The Elements of Innovation Discovered

Articles written by Shane Lasley


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

    Quantum computing quest lands on rare earth

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated 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 re... Full story

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

    DOD invests in Missouri battery metals

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 18, 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... Full story

  • Semi-truck cab painted with Metallica’s '72 season album-inspired graphics.

    A Metallica catalyst for Iveco fuel cells

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 18, 2024

    Iconic heavy metal band will use electric trucks produced by Italian automaker on European leg of 2024 tour. In what may be the perfect metaphor for the heavy metal needed as a catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells, Italian automaker Iveco is providing electric and natural gas trucks and busses to transport crew and gear during the European leg of Metallica's M72 World Tour. Representing the environmental and social values embraced by both the legendary heavy metal rock band and... Full story

  • Image of a Fleet Space nanosatellite over Earth.

    Space-based mineral exploration upgrade

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 13, 2024

    New machine learning enhancements make ExoSphere faster and more powerful than ever; Fleet Space joins Stanford's Mineral-X program Already a powerful tool that is being leveraged by global mining companies such as Rio Tinto and Barrick Gold Corp. to discover mineral deposits hidden below the earth's surface, Fleet Space Technologies' satellite-enabled ExoSphere is now more powerful and faster than ever thanks to the introduction of machine learning. First introduced in 2022,...

  • Periodic table symbol for cobalt, with name and atomic number in electric blue.

    Jervois narrows US cobalt refinery locale

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 12, 2024

    Investigating the advantages of industrial sites in Pennsylvania and Louisiana ahead of final decision. Industrial sites in Pennsylvania and Louisiana are on Jervois Global Ltd.'s short list of locations to build a domestic refining and recycling plant that will help break the United States' dependence on countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and China for cobalt used in the lithium-ion batteries powering electric vehicles. Jervois already owns Idaho Cobalt...

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

    Charging the future e-mine with BluVein

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 12, 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... Full story

  • Piles of black, white, grey, and yellow rare earth oxide powders.

    USA Rare Earth secures magnet feedstock

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 12, 2024

    Enters into agreement with ReElement for a domestic supply of rare earths for its magnet plant in Oklahoma. In a move that will begin to establish a circular and domestic supply chain for the powerful magnets used in electric vehicle motors, USA Rare Earth LLC has signed a deal to buy ultra-pure rare earth elements (REE) produced from ReElement Technologies Corp.'s state-of-the-art rare earths and battery metals refining facility in Indiana. "We are thrilled to be working...

  • A drone flies by a mountain shrouded in clouds.

    Quantum leap for mineral exploration

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 12, 2024

    SBQuantum and Silicon Microgravity merge cutting-edge geophysics tech into a single drone-mounted platform. The world's first diamond quantum magnetometers, a disruptive gravity sensor technology, are being combined with drones into a platform aimed at accelerating the discovery of minerals and metals critical to the high-tech and green energy future. "We'll be combining two key geophysical surveying methods, gravimetry and magnetics, to quickly identify promising mineral...

  • Aerial view of a ship being loaded with iron ore.

    Canada backs decarbonization of iron ore

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    Invests $18 million to lower CO2 emissions from Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in Labrador. In a move aimed at battling climate change and bolstering the nation's economy, the Canadian government has awarded C$18.1 million (US$13.4 million) to lower carbon dioxide emissions from Rio Tinto's iron ore operations in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Being awarded from Canada's Low Carbon Economy Fund, this grant to Rio Tinto's Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) will go...

  • Sparks arc out of a vat being filled with molten steel.

    Green steel made from Baffinland iron

    Shane Lasley, Data Mine North|Updated Mar 9, 2024

    European steelmakers are looking across the Atlantic for high-quality iron ore mined on Canada's Baffin Island. Due to the combination of high strength, low cost, and the abundance of the minerals and metals from which it is made, steel is the most used metal on Earth. The making of this alloy that serves as the skeleton of modern society, however, is also responsible for roughly 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. To help reduce the CO2 footprint of this building material... Full story

  • Closeup of an Exyn drone equipped with lidar survey equipment.

