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

ROCK HILL, S.C., May 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 3D Systems announced today its role in a $1.3 million contract to design, build and test a cutting-edge aircraft heat exchanger to be manufactured using 3D printing. Led by Honeywell International, a world leader in heat exchanger production, this project will utilize 3DS’ Direct Metal Printing (DMP) technology as well as the additive manufacturing and materials expertise of Penn State’s Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D). Such qualified use of additive manufacturing will not only revolutionize jet engine manufacturing, but it will also open the technology to a multibillion-dollar heat exchanger market.

The project, set to commence in mid-2015, builds off another contract announced in February to enable wider adoption of 3DS’ metal technologies within aerospace companies.

http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/us-air-force-contract-taps-3d-systems-to-transform-manufacturing-of-aerospace-components-20150521-01241

Rio Tinto has reached agreement with the government of Mongolia to press ahead with the $5bn (£3.2bn) expansion of the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/11615431/Rio-Tinto-strikes-5bn-deal-for-Mongolia-copper-mine-expansion.html

PARIS — EDF, the world’s biggest operator of nuclear power plants, is planning to make a bid for the reactor business of Areva in the next few weeks, EDF’s chief executive said on Tuesday, confirming that a reorganization of France’s nuclear industry is at hand.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/05/20/business/dealbook/edf-areva-france-nuclear-merger-reactor-takeover-epr.html?_r=0&referrer=

The batteries that Tesla has been using, sourced from Panasonic, for its Model S electric car are mostly likely a lithium-ion battery with a cathode that is a combination of a lithium, nickel, cobalt, aluminum oxide. The battery industry calls this an “NCA battery” and they’ve been around—and made by Panasonic—for many years.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.Photograph by Ringo H.W. Chiu — AP

Typically, lithium-ion NCA batteries use a combination of 80% nickel, 15% cobalt and 5% aluminum. It’s unclear what mix Tesla and Panasonic’s battery combination is. (The anodes in these traditional lithium-ion batteries is usually a graphite combination, which acts as a host for the lithium ions.) The addition of the aluminum to the NCA battery makes it more stable.

http://fortune.com/2015/05/18/tesla-grid-batteries-chemistry/

LME nickel inventories at ‘turning point’: Norilsk Nickel – Metals | Platts News Article & Story// http://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-2/html/container.html

May 15

The Shanghai Futures Exchange held talks with Russia’s Norilsk Nickel on Friday on delivery of metal against a new Chinese nickel contract, the exchange said.

The talks were held between Norilsk Sales Director Markus Meurer and the exchange’s senior executives, the exchange said on its website http://www.shfe.com.cn. It did not disclose further details.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/15/china-shfe-norilsk-idUSL3N0Y65JI20150515

BEIJING May 14 (Reuters) – China’s natural resource ministry said on Thursday that plans consolidating the rare industry into six firms have been approved, according to state media.

The plans involve miners and processors in the industry consolidating under six firms — China Aluminum Corporation , Xiamen Tungsten Co Ltd, Inner Mongolia BaoTou Steel Union Co Ltd, China Minmetals Corporation, Ganzhou Rare Earth Group Co Ltd and Guangdong Rare Earth Industrial Group Co Ltd, Xinhua news agency reported.

Read more at: http://af.reuters.com/article/metalsNews/idAFL3N0Y55XX20150514

2015-05-13

TORONTO – Sherritt International is the recipient of the 2015 Syncrude Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development. The prize recognizes the company’s sustainability work at the Ambatovy nickel joint venture in Madagascar.

Read more at: http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/news/nickel-sherritt-wins-syncrude-sustainable-development-award/1003623040/?&er=NA

LONDON, May 12 (IFR) – Russia’s Norilsk Nickel is meeting bond and equity investors at a capital markets day in London on Monday, according to three sources.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/12/bonds-stocks-mmc-norilsk-nick-idUSL5N0Y357L20150512

Sirius Resources’ Nova nickel-copper project.

Gold and base metal producer Independence Group is running the ruler over Mark Creasy​’s Sirius Resources in what could prove a precursor to a $3 billion merger.

Read more at: http://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/independence-group-eyes-potential-3b-sirius-resources-merger-20150512-ggzndl.html