sage in the hills
20 Feb 2015
Tungsten market The Gold Report: Europe plays a more dominant role in tungsten supply and pricing than the U.S. Is that likely to change in the near term?Robert Baylis: China is the dominant player in the tungsten industry, but both Europe and North America have an impact on the market. Europe is probably more important when it comes to pricing because the main benchmark for the industry is APT, ammonium paratungstate, and one of the key reference points for pricing is the FOB EU APT quotation. Europe also has more diverse end users, whereas there are fewer players in North America.TGR: How did China become the world's dominant tungsten player?RB: Prior to the 1980s most of the tungsten produced in China was used domestically and most of the tungsten processors, some of which we have already mentioned, were buying significant volumes of concentrate from a variety of mines around the world. Enter China. Chinese tungsten reserves are considerable and the cost in the 1980s to mine them was lower than at mines elsewhere. When China started exporting tungsten concentrate to Western processors in the early 1980s, a lot of the existing tungsten mines shut down owing to price competition. In the early 2000s, China implemented export quotas to prevent tungsten concentrate from going to foreign processors in order to develop its domestic processing industry and move beyond being a raw materials supplier. Today China is the largest producer both of tungsten concentrate and intermediate products.China's export quota went into effect in the early 2000s when the market was at its strongest and that put some pressure on supply. As such, tungsten processors in the rest of the world turned to recycling tungsten and other sources of supply. The result is that Western processors have diversified their supply chain and are now less reliant on China.TGR: Reuters reports that China is expected to remove export quotas for tungsten and molybdenum in 2015, which could obviously lead to more tungsten and molybdenum coming to market. Please tell us about the potential impact of China's decision to remove those quotas.RB: Under a recent World Trade Organization decision, China was told that it must remove its tungsten export quotas. And while that could have some impact, there is no longer significant reliance on Chinese exports. Had this happened in, say, 2007, the impact would have been stronger.The impact will be on pricing, because the Chinese export quota also restricted the number of suppliers to the rest of the world. If that restriction were relaxed, the Chinese domestic APT price and the EU APT price would perhaps normalize because domestic prices in China are lower than those in the rest of the world. There may be a small drop in price in 2015, but there won't be a large drop as Chinese mines are no longer so low cost. EU APT is the main benchmark for the rest of the world.TGR: What's the difference between APT and ferro-tungsten? Why does one garner a lot less money than the other?RB: Ferro-tungsten is used mainly to produce harder-wearing steels for tools and the like. Like any ferro alloy, the iron content helps it bond with steel. APT isn't used very much as a product. It's an intermediate. It will become tungsten powder and get used in many different applications. Most of the trading starts at the point of producing APT. Also, APT is a relatively consistent product globally, so it's easy to set a benchmark for, whereas concentrate can vary considerably in terms of tungsten content and deleterious elements.TGR: What investable themes should investors expect in the tungsten space over the medium term?RB: The industry for tungsten is driven by macro-level growth. Automotive, machining and electronics are the main industries using tungsten. In the short or medium term it's unlikely that we'll see any rapid increase in demand. On the supply side, the key thing to look at is the cost position of China versus the r
sage in the hills
20 Feb 2015
technical [link]
sage in the hills
20 Feb 2015
Batteries again ! .. An engineer has made a breakthrough in rechargeable battery applications. Gurpreet Singh, assistant professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering at Kansas State University, and his student researchers are the first to demonstrate that a composite paper - made of interleaved molybdenum disulfide and graphene nanosheets - can be both an active material to efficiently store sodium atoms and a flexible current collector. The newly developed composite paper can be used as a negative electrode in sodium-ion batteries."Most negative electrodes for sodium-ion batteries use materials that undergo an 'alloying' reaction with sodium," Singh said. "These materials can swell as much as 400 to 500 percent as the battery is charged and discharged, which may result in mechanical damage and loss of electrical contact with the current collector.""Molybdenum disulfide, the major constituent of the