Industrial Minerals

Supply Developments

• IM Global Lithium Roundup: 27 January - 3 February Friday, February 03, 2012

  A brief look at the rest of the week’s lithium stories in the news Read More

• Potash not affected by earthquake in Saskatchewan Friday, February 03, 2012

  “Tremors common” in the Canadian potash-rich region; no impact for last shake Read More

• Rusal doubles stake in fluorspar group Yaroslavsk to 100% Thursday, February 02, 2012

  Russian aluminium leader strengthens fluorspar supply security with acquisition Read More

• Zimbabwe boosts graphite output in 2011 Thursday, February 02, 2012

  Africa’s only natural graphite producer increases output by 80% on world shortage Read More

• UPDATE: No appeal route for China in WTO ruling Thursday, February 02, 2012

  China must take action to conform to WTO obligations – lawyer Read More

• GHCL posts increase in sales and profit for soda ash arm Thursday, February 02, 2012

  Market value down by $12m year on year on “market volatility” Read More

• Malaysia approves Lynas rare earths plant Thursday, February 02, 2012

  Lynas must submit plans for waste disposal, but gets green light for start-up Read More

• Chile’s Molymet acquires 13% of Molycorp for $390m Wednesday, February 01, 2012

  Investment from molybdenum and rhenium group to fund vertical integration Read More

• BHP/PotashCorp deal targeted by China-based hackers in 2010 Wednesday, February 01, 2012

  Hackers were looking for data to rival BHP takeover bid says Canadian security firm Read More

• Minemakers’ Wonarah phosphate project delayed by four years Tuesday, January 31, 2012

  Australian junior eyes 2015 for production; pending deal with India’s NMDC Read More

• Targray Technology silicon carbide deal with Washington Mills Monday, January 30, 2012

  Canadian photovoltaic materials supplier signs Taiwan SiC distribution deal Read More

• Morocco’s OCP phosphate output unaffected by strike in Safi Monday, January 30, 2012

  Trade union “warning” to phosphate giant; but union “against blocking production” Read More

• Energizer Resources adds DRA Mineral Projects to team Monday, January 30, 2012

  Further drilling required for high grade graphite resource in Madagascar Read More

• China loses appeal at WTO over raw materials export duties Monday, January 30, 2012

  Body upholds initial ruling but quashes minimum export agreement complaints Read More

• IM Global Rare Earths Roundup: 20-27 January Friday, January 27, 2012

  A brief look at the rest of the week’s rare earth stories in the news Read More

• Amcol’s Q4 2011 operating profit grows 64% to $18.1m Friday, January 27, 2012

  Pet sales hit, but price increases drive 80% of mineral division’s gross profit Read More

• Nine feared dead after phosphate mine collapses in Pakistan Thursday, January 26, 2012

  Collapsed mine thought to be an illegal quarry in Hazara region Read More

• Head of major Indian state calls for ban on chromite exports Thursday, January 26, 2012

  Claims only 66m tonnes of chromite left in India; encourages Zimbabwe-like ban Read More

• PotashCorp Q4 results positive but miss expectations Thursday, January 26, 2012

  Global uncertainty affects phosphate & potash sales; but potash prices remain high Read More

• Industrial Minerals Prices February 2012 February 2012

  Read More

• Price Briefing: New Year, new price - minerals respond to fluctuating world markets February 2012

  The start of the year saw many mineral grades increasing in value as producers upped their prices to cope with hikes in energy, freight and tight global market fundamentals Read More

• Projects in the Pipeline: Kaolin bounces back February 2012

  It has been a difficult couple of years for kaolin as the global recession spread to its end user markets, but a recent recovery in demand has also encouraged a surge of new operations and exploration projects Read More

• Supply Situation Report: New players emerge to challenge China rare earth dominance February 2012

  Lynas, Molycorp lead the pack; Chinese REO demand could top 130,000 tpa by 2015; Juniors hit by falling prices Read More

• Mexichem expands acidspar with Fluorita de Mexico buy February 2012

  Consolidation of Mexican fluorspar Mexichem which tops capacity to 1m tonnes; Shen Zhou acquires Chinese fluorspar, barytes Read More

• US aggregates majors lock horns over hostile bid February 2012

  Vulcan says $4.8bn bid by Martin Marietta Materials undervalues assets; Vuclcan management accused of scare tactics; US antitrust watchdog requests details on operations Read More

• Mild weather in the US leads to salt oversupply February 2012

  Cargill closes three mines; Compass announces sales drop; Cold weather expected for Q1 2012 Read More

