Tag: The Innovation Platform Issue 17

Alloy production in the Western World
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How a UK company situated in the midstream is paving the way for an alternative supply chain with metal and alloy production in the Western World.

Nestled in Ellesmere Port, in the North-West of England, you can find an alloy production facility key to the UK Green Revolution, offering a complementary supply chain alternative.

Founded in 1992, Less Common Metals (LCM) is a world leader in manufacturing and supplying complex alloy systems and metals. With over 30 years of experience producing tight compositional tolerances and controlled microstructures, LCM offers a range of innovative products. In the last year, the company has invested in its technical department to bolster its expertise across various technical advancements.

Inside the factory, you can expect to see a whopping 6,200m² of shop floor housing six standard vacuum induction furnaces, three resistance heated furnaces, two strip casters, two full-sized electrolytic cells to produce rare earth metals from molten salts, a hydrogen decrepitation furnace, various crushers, mills, and other metal processing equipment, and a fully equipped, dedicated analytical laboratory.

As I’m sure you are aware, historically, China has held a dominant position in the global rare earth market as the country is gifted with ‘geological greatness’, which enables easy access to reserves. The Chinese Government has also invested a lot of capital into research and development and, in recent years, state-of-the-art equipment that enables advancements. China’s share in the rare earth market has varied throughout the years but has rarely dropped below 80%. Reuters recently reported that China controls 95% of the production and supply of rare earth metals.

Overdependence on a single source risks supply becoming weaponised, and holds enormous geopolitical pressures. With China dominating the rare earth industry, it leaves a strategic vulnerability with potential disruptions and an erratic supply of materials and products.

Dysprosium (Dy) and Terbium (Tb) are heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), also known as the ‘heavies’. They are essential for improving the performance of neodymium magnets, the strongest commercial permanent magnets available. LCM recently announced the expansion of metal-making production to dysprosium iron (DyFe) and terbium (Tb) to further enhance their expertise as a complementary supply chain alternative. LCM is actively securing committed offtake agreements for commercial scale volumes for DyFe metal aimed to be supplied at approximately 30 tonnes per annum and Tb metal volume at 30 tonnes per annum initially.

The company’s technical process developments to date are in the fields of samarium cobalt (SmCo), co-reduced SmCo, neodymium iron boron (NdFeB), metallurgical reductions, strip casting, electrolysis, and hydrogen decrepitation. Progressing ahead, the technical department is focusing on the production of terbium and dysprosium (Tb/Dy) metal, neodymium praseodymium (NdPr), dysprosium iron (DyFe), samarium (Sm) and developing a scandium (Sc) production route.

Electrolysis

Molten salt electrolysis is the industry standard for making rare earth metals in NdFeB magnet production. Since 2017, LCM has made neodymium (Nd) and neodymium praseodymium (NdPr) metal commercially on their premises in the UK at over 120 tonnes per annum.

Without good control of the process and effective treatment of emissions, molten salt electrolysis has the potential to be highly damaging to the environment due to the use of fluoride and gaseous emissions, including CO2.

However, by installing a wet scrubber system to process off-gases, the LCM process operates well within the limits imposed on emissions by the UK Environment Agency.

NdFeB strip cast alloys

The established technology for alloy production for sintered NdFeB magnets is strip casting. Raw materials are melted in a vacuum, and the molten alloy is passed over a water-cooled rotating copper wheel.

LCM is the only western-world company currently strip casting NdFeB alloys on a commercial scale, with two 600kg scale furnaces giving a capacity of around 1,400 tpa of alloys. LCM now offers strip cast quantities as low as 100kg per composition. This will benefit the magnet market by assisting with small-quantity bespoke compositions to enable product development at a reduced cost.

NdFeB magnets are the most powerful permanent magnets commercially available. They are used in DC motors, sensors, chemical couplings, and pumps.

In recent years, there has been significant growth in green technologies requiring NdFeB magnets, including electric vehicles and wind power generation. LCM enjoys exclusive European representation as a leading Chinese producer of bonded magnetic powders.

Isotropic magnetic powders can be used to produce bonded NdFeB magnets through amalgamation. Anisotropic magnetic powders can be used to produce bonded magnets with maximum energy products twice that of the isotropic bonded magnets.

Hydrogen storage

Hydrogen storage alloys can absorb 1,000 times their volume in hydrogen, making them a favourable choice for green energy. With a long storage lifespan, the opportunities for these alloys are vast; they can be used to power various establishments such as factories, universities, residential areas, hotels, and commercial buildings.

Hydrogen storage alloys, also known as metal hydrides, can store and release hydrogen gas through hydrogen absorption and desorption. These alloys typically comprise metals such as titanium, zirconium, magnesium, and rare earth elements like lanthanum.

As a supporter of green energy and a decarbonised economy, LCM currently provides the industry with hydrogen storage material. Alongside this, LCM is proud to work with a PhD student from Nottingham University to further enhance the company’s offering and progress research into sustainable hydrogen alloys.

LCM continues to support PhD research as this plays a key role in producing solid-state hydrogen for partners worldwide.

Samarium cobalt alloy powders

Samarium cobalt alloy powders are a type of rare earth magnet material. The alloy production process is called co-reduction, which involves the reaction of mixed oxide with a reductant metal at elevated temperatures by induction melting. The resulting alloy is then crushed and milled to produce a fine powder.

The co-reduction process involves heating the mixed oxide and reductant metal together until they melt and react, diffusing atoms through the solid state and forming the desired alloy, after which it is crushed and milled to produce the power.

LCM is one of a few manufacturers globally producing SmCo alloy powders using this process. It is advantageous because it produces a more homogeneous and fine-grained powder than other methods, resulting in improved magnetic properties and performance in the final magnet production.

Benefits of specialty alloys

Specialty alloys offer a range of benefits due to their unique compositions and properties tailored to specific applications. LCM’s technical team engineers these alloys to demonstrate exceptional performance characteristics that standard alloys may not possess. Some of the benefits of specialty alloys include:
- Enhanced performance: Designed to excel in specific environments, conditions, or applications;
- Corrosion resistance: Formulated to resist corrosion in aggressive environments where standard alloys might fail;
- High-temperature stability: Mechanical strength and other properties maintained at elevated temperatures. Suitable for applications in high-temperature environments such as aerospace, power generation, and industrial processes;
- Wear resistance: Suitable for components subjected to abrasive or erosive conditions, such as cutting tools, bearings, and industrial machinery parts;
- Magnetic properties: Engineered to exhibit specific magnetic properties, including high magnetic permeability, low coercivity, and excellent magnetic retention. Vital for applications such as electrical transformers and magnetic sensors;
- Lightweight construction: Some specialty alloys have been developed to combine high strength with low weight, making them valuable for applications where weight savings are essential, such as in the aerospace and automotive industries; and
- Customisability: Speciality alloys can be customised to meet specific requirements, allowing engineers to fine-tune properties for optimal performance in particular applications.
LCM labs

The Less Common Metals laboratory is an inorganic analytical laboratory equipped to test the elemental composition, microstructure, and physical properties of inorganic materials. It primarily acts as the quality control (QC) department for producing metal alloys but can perform commercial analysis on various inorganic materials.

Through elemental, crystallography, metallography, and physical characterisation analysis, a range of industries can be serviced, such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, metals, batteries, and chemicals. Our team of analytical chemists uses various apparatus depending on the testing required:
- Elemental analysis (ICP-OES);
- Metallography (Optical, SEM-EDX);
- Crystallography (XRD); and
- Physical testing (PSD, thickness).
The team offers a 48-hour express service to analyse those samples you just can’t wait for. For all other analyses, ten working days is standard.

LCM’s growth strategy

LCM has strategically positioned itself for robust growth through a multi-faceted approach. Central to its expansion strategy is the emphasis on building strategic partnerships. LCM recognises the value of collaboration in today’s interconnected business landscape and has sought alliances with key players across the supply chain. These partnerships enhance LCM’s technological capabilities and market reach and foster innovation through shared resources and expertise.

Another pivotal aspect of LCM’s growth strategy is its commitment to offtake agreements. By securing long-term contracts with suppliers, LCM ensures a stable product demand. This commitment mitigates market uncertainties and provides a solid foundation for investment in capacity expansion and technological advancements. It solidifies LCM’s position as a reliable supplier in the industry.

LCM strategically facilitates a Western supply chain to bolster its growth further. This involves optimising logistics, distribution, and manufacturing processes to streamline operations. LCM aims to enhance its competitiveness and responsiveness to customer demands by establishing a more efficient alternative supply chain in Western markets.

