Week of January 15, 2025
DOD says new fire suppressant foam enhanced with Alaska graphite is "revolutionizing" firefighting. While Graphite One Inc.'s primary focus is on establishing an all-American supply chain that will provide automakers with an alternative to China for the graphite anode material for electric vehicle batteries, the mining and tech company is also supporting the development of graphite-enhanced fire suppressant foam that safeguards firefighters in the U.S. military and across...
USA Rare Earths produces first batch of critical REE magnets at its Innovations Lab in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Crossing a major milestone on the path to breaking America's reliance on China for an essential component of electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics and military technologies, USA Rare Earth LLC (USARE) has produced its first batch of rare earth magnets at its Innovations Lab in Oklahoma. "Our new Innovations Lab, which we will finish building out in the coming...
Ten teams recognized for groundbreaking solutions to reclaim critical materials. With potential billions of dollars in critical materials lost in discarded electronics each year, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced the first winners of its $4 million E-SCRAP competition, recognizing innovations that transform e-waste into a valuable resource for supply chains and sustainability. First announced in March, DOE saw the immense potential of recovering valuable and...
New study pinpoints critical metal accumulation around edges of ancient continental cores. In a groundbreaking study, researchers from Macquarie University have uncovered an ancient, hidden network of geological formations like "metal highways" beneath the Earth's ancient continental cores. Shaped over millions of years, these geological formations serve as corridors for deposits of critical metals such as cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements. The discovery provides a new...
Partnering to develop trolley assist for reduced emissions in underground mines. To bring the electric mine of the future one step closer to reality, global mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc and electrification technology leader ABB have joined forces to develop a trolley system to assist ore-laden haul trucks on their climb out of the depths of underground mines. "The decarbonization of mine haulage fleets is becoming increasingly pressing as we look towards 2030...
Automated on-site resource utilization will likely be first wave of lucrative off-world industry. NASA's multibillion-dollar Artemis program isn't just about America returning to the Moon or even extended visits – it's also paving the way for lunar resource mining operations, with a lunar economy expected to include mining metals like aluminum, iron, manganese, rare earths, and titanium. But surprisingly, its first product will most likely be mundane by Earth standards ...
After successfully discovering copper via machine learning technology, the company has attracted eager investment and notable names. At the end of 2023, KoBold Metals, a software-driven mining startup out of Berkeley, California, made headlines by utilizing machine learning technology to expand its search for lithium across several continents, including projects in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and Zambia. KoBold's innovative approach utilizes artificial...
