Carbon Chemist

Tag: The Innovation Platform Issue 17

  • Accelerating Canadian leadership in global Big Science

    Accelerating Canadian leadership in global Big Science

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    TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator centre, is putting Canada on the Big Science global stage.

    The 20th century had some of humankind’s most significant scientific achievements. From the mass-produced automobile to the space race and beyond, we continually sought ever-higher mountains to climb.

    In an article published in Science in 1961, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Alvin M Weinberg wrote: “When history looks at the 20th century, she will see science and technology as its theme; she will find in the monuments of Big Science – the huge rockets, the high-energy accelerators, the high-flux research reactors – symbols of our time just as surely as she finds in Notre Dame a symbol of the Middle Ages.”

    Weinberg’s assertion about these ‘monuments’ was, of course, prescient – 60 years later (and well into the 21st century), many of our greatest and most definitive scientific monuments have emerged from experimental physics, nuclear power generation, and space travel. But perhaps more prescient was the coining of ‘Big Science’ as the singular term to describe what has become the world’s largest, most complex, and most collaborative scientific endeavours. Today, Big Science speaks to the magnitude of the apparatus required to drive discovery and innovation; to do excellent science, we need big communities, big laboratories, big machines, and big budgets.

    Such a simple phrase belies the inherent complexity and unity that large-scale research requires, which is the very nature of how we now do science. No longer does the march of progress rely so manifestly on single-point geniuses – the Einsteins, Newtons, or Curies – making ground-breaking discoveries in isolation or within the confines of the ivory tower. Today, international research teams work across borders to tackle scientific inquiries at a scale and scope that would have been unimaginable to our science forebears. Much of the large-scale science performed today requires thousands-strong teams of top talent in the traditional areas of physics, chemistry, and biology and the requisite research and development support areas like engineering, technological support, and administration.

    Unsurprisingly, this co-ordinated and collaborative approach has allowed us to perform better science and expand our understanding of our universe and ourselves in unprecedented ways. Among other achievements, Big Science has brought us the discovery of the Higgs boson, the elusive and long-theorised particle that confers mass to matter; the ability to map the entire human genome for the first time; and, through co-ordinated, multi-messenger arrays of telescopes, increasingly profound glimpses into the darkest abysses of the Universe, deeper than was ever thought possible.

    Canada’s Big Science ambitions

    Despite a historically natural resource-focused economy and a relatively small population, Canada has developed a strong reputation as a global leader in some of the world’s most important large-scale Big Science endeavours. This is in part due to its intentional positioning as an accessible, globally engaged convener and peacemaker, coupled with concerted post-war science funding that seeded a program of national infrastructure development and support for academic institutions. Canada has produced a variety of Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry, and medicine, and retains a high rank in scientific research quality among international scientists. The nation’s science output is supported by a strong base of colleges and universities, many of which consistently rank among the best in the world. Canada’s science leadership is also evident in its major research facilities, which include the deep underground mine SNOLAB, the Canadian Light Source, and the Vancouver-based TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator centre.

    TRIUMF is one of a handful of subatomic research facilities in the world capable of producing extremely intense beams of rare isotopes; due to both its facilities and the community of particle accelerator experts it convenes today, the Vancouver-based laboratory has become an international hub for scientists and students working in fields like nuclear astrophysics (which sees researchers using rare isotope beams to study the origin and processes of element formation in stellar events) to life sciences (and the production of critical medical isotopes for diagnosing and treating disease) to materials sciences (where beams are useful for characterising materials like superconductors, or designing and testing next-generation batteries) and beyond.

    A radiochemistry technician works within a hot cell
    ©TRIUMF

    In the spirit of Big Science, collaboration and community are at TRIUMF’s core. Unlike its federally operated sister laboratories in the United States, TRIUMF was first envisioned as a joint endeavour between a trio of local universities (the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria) before the organisation’s first board meeting in 1968, a fourth institution (the University of Alberta) had signed on, with many others eagerly joining shortly after. Today, the lab is owned and operated by a consortium of 21 member universities nationwide – a big community! – all of which contribute equally to the laboratory’s mission and science programs.

    And though it’s not as big as the Large Hadron Collider, TRIUMF’s 520 MeV cyclotron is the largest of its kind in the world at 18 metres in diameter, and 4,000 tonnes in mass, and its associated laboratories have come to comprise one of the single largest investments of Canadian science infrastructure in the nation’s history. Empowered by these unique facilities, TRIUMF has established a strong track record of scientific excellence, leading important investigations into the nature of matter, advancing a thriving ecosystem for accelerator-produced medical isotopes, and training tens of thousands of students, scientists and STEM leaders across more than five decades.

    As Canada’s largest university-owned research facility, TRIUMF continues to amplify the impact of Canadian science on the world stage by thinking globally and working collaboratively. For example, through TRIUMF, Canadians have played leading roles in building, installing, and operating the ATLAS detector, one of the two main detectors at the Large Hadron Collider that provided our first glimpse at the Higgs Boson and garnered the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics. Similarly, the lab enables Canadian expertise in physics, accelerator development, and detector technologies to flow out to experiments and facilities, including through collaborations and agreements that support Hyper-K in Japan, VECC in India, the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) in the US, and more. TRIUMF’s Center for Molecular and Materials Science provides globally sought-after capabilities for probing the properties of materials and chemical systems using beams of muons (muon spin rotation, relaxation, and resonance, or muSR). Through TRIUMF, the world’s subatomic physics and innovation communities can access Canadian talent, infrastructure, and innovation.

    The future face of particle accelerator-based research in Canada: ARIEL and IAMI

    Within the confines of the laboratory’s 13-acre site, TRIUMF’s community of researchers, engineers, and designers are now augmenting the lab’s 50-year-old beamlines (which are still prolific in exploring fundamental physics, delivering cutting-edge medical isotopes, and more) with new accelerator technologies and downstream radioisotope production facilities that will only serve to expand TRIUMF as a big laboratory and broaden the impact of its role in international science.

    At TRIUMF’s Advanced Rare Isotope Laboratory (ARIEL), a flagship multidisciplinary research facility, an enhanced accelerator apparatus will deliver unprecedented intensities of rare isotope beams, allowing for multiple experiments to be conducted simultaneously with a diverse library of isotopes. A new superconducting electron linear accelerator (the most powerful e-linac for online production of isotopes worldwide) and two additional target stations will soon triple the lab’s output of rare isotopes. Using these new beams, researchers will be able to open new avenues for investigation using TRIUMF’s existing infrastructure and experimental apparatus.

    Complementing this is TRIUMF’s new radiopharmacy facility, the Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes (IAMI). IAMI is equipped with one of the world’s most technologically advanced medical cyclotrons available (a TR-24 MeV, manufactured by renowned TRIUMF spin-off company-turned-collaborator Advanced Cyclotron Systems Inc.) and a suite of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-compliant laboratories that will enable TRIUMF to not only fortify the local and national supply of critically-needed diagnostic isotopes but also convene research and industry partners to investigate new, leading-edge radiopharmaceuticals and the development of radiopharmaceuticals for Canadian-based and international applications. One such isotope, actinium-225 (dubbed the Rarest Drug on Earth), has already shown overwhelmingly positive outcomes in clinical trials and is now being produced at isotope production facilities within TRIUMF.

    The twinned impact of TRIUMF’s future-facing facilities and its historical focus on collaboration and global engagement are clear for Canada. TRIUMF’s particle and nuclear physics programmes are renowned; its accelerator expertise is requested for various major global collaborations, and its life sciences programme is at the cutting edge of next-generation radiopharmaceutical development. Through industry collaborations, TRIUMF supplies nearly two million patient doses of medical isotopes per year and ships them worldwide, creates spin-off companies, licences intellectual property, and boasts highly oversubscribed on-site material testing, using particle beams.

    Vancouver’s clean-tech ecosystem, including nuclear power start-ups like General Fusion has significantly benefited from accessing TRIUMF infrastructure, network, and expertise for characterisation and systems development support. And, in 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, TRIUMF leveraged expertise in device engineering and gas handling and exchange systems (expertise gained from building dark matter experiments) to prototype, test, and enable the production of a novel, made-in-Canada ventilator for COVID patients.

    Through TRIUMF – in partnership with various national research entities like the Canadian Light Source, SNOLAB, and others – Canadian research and innovation continues to be catapulted to the global stage. In 2024, Canada will gain access to Horizon Europe, a multibillion-dollar funding initiative that connects research and industry partners within and without the European Union. The agreement reflects the strong positive perspective on Canadian science within global science institutions and opens new pathways for Canadian researchers to access international funding sources.

    Supercharging Canada’s science – for now and for the future

    Through these large-scale research facilities, Canada has contributed world-leading, made-in-Canada scientific research to the global ecosystem. To supercharge Canadian science and maximise the nation’s contributions to critical endeavours like climate change response, clean energy, and quantum computing, the Canadian government will need to ensure appropriate mechanisms are in place to support large-scale research platforms, a key component of the research ecosystem. Without a thoughtful reconfiguration of how we fund Canadian science and significant research facilities like TRIUMF, Canada may imperil its leadership and contributions within global Big Science.

    Funded appropriately, Canada’s research community and the national science infrastructure on which Canadian and global researchers rely will be able to continue supporting the country’s status as a partner of choice in research and innovation. Ensuring these elements remain strong, robust, and connected through consistent access to resources will be essential to Canada’s continued leadership in global Big Science.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Developing Brazil’s critical mineral deposits

    Developing Brazil’s critical mineral deposits

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    Brazilian Critical Minerals is an emerging Brazilian rare earth and platinum group metal developer set for rapid growth.

    Brazilian Critical Minerals (BCM-ASX) is an Australian technology and critical mineral developer with strategic assets in Amazonas, Brazil, near the Town of Apui. The very large portfolio contains one platinum group metal (PGM) project covering slightly over 340 hectares and three rare earth element (REE) projects covering approximately 720km².

    Its Três Estados PGM discovery, which is only 9% explored, currently has a 725,300-ounce JORC resource containing gold (Au), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), iridium (Ir), and rhodium (Rh), and its EMA and ENE Apui REE discoveries are in the final stages of calculating a JORC resource for both, with Eme being the largest.

