Whoever said that Nigel was in the DRC is categorically wrong (unfortunately).
Whoever it was really should give themselves an uppercut.
Whiddon3
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I miss Bart mate...bring back "the writing on the wall"Fyi, fwiw, I also see where the,
Value of battery metals in newly-sold EVs tops $1.5bn in single month
The EV Metal Index, which tracks the value of battery metals in newly registered passenger EVs (including full battery, plug-in and conventional hybrids) around the world, totaled $1.5 billion in December, an increase of 192% over the same month.
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Year to date the index totals to $8.1 billion which means as much EV battery metal business was done in 2021 than the combined total of the preceding four years. In fact, the value of battery metals deployed in December was more than all of 2017.
Total battery capacity of the 1.25m EVs sold during December set a new monthly record, surging 71% year on year to 43 GWh according to Adamas Intelligence, which tracks demand for EV batteries by chemistry, cell supplier and capacity in over 100 countries.
Annual EV sales in 2021 surged to over 10m, with full battery electric vehicles responsible for 46% and plug-in hybrids 19% of the total.
In order to produce the most accurate data, the monthly battery capacity deployed numbers in the MINING.COM EV Metal Index do not include cars leaving assembly lines, those on dealership lots or in the wholesale supply chain, only end-user registered vehicles.
As such, the tonnages reflected in the end-product are fractions of what would have been procured from mines, with losses in yield during chemical conversion, and cell, cathode and battery manufacture.
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Lithium
In December 2021, a record 25.9 kilotonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent were deployed onto roads globally in batteries of all newly-sold passenger EVs, 68% more than in the previous year and a 31% increase over November according to Adamas.
Average lithium on a per vehicle basis (including hybrids) was up 12% year over year in December, jumping from 18.5kg to 20.7kg, a testament to the relative popularity of full electric cars over hybrids.
Carbonate made up 57% of the total as demand for nickel and cobalt-free LFP batteries continues to strengthen versus hydroxide’s 43%, with the latter favoured in the manufacture of high-nickel content batteries.
Lithium prices have jumped across the board over the past year, but inside China there is a mad scramble, particularly for carbonate, which continues to soar in 2022 after more than quadrupling in value last year according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a battery supply chain researcher and price reporting agency.
A massive gap has opened up between ex-works prices in China for minimum 99.5% battery grade carbonate which is now trading in the $60,000 a tonne range according to Benchmark’s mid-February price update with scarcity exacerbated by maintenance downtime at chemical plants during Chinese New Year.
That compares to European prices for carbonate of $30,000 (CIF minimum 99%, Jan 2022).
Benchmark also points out that the premium of lithium carbonate over lithium hydroxide – used in high nickel cathodes – reached nearly $20,600/tonne in February. Historically hydroxide has always been the pricier one.
Benchmark in a recent report said record high Chinese lithium carbonate prices have pushed the costs of LFP cells at least 5% higher than high-nickel cells on a dollar per kilowatt-hour basis, in a reversal of a decade-long trend.
“The turnaround highlights the acute pricing pressures facing producers of LFP battery cells in China, which could translate into higher prices for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.”
The lithium subindex topped $700 million for the first time in December.
As a percentage of the overall index value, lithium now has the biggest share, surpassing that of nickel.
From a low of 20% in 2020, when prices spent several months under $7,000 a tonne, to just over 47% now.
www.mining.com/category/battery-metals/
Yes it was a nice suprise today, we're sort of hanging in there so far given the macro conditions. Hopefully it holds up without giving up the ghost at some point.You're not missing too much over there although Scoota's post was absolute GOLD!
There's still that idiot we all know popping in from time to time and posting....... just to make sure we haven't forgotten that they're a complete waste of space
Pleasing turn around today....took me by surprise a little but that's volatility for ya!
A few of the chartists are comparing some bullish signals (which I don't profess to fully understand) but when they say "engulfing candle" by geez it sounds impressive
Looking forward to trade tomorrow but have to keep an eye on the Ukraine events overnight
Cheers
I miss Bart mate...bring back "the writing on the wall"![]()
Hi FrankFyi, Fwiw, I also see where,
The United States Geological Survey has released a new list of 50 mineral commodities critical to the U.S. economy and national security after an extensive multi-agency assessment.
The 2022 list of critical minerals was determined using the most up-to-date scientific methods to evaluate mineral criticality.
The new list contains 15 more commodities compared to the nation’s first list of critical minerals created in 2018.
Much of the increase in the new list is the result of splitting the rare earth elements and platinum group elements into individual entries rather than including them as “mineral groups.”
In addition, the 2022 list of critical minerals adds nickel and zinc to the list while removing helium, potash, rhenium and strontium.
