Scientists at the US-based Sandia National Laboratory, in collaboration with the Ames National Laboratory, the Iowa State University, and Bruker Corp. used a 3D printer to create a high-performance metal superalloy with an unusual composition that makes it stronger and lighter than modern materials currently used in gas turbine equipment, the Sandia lab announced. Experiments...
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Anglo-Australian diversified miner Rio Tinto announced on Tuesday it would supply carmaker BMW with responsibly sourced aluminum to help the latter lower its carbon footprint. The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), agreeing that the aluminum produced by Rio in Canada will be delivered to BMW’s production plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, starting in...
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Canadian diversified miner Teck Resources announced on Tuesday it would spin off its steelmaking coal business into a new company, called Elk Valley Resources (EVR), to focus on energy transition metals. The remaining business will take a new name, Teck Metals, and retain steelmaking coal cash flows for the transition period. The deal will be...
READ MORESwiss miner and trader Glencore said in its annual report it had put up for sale its 23% stake in Peruvian zinc and silver miner Volcan. “In Q4 2022, Glencore commenced a process exploring the possible disposal of its 23.3% economic interest in Volcan. As a result, the carrying amounts of Volcan assets and liabilities...
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Russia continues negotiations on the development of lithium deposits in Bolivia, they are at the final stage, even despite the Chinese conglomerate’s earlier win in the tender, Russia’s ambassador in La Paz, Mikhail Ledenev, said in an interview with RIA Novosti. “Rosatom’s subsidiary Uranium One Group is actively involved in the development of the lithium...
READ MOREMining company Freeport-McMoran announced suspension of operations at Grasberg, the world’s second-largest copper mine in Indonesia, after heavy rainfalls caused landslides in the area. “PT Freeport Indonesia’s (PT-FI) Grasberg operations have been temporarily disrupted because of significant rainfall and landslides in the area of its milling operations in Papua, Indonesia,” the company said. Infrastructure near...
READ MORERussia’s top gold and silver miner Polymetal is in negotiations with British authorities to keep its London listing in the form of global depositary receipts (GDR) after it moves to Kazakhstan, Reuters has reported. The transition to Kazakhstan would allow the company to spin off its Kazakh business, which accounts for about 38% of revenue...
READ MOREPalladium, a metal mostly used in autocatalysts, fell to a two-year low of USD 1,432.78 per ounce this week and is trading slightly above this level on Wednesday, as concerns over its shortage retreated after top producer Nornickel announced its market forecast for this year. Why it matters Late last week, the world’s biggest palladium...
READ MORECanadian miner Sigma Lithium announced on Monday it had completed commissioning of a crushing circuit and pump water system at its Grota do Cirilo project in Brazil’s Minas Gerais, and remained on track for launching production in April. The company also commenced detailed engineering and capex costing for phases II and III of its Greentech...
READ MOREThakadu Resources and Mertech Marine have entered into a joint venture to establish a new high-purity copper sulphate plant in South Africa. The new plant, which will be funded equally by both parties, aims to provide a unique, reliable, and responsible source of copper sulphate for the mining, agricultural, and chemical industries in Sub-Saharan Africa....
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Photo courtesy of Norilsk Nickel Press Service Norilsk Nickel, the world’s largest producer of nickel and palladium, has extended contracts with the majority of its customers for 2023. This news comes straight from the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Sergey Malyshev, who shared the details with journalists. “We are not giving our clients the runaround,” said...
READ MOREPolar Lithium, a joint venture between Nornickel and the mining division of state energy corporation ROSATOM, has been granted the right to develop Russia’s largest lithium deposit, Kolmozerskoye, located in Murmansk Region. The project aims to produce 45,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate and hydroxide per year, both of which are key components in the production...
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Indonesia, the world’s largest reserve of nickel, has signed over a dozen deals worth over $15 billion with major battery and electric vehicle manufacturers including Hyundai, LG Group, and Foxconn to produce EVs and batteries within the country. The Indonesian government, led by President Joko Widodo, is now targeting Tesla, the world’s most valuable automaker,...
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Large metals and commodities trader Traxys announced on Monday that its management and a pool of investment firms would acquire 100% of its shares. The deal is expected to be closed in May after regulatory approvals, its value is undisclosed. The company’s сurrent owners include funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle and affiliates of...
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Ardea Resources has achieved a technological breakthrough at its Kalgoorlie nickel project that will result in lower costs, lower carbon dioxide emissions, and more production. This discovery, which relates to its mineralized neutralizer process breakthrough at the Goongarrie Hub, has led to a provisional patent application being lodged. The breakthrough centers on the separation of...
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Newmont Corp, the world’s largest gold miner by market cap and production, has offered $16.9 billion to acquire Newcrest Mining Ltd, but this may not be enough amid the management reshuffle in the latter, Reuters reported on Monday, citing analysts. The current all-share no-cash bid represents a 21% premium to Newcrest’s stock price before the...
READ MOREDiversified miner Anglo American boosted copper output by 52% year-on-year to 244,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2022, while its copper total equivalent production was up 10% for the period, the company said in its production report. “Our production increased by 10% in the fourth quarter compared to the same period in 2021, driven...
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Andrada Mining Ltd., the former Afritin, has upgraded its mineral resource estimate (MRE) at the Uis Mine in Namibia by 30%. This upgrade was a result of drilling done last year, which increased the measured and indicated lithium resources by 47% to 38 million tonnes. The average grade of lithium also rose to 0.73% Li20...
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China produced 372 tonnes of gold in 2022, an increase of 43 tonnes or 13.1% compared to the previous year, according to data from the China Gold Association (CGA). Gold consumption in China totalled 1,002 tonnes last year, a decrease of 10.6% from the previous year. Consumption of gold jewellery dropped 8% year on year...
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Several 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...
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SPC Nickel, a junior mining company, has signed a cooperation agreement with mining giant Vale to combine the ownership of two adjacent nickel and copper deposits – SPC’s undeveloped West Graham and Vale’s Crean Hill 3 – into an advanced exploration project. The properties are situated 20 kilometres west of the city of Sudbury, between...
READ MOREThe caretaker government of Bulgaria announced that it has decided to extend the term of the concession contract with local mining company Gorubso-Madan for the Petrovitsa lead and zinc deposit, located in Smolyan Province, by 15 years. The extension was requested by Gorubso-Madan in order to extract the remaining metal ores in the concession area....
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The platinum market saw a deficit in 2022, with global demand remaining flat at 7.4 million ounces and global supply forecast to decline by 11% to 7.3 million ounces, according to Wilma Swarts, Director of PGMs at Metals Focus. The main factors driving this market imbalance were weaker supply rather than stronger demand, with production...
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Chemists at Russia’s Tomsk State University (TSU) have developed a method for obtaining Ti–Al composites (titanium aluminides) doped with rare earth metals zirconium and neodymium, and have already produced prototypes of the alloys, the university said. Why it matters: Ti–Al alloys can be used in various fields including the nuclear industry, aviation, shipbuilding, space and...
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