    Exyn mapping tech put to the test at Pogo

    Shane Lasley, Data Mine North|Updated Mar 9, 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... Full story

  • Jars of colorful terbium, dysprosium, holmium, and erbium rare earth oxides.

    Canada doubles down on rare earths tech

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 6, 2024

    NRCan invests $5 million in SRC's REE separation plant. With a C$5 million (US$3.7 million) investment into Saskatchewan Research Council's (SRC) rare earth processing and separation facility in Saskatoon, Sask., Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is doubling down on its support of technologies that will help bolster Canada's leadership in responsible production of critical minerals needed for the clean energy and digital economy. "Separating these rare earths is instrumental in...

  • A cobalt blue Chevy Silverado battery-electric pickup.

    GM, Panasonic secure clean NA graphite

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Mar 6, 2024

    Invests in Nouveau Monde Graphite and locks up 85% of the zero-carbon lithium-ion battery anode material to be made in Canada by NMG. General Motors and Panasonic Energy have entered into a deal with Canada-based Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) for a supply of low-carbon graphite anode material produced in North America for the lithium-ion batteries powering their electric vehicles. As part of a larger deal that spurred a total of $87.5 million in new investment and sent NMG...

  • Aerial shot of Tesla’s lithium-ion battery gigafactory in Nevada.

    First US graphite AAM production begins

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Syrah begins production of lithium-ion battery anode material for Tesla and others at Vidalia. A major milestone in breaking America's reliance on China for the minerals critical to the clean energy transition has been reached with the start of operations at Syrah Resources Ltd.'s Vidalia graphite anode materials plant in Louisiana. Being the primary material used for anodes, graphite is the single largest ingredient that goes into the lithium-ion batteries powering electric...

  • A Nexys mapping system being carried in a backpack at a construction site.

    The Nexys for next-gen mine mapping

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Exyn Technologies unveils a new 3D mapping solution to dock with its industry-leading autonomous drones and other delivery systems. Whether carried in a backpack, on the back of a Boston Dynamics Spot robot dog, or docked with one of its own state-of-the-art autonomous drones, Exyn Technologies' new Nexys modular 3D mapping system offers unmatched flexibility, speed, and accuracy for surveying and inspecting mines, construction sites, and other demanding environments. As a...

  • A miner registers at desk at sign that reads “For Freedom’s Sake” in 1943.

    DOD increases Idaho antimony funding

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 21, 2024

    Pentagon agrees to invest an additional $34.6 million to establish a domestic source of metalloid critical to military and civilians. To help break America's reliance on China and Russia for the antimony needed for military hardware and munitions, the U.S. Department of Defense has conditionally agreed to invest up to an additional $34.6 million into Perpetua Resources Corp.'s Stibnite gold-antimony mine in Idaho. "This latest award from the Department of Defense brings us a...

  • Close-up of an electric vehicle charging on a snowy winter day.

    Fluorspar: the forgotten battery mineral

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 19, 2024

    Benchmark Mineral Intelligence forecasts more than 1.6 million metric tons of fluorspar per year will be needed for lithium-ion batteries by 2030. While Elon Musk has not yet implored the mining sector to "please mine more fluorspar," the demand for this mineral critical to lithium-ion batteries has been rising with the adoption of electric vehicles and is expected to continue its upward trajectory through the end of the decade. "While cobalt, nickel, and lithium hog the... Full story

  • Four executives and dignitaries from Japan and British Columbia, Canada.

    FPX Nickel attracts global investments

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 16, 2024

    Pair of minerals offers potential to lower carbon emissions from mining nickel at Baptiste deposit. The prospect of producing low-carbon nickel needed for lithium-ion batteries and stainless steel at FPX Nickel Corp.'s Baptiste project in central British Columbia has captured the attention of a broad array of global corporations and investors. A road-accessible project about three miles (five kilometers) from rail connected to the deep-water port at Prince Rupert, B.C., the...

