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

#MIT Technology Review: #Tennis fans who watch the #USOpen in person or around the world on TVs, PCs or smartphones might not be aware of all the sophisticated technology behind the two-week professional tennis event. Since 1990, #IBM has worked with the United States Tennis Association or #USTA to provide a richer technology experience for millions who visit the US Open’s digital platforms worldwide – as well as the media, coaches and players. This year we’re using the latest in #Cloud, #DataAnalytics, #Mobile and #SocialTechnology for an even better fan experience, which tennis fans demand, year-after-year.

Read more at: http://www.technologyreview.com/

#MIT has invented a new web-based software that makes it much simpler for users to make modifications to 3D models they would like to print out on #3DPrinters. The software has the ability to cut down CAD geometry calculations from hours down to minutes.

Read more at: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/mit-simplifies-3d-printing-by-making-it-easier-modify-3d-models-1518781

Commodities trading firm #Glencore Plc on Monday said it is set to announce fresh plans to cut its $30 billion in net debt, as it called a trading halt on its #HongKong shares.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/07/glencore-debt-idUSL4N11D0QN20150907

#BHP iron ore boss #JimmyWilson pledged in October last year that the miner could beat Rio on costs over the “medium term” and claim its coveted mantle as the cheapest exporter of #IronOre to China, as he outlined a three-year plan for the business.  Mr Wilson said “with annual sustaining capex of approximately $US5 a tonne over the next five years, we aim to be the lowest-cost supplier to #China on an all-in cash basis”.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/mining/bhp-inches-ahead-of-rio-in-game-of-cents-20150906-gjg4yl.html#ixzz3l3IQA6Up

#Graphene could soon be protecting airliners from lightning strikes, with #British company #Haydale winning a contract to investigate practical uses for the “wonder material”.

Read more at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/engineering/11848397/Wonder-material-graphene-could-protect-airliners-from-lightning-strikes.html

Metals company #Alcoa Inc said on Thursday it will invest $60 million to expand its research and development center in #Pennsylvania to explore ways to make #3DPrinting viable on an industrial scale to produce parts for the #Aerospace, #Automotive and construction sectors.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/03/metals-alcoa-idUSL1N1181N620150903

After “rigorous analysis,” #RioTinto, the world’s second-biggest miner,reaffirmed Chinese crude-steel output will reach about 1 billion metric tons by 2030. #BHP now forecasts production to peak in the mid-2020s at between 935 million tons and 985 million tons, down from as much as 1.1 billion tons.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-03/rio-keeps-1-billion-ton-china-steel-output-after-bhp-cuts-view

The largest exporter of unwrought nickel to the country was #Russia. The imports from Russia totaled 36,408.3 mt, accounting for more than 75% of the total imports by the country during the month. In second place was #Canada with 2,484.6 mt, followed by #Australia with 1,483.0 mt. The #UnwroughtNickel imports during the initial seven month period of the year totaled 150,087.1 mt.

Read more at: http://www.metal.com/newscontent/77123_chinese-customs-releases-nickel-import-statistics-for-july-2015

He said construction of a #NickelSmelter would need huge investment and long process of planning and preparations.

“Investors, therefore, would need legal certainty and consistency in government policy in ban on exports of #NickelOre,” he said.

Relaxation in the policy would discourage investment to build smelter and badly dent the confidence of investors, he said.

Read more at: http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/100259/government-asked-to-be-consistent-in-mineral-export-ban