Initial Phase of the Recycling Project Commences Lifezone Metals, in a joint venture with a subsidiary of Glencore, has initiated Phase 1 of a significant recycling project for platinum group metals (PGMs), including platinum, palladium, and rhodium. This development follows the signing of the Subscription Agreement and the completion of funding for this initial phase....
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The global market is currently experiencing a downturn in platinum prices. In January, platinum was valued at $1,113 per troy ounce, but it has since fallen to around $845. This trend of decreasing prices is expected to continue through the end of 2023 and into 2024. However, conditions are now forming that could lead to...
READ MOREBackground of the Dispute The ongoing dispute between Chinese-owned Nkwe Platinum and its empowerment partner Genorah Resources over control of extensive mineral deposits in northeast South Africa remains unresolved. These deposits, estimated at 23 million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium, and gold, are located near Anglo American Platinum and African Rainbow Minerals’ Modikwa mine in...
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Ukraine’s Role and Global Impact The aerospace and aviation industries are currently facing a critical shortage of titanium, significantly impacting Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations. Toma Matutyte, CEO of Locatory.com, emphasizes the role of Ukraine as a major titanium resource provider, especially from the Zaporizhia region. The ongoing conflict in the region and the...
READ MORESouth African Miners Confront EV Market Shift The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) presents a challenging landscape for South African miners specializing in platinum group metals (PGMs). South Africa, the world’s leading reserve holder and producer of platinum, finds its industry at a crossroads as global demand shifts due to the EV revolution. Major miners...
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PGM Prices Navigate Rough Waters South African mining powerhouse, Impala Platinum, is reconfiguring its planned expenditures due to the recent drop in platinum group metals (PGM) prices. PGMs are integral to the auto industry for their use in catalytic converters, crucial for curbing harmful emissions. However, this year has been challenging with a significant decline...
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Anglo American Platinum, a leading force in the global platinum market, announced a 9% drop in its refined platinum group metals (PGMs) production for the third quarter, attributing the downturn to water supply disruptions at its processing units and a dip in concentrate production. Operational Challenges and Market Dynamics During the third quarter, Amplats produced...
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Transitioning the Mines Amid declining platinum group metal (PGM) prices, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) is revisiting its growth plans, especially its transition from open pit to underground mining at its Mogalakwena mine in Limpopo. New CEO Craig Miller remains optimistic about PGMs despite a significant drop in prices since the beginning of 2023. The company...
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Hemlo Explorers has shared new findings from its 2023 geological mapping and grab sampling program conducted on the eastern sector of Project Idaho. Strategically positioned 2-3 km east of the advancing Marathon Cu-Pd deposit managed by Generation Mining Ltd., Project Idaho lies between the Coldwell Complex and the Archean greenstone belt, renowned for the Hemlo...
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South Africa, holding approximately 80% of the world’s platinum group metals, is uniquely positioned in the green hydrogen revolution. Platinum, essential for hydrogen-producing electrolyzers, underscores the nation’s pivotal role. The government has unveiled a ZAR 270bn (US$17.8bn) plan to drive green hydrogen projects over a decade. With an aim for both domestic use and export,...
READ MOREIncreased Sanctions Under EAR The U.S. Department of Commerce amplifies its sanctions list under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), marking Russian titanium behemoth VSMPO-Avisma and other global entities. This expansion features ten firms from China, four from Pakistan, three from Finland, and one each from Germany, Oman, and UAE. Security Concerns Trigger Action VSMPO-Avisma, known...
READ MORERegenx Tech (CSE: RGX) (OTCQB: RGXTF), known for its precious metals recovery technologies, has commenced commercial production at its plant in Greenville, Tennessee. From Commissioning to Production: Following the successful installation of an expanded gas line and the necessary permit approvals, the company has transitioned from its commissioning phase to initiate commercial production operations. This...
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The deficit in the global platinum market will most likely top 1 million ounces this year due to strong demand growth from carmakers and other industries amid flat supply, the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) said in its latest quarterly report. “Total supply is expected to remain flat, aligned with the weak 2022 level of...
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Researchers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), in collaboration with RMIT University and the University of Sydney, have harnessed the power of 3D printing to overcome long-standing quality and waste management challenges in the industrial production of titanium alloys. Their groundbreaking study, titled “Strong and ductile titanium-oxygen-iron alloys by additive manufacturing,” has recently been published...
READ MOREEmpire Metals Ltd has reported promising results from an airborne gravity survey conducted at the Pitfield project in Western Australia, suggesting the presence of higher-grade titanium mineralization. The London-based minerals explorer and developer noted the identification of a “very dense” core within a 40-kilometer-long magnetic anomaly. This core indicates the possible presence of thick high-grade...
READ MOREVancouver-based Metallic Minerals Corp. has announced an updated National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate, revealing a remarkable 25% increase in contained metal at its La Plata project in Colorado. The increase comes after completing an additional 1,730 meters of diamond drilling in 2022. Inferred mineral resources at the Allard deposit now total 1,211 million pounds...
READ MORESouth African platinum miner, Impala Platinum (Implats), has successfully completed its bid to control Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat), raising its stake to 91%. The acquisition process involved purchasing a 34.5% stake in RBPlat from fellow South African miner, Northam, for R9 billion ($505 million) and around 30 million Implats shares. The rivalry between Northam and...
READ MOREThe recent experiments conducted at the U.S. government’s Sandia National Laboratories have demonstrated that pieces of pure platinum and copper can spontaneously heal cracks caused by metal fatigue. Metal fatigue occurs when metal is subjected to repeated stress or motion, leading to microscopic cracks that can worsen over time and potentially cause catastrophic failures in...
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Jim Gallagher, a respected mining executive and former CEO of North American Palladium, has been appointed as the permanent CEO of Clean Air Metals in Thunder Bay. Gallagher initially took on the role as interim CEO following the departure of Abraham Drost. Clean Air Metals’ primary asset is the Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals Project,...
READ MOREScientists of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics SB RAS (ITPM) have mastered the technology of welding titanium alloy and aluminium, ITPM research head Academician Vasily Fomin said at a general meeting of the department on Friday. “Titanium alloy and aluminium – do not weld with each other. So it was suggested to put...
READ MOREThe world platinum market is expected to swing to a big deficit this year, close to 1 million troy ounces. Here is why this is happening and what implications this may have for the sister metal palladium. World Platinum Investment Council forecasts a platinum deficit of 983,000 troy ounces this year, according to the latest...
READ MORESeveral platinum mines in South Africa have been blaming the country’s energy crisis on Eskom for its underperformance in production. According to the World Platinum Investment Council, platinum is expected to hit a 303 koz deficit this year, partly owing to Eskom’s load-shedding which impeded the output of refined, saleable metal. Mines such as Anglo...
READ MOREBased on Kitco analytics Precious metals had a mixed performance in 2022, with platinum being the top performer, up nearly 11% on the year. Silver came in second, with a gain of nearly 3%, while gold ended the year flat. Palladium was the biggest loser, down around 6% in 2022. These precious metals showed their...
READ MOREThe high cost of platinum, a valuable metal that is the main catalyst for the chemical reactions in next-generation hydrogen fuel cells, has been a barrier to the widespread adoption of this technology. However, scientists have engineered a platinum-cobalt alloy to act as a catalyst, greatly reducing the amount of platinum needed to achieve the...
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