Deep-Sea Mining 101
Oct 23, 2025
By Gaia Research Team
Reading time: 13 mins.
Deep-sea mining targets polymetallic nodules rich in nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese—strategic metals for the energy transition. The sector is still pre-commercial and sits in a regulatory limbo: the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has not yet finalized a Mining Code, while global pressure for a moratorium grows on environmental grounds. Supporters argue it could reduce reliance on high-impact terrestrial supply chains, but scientific consensus warns of long-term damage to abyssal ecosystems.
Economically, project valuations are highly sensitive to nickel prices, offshore engineering costs and access to long-term offtake agreements. For investors, listed developers behave like binary options on regulation and geopolitics—high upside if a legal framework unlocks projects, but equally high downside from delays, financing risk and political backlash. In short: strategic but speculative.
The Double Pareto Dilemma
Oct 8, 2025
By Gaia Research Team
Reading time: 9 mins.
Recent developments confirm that capital continues to flow into critical minerals despite a subdued price environment. The Trump Administration’s decision to acquire a 10% stake in Lithium Americas underscores the growing focus on national security and resource sovereignty. For long-term investors, this reinforces the strategic case for holding exposure to critical minerals, as geopolitical and nationalist drivers are set to outweigh short-term market weakness.
Greenland – Part II: Northern Lights Eldorado
May 23, 2025
By Gaia Research Team
Reading time: 24 mins.
Geologically, Greenland is extraordinarily rich and diverse – so much so that it “would be quicker to list what Greenland doesn’t have” in terms of mineral occurrences (geologyforinvestors.com). From gold and base metals to rare earth elements (REEs) and industrial minerals, deposits are found across the length of the island. However, active mineral sites (those under current exploration, development, or production) are mostly clustered in accessible coastal regions. The inland is dominated by the ice cap and high Arctic mountains, leaving only the ice-free fringe (about 400,000 km²) available for mining (eng.geus.dk).
Within this fringe, certain districts stand out: the far south of Greenland hosts world-class rare earth and precious metal deposits, while the far north above the Arctic Circle holds giant base-metal occurrences.
Several high-value metal projects in Greenland have advanced to late-stage exploration or development, promising significant future production...
Greenland – Part I: Northern Lights Eldorado
May 14, 2025
By Gaia Research Team
Reading time: 7 mins.
The rush is on… but this time it’s not only for gold.
In a global industrial shift rewired by electrification, digitization, and the green transition, demand for critical minerals has moved from background noise to a defining macro driver. Rare earths, graphite, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel, uranium; these aren’t just commodities. They’re the foundational inputs of national security, supply chain resilience, and industrial sovereignty.
In a world racing to secure access to green technologies and strategic reserves, Greenland emerges as more than a frozen outpost. Of the 34 minerals designated as "critical" by the European Commission, 25 have been identified on the island.
Rare Earth 101
Dec 13, 2024
By Emmanuel Painchault
Reading time: 14 mins.
The topic of rare earth elements (REEs) falls within a threefold trend: 1) the relocation of numerous industries following the Covid pandemic and the resulting disruptions to supply chains, 2) the growing awareness among political bodies and the public regarding climate issues and the response through the energy transition, which necessitates the development of renewable energy sources (wind turbines, electric vehicles), and 3) the need to streamline and secure the supply of rare earth-derived products to facilitate this energy transition.
Sustainable Mining – Dialogue with Peak Rare Earths
Mar 25, 2024
By Gaia Research Team
Reading time: 4 mins.
Learn about Peak Rare Earths’ good performance in community relations and the challenge of making ESG scores universally comparable across different mining projects at development stages.