paper electrode, offers a new kind of chemistry with sodium ions, which is a combination of intercalation and a conversion-type reaction," Singh said. "The paper electrode offers stable charge capacity of 230 mAh.g-1, with respect to total electrode weight. Further, the interleaved and porous structure of the paper electrode offers smooth channels for sodium to diffuse in and out as the cell is charged and discharged quickly. This design also eliminates the polymeric binders and copper current collector foil used in a traditional battery electrode."The research appears in the latest issue of the journal ACS Nano in the article "MoS2/graphene composite paper for sodium-ion battery electrodes."For the last two years the researchers have been developing new methods for quick and cost-effective synthesis of atomically thin two-dimensional materials—graphene, molybdenum and tungsten disulfide—in gram quantities, particularly for rechargeable battery applications.For the latest research, the engineers created a large-area composite paper that consisted of acid-treated layered molybdenum disulfide and chemically modified graphene in an interleaved structured. The research marks the first time that such a flexible paper electrode was used in a sodium-ion battery as an anode that operates at room temperature. Most commercial sodium-sulfur batteries operate close to 300 degrees Celsius, Singh said.Singh said the research is important for two reasons:1. Synthesis of large quantities of single or few-layer-thick 2-D materials is crucial to understanding the true commercial potential of materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides, or TMD, and graphene.2. Fundamental understanding of how sodium is stored in a layered material through mechanisms other than the conventional intercalation and alloying reaction. In addition, using graphene as the flexible support and current collector is crucial for eliminating the copper foil and making lighter and bendable rechargeable batteries. In contrast to lithium, sodium supplies are essentially unlimited and the batteries are expected to be a lot cheaper."From the synthesis point of view, we have shown that certain transition metal dichalcogenides can be exfoliated in strong acids," Singh said. "This method should allow synthesis of gram quantities of few-layer-thick molybdenum disulfide sheets, which is very crucial for applications such as flexible batteries, supercapacitors, and polymer composites. For such applications, TMD flakes that are a few atoms thick are sufficient. Very high-quality single-layer flakes are not a necessity."The researchers are working to commercialize the technology, with assistance from the university's Institute of Commercialization. They also are exploring lithium and sodium storage in other nanomaterials. The bottom image shows a self-standing molybdenum disulfide/graphene composite paper electrode and the top image highlights its layered structure. Source: [link]
sage in the hills
20 Feb 2015
Green Car Congress High-capacity tungsten disulfide/graphene nanocomposite anodes for Na-ion batteries27 February 2014A team from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and the University of Technology, Sydney reported the successful synthesis by a simple hydrothermal approach of high-capacity WS2 (tungsten disulfide)@graphene nanocomposite anodes for sodium-ion batteries. Their paper is published in the RSC journal Chemical Communications.Schematic diagram of the WS2@graphene nanocomposites. Su et al. Click to enlarge.XRD, FESEM, and TEM analyses of the prepared material showed that the WS2 nanocrystals were homogeneously distributed on the graphene nanosheets.Anodes were prepared by dispersing 70 wt. % as-prepared materials, 20 wt. % acetylene carbon black, and 10 wt. % PVDF binder in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to form a slurry. The resultant slurry was pasted onto copper foil using a doctor blade and dried in a vacuum oven for 12 h, which was followed by pressing at 200 kg cm-2. The typical loading of each electrode was approximately 1.2 mg cm-2.Electrochemical measurements were carried out using two-electrode coin cells (CR2032) with Na metal as reference and counter electrode and glass microfiber as the separator.… the WS2@graphene nanocomposite showed its highly reactive nature towards sodium storage. It demonstrated a high reversible specific capacity of about 594 mA h g-1, excellent cyclability, and a good high rate performance, which could be ascribed to the highly conductive graphene matrix and the unique 3D architecture of the nanocomposite. WS2@graphene nanocomposite is a promising high performance anode material for Na-ion batteries.—Su et al.SAGE
sage in the hills
20 Feb 2015
