National Mining Association’s Post

🚨 Are we paying enough attention to the global supply of antimony? 🚨 Antimony is vital for defence, technology, and energy, used in batteries, ammunition, and semiconductors. China’s decision to limit exports has raised concerns, as the US depends on China for 63% of its supply. Gary Evans of US Antimony Corporation highlights efforts to reduce reliance by boosting production in Montana and collaborating internationally. As demand for critical minerals rises, how can the US diversify its supply chains to avoid future disruptions? 💡 Read more: https://lnkd.in/deXmyM6K #Antimony #CriticalMinerals #SupplyChain #Defence #Technology #Mining

Recent developments, such as China's decision to impose export restrictions on antimony, underscore the urgent need for the U.S. to bolster its domestic mining capabilities. Antimony, critical for various defense applications, is just one example of how our dependence on foreign minerals can jeopardize national security. The U.S. has vast untapped mineral resources, yet lengthy and complex permitting processes hinder our ability to access them... Like Resolution Copper. It's time to recognize the pivotal role that efficient permitting and robust domestic mining play in safeguarding our national interests. Streamlining these processes is not just about economic growth—it's about securing our future.

Sanctions against the Russian mining and metallurgical industry: Will Ukraine benefit? As a result of European sanctions on the Mining and Metallurgical Industry (MMI), Russia's export of metallurgical raw materials, semi-finished products, rolled steel, and pipes to the EU decreased by 68%, to €3B, compared to the pre-war year of 2021. This may create opportunities for Ukraine to increase its supply of MMI products to the EU market. As a result of adopting the 12th package of sanctions, there were opportunities to increase the export of iron and ferroalloys. Ukraine can additionally supply up to 1.5 million tons of pig iron and up to 7-8 million tons of iron ore coils to the EU market. However, it will be difficult for Ukrainian suppliers to replace Russian products due to their lower prices. Still, a gradual takeover of Russian market share by Ukrainian producers is possible starting next year. However, the inconsistency of sanctions and quotas during a long transition period dearly cost both the EU and Ukraine. The EU created an imbalance in the internal EU steel market, depriving Ukraine of the opportunity to increase its export volumes. https://lnkd.in/dG3sc_nu

Precious Metals and Mining UN resolutions targeting and sanctioning warlords and perpetrators of human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are an example of sanctions restrictions targeted at the high-risk precious metals and mining industries. In November 2012, escalation of fighting in the eastern province of the DRC, involving the notorious rebel group M23 and government forces, brought the decade-long armed conflict in that region to the top of the international agenda. As a consequence, direct and indirect support for armed conflict by way of criminal offenses connected to the mining and processing of 3TG minerals (tantalum, tungsten, tin, and gold) poses a serious risk. This type of sanctions risk exposure sits at the nexus to other due diligence requirements set out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in relation to human rights violations. Supply chain due diligence can help to ensure the integrity of direct and indirect suppliers given the potentially great number of suppliers who may, by their associations and practices, pose a serious sanctions risk and reputation risk by association. Tantalum Tantalum is an element that is crucial for technology. Its primary use is as a capacitor or resistor in a variety of electronic equipment, such as computers, cell phones, and medical devices. Tantalum is also used as a metal alloy to improve strength, ductility, and to increase corrosion and heat resistance. Such alloys are used in jet engines, nuclear reactors, and aerospace technology. Its non-reactive nature also makes tantalum ideal for medical implants. Tungsten What is tungsten used for? Current uses are as electrodes, heating elements and field emitters, and as filaments in light bulbs and cathode ray tubes. Tungsten is commonly used in heavy metal alloys such as high speed steel, from which cutting tools are manufactured. It is also used in the so-called 'superalloys' to form wear-resistant coatings. TIN What is tin used for? It is a soft, silvery white metal with a bluish tinge, known to the ancients in bronze, an alloy with copper. Tin is widely used for plating steel cans used as food containers, in metals used for bearings, and in solder.

