Latest news with #USGeologicalSurvey
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Perpetua secures $6.9m defence funding to advance domestic antimony supply
Perpetua Resources has received up to $6.9m in additional funding from the US Army through the Defence Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC). The funds will be used to test the feasibility of using material from Perpetua's Stibnite Gold Project to produce military-specification antimony trisulfide. This funding is a continuation of the $15.5m awarded in August 2023 under an Ordnance Technology Initiative Agreement (OTIA). The supplemental award will expand the research already under way and support the US Army's goal of establishing a fully domestic "ground-to-round" antimony trisulfide supply chain. The OTIA aims to fund the development and delivery of a flexible, modular pilot plant to the US Army to process antimony and other materials of interest to the Department of Defense (DOD). Under the OTIA, Perpetua will be reimbursed on a cost-plus fixed fee basis through the end of 2026. The total funding of up to $22.4m under the OTIA may be adjusted by the DOTC as the programme progresses. Perpetua is entitled to be reimbursed for all costs incurred under the agreement. With this additional funding, Perpetua Resources will expand material sampling and enhance the pilot plant's scope and size. Perpetua Resources president and CEO Jon Cherry said: 'We are honoured to continue our work with the US Army to secure a domestic source of antimony trisulfide. 'Advancing America's capabilities to process minerals critical to national defence is essential for our long-term mineral independence and resilience. We are proud to play our part in furthering the Army's 'ground-to-round' critical minerals strategy.' This award is part of a broader partnership with the DOD to secure domestic sources of critical minerals. Perpetua has now received more than $80m in total from the Department of Defense. The Stibnite Gold Project is expected to supply up to 35% of US antimony demand in its first six years, based on the 2023 US Geological Survey antimony commodity summary. This funding comes at a critical time, as China, which dominates the global antimony market, ceased exports to the US in 2024. The project will not only support national security but also generate jobs, improve water quality and address environmental issues at an abandoned mine site, according to the company. Recently, Perpetua applied to the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) for up to $2bn in potential debt financing for the construction of the Stibnite Gold Project. EXIM's due diligence and review will follow to determine the project's eligibility under its initiatives. "Perpetua secures $6.9m defence funding to advance domestic antimony supply" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
The West is recycling rare earths to escape China's grip — but it's not enough
As China tightens its grip on the global supply of key minerals, the West is working to reduce its dependence on Chinese rare earths. This includes finding alternative sources of rare earth minerals, developing technologies to reduce reliance, and recovering existing stockpiles through recycling products that are reaching the end of their shelf life. 'You cannot build a modern car without rare earths,' said consulting firm AlixPartners, noting how Chinese companies have come to dominate the supply chain for the minerals. In September 2024, the US Department of Defense invested $US4.2 million ($6.5m) in Rare Earth Salts, a startup that aims to extract the oxides from domestic recycled products such as fluorescent light bulbs. Japan's Toyota has also been investing in technologies to reduce the use of rare earth elements. According to the US Geological Survey, China controlled 69 per cent of rare earth mine production in 2024, and nearly half of the world's reserves. Analysts from AlixPartners estimate that a typical single-motor battery electric vehicle includes around 550 grams (1.21 pounds) of components containing rare earths, unlike gasoline-powered cars, which only use 140 grams of rare earths, or about 5 ounces. More than half of the new passenger cars sold in China are battery-only and hybrid-powered cars, unlike the U.S., where they are still mostly gasoline-powered. 'With slowing EV uptake (in the U.S.) and mandates to convert from ICE to EV formats receding into the future, the imperative for replacing Chinese-sourced materials in EVs is declining,' said Christopher Ecclestone, principal and mining strategist at Hallgarten & Company. 'Pretty soon, the first generation of EVs will be up for recycling themselves, creating a pool of ex-China material that will be under the control of the West,' he said. Only 7.5 per cent of new US vehicle sales in the first quarter were electric, a modest increase from a year ago, according to Cox Automotive. It pointed out that around two-thirds of EVs sold in the U.S. last year were assembled locally, but manufacturers still rely on imports for the parts. 'The current, full-blown trade war with China, the world's leading supplier of EV battery materials, will distort the market even more.' Of the 1.7 kilograms (3.74 pounds) of components containing rare earths found in a typical single-motor battery electric car, 550 grams (1.2 pounds) are rare earths. About the same amount, 510 grams, is used in hybrid-powered vehicles using lithium-ion batteries. In early April, China announced export controls on seven rare earths. Those restrictions included terbium, 9 grams of which is typically used in a single-motor EV, AlixPartners data showed. None of the six other targeted rare earths are significantly used in cars, according to the data. But April's list is not the only one. A separate Chinese list of metal controls that took effect in December restricts exports of cerium, 50 grams of which AlixPartners said is used on average in a single-motor EV. The controls mean that Chinese companies handling the minerals must get government approval to sell them overseas. Caixin, a Chinese business news outlet, reported on May 15, just days after a US-China trade truce, that three leading Chinese rare earth magnet companies have received export licenses from the commerce ministry to ship to North America and Europe. What's concerning for international business is that there are barely any alternatives to China for obtaining the rare earths. Mines can take years to get operating approval, while processing plants also take time and expertise to establish. 