Equinox Gold Corp. marked a milestone last week by pouring its first bar at its Valentine Lake goldfield in Newfoundland and Labrador, but it’s also a sign that the province’s mining sector is riding high, fuelled by high gold prices, successful exploration and federal support that extends to a long list of critical minerals, including fluorspar and manganese. Mining now accounts for nine per cent of Newfoundland and Labrador’s real gross domestic product (GDP), second only to oil extraction, and exploration spending is expected to hit $258 million in 2025, continuing four years of expenditures above $230 million and ... (full story)