The Elements of Innovation Discovered

Articles from the June 21, 2023 edition


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  • Artist rendering of future geothermal power-lithium plant near the Salton Sea.

    CTR selects Aquatech for lithium plant

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Aug 17, 2023

    $1 billion facility to produce battery-grade lithium for roughly 415,000 EVs annually, plus deliver 55MW of clean electricity. Crossing another major milestone on its path to producing zero-carbon lithium and electricity from geothermal brines at its Hell's Kitchen project in Southern California, Controlled Thermal Resources Holdings Inc. announced that it has engaged Aquatech as its technology partner to design and build plants that will upgrade lithium chloride recovered to...

  • Male and female industrial employees working on a jobsite.

    Mining industry short on tech skills

    K. Warner, For Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 4, 2023

    The world's leading mining companies have a big problem – with the industry being transformed by a mad rush to acquire raw materials supporting the worldwide energy transition, and mining companies' sweeping moves to drastically reduce their own carbon footprints, the future of labor is becoming more of a hybrid of specialized technical skillsets and traditional experience. Just as the average miner no longer counts a pick and shovel among his toolkit, the miner of today w...

  • Image of hexagonal graphene lattice drawn on graph paper with graphite pencil.

    Turning Alaska graphite into graphene

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jul 4, 2023

    Seeking a domestic source of quality graphite that it can transform into the super 2D material known as graphene, Vorbeck Materials Corp. is teaming up with Graphite One Inc., a company developing an all-American graphite supply chain that will begin at the world-class Graphite Creek Mine in Alaska. "Vorbeck Materials is excited to team with Graphite One to meet unique defense and commercial requirements with Graphite One's high-grade, U.S.-sourced graphite for advanced...

  • Piles of white lithium reflect off the water at mining operation in Argentina.

    Automakers develop own supply lines

    K. Warner, For Metal Tech News|Updated Jun 20, 2023

    Back in 1908, when Ford Motor Company first started cranking out the Model T, the innovative automaker championed new materials, new engineering designs, and new manufacturing practices. More than a century later, automotive companies are emulating Henry Ford's strategy as they tackle the supply chain challenges of a similarly groundbreaking electric vehicle revolution. Styled these days as 'vertical integration production,' Henry Ford's idea of "a continuous, nonstop process...

  • Prototype 18650 coal batteries developed by X-BATT.

    Coal anode 18650 lithium-ion X-BATTeries

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Jun 20, 2023

    Exploring the potential of alternative anode materials in lithium-ion batteries, X-BATT announced the successful completion of a project that demonstrates its coal material can hold its own amidst conventional graphite in lithium battery anodes. "We are excited to have completed this project, which has the potential to make a huge impact," said X-BATT CEO Bill Easter. "The use of coal as a value-added material not only provides a domestic source for anodes but creates a new...

  • Aerial view of the surface mine facilities at the Idaho Cobalt Operation.

    DOD invest $15M to support Idaho Cobalt

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Jun 20, 2023

    Jervois will use the DPA Title III funds to expand cobalt deposit in Idaho, finalize study for domestic refinery. To shore up domestic supplies of the cobalt needed for military hardware and green energy, the U.S. Department of Defense is investing $15 million to support the work of Jervois Mining USA to expand mining at its Idaho Cobalt Operations and potentially establish a refinery in the U.S. Foreseeing a sharp rise in the demand for cobalt in the United States as...