• What will 2012 hold for the mining industry? February 2012

  Deloitte warns difficult year for mining; Rising costs of doing business; Commodity price chaos; Australian royalties pressure Read More

• PotashCorp continues potash shutdown policy February 2012

  North American producer extends shutdown to 3 March; Uralkali’s output up 6.4% in 2011; Canpotex out of BHP’s plans Read More

• India’s Gujarat Heavy Chemicals served soda ash closure notice February 2012

  GHCL pollution reprimanded; New Saudi Arabia plant commissioned; Gypsum by-product eyed Read More

• Minerals braced for bumpy 2012 February 2012

  The year 2012 expected to be another volatile ride for industrial minerals prices, dragged down by the European debt crisis and China’s property bubble. But better H2 on the cards Read More

• “World’s largest” lithium battery plant built in Siberia February 2012

  Joint $430m Russo-Chinese investment; could take 10-15% market share by 2015 Read More

• China quotas unlikely to curb rare earth price drop February 2012

  China’s 2012 quotas are expected to remain unchanged but new quotas policy could squeeze heavy elements supply. Lower prices forecast in 2012 after 2011 highs Read More

• LSM12: FMC forecasts doubling of lithium demand by 2020 Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  Energy main driver; company to produce 50k tpa potash from Salar del Hombre Muerto Read More

• Roullier Group acquires Possehl’s stake in Van Mannekus Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  French group jointly owns Van Mannekus with Grecian Magnesite Read More

• LSM12: Lithium Americas feasibility study expected in next month Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  Agreement signed with aboriginal community in northern Argentina Read More

• Vale concludes full acquisition of Vale Fertilizantes Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  Brazilian group owns 100% of fertiliser subsidiary after acquiring minority stake Read More

• KaMin pressured by environmental group over creek spill Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  Savannah Riverkeep delivers 60-day notice of potential Georgia kaolin leak lawsuit Read More

• LSM12: Production costs will determine project survival Wednesday, January 25, 2012

  Delegates in Argentina exchange terse words following supply outlooks Read More

• EU report outlines ambitions to recover minerals from waste Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  Implementing full waste legislation could save EU €72bn a year, Commission says Read More

• Lynas secures A$225m funding to complete Malaysia plant Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  Rare earths group issues convertible bonds through Mount Kellett Capital Managment Read More

• Marifil Mines to acquire Argentina potash project Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  Canadian company signs LOI for potash property near Vale’s Rio Colorado, Argentina Read More

• Gulf Industrials completes Uganda vermiculite production run Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  But suffers early setbacks from power failure and rain; looks to expand capacity Read More

• Wisconsin set to legislate on frac sand mining Tuesday, January 24, 2012

  Senator Vinehout tointroduce two bills affecting mine permits in US state Read More

• Magna Resources acquires American Potash Monday, January 23, 2012

  Canadian company completes purchase of Green River potash project’s owner in Utah Read More

• Recommendation for Wisconsin frac sand mine reversed Monday, January 23, 2012

  Sumner makes u-turn on approval for Canadian Sand & Proppant mine Read More

• Recession “no major effect” on Greek bentonite, says producer Friday, January 20, 2012

  S&B Industrial Minerals says bentonite sales have little exposure to Greek economy Read More

• IM Global Lithium Roundup: 13-20 January Friday, January 20, 2012

  A brief look at the rest of the week’s lithium stories in the news Read More

• IM Global Rare Earths Roundup: 13-20 January Friday, January 20, 2012

  A brief look at the rest of the week’s rare earth stories in the news Read More

• Volatility key challenge for Australian producers - Deloitte Thursday, January 19, 2012

  New mining projects will struggle to get off the ground, Deloitte partner states Read More

• Berkh Uul completes drilling at Mongolia fluorspar deposit Thursday, January 19, 2012

  Delgerkhaan project reserves estimated at 3.1m tonnes at a grade of 85% Read More

• PotashCorp extends potash shutdown in Rocanville Thursday, January 19, 2012

  Rocanville potash mine restart delayed until 3 March in Saskatchewan, Canada Read More

• Tertiary Minerals updates Lassedalen fluorspar resource Wednesday, January 18, 2012

  Estimates resource at 4m tonnes; hopes to complete more detailed work in Q1 Read More

• Christmas Island to resume phosphate rock shipments Wednesday, January 18, 2012

  But shipments of bagged phosphate dust likely to be delayed until March, says PRL Read More