    The company began in 2011 as BBX Minerals with what was believed to be two gold discoveries – Ema and Três Estados. The company name has recently been changed from BBX Minerals to Brazilian Critical Minerals. Given that the company now pursues advanced technology, PGMs and REEs, the name Brazilian Critical Minerals perfectly describes what the company is all about. Striving for sustainability and providing critical elements for achieving a carbon-neutral future.

    The rare earth discovery at Ema changed the course of the company both because of its grade and the fact that the deposit was ionic. Hence, the search for more rare earths in the surrounding area began in earnest, staking rare earths on nine separate tenements, later split into three projects:

    •   EMA PROJECT (Ema and Ema East) with 189km² of felsic volcanics, rhyolite, with regolith-hosted ionic adsorbed clay rare earths confirmed by ammonium sulphate leach tests. Similar to the Chinese REE deposits.
    •   APUI REE PROJECT with 358km² to be explored for REEs hosted in regolith developed over sediments with a specific radiometric signature, similar to the Makuutu deposit in Uganda.
    •   APUI ENE REE PROJECT with 173km² of flat-lying sediment, which is older than those at the APUI REE PROJECT. The first unit that was drill tested at APUI 2400 ppm.

    EMA ionic REE project: Chinese-style

    An aggressive exploration programme for ionic rare earths following up the discovery of REEs in the felsic volcanics and pyroclastics regolith at Ema was conducted on the Ema and Ema East leases.

    rare earths

    The EMA iREE project (Ema and Ema East leases) is unique amongst Brazilian REE projects in that it shares almost identical characteristics with the iREE deposits developed over felsic volcanic rocks in southwest China, the world´s largest known ionic clay region.

    These leases comprise 189km² of felsic volcanic over which 142 auger holes totalling 2,048m have been completed to date. A further 53 auger holes totalling 701m have been completed at Ema East, testing a total of 82km² or 43% of the regolith developed over the felsic volcanics (Fig. 2).

    critical mineral deposits, ree projects
    Fig.2: Ema-Ema East REE project – auger holes on 800m centres and infill drilling status over 82km²

    The initial results for 39 auger holes from the regional reconnaissance programme showed the presence of exceptional iREE grades of less than three metres in excess of 1,200 ppm TREO (e.g. TR-059 (Table 1), with accompanying elevated values of NdPr oxides, demonstrating the presence of high-grade zones within this major and widespread ionic rare earth deposit, which remains open in all directions (Fig. 3).

    critical mineral deposits
    Fig. 3: Apui and Apui ENE projects – drilling status showing ternary radiometric response

    TREO grades >1,000 ppm are widespread, containing >100 ppm NdPr and ten ppm TbDy oxides. All holes that intersected the enriched iREE horizon ended in high TREO values, indicating significant upside potential for high-grade material at depth.

    Significant results:

    •   Six metres @ 1003 ppm TREO from  six metres (TR-043), including three metres @ 1191ppm TREO ending in 1135 ppm TREO
    •   Seven metres @ 1015 ppm TREO from six metres (TR-050), including three metres @ 1266 ppm TREO ending in 988 ppm TREO
    •   Six metres @  812 ppm TREO from six metres (TR-051), including two metres @ 1122 ppm TREO ending in 1182 ppm TREO
    •   16 metres @  771 ppm TREO from one metre, including three metres @ 1282 ppm (TR-059) ending in 88 8ppm TREO
    •   16 metres @ 739 ppm TREO from nine metres (TR-66) including four metres @ 1120 ppm TREO ending in 1352 ppm TREO
    •   16 metres @ 849 ppm TREO from two metres (TR-71) including two metres @ 1104 ppm TREO ending in 1083 ppm TREO

    APUI EN REE project

    A regional reconnaissance auger drilling conducted within two leases recently granted (Fig. 4) east of Apuí located a new style of REE mineralisation associated with a sedimentary unit rich in potash. The highest-grade portion of hole APTR 013 coincides with a potash-rich zone, grading approximately 7% K2O (Table 1), interpreted as being related to a potassium-rich sedimentary horizon, potentially of significant areal extent. The hole was terminated at 12m in strongly mineralised saprolite, grading 1804 ppm TREO. The multi-element distribution along the auger hole APTR013 (Table 1) indicates that the highest TREO grades from seven metres downhole are directly correlated with potash-rich sediment (7% K2O) anomalous in rubidium, with silica and iron contents typical of a mature glauconitic sandstone which occurs in extensive marine sediments. Glauconite decomposes into halloysite, kaolin and smectite, where REEs may be ionic or colloidally hosted. Uranium and thorium are low and compatible with ionic rare earth mineralisation.

    Significant results:

    •   12 metres @ 1,380 ppm TREO from the surface, including five meters @ 1,942 ppm TREO from seven metres (APTR 013)
    •   Three metres @ 1,130 ppm TREO from the surface (APTR 014)
    •   Four metres @ 908 ppm TREO from the surface (APTR 018)

    Três Estados precious metals project

    Tres Estados started life as a gold project with assaying difficulties, and even though native metal that resembled could be seen in the core, fire assays could not detect gold or silver. It turned out, after much SEM work, the native metal was a unique alloy containing gold, platinum, copper, lead and occasional minimal amounts of osmium and iridium, which readily explained why fire assay did not work – so what would work was there an assay method for this type of metal occurrence.

    There were metallurgical tests using smelting methods utilising five-kilogramme mineral samples and copper sulphate that did return assays for precious metals. These metallurgical tests were expensive and could not be used as an assay for JORC purposes, so an assay method needed to be developed.

    After many years, a nickel smelt prep followed by a fire assay was developed and accepted as an assay procedure. This procedure required ten grams of mineral to be combined with laboratory-grade nickel and several fluxes to be brought to 15400C for ten minutes, which formed a nickel button. The nickel button was then dissolved in four different acids and fire-assayed for Au, Pd, Pt, Ir, and Rh, the sum of which was the basis for the existing resource, containing 725,300 ounces of combined gold, platinum, palladium, iridium, and rhodium. While the overall grade was above one gram and quite valuable because of the rhodium and iridium, the company, believing there was more there and the assays were understating the metal content, began looking for enhancements and a production method.

    Ecobiome, a microbe leaching company based in Texas, came to management’s attention as a way to enhance the recovery and work as a process solution. Testing began in late 2022 and was finalised in June of 2023, indicating that Ecobiome’s proprietary microbes could achieve both enhanced recovery and production.

    The final test was conducted in May of 2023 utilising drill hole TED-20, a Três Estados metallurgical test hole.  The result of a 108-hour leach test utilising two of EcoBiome’s microbes that were designed to work in tandem, with one breaking down the mineral particles and the other recovering the precious metals. The results were spectacular, with a ten-fold increase in metal recovered over the nickel smelt assay. What was then BBX’s Catalão lab received 50kg of the bioleached matter for further production and recovery test work. Ultimately, of the plus 16 grams of gold and palladium released by bioleach 98% of the gold was recovered and 94% of the palladium was recovered by cyanide leaching method apply to the bioleached material.  From this work, a decision was made to utilise Ecobiome’s bioleaching process to aid in re-assaying the Tres Estados resource starting at Tabocal.

    All the necessary laboratory equipment and infrastructure for conducting bioleach assaying and pilot plant testing has been acquired, assembled and commissioned in the Catalão laboratory. The equipment includes nine 35-litre reactors for conducting bioleach assays (see Fig. 4) and a larger pilot plant reactor. The finalisation of the importation of the required materials from EcoBiome in Texas is currently in progress, with the commencement of routine assaying of Três Estados drill holes scheduled for early Q1 2024.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • US and allied nations progressing rare earth recovery

    US and allied nations progressing rare earth recovery

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    Rare Element Resources is working to establish US-based rare earth production using innovative recovery and separation technology.

    Forty years ago, China understood something long before the rest of the world – rare earths were going to drive the future of technology. This realisation led to a calculated strategy to establish control of the up-and-coming rare earth market – from mines to magnets. This critical mineral monopoly, with over 85% of the processing and separation and 92% of the rare earth magnet production, has given China unfettered political and economic power, not to mention access to intellectual property and emerging technology from companies who had no choice but to relocate manufacturing to China to ensure a reliable supply of rare earths.

    This provides China with increased control of pricing and market supply, providing a stronghold that creates economic and strategic advantages and prevents market entry by the competition. Their control has allowed them to weaponise the export of products throughout the supply chain to force political priorities – as they did to Japan in 2010 after a fishing boat conflict near the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands – undermine diplomatic channels, control economic diversification, and threaten the national security of other nations.

    Rare earth applications are everywhere

    To appreciate the effects of China’s dominance, one must appreciate how prevalent rare earths are in our everyday lives.

    Every computer, every cellular phone and most of the controls for the systems in your car, as well as your home and office equipment, depend on rare earths. That is just the beginning.

    Defence applications include laser weapons, satellite communications, sonar and guidance systems, and stealth technology.

    On a broader basis, they are used in medical imaging technology, catalytic converters, petroleum refining and nuclear control systems and are crucial in the evolving green technologies that are essential to reaching global carbon reduction goals, such as electric cars and direct-drive wind turbines.

    Rare earths’ unique characteristics enhance the performance of other metals, allowing products to be smaller and more efficient. The quantity of rare earths used in high-tech products is, in fact, very small but is almost always critical to the unit’s performance.

    A typical smartphone uses seven rare earth elements for functions ranging from the coloured screen to its speakers to the miniaturisation of the phone’s circuitry.

    While each of the 17 rare earth elements has important applications in everyday life, the most important elements necessary to reach decarbonisation goals and those required for defence applications are found in a permanent magnet motor. Neodymium/iron/boron (NdFeB) magnets are used in electric synchronous traction motors, which are key components for both electric vehicles (EVs) and direct-drive wind turbines.

    These magnets have the best power-to-weight ratio of all magnets, allowing the motors to be lighter and more compact. They are also corrosion-resistant, can operate at high temperatures and resist demagnetisation. They are the strongest type of permanent magnet available commercially. The magnetic energy value is approximately 12 times greater than ‘ordinary’ ferrite magnets by mass. Dysprosium (Dy), praseodymium (Pr), and terbium (Tb) can also be added to NdFeB to change the performance properties of the magnets.