'Today, China controls over 90 per cent of the global refined supply for the four magnet rare earth elements (Nd, Pr, Dy, Tb), which are used to make permanent magnets for EV motors,' the International Energy Agency said in a statement. That refers to neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. For the less commonly used nickel metal hydride batteries in hybrid cars, the amount of rare earths goes up to 4.45 kilograms, or nearly 10 pounds, according to AlixPartners. That's largely because that kind of battery uses 3.5 kilograms of lanthanum. 'I estimate that around 70 per cent of the over 200 kilograms of minerals in an EV goes through China, but it varies by vehicle and manufacturer. It's hard to put a definitive figure on it,' said Henry Sanderson, associate fellow at The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security. However, there are limits to recycling, which remains challenging, energy-intensive and time-consuming. And even if adoption of EVs in the U.S. slows, the minerals are used in far larger quantities in defence. For example, the F-35 fighter jet contains over 900 pounds of rare earths, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, based in Washington, DC. China's rare earths restrictions also go beyond the closely watched list released on April 4. In the last two years, China has increased its control over a broader category of metals known as critical minerals. In the summer of 2023, China said it would restrict exports of gallium and germanium, both used in chipmaking. About a year later, it announced restrictions on antimony, used to strengthen other metals and a significant component in bullets, nuclear weapons production and lead-acid batteries. The State Council, the country's top executive body, in October released an entire policy for strengthening controls of exports, including minerals, that might have dual-use properties, or be used for military and civilian purposes. One restriction that caught many in the industry by surprise was on tungsten, a US-designated critical mineral but not a rare earth. The extremely hard metal is used in weapons, cutting tools, semiconductors and car batteries. China produced about 80 per cent of the global tungsten supply in 2024, and the U.S. imports 27% of tungsten from China, data from the U.S. Geological Survey showed. About 2 kilograms of tungsten is typically used in each electric car battery, said Michael Dornhofer, founder of metals consulting firm Independent Supply Business Partner. He pointed out that this tungsten is not able to return to the recycling chain for at least seven years, and its low levels of use might not even make it reusable. '50 per cent of the world's tungsten is consumed by China, so they have business as usual,' Lewis Black, CEO of tungsten mining company Almonty, said in an interview last month. 'It's the other 40 per cent that's produced (in China) that comes into the West that doesn't exist.' He said when the company's forthcoming tungsten mine in South Korea reopens this year, it would mean there would be enough non-China supply of the metal to satisfy US, Europe and South Korean needs for defence. But for autos, medical and aerospace, 'we just don't have enough.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Bolivian lithium brines emerging from the shadows cast by Chile and Argentina
Bolivia's salars are estimated to host about 22% of the world's known lithium resources Lithium brines in the country saddled with high levels of magnesium that make it expensive to process Cosmos Exploration is counting on A-DLE technology developed by Vulcan Energy to overcome this hurdle The famed Lithium Triangle encompasses parts of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia and supplies the majority of the world's lithium and hosts the lion's share of identified reserves. This lithium is contained within salt lakes (salars) that host mineral-rich brines that have to be pumped up to surface and traditionally left in evaporation ponds to be concentrated with reagents before being processed. These are globally significant due to their exceptional lithium enrichment that is due to a combination of geological, climatic, basin morphology and hydrological factors that create ideal conditions for lithium concentration. However, while Bolivia's salars are estimated by the US Geological Survey to host an estimated 23Mt of contained lithium, about 22% of the world's known lithium resources, most of the attention has been monopolised by Chile and Argentina. Chile is the second largest producer of lithium after Australia, while companies have snapped up, grown and carried out extensive work in Argentina. So why has Bolivia fallen by the wayside? Magnesium malaise For starters, the Bolivian salars are higher in altitude and wetter than those in Chile, meaning that the extraction process takes longer and costs more as the cooler temperatures reduce the evaporation rate and seasonal rainfall exacerbates this. But Cosmos Exploration (ASX:C1X) executive chairman Jeremy Robinson told Stockhead the foremost reason was the relatively high magnesium content of the Bolivian brines. As an example, the giant Salar de Uyuni – the largest lithium-bearing salt lake in the world – has an extremely high magnesium to lithium ratio of 19:1, above the 6:1 found at Chile's Salar de Atacama and 1:1 at Argentina's Hombre Muerto salar. This magnesium has to be removed by adding slaked lime before the concentrated brine can be processed, a requirement that adds further costs to the process. A common industry axiom says that the ratio needs to be below 10:1 to remain economical. 