This forward-thinking approach acknowledges the evolving dynamics of the global business environment, including geopolitical shifts and market fluctuations. By diversifying its supply chain, LCM aims to enhance resilience against disruptions, ensuring a continuous and reliable flow of materials and products.

In summary, the company’s growth strategy encompasses collaborative partnerships, committed offtake agreements, optimisation of the Western world supply chain, and exploring alternative supply chain models. The company is positioning itself for sustained success in a dynamic and competitive marketplace through these strategic initiatives.

Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.
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February 7, 2024
Sustainable Nuclear Energy Research in Sweden

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The SUNRISE centre (Sustainable Nuclear Energy Research in Sweden) is the first step towards building a lead-cooled research and demonstration reactor in Sweden.

The UN Agenda 2030 calls for solutions to the global climate challenge. The partners of the SUNRISE centre (Sustainable Nuclear Energy Research In Sweden) argue that this is best met by developing and deploying a combination of low-carbon power producing technologies, where nuclear power is ideal for providing reliable CO2-free base-load capacity.

In Sweden, nuclear power currently provides nearly 40% of electricity. The ongoing expansion of wind-power ties up an increasing fraction of the national hydro-power capacity in order to compensate for the intermittency of wind and solar and is therefore not as available for base-load supply.

Significant electrification and hydrogenation initiatives and strategies have been launched in Sweden in order to de-carbonise society. The current projections point to a doubling of the electricity consumption in Sweden over the coming decades.

Development of sustainable nuclear energy has the potential for game-changing positive effects on a global scale, especially with regards to clean and affordable energy for the development of sustainable climate-neutral societies. For the projected transition from fossil fuel-based transportation to electric transportation, we need to provide adequate amount of base-load electricity.

The SUNRISE centre’s work

The SUNRISE centre aims to prepare for the construction and operation of a Swedish lead-cooled research reactor with a target start date in 2030. The work in SUNRISE will not in itself be sufficient to lead to licensing and construction of a reactor, and thus it is part of a greater research and development programme with a high profile and significant commercial impact potential.

The centre gathers three universities: The centre host KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Luleå University of Technology (LTU), and Uppsala University (UU), with a wide range of industrial and societal stakeholders in five work packages. Together, these stake out the path towards advancing lead-cooled fast reactor technology in Sweden. The centre started its operations on 1 January 2021, and has since then rather closely followed the plan set out in the application to SSF.

A broad four-stage R&D programme is established by the SUNRISE centre partners which will enable Sweden to commence commercialisation of lead-cooled reactor technology within the coming ten years:
•    Stage 1: Development of R&D platform for materials and components’ testing in support of design and safety analysis of a Swedish lead-cooled research reactor and an electrical mock-up prototype. (SUNRISE centre);
•    Stage 2: Construction and operation of an electrically heated mock-up reactor, along with licensing of the research reactor design developed in Stage 1. (Solstice project);
•    Stage 3: Irradiation testing of advanced steel composites and qualification of uranium nitride fuel (multiple projects); and
•    Stage 4: Construction and operation of a lead-cooled research, demonstration, and training reactor (SUNRISE-LFR).

The research advances have so far resulted in eight peer reviewed publications and have a broad range of exciting results in the pipeline for further dissemination.

So far, 50 people have joined the centre in different capacities; 19 seniors and 26 juniors, with a mix of MSc students, PhD students, and postdocs among the juniors and a mix of professors, associate professors, researchers, and industry affiliates among the seniors.

The centre partners have already succeeded in securing funding for the second stage of the greater programme through the Solstice project application which was funded by the Energy Agency by 99 MSEK in 2022.

The SUNRISE centre has also secured the planned three-year programme access to neutron beam facilities at ANSTO in Australia in late 2022.

Fig. 1: The SUNRISE organisation

Additional funding has been secured for the building of local research infrastructure via cash and materials contributions from Blykalla and Alleima. KTH has provided central co-financing to the centre and Luleå University of Technology has provided co-financing for one PhD project.

Meanwhile, stages three and four are under initiating discussions with financing bodies and the Swedish regulator (SSM, The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority), as well as with industry stakeholders and government representatives. The centre is thus operating with a significantly higher budget than what was awarded by The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) initially.

The SUNRISE partners

The parties in SUNRISE are KTH, LTU, and UU academic partners, with Blykalla, Westinghouse and Alleima as strongly contributing industry partners. There is also an advisory body formed of other industrial, societal, and academic stakeholders. These are Uniper, Outokumpu, Safetech, Vattenfall, Jernkontoret, Vysus group, Studsvik, Promation (CA), Oskarshamns kommun, The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, MIT (US), UNSW (AU) and Bangor university (UK). The three international partner universities are contributing in-kind to the research activities in the centre.

The SUNRISE centre and the centre staff have had a truly significant impact on the media and society. SUNRISE has been discussed in a very large number of invited popular scientific appearances, some of which are recorded and available: television and radio interviews, news articles, podcasts, a museum exhibition, panel discussions and debates, and last but not least, a highly successful YouTube channel operated by one of the SUNRISE PhD students Elina Charatsidou: ‘Elina Charatsidou – Your Friendly Nuclear Physicist’, talking to and educating the public on nuclear energy matters.

The videos related to the SUNRISE centre have over 430,000 views, and the overall channel has a reach of over 5.5 million views with nearly 80,000 subscribers after having been started in the summer of 2022. In short, SUNRISE is very visible in society.

The SUNRISE centre is led by the director, Prof Pär Olsson at KTH, together with the core group of PIs that lead the different work packages. The centre is organised according to the following organigram. To ensure a successful and efficient development of the programme, the SUNRISE centre is divided into five work packages (WP). Each WP focuses on a specific research field.

Work Package 1 (WP1): Design and safety analysis of a Swedish lead-cooled research reactor

In WP1, the concept design of, and preliminary safety analysis report for a lead-cooled research and demonstration reactor (SUNRISE-LFR) to be built in Sweden must be developed and delivered. In SUNRISE WP1, the following major objectives for the research reactor, here named SUNRISE LFR, are defined as:
•    Demonstrate reliable LFR operation;
•    Demonstrate LFR performance under transients;
•    Qualify LFR fuels (oxides and nitrides);
•    Provide high-temperature steam for commercial services;
•    Provide training and education of nuclear engineers;
•    Provide fuel irradiation services; and
•    Provide irradiation of structural materials.

The reactor is designed in such a way that any incident or accident, also known as a transient, will generate a safe and automatic response from the reactor. This is achieved using a passive safety approach, based on phenomena such as gravity, buoyancy, temperature, and radiation. Protection of the public is ensured without the need to rely on the availability of external power.

To this end, the reactor is designed with the ability to remove residual heat from the core using natural convection of the primary lead coolant, and eventually to remove heat from the primary system to the atmosphere using natural convection of air. The integrity of the barriers for the release of radionuclides, such as fuel cladding tubes and the primary reactor vessel, shall not be challenged during such transients.

Fig. 2: The core map of the research reactor SUNRISE-LFR

Work Package 2 (WP2): Development of advanced steels and radiation damage studies

The main work in WP2 has initially focused on investigating the issue of liquid metal embrittlement (LME) on the steels developed prior to, and in SUNRISE, and the differences between liquid Pb and Pb-Bi eutectic. WP2 is focused on steel development and degradation studies – in collaboration with WP3 and WP5 – as well as experiments and modelling of radiation damage.

The goal is to qualify structural steels for use in the research reactor and, by extension, for use in a fleet of commercial reactors. Most materials developed and studied here will act as overlay welded corrosion and erosion protective materials, that will be fused to already qualified fast reactor materials, such as 316L and 15-15Ti. WP2 works on material selection, fabrication, and procurement, in co-operation with Alleima.

A range of experimental test matrices have been defined and are continuously refined through discussions. New steels are developed and delivered for different applications in the reactor. Exposure and mechanical stress experiments have been planned and conducted and have resulted in several publications. Selected complex components will be fabricated for testing in the experimental facilities that are constructed in WP5.

Irradiation of alumina-forming steels and subsequent characterisation and mechanical testing will be performed. Ion beam irradiation is extensively used to investigate radiation damage effects (from the Uppsala Tandem facility), exemplified by the award winning MSc diploma thesis of Gabriela Lapinska, and we are targeting access to neutron sources in terms of research reactors as well. We will work on modelling of different aspects of the steel degradation, and compare with the experiments carried out.