    Rare Element Resources can help to reduce the risk

    Rare Element Resources (RER) has two important things it brings to the table. First is an innovative rare earth recovery and separation technology that has successfully produced separated rare earth oxides, demonstrating economic and environmental improvements over traditional recovery methods.

    The second is the Bear Lodge Rare Earth project in northeast Wyoming – one of the most advanced and significant rare earth deposits in North America. Bear Lodge is rich in rare earths critical for the high-strength, permanent magnets that drive a majority of new technology applications.

    Innovative rare earth recovery technology – working with outstanding partners

    RER’s technological advancements are a direct result of its collaboration with General Atomics (GA), a private defence and diversified technology industry leader. GA has assembled a team of some of the best scientists and engineers in the industry to advance what was a novel concept into a working reality.

    Fig. 1: Source: U.S. DOE, Critical Materials Assessment 2023, July 2023

    Today, the GA-led team, which includes financial participation from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Wyoming Energy Authority, is constructing a $44m rare earth recovery and separation demonstration plant in Upton, WY. This plant will process already stockpiled materials from the company’s Bear Lodge project. It will allow the scaleup of the technology, providing an opportunity for additional testing and refinement while generating the design and economic data for commercial-scale production.

    GA’s involvement in RER has allowed the company to move forward more expediently than it could have achieved alone. Acutely aware of the importance of rare earths in defence and commercial applications, GA understood early on how critical it was going to be to develop secure, domestic sources of rare earths.

    In support of that, they took an equity position in the company in 2017. Since then, GA has increased awareness of the company and the Bear Lodge project and ensured alignment with the strategic interests in the key industries of defence and energy.

    As allied nations pursue multiple avenues to address the economic, environmental, and security risks identified as critical in the global rare earth supply chain, RER and GA continue to make major advancements in modernising recovery technology.

    Innovative rare earth recovery technology – a new approach long overdue

    Traditional rare earth recovery methods have long been criticised for the quantity of water required and the amount of waste generated. China’s rise was supported by its willingness to trade environmental protection for commercial dominance. With the robust regulatory requirements of operating in the US and other allied countries, it was clear a different approach would be required.

    The four-step recovery and separation technology, initiated by RER and advanced by the GA-led team, is a closed system and is designed to be a zero-discharge process. This means that a majority of the water and chemicals used in the process are recycled through the system, which is expected to result in both environmental and economic benefits. The team has also augmented the process with advanced control systems for discrete optimisation of each stage of the process.

    Two pilot plant tests were completed in Germany in 2022 at a GA affiliate. The focus was on producing a commercial-grade separated neodymium/praseodymium (Nd/Pr) product – an essential component of high-strength, permanent magnets and the elements expected to experience the highest demand growth over the next 30 years as countries move to reduce their carbon footprint.

    The work resulted in not only a >99.5% pure Nd/Pr product but also demonstrated the ability to separate other rare earth elements, including lanthanum (La). Additionally, two concentrates were produced, one that included samarium (Sm), europium (Eu) and gadolinium (Gd), or SEG, and one that included the heavy rare earths, or HREEs.

    Construction underway on $44m demonstration plant in Upton, WY

    The success of this work resulted in the decision to proceed to a demonstration-scale plant, which is currently under construction in Wyoming. Scaling up the technology will allow for additional refinement of the process, create the framework for commercial production, and provide the opportunity for further innovation. GA, with its strong history of bringing new technology to commercialisation, is leading the way.

    On a parallel track, the company is pursuing the development of the Bear Lodge project, which will be an excellent long-term, secure source of key rare earth magnet materials.

    Bear Lodge project – rich in magnet materials

    Over the last decade, RER has assembled an extensive body of geological data that confirms the Bear Lodge project is one of the richest rare earth mineral deposits in North America when looking at the essential magnet materials. This not only includes Nd/Pr but Dy and Tb, both of which have specialised magnet uses. With over 500 drill holes completed, resulting in over 285,000 feet of core, the deposit is well-delineated with additional drill targets already identified. This work positions the Bear Lodge project to be well ahead of other proposed mining operations.

    Equally advantageous to the Bear Lodge project is its location in Northeast Wyoming. Wyoming is well experienced in resource development, and its present-day ‘all of the above’ energy strategy lends support to multiple critical industries like ours. The Bear Lodge project is located with easy access to important infrastructure such as rail, power, roads, and natural gas. The State is pro-business, has a readily available and highly skilled workforce and a business-friendly tax structure.

    Furthering its commitment to job creation and economic diversity, Wyoming has been active in support of RER, including a financial commitment of $4.4m towards the construction and operation of the demonstration plant.

    Moving forward on two fronts – right technology, right project

    Construction is underway on the demonstration plant, located in Upton, Wyoming, near the Bear Lodge project. The DOE is involved and has committed $21.9m towards the project to date. The purpose of the demonstration plant is to advance the design and economics towards the commercialisation of the innovative separation and recovery technology. Site construction is expected to be completed in mid-2024. Plant equipment is currently being assembled offsite parallel with the upgrading and remodelling of an existing industrial site to expedite the commencement of operations.

    Fig. 2: Bear Lodge Map

    Team members from across the globe will be onsite to test, refine, and enhance the separation and recovery technology. Mineralised material from the Bear Lodge project will be used as feed for the plant, which is expected to operate for eight to ten months. The 700-ton (635-tonne) sample is expected to produce approximately 15 tons (13.6 tonnes) of 99.5% pure Nd/Pr at the desired recovery of 92 – 97%.

    RER is currently advancing an updated resource model for the Bear Lodge project with a clear focus on critical magnet materials. Discussions will continue with stakeholders regarding the planned resumption of Bear Lodge permitting activities. And when available, the economic data generated from the demonstration plant will be used to complete feasibility work and establish a pathway for commercialisation.

    Recent progress has been significant, but there is still much work to be done. Beginning construction on the demonstration plant was in part a reflection of a growing awareness of the necessity for developing secure, alternative rare earth supply sources, but also evidence of what can be accomplished when industry and government partner together and work towards a common goal.

    Addressing the issue together

    Leaders from agencies across the governments in allied nations, as well as the private sector, continue to join forces to address the challenges and opportunities within the rare earth supply chain. In the US, stalwarts from the military sector and officials from the Departments of Defense, Commerce and Energy are working to develop a framework to support a nascent but critical industry essential to reduce dependence on China.

    With the acknowledged advantages Chinese firms hold in terms of tax and trade, coupled with their access to lower costs in labour and energy, it is important that each step in the process be thoroughly evaluated to ensure that supports are in place to build a stable, long-term, secure supply chain.

    Development of the Bear Lodge project and commercialisation of the company’s innovative recovery and separation technology are clear steps in supporting the goal of both independence and security.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Delivering Wyoming’s hard rock lithium potential

    Delivering Wyoming’s hard rock lithium potential

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    Chariot has made the first hard rock lithium discovery by drilling in Wyoming, US.

    Chariot corporation limited (Chariot) recently announced the first discovery of hard rock lithium in Wyoming, US. The initial results from the Company’s first three drill holes at its flagship Black Mountain project had assays returning individual lithium (Li) and tantalum (Ta) values of up to 3.79% Li2O and 230 ppm Ta2O5. These are strong early results from Chariot’s Phase 1 drill programme, which will be completed by March 2024, and indicate the presence of hard rock lithium with further drilling focused on determining the scope of the resource.

    The United States is rapidly accelerating the exploration and development of American lithium resources to meet the anticipated demand from over 224 GWh of expected battery manufacturing capacity due to be online by 2025¹ (and significantly more thereafter). The US Government has also taken significant first steps to incentivise and encourage local investment across the lithium-battery supply chain, including $3.5bn to expand domestic advanced battery and battery materials manufacturing capacity from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

    Chariot appears uniquely positioned to benefit from these efforts by being one of the largest landholders of lithium assets in the US. The company has a diversified strategy of holding both hard rock and claystone exploration claims focused in the US. The Black Mountain project (hard rock) and the Resurgent project (claystone) form the company’s core projects. Chariot also holds a dominant land position in Wyoming, with six additional hard rock lithium projects featuring extensive outcropping pegmatite swarms in geological settings similar to the Black Mountain project.

    Why Wyoming?

    The exceptional assay results from the first three holes of the Black Mountain project show the asset’s potential and, together with the company’s six additional Wyoming projects, position Wyoming to become an important source of critical minerals for the US electric vehicle market (see Fig. 1).

    Fig. 1: Chariot’s Wyoming hard rock lithium projects

    Wyoming is a tier 1 mining jurisdiction with a long history of mining gold, uranium, coal, and industrial minerals, accounting for 21% of the state’s GDP. In 2020, Wyoming was ranked second on the Fraser Institute’s policy perception index, demonstrating strong government policy support for ongoing mining exploration and development. Moreover, the state’s infrastructure is well-developed, with extensive experience transporting minerals within and out of state.

    Chariot’s Wyoming lithium portfolio is entirely located in areas with no known land use encumbrance. It is hosted in metasedimentary rocks in Archean-aged geological systems, ideal conditions for LCT pegmatite discovery.

    Black Mountain project

    Chariot’s core project, the Black Mountain project (Black Mountain), is located in Natrona County, Wyoming, US and comprises 134 unpatented lode mining claims. Chariot has intersected significant zones of strong lithium-tantalum mineralisation in the first three holes of the maiden drill programme at Black Mountain.

    These drill results confirm the potential of the Black Mountain lithium caesium tantalum (LCT) pegmatite swarms with notable results, including:
    •   BMDDH23_01 15.48m @ 1.12% Li2O and 79 ppm Ta2O5 from 2.74m, including 4.27m @ 2.46% Li2O and 128ppm Ta2O5 from 9.94m
    •   BMDDH23_02 14.33m @ 0.84% Li2O and 61 ppm Ta2O5 from 1.83m, including 2.29m @ 3.09% Li2O and 138 ppm Ta2O5 from 10.67m
    •   BMDDH23_03 18.81m @ 0.85% Li2O and 98ppm Ta2O5 from 45.26m, including 5.79m @ 1.08% Li2O and 105 ppm Ta2O5 from 47.55m
    •   High-grade potential with individual grades downhole of up to 3.79% Li2O and 230 ppm Ta2O5

    This is the first hard rock lithium discovery, through drilling, in Wyoming, US.

