The Rock Wrangler - The Rock Wrangler

The contractor recovery has a forward visibility problem, and the JV model is quietly rewriting how junior projects get built

There are two stories inside Grant Thornton's latest mining contractors report, and the one getting most of the attention is the wrong one.

By Jamie Wade on April 28, 2026
Efficiency, Production Optimisation, Mineral Processing, Costs, Financial Planning, Contract Management, Procurement Efficiency, ESG, Reclamation Projects, Regulatory Adherence, Long-term Planning, Extraction, Mineral Extraction, Reserve Estimation, Risk, Risk Assessment, Risk Mitigation, Mines & Projects, Project Overviews, Development Stages
Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, North America, Canada
Iron ore, Base Metals, Copper, Nickel, Energy Minerals, Coal (Thermal and Metallurgical), Strategic Minerals, Lithium, Precious Metals, Gold

Exploration still works, but getting to the first drill hole now takes longer, costs more, and tests patience before the rocks ever do

The mining industry is not running out of deposits.

Mining powers up for a battery-fuelled future as experts say success now depends on smart data, skilled people and the courage to rethink operations

There’s a moment in every technological revolution when optimism meets reality - when the glossy promise of transformation hits the grit of practical deployment.

From star power to subsurface smarts, next-gen tech is helping explorers drill less, discover more, and finally see what’s really beneath their feet

As the global mining industry continues to adapt to shifting expectations around productivity, sustainability, and cost-efficiency, exploration remains one of the most critical—and complex—phases in the mining life cycle.

Why stable jurisdictions, faster permits and clear rules are winning the global mining investment race

The annual temperature check from the Fraser Institute has landed — and while the rocks haven’t moved, capital certainly has.

Mining’s next bottleneck isn’t in the ground – it’s in the policy inbox

At first glance, the WA Mining Club’s Market Outlook Luncheon at Optus Stadium looked like it would follow a familiar script.

Mining just got complicated – diggers are now diplomats data wranglers and nation builders whether they like it or not

There was a time when mining’s job was simple: dig it up, ship it out, repeat.

How rare earths are quietly pulling the mining world into a new age of magnetism and redefining the balance of power beneath the surface

In mining, every generation gets its own frontier.

Gold is glowing and critical minerals are warming up as cash returns to the ground in a cautious comeback for Aussie exploration companies

After a shaky start to 2025, the Australian exploration sector appears to be tentatively turning a corner.

Australian miners face funding risks as ESG laws fall short of global standards with Indigenous consent and biodiversity the biggest hurdles

When global lenders assess mining projects, it is no longer enough to meet Australian legislation – financiers are demanding alignment with international ESG standards, and the gaps are costing companies time and money.