Fundamental Research Corp.’s Post

There are like four strategies that have potential for reducing the nearly 3.5 billion tons of greenhouse gases annually emitted by the #steel industry, a figure surpassed only by the national totals of the U.S. and China. These strategies include reducing steel usage, capturing CO2 emissions, utilizing hydrogen in the direct reduction process, and employing Molten Oxide Electrolysis (MOE). The most promising are hydrogen and MOE, whereby MOE might be the most transformative of the two. Essentially, MOE involves melting iron ore and applying a strong electric field to separate the iron and O2 molecules. This prevents the formation of CO2, sort of like to the process used in aluminum production. Although the concept is proven, scaling it up for commercial use has been challenging. However, last week the picture got a bit brighter when Boston Metal inaugurated its MOE facility in Brazil. This facility is designed to extract high-value metals from mining waste, marking a significant milestone in the practical application of MOE for decarbonizing steel production. #DirectReduction #electrolysis #greenhydrogen #ghgemissions

#nickel May 28, 2024 05: 05 UTC - Nickel28.biz follow-up to May 26, 2024 Publisher's opinion: Global nickel market has been propagandized by stating nickel in EV batteries is strategic, necessary and required. The opposite is true; the cost of high-nickel EV batteries has impeded global EV mass adoption because of high cost. High cost is because many nickel miners cash cost is more than $18,000, and some= $20,000. _______ Reason nickel too expensive is because of over-investment in EV battery nickel. Over-investment was/is caused by exaggerated and outdated EV battery nickel forecasts/predictions that is still being used in current reports. _______ From Publisher's opinion report May 26, 2024 (just one example): August 5, 2022 "Hundreds of new mines required to meet 2030 battery metals demand — IEA report" Excerpts: By 2030, nickel is facing the largest absolute demand increase as high-nickel chemistries are the current dominant cathode for EVs and are expected to remain so. The IEA believes that to meet the projected demand in 2030 in the Stated Policies Scenario, 41 nickel and 11 additional cobalt mines are needed – a significant scaling up of the current project pipeline. https://lnkd.in/eJAD9pgZ _________ Publisher: disappointed- "CME Group not planning to launch nickel contract to rival LME - FT Excerpts from original article: "Exclusive: CME to launch nickel contract using prices from new platform -sources" Nickel industry sources said illiquidity meant LME nickel prices often did not represent the fundamentals of the market. GCH's platform will be open only to consumers, producers and merchants that are directly involved in the physical market. The platform will not be available to funds that are not involved in the physical market or algorithmic traders because they are speculators. "When CME launches a contract based on the GCH platform, funds and anybody else who wants to hedge or trade have another international alternative," the second source with knowledge of the matter said. https://lnkd.in/eG2mv9G4 ______________ Advantageous Information

We recently found out that silicon has been included in the newly released critical minerals list but the components required to economically produce silicon are not. This type of naive mistake is happening all too often and is akin to putting steel on the list but excluding iron ore and metallurgical coal. Silicon isn’t found naturally, it isn’t mined and doesn’t grow on trees. Right now the only economic way it is being produced is by refining silica in an electric arc furnace using a suitable type of coal as a reductant. Currently this specialist coal is internationally scarce and fetching extraordinarily high prices. NZ has a huge resource on the West Coast at Spring Creek Mine. #nzmining #criticalmineralslist #jobs #mineralswestcoast

Different strategies for lithium development are evident across Latin America. Bolivia, Mexico, and Chile designate lithium as a strategic mineral, whereas Argentina does not. Bolivia restricts private company involvement to partnerships with the state, with legal clarity on the existing framework needing to be revised. In Argentina, concessions are permitted, with regulations differing by province. The government is likely to pursue sector development, yet persistent capital and currency controls are expected to pose obstacles to investment. You can learn more about our data and insights. Let's talk about mining! #SPGlobal #mining #criticalminerals #LATAM

The graphite market is poised for dynamic changes in 2024, influenced by significant developments in both supply and demand across the globe. China continues to dominate the graphite industry, particularly in the production of synthetic graphite, which is crucial for battery anodes in electric vehicles (EVs). Despite the global economic slowdown affecting EV sales and thereby reducing the demand for graphite, China has dramatically increased its production capacity. This ramp-up in production has led to a decrease in synthetic graphite prices and narrowed the price difference between synthetic and natural graphite. In response to China's dominance, North America is striving to establish a more independent graphite market. Although this effort faces challenges due to higher production costs, it aims to reduce reliance on Chinese graphite and cater to consumers demanding supply chains with higher environmental, social, and governance standards. This shift may lead to North American consumers paying a premium for locally sourced graphite compared to Chinese prices. On another front, Africa is emerging as a significant player with new mining projects aimed at supplying both natural and synthetic graphite. These developments are crucial as global graphite demand, particularly from the EV sector, continues to surge. The industry anticipates that by 2030, the demand for graphite will triple the current global production, underscoring the urgent need for increased supply capacity. Overall, the graphite market in 2024 will likely see a complex interplay of increased production capacities, shifting geopolitical influences, and growing environmental considerations." Feel free to share your thoughts on how these changes might impact global markets and strategies for sustainable resource management! #Mining #Sustainablemining #EV #Batterymetals 