    Dr Edward Max Baker, Chariot’s Chief Geologist,³ said: “We’ve got stunning initial results amid the North American winter. The targeted hard rock lithium system has been intersected in multiple holes. Still, we need to come back in the North American summer for a 5,000 – 10,000m drill programme to better handle the resource potential. The base metals’ sulphide mineralisation is also very promising and indicates the potential for base metals and/or gold mineralisation, separate from the lithium mineralisation.”

    The drill intercepts reported from the first three holes confirm the lithium potential of the Black Mountain LCT pegmatite (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), as indicated by the Chariot’s earlier surface rock chip sampling results.⁴ In addition, Chariot is optimistic it may have intersected the peripheral portion of a potentially larger base metal mineral system, with selected intervals grading up to 0.6% (6,012 ppm) copper (Cu), 1.0% (9,931 ppm) zinc (Zn), and 15.4% (154,412 ppm) lead (Pb).

     

     

    Fig. 2: Drill Core sample from BMDDH23_01 from 10.6m showing some of the spodumene mineralisation
    Fig. 3: Pegmatite intersection in BMDDH23_02 from 9.6m (31.5ft.) to 14.5m (47.5ft.)

    Two diamond core drill holes (BMDDH23_01 and BMDDH23_02) were drilled to test the outcropping pegmatites in the central Northwest swarm area (Northwest Area), whilst a third diamond drill hole (BMDDH23_03) was drilled in to test outcropping pegmatites in the central southeast swarm area (the Southeast Area)(see Fig. 4).

    Fig. 4: Plan View of the Black Mountain Project, showing the pegmatite outcrops (dark red) and interpreted folded geometry (in light red) along with the Northwest and Southeast Cross-Section Lines and Drill Collars. The rock chip and soil geochemistry results are also shown. Refer to the Prospectus for the complete set of rock chip assay results²

    The Northwest Area comprise steeply dipping limbs of a tightly folded package of dikes, where the fold is now interpreted to be more open than initially anticipated before drilling. The dikes to the west of BMDDH23_01 and BMDDH23_02 are expected to dip westward at a dip approximately parallel to the pegmatite intercepted by BMDDH23_01. BMDDH23_01 and BMDDH23_02 both intersected the same pegmatite (see Fig. 5).

    Fig. 5: A – AA cross-section (see Fig. 1) through the Northwest Area showing BMDDH23_01 and BMDDH23_02 drill traces with the intersected pegmatite shown in red

    The pegmatite dike swarms in the Southeast Area comprise a complex fold-hinge, which, based on the location of the intercept of pegmatite in BMDDH23_03, appears to dip moderately steeply to the southeast (see Fig. 6).

    Fig. 6: B-BB cross-section through the Southeast area showing BMDDH23_03 drill trace with the intersected pegmatite shown in red

    Chariot also engaged ERM Australia Consultants Pty Ltd (previously CSA Global) and ERM Sustainable Mining Services (CSA Global) to provide technical guidance for the development of the Black Mountain exploration plan and have completed an independent review of the data, geological interpretations and exploration results to date. CSA Global’s scientific and technical disclosures review confirms Chariot’s drilling results.

    Phase 1 drill programme

    The Phase 1 maiden drilling programme consisting of 10-15 holes was designed to test under outcropping pegmatite dike swarms with anomalous Li rock chip values to determine the geometry of the dikes and to confirm the hard rock lithium potential ahead of a comprehensive resource drill-out in Q3 2024.

    Major Drilling Group International Inc. (Major Drilling) has been contracted to drill oriented triple tube HQ-sized diamond drill core (drill core) using a Boart Longyear LF90 Surface Diamond Core Drill Rig (the drill rig) (see Fig. 7). Drill core from Black Mountain is transported to Chariot’s core handling and storage facility in Jeffrey City, Wyoming, where each drill core is photographed, logged, and measured for density and recovery (see Fig. 8). Drill core samples are being assayed by American Assay Labs in Reno, Nevada.

    Fig. 7: Drill rig at Black Mountain
    Fig. 8: Chariot Senior Project Geologist Willis Blakeslee, inspecting
    drill core

    The Phase 1 programme was limited to the currently permitted seven drill pads due to the five-acre limit on disturbance under the Notice of Intent, which applies to both access roads and the drill pads.

    Chariot plans to apply for an Exploration Plan of Operations (EPO) to increase the area of disturbance from five acres under the Notice of Intent to up to 2,500 acres for the Phase 2 resource drill programme commencing in Q3 2024.

    The Phase 1 drill programme was limited to testing the two central pegmatite swarms (of the four pegmatite swarms identified at Black Mountain) in the Northwest and Southeast areas.

    Base metal mineralisation potential

    The upper section of BMDDH23_01 intersected pyrite-pyrrhotite mineralisation, occurring as veinlets and dissemination within the biotite schist throughout approximately 100m. At this early stage, only several select intervals of this mineralisation were sampled and assayed with selected intervals grading up to 0.6% (6,012 ppm) Cu, 1.0% 9,931 ppm Zn and 15.4% 154,412 ppm Pb.

    Based on the location of this drill hole relative to an 800m long by 150m wide zone of anomalous zinc-in-soils, the Company is optimistic that it has intersected the peripheral portion of a potentially larger base metal mineral system (see Fig. 9). The zinc and lead anomalies are situated on the contact between metabasalt to the south and metasediments to the north coincident with a two-meter-wide zone of black massive chert outcrops along the southern margin of the soil anomaly.  Based on the anomalous drill intercepts, the geological setting and the extent of the zinc and lead soil anomaly, the company plans to further investigate this base metal mineralisation by extending the soil sampling programme and conducting a preliminary induced polarisation survey (IP) lines across the anomaly in Q3 2024.

    Fig. 9: Zone of anomalous zinc in soils to the north of the pyritepyrrhotite mineralisation intersected in BMDDH23_01 shown in relation to the outcropping pegmatites with soil sample locations showing Zn in ppm. Refer to Appendix 4 for the complete set of soilgeochemistry results

    2024 Black Mountain exploration plans

    The Phase 1 programme at Black Mountain is scheduled to continue until 1 March 2024, to determine the three-dimensional shape and near-surface grades, down to 100m, within the three major pegmatite dike zones, as shown in Fig. 1. In addition to the eight holes already drilled, another seven holes are planned for the remainder of the Phase 1 programme, which will conclude on 1 March 2024.

    This information will be used to design a more extensive 5,000 to 10,000m initial resource definition drill programme expected to commence in Q3 2024 (the Phase 2 (resource drilling) programme).

    Phase 2 (resource drilling) programme to commence in Q3 2024

    In anticipation of the Phase 2 resource drill programme, the initial focus will consist of detailed re-logging of the Phase 1 programme drill core and a detailed petrographic study of the mineralisation, selection, and submittal of samples for initial metallurgical testing.  At the same time, the existing rock chip and soil sampling programme will be extended to the north and east to close off the open lithium and base metal anomalies.

    In addition, the company plans to run a preliminary IP/resistivity survey over the area of anomalous Zn-Pb soil geochemistry to assist in siting several holes to test the nature of this base metal mineralisation in Q3-Q4 2024.

    The Company is currently lodging an application for an EPO (to drill) to expand the area of disturbance and increase the number of drill pads in preparation for a maiden resource drill-out. The Phase 2 (resource drill) programme is expected to commence in the North American summer in Q3 2024 or when the BLM approves the EPO.

    Forging a lithium future in Wyoming

    Chariot is well-positioned to take advantage of the future demand for lithium resources and the need for an American supply. Over the next twelve months, the company will report additional drill results and launch a more comprehensive drilling programme at Black Mountain. In addition, the company will continue to advance its other assets prudently. Each of these activities has the potential to be a significant catalyst for value creation at Chariot and to drive shareholder value.

    References

    1. Source: National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries 2021-2030.
    2. The Prospectus can be downloaded from the Company website:
      www.chariotcorporation.com
    3. Dr Baker holds 7,926,860 ordinary shares in Chariot (equal to a 5.3% interest in the undiluted shares on the issue of Chariot). Dr Baker is also engaged as a consultant by Chariot.
    4. Refer to Chariot’s initial public offering prospectus and the Company’s announcement dated 9 November 2023 for the full set of surface rock chip sampling results.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Can Australia lead the global charge?

    Can Australia lead the global charge?

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    Olimpia Pilch, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor of the Critical Minerals Association Australia, considers the outlook for Australian critical minerals, navigation of turbulent markets, crucial policy changes, and international significance.

    In 2023, Western governments turned to penning strategies, signing agreements and banding together through the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) – of which Australia is a member – and funding projects across MSP and allied nations. Notably, Australia and the UK signed a statement of intent to support the critical minerals sector, as well as one with Germany; they courted the US and inked the Compact aimed at enhancing bilateral co-operation; shook hands with France over a bilateral agreement on critical minerals; celebrated a milestone in the critical minerals investment partnership with India; and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited China’s President Xi Jinping in an effort to calm down the turbulent relationship at a time when tensions over critical minerals (especially gallium, germanium, graphite, and rare earths) had been escalating as US and China continue a tit-for-tat.

    For Australia, like many Western nations, China is its biggest trading partner (accounting for 34% of exports), and if prompted, could cause chaos for Australia’s resources sector and, as a result, the economy (with exports of predominantly iron ore, bauxite, gold, coal, and lithium – generating a record AU$455bn in export revenue in the 2022-23 financial year). Maintaining traditional trade relations and the search for new partners has dominated Australia’s strategy on the global stage as a ‘dig-and-ship’ nation that has not yet capitalised on sovereign value-added processing and refining, which remains in the tight grip of China.

    Turbulent markets

    While the Australian Government embarked on a quest for new friends, the industry faced an existential problem. The optimism of analysts projecting astronomical shortfalls between demand for critical minerals and green technologies and supply was not shared by equity markets in 2023.

