Protests in Chile drive government to propose new constitution
In a bid to end weeks of anti-government protests and riots that have left at least 26 people dead and 13,500 injured, Chile’s political parties have agreed on a process…
Industrial/Specialty Minerals
‘Rising tide’ to float all battery-metal boats
Rising electric vehicle (EV) adoption is driving a massive transformation in lithium-ion battery production. “Back in 2015, there were three lithium-ion battery megafactories [built or in development] — we’re now…
Mining waste for key metals
Apple is using recycled rare earth elements (REE) in a key component of its newest iPhone 11 models, which hit the market in September. The recycled REEs are employed in…
BHP appoints insider as CEO
BHP (NYSE: BHP; LON: BHP) has appointed Mike Henry as its new CEO starting Jan. 1, 2020. Henry will replace CEO Andrew Mackenzie, who is retiring on Dec. 31. Currently…
China’s Yibin Tianyi invests in lithium-focused AVZ Minerals
China’s Yibin Tianyi is taking a 12% stake in Australia’s AVZ Minerals (ASX: AVZ) for A$14.1 million (US$9.6 million). The Perth-based mining company says it will use the funds to…
Chile in turmoil as tensions boil over
The worst unrest in Chile in a generation threatens to overturn assumptions about one of South America’s most stable countries and the world’s leading copper producer. All it took was…
Wealth Minerals and Rosatom sign MOU
Russia’s state nuclear group Rosatom and Canada’s Wealth Minerals (TSXV: WML) are working towards a partnership at the junior’s Atacama lithium project in northern Chile. The two companies signed a memorandum…
Lynas and Blue Line to build rare earths separation capacity in US
A combination of growing demand for rare earth elements (REEs) and supply uncertainty related to the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China has reignited project investment, with rare…
US Vanadium acquires Russian-owned production facility in Arkansas
U.S. Vanadium, a private company in which venture capital firm Elysee Development Corp. (TSXV: ELC) has a 15% stake, is acquiring a Russian-owned production plant in Hot Springs, Ark., that…
Nemaska Lithium announces layoffs
Nemaska Lithium (TSX: NMX, US-OTC: NMKEF) plans to lay off 64 employees, or about half of its staff, after financing delays for its Whabouchi project in Quebec. “This difficult decision…
Lithium Americas feasibility boosts production capacity at Caucharí-Olaroz
Lithium Americas (TSX: LAC; NYSE: LAC) has released an updated feasibility study that boosted the production capacity of Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project in Argentina’s Jujuy province to 40,000 tonnes per annum from 25,000…
Revving up Greenland’s mineral production will take time
The MV Happy Dragon had just sailed into safe harbour at Charleston, S.C., when Hurricane Dorian forced the vessel back out to sea to await better weather. The cargo ship…