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

As producers react to weak #Chinese demand by slashing output of #Copper, #Zinc and l#Lead, a side effect is #Silver prices are getting a boost as less of the #PreciousMetal is unearthed. Production will fall this year for the first time in more than a decade, say Societe Generale SA and Standard Chartered Plc.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-21/silver-getting-accidental-boost-from-base-metal-industry-s-gloom

#RioTinto’s incoming chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques has been tipped to boost the miner’s stake in the vast Oyu Tolgoi #Copper mine in #Mongolia when he replaces incumbent Sam Walsh in July.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/rio-tintos-new-ceo-seen-grabbing-bigger-slice-of-mongolias-oyu-tolgoi-copper-20160320-gnmsti.html#ixzz43Y8hH0tl

Read more at: http://www.mining.com/glencore-closer-to-selling-lomas-bayas-copper-mine-in-chile/

Findings suggest that a red #Bread mold could be the key to producing more sustainable #Electrochemical materials for use in #Rechargeable #Batteries.

The researchers show for the first time that the fungus Neurospora crassa can transform manganese into a #Mineral composite with favorable electrochemical properties.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-03-bread-mold-rechargeable-battery.html#jCp

#London #Copper popped back above the $5,000 mark on Thursday after #US monetary officials flagged fewer rate hikes this year because of a fragile globalEconomy, knocking the dollar and boosting the value of commodities.

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) using the Quokka instrument has brought insight into how ions are transported at the nano level in stacked membranes of graphene, materials that have many unique properties. The research was aimed to develop graphene into a more versatile material.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2016-03-nuclear-techniques-reveal-tunability-membranes.html#jCp

#Copper has a “great future”, despite the tumbling price of the metal knocking #Antofagasta’s profits by 83pc in 2015, the company’s chief executive has said.

Read more at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/03/15/antofagasta-cancels-final-dividend-as-profits-collapse-by-83pc/

A  Creditor-Worker  buyback proposal led by former senior #Yabulu #Nickel #Refinery staff has given hundreds of ­retrenched workers hope that they might get their jobs back.

Read more at: http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/hopes-raised-by-creditor-buyback-plans-for-yabulu-nickel-refinery/news-story/4b9d112d5ea1e576bc0b79d3a288b8cd

#Gold prices have made significant gains, rising almost 20% since the start of the year; however, other precious metals, #Platinum and #Silver in particular, have lagged behind.

Read more at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kitconews/2016/03/11/platinum-silver-gain-attention-at-pdac-2016/#3b91ed121f83

The #Graphene shields the #Nanocrystals from #Oxygen and #Moisture and contaminants, while tiny, natural holes allow the smaller #Hydrogen molecules to pass through. This filtering process overcomes common problems degrading the performance of metal hydrides for hydrogen storage.

Read more at: http://newscenter.lbl.gov/2016/03/11/new-fuel-cell-graphene-wrapped-nanocrystals/