Coverage via JustStocks IRIS Metals Ltd (ASX:IR1) has delivered positive results from metallurgical test work conducted on spodumene-bearing #pegmatites from its Beecher Project in South Dakota, USA. The tests successfully produced a high-purity spodumene concentrate exceeding 6.0% lithium oxide (Li2O) content. Key Highlights 💎 Metallurgical testing on Beecher Project samples yielded a 6.1% Li2O spodumene concentrate with over 82% #lithium recovery. 💎 High purity achieved, with samples containing as low as 0.25% iron oxide (Fe2O3), well below industry standards of less than 1.3% Fe2O3. “These results from the Beecher Project are very encouraging,” said Matt Hartmann, President of U.S. Operations for IRIS Metals. “We’ve demonstrated the ability to develop a high-purity spodumene concentrate, confirming the viability of processing our South Dakota deposits – known for some of the world’s largest spodumene crystals.” Read full article ⤵

Synthetic Graphite vs. Natural Graphite (1) Understanding the Basics 🔍 Synthetic Graphite vs. Natural Graphite: What’s the Difference? #Graphite plays a crucial role in many industries, from batteries to steelmaking. But did you know there are significant differences between synthetic and natural graphite? #Natural Graphite is mined from deposits and requires minimal processing, making it an eco-friendlier option with a lower carbon footprint. It's used in batteries, lubricants, and refractories. #Synthetic Graphite, on the other hand, is produced from high-purity carbon materials through a complex and energy-intensive process. This type boasts higher purity and consistency, making it ideal for high-performance applications like electric arc furnaces and electronic components. Each type has its unique advantages and applications. As industries evolve, understanding these differences helps us make better, more sustainable choices. #Graphite #MaterialsScience #Sustainability #Manufacturing #TritonMinerals #ASX #Mining

Study on the process of cobalt extraction from magnesium oxide I. Overview Cobalt is a very widely used metal, and there are generally two methods for extracting cobalt from nickel and cobalt containing ores, one is pyrometallurgical smelting, and the other is hydrometallurgical smelting. As wet smelting has the advantages of low energy consumption, less pollution, environmental protection, etc., it has been widely used in recent years, especially active magnesium oxide plays an indispensable role in cobalt refining. #magnesia #mgo #magnesiasupplier #chemicalsupplier #magnesiumoxide https://lnkd.in/e6whz3dw

🇺🇸 INSIGHT: "US eyes domestic Graphite plays with $7.5bn and 300 new mines needed by 2035" ⛏ 🇨🇳 🇦🇺 🇮🇩 🇲🇦 ▪ $7.5bn needed to meet base case graphite demand ▪ It takes 10x more graphite than lithium to make a Li-ion battery ▪ US looks to domestic supply; China looks to work around tariffs   Flake graphite production will require $7.57 billion in capital expenditure (capex) investment to meet battery demand in 2035, according to Benchmark Minerals Intelligence data. This is the level of investment needed to bring online more than 4 million tonnes of annual flake graphite production to meet 2035 demand. But that’s just the base case scenario. While lithium-ion batteries are the gold standard for energy storage, transport and mobile electronics, graphite is the conductive anode (negative electrode) and the biggest commodity component by volume, as it takes up to 10x more graphite than lithium to make a Li-ion battery. Currently, there is no viable alternative to graphite and shortages could last for 20 years..... 👉 Article: https://lnkd.in/dKqUzaek #lithium #electricvehicles #evs #mining #criticalminerals #batteries #graphite #china

 🎉 Exciting Announcement! 🎉   In our last update, we spotlighted JISCO's cutting-edge technology, showcasing its leadership in domestic equipment innovation. Now, we're thrilled to announce that JISCO Group has awarded the bid for the Phase 2 Hydrogen Mineral Phase Transformation (HMPT) Project to the Shanghai Milestone Technology Co., Ltd.   But, why does JISCO prioritize innovation?   JISCO has long grappled with challenges in iron ore quality and recovery rates. To address this, the company has been on a relentless innovation journey. From upgrading automation systems to establishing a world-leading first 1.65 million tons/year Hydrogen Mineral Phase Transformation (HMPT) production line in 2018, every step has been aimed at enhancing efficiency and sustainability.   HMPT technology system enabled JISCO to achieve remarkable results: iron ore grade increased to 54.33%, metal recovery rate reached 89.10%, surpassing traditional magnetic separation processes by 11.89 percentage points in iron ore grade and 25.27 percentage points in recovery rate, while reducing tailings grade to below 10%. This success epitomizes the efficient utilization of challenging oxidized iron ore. It significantly enhances resource utilization efficiency, yielding a net economic benefit exceeding 120 million RMB annually, while meeting stringent industrial emissions standards.   Now, with the success of first project, JISCO Group is gearing up for the construction of second project in 2024, with Shanghai Milestone Technology. Looking ahead, Shanghai Milestone Technology remains committed to pioneering sustainable solutions, including our "Hydrogen-based Ore Phase Transformation" technology.   Join us as we lead the way towards a greener, more efficient future for the mining and metallurgy industry!   #SteelIndustry #Innovation #Sustainability #Efficiency #mining