Industrial Minerals

Features

• The squeeze on North American lime

  The lime market, which started to recover in 2010, is not yet back to pre-crisis levels, but steel and flue gas desulphurisation could bring some growth in the US Alexandra Feytis, Correspondent Read More

• A graphite project of giant proportions

  Madagascar could replace China as the world’s next bulk producer of graphite as Canada’s Energizer Resources fast-tracks development of its Green Giant graphite project in the south of the country, Jessica Roberts reveals Read More

• Vermiculite’s green shoots

  The vermiculite industry has just had one of the most volatile years in history. Jack Elliott discusses new market entrants and asks – what next? Read More

• GCC in PVC: More than a pipe dream

  Siddhartha Roy* explores calcium carbonate’s (CaCO3) role in filler applications, with a look at processes around the world with regard to PVC pipes in India and China. Read More

• End User Focus: Talc in coated paper

  We often hear our bosses talking about working in a paperless office. Yet everyone knows that no office can ever be completely paperless. It is hard to conceive of any life without paper, whether in the office or at home. Since its invention, paper has become inseparable from our daily lives. Closely connected to the cultural development of mankind, it can be considered a socio economic indicator of any nation. Read More

• Price Briefing: Barytes market reports bull trend as taxes bite in China

  Barytes up while graphite market softens and a rare earth platform hoves into view Read More

• Industrial Minerals Prices August 2012

  For a wider range and more detail on mineral prices, we refer you to Price Listing on www.indmin.com. Read More

Supply Developments

• IM Global Health Check Q2 2012: Probing China’s property bubble

  China is addicted to building and buying property. This has led to huge industrial minerals demand from every construction sector including ceramics (kaolin, feldspar, talc), metals, manufacturing (bauxite, magnesite, chromite), and pigments (titanium dioxide, iron oxide), among others. Read More

• South African rare earths deposits being eyed for exploitation

  South Africa has deposits of rare earth elements (REEs) to rival that of Australia, and the country is poised to take advantage of this increasingly strategic resource, according to Mintek, the government’s mineral technology organisation. Read More

• Chinese rare earths: a policy development timeline

  On 13 March this year, the EU, US and Japan commenced dispute proceedings against China under the World Trade Organization (WTO). Their complaint was that China’s rare earths (REEs) export policies flouted WTO trade provisions. Read More

• End markets give rare halloysite clay extra polish

  Halloysite is traditionally viewed as a simple ceramic mineral, but great strides have been made recently to take advantage of halloysite’s unique mineral structure for end-uses that range from nail polish, to cancer cures and body armour. Read More

• It’s a slowdown — Chinese fluorspar production stutters

  China’s fluorspar industry is slowing down, new data has revealed. China mined 4.2m tonnes of fluorspar ore and manufactured 1.86m tonnes of fluorspar products in the first six months of 2012, the China Non-metallic Mineral Industry Association revealed this month. Read More

• Galaxy to halt Mt Cattlin spodumene output to clear Jiangsu stockpiles

  Australia’s Galaxy Resources said that it would have to halt production at its Mt Cattlin spodumene resource and work to clear stockpiles bound for its Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant in China. Read More

• Poland to sell 85% of state-owned sulphur producer Siarkopol

  India’s Archean Group of Companies is looking at acquiring state-owned Siarkopol SA in Poland, IM was told. Read More

• Wisconsin county slaps haulage charges on frac sand miners

  Wood County in Wisconsin, US, has hit three frac sand companies operating within its boundaries with non-negotiable haulage charges. Read More

Comment

• Winds of Change

  In the last 12 months, many of you will have attended an IM Roundtable, joined and participated actively in one of the many IM Linkedin Groups, or followed IM on Twitter at many of the events we have attended. Read More

Market Monitor

• Royal Society: fracking in UK “can be managed effectively”

  A review by the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering of the process and effects of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas in the UK has concluded that it is a safe technique to conduct so as long as operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation. Read More

Strandlines

• Minsands majors clash over market outlook

  Iluka slash sales volumes forecast for H2; Tronox and DuPont refute claims Read More

Processing

• Weaving out new markets

  Germany-headquartered Haver & Boecker Group has established itself as a leader in wire weaving and processing. As the company celebrates 125 years, it is targeting promising expansion plans in new regions Jessica Roberts Read More

People & Places

• People and Places August 2012

  Bryan Shinn CEO, US Silica; Guy Elliott and Harry Kenyon-Slaney, Rio Tinto; Bill Moss and Robert Samuel Middlemas, Bauxite Resources Read More

Refractories Hotline

• Andalucita SA bullish about future

  Peruvian andalusite producer Andalucita SA is capitalising on the growing demand for aluminosilicates, with plans to almost double its production of the mineral and launch a major new product by next year. Read More

Company Profile

• Talk From The Top: “It’s inevitable that all rare earth companies will confront obstacles”

  Chris Tonkin CEO of junior mining company, Arafura, speaks to IM about rare earths prices, partnerships and the company’s long term strategy Read More