Week of March 27, 2024

Neon green tree sap from a notch in a tree is drawn into a narrow glass tube.

DOE explores nickel farming concept

Shane Lasley, Mining News | Mar 27, 2024

Invests $10 million for PHYTOMINES, a project to investigate the potential of using hyperaccumulating plants to draw nickel from soil. Will we soon be able to farm some of the nickel needed for lithium-ion batteries? The U.S. Department of Energy is investing $10 million to find out. The idea of using plants to extract nickel from soil is not as far-fetched as it may sound. Researchers have identified plants in Malaysia known as hyperaccumulators that thrive in nickel-rich...

India's deep-sea exploration vehicle, the Matsya 6000

China, Russia, India vie for sea minerals

K. Warner, Metal Tech News | Mar 27, 2024

With the U.S. still out of undersea race to the bottom of international waters, India strives for greener way toward trillion-dollar resource. The United Nations International Seabed Authority (ISA) has approved 31 license applications for permission to explore international waters, with only two belonging to India from 2016. This is in comparison to China's five and Russia's four. Having never ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which led...

PV power station at the Natural Bridges National Monument.

DOE funds clean energy at mining sites

A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News | Mar 22, 2024

U.S. Energy Department provides $475M for clean energy in five projects at mine sites across the nation . Looking to revitalize the industry that has supported and continues to support thousands of Americans for over a century, the Department of Energy announced nearly half a billion dollars in funding to accelerate clean energy deployment at five current and former mine sites. DOE has selected five projects in Arizona, Kentucky, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia...

NASA engineer preparing CADRE rover for next Moon mission.

NASA adds CADRE rovers to next Moon mission

A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News | Mar 13, 2024

Jet Propulsion Lab rovers will conduct autonomous experiments to test viability of mostly independent robotic work in space. After years of research and development, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced that its CADRE mini-rovers will soon arrive on the Moon aboard a lunar lander to test the viability of cooperative robotics in future exploration of celestial bodies. Developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, the...

Closeup of an Exyn drone equipped with lidar survey equipment.

Exyn mapping tech put to the test at Pogo

Shane Lasley, Data Mine North | Mar 20, 2024

Recent study shows Exyn drones more safely collect higher quality survey data in half the time compared to traditional mine mapping methods. Exyn Technologies' drone-based mapping system is faster, more accurate, and infinitely safer than traditional underground mine surveying technologies, according to a recent study completed at Northern Star Resources Ltd.'s Pogo gold mine in Alaska. "[T]he data doesn't even compare," said Andrew Loomes, chief mine surveyor at Pogo. Exyn...

BluVeinXL charging system connecting large mining truck to blue e-rail.

Charging the future e-mine with BluVein

Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News | Mar 20, 2024

Aussie tech company develops innovative on-the-go charging system for electric mining trucks; collaborating with Hitachi Energy to enhance system. The quest for net-zero carbon emissions has mining companies and heavy equipment manufacturers brainstorming on innovative ways to electrify mining trucks often designed to haul hundreds of tons of rock per load. A dynamic charging system developed by Australia-based BluVein offers a solution that can be retrofitted to all brands...

Closeup of silver-colored gallium in its crystallized form.

High-grade gallium confirmed in Montana

Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News | Mar 27, 2024

US Critical Materials identifies outstanding gallium grades with the high-grade rare earths at its Sheep Creek project. In addition to showing promise as a high-grade domestic source of rare earths, US Critical Materials Corp.'s Sheep Creek project in Montana shows the potential to be an equally high-grade alternative to China for the gallium used in a wide array of high-tech, green energy, and military applications. "US Critical Materials looks forward to being the primary...

A battery cutout with a voltage symbol being held up to an orange sunset.

Graphite One selects Ohio for refinery

Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News | Mar 27, 2024

Secures former critical minerals stockpile site to build graphite processing and battery materials recycling plant. Graphite One Inc. plans to transform a former national defense critical minerals stockpile site in Ohio into a domestic source of the graphite anode material going into the lithium-ion batteries powering electric vehicles and storing renewable energy. "Graphite One is delighted to announce that, subject to financing, we will be building our advanced graphite...

Dozens of plumes of emissions in an industrial district.

DOE funding makes decarbonization history

A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News | Mar 27, 2024

Largest industrial decarbonization investment ever in US history; will see $6 billion across 33 projects throughout the nation. Stoking the non-emissive fires of industry once again, the U.S. Department of Energy has leveraged another significant share of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to inject upwards of $6 billion into 33 projects across more than 20 states to decarbonize energy-intensive industries, reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions, and invigorate job...

Small piles of various recycled elements on a glass viewing plate.

Circular economy for rare earths is online

A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News | Mar 27, 2024

ReElement CEO signals the first circular system for recycled rare earths from magnets is in place. One after the other, ReElement Technologies Corp. has been establishing all the links required to build a circular economy for rare earth magnets. Recently partnering with EDPR to recycle its wind turbines and reaffirming with USA Rare Earth LLC to purchase some of those recycled REEs, the company has now announced a deal with major U.S. auto manufacturers to recycle end-of-life...

A pile of bluish silver lead bars stamped with “Doe Run.”

DOD invests in Missouri battery metals

Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News | Mar 27, 2024

Pentagon awards Doe Run $7 million to help scale up a cobalt and nickel processing plant in The Show-Me State. As part of a larger objective to ensure the United States has reliable domestic supplies of the minerals and metals critical to the nation's economy and security, the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded The Doe Run Resources Corp. $7 million to complete a demonstration-scale hydrometallurgical plant for separation of cobalt and nickel at their facility in...

Li-Cycle technician sorting batteries to be recycled.

Li-Cycle right-sizing battery recycling

A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News | Mar 27, 2024

Lithium battery recycling firm details finances, operations, investments, and additional plans to overcome challenging financial landscape. Following the $75 million strategic investment from Glencore plc last week, which was aimed to alleviate some of the pressures the company is feeling due to the higher-cost environment, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. announced an update on its situation and plans to right-size its recycling enterprise going forward. "Since embarking on our...

An AI representation of quantum computing with electronic structures in globes.

Quantum computing quest lands on rare earth

Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News | Mar 18, 2024

Materials scientists identified europium as an ideal element for a new material that is a strong candidate for use in quantum memory. Pioneering into the frontiers of technology has scientists venturing deeper into the periodic table to discover elements with properties required for tomorrow's innovations. This is especially true for quantum computers and networks, which demand very specific and unique attributes that require a scientific expedition into unexplored chemical...

Employee examining recycling e-scrap at one of its facilities.

Glencore invests another $75M in Li-Cycle

A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News | Mar 20, 2024

Supports future recycling leader toward ongoing facility construction. Almost two years after its initial $200 million investment from Glencore plc, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. has announced a new $75 million strategic investment from the Swiss commodities trading and mining company to help the recycling company continue to position itself as a future leader in the production of critical battery materials. "We are pleased to secure an additional $75 million investment from...

Rendered 03/29/2024 03:24