    Key issues remained: the technologies were not being built at the rate expected, China’s economy was showing signs of a slow-down, and Chinese consumers began falling out of love with electric vehicles (Tesla’s sales alone dropped 17.8% in November 2023 – some attributing this to the China’s phase-out of US$28 billion worth of incentives over 2009-2022).

    Investors had little appetite for backing pre-feasibility exploration projects that would not stack up economically with a downturn in prices. And the sharp downturn came, fuelled by China’s overcapacity and economic slowdown, claiming not only the cash-strapped juniors but also high-cost casualties including – the legendary Mt Isa, Core Lithium’s Grants mine, and Wyloo Metal’s Kambalda – with lithium returns at -81.43%, nickel at -45.21%, and platinum at -7.67% for the year 2023. For better or worse, Australia’s resources sector is paying the price for decisionsmade in Beijing. Troubles in China spell troubles for down under.

    Late-stage critical minerals projects, however – particularly 15 rare earth projects with a proposed investment of $7.3bn – have enjoyed a surge in investment. The Albanese Government also stepped in with an AU$2bn expansion in critical minerals financing aimed at doubling the Critical Minerals Facility’s capacity to finance Australian critical minerals mining and processing projects.

    The story in lithium also continued, with total committed investments increasing by $2.5bn despite the rocky equity markets. However, the spending was committed to either expansions or the bigger end of town rather than junior explorers and their new finds. The increase from $6.7bn in 2022 to $11.8bn in 2023 in the value of committed critical minerals projects, confirms Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King’s statement that “the road to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector” and the world remains hungry for Australia’s resources. However, Australia’s export revenues depend on more than three lithium projects, reaffirming the need for a robust critical minerals strategy.

    Critical Minerals Strategy 2023-2030

    Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy 2023-2030 focuses on re-positioning the nation as a globally significant producer of raw and processed critical minerals. The strategy aims to incubate the fledgling sector to take advantage of geostrategic and economic benefits associated with resources needed for the energy transition. To successfully move further up the value chain and reap the additional benefits of Australia’s natural endowment, the government will need to focus on creating an enabling business environment that promotes innovation and commercialisation within the midstream processing and refining space.

    The Strategy also focuses on critical minerals’ biggest challenge – financing–specifically that of strategic projects in the midstream. The government aims to support the industry through ‘well-designed support’ to help de-risk projects and attract private investment to projects deemed important to Australia’s goals.

    So far, the Australian Government has awarded A$100m to projects – a drop in the ocean when it comes to building modern and ‘green’ refining facilities that can easily run into the billions. However, the National Reconstruction Fund has AU$1bn earmarked for ‘value-add in resources’. Another AU$50.5m has been committed to establishing the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub to begin tackling technological challenges that Chinese companies have built expertise in and Australia is found lacking in.

    On the partnership side, diversification and partnerships with like-minded nations (government speak for non-China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran) are highlighted as the Australian Government continues to court potential buyers for its critical minerals. Australia is also committing more resources to monitor whether competitors are investing in the nation’s critical minerals sector, with AU$2.2m to be spent over four years by the Treasury to ‘develop more sophisticated ways of tracking foreign investment patterns.’ This comes as no surprise after the Government blocked a takeover of a lithium miner by a China-linked company. Greater protectionism of Australian sovereignty is likely to ruffle some investors’ feathers, particularly those who have enjoyed decades of quick profits.

    © shutterstock/TippaPatt

    On the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) front, there’s still some debate as to whether Australia is a ‘world leader.’ While it may indeed be the case for Australia in terms of political stability and absence of violence and terrorism; government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and accountability; the rule of law and control of corruption; the critical minerals sector – especially at the project level – has some issues that limit the nation’s ability to claim that title, particularly in indigenous matters and corporate governance. That being said, there are plenty of outstanding projects demonstrating exemplary ESG practices. The Australian Government is also cooperating with international standards bodies and encouraging discussions between the sector and First Nations people under the banner of ‘benefit sharing.’

    Not meeting in the middle

    The strategic role of the midstream cannot be stressed enough. Currently, China monopolises the midstream space globally for many critical minerals – such as gallium, lithium, graphite, and manganese – by Indonesia for nickel, Brazil for niobium, and the US for beryllium. Although many nations have a variety of resources that can be extracted, it is the processing and refining that ultimately add value and influence both the upstream prices and downstream access to critical materials. Moving from a ‘dig and ship model’ is no simple task. The successful creation of an Australian – specifically Australian-owned- midstream industry – will depend on the presence of the following five must-have ingredients:

    • Access to finance deployed at speed (non-traditional – grants, low-interest loans, sovereign guarantees, and underwriting);
    • Access to low-cost, ‘clean’ energy sources;
    • Access to modern infrastructure (that a company does not have to invest in first) such as deep water ports, rail, roads, etc;
    • Industry-orientated innovation and technological developments and;
    • Expert know-how and a highly skilled talent pipeline.

    Given the geopolitical influences on critical minerals value chains and lack of a clear offtake route, private investors are more likely to back Chinese joint ventures or projects with significant Chinese backing, leaving critical minerals projects that are aiming to reposition themselves for the Western market at a disadvantage. This is not surprising as the majority of the demand is in China. Backing a project that is destined for either an unknown or weak market is a risky game, and investors want to both speed up and increase their returns while the demand projections look promising.

    Investors are in the business of making money, not securing Australia’s geostrategic ambitions or sovereignty; the latter two fall within the government’s remit. However, long-term diversification and economic growth require greater public-private partnerships to compete effectively against other nations’ state-controlled competition. Industry needs to contribute expertise and business know-how, and the government must provide some form of counterbalance to international market distortions and geopolitical fallouts.

    The difficulty lies in striking a balance to avoid moving too far away from free-market values.

    However, the market and government are at odds, with some investors calling for less government meddling and greater freedom to cut deals with whomever they want. However, as demonstrated by China, Indonesia, and the US, critical minerals markets and state intervention are unlikely to decouple anytime soon. It is also unlikely that many investors and shareholders will have free license to sell strategic assets to foreign entities of concern without some government intervention.

    It is worth noting that contrary to free-market ideology, leaving the creation of an Australian midstream to the markets will either perpetuate Australia’s current ‘dig and ship model’ or attract competitors willing to accept lower profits for greater market share or even a monopoly. Australian companies venturing further down the value chain face limited options to tap into an alternative downstream market to sell their products, restricted access to alternative capital sources (securing of which typically takes significantly longer than Chinese investment), and technological barriers, including know-how and access to equipment. Naturally, China is unlikely to support the growth of alternative midstream industries and has already restricted the exports of rare earth processing technology.

    Most significantly, Australia, like other nations, cannot compete with China on cost. Instead, technological development and innovation can support ‘economies of flexibility’ focusing on modular plants and processes that can service multiple commodities based on the flow of input material. This would require either co-operation between numerous producers or vertical integration. The location of processing plants and refineries within industrial hubs or clusters can, if strategically planned, create ecosystems of waste-to-reagent use between multiple co-located plants through the adoption of circular economy principles, leading to reductions in cost over time.

    Stiff international competition

    China is not the only worry facing Australia’s critical minerals sector. Domestic issues also stand in the way: Restrictive bureaucracy, changes to industrial policy (e.g. same job, same pay), the inability to streamline planning and permitting across all its States, and a lack of early investment in key supporting infrastructure. These are leaving Australian operations increasingly too expensive for the China-controlled markets, where cheaper alternatives are arising across the global south. African and Latin American jurisdictions increasingly use finance from China, India, Saudi Arabia, and the US. Not only can projects in some global south nations reach production much quicker, but they also come with significantly lower costs and better profit margins.

    That said, the good news is that the stability and reliance of Australia’s established systems position it favourably on the global stage. In its 2022 survey, the Fraser Institute ranked Western Australia and South Australia as second and sixth, respectively, for investment attractiveness globally, while South Australia also ranked third for policy perception.

    Australia also maintains an advantage when it comes to courting carmakers and other OEMs – a reputation for responsible practices. Increasingly, as the carbon craze demands lower footprints, and automakers are terrified of protests against poor mining practices, doing things ‘the right way’ carries certain benefits.

    Yet, globally, price remains king – and so do returns on investment. As Australia’s top diplomats focus on being the key supplier for the world’s energy transition, the balancing act of maintaining a competitive critical minerals sector without sacrificing responsibility while bridging the gap between its free-market ideals and the monopolistic stranglehold of its largest trading partner will be Australia’s most significant challenge.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • A European project dedicated to the reduction of global CO2 emissions

    A European project dedicated to the reduction of global CO2 emissions

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    Over four years, the EU-funded project ASTRABAT developed new all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries suitable to support the electric mobility growth in the following years.

    To date, only 2% of the world’s passenger vehicles are electric due to factors such as limited battery autonomy and high costs. But a dramatic change is needed with the transport sector causing a quarter of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, current lithium-ion battery technology still has drawbacks, such as limited energy density, safety issues, unsustainable production processes, and end-of-life issues. To address this, the European research project ASTRABAT (All-Solid-sTate Reliable BATtery for 2025) developed a new solid-state lithium-ion battery for future electric vehicles and used the latest generation of materials. With a total budget of €8m, the project within a consortium of 14 partners and coordinated by CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) has fostered strong partnerships and collaborations among academia, industry and research institutions across Europe.

    A double polymer electrolyte specific to high energy density electrodes

    ASTRABAT project‘s concept is based on developing a hybrid electrolyte, allowing it to address specifically electrolyte properties required at the anode side, cathode side and electrolyte separation part in order to increase the energy density and the safety.

    The anode

    In ASTRABAT, the usual graphite was replaced with silicon to triple the current energy density thanks to the theoretical gravimetric capacity of silicon (approximately 4200 mAh/g). However, the silicon material must be designed to accept several charge-discharge steps without strong embrittlement. In ASTRABAT, Nanosilicon coated by carbon (NANOMAKERS NMSiΩC99) has been selected. The work in ASTRABAT has been to design the hybrid electrolyte at the anode side (anolyte) to accept the silicon expansion during charge and discharge cycling appropriately. For this purpose, the ORMOCER® organic-inorganic material is considered and has been synthesised at up to one kg-batch at Fraunhofer-ISC.

