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

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies enjoy growing commercial potential with a global market expected to increase from $3.7 billion to $10.4 billion by 2021, according to a #BBC Research study.

With the initiatives of #Gebze Technical University (GTÜ) and #Gazi University in #Ankara, #Turkey’s first #3DPrinting technology center will be set up this year, and is projected to increase domestic and high-added value production in Turkey. The center will be working on to fulfill the needs of the #Turkish aviary and defense industry.

Read more at: http://www.dailysabah.com/life/2017/01/19/turkeys-manufacturing-industry-goes-big-with-3d-printing

#Stanford University researchers have created a way to prevent faulty batteries from catching on fire. The solution involves a failsafe — in the form of a miniature fire extinguisher — built directly into #Lithium-ion batteries.

Read more at: http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/17/technology/lithium-ion-battery-fire-prevention-stanford/

#Chinese #Nickel smelter operator Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry and other companies are considering suing the #Indonesian government over its new mining rules, a senior executive at Virtue Dragon told Reuters on Friday.

Read more at:

#Indonesia’s move to ease a ban on the exports of #Nickel ore and #Bauxite sent shares of #Vale Indonesia plunging on Friday (13/01)  as analysts said the miner is expected to be hurt by a fall in global nickel prices.

Read more at: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/vale-indonesia-shares-plunge-easing-nickel-ore-export-ban/

#Lithium saw its price triple in 2016, and #Cobalt—another massively important element in the lithium-ion battery—rose almost 50 percent in the same year, and is poised to become the next critical metal as the world sits on the edge of an energy revolution driven by mainstream #ElectricVehicles, battery #Gigafactories and #PowerWalls.

Together, lithium and cobalt are the most alluring investment duo on the global market, and we’re only getting started. Supply is expected to be short, prices are expected to spike, and small-cap explorers are expected to emerge as key players as they secure new prospects from the #US state of #Nevada, to #LatinAmerica’s ‘Lithium Triangle, to #Ontario.

Read more at: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/biggest-commodity-story-010000959.html

“We have clubbed the two storage mechanisms — #Lithium ion insertion reaction from the lithium ion battery and sulphur redox reaction from the lithium sulphur battery — in one battery. That’s why we are able to achieve high capacity retention even after 10,000 cycles at high current density,” says Ms. #Gangadharan.

Read more at: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/A-novel-electrode-for-lithium-batteries/article17005579.ece

We need more #Cobalt than we’ve got, and the mass production of #Lithium-ion batteries at global #Ggigafactories actually requires more cobalt than lithium.

The cobalt in this equation becomes even more valuable when you consider that almost 95 percent of global cobalt comes from #Copper and #Nickel mining, as a by-product. That makes its supply heavily dependent on copper and nickel demand and means it will be difficult to come by at a decent price.

The numbers speak for themselves. In 2015, the battery industry accounted for 41 percent of global cobalt demand, according to the Cobalt Development Institute (CDI). However, over the next 10 years, CDI expects that to increase to 65 percent, and it will be unsustainable unless new cobalt resources are brought into production.

Read more at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/best-kept-secret-electric-car-003000048.html

#China is cementing its global dominance of renewable energy and supporting technologies, aggressively investing in them both at home and around the globe, leaving countries including the #US, #UK and #Australia at risk of missing the growing market.

It now owns five of the world’s six largest solar-module manufacturing firms and the largest wind-turbine manufacturer.

Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/06/china-cementing-global-dominance-of-renewable-energy-and-technology

‘Today at the #Gigafactory, #Tesla and #Panasonic began mass production of #Lithium-ion battery cells, which will be used in Tesla’s energy storage products and Model 3,’ Tesla said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4088050/Tesla-s-gigafactory-Elon-Musk-s-megafactory-Nevada-desert-begins-battery-production.html#ixzz4UquCFqgK

#Japan’s #Panasonic, which has been retreating from low-margin consumer electronics to focus more on automotive components and other businesses targeting corporate clients, will make the investment in #Tesla’s factory in #Buffalo, #NewYork.

Read more at: http://in.reuters.com/article/tesla-panasonic-solarcells-idINKBN14G0MV