Mining Journal Intelligence’s Project Pipeline Index 2025 presents our pick of the 50 best mining projects in the world today, selected using a unique, objective scoring method. The aim is to identify quality – a daunting task for investors given the huge volume of projects globally.

Our evaluation process involves collecting 23 data points from new economic studies, ranging from PEA/scoping to feasibility stages, as they are published.

This data is used to assess projects across 13 metrics in six categories: Economics, Jurisdiction, Confidence, Financeability, Engineering/metallurgy, and Geology. Categories are weighted to calculate an overall score out of 100. 

The report features an analysis of our database of 600+ assessed projects, with a combined capex of more than US$270 billion. More than 200 studies have been added since last year’s handbook was published (assets are removed when they begin production). 

The report features details of an additional 19 top-scoring small projects (with initial capex of less than US$150 million).

The data reveals trends in the nature of advancing projects, such as the size and grade of resources, potential profitability, and the economic assumptions underpinning this, along with the jurisdictions and commodities where companies are focusing their efforts (and cash).

Methodology

Data is collected from mining projects’ economic studies, ranging from the PEA/scoping to feasibility stages, and press releases and stock exchange filings as they are published, and fed into our database.

The data is used to assess projects across 13 metrics, which make up three primary and three subsidiary categories, to give an overall score out of 100.

The primary categories – Economics, Jurisdiction, and Confidence – account for 40%, 20%, and 15%, respectively, of the overall rating. In the subsidiary categories, Financeability makes up 10% of the overall score, with Engineering /metallurgy and Geology each weighted at 7.5%.

Projects are removed from the database once they enter production.