    The cathode

    Based on lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), the cathode was designed to allow higher voltages with a reduced cobalt content, minimising the reliance on critical resources. Our work has selected the last generation of NMC with LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC 811). This type of NMC has a high nickel concentration and very low manganese and cobalt content. The result is higher energy density at a lower cost. Moreover, the discharge capacity of NMC811 can reach an upper voltage limit in the range of 4.2-4.5 V versus Li/Li+; therefore, the electrolyte development must address the ability to support this high voltage – the solid electrolyte.

    The solid electrolyte

    In conventional batteries, the electrolyte is liquid, and a separator is required to avoid contact between the two electrodes and short circuits. With a solid electrolyte, the separator is not needed anymore. To achieve favourable energy and power characteristics, a long lifespan, and cost-effectiveness in solid-state batteries, the solid electrolyte must have high lithium-ion conductivity, adequate chemical, electrochemical, and mechanical stability, and good processability. Given the low probability of finding a single material meeting all these criteria, the ASTRABAT innovative approach is based on combining two polymers, each tailored for the cathode and anode requirements. The flexibility of these polymers ensures prolonged cell life by maintaining robust contact between the electrodes and electrolytes. The hybrid polymer ORMOCER® developed by Fraunhofer ISC, comprising inorganic and organic nanodomains formed through a sol-gel reaction, is employed on the anode side. Daikin devised a hybrid electrolyte approach utilising a high voltage-stable, plasticised fluoropolymer electrolyte as a matrix for the catholyte. Incorporating ceramic additives (lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO)) into the salt-to-plasticiser-to-matrix, even in small fractions, substantially enhances ionic conductivity.

    ASTRABAT, solid-state lithium-ion batteries
    Fig. 1: Ionic conductivity of the solid polymer electrolyte with different compositions: Catholyte (top) and anolyte (bottom) (source: Daikin and Fraunhofer ISC)

    Besides, polymer electrolyte formulation was completed with a Li-ion salt and appropriate ionic liquid used as a plasticiser.  The formulation of polymeric electrolytes containing lithium salt and ionic liquid was optimised regarding ratio, compound and process for anolyte and catholyte. They exhibit high ionic conductivities, as demonstrated in Fig. 1.

    ASTRABAT: From research towards manufacturing

    ASTRABAT development has been done up to the demonstration of the whole cell.  For this purpose, if they are not yet commercialised, all the materials used for cell manufacturing have been synthesised at a kilogramme scale. Long electrodes were processed on a semi-pilot line with electrode loading up to three mAh/cm² at CEA to build one Ah prototypes at Yunasko. Fig.2 demonstrates the cycling capability of three similar cell prototypes (12 mAh) cycled at 60°C and at different cycling rates.

    ASTRABAT. solid-state lithium-ion batteries
    Fig. 2: Electrochemical performance of three similar ASTRABAT cell prototypes at 60°C at different cycling rates (C/n with n: 50, 20, ten, five, and two) (Source: CEA)

    To scale up the production of solid-state cells, and since several new materials are involved in the cells, it is crucial to optimise the successive steps required for all-solid-state cell assembly meticulously and to scale up on an industrial site fully. The challenge lies in producing solid-state batteries in a series while optimising their technical, economic, and environmental aspects. Life Cycle Assessment and innovative recycling methods have also been explored to ensure the long-term sustainability of ASTRABAT prototypes.

    Within these four years, the ASTRABAT project has been a significant endeavour in pursuing electric mobility as the primary transport mode. Extensive research, collaboration, and innovation have been employed to address the challenges associated with solid-state batteries. However, crucial challenges like interfacial concerns and mechanical stability must be addressed before mass production to make solid-state batteries a viable and widely adopted technology in the future.

    This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 875029

     

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Sustainable boron production to enable global decarbonisation

    Sustainable boron production to enable global decarbonisation

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    As the world transitions to cleaner energy, specific materials and their derivatives will need access to more secure sources. 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. is providing access to one such material: boron, through sustainable production practices.

    In the pursuit of global decarbonisation, the significance of sustainable and resilient supply chains for critical materials cannot be overstated. Among these materials, boron stands out for its unique properties and essential role in various green technologies.

    5E Advanced Materials, Inc. is at the forefront of this movement, aiming to fuel the world’s transition to a greener future through its vision of vertically integrated production of boron and lithium.

    What are the advantages of boron?

    Boron, often overlooked in mainstream discourse, is a metalloid element with exceptional properties that make it indispensable across various applications. Its high melting point, lightweight nature, hardness, corrosion resistance, and antimicrobial properties make it vital in several industrial, defence-related, and energy transition products.

    From permanent magnets to solar panels and aerospace technologies, boron plays a pivotal role in advancing technologies crucial for decarbonisation efforts worldwide. Its versatility extends to applications in industrial fertilisers, specialty glass, fibre optics, turbines and more, making it an indispensable resource for building a sustainable future.

    It is the various forms that boron can be refined into that 5E is facilitating. Boric acid and boron acid are vital for glass used in solar panels, glass and magnets used in electric vehicles, and wind turbine blades, while boron carbides and nitrides are used in products such as aerospace ceramics, borosilicate glass for fibre optic networks, and various materials such as glass and ceramics used in satellites.

    5E Boron Americas Complex, California

    Securing the supply chain

    Despite its importance, the global supply chain for boron is vulnerable, with a significant portion sourced from a limited number of regions, primarily Turkey. Located in Southern California (home of the largest boron mine in the US, producing almost half the world’s borates,) 5E Advanced Materials recognises the critical need for a secure domestic supply and is well-positioned to meet that demand.

    This complex represents the largest known new conventional boron deposit domestically and has received Critical Infrastructure designation from the US Government. By leveraging this strategic advantage, 5E is poised to address the growing demand for boron and mitigate supply chain risks associated with foreign dependency.

    Sustainable production of boron for a greener tomorrow

    In addition to ensuring supply chain resilience, 5E Advanced Materials prioritises sustainable production practices. Their local operational strategy emphasises energy efficiency and minimises environmental impact, aligning with the overarching goal of global decarbonisation.

    Through integrated, on-site processing and closed-loop methodologies, 5E reduces energy consumption, minimises resource utilisation and curtails greenhouse gas emissions. By employing in-situ extraction techniques, the company further minimises environmental disturbance compared to traditional mining methods, setting a new standard for responsible resource extraction.

    boron production
    5E Boron Americas Complex, California

    Pioneering progress: Recent developments

    5E Advanced Materials, Inc. has recently made significant strides in its mission to revolutionise the boron market and drive global decarbonisation. The company has been operating the mine in California since 1 January 2024, producing initial results that meet or exceed expectations.

    In a recent press release detailing operational updates, the company recognised:

    • All four of the injection/recovery wells are fully operational and, in combination, are effectively managing the extraction of PLS (Pregnant Leach Solution);
    • Boric acid head grade has surpassed 5.0% and is on a steady upward trajectory, which exceeds historical levels;
    • The company has confirmed the presence of lithium through its extraction process and continues to see the parts per million (ppm) content increase as the wells continue to be conditioned;
    • Following the execution of a recent recapitalisation, the company has engaged an electrical contractor, now on-site, to progress the final stages of the boric acid and gypsum areas of the plant; and
    • All related operational schedules remain on target for completion by early March.

    These early successes underscore the company’s commitment to operational excellence and validate the strategic value of its ore body. By leveraging cutting-edge extraction techniques and advanced processing capabilities, 5E is poised to maintain its momentum, continuing to execute against strategic and operational milestones.

    5E Boron Americas Complex, California

    A call to action: Recognising boron’s strategic importance

    The demand for boron is likely to grow, with predictions of it growing between 1.5 and 2.5 times the current demand between 2025 and 2030. While around 20-30% of the current demand is for applications related to decarbonisation, this, too, is likely to grow to around 65-75%. As such, with the current supply, the disparity between supply and demand will grow significantly, and boron prices will skyrocket. Doubly so with world politics such as Russian sanctions and environmental concerns, there is a need for more suppliers.

    The importance of boron extends beyond its applications in green technologies; it is a strategic asset critical to national security and clean energy goals. Recognising this significance, a bipartisan group of congressional leaders has advocated for the inclusion of boron in the U.S. Geologic Survey’s 2025 Critical Mineral List.

    5E Advanced Materials, Inc. fully supports this initiative, emphasising the urgency of establishing a secure domestic supply chain for boron and its derivatives. By championing legislative efforts and driving awareness of boron’s strategic importance, 5E is advancing its mission to become a global supplier of critical materials essential for a sustainable future.

    5E Boron Americas Complex, California

    The importance of sustainable boron production for a clean future

    In the journey towards global decarbonisation, the role of innovative companies like 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. cannot be overstated. By harnessing the unique properties of boron and pioneering sustainable production practices, 5E is driving meaningful progress toward a greener, more resilient future.

    As mining operations at the Boron Americas Complex continue to yield promising results, 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. emerges not just as a visionary concept but as a tangible force driving change in the global decarbonisation landscape. 5E looks forward to 2024 as it continues to advance the company’s vision of becoming the newest domestic producer of boric acid and lithium carbonate.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • Discovering high-grade copper and gold in North America

    Discovering high-grade copper and gold in North America

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    Aston Bay is advancing high-grade copper in Nunavut and gold in Virginia.

    Aston Bay (TSX.V: BAY, OTCQB: ATBHF) is an exploration company focused on discovering high-grade copper, zinc, cobalt, and gold in North America. Aston Bay makes the energy metal discoveries that the mining industry then takes to the next stage.

    Aston Bay is exploring two very different geographical regions, Nunavut in Canada and the state of Virginia in the US. Both are Tier 1 jurisdictions, and Aston Bay has made exciting discoveries in both areas.

    Storm Copper: High-grade copper advancing toward production

    At the Storm Copper project in Nunavut, Aston Bay has partnered with ASX-listed American West Metals (ASX: AW1) and has undertaken an aggressive reverse circulation (RC) drilling to delineate high-grade near-surface copper resources to support the potential development of a low-impact, small-footprint ore-sorting type of mining operation.