“Critical minerals play a significant role in our national security, economy, renewable energy development and infrastructure,” said Tanya Trujillo, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science. “USGS data collection and analysis scans the horizon for emerging issues in crucial supply chains, and every three years identifies the nation’s current vulnerabilities to potential disruptions."
The new list was created based on directives from the Energy Act of 2020, which indicates that at least every three years, the Department of the Interior must review and update the list of critical minerals, update the methodology used to identify potential critical minerals, take interagency feedback and public comment through the Federal Register, and ultimately finalize the list of critical minerals.
The Energy Act of 2020 defines a “critical mineral” as a non-fuel mineral or mineral material essential to the economic or national security of the U.S. and which has a supply chain vulnerable to disruption.
Critical minerals are also characterized as serving an essential function in the manufacturing of a product, the absence of which would have significant consequences for the economy or national security.
The 2022 list of critical minerals, while “final,” is not intended as a permanent designation of mineral criticality but will be a dynamic list updated periodically to represent current data on supply, demand, concentration of production and current policy priorities.
"Mineral criticality is not static, but changes over time," said Steven M. Fortier, USGS National Minerals Information Center director.
"The 2022 list of critical minerals was created using the most recent available data for non-fuel mineral commodities. However, we're always analyzing mineral markets and developing new methods to determine the various and evolving critical mineral supply chain risks."
Prior to publishing the 2022 list of critical minerals, the USGS completed a thorough review of more than 1,000 comments received from the public, stakeholders and local and state officials. These comments were received in response to the draft critical minerals list the USGS released for public comment in November 2021.
"The USGS appreciates the input we received from the public and stakeholders," Fortier said. "In addition to reviewing each comment for the current methodology, we are also identifying opportunities to include some of the suggestions we received in the next update of the critical minerals list methodology."
The list of critical minerals will be the focus of USGS research quantifying critical mineral potential within the U.S.
In President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the USGS received funding for its Earth Mapping Resource Initiative, which will update the Nation's mapping of these minerals, including those still in the ground and those present in mine wastes.
The Energy Act of 2020 directed the USGS to update the list of critical minerals, and the list is timely to provide guidance for use of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds, both for the USGS and other agencies.
The 2022 list of critical minerals includes the following —
Lithium, used for rechargeable batteries
Tin, used as protective coatings and alloys for steel
Tantalum, used in electronic components, mostly capacitors and in superalloys
The USGS delivers unbiased science and information on mineral resource potential, production, consumption, disposal, and how minerals interact with the environment.
The USGS National Minerals Information Center provides the Nation with data on domestic and global supply, demand, and trade for minerals and materials.
This information is essential to understand mineral dependencies across economic sectors, forecast potential disruptions to mineral commodity supply, and evaluate the impacts of such disruptions.
www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/us-geological-survey-releases-2022-list-critical-minerals
Biden set to tout US progress on critical minerals production
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday plans to tout progress by government and private industry to boost American production of minerals used to make electric vehicles, cell phones, weaponry and a range of related electronics, the White House said.
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Washington has grown increasingly concerned that low US production of minerals essential for the construction of future technologies could leave it beholden to China and other nations that have heavily invested in mining.
That has sparked a range of attempts by Biden, as well as his predecessors, to boost US output of these strategic minerals while balancing opposition to mining from environmental and indigenous groups.
“Critical minerals provide the building blocks for many modern technologies and are essential to our national security and economic prosperity,” the White House said in a statement.
Biden will announce the US Defense Department has awarded MP Materials Inc $35 million to process rare earths, which are used to make magnets found in consumer goods and weapons, the White House said.
The Pentagon has already awarded roughly $10 million to MP, which controls the only US rare earths mine but depends on China for processing.
Las Vegas-based MP Materials will announce it will invest $700 million in its own funds and create more than 350 jobs by 2024, the White House said.
MP Materials declined to comment ahead of the White House announcement.
The company’s chief executive, Jim Litinsky, is set to participate virtually. MP has said it aims to begin processing rare earths in California by the end of the year.
Additionally, Berkshire Hathaway Energy Renewables will announce it plans to break ground this spring on a California facility to test sustainable ways to produce lithium from geothermal brines.
That announcement, the White House said, would be part of a multibillion dollar investment in sustainable lithium production over the next five years.
Pentagon plans
Biden will also announce that the Pentagon plans to boost its stockpile of strategic minerals, a development that Reuters reported last week.
Biden, who is navigating the US response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, is slated to hold a virtual event with industry and labor leaders, as well as California Governor Gavin Newsom, to discuss the issue.
Even as he works to boost US minerals production, the president has blocked several proposed US mines.
Last month, the Biden administration blocked a proposed Minnesota copper mine from Antofagasta Plc.