Work Package 3 (WP3): Characterisation, advanced manufacturing, and lab-scale testing of coatings and novel materials

WP3 is the largest work package in terms of manpower, lead by researchers from LTU. An extensive list of tasks and goals regarding materials and process development is undertaken. We will continuously work with selection of materials and components for all studies, often in centre-wide discussions at the technical workshops.

New materials are developed for different application areas in the reactor. Of critical importance is development of pump impeller materials, including hard and dense cemented carbides produced in an innovative way, coatings, and protective cladding. The processing development that is needed to fuse or clad qualified reactor materials with protective self-healing steels, will be developed here.

The main focus for such work is advanced and programmable laser welding, so that once qualified, industrial scale processing can be enabled. Local facilities at Luleå University of Technology (LTU) for wear and fretting experiments have now been adapted for use in a liquid metal environment, and testing of prototypic as well as state-of-the-art materials is underway.

All materials, compound components, weldments, and coatings are characterised with a wide range of techniques. Post-test analysis is conducted on all exposed materials and components. Selected materials and components will be prepared for testing in the larger scale facilities to be designed and constructed in WP5. Post-exposure characterisation will be mainly handled by WP2 and WP3.

Work Package 4 (WP4): Nuclear fuel development and safety

WP4 is dedicated to assessing the fuel/cladding/coolant interaction and fuel properties in operational and accident conditions. Uranium nitride is the reference long-term fuel for the SUNRISE reactor, although the initial plan is to start the reactor with oxide fuel in order to enable nitride fuel licensing in the first years of reactor operation.

By coupling experimental and modelling techniques, it will be possible to obtain a full description of this system and build a model to support the operational safety in a lead-cooled fast reactor. To achieve this, uranium nitride fuel powder and pellets will be fabricated at KTH.

Fig. 3: Laser cladded FeCrAl single track on 316L flat substrate

With the help of additives from Uppsala University, we are making inactive simulated burn-up fuel, that chemically mimics fuel that has undergone irradiation. In order to build reliable models for fuel performance, we need to close the knowledge gaps regarding certain parameters of safety interest.

We are investigating fuel/clad/coolant interactions at different conditions including room temperature, operation temperatures, and transient temperatures. We are working on studies of how the build-up of fission products cause properties such as the thermal conductivity to evolve, how the fuel operates under irradiation, and on diffusion and release of gases into the clad.

We have prepared and sent simulated burn-up fuel samples for high-temperature neutron diffraction experiments in ANSTO, Australia. We work on ion irradiation studies of UN and simulated burn-up fuel and are developing advanced methods to measure the evolution of thermal properties under irradiation.

We work on thermodynamic modelling of the important phases that appear in the fuel/clad system and have joined the TAF-ID project. We investigate whether there is any relevant chemical fuel/clad/coolant interaction that should be modelled from the point of view of reactor safety. We will refine fuel fabrication parameters with spark plasma sintering to perfect impurities, microstructure, and porosity control.

Fig. 4: A UN pellet fabricated using SPS, fingertips included for scale

We will perform mechanical testing and irradiation exposure of fuel materials. We will work with detailed state of the art microstructural characterisation tools in all of these aspects.

Work Package 5 (WP5): Development of experimental and modelling approaches for testing of LFR component performance in high temperature HLM flow

In WP5, the goal is to develop a combination of modelling tools and an experimental platform that can be used for simulation and testing of Flow Accelerated Corrosion/Erosion (FACE) at high temperatures for materials and components that will be used for the reactor design and the licensing process. The aim is to provide test environments suitable for model development and validation data from FACE tests of selected reactor design components in flowing heavy liquid metal at high linear flow velocities and high temperatures.

The work will progress according to a similar materials selection procedure as in the other WPs. The detailed conditions for the test facilities are converging in the centre-wide workshops. Two testing facilities are designed, modelled and about to be constructed: a Separate Effect FACE (SEFACE) facility and a Component Test Facility (CTF). The former to focus on materials’ tolerance to FACE and the second to test reactor-relevant scale components over relevant time scales and flow and temperature conditions.

The plan is to also construct model-validating minor facilities which will work with scale-prototypic fluids, and which can be well instrumented, in order to build detailed and validated models of the conditions in the actual test facilities.

Experiments will be planned and carried out and post-test examinations of different kinds will be performed, together with WP2, WP3 and WP4. All the high-temperature Pb exposure facilities are being consolidated into the central SUNRISE laboratory that is under construction at KTH.

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

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February 7, 2024
High grade magnet rare earths in a top tier jurisdiction

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Explorer Transition Minerals is focused on developing and advancing a portfolio of high-tech and strategic critical metals projects to support the green economy, energy storage markets, and global decarbonisation.

Australia’s Northern Territory has shot up the ranks of worldwide investment attractiveness based on the latest Fraser Institute annual survey of mining companies. Sitting sixth overall, the survey demonstrates the positive growth in exploration and mining that Australia’s ‘top end’ has experienced concurrently with the release of the country’s significant investment into developing the critical minerals industry.

It comes as some surprise, then, that Transition Minerals’ Barkly project is just the second rare earths project to achieve formal resource classification (Inferred resource, JORC 2012) in the NT after the progress of Arafura’s (ASX:ARU) Nolans project to development status with the support of crucial partnerships with EV manufacturers Hyundai and Kia. Arafura’s market capitalisation reached over AUD$1.1bn in 2023, providing a tantalising glimpse of the possibilities for Transition Minerals, given its proposed securities exchange listing in 2024.

Rare earths and vanadium in the Northern Territory

Following Transition Minerals’ maiden air core drilling programme in the second half of 2022 that was co-funded by the Northern Territory Government, the company has managed to confirm a significant regolith-hosted rare earth deposit underlying a mineralised zone of another critical mineral – vanadium – all within some 30m from the surface.

These dual resources come with some significant numbers from the first-pass drilling results. This includes 40 million tonnes at a very impressive 2,100 ppm total rare earth oxides (TREO), underlying a vanadium resource of 200 Mt @ 0.12 % V2O5 incorporating the further bonus of a significant gallium contribution.

But the resources don’t stop there. The formal Mineral Resource Estimation also indicated potential exploration targets (JORC, 2012) for the rare earths of a massive 200-1,000 Mt @ 1,600-1,900 ppm TREO, in addition to 300-1,000 Mt @ 0.12-0.14% V2O5 (plus gallium) residing in the rare earths’ overburden. The JORC Code stipulates that exploration targets are conceptual in nature, that there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource, and that it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.

Further benefits for Transition Minerals

To further highlight the significant opportunity for Transition Minerals, it has 100% ownership of contiguous landholding of over 7,300 km² in and around the Barkly rare earths and vanadium resources. This represents an enormous opportunity to discover further extensions and repetitions of the deposits already revealed.

Most readers will be well aware that not all deposits of rare earths are created equal. Rare earth deposits can be divided, at a simple level, into hard-rock deposits (e.g. Tanbreez, Mountain Pass, Kvanefjeld, Nolans) and regolith-hosted deposits that lie at the surface in highly weathered and generally unconsolidated material. The surficial and ‘easy’ digging nature of regolith-hosted deposits, in conjunction with typically low levels of radionuclides (uranium, thorium), means that these projects have the potential to be economic at relatively low grades of rare earths compared with the hard-rock deposits.

Transition Minerals’ Barkly deposit exhibits some standout characteristics among the regolith-hosted rare earth deposits. These include an exceptionally high proportion – 33% – of neodymium and praseodymium (Nd, Pr), the major rare earth components of permanent magnets (NdFeB magnets). Permanent magnets convert electrochemical energy into mechanical drive in the rapidly growing electric vehicle market and convert the rotation of wind turbines into electric energy in the globe’s unwavering push for electrification and decarbonisation. Global deposits of rare earths typically only comprise around a 20% proportion of the combined Nd and Pr, thereby highlighting the inherent advantage of the Barkly Project amongst its peers.

Progress has already been made in developing a mineral processing flowsheet for the Barkly rare earths project. Early diagnostic sighter testing has demonstrated that a very respectable 74% of Nd and Pr can be extracted from a composite bulk sample using a simple two-step hydrometallurgical process. Furthermore, initial tests have separately indicated that the Barkly rare earths material can beneficiate into a concentrated rare earth material via traditional flotation techniques. This can have positive downstream economic benefits for infrastructure size and reagent costs.

Rare earths and vanadium for the future

In summary, Transition Minerals has a first-mover advantage in a new rare earths and vanadium district in a top jurisdiction, with an expansive landholding providing plenty of scope for continued exploration success. Its flagship high-grade regolith-hosted Barkly rare earth deposit has an exceptional proportion of key permanent magnet rare earths (Nd, Pr) critical for EVs, wind turbines and the globe’s energy transition and decarbonisation goals.

