Lithium deposit in U.S. volcano could be world's largest
19th September 2023
Geologists report the discovery of what may be the largest known deposit of lithium, located in the crater of a dormant volcano along the Nevada–Oregon border, and estimated to contain up to 40 million tonnes of the metal.
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"If you believe their back-of-the-envelope estimation, this is a very, very significant deposit of lithium," says Anouk Borst, geologist at KU Leuven University, in an interview with Chemistry World. "It could change the dynamics of lithium globally, in terms of price, security of supply and geopolitics. The U.S. would have its own supply of lithium and industries would be less scared about supply shortages."
A New Ore Containing Invaluable Rare Metal Has Been Found in China by Tom Hale
October 11, 2023
Introduction:
(IFL Science) Geologists in China have unearthed a new type of ore that’s rich in niobium, a much-prized metal with superconductive properties that is used in everything from steel production to jet engines and particle accelerators.
Dubbed niobobaotite, the ore was recently discovered within the Bayan Obo Mining District of Inner Mongolia in China, according to an announcement from the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). They explained that the ore is rich in barium, titanium, iron, chlorine, and – most excitingly – niobium.
Niobium is used as an additive in alloys, such as steel, to improve their strength. Owing to its resistance to corrosion and heat, metals containing niobium are commonly used in things like rockets, oil pipelines, and jet engines. In the US, practically all fighter jet engines are made of niobium alloys.
It’s also coveted for its superconductive properties, which allow it to conduct electricity with no resistance or energy loss when it's cooled to an extremely low temperature. This quality makes it a much-needed material for the magnets used in high-tech equipment like particle accelerators and MRI scanners.
Located just 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the China-Mongolia border, the Bayan Obo Mining District is home to the largest known deposits of rare-earth elements in the world and is a major factor in China’s dominance in the global market for rare metals.
Supreme Court Denies Alaska's Bid to Revive the Copper and Gold Pebble Mine Proposal Blocked by EPA
Source: US News and World Report/AP
Jan. 8, 2024, at 10:21 a.m.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected Alaska's bid to revive a proposed copper and gold mine that was blocked by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The justices did not comment in turning away the state’s attempt to sue the Biden administration directly in the high court over its desire to revive the proposed Pebble Mine in the state’s Bristol Bay region.
A year ago, the EPA stopped the mine proposal, citing concerns with potential impacts on a rich aquatic ecosystem that supports the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery.
States can sue each other and the federal government in the Supreme Court, though the justices typically deal with appeals and hear only a few original cases each year. Alaska still can try to reverse the decision through the more typical process, starting in a lower court and appealing any unfavorable decisions to the Supreme Court.
What Happens When a Country Says ‘No’ to Mining? Christopher Pollon
January 8, 2024
Introduction:
(Mother Jones) The battle between a Canadian mining company and Panama over one of the richest copper-gold mines in the Americas is headed to international arbitration – exposing Canada’s double standard when it comes to promoting free trade in the Global South.
Late in 2023, the Supreme Court of Panama unanimously ruled that the agreement to mine Cobre Panamá, controlled by Toronto’s First Quantum Minerals, was unconstitutional. Beset by a generational, popular backlash against the mine, the government of Laurentino Cortizo accepted the court decision and the legislature banned new mining.
Not everyone celebrated. Cobre Panamá provides about five per cent of GDP for this tiny nation of just over four million, and supplies thousands of jobs. The open pit mine, set amid the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor that connects wildlife across Central America and southern Mexico, is also an important source of copper needed in vast quantities to realize the clean-energy transition. Before he resigned in the wake of the court ruling, Panama’s Trade minister Frederico Alfaro predicted the decision would reap economic chaos, unemployment, and not least, an onslaught of “international claims from investors.”
The latter is now in play. First Quantum, the main investor in the mine, announced it intends to take Panama to international arbitration for alleged breach of the Free Trade agreement finalized by Canada’s Harper government in 2013. Its Panamanian subsidiary has launched separate arbitration over the alleged failure to honour the 2023 concession agreement (approved by Panama in October, and ruled unconstitutional in November). At least three additional mining investor suits against Panama, including one by Toronto-based Franco-Nevada, have also suddenly emerged.
Panama and the companies must now enter the clandestine world of Investor State Dispute Settlements (ISDS) – a little-known global system designed to settle disputes between foreign investors and sovereign nations. In taking a dispute to ISDS, a foreign investor seeks to enforce commitments made by a nation through a law, treaty or contract. Cases are typically settled by three ISDS adjudicators – not judges but private-sector lawyers – where the investors select one, the nation chooses another, and a third is agreed on by both. The dispute is then settled by a binding ruling, which can include compensation awards to investors.
India and Argentina Sign Agreement for Lithium Exploration January 16, 2024
Introduction:
(La Prensa) The companies Khanij Bidesh India Limited (Kabil) and the Catamarca Minera y Energética Sociedad Del Estado (Camyen SE) signed the agreement, which establishes the exclusivity of the Indian company in the management of five blocks of lithium brine in Argentina to evaluate the possible existence of lithium.
Should deposits be found in the territory, which covers 15,703 hectares, Kabil will be able to begin the commercial exploitation and production of the mineral.
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines of India, Pralhad Joshi, described the opportunity as historic for India and Argentina, as, he believed, it describes a new chapter in bilateral relations.
“The signing of the agreement between Kabil and Camyen signifies a step that will play a crucial role in driving the energy transition towards a sustainable future and ensuring a resilient and diversified supply chain of critical and strategic minerals essential for various industries in India,” he said.
According to India’s Ministry of Mines, this is the first lithium exploration and mining project undertaken by an Indian government company. This will not only boost the search for lithium supply for India, but will also help provide technical and operational expertise, the Ministry added.