Exciting update from the Financial Times shedding light on the state of the U.S. mining industry! The article delves into the challenges of acquiring "critical metals & minerals" in the U.S., drawing insightful comparisons with China and Canada. Recognizing the importance of these resources for our future is paramount. The piece underscores the necessity of reevaluating mining methodologies, emphasizing the effectiveness of strategic development over acquisition, as demonstrated by China's BRI approach. China has made strides in this area; the U.S. has room for growth and for the meantime there is no "decoupling" from China while China controls about 80% of the metals necessary not just for a battery but critical minerals required for a vast group of industries. It's clear that tariffs, or sanctions, won't pave the way forward for the future of energy security in the United States. #USMining #MiningIndustry #CriticalMinerals #USInfrastructure 🌍🛠️

Beijing appears to be specifically trying to prevent U.S. military suppliers from securing the gallium Washington would need for weapons to defend Taiwan from Chinese invasion — like the American-made Patriot missile launchers whose targeting systems rely on semiconductors made with gallium. The U.S. hasn’t produced its own gallium in years. That could soon change. On Thursday, the Salt Lake City-based mining company U.S. Critical Materials Corp. plans to announce the discovery of a large high-grade deposit buried in a remote corner of the Bitterroot National Forest in southwestern Montana, HuffPost has learned. Gallium is not particularly rare. But China drove much of the world’s other producers out of business over the past decade, as Beijing subsidized its domestic aluminum smelters to churn out gallium as a byproduct. Extracting gallium from underground deposits can be tricky and polluting, too, since the metal is typically dispersed with lots of other minerals, some of which are toxic.

Sanctions delay to Russian zinc mine causes supply miscalculation, sources say Reuters Wing Yan Julian Luk Western sanctions on Russia's zinc miner Ozernoye have left it struggling to replace equipment needed to ramp up output, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, meaning mined zinc supply forecasts for 2025 are likely to be too high. Without Ozernoye's substantial contribution to global mined zinc supply next year, a shortage of zinc concentrate - a raw material to make zinc metal, used to galvanise steel, is likely to persist. Concern over tight supplies is one of the drivers that has pushed zinc prices to a 20-month high. Asked about the possible delay, Ozernoye told Reuters it plans next year to produce concentrate "in volume comparable to the previously announced targets". Ozernoye officially launched production in September, saying that it would reach full capacity of about 320,000 metric tons of zinc in concentrate in 2025. #zinc #metals #basemetals #mining #commodities #russia #sanctions #trade #markets

Vladimir Putin has suggested Russia should consider restricting exports of #uranium, #titanium, and #nickel in response to Western sanctions.  The Russian President’s comments, made during a televised meeting with government ministers on Wednesday, led to an immediate rise in nickel prices and boosted shares in uranium mining companies. Putin noted that these potential restrictions could extend to other commodities, pointing out Russia’s dominance in global reserves of natural gas, diamonds, and gold. However, he emphasised that any measures taken must not harm Russia's economy.  “Russia is the leader in reserves of a number of strategic raw materials: for natural gas, this is almost 22% of world reserves, for gold - almost 23%, for diamonds - almost 55%,” Putin said. More at #Proactive #ProactiveInvestors #ASXmining #ASXresources http://ow.ly/3qVH105IxVo

China has announced new export restrictions on antimony, a critical mineral used in industries ranging from military to renewable energy. Effective from September 15, 2024, these controls will apply to various antimony products, including raw ore and refined metals.  #China #Antimony #CriticalMinerals #ExportControls #SupplyChain #Manufacturing #DefenseIndustry #RenewableEnergy #NationalSecurity #GlobalTrade #MineralSupply https://lnkd.in/dkhQmwt2

China’s new rules are worrying insiders about how far Beijing will go on controlling critical metals - China's latest export controls have caused some in the critical minerals industry to worry that Beijing will leverage its global supply chain dominance in unprecedented ways. - "Three months ago, there's [no] way anyone would have thought they would have done this. It's quite confrontational in that regard," said Lewis Black, CEO of Canada-based Almonty Industries. - China will put export controls on tungsten by the end of the year, if not in the next month or two, Christopher Ecclestone, principal and mining strategist at Hallgarten & Company, predicted. -  China's latest export controls has rattled insiders of the critical minerals industry, and some are concerned that Beijing will leverage its global supply chain dominance in unprecedented ways. - China's Ministry of Commerce announced Thursday that export controls on antimony would take effect Sept. 15. Antimony is used in bullets, nuclear weapons production and lead-acid batteries. It can also strengthen other metals - https://lnkd.in/eb_CC5a9