    A significant exploration programme, incorporating 10,000m of RC drilling, has been completed this past spring/summer. Several intersections demonstrate the extensive and high-grade nature of the mineralisation, such as 41m length of core running 4.18% copper from 38m depth.

    A maiden ore resource report is anticipated for Q1 2024, as well as beneficiation studies on the mineralisation and a scoping study for the development plans. Mineralisation commences at, or very close to, surface level and can potentially be accessed with open-pit mining. This near-surface mineralisation is open in all directions; a significant drilling programme is planned for 2024 to significantly expand the maiden resource and drill for new near-surface discoveries in this belt-scale opportunity. Planning for a potential open-pit operation is underway.

    Storm Copper: Deeper potential for ‘Congo-style’ copper in Canada

    In addition to this ongoing development work at Storm, Aston Bay geologists have predicted that the near-surface mineralisation delineated in the copper resource may indicate a potentially significant amount of copper hidden in the rocks at depth. This geologic model is the same as that of the very large and high-grade copper deposits of Central Africa, such as Kamoa-Kakula.

    Gravity and electromagnetic geophysics have yielded several compelling drilling targets that corresponded well to the geological model, a very prospective combination. Deep diamond drilling this past summer confirmed the presence of the predicted copper mineralisation at depth in widely spaced drill holes, amplifying the prospects of discovering a significant, deeper, regional-scale copper system.

    Thomas Ullrich, CEO of Aston Bay, says the discovery has been some time in the making: “We’ve known about copper at the surface at Storm since the work conducted by Cominco and Teck in the late nineties, and we are rapidly advancing plans to extract that copper with a low-cost mine. That alone will add significant value to Aston Bay. Even more exciting, however, is that our geological model has predicted the presence of copper hidden deeper in the subsurface – the discovery of this past summer proves it. The copper is there.”

    These are exciting days for the Storm project, with additional geophysics and deep drilling planned for this coming season.

    Virginia: High-grade gold and copper-cobalt potential

    The company has made two recent discoveries in Virginia: a high-grade gold vein and SEDEX-style zinc-copper-cobalt mineralisation. The high-grade gold (e.g., 24.73 g/t gold over 3.57m core length) vein is unusual for Virginia, more typical of a ‘Kirkland Lake’ style quartz vein, with mineralisation remaining open at depth and along over 1.6km strike length.

    The discovery of cobalt mineralisation is also new and unusual for Virginia, providing the potential for a significant discovery of energy metals in the US. Drill programmes for both the gold and base metals projects are planned for 2024.

    For more information, please visit the Aston Bay website: www.astonbayholdings.com

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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  • ELEMISSION’s core scanner for accurate real-time detection and analysis of critical minerals

    ELEMISSION’s core scanner for accurate real-time detection and analysis of critical minerals

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    ELEMISSION’s ECORE core scanner offers new opportunities by delivering real-time quantitative automated mineralogy using LA-AES (LIBS).

    Critical minerals are essential for the global transition towards a greener future. They are required to develop many new technologies, including low-greenhouse gas energy sources, and are the backbone of the current electric vehicle revolution. The Government of Canada has identified 31 critical minerals and metals that are instrumental for sustainable economic prosperity and growth within Canada and its trading partners.

    Many of these minerals, including lithium (Li), aluminium (Al), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and rare earth elements (REEs), are currently mined and actively being explored nationwide. Demand for critical minerals is rapidly increasing around the world. Therefore, the optimisation of their exploration and processing is crucial for propelling society toward a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

    core scanner
    Fig. 1: ECORE LIBS core scanner manufactured by ELEMISSION Inc.

    Conventional core scanning technologies

    In an attempt to optimise the exploration and production of critical minerals, many exploration and mining companies have turned to the digitisation of drill cores. This generally permits faster logging and interpretation when compared to traditional methods, while facilitating geological modelling and the archival of information.

    This has resulted in a rise in the popularity of core scanners. In general, they are meant to streamline and maximise efficiency when core logging while providing textural and mineralogical data that a core logging geologist could otherwise miss. The most commonly used core scanners rely on infrared hyperspectral imaging (IR-HSI) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF).

    IR-HSI drill core scanners are able to provide large amounts of textural and mineralogical information rapidly and at a relatively affordable price, while XRF scanners are able to provide chemical composition and elemental information.

    In the case of HSI, metal oxides and sulphide minerals are not spectrally active and therefore cannot be identified. This is troublesome for the analysis of critical metals, as they are often hosted in sulphide or oxide minerals. XRF technology cannot detect light elements (Z<13). Mg (Z = 12) and Na (Z = 11) can be detected but require longer dwell times that are not conducive to rapid core scanning.

    Furthermore, XRF is not capable of identifying mineralogy, only elemental information. Because of this, it is impossible to distinguish between minerals that have similar compositions, and it is difficult to extract important elemental deportment information crucial for fully understanding a deposit.

    critical minerals
    Fig. 2: Periodic table of elements demonstrating which elements can be detected using LIBS technology (red) and critical elements (blue outline)

    The limitations of these methods can result in the loss of critical information that can greatly impact decision-making and thus require additional techniques to complement and enhance their information, which adds more time to the overall analysis. The shortfalls of these methods, combined with the growing demand for critical minerals, create room for an emerging technology that can provide rapid and accurate results without these same restrictions.

    ECORE scanner

    ECORE, manufactured by ELEMISSION Inc. (Fig. 1), is a fully automated, high-speed laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) commercial drill core scanner that is capable of detecting almost every element on the periodic table (Fig. 2), which includes every element involved in Canada’s list of critical minerals.

    ECORE is able to provide rapid (less than five minutes per core box, more than 300m per day) chemical and mineralogical information, along with invaluable textural information at high resolution. The following case studies demonstrate the application of ECORE to the analysis of critical minerals while simultaneously highlighting the importance of having access to mineralogical and full chemical information.

    Case study one: Lithium pegmatite

    Over 120 mineral species contain lithium as an essential constituent, and 44% of them can be found within lithium-caesium-tantalum pegmatites, the most important economic source of lithium globally. Lithium reserves in pegmatites mostly occur in the form of lithium-silicate minerals. These most commonly include spodumene (LiAlSi2O6), petalite (LiAlSi4O10), and lepidolite (KLi2Al(Al,Si)3O10(F,OH)2.

    Differentiating between different lithium-bearing minerals is extremely important in the context of understanding the economic potential of a deposit, especially given the great diversity of possible lithium species.

    The extraction and processing methods can vary depending on the main host mineral since mining and processing procedures need to be adjusted based on the physical properties of the specific mineral. As a result, understanding the contribution of lithium from each mineral present in the deposit is crucial for an accurate estimation of mining and processing costs.

    ECORE is able to easily differentiate between lithium-bearing minerals, even those that vary only slightly in composition, such as spodumene and petalite.

    core scanner, critical minerals
    Fig. 3: A photo, an RGB (Li, Al, Si) map, mono-elemental maps for Rb, Be, and Li, and a mineralogical map generated by ELEMISSION’s Smart Automated Mineralogy (SAM) software of a section of drill core from a lithium pegmatite deposit

    This is demonstrated in Fig. 3, where, using RGB mapping, spodumene and petalite are easily distinguished from one another within the same core sample. Feature mapping like this has proven to be very useful not only for discriminating between mineral phases but also for highlighting compositional variations within the same mineral.

    Mono-elemental mapping provides the advantage of being able to understand the context in which mineralisation is hosted, along with providing important elemental deportment information. This information can then be represented in the form of a mineralogical map using ELEMISSION’s proprietary Smart Automated Mineralogy (SAM) learning algorithm.

    Using ECORE technology, predicted and true chemical assays are able to be provided in real-time. Fig. 4 shows ECORE chemical assays taken at one-metre intervals over 1500m of drill core from a lithium pegmatite deposit compared to assays obtained by a standard laboratory method (ICP-AES, four acids). The R² value (0.98) and the slope of the curve (0.99) reveal a very strong correlation between these two methods and demonstrate that the ECORE core scanner is equally effective and reliable when compared to traditional laboratory methods.

    core scanner
    Fig. 4: Lithium concentration detected by ECORE compared to laboratory (ICP-AES) analysis for 1500 m of lithium pegmatite drill core at one-metre intervals

    Access to instantaneous quantitative chemical data that can easily be generated as a function of depth at intervals of the user’s choice is invaluable, as it facilitates rapid decision-making and eliminates the week- or month-long delay that is typically associated with waiting for traditional lab assay results.

    Case study two: Porphyry copper

    Understanding the mineralogy of a deposit is not only important for optimising production and planning for future extraction but also for understanding controls on mineralisation to facilitate exploration. In porphyry copper deposits, hydrothermal fluids concentrate metallic elements and produce extensive alteration haloes around an intrusion.

    This results in mineral zonations that form approximately concentric patterns whose changes in mineralogy can serve as a vector towards mineralised centres.

    In practice, these patterns are often difficult to recognise by eye due to commonly occurring later-stage overprinting and alteration events and therefore require the expertise of a skilled geologist aided by petrographic thin section analysis and the use of more complex, expensive, and time-consuming instruments such as electron probe micro-analysers (EPMA) or X-ray diffractometers (XRD) to comprehend.

    With ELEMISSION’s core scanner, automated and precise mineralogical maps can be created to consistently recognise lithological units and their distinctive mineralogy. Sulphide and oxide mineral species can easily be identified and differentiated, which allows for simple visualisation of mineralisation behaviour within the core.

    Fig. 5 shows a high-resolution SAM image of a section of core from the ore zone of a porphyry copper deposit. The image clearly shows two different copper-bearing sulphide minerals (bornite and chalcopyrite) hosted within an anhydrite-quartz vein. Within both the vein and the host rock, metal oxide (magnetite, delafossite, ilmenite, and cuprite) and oxyhydroxide (goethite) species can be distinguished from each other.

    core scanner, critical minerals
    Fig. 5: A photograph, mono-elemental maps for Cu, S, and La, an RGB (Cu, Fe, S) image, and a SAM image of a section of drill core from the ore zone of a porphyry copper deposit

    Additionally, elements that occur in trace amounts throughout the core (e.g., lanthanum) can also be identified while preserving spatial information, so associations between minerals and these elements can be made.

