by-products as sources of rare earths, allocating $450 million to foster clean energy projects in former coal mine sites.

Ramaco's Brook mine site could have the largest unconventional deposit of REEs in the US. The REEs are easy and cheap to extract as they are located in soft clay-like substances, and the mine's deposits also lack radioactive materials.

Ramaco is partnering with universities to work out the best way to convert coal into rare earth elements, leading to alternative uses of coal and reducing dependence on China for REEs.

🤣 Meme of The Day

Happy Speculating!

The Editor

DISCLAIMER: None of this is financial advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Please be careful and do your own research.