Re: Tungsten Yet more than 80% of world supply is controlled by China, and in recent years China has imposed restrictions on the export of tungsten - along with many other raw commodities. It wants to encourage the development of the hi-tech industries that use tungsten within China itself.That's also helped to push prices up, making previously uneconomic non-Chinese deposits worthwhile to mine.Hemerdon, on the edge of Dartmoor, is the first new metal mine to be opened in Britain for 40 years, and will exploit the world's third largest tungsten deposit.It is being re-opened by a company called Wolf Minerals, named after "wolfram", an alternative name for tungsten and why the element is represented by a W in the periodic table. (In fact, "volfram" is the name used in Sweden, where "tungsten" refers to Scheelite, calcium tungstate.)This new mine is another manifestation of the competitive pressures that shape the modern worldSAGE
ybhere
20 Feb 2015
Re: Tungsten For whatever reason, DL seems to want to stake a substantial claim on Tungsten mining. When DL first went into Bacanora Minerals (BCN) with REM, he had a good analyst video on the potential of BCN. I just wonder what the underlying reasons are for Tungsten mining and this mine in particular which he hopes can more than triple production. Are the clients out there to take up the slack. Difficult finding anything on the net. I had wondered if Tungsten was a constituent part of batteries and have found that in just the last few years there has been research in that area with Tungsten cathodes or anodes. I just wonder if this has been developed further.Some news would be nice.YB
sage in the hills
20 Feb 2015
Re: Tungsten There wont be a lot left in the bank after spending another US$1m ..... is there anything else money will be needed for ?SAGE
ybhere
20 Feb 2015
Re: Tungsten Just relooking at the last News announcement and the following para: Evocutis has an exclusive option to increase its holding in BTHL to 20% within 60 business days by investing a further US$1m towards mine expansion.60 business days from 18th December, presumably 5 days a week takes us up to 12th March plus Christmas and New Year breaks, another week say, takes us up to 19th March.I'm expecting anytime between now and 19th March, 4 weeks, another announcement.YB
ybhere
14 Feb 2015
BCN / REM / EVO / DL Copied from my post on the REM discussion board.Sorry for this rather lengthy posting. With the lack of anything substantial in the way of news, I was pondering Evocutis's venture into Brazilian Tungsten mining. Why? Apart from being able to more than triple the production of tungsten mining at the Bodo mine, is there a method in the madness. It's all well and good tripling production if you've got customers to take up the slack. Everyone who has seen one of DL's earlier videos on TipTV or whichever channel it was, will remember his words about the BCN lithium mine, 'it will blow your lights out'. So, I ask myself, is there a connection between lithium, blowing my lights out and tungsten. Is there a connection? I've tried to find info on the construction of lithium batteries, is tungsten used. Another striking picture are the number of recharging points required globally to enable electric vehicles to travel long distance with ease. In effect, where ever there is a petrol filling station, public/private car park, station parking, hotel parking. etc, etc there will be demand for an electric recharging point. Have a look at the Tesla website to see how the network is spreading. How many millions of those will be required. Is there a tungsten connection. Information is a bit thin on the ground and I'm no engineer. I'm still digging. The closest I've got is, from popular science and the NYDailyNews.com posted in Oct 2011 is:- We all know that one of the biggest obstacles to electric car adoption is the long, often overnight recharge time. But Nissan claims that they've created a new charging system that'll fill up your car (Nissan would undoubtedly prefer to say "your Leaf"
in only ten minutes--not much different than a regular trip to the Earth-killing pump. AFPƒþ reports that Nissan, working with Japan's Kansai University, has come up with a breakthrough in electric charging tech. Details are scarce at best--Nissan isn't clarifying anything to reporters--but here's what's been reportedƒþ: "The breakthrough reportedly came by changing the electrode inside a capacitor from carbon to tungsten oxide and vanadium oxide to improve power." The Pop Science more or less poo poo'd Nissan's development but, since 2011, has the technology gained traction.. So, whilst BCN's lithium mine will blow your lights out, perhaps the Bodo Brazilian tungsten mine and Evocutis investment will be caught in the draught. YB
sage in the hills
12 Feb 2015
Tungsten How much will David Lenigas make out of this deal then ?What is his profit and exit strategy ?SAGE
sage in the hills
12 Feb 2015