  • Business leaders with safety glasses in front of Ucore’s RapidSX demo plant.

    Canada invests $4M in rare earths tech

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 16, 2024

    Natural Resources Canada formalizes funding of Ucore's RapidSX REE separation demo plant in Ontario. In support of a homegrown technology that will help bolster Canada's leadership in responsible production of critical minerals needed for the clean energy and digital economy, Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Critical Minerals Research, Development, and Demonstration program is investing C$4.2 million (US$3.1 million) into Ucore Rare Metals Inc.'s RapidSX rare earths...

  • An ore hauling ship being loaded at an industrial facility at night.

    US remains reliant on mineral imports

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 16, 2024

    Despite investing billions of dollars, US continues to rely heavily on China and others for its supply of critical minerals. The 2024 edition of U.S. Geological Survey's annual Mineral Commodity Summaries shows the United States has made little headway in breaking its reliance on China and other overseas nations for the minerals and metals critical to the nation's clean energy ambitions, economic well-being, and defense. "Our mineral import dependence continues to be a gaping...

  • A lone geologist explores rock outcrops in an arid environment.

    BHP selects 2024 Xplor accelerator cohort

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 6, 2024

    Six early-staged explorers selected for the innovative mineral discovery accelerator enjoy $500,000 grant, technical experts, BHP's network. As part of its innovative approach to accelerating the discovery of minerals critical to the energy transition, BHP has selected six companies to join the second cohort of its Xplor program. Launched by the mining giant in the fall of 2022, BHP Xplor is a unique program that offers funding and technical support to early-stage mineral...

  • Artist rendering of CTR’s Lithium Valley Campus on shores of the Salton Sea.

    Groundbreaking start for Lithium Valley

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 5, 2024

    EV executives and dignitaries from the Salton Sea to the White House joined CTR to break ground on the Lithium Valley Campus in SoCal. In a landmark event that marks the start of a clean supply of lithium to support America's clean energy transition, industry executives and political dignitaries joined Controlled Thermal Resources on the groundbreaking of the Lithium Valley Campus at its Hell's Kitchen geothermal lithium project in the Salton Sea region of Southern...

  • Green brucite crystals in a white carbonate host rock.

    CO2 Lock races to solidify carbon capture

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Feb 1, 2024

    Clean tech startup advances method to turn CO2 into rock for geological timescale storage. As mining companies around the world endeavor to meet the rocketing demand for minerals needed to build the clean energy infrastructure to slow global warming, CO2 Lock Corp. is racing to put minerals back into the ground for the same purpose. CO2 Lock was formed by FPX Nickel Corp. in 2022 as a clean technology startup focused on carrying forward research into transforming atmospheric...

  • David Turk testifies during a Senate committee hearing.

    Senators grill Turk on mine investments

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jan 31, 2024

    Sens. Murkowski, Manchin contend administration is misinterpreting Congress intent when it comes to funding domestic mining projects. While the U.S. Department of Energy is investing billions of taxpayer dollars into establishing robust battery material processing and battery manufacturing capacity in the United States, the federal agency has done little to support domestic mines that would feed critical minerals into domestic electric vehicle supply chains. Sen. Lisa Murkowsk...

  • A graphic showing a rechargeable battery half-filled with graphite.

    NMG makes world-class graphite purchase

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jan 24, 2024

    Nouveau Monde Graphite to buy 100% interest in the Lac Guéret graphite deposit. In a strategic move that positions Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. to further ramp up its capacity to offer a reliable and environmentally sound supply of graphite for the lithium batteries powering electric vehicles, the Canadian mining and processing company has acquired full ownership of Mason Resources Inc.'s world-class Uatnan graphite project in Quebec. Uatnan is a road-accessible project about...

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