Transition Minerals is progressing toward achieving a Tier 1 project with vanadium and gallium credits. It offers a bulk mining, low strip opportunity intended for low cost, hydrometallurgical recovery of critical permanent magnet rare earths.

International intelligence agencies, such as Adamas Intelligence, project global supply to be in a significant deficit of demand for NdPr by 2030. Transition Minerals has the quality asset that may seriously reduce this supply deficit in the future so that the pervasive growth of EVs and wind turbines can continue unabated.

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

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February 7, 2024
Investigating post-fire flooding and effective mitigation strategies

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As climate change brings more natural disasters, the after-effects of those disasters must also be considered. RSS-Hydro discusses the effects of post-wildfire flooding, and what can be done to prepare for and mitigate the impact of those flooding waters.

Wildfires, the uncontrolled burning of vegetation, have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. One of the most concerning consequences of wildfires is the heightened risk of post-fire flooding, a natural hazard that poses a significant threat to communities, infrastructure, and the environment.

Understanding the hazard: A landscape transformed

Post-fire flooding is linked to the profound alterations that wildfires inflict on the landscape. Removing vegetation, once a crucial shield against erosion and runoff, leaves the soil bare and exposed to the erosive power of rainwater. This can lead to the formation of a hydrophobic layer, a water-repellent film on the soil surface that further impedes water infiltration and increases surface runoff.

Flooding in burned areas, also known as post-wildfire flooding or flash flooding, is a natural hazard that can occur when wildfires remove vegetation, expose soil, and create a hydrophobic layer that prevents soil from absorbing water effectively. This can lead to a rapid increase in runoff, particularly during heavy rainfall events, which can cause flash floods, landslides, and erosion. In August 2023, Greece experienced devastating floods exacerbated by the previous year’s wildfires. A series of intense rainfall events triggered widespread flooding and mudslides in several regions, including Attica, Peloponnese, and the islands of Evia and Lesbos. These floods caused widespread damage to property and infrastructure, resulted in the loss of multiple lives, and displaced thousands of people. The floods were attributed to a combination of factors, including heavy rainfall, the impenetrable nature of burned soils, and wildfire debris. This event is a stark reminder of the significant threat posed by post-fire flooding and the importance of developing effective mitigation strategies.

The devastating impacts: A multifaceted threat

Post-fire flooding unleashes a cascade of destructive impacts, disrupting lives and ecosystems alike. Post-fire flooding is a natural hazard that can have devastating consequences. Wildfires can remove vegetation, expose soil, and create a hydrophobic layer that prevents soil from absorbing water effectively. This can lead to a rapid increase in runoff, particularly during heavy rainfall events, which can cause flash floods, landslides, and erosion. Flash floods and sudden and intense water surges carry debris and mud, wreaking havoc on property, infrastructure, and roads. The sheer force of these floods can endanger lives and disrupt transportation networks.

Landslides, another consequence of post-fire flooding, are triggered when heavy rainfall saturates the weakened and unstable soils, causing them to slide downhill. These landslides can occur at an alarming speed, posing a serious threat to communities residing in lower elevations. Erosion, the wearing away of land surfaces by water, is exacerbated by post-fire flooding. The rapid runoff of water dislodges soil particles, carrying them downstream and altering the flow of rivers and streams. This erosion damages waterways and degrades the land, disrupting natural habitats and ecosystems. In addition to these immediate impacts, ash concentrations can be mobilised in flood flows, contaminating drinking water supplies. This poses a significant threat to public health and can require extensive water treatment efforts to ensure safe drinking water.

Ash from wildfires can contain harmful substances, including heavy metals, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). When ash-contaminated floodwaters enter reservoirs, these contaminants can potentially migrate into drinking water supplies. Ash particles can also clog filters and interfere with water treatment processes, making it more difficult to remove harmful substances.

Exposure to ash-contaminated drinking water can pose a variety of health risks. Heavy metals can cause neurological, developmental, and reproductive problems. Arsenic can lead to cancer, skin diseases, and cardiovascular problems. PAHs can cause cancer, respiratory problems, and immune system damage. Mitigating the risk of post-fire flooding requires a comprehensive approach encompassing strategies to reduce the impact of wildfires and enhance the resilience of communities in burned areas.

© shutterstock/Artsiom P_

Reducing the impact of wildfires: A preventive measure

Controlled burns, prescribed fire management, and forest thinning are effective strategies for reducing the severity of wildfires and their impact on the landscape. Controlled burns, conducted under controlled conditions, help to eliminate excess fuel and create firebreaks, reducing the risk of wildfires spreading uncontrollably. Prescribed fire management involves setting controlled fires at specific times and locations to reduce the overall fuel load in an area. Forest thinning, the selective removal of trees in dense forests, creates a more open landscape less susceptible to fire, reducing the risk of debris flows and erosion.

Enhancing community resilience: Building back stronger

The re-establishment of vegetation cover is crucial for restoring the natural protection against erosion and runoff. Revegetation efforts, involving planting trees, shrubs, and other plants in burned areas, help to improve soil infiltration and reduce the risk of flooding. Soil stabilisation techniques, such as using mulch, compost, and other materials to cover the soil, can further enhance soil infiltration and reduce the formation of hydrophobic layers. Early detection and suppression efforts, relying on an active wildfire monitoring network and rapid response teams, are critical in limiting the spread of wildfires and minimising the extent of burned areas.

© shutterstock/Trismegist san

Leveraging emerging satellite technologies: Advancing disaster preparedness

Satellites are playing an increasingly important role in wildfire monitoring and prediction. They can detect fires early, provide real-time information on their extent and intensity, and help firefighters predict how fires will spread. Such information can be complemented by on-the-ground sensor technology and hydrodynamic modelling, a powerful tool for simulating water flow and predicting flooding in burned landscapes. Such simulations provide valuable insights for land-use planning and infrastructure development. Satellite sensors can also provide real-time data on rainfall patterns, soil moisture, and vegetation cover. They can identify areas at high risk of flooding and trigger early warning systems and evacuation orders.

A call to action: Embracing sustainable practices

Addressing the growing threat of post-fire flooding requires a collective effort from individuals, communities, and governments. Adopting sustainable practices, such as reducing deforestation and implementing prescribed fire management, can help to reduce the risk of wildfires and their devastating consequences. Investing in early warning systems, flood mitigation infrastructure, and reforestation efforts can further enhance resilience and protect communities from the destructive forces of post-fire flooding.

As climate change continues exacerbating the frequency and intensity of wildfires, the need for effective mitigation strategies for post-fire flooding becomes increasingly urgent. By understanding the underlying causes of this hazard and exploring innovative solutions, we can work towards a future where communities are better prepared to face the challenges posed by post-fire flooding and safeguard lives, property, and the environment.

At RSS-Hydro, we research and develop innovative water risk management solutions that combine computer modelling and satellite Earth Observation technologies to help communities, governments and industry become more resilient and be better prepared when facing disaster.

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

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February 7, 2024
The BOW project: Nanomedicine’s game-changer

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Revolutionising healthcare, the BOW project fuses nanotechnology and biology, crafting transformative nanomedicine solutions.

The post The BOW project: Nanomedicine’s game-changer appeared first on Innovation News Network.

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February 6, 2024
Go2Lithium is upgrading its lithium extraction methods to help deliver a sustainable future

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With an ever-increasing demand for lithium batteries, Go2Lithium is harnessing connections and new extraction technology to help fulfil demands and bring a sustainable future closer than ever.

Go2Lithium Inc. (G2L) is a 50/50 joint venture between two companies with complementary technical skills, Clean TeQ Water Pty Ltd (ASX:CNQ) and Computational Geosciences Inc., a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Electric Inc (TSX:IE). Clean TeQ has operated in the metals recovery sector for over 25 years, utilising its proprietary continuous ion exchange technologies. The technology has been proven to deliver superior outcomes that support its use in recovering energy metals. Computational Geosciences is a cutting-edge technology company that harnesses the power of computational methods to advance geoscience, seamlessly integrating computer science, data analytics, and geophysical principles to provide unparalleled solutions for understanding and navigating the complexities of the Earth’s subsurface. This unique multi-disciplinary venture is perfectly designed to aid in discovering and recovering lithium from subsurface brines.

G2L’s work

Lithium extraction from brines is vital in lithium production, an essential element in rechargeable batteries that power various electronic devices and electric vehicles. Brine deposits, often located in salt flats or salars, represent a substantial lithium source because of their elevated lithium content. Geopolitical dynamics are driving a shift towards recovering lithium from North American brines, despite their comparatively lower lithium concentrations.

