A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info

#Microsoft founder #BillGates made news last week when he called for an “energy miracle” that would halt climate change and reduce the cost of #Energy. “I don’t mean something that’s impossible,” he wrote in his annual letter. #Gates wants a miracle akin to the polio vaccine or the personal computer.

Hundreds of potential minor miracles are on display this week at the annual confab of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), a part of the #US #DepartmentOfEnergy.

1. The miracle of the power wardrobe
2. The miracle of clean vehicles
3. The miracle of any technology with “ultra” in its title.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-01/here-are-the-energy-miracles-bill-gates-is-hoping-for

 

CEO #AndrewMackenzie told the #BMO Capital Markets conference, in #Florida, that while #China’s economic growth slowed as it matured, the composition of the economy had changed more quickly than initially anticipated, with the services sector replacing an investment- and heavy industry-driven economy. “The strength of the service sector creates employment, which allows acceleration of important structural reforms, including of State-owned enterprises. In the near term, as industrial overcapacity is reduced, this will further constrain demand for commodities.

Read more at: http://www.miningweekly.com/article/chinas-economic-shift-faster-than-initially-thought-bhp-2016-03-01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#Indonesian lawmakers hope to revise the country’s resource rules by September in a move that could include easing of export curbs on minerals, such as #Nickel and #Copper, giving #Freeport McMoRan Inc and other miners time and money to build smelters.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/indonesia-mining-idUSL3N1641H8

 

#Brazilian miner #Vale SA put its prime assets on the block on Thursday after taking the biggest loss in decades, but analysts said the target to make $10 billion in 18 months was unrealistic and expressed concern a fire sale could destroy equity value.

Read more at: http://in.reuters.com/article/vale-results-assets-idINL2N16411K

Aerogels are low density materials with a sponge-like structure that have a number of useful applications such as thermal and optical insulators. Researchers are particularly interested in #Graphene aerogels as they possess additional properties such as high compressibility and conductivity and have been touted as potential shock dampers, solid state batteries and catalysts.

Source: 3D printed graphene aerogels take shape | Chemistry World

Potential applications of #Nickel #Nanoparticles include sensors with a high spatial resolution, using advanced print heads and a precision micrometer scale. Implementing this innovative technology with Nano Dimension’s #3DPrinting process will make it possible to embed sensors within the layers of a #PCB, a process not possible with conventional manufacturing, opening up a world of possibilities for the monitoring of various energies and their derivatives, such as capacitance, magnetism, temperature and radiation.

Read more at: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nano-dimension-announces-new-collaboration-with-tel-aviv-university-enabling-3d-printing-of-sensors-using-nickel-nano–particles-300225285.html

Junior and senior creditors have reached a deal that will speed the end of the bankruptcy of #Molycorp, and give senior lender #Oaktree Capital Management most of the value in the embattled rare-earths company.

Read more at: http://www.wsj.com/articles/oaktree-creditors-reach-deal-in-molycorp-bankruptcy-1456234117

Although 93 percent of the #Chile’s output comes from larger mines, a sharper drop in #Copper prices could send more small and medium-sized mines over the edge. Small mines generally employ up to 80 workers but are often much smaller, while medium-sized ones have a maximum of 400.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-copper-miners-idUSKCN0VW008

#Jakarta. #Indonesia may ease its ban on exports of unprocessed minerals, including #Nickel and #Bauxite, as the country undertakes a review of its mining policy this year given weak global commodity markets, the energy minister said on Friday.

Read more at: http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/indonesia-may-ease-ban-nickel-ore-bauxite-exports-energy-minister/#show-hide

The #US Department of Energy (#DOE) has released a Request for Information (#RFI) on critical materials in the #Energy sector, including #FuelCell #Platinum group metal catalysts. The RFI is soliciting feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to the demand, supply, opportunities for developing substitutes, and potential for using materials more efficiently in the energy sector.

Read more at: http://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/articles/doe-releases-request-information-critical-materials-including-fuel-cell