Mussel-inspired technology efficiently recovers neodymium from wastewater
KEFI Gold and Copper* (KEFI LN) 0.6p, Mkt Cap £30m – Q2/23 operation update highlights Tulu Kapi construction ready status and ramp up of development activities in Saudi Arabia
Zimbabwe stockpiles 300,000 carats of diamonds
Peruvian authorities launch ‘mega-operations’ to destroy illegal mining camps in tropical biodiversity hotspot
Australia’s Genmin signs MoU with Chinese firm to supply iron ore products
US Steel to explore strategic alternatives for the company
RANKED: World’s largest clay and hard rock lithium projects
Codelco and Anglo American discuss mining pact to lift copper output in Chile
Mussel-inspired technology efficiently recovers neodymium from wastewater
Researchers at Penn State University developed a new mussel-inspired nanocellulose coating (MINC) that has demonstrated what they call a “remarkable, even surprising” ability to recover rare earth elements from secondary sources, such as industrial wastewater, without using a high amount of energy.
In a paper published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, the scientists explain that mussels have a remarkable ability to adhere to surfaces underwater thanks to the adhesive properties of catechol-based molecules found in mussel proteins. The MINC mirrors this by consisting of ultra-tiny hairy cellulose nanocrystals with uniquely sticky properties.
The novel nanocellulose coating is applied to a substrate via a technique called dopamine-mediated ad-layer formation. A chemical reaction enables it to form a thin layer of molecules on a surface, making it capable of sticking to a broad range of substrates.
KEFI Gold and Copper* (KEFI LN) 0.6p, Mkt Cap £30m – Q2/23 operation update highlights Tulu Kapi construction ready status and ramp up of development activities in Saudi Arabia
The Company released Q2/23 update highlighting development progress at its precious and base metal projects in Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia.
The latest project pipeline development plant includes:
2023 launch Tulu Kapi open-pit in Ethiopia for first production end-2025;
2024 launch Jibal Qutman Gold open-pit in Saudi Arabia for first production end-2025;
2025 launch of the Hawiah Copper-Gold open-pit in Saudi Arabia for first production 2027; and
2026 and thereafter launch of underground mine development at Tulu Kapi and at Hawiah for first production two years later.
In Ethiopia, the Company is awaiting final credit committee and board approvals from lenders and project investors regarding the $320m debt/equity Tulu Kapi Gold Project capital commitments.
Project funding and deployment of capital is expected in coming months with preparation for community resettlement at Tulu Kapi planned for Q3/23 and construction start in Q4/23.
The Company expanded on site team under MD Theron Brand with the Tulu Kapi development execution team now being assembled within the local subsidiary TKGM and Lycopodium.
Separately, the team is reporting it launched administrative proceedings with regards to adjacent to the Tulu Kapi Project exploration licenses.
During an overhaul of the title regulatory system in 2022, these licenses appear to be over staked by a separate entity registered in Hong Kong.
In Saudi Arabia,
At Jibal Qutman, the team is focused on DFS related work with MRE infill, metallurgical and geotechnical drilling completed during the quarter.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has stockpiled 300,000 carats of diamonds under new regulations which compel miners to pay half of their royalties using commodities, the state-run Sunday Mail reported.
Central bank governor John Mangudya also told the Harare-based newspaper that gold reserves stood at around 350 kilograms, or around $20 million in US dollars. The value of the diamond stockpile is hard to quantify, he added.
Zimbabwe introduced regulations last year that require miners to pay half of their royalties to the government in the commodities themselves and the rest in cash, as the southern African country seeks to build its mineral reserves.
Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Co Ltd., and Murowa Diamond Ltd., which is owned by Rio Zim Ltd., are the only diamond firms operating in the country.
Mining companies that operate in Zimbabwe include units of Impala Platinum Ltd., Anglo American Platinum Ltd. and Sibanye Gold Ltd.
Peruvian authorities launch ‘mega-operations’ to destroy illegal mining camps in tropical biodiversity hotspot
Illegal mining equipment seized in Madre de Dios in August 2023.
Peruvian authorities were able to identify and destroy new illegal mining camps in the Madre de Dios region.
Located in the Amazon Basin in the southeastern part of the country, Madre de Dios is a protected tropical biodiversity hotspot. The area, however, has been plagued with illegal river gold mining for years.
Following what has been deemed as “two mega-operations” that involved intelligence work carried out by the National Police and the Peruvian Army, the Fifth Office of the Specialized Prosecutor for the Environment of Madre de Dios was able to locate two major camps in the Chorrillos and Túpac Amaru sectors.
The government agents seized and destroyed 41 engines, 3,382 pipelines, fuel, steel wires, batteries, easels, and machinery, among other items.
The official information does not mention any arrests made in connection with the operations.
A 2022 USAID report revealed that over 46,000 artisanal miners work illegally in Madre de Dios. Of those, over 9,000 conduct their activities in protected areas.
Australia’s Genmin signs MoU with Chinese firm to supply iron ore products
Australia’s Genmin signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Hunan Valin Steel to sell and deliver 2.4 million tonnes per annum of iron ore products for two years from its Baniaka project in west Central Africa, the iron ore miner said on Friday.
US Steel to explore strategic alternatives for the company
Steel producer United States Steel Corporation said on Sunday it is initiating a formal review to evaluate strategic alternatives for the company.
The decision follows the company “receiving multiple unsolicited proposals that ranged from the acquisition of certain production assets to consideration for the whole company,” CEO David Burritt said, without disclosing more details on the strategic alternatives.
US Steel, which has been raising prices to offset the impact from higher costs related to raw materials and energy, has seen strong demand for its steel products helping the company beat profit estimates for the second quarter.
RANKED: World’s largest clay and hard rock lithium projects
The lithium market has been in turmoil with dramatic price swings over the last few years as demand from electric cars take off and global supply growth tries to keep up.
Junior miners are piling into the lithium market with competing new projects — the US state of Nevada is the emerging hotspot and where this year’s top three lithium projects are all located.
In a snapshot of the global project pipeline, Mining Intelligence data provides a ranking of the largest clay and hard rock projects in 2023, based on total reported lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) resources and measured in million tonnes (mt).
These projects will add to already robust production growth with global output set to come close to 1 million tonnes this year ramping up to 1.5 million tonnes in 2025, double production levels in 2022.
Codelco and Anglo American discuss mining pact to lift copper output in Chile
Codelco and Anglo American Plc are exploring options to coordinate mining activities at their adjoining copper operations in Chile in a bid to boost output and productivity, people familiar with the matter said.
Talks are focusing on enabling Codelco’s Andina mine and Anglo’s Los Bronces to tap rich ore grades sitting between the two operations, as well as processing Andina ore at Los Bronces plants, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private information.
Any agreement would be limited to operational collaboration rather than ownership changes. State-owned Codelco and London-based Anglo declined to comment.
The two neighboring mines high up in the Andes mountains above Santiago have long discussed sharing infrastructure and site access and have already signed some easement and sustainability agreements. Those discussions were halted during a protracted permitting process to add underground operations at Los Bronces, which has now been resolved.
Mining companies around the world are forging partnerships in an effort to bring down costs and boost output as mines and projects get trickier and pricier at a time of lingering supply chain disruptions, inflation and construction bottlenecks. In March, Glencore Plc boss Gary Nagle spoke about the benefits of combining mines that are located next to each other but owned by different companies.