RNS 1 12 February 2015 Evocutis Plc("Evocutis" or the "Company" Update - Tungsten Mining Operations, Brazil Evocutis Plc (AIM: EVO) is pleased to announce that final contracts have now been signed that completes the acquisition of the initial 10% interest of the Bodó Tungsten Mine ("Bodó" in Brazil. David Lenigas, the Company's Chairman, commented: "Evocutis is pleased to conclude this key initial strategic acquisition in the exciting Bodó Tungsten Mine in Brazil, and we look forward to participating in expanding tungsten production significantly over the coming year." Ownership: Evocutis originally signed a Binding Term Sheet ("BTS" on 18th December 2014 to acquire an initial 10% interest in Brazil Tungsten Holdings Limited ("BTHL", the owners of the producing Bodó Tungsten Mine in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, by investing US$1m in new capital in BTHL for the specific purposes of mine expansion. Evocutis has paid the final payment of US$750,000 to BTHL, which is being directed towards the costs of expanding the operations at the Bodó Mine. Evocutis has an exclusive option to increase its holding in BTHL to 20% within 60 business days by investing a further US$1million towards mine expansion. About the Bodó Tungsten Mine, Brazil: BTHL is headed up by mining specialists Stephen Fabian, Paul Berndt and Mark Burridge. BTHL owns, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bodó Mineraçao Ltda, the Bodó Tungsten Project ("Bodó", which is located in Brazil's Seridó Tungsten Province in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. The Seridó Tungsten Province is Brazil's most important tungsten producing region and hosts the majority of Brazil's tungsten reserves. The project is located adjacent to highway RN203 and is 200 km west of the State capital of Natal. Bodó is a high-grade tungsten operation employing 96 people, and is currently operating at the rate of about 50-60 tonnes of ore production per day from underground operations. The ore is being processed through an onsite treatment plant with a current capacity of about 200 tonnes per day. Tungsten concentrates are sold to the global export market under an existing sales agency agreement with Wogen Pacific Limited. It is intended that the funds provided by Evocutis will be specifically used to provide the necessary working capital to expand and improve the existing operations. For the mine, funds will be utilised to refurbish an existing incline shaft and advance underground development so that daily ore production can be tripled. For the mill, funds will be utilised to modify the plant, which is expected to improve tungsten recoveries from approximately 65% to an anticipated recoveries of over 80%, by adding grinding equipment to fully liberate the tungsten mineral. Beyond this, the directors of Evocutis believe significant further growth potential exists from both continued underground development and several potential open pit mining areas already identified which have the potential to support continued cost-effective growth to levels of production a multiple above current levels. BTHL's holdings consist of one mining lease and two exploration licenses totalling189.6 hectares. The Bodó mining lease 000.894/1944 is surrounded by the adjacent exploration licence areas; 848.129/2006 (9,965 ha) and 848.129/2006 (281.75 ha). The Departmento Nacional de Produção Mineral (DNPM) Mining Licence 000.849/1944 wasfirst issued on 2nd April 1948. The current lease was issued to Metais do Seridó S.A. on 3rd November 2009, it will expire on 3rd November 2039, but there is a right to extend the licence for a further 30 years. The neighbouring exploration licences of Tarantula and Area Sul were also issued on the 3rd November 2009. The Bodó Mine when acquired by Brazil Tungsten Holdings Limited had a Simplified Environmental Licence (Licença Simplificada), which allows extraction of 4,500 t/m (ap
sage in the hills
28 Jan 2015
People are ...... ... buying this share ......SAGE
spurslegend
13 Jan 2015
lenigas tweet- fireworks today about tungsten being missed by the market : )....expect firworks.............people dont, realise how valuable the VENN stake we have also
spurslegend
13 Jan 2015
Re: Bit of a rush so even with chunk of the £1.5mlnplacing gone EVO got 10-20% stake in operting tungsten mineprob about £300-500k cashVENN shares worth £250k and risingroyalty deal on 2 products whcih have sales expectedall for £2mln cap PLUS u know DL will add some PR lolReply | Recommend | ReportriddlerPosts: 67,993Off TopicOpinion:No OpinionPrice
.30MHToday 13:39this deal was done in Feb 2014, SINCE WHEN venn have started manufacturing Labskin since mid 2014 and first sales were due Q4 2014The consideration for this transaction will be £210,000, to be satisfied by new ordinary shares in the share capital of Venn calculated in accordance with the Disposal Agreement, a royalty of 7.5% on the gross sales of LabSkin™ for 3 years from date of acquisition, and a royalty of 25% on the future sale of or out-licence agreements for SYN1113
ybhere
13 Jan 2015
Bit of a rush Normally little or no trading action but there seems to be a bit of a rush on this morning. Any clues? I'm still looking for info on Brazil Tungsten Holdings.YB