Lithium holds a crucial status both in North America and worldwide, being classified as a critical material. It is vital in the composition of lithium batteries utilised in electric vehicles, powering our computers and smartphones and increasingly in energy storage systems and electric grid reliability technologies.

As mentioned earlier, the escalating demand for lithium is intrinsic to fostering technological progress. Tapping into the lithium reserves in the Canadian region is pivotal for securing a sustainable supply for the Northern American states. This endeavour fortifies the local and national economy by generating employment opportunities, supporting domestic manufacturing, and enhancing national security.

Lithium extraction from brines is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than extracting lithium from hard rock minerals. However, challenges such as brine chemistry variations and environmental concerns related to water usage and brine disposal need to be carefully addressed to ensure sustainable lithium production. Advances in technology and ongoing research aim to optimise the efficiency of lithium extraction from brines and support the growth of these challenging brines. G2L utilises Clean TeQ’s and Computational Geosciences’ extensive practical experience to produce an attractive outcome.

Key hurdles

DLE represents a relatively novel technology that necessitates successful demonstration and scaling. G2L leverages the vast expertise of Clean TeQ to address numerous associated challenges. The principles of continuous ion exchange and adsorption, validated over decades in industries like uranium and gold, underpin our approach. By drawing upon this wealth of knowledge, the application of DLE within this process can be substantially de-risked.

When it comes to brines, challenges with direct lithium extraction (DLE) from salar and unconventional brines are common. The key objective is to extract lithium in an environmentally sustainable manner, minimising disruption to the natural environment while reducing both energy consumption and freshwater usage.

© shutterstock/JLStock

The nature of the brine is also a challenge. Challenges may be physical or chemical, depending on the region and source of the brine. Unconventional brines are hot and contain a complex mixture of dissolved salts and petroleum products. These highly salty brines, which are generally more than five times saltier than seawater, have been trapped in the aquifers for hundreds of years in an environment without oxygen, so the chemistries are quite unpredictable. The extraction of 70mg/L lithium in a concentrated salt mixture containing over 200,000mg/L of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium chloride is challenging.

Before the lithium extraction step, the brines must be pre-treated to remove most suspended materials, including particulates and free and emulsified oils. G2L uses continuous direct lithium extraction (cDLE®) to capture the lithium from the brine.

The DLE process is only one of several steps in the extraction and refinery stage. Still, it is the one that upgrades and purifies the lithium, so both pretreatment and refining must be tuned to work optimally.

The importance of lithium

The demand for lithium batteries is pivotal in the journey towards decarbonisation as we transition to renewable energy sources and electrification. Consequently, lithium production needs to prioritise sustainability principles, incorporating benchmarks for carbon dioxide emissions and water usage per tonne of lithium produced as primary considerations.

DLE serves as a crucial step towards realising these principles. The setup of the DLE process plays a significant role in achieving optimal results. Integrating the DLE sorbent with the process is vital for achieving a reduced carbon footprint and freshwater consumption.

G2L employs continuous counter-current processing technology to optimise lithium recovery, enhance sorbent lithium capacity, and minimise impurity carryover, chemistry expenses, and freshwater consumption. These process advantages collectively result in the most economical lifecycle costs and the most negligible environmental impact.

We aim to be the most economical and environmentally sustainable approach to global lithium production from brine resources. We know that this can only be achieved through an integrated process flowsheet.

Key successes and overcoming adversity

The first project for G2L is in partnership with LithiumBank (TSX:LBNK) at their Boardwalk project in Alberta and is proving to be very successful. The Boardwalk property is in west-central Alberta, Canada. The Boardwalk property comprises 30 Alberta Metallic and Industrial Mineral Permits that collectively form a contiguous package of land that totals 231,028 hectares. LithiumBank has 100% ownership of the mineral rights at the Boardwalk property. The mineral resource estimations predict indicated LCE resources of 395,000 tonnes LCE at 71.6 mg/L lithium and inferred LCE resources of 5.734 million tonnes LCE at 68.0% mg/L Li.

The updated Preliminary Economic Assessment by Hatch Inc. for the Boardwalk Lithium Brine Project, dated January 2024, shows a significant difference from the initial PEA released in May 2023. The difference was due to the incorporation of newly licensed continuous Direct Lithium Extraction (cDLE®) technology from G2L. The G2L technology has numerous advantages over the direct lithium extraction process applied in the original PEA, including:

•    Increased lithium recovery by 98% using the G2L’s cDLE® technology;
•    A significant reduction of 34% in operational expenditures to $4,588 per tonne LHM;
•    Reduction in the payback period from 4.1 years to 3.5 years on a pre-tax basis;
•    Production of high-grade lithium sulphate (Li2SO4) eluate at a concentration of 3,238 mg/L Li (3.24 g/L Li);
•    Lower cost and commercially available reagents used
in the cDLE® process;
•    Majority of acid is recovered in the downstream processing and reused in the elution stage; and
•    Reduction in freshwater usage using the G2L cDLE®.

The future of G2L

The future of G2L appears promising as it continues to innovate within the lithium extraction industry. With its continuous counter-current processing technology, G2L stands at the forefront of maximising lithium recovery while minimising environmental impact. As the demand for lithium continues to surge in tandem with the global shift towards renewable energy and electrification, G2L’s commitment to sustainability and efficiency positions it as a key player in meeting these evolving needs.

In the coming years, advancements in G2L’s processes and technologies will lead to even greater efficiencies, reduced costs, and improved environmental performance. By staying at the forefront of research and development, G2L can anticipate and adapt to changes in the market, regulatory landscape, and technological innovations, ensuring its continued success and contribution to the sustainable future of lithium extraction.

As the world seeks cleaner energy solutions, G2L’s innovative approach will likely play a crucial role in supporting the transition towards a more sustainable energy ecosystem.

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

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February 6, 2024
An international innovation leader and prospective partner looking ahead of tomorrow

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The University of Calgary seeks partnerships to advance research through Horizon Europe Pillar II opportunities.

With an agreement in place between the EU and Canada, the University of Calgary (UCalgary) research community can now collaborate as a formal partner on Horizon Europe’s Pillar II opportunities addressing Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness.

Located in the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains, UCalgary is Canada’s youngest top ten research university. It has been the number one research-based startup creator in Canada for three years.

UCalgary currently has active educational and training agreements with 52 countries, including a campus in Qatar, and since 2018, has been a collaborator in over 2,900 completed and ongoing research and non-research agreements with international partners from 60 countries, including a Strategic Alliance with the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and Curtin University in Australia.

Dr William Ghali, Vice-President (Research), said: “The University of Calgary, as an international research hub, is excited about the prospective collaborations made possible by the agreement between the EU and Canada. We have a demonstrated track record of international research collaboration and partnerships contributing to global community impact.”

UCalgary’s unique facilities and drive to innovate and draw international partnerships

UCalgary has established itself globally as the world’s first United Nations University (UNU) Hub on Empowering Communities to Adapt Environmental Change in collaboration with the UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health. In addition, UCalgary’s Centre for Health Informatics is a designated World Health Organization Family of International Classification Collaborating Centre.

UCalgary’s Arctic Institute of North America is home to the Kluane Lake Research Station, where the environmental and geographical attributes of the region and location provide unique research opportunities to support climatology, natural resources and environmental research. Meanwhile, the current development of Quantum City, an ecosystem of quantum science and technology in partnership with Mphasis and the Government of Alberta, is an exciting UCalgary initiative attracting global talent.

Dr Ghali said: “Horizon Europe opportunities present a promising avenue for our researchers to impact communities beyond Alberta. Our researchers bring entrepreneurial thinking, transdisciplinary scholarship, and access to unique research infrastructure to the table. We are eager to start something impactful through these potential partnerships and continue contributing to the global research landscape to make a real impact on our communities.”

Pre-clinical and clinical health research is enabled through UCalgary research infrastructure embedded within two hospital campuses and a singular health-care system in Alberta, allowing for the translation of findings from bench to bedside. UCalgary leads the REBX Exchange, a unique-in-Canada platform to simplify and expedite research ethics administration processes for multi-site clinical trials and non-health research studies between jurisdictions.

Examples of this work include the UCalgary-led ESCAPE international randomised clinical trial for stroke intervention, which involved research partnerships with 22 sites from North America, Europe, the UK, and Asia. Results found that a clot retrieval procedure, known as endovascular treatment, can dramatically improve patient outcomes after an acute ischemic stroke.