• UPDATE: China Shen Zhou acquires Guizhou fluorspar assets Wednesday, January 18, 2012

  Wuchuan Dongsheng stake gives access to flotation and fluorine technologies Read More

• Rio Tinto increases Q4 borates, TiO2 feedstock output Tuesday, January 17, 2012

  Minerals production up marginally in fourth quarter and full-year 2011 Read More

• Mild winter sees turn down in salt for de-icing in US Tuesday, January 17, 2012

  Cargill slows production in New York; Compass looks to a cold Q1 2012 Read More

• Allana targets up to 2m tpa potash following PEA Tuesday, January 17, 2012

  Group eyes total development expenditures of $796m; feasibility study ongoing Read More

• Correction: Applied Minerals looks to up halloysite output Monday, January 16, 2012

  Will begin producing iron oxide pigments from Dragon-mined resource Read More

• BHP will not use Canpotex to market potash Monday, January 16, 2012

  Mining giant confirms that Jansen potash will not use N. American marketing arm Read More

• FOCUS: Wind blades turn into growth markets for minerals Monday, January 16, 2012

  Mineral fillers and cement to enjoy demand from wind turbine blade manufacturing Read More

• Palabora undertakes study to double vermiculite production Monday, January 16, 2012

  South African group looks to pounce on strong demand, but output falls 48% in Q4 Read More

• Uralkali increased potash production by 6.4% in 2011 Monday, January 16, 2012

  Russian potash giant boosted annual output to 10.83m following merger with Silvinit Read More

• IM Global Rare Earths Roundup: 6-13 January Friday, January 13, 2012

  New company set up to develop Germany’s only known rare earth deposit Read More

• IM Global Lithium Roundup: 6-13 January Friday, January 13, 2012

  A brief look at the rest of the week’s lithium stories in the news Read More

• Canada’s second-last asbestos mine declares bankruptcy Friday, January 13, 2012

  LAB Chrysotile remains closed, sheds 350 jobs, leaving no Canada mines operational Read More

• First Nation starts $10bn lawsuits over potash properties Friday, January 13, 2012

  BHP project and Acron assets involved in claim against Canada & Saskatchewan Read More

• Mississippi Sand breaks through the fracking barrier Friday, January 13, 2012

  US company takes important first step to securing mine permit Read More

• Preferred targets up to 7m tpa frac sand in 2013 Thursday, January 12, 2012

  Winn Bay frac assets to make Preferred second largest US producer Read More

• Imerys expects 10% sales rise for 2011 helped by talc deal Thursday, January 12, 2012

  French minerals eyes €3.65bn revenue; on track to meet 20% income growth Read More

• Old Bridge Chemicals expands US zinc sulphate output Thursday, January 12, 2012

  New micronutrient and animal feed site ramps up to full production Read More

• Kobin Mining poised to acquire Kumas Thursday, January 12, 2012

  Board approval awaits sale of Turkish magnesia and refractories producer Read More

• Verde Potash doubles inferred resource to 2.7bn potash Thursday, January 12, 2012

  Cerrado could “support large scale production of multiple potash products” Read More

• Talison reports 6.3% fall in Q2 sales on freight problems Thursday, January 12, 2012

  Congested port blamed for slump; 2012 sales will not be affected, company says Read More

• Minnesota county hits pause button on frac sand mining Wednesday, January 11, 2012

  Winona votes for three-month ban to study environmental and health effects Read More

• Martin Marietta accuses takeover target of misleading shareholders Wednesday, January 11, 2012

  Vulcan Materials hits back, dismissing synergy report as “unrealistically aggressive” Read More

• Eckart sells natural mica pigment business to Sudarshan Tuesday, January 10, 2012

  Eckart to focus on synthetic mica products as Sudarshan expands its pigment portfolio Read More

• US Antimony Corp. completes Mexico flotation mill Tuesday, January 10, 2012

  Ready to produce antimony concentrate to feed trioxide production in Coahuila state Read More

• MTI adds new antiblocks for plastic films in its talc products portfolio Tuesday, January 10, 2012

  US group launches new Optibloc talc blends for high-clarity film & bag applications Read More

• 2012 a difficult year for mining, Deloitte report outlines Tuesday, January 10, 2012

  Rising costs and unpredictability of Chinese demand will prove biggest challenges Read More

• Great Western forms JV for China-built rare earth plant Tuesday, January 10, 2012

  Ganzhou Qiandong Rare Earth to start building separation facility in South Africa Read More