    Conclusion

    ECORE revolutionises the extraction and discovery of critical minerals by providing large amounts of information rapidly, thereby allowing for faster and more precise interpretations to be made during the exploration, extraction, and production stages. Within minutes, users can access mono-elemental and RGB maps, automated mineralogical images, and full chemical assays.

    The capability of ECORE to detect almost any element on the periodic table means that there are no limitations in the types of core that can be analysed and also minimises the amount of additional analytical methods required for geologists to make their interpretations.

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  • McGill University and EU collaboration

    McGill University and EU collaboration

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    With Canada’s inclusion in the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme, McGill University discusses their work and what the future of research looks like with this new tie between the EU and Canada.

    In 2024, Horizon Europe is officially extending its funding to Canadian researchers. As the biggest funding for scientific research and engineering in the world, this will be a boost for many Canadian institutes and facilities. We asked one such institute, McGill University, some questions about what this will mean moving forward.

    In what ways does research at McGill University adopt an international focus? How has this affected your global rankings?

    World-leading universities like McGill must engage globally to attract researchers from across the world to support synergies in research, and to accelerate innovation. That is why international partnerships are an integral part of McGill’s DNA.

    For example, among the international partnerships forged by McGill is the Helmholtz International BigBrain Analytics and Learning Laboratory (HIBALL), which unites McGill with the Helmholtz Forschungszentrum Jülich as one of nine prestigious Helmholtz International Labs. Funded jointly by the Helmholtz Association and by Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives (HBHL) (a marquee, McGill-led research initiative funded by Canada’s most prestigious research grant programme, the Canada First Research Excellence Fund – CFREF), HIBALL explores big data applications, notably AI, in neuroscience. HIBALL is, therefore, combining brain data to build an ultra-high-resolution atlas of the brain’s anatomy; in other words, its ‘wiring’ and its functional organisation.

    In terms of the impact of such a partnership on McGill’s standings in global academic rankings, I would argue that in recent years, organisations that produce these academic rankings, such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), have tuned in to the importance of international research partnerships.

    For example, in 2023, QS introduced three new metrics: sustainability, employment outcomes, and international research network – and McGill ranked among the top 30 global universities. McGill was also ranked 13th in the world in the QS Sustainability Index, which considers our environmental and social impact, including the impact of the research aligned to specific UN Sustainable Development Goals. McGill performed well in the Environmental Impact Indicator (eighth in the world), the Environmental Education Indicator (third in the world), and the Impact of Education Indicator (11th in the world).

    In Canada, McGill has consistently come out on top, rated as Canada’s best medical doctoral university by Maclean’s Magazine for nineteen years running. The strength of the university’s reputation for excellence is therefore recognised at home and abroad.

    Can you share some of the success stories that have resulted from McGill University’s international collaborations in science and innovation?

    The city of Montreal has been McGill’s home for over 200 years, and is a burgeoning Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub which has attracted major investments from government and business for the past several years. There are an estimated 27,000 workers in AI-related technologies and over 14,000 post-secondary students enrolled in AI-related study programmes. McGill researchers and students are key players in this AI ecosystem.

    Recently, a consortium of research organisations has formed a new International Research Laboratory (IRL) focused on AI in Montreal, comprised of McGill University, Quebec’s École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), Mila – Quebec’s AI Institute, France’s Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Saclay, and the École CentraleSupélec.

    The ILLS is focused on five main themes of research: Fundamental aspects of Artificial Intelligence, sequential (real-time) Machine Learning (ML), robust autonomous systems, natural language and speech processing, and applications to computer vision, signals, and information processing. In addition, the new centre emphasises interdisciplinary collaborations with an aim to develop new methodologies and integrate these techniques into learning systems.

    I think it is important to underline that such international collaborations do not materialise out of thin air. It takes commitment and sustained engagement on the part of the researchers, as well as the tangible support of their academic institutions, to get these collaborations off the ground. While it may seem trivial, researchers must be willing to work across time zones, and that means taking calls late at night and early in the morning! Beyond that, it takes vision, and the ability to set bold research aspirations.

    Another great example of international innovation-in-action is McGill’s relationship with industry partner Moderna, which has led to two research projects in the burgeoning field of lipid nanoparticles. McGill was also the first Canadian university to join Moderna’s mRNA Access program during its international rollout. The program is accelerating innovation and enabling new vaccines and medicines for emerging and neglected infectious diseases through collaborative research and preclinical development.

    Finally, I want to point to an initiative that is in the works, the upcoming Tokyo Symposium & Workshop on Genomic Medicine, which will take place on 8-10 April 2024 in Tokyo. The symposium will bring together academic and industry representatives from Japan, South-East Asia, Europe, and North America to discuss the future of biomedicine, and to promote international collaboration and partnership. Organised in partnership with the RIKEN Center of Integrated Medical Sciences, and McGill’s Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, as well as with the newly founded Pasteur Institute-Japan and the UK Biobank, this symposium will be a fantastic opportunity for international collaborations to deepen and take flight.

    mcgill university, horizon europe

    Students from McGill University’s joint PhD in Genomic Medicine with Kyoto University, which is supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology’s Top Global University Programme, and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec, will also participate, further enhancing their training in international collaboration.

    What are the global challenges the university intends to address through the opportunity presented by the Horizon Europe programme?

    The news that Canada is now an associate country participant in Horizon Europe (the EU’s and world’s largest research and innovation funding programme) was met with great excitement at McGill. We are already working across the themes defined by Pillar 2, which include health and inclusivity, climate, energy, and mobility, as well as advancement in digital technologies, industry development, and space.

    As I have discussed, McGill’s biomedical and health researchers, including those in global health, are among the world’s best. We are also a research hub in Arctic and polar research and a growing force of research excellence in sustainability and climate science.

    One of the global challenges our researchers seek to overcome are barriers to electrification. A key player in this mission is the  McGill Centre for Innovation in Storage and Conversion of Energy (McISCE). Established in 2021, the McISCE brings together some 50 researchers and more than 150 graduate students to explore solutions related to large-scale energy storage, both for electricity grids and large industrial processes. Roughly a third of the researchers at McISCE are investigating new materials to make anodes and cathodes and to develop solid electrolytes, which would have the advantage of not being flammable. McGill’s researchers are also exploring different ways to store and convert energy.

    McGill University is also home to the secretariat of the Group on Earth Observations – Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), a global research network, and community of practice dedicated to monitoring Earth’s biodiversity. GEO BON’s mission is to prevent unsustainable biodiversity loss and to support international and national actions to meet biodiversity targets and Sustainable Development Goals. McGill is proud of this international effort, which is jointly chaired by McGill’s Andy Gonzalez and Maria Cecilia Londoño of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute in Bogota.

    What is the impact of the Horizon Europe programme for researchers in Canada and the EU? How can they leverage the programme to advance their work?

    Canada and the EU are like-minded partners, dating to the 1996 Canada-EU Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation. And while academic institutions have benefitted from the flow of information and expertise across borders, there have been no dedicated funds for large-scale, collaborative research endeavours between the EU and Canada.

    Horizon Europe is a game changer in that regard, and McGill has been hard at work educating our research community about how to engage in this opportunity. We seek to build on what we’ve learned through participation in Horizon 2020. McGill participated in 38 Horizon 2020 projects, making us the top collaborator in Canada, together with the University of Toronto.

    I hope that by participating in the Horizon Europe Programme, Canadian research will be on the European map and Canada will begin leading on the international stage, showcasing its national strengths in research, science, and innovation, thus doing even more to address global challenges.

    At McGill, I anticipate that our involvement will open new avenues for collaboration, new research initiatives, joint publications, cross-fertilisation between research labs in Canada and Europe, and attract students and researchers from the EU and Canada.

    McGill University also has ambitious research goals in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, RNA and Genomics. What impact has the alignment with Horizon Pillar Two had on the University’s research in these areas?

    McGill is home to some of the world’s leading AI experts in ML and reinforcement learning (RL), as well as natural language processing (NLP), including experts such as Canada CIFAR AI chairholder, Professor Joëlle Pineau, who is a core academic member of Mila, Quebec’s AI institute, as well as the Vice-President of AI research at Meta. As I mentioned, McGill is a key player in the exciting AI ecosystem in the city of Montreal, and we are involved in all phases of the innovation process, from academic research to early-stage projects, to start-ups, and companies that commercialise their applications or products.

    For the development of novel RNA therapeutics, McGill has long been a world-leading research institution. Our researchers have been uncovering the mechanisms and potential of RNA for over 50 years. And in the social sciences, our researchers are working to ensure that developments in RNA medicine benefit all communities, including the vulnerable and medically underserved.

    The University launched the McGill Centre for RNA Sciences (MCRS) in 2022 to pursue these research focuses in tandem. In 2023, McGill was awarded $165m from the Canada Research Excellence Fund to launch DNA to RNA: An Inclusive Canadian Approach to Genomic-based RNA Therapeutics (D2R), a first-of-its-kind global research effort specialising in the development and delivery of more inclusive genomic-based RNA therapeutics that are relevant to the health needs of medically underserved groups, including Canada’s Indigenous communities and the elderly. D2R is bolstered by $191m from industry, academic, government, community, and non-profit partners on four continents.

    mcgill university, canada and europe

    McGill University has also recently inaugurated the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Institute of Genomic Medicine, which is leading breakthrough research aimed at developing novel diagnostic tools, targeted treatments, and new pharmaceuticals, as well as vaccines, and the data-sharing policy tools and frameworks to implement these innovations. Genomics research is an area of incredible promise, not only in combatting viruses but also in rare diseases, cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and infection.

    In 2025, McGill will launch its new Strategic Research Plan, at which time we may identify additional opportunities to align our priorities with international partners and the Horizon Europe programme. McGill has demonstrated excellent co-operation in all these research strength areas, and with the prospect of partnerships under the Horizon Europe programme, the future for impactful international collaborations looks very bright indeed.

    Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.

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