Nomi Prins — 5 Global Mining Hotspots to Watch in 2026
From US gold to Chilean copper — the five jurisdictions where geological wealth meets the current geopolitical moment.
One-line take: a jurisdiction-led mining overview — Prins argues mining has moved from periphery to "core of a diversified strategy" amid a copper deficit (S&P Global sees demand to 42Mt by 2040 with a potential 10Mt gap; Goldman sees demand overtaking supply from 2029) and surging gold demand (JPMorgan: ~$109B Q3 2025, ~90% above the prior 4-quarter average). The five countries to watch: United States (gold renaissance Nevada→Alaska, fast-tracked copper, subsidized rare-earth processing, California Lithium Valley), Canada (Abitibi gold, BC's "Golden Triangle" copper, friend-shored nickel/cobalt), Australia (gold to production, US-Australia rare-earth framework), Brazil (ionic-clay rare earths, copper, Vale iron ore) and Chile (the copper king — 13 projects worth ~$14.8B, new pro-mining government). Note: this page is built from the article's free/public portion — Prinsights' specific stock recommendations and buy-up-to prices are reserved for paid (Founders+) subscribers, so no individual buy call is captured here (her first 2026 recommendation, a gold miner, was teased for Founders+ "later this week").
1. Stocks & names mentioned
A top-down jurisdiction piece — the structure is the five countries and the sectors (gold/copper/REE/lithium/nickel) within each. Only three operating companies are named, all as examples of the regional theme, not as buy/sell ratings. "View" reflects how each was framed. The "At" link opens the article. Research: QT Qualtrim · SA Seeking Alpha · STK Stock Analysis.
| Ticker | Name | Research | View | What she said | At |
|---|
| AEM | Agnico Eagle Mines | QT · SA · STK · FA | Neutral | Cited as a Canada example — named (with Barrick) as a top-tier producer working to extend the life of mature mines in Canada's Abitibi Greenstone Belt; an illustration of the Canadian gold theme, not a rated pick. | read |
| B | Barrick Mining | QT · SA · STK · FA | Neutral | Cited as a Canada example — named (with Agnico Eagle) extending mature-mine life in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt; an illustration of the Canadian gold theme, not a rated pick. | read |
| VALE | Vale | QT · SA · STK · FA | Neutral | Cited as a Brazil example — named as the dominant force in Brazilian iron ore, where Brazil remains a global leader; an illustration of the Brazil theme, not a rated pick. | read |
| GS | Goldman Sachs | QT · SA · STK · FA | Neutral | Cited as a research source — Prins's "old firm" is quoted seeing copper demand overtake supply from 2029 onward; a forecast reference, not a rated company. | read |
"View" reflects how each was framed (Neutral = a company cited as a regional example or research source), not a price rating. Built from the article's free/public portion; specific stock picks and buy-up-to prices are reserved for Founders+ subscribers (her first 2026 recommendation, an "under the radar leading gold miner," was teased for later that week). Research: QT Qualtrim · SA Seeking Alpha · STK Stock Analysis.
2. Key points
Why mining is now "core," not periphery
- Three statistics frame it: a structural copper deficit (S&P Global: demand to 42Mt by 2040, a potential 10Mt gap; Goldman sees demand overtaking supply from 2029), surging gold demand (JPMorgan: ~$109B in Q3 2025, ~90% above the prior 4-quarter average), and AI-driven cost efficiency in exploration (WEF: 20-30% cut in discovery time/cost, making junior miners more viable).
1. United States — the gold standard and resource security
- Gold is the centerpiece (a Nevada-to-Alaska renaissance on dollar diversification); domestic copper fast-tracked under national-security mandates for AI data centers; rare-earth processing heavily subsidized (California, Wyoming); California's "Lithium Valley" nearing commercial scale.
2. Canada — the critical-mineral powerhouse
- Regulatory stability + geological wealth. Abitibi Greenstone Belt gold (Agnico Eagle, Barrick extending mature mines); friend-shored high-grade nickel/cobalt in Ontario/Quebec; BC's "Golden Triangle" copper exploration.
3. Australia — execution and innovation
- Shifting from exploration to production; Western Australia gold ramps; under the 2025 US-Australia framework, Australian rare-earth projects can take direct US Ex-Im financing — a pathway Prins expects to accelerate.
4. Brazil — the new rare-earths frontier
- A breakout REE story on cheap-to-process ionic-clay deposits (key for permanent magnets); an expanding copper pipeline as Brazil leverages its position between China and the US; and iron-ore leadership (Vale dominates).
5. Chile — the copper king in a deficit era
- Best-placed for the copper move — 13 major projects worth ~$14.8B hitting milestones, plus a more pro-mining administration elected in late 2025. Also lithium (National Lithium Strategy), by-product gold from new copper pits, and silver for energy-tech demand.
3. In plain English
A jargon-free summary of why each named company is in the piece. (Plain-language companion to the table above; renders on each name's consolidated page.)
AEM — Agnico Eagle Mines Neutral
Agnico Eagle is one of the world's biggest gold miners, with a strong presence in Canada's Abitibi region — a famously rich, stable gold belt. Prins names it (alongside Barrick) as an example of top-tier producers squeezing more years of life out of established mines, to illustrate why Canada is a "hotspot" for gold mining in 2026. She isn't rating the stock here — she's pointing to it as proof of the Canadian gold theme.
B — Barrick Mining Neutral
Barrick is one of the largest gold miners on earth. Like Agnico Eagle, it's named as an example of a major operator extending the life of mature Canadian mines in the Abitibi belt — an illustration of why Prins flags Canada as a 2026 mining hotspot, not a specific buy recommendation.
VALE — Vale Neutral
Vale is the Brazilian mining giant that dominates iron ore (the main ingredient in steel). Prins names it to show that Brazil is already a global mining leader — the launch pad for its newer push into rare earths and copper. It's cited as evidence that Brazil is a serious mining jurisdiction, not as a rated pick.
Summary derived from the public (free) portion of the Prinsights Substack article for personal study. Not investment advice; the author's specific recommendations are paywalled. © Nomi Prins / Prinsights for source material.