A report it contracted from SENES Consultants Ltd. concludes that its proposed large-scale monazite rare-earth extraction facility can be operated safely and effectively, while complying with all major national and international mining and environmental safety standards, Medallion Resources Ltd. said this morning. That would quickly open up vast resources of rare earths from what...
There will be no more “Made in the USA,” with millions of jobs lost, if the United States doesn’t start mining and stockpiling certain strategic metals, according to Alisha A. Ahern , co-director of the Academics & Periodicals Department at American Elements, the global chemical and metals manufacturer which published the list. The company...
Gold demand in 3Q11 reached 1,053.9 tonnes, an increase of 6% compared to the same period last year. This equates to $57.7 billion , an all-time high in value terms, the World Gold Council reported this morning. According to the Council’s Gold Demand Trends report for 3Q, also released today, this increase was driven...
At a time when lithium-battery technology — for devices ranging from mobile phones to hybrid cars — is the end-use most often associated with demand for the mineral, Pan American Lithium Corp. anticipates a future that includes soaring growth in lithium demand to help power the electric-power smart grid, among other applications. Pan American CEO Andrew...
Scandium isn’t technically a rare-earth element, charting the periodic table at element 21. But it’s frequently classified as one, and it’s often found along with them. It’s also used in some high-tech applications and it’s not available from domestic source. The U.S. Geological Survey says most of it seems to come from China, Russia and...
It hasn’t been too long that a company making copper for cash costs of $3 – $4 a pound was heading for insolvency. But Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. has leveraged three of these higher-cost producers into handsome cash flow, the acquisition of lower-cost mines and the hope for a major low-cost producer in the...
At one time this morning, copper for March delivery had risen 5 cents to a(nother) record $4.49 a pound. At about the same time, shares in Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., the major free-market producer, were up $2.22. But what is a penny’s rise in commodity value really worth to one of the...
Thompson Creek Metals Co. Inc. said yesterday it now expects production and sales of molybdenum from its own mines will be in a range of 22 million to 26 million pounds in 2009, up from previous guidance of 20 million to 24 million pounds. “In response to the recent improvements in the molybdenum market,...
Fears of future inflation and ongoing financial uncertainty led investors to continue to flock to gold in 1Q09, seeking out its proven wealth preservation qualities. Total demand for gold in the quarter rose 38% year on year to 1,016 tonnes, representing a 36% rise in value terms to $29.7 billion. According to figures published...
When time were good — we’re talking as recently as the middle of 2008 — and copper was near $4 a pound, producers didn’t have an interest in hedging, sort of like gold producers today. Now, however, some are starting to take advantage of even small up-blips in the market, or slides in their...