The current HEMO clinical trial for an implantable therapeutic to improve blood pressure regulation after spinal cord injury is led by UCalgary’s RESTORE Network in partnership with the Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland and Dutch company ONWARD.

Leading-edge health research infrastructure unique to UCalgary includes the International Microbiome Centre, designed to investigate the microbiome of humans, plants, animals, and the physical environment. The Centre for Mobility and Joint Health features state-of-the-art imaging, movement assessment and diagnostic equipment, with some imaging equipment only available in this lab and one or two other facilities worldwide.

UCalgary scholars recognised internationally for their expertise in health, space, and energy

For the past two decades, UCalgary has been ranked a top institution globally in paediatric concussion research, with more than 30 experts focused on this area of research, including five Canada Research Chairs, and is ranked top-four for total publications and citations in concussions worldwide.

UCalgary’s is leading the One Health Consortium, a pan-collaborative transdisciplinary platform focused on antimicrobial use and resistance research, policy, training, outreach, and commercialisation. This research initiative is complemented by UCalgary’s W.A. Ranches, a working cow-calf ranch with 19,000 acres for cattle, farmland for feed production, and wildlife habitat provides a unique living lab for agriculture research and technology development, and Advancing Canadian Water Assets, a fully integrated, fully contained university research facility located within an operating industrial wastewater treatment plant.

In addition to vast expertise in health, UCalgary has long been a world leader in navigation and positioning technologies, with faculty regularly participating in international space missions, including the European Space Agency’s ROARS mission and the CASSIOPE satellite project, which was conceived, researched, and operated by UCalgary.

The Microsystems Hub at UCalgary is one of about 20 in Canada. This open-access facility provides a high-level cleanroom with CAD$8m in specialised equipment for micro- and nanofabrication, characterisation, and prototyping.

UCalgary is also a leader in developing the ground-breaking energy innovations the world urgently needs, with more than 300 UCalgary interdisciplinary scholars researching to transform the energy landscape for a cleaner, more efficient energy future. UCalgary is one of three universities leading the Canadian Government’s Energy Modelling Hub.

In the last six years, UCalgary researchers have published over 40,000 scientific articles, half of which are in collaboration with international researchers, and it is currently the academic home for 311 international postdoctoral scholars.

UCalgary is not just a local institution but a truly international university, deeply invested in the exchange of knowledge across borders. UCalgary is embracing its role as a prospective global partner for research advancement and industrial competitiveness.

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

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February 6, 2024
A strategic Canadian battery metals opportunity
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Mink’s drilling and exploration for battery metals nickel, copper, and cobalt, in Ontario, continues with compelling projects in the emerging Timmins Nickel District, an area currently attracting global interest.

Mink Ventures Corporation (TSXV:MINK) is a Canadian mineral exploration company exploring for battery metals (nickel, copper, cobalt) at its Warren and Montcalm projects in the Timmins Nickel District, Ontario, Canada.

Mink’s flagship Montcalm project covers 40km² adjacent to Glencore’s former Montcalm Mine, which had historical production of 3.93 million tonnes of ore grading 1.25% Ni, 0.67% Cu and 0.051% Co (Ontario Geological Survey, Atkinson, 2010). Its Warren project is located just 35km away.

These projects sit on the western edge of the Porcupine Camp and approximately 50km southwest of Canada Nickel’s Crawford project, which has attracted significant investment and attention recently by major mining companies and battery manufacturers seeking opportunity and a secure Canadian supply of these battery metals.

Both of Mink’s polymetallic critical minerals projects are ideally situated with low geopolitical risk factors. Ontario is a top-ranking Canadian mining jurisdiction. The province is mineral-rich, with a wide range of deposits that significantly contribute to the economy and the local communities.

Polymetallic deposits typically offer better value per ton, especially when located in established mining camps with existing infrastructure. Access and infrastructure to Mink’s projects are exceptional. Plentiful green hydropower and all-weather roads run adjacent to Mink’s projects, as well as mining infrastructure in the long-established Timmins Mining Camp.

Fig. 1: Detailed location map

Further, a straightforward permitting process for both of Mink’s projects adds tremendous value to the equation and provides for highly cost-effective exploration due to the availability of drills, crews, skilled labour force, equipment, and lower mobilisation costs. In Mink’s case, there are significant efficiencies in logistics to move between its two projects, located only 35km apart along the same Montcalm Mine Road.

This article is focused on the Warren nickel-copper-cobalt project, as Mink is initiating a 500m drill programme on the A Zone at Warren. The Warren property covers 1,010 hectares of land in the Whitesides Township, approximately 35km west of Timmins, Ontario. (See Fig. 1) The first phase of drilling will consist of a series of short holes on the A Zone to determine the extent of the mineralisation down plunge, down dip, and along strike before evaluating the other mineralised zones and numerous untested priority geophysical targets on the property.

The A Zone (See Fig. 2) was selected as a high-priority target for drill testing as a result of an extensive geological review of data, a field examination, and a confirmation sampling programme conducted in summer 2023 by company geologists.

In July 2023, Mink acquired these underexplored patented mining claims. The Warren patents have had a sporadic exploration history from the late 1920s to the present, and several promising historical mineralised Cu Ni zones were outlined. The majority of the battery metals exploration completed on the property to date is in an area representing a very minimal portion of the property, and was completed well over 60 years ago as the patents were locked up and relatively untouched.

With the favourable geology, recent geophysics, and extensive surface mineralisation observed, there is a significant opportunity for new discoveries on the patents and across the expanded Warren project, including additional staked claims (Warren East) and acquired claims (Warren North). Mink’s work commitment to earn a 100% interest in the patents is $300,000. The company will make a significant dent in that obligation with this initial drill programme, which is expected to last two to three weeks. Mink has been fortunate to receive exploration grants through Ontario’s OJEP programme, and as such, half of this initial drill programme will be offset with the non-dilutive capital provided.

Fig. 2: Trench location map

Property highlights
- Prospecting, sampling, and a geological evaluation of known mineralised zones A, B, and C was completed in the summer of 2023 to locate the most prospective zones of mineralisation for drill testing. A total of 20 reference grab samples were taken;
- Sampling efforts confirmed the presence of extensive zones of mineralisation; recent sampling demonstrated excellent copper grades and significant nickel, cobalt and silver grades associated with some of the best copper grades;
- The sampling efforts confirmed that the highest priority target is the A Zone, where approximately 120m of the zone is exposed in a series of trenches in outcrop. The A Zone trenches noted excellent copper values ranging from 1.075% to 2.08%. Nickel values from the A Zone ranged from 0.313% to 0.348% Ni, and cobalt values ranged from 0.0389% to 0.0498% Co. Some interesting silver values ranging from 10.3ppm to 23.8ppm were also associated with some of the better copper values on the A Zone;
- To date, the Warren patents host three known zones with copper, nickel, and cobalt mineralisation; these have been designated A, B, and C. Two historical bulk samples were completed on the Warren patents; the first bulk sample returned 0.21% Cu, 0.96% Ni, 0.11% Co and 0.10% Zn, and a second bulk sample returned 2.83% Cu, 0.58% Ni, 0.10% Co and 0.13% Zn. The combined A-B zones and the C zone have projected strike lengths of 800 and 1,000 metres respectively, from geophysical data;
- In the 1950s, a resource calculation of 385,000 tons of 1% Cu + Ni was outlined by Jade Oil & Gas on the Warren patents. Jade Oil and Gas drilled 23 holes to test Zones A and B in the mid-1950s. Highlights include 2.5% Cu+Ni over 7.6m and 2.8% Cu+Ni over 8.2m (Please be aware that the resource calculation is historical in nature and is not NI43-101 compliant; it is not to be relied upon and is reported as a historical statement only. Note: The methods and parameters used to prepare this estimate and the category of the estimate are unknown. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, and the company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or reserves. References: Technical Report for Western Troy Capital Resources on the Warren Property (W. Hawkins P. Eng, 2021) and Maxmin, Magnetometer and VLF Surveys Evaluation Report, Whitesides and Massey Twp. Claims (C. Mackenzie Consulting Geologist, 1990); and
- Despite fairly significant historical work on both the A and B zones in the past, the bulk of the battery metals exploration efforts were limited to relatively shallow drilling and/or surface work. Consequently, there is limited understanding of the geometry of these mineralised zones at depth. The first phase of drilling by MINK will consist of a series of short holes on the A Zone to determine the extent of the mineralisation down plunge, down dip, and along strike prior to evaluating the other mineralised zones and numerous untested priority geophysical targets in a second phase programme.
Warren property geological discussion

Mink’s expanded Warren project is hosted within the Kamiskotia Gabbro Complex (KGC), and it is thought to be broadly equivalent to the Montcalm Gabbro Complex (MGC) but separated by a granitic arch. The MGC hosts the former Montcalm Mine, which produced approximately 3.93 million tonnes grading 1.25% Ni, 0.67% Cu and 0.05% Co (OGS, Atkinson, B., 2010).