'That's why we need direct lithium extraction technology,' Robinson added. Counting on DLE Adsorption-type Direct Lithium Extraction (A-DLE) uses physical processes, optimised by heat and salinity gradients, to selectively extract lithium from brines while minimising water loss and environmental impact. DLE extraction does require significant upfront investment and energy input but can achieve lithium extraction in just hours or days – rather than weeks or months with higher recoveries. Cosmos itself is counting on A-DLE. In December last year, the company signed an exclusive option agreement to acquire EAU Lithium, a private lithium development company, part owned by Vulcan Energy Resources (ASX:VUL), with a technology-testing agreement with Bolivian state-owned company Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB). This agreement, which also leverages EAU's technology partnership with Vulcan, enables EAU to test lithium brines from Salar de Coipasa, Salar de Empexa and Salar de Pastos Grandes salars – some of the largest salars in the country. While recognised for their high lithium, high magnesium brine chemistry, these salars remain largely undeveloped and have seen less work than the more widely studied Salar de Uyuni. Despite this, they offer compelling opportunities for the evaluation of advanced lithium extraction technologies with the region benefitting from existing road infrastructure and access to export routes via nearby Chilean ports. 'We've purchased an option to acquire EAU lithium and EAU Lithium has a test work agreement whereby it has to prove that the Vulcan A-DLE technology can recover the lithium from the lithium brine in Bolivia,' Robinson said. VULSORB is Vulcan's proprietary alumina-based sorbent that has demonstrated higher performance and lower water consumption for lithium extraction compared to commercially available sorbents. Cosmos had previously flagged that the entire process could take six to nine months.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Watch: Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano erupts again, unleashing lava fountain over 1,000 feet, officials warn of health risk
The most recent eruption of a volcano on Hawaii's Big Island sent lava gushing more than 1,000 feet into the sky on Sunday. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, which is roughly 200 miles and a number of islands southeast of Honolulu, was the site of the eruption. Kilauea and Mauna Loa are situated in the national park and the latter is the world's largest active volcanoes. According to the US Geological Survey, Kilauea, which has a peak elevation of 4,091 feet, is among the most active volcanoes in the globe. It has been experiencing a lava eruption from its Halemaumau crater since December 23. The current eruption from Halemaumau, which is a component of the greater caldera at the summit of Kilauea, is on its 23rd episode. USGS updates indicate that the May 25 eruption lasted approximately six hours in two of Halemaumau's vents, with the south vent stopping at 10:25 p.m. local time and the north vent ending at 9:48 p.m. The main concerns of officials are high concentrations of volcanic gas, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and water vapor, which can have severe consequences downwind. A visible haze of volcanic smog, known as vog, is produced when sulfur dioxide mixes with the environment. They can lead to respiratory issues as well as other health issues when vog and sulfur dioxide levels are high. Other issues include volcanic debris from lava fountains and what is referred to as 'Pele's hair.' The volcanic glass strands that make up Pele's hair can group together to resemble tumbleweeds. Also Read: Did Trump just express anger amid claims Harvard rejected Barron Trump? 'It's too much' Although strong winds can send the light particles downwind, the volcanic shards fall within a few hundred yards of eruptive vents. Pele's hair and other pieces on the ground can irritate skin and eyes, therefore officials advise locals and tourists to limit their exposure to these particles.
Mint
5 days ago
- Science
- Mint
Hawaii's Kilauea erupts again: Lava soars over 1,000 feet in fiery spectacle
Hawaii's Kilauea volcano roared back to life on Sunday afternoon, unleashing lava fountains that soared over 1,000 feet high and blanketing the summit crater in molten rock. The US Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) confirmed the eruption began around 4:15 p.m. local time at the north vent of Halemaʻumaʻu, a pit crater within the volcano's summit caldera. By 5:15 p.m., the south vent also became active, spewing lava up to 800 feet. The dramatic eruption lasted several hours, ending just after 10 p.m., according to HVO's status report. The eruption released a large plume of volcanic material — including ash, gas, and Pele's hair, a glass-like volcanic fiber — that reached at least 5,000 feet into the atmosphere. 'Primary hazards include high levels of volcanic gas,' HVO warned. 'These can interact with the atmosphere to form vog [volcanic smog], which may affect people, animals, and agriculture downwind.' Sunday's display marked the 23rd eruptive event since Kilauea's renewed activity began on December 23, 2024. Most episodes have lasted less than 24 hours, and this latest one followed that pattern. Jets of lava are spraying into the air, forming neon-orange fissures across the crater floor. 'Lava fountains from the north vent are exceeding 1,000 feet,' USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory noted. Known as one of the world's most active volcanoes, Kilauea has been in near-constant activity since 1983. It shares the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with its larger but less active neighbor, Mauna Loa — the biggest volcano on Earth, which last erupted in 2022. The fiery shows have become a major draw for visitors. While the current activity is limited to the crater floor, scientists continue to monitor the situation closely. Live streams of the ongoing volcanic activity are available through the USGS YouTube channel for those hoping to witness nature's fiery spectacle from a safe distance.