It has also taken steps to slow down development of a lithium mine in Nevada from ioneer Ltd and a copper mine in Arizona from Rio Tinto Ltd.
Biden himself has said little about why his administration has blocked some mines while touting the need to boost domestic production of critical minerals.
Other announcements at the event include one from Redwood Materials Inc, which the White House said would discuss a pilot project with Ford Motor Co and Volvo to collect and recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries in Nevada to extract lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite.
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm also will tout a $140 million pilot project to recover rare earth elements and other minerals from coal ash, with funding from Biden’s recently passed infrastructure law.
www.mining.com/category/battery-metals/
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Critical food for thought on the Critical Road to Mining Manono Bro
Bottoms Up
Cheers
Frank![]()
Thanks for the tip mate.Hi Frank
I'm not cross promoting here but with zinc on the critical list and the geopolitical climate Ironbark Zinc (IBG) in Greenland may be of interest. They have received EXIM approval for funding and are in the process of working through the equity component to potentially fully fund the mine
Might be worth a look ....full disclosure I have some which I picked up through my broker on a CR at 2.4c
If the US wants to secure zinc supplies and the proximity to Europe suits it might have some legs
Not sure if I can post a link to their home page but see if this works https://ironbark.gl/
Cheers
Nut
Fyi, Fwiw, To remind,
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It's so Hot here atm the Ice has Melted, but i don't care![]()
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p.s. - Bart says thanks again for the Cap Bro![]()
Fyi, Fwiw, To remind,
View attachment 1644
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It's so Hot here atm the Ice has Melted, but i don't care![]()
![]()
p.s. - Bart says thanks again for the Cap Bro![]()
Fyi, Fwiw, To remind,
View attachment 1644
View attachment 1645
It's so Hot here atm the Ice has Melted, but i don't care![]()
![]()
p.s. - Bart says thanks again for the Cap Bro![]()
I LOVE green daysFyi, Fwiw, To remind,
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It's so Hot here atm the Ice has Melted, but i don't care![]()
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p.s. - Bart says thanks again for the Cap Bro![]()
Yes, I saw that thanks JAG, I was the 1st to give him a TU tbo![]()
What! Was that photoshop??Thanks for the tip mate.
I don't think anyone would doubt your sincerity so don't worry about cross promoting.
Crapper has an end of term feel to it, difficult to take seriously when all of the crap is considered
Found myself just having a laugh- I've really got better things to do.
Scoota = gold, but the reactions were even funnier.
Inspector Clouseau certainly spotted the photoshopping
Well done to them finally turning a profit. If they can make money with that deposit ( it’s big but veiny and a few impurities ) imagine the money printing machine AVZ will be if they can pump out 4.5-10mtpa! Add in PLS and wowsers!! Party on Franks mega yacht!Fyi, fwiw, I see where,
Pilbara Minerals delivers first profit on lithium boom
Australian lithium miner Pilbara Minerals Ltd reported its first half-year profit on Wednesday as prices of the battery metal soared due to rising demand from the electric-vehicle industry.
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Thin supply and a demand explosion spurred by the electric-vehicle revolution has sent prices of lithium surging in recent months, with current rates estimated to be eight times higher than year-ago levels.
“The result reflects continued improvement in lithium market conditions over the period, which has continued its strong momentum into the current half,” the company said.
Pilbara also said its chief executive officer Ken Brinsden would step down by the end of the year.![]()
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www.mining.com
Thanks for that Frank*Hi Nut, Thanks for the Heads Up, when it comes to Critical Minerals of the Battery kind, the DRC has the bloody lot mate, as well as a Shit load of Zinc atm, No wonder Felix / DRC have jumped at the opportunity to get Kipushi, the world’s highest-grade zinc mine back up and running asap, as i'm sure you are well aware, with,
Ivanhoe Mines and Gecamines Sign New Agreement to Return the Ultra-High-Grade Kipushi Mine in the DRC to Production
Ivanhoe Mines Executive Co-Chair Robert Friedland and President Marna Cloete, together with Alphonse Kaputo Kalubi (Chairman) and Bester-Hilaire Ntambwe Ngoy Kabongo (CEO) of Gécamines, DRC’s state-owned mining company, are pleased to announce that Kipushi Holding, an Ivanhoe Mines wholly-owned subsidiary and Gécamines have signed a new agreement to return the ultra-high-grade Kipushi Mine back to commercial production.
Kipushi will be the world’s highest-grade major zinc mine, with average grade of 36.4% zinc over the first five years of production.
Watch a new video showcasing Kipushi’s planned transformation into the world’s highest-grade major zinc mine: https://vimeo.com/676846621/282541f745