Gabbro complexes such as MGC and KGC are known to be prospective for magmatic nickel-copper sulfide deposition, as demonstrated by the Montcalm Mine located within the MGC. The Warren property complements Mink’s Montcalm property due to the distinctly similar prospective geological environments found in the MGC and the KGC, as well as the presence of significant Cu Ni zones on the Warren property.

As highlighted above, the Warren patents have had a sporadic exploration history from the late 1920s to the present day, and several promising historical mineralised Cu Ni zones were outlined. The majority of the battery metals exploration on the property was completed in an area representing a very minimal portion of the property and completed well over 60 years ago. More recent geophysical surveys from the early 1990s and 2008-2009 outlined a series of untested targets along strike from known mineralisation and/or new targets proximal to known mineralisation. These targets are particularly evident in the accompanying magnetic and IP compilation map shown in Fig. 3.

Q&A:

How does Mink Ventures plan to use historical data and advanced technologies to identify and validate drill targets specifically for the Warren project?

Company geologists have re-evaluated the very limited available historical drill data. A property visit was made to examine the surface exposure of the zone, which is exposed over 120m of strike length in a series of trenches. Re-sampling of the zones confirmed excellent base metal values. With a geological evaluation of the surface exposure and some strike and dip measurements, a series of short drill holes have been proposed to confirm the dip and plunge of the zone and tenure of the mineralised zone.

Fig. 3: Warren project – compilation map

Once an understanding of the zone geometry is confirmed, deeper holes will be considered in a subsequent phase. Mink may consider using the new 3D Borehole IP geophysics system it used at Montcalm, which can seek both disseminated and massive sulfide mineralisation for a 250m radius around boreholes and further at depth to map any
zones in 3D.

What steps will Mink take to validate and expand upon the historical resource calculation in the Warren project, ensuring accuracy and compliance?

A series of drill holes in multiple phases of drilling will be required to establish the size and dimension of the zone. Canadian geologists comply with NI43-101 professional standards, which will ensure the accurate representation of all field data collected.

How will Mink prioritise community engagement and address environmental considerations?

Mink is operating in a part of Northern Ontario, where there is a clear and articulate process to build solid relationships and work side by side with local communities and First Nations. MINK’s projects fall in the traditional territory governed by the Waban Tribal Council, which has developed a straightforward process and model for discussion and negotiations that is now being replicated across Canada and admired globally.

The overall intent of the process they have developed to use with mining companies is to provide winning outcomes for all stakeholders while providing for and protecting future generations and showing consideration for the environment from start to finish. Mink is in the process of completing a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for submission to ensure co-operation even at this early stage of battery metals exploration.

Further, Mink complies with all the environmental and permitting requirements of the province. The mineralised zones at Warren that are currently being evaluated are present on patented mining claims, which means the company controls surface rights and mineral rights. Early-stage battery metals exploration efforts like diamond drilling do not require permitting when working on patented claims.

However, the same standard of care concerning the environment is taken as if we were working on regular claims, and all activities adhere to the same permit guidelines.

How does Mink plan to optimise existing advantages for cost-effective exploration at the Warren project, and what are the anticipated challenges?

The Warren project is located in the Timmins camp with proximity to infrastructure, mills, workforce, and experienced exploration contractors, including diamond drillers. All-in diamond drill costs are in the range of approximately CAD$230 per metre. This is exceptionally reasonable when compared with drill programmes conducted outside of established mining areas, such as the Canadian Arctic, where costs may be three to four times higher per metre. Access to the Warren Project is reasonable from established roads, but winter access for the Warren Project is best due to the ground conditions.

How does Mink intend to address historical gaps and explore untested targets along strike from known mineralisation?

The company will conduct several days of prospecting and sampling to evaluate the numerous mineralised occurrences across the property. Recent sample data, a relatively recently induced polarisation survey, and the information from this current drill programme compiled into the geological database will allow for prioritising the best targets for the next round of drill testing.

What are the primary exploration goals that Mink Ventures aims to achieve with the drilling programmes at the Warren project, and how do these align with the company’s broader objectives?

The primary goal of the current programme is to confirm the orientation and tenure of mineralisation in known historical zones of mineralisation to build an NI43-101 compliant resource that can be grown and eventually attract a JV partner with mining capability. Mink Ventures is an exploration company aiming to secure the best projects as cost-effectively as possible while providing significant opportunities to make new discoveries and enabling our shareholders to ride the Lassonde curve. Mink has two strategically located, highly prospective, polymetallic critical minerals projects in a well-built company with a very attractive share capital structure. This combination is set up to deliver value to our shareholders.

Please note, this article will also appear in the seventeenth edition of our quarterly publication.
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February 6, 2024
Shaping a sustainable and innovative future

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With a commitment to collaboration and demonstrated leadership in energy, health and Artificial Intelligence, the University of Alberta is a critical partner in solving the world’s most pressing challenges.

In the heart of the province of Alberta, the University of Alberta (U of A) stands as a beacon of innovation, shaping a future that addresses the grand challenges of our time. With a commitment to collaborative excellence, the U of A seamlessly integrates its leadership in energy, health, and artificial intelligence (AI), enabling a multidisciplinary approach that propels groundbreaking research and innovation forward.

With the recent expansion of Horizon Europe, the world’s most extensive research and innovation funding programme, into Canada, the University of Alberta is poised to be a key partner of choice in developing solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Garnering more than $550m (€375.9m) annually in sponsored research revenue, the
U of A stands as an intellectual powerhouse. Collaborations with over 150 companies, contributing more than $36m (€24.6m) annually, underscore the tangible support from industry for the U of A’s numerous research initiatives.

Darren Fast, Associate Vice-President (Innovation, Knowledge
Mobilization & Partnerships), University of Alberta.

Pioneering sustainable energy solutions

Alberta, a global energy hub, has a key contributor in the U of A. Recognised as Canada’s top university in energy research, the U of A boasts a strong network of industry, government, academic, and community partners. This collaborative ethos extends beyond the institution, fostering an ideal environment for testing and commercialising scalable solutions that drive the transition to more sustainable energy technologies.

World-renowned energy researchers – including 19 Canada Research Chairs, a federal programme that recognises research excellence in engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities, and social sciences – coupled with cutting-edge facilities, position the U of A as a global leader in developing and commercialising net-zero energy solutions.

As Alberta increasingly focuses on hydrogen as a sustainable energy source, the U of A’s research focuses on overcoming challenges associated with next-generation hydrogen technologies. From developing catalysts for turquoise, blue, and green hydrogen production to designing safe and effective transportation and storage systems, the U of A collaborates closely with the Alberta Hydrogen Centre of Excellence.

In Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), the University of Alberta leverages expertise in point-source and direct air capture, geological storage, and carbon dioxide utilisation. Aiming to reduce the cost of CCUS, the U of A explores synergies like co-locating direct air capture plants near CO2 hubs. This strategy not only lowers the cost of harmful emissions but also identifies valuable products manufactured, including carbon fibre from bitumen, using CO2 as a raw material.

Related research initiatives include developing new materials for CO2 capture, integrating them into processes, and offering a test bed in collaboration with the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre. The U of A leads in advanced modelling and experimental methods for identifying storage sites, monitoring and forecasting, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of CCUS technologies.

Meanwhile, in the waste streams of Alberta’s oil and gas industry, critical minerals lie in wait to be responsibly reclaimed and utilised. Collaborating with an extensive network of academic, industrial, and Indigenous groups, the U of A addresses key technical, economic, environmental, and social challenges, ensuring a robust national critical minerals value chain. As energy systems evolve, new tools will be required to measure and address the environmental impacts of both new and legacy technologies. At the University of Alberta, work in this area provides rapid, accurate, cost-effective monitoring, mitigation, remediation and reclamation technologies and processes.

In the area of critical minerals, research spans a range of areas, from exploring and identifying rare earth elements and uranium deposit potentials to developing technologies for extracting lithium from brines and collaborating with major mining companies to enhance production. This leading-edge work promises not only environmental sustainability but also economic and technological advancement.

Transformative health solutions

At the forefront of health innovation, the University of Alberta leads in biomanufacturing, leveraging its expertise to address critical health challenges. With a strategic focus on the Canadian Critical Drug Initiative (CCDI) and its role as the central institution in the PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness, the U of A is shaping a resilient future in healthcare.

A beacon of progress, the U of A collaborates with Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation (API) to spearhead the CCDI. This groundbreaking initiative is poised to revolutionise small-molecule drug production, representing the majority of drugs administered in Canada. With the potential to create up to 1,000 high-paying jobs, the CCDI addresses immediate healthcare needs and provides a stable revenue source for the region.

Recognising its cross-disciplinary strength in combating COVID-19 and potential pandemic diseases, the U of A has taken the lead in the PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness. Positioned as the central institution, the U of A collaborates with major partners across Canada, including the University of Calgary, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Manitoba, and more. This collaborative effort accelerates developing and commercialising vaccines, antivirals, and diagnostics, ensuring a robust response to future health crises.

The U of A’s proactive stance in establishing the PRAIRIE Hub receives significant support, with a $2m (€1.4m) allocation over four years and access to a potential $570m (€323m) in federal funding. By safeguarding Canada and the world against potential pandemic pathogens, the U of A’s leadership in the PRAIRIE Hub exemplifies its commitment to advancing solutions for a resilient and prepared future in healthcare.

As the U of A pioneers innovative health solutions, the CCDI initiative and the PRAIRIE Hub reinforce the university’s pivotal role in shaping a robust and responsive healthcare ecosystem.

AI leadership

In the dynamic landscape of AI and machine learning, the University of Alberta stands as a global leader, home to some of the world’s top researchers in these transformative fields. Recognised for its exceptional contributions, the U of A has secured $100m (€68.7m) in funding for AI since 2017, reflecting its commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI research and application.

Boasting one of Canada’s oldest and largest computing science departments, the U of A has earned an international reputation for advancing both the foundations and applications of computing. Meanwhile, a commitment to AI education has led to the creation of Everywhere, a new course at the U of A to equip students across disciplines with crucial AI understanding in collaboration with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii).

The course marks just one example of the U of A’s collaboration with Amii, a globally recognised hub for AI excellence and one of Canada’s three named institutes in the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy. The two organisations work closely to advance leading-edge AI and machine learning research, support talent recruitment and development, and provide pathways for emerging researchers and academics to collaborate directly with industry partners.

In AI in health, the Medical Informatics Group collaborates extensively with medical researchers and clinicians to develop meticulous diagnostics. Their focus spans various medical domains, including cancers (breast, brain, and leukaemia, among others), transplant, diabetes, stroke, and depression, showcasing the broad societal impact of AI in healthcare.

This unified vision integrates AI with the U of A’s groundbreaking work in energy and health, positioning the university at the forefront of innovation. A multidisciplinary approach emphasises the interconnectedness of energy and environment, health, and artificial intelligence, exemplifying the U of A’s commitment to shaping a sustainable and technologically advanced future.

Forging a path to tomorrow

The University of Alberta’s journey through energy, health, and artificial intelligence is not merely a collection of disparate achievements; it is a tapestry woven with threads of innovation, collaboration, and commitment. The seamless integration of these pillars reflects the U of A’s dedication to addressing the grand challenges of our time.

As a global leader, the U of A’s cutting-edge research and collaborative ethos propel us toward a future where sustainability, health, and technology converge. The intertwining narratives of net-zero energy solutions, transformative healthcare, and AI leadership demonstrate the university’s capabilities and role as a positive change catalyst.

The recent agreement between Canada and the European Union to allow Canadian institutions to pursue research as part of the Horizon Europe programme provides new opportunities for the U of A to collaborate. The Horizon Europe research objectives for climate, energy and health are areas where the University of Alberta has demonstrated world-leading expertise. Pursuing those opportunities will further the U of A’s place as an essential partner of choice for like-minded organisations working to address today’s global challenges.

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

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February 6, 2024
LNMO on the charge as Topsoe powers up industrialisation pilot for large-scale process validation

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The inauguration of a new large-scale LNMO material industrialisation pilot in Frederikssund, Denmark, in February, marked a significant milestone for Topsoe, and it is only the beginning.

Topsoe’s LNMO material production industrialisation pilot is up and running. This is exciting progress in the development of the Li-ion batteries so crucial to our green future, with Topsoe committed to high-quality, efficient products that not only meet but exceed customer needs.

With one supply agreement already in place, Jonathan Højberg, Research and Development Director for Batteries, is rightly optimistic for the future, with commercialisation only a stone’s throw away. Jonathan Højberg elaborates on the project, its significance in the sector, and Topsoe’s commitment to excellence.

What have been the main drivers for the project and the expected outcome?
Topsoe has developed LNMO cathode active material for Li-ion batteries for the past ten years. Specifically, we have developed materials with high-phase purity and superior morphology that enable easy processing and high electrode energy density. In parallel, we have worked on ramping up the production process to an industrial scale. The industrialisation pilot with a design capacity of 200 tonnes/year was inaugurated in February 2024 and is an important milestone in our strategy to deliver to the market.

Although scaling of material production is a core competence in Topsoe, at an early stage, we identified a need to demonstrate production-at-scale for two main reasons. First, it enables us to meet increasing demand from customer qualification programmes. Second, we can test key equipment and fine-tune the design of the future full-scale production.

What are the advantages Topsoe sees in LNMO compared to other cathode-active materials?

LNMO is a multipurpose, electrode-active material optimised for low cost and high energy and fits into electric vehicle (EV) batteries. It is suitable for demanding applications that require fast charge or discharge. Batteries based on our LNMO material will be fully competitive globally and help build a Europe-based battery value chain. We see the current combination of technological maturity and growth in the relevant market segments as a significant driver of interest in LNMO.

What advancements or optimisations does the industrialisation pilot aim to achieve?
The industrialisation pilot has a few features that I would like to highlight. First, it is unique in its flexibility to use various raw materials. This is key to ensuring that we base our full-scale production on the optimal combination of capital expenditure (CapEx) and operating expenditure (OpEx). Second, we have combined industry-standard processes with several Topsoe processes that allow us to unlock the full potential of the LNMO technology. Third, all processes are electrified to enable the production of LNMO with low CO2 emissions.

A key deliverable of the first year of operation is validation by confirming that production capacity, product quality and product variation are as planned and designed. Additionally, the pilot’s flexibility will be used to validate raw materials and processes that will guide the design of full-scale production.

What key performance criteria must the LNMO cathode active material meet, and how will the pilot contribute to meeting these criteria?

The LNMO cathode active material must fulfil a set of design parameters, such as morphology and impurity levels. The industrialisation plant is designed to ensure low variability in product quality, and confirming this ability will be a priority.

What quality measures are in place in the industrialisation pilot, and how do they align with the Topsoe approach?

To ensure high-quality standards, we adhere to a management system that meets the stringent requirements of ISO 9001:2015. This system ensures we fully understand customer technical and commercial needs and regularly assess customer satisfaction.

Our commitment to quality is deeply embedded in our company mission at Topsoe, ‘to perfect chemistry for a better world.’ We are steadfast in pursuing continuous improvement, optimising processes to enhance safety, quality, productivity, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness. These priorities have been at the heart of the industrialisation pilot since the first stages.

Innovation is at the heart of our approach: We aim to provide solutions within batteries that meet and exceed the needs of our customers. Our production processes are designed to be efficient and secure, always in compliance with all regulatory requirements.

How will the data and insights gathered from the pilot be utilised to improve the LNMO cathode active material production process further?

The complete testing of processes and raw materials is key to ensuring that we design our full-scale production with an optimal combination of CapEx, OpEx, and quality. We must deliver the required quality without overengineering. This will ensure we stay competitive and meet customer needs.

What does the commercial rollout plan look like from here?

We are already looking beyond our industrialisation pilot and have finalised a conceptual design for a future large-scale production facility, which is an exciting step forward. We will use the learnings to fine-tune the design as soon as we have successfully demonstrated and commercialised the material from the industrialisation pilot.

An important milestone in this journey was signing a supply agreement with Norway-based Morrow Batteries. The agreement enables Morrow to develop battery cell chemistries based on our innovative LNMO material with a path towards industrialisation.

We are seeking and relying on strong collaborations and partnerships and exploring potential new pathways within the entire value chain for the years to come. We will work with partners to ensure sustainably produced raw materials, better battery cell components, and high-performing cells. We see this collaboration as a prerequisite for success, enabling us to be an important player in the market for cathode active materials.

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

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February 6, 2024