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December 2012
31 December 2012
Refractories and magnesia producer continues consolidation campaign
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27 December 2012
A year of consolidation and acquisition as steel demand slides
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21 December 2012
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21 December 2012
Medical applications for minerals might not be the main market driving factor or the biggest consideration for producers, but speciality applications in the medical industry are undeniably important for our everyday lives and advances in healthcare
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21 December 2012
Prices for titanium dioxide (TiO2) feedstocks saw unprecedented rises during 2012, leading to increased profit margins for many existing producers and improved project economics for junior developers.
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21 December 2012
What a difference a year makes. The entire makeup and trends of the titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment market have changed since its 2011 boom to give a radically changed landscape during 2012
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21 December 2012
2012 was a year of mixed fortunes for the soda ash industry. The impact of the global economic crisis, which had been building since 2008, seemed to wait until this year to bite deep into the soda ash market
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21 December 2012
Although the global uncertainties which hung over 2012 could continue to affect the fertiliser industry in the short term, the sector has strong long-term fundamentals as the scenario for fertiliser minerals is simple: people need food and therefore fertilisers.
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21 December 2012
The graphite industry entered 2012 on a positive note Wwith prices still high and both miners and carbon mterials producers riding high on the surge of interest in 2011.
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21 December 2012
Following a quiet start to the year for rare earths (RE), leading newcomer to the industry US-based Molycorp Inc. signed a definitive agreement to buy the processing firm Neo Material Technologies Inc. for Canadian dollar C$1.3bn ($1.31bn) in March.
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21 December 2012
Magnesia experienced a difficult year in 2012, hit by the global economic crisis and a weak performance in refractories, its main end market, which is driven by steel demand.
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21 December 2012
The US frac sand industry dominated the headlines in 2012 as mining activity boomed almost as fast as fracking opposition mounted.
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21 December 2012
2012 saw the declining use of talc as a filler in the paper industry more than offset by good growth of the use of talc in polymers, especially for automobile parts.
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21 December 2012
The trend of consolidation of the major kaolin producing companies in recent years continued into 2012 with Imerys’ acquisition of Goonvean and KaMin’s purchase of CADAM SA from Vale.
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21 December 2012
China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources Inc. acquired 60% of Wuchuan Dongsheng Mining Co. Ltd under an agreement through its subsidiary Xiangzhen Mining Ltd and Wuchuan’s shareholders.
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21 December 2012
Starting off the year in a bad place, things just got tougher for zircon with overstocks and substitute minerals looming
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21 December 2012
With almost 12 uninterrupted months of stable high prices, iodine producers have undoubtedly been among the winners of 2012
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21 December 2012
The past 12 months have seen a change of pace in the non-metallurgical chromite industry.
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21 December 2012
The phosphate market was hit this year as the downturn in economic climate filtered through to the fertiliser markets. As a result of this dip, 2012 spelled a slowdown for short-term fertiliser demand, especially in the Asian and European markets.
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21 December 2012
Antimony exploration in 2012 was characterised by a worldwide drive to increase global production
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21 December 2012
The financial downturn that has plagued manufacturing industries around the world for almost four years is finally drawing to a close. Yet, while economies were beginning to lift towards the end of 2012, many core mineral-consuming industries remained weakened in the aftermath of the downturn – and soda ash was no exception. IM digs down into this topic to uncover the true impact of this recession.
Emma Hughes, Deputy Editor
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November 2012
30 November 2012
Vesuvius to be split into three segments; solar crucible facility closed
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30 November 2012
Magnesia workers will switch to five day week, Parkhurst working 24hr/day
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28 November 2012
Latest move adds to consolidation strategy; work in Europe across industries
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26 November 2012
Ajay Kulshreshtha* looks at the history of mineral transportation and some of the problems encountered and considers the merits of container versus bulk carrier and the case for containers over bags
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26 November 2012
As the global recession loosens its grip on the world economy, IM considers how bentonite has weathered the storm, looking at its most important end markets and their economic drivers
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26 November 2012
John Ollett reports from the sidelines of this years TZMI conference in Hong Kong, where he finds the conversation has turned to the TiO2 processing route and China’s position in the market.
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26 November 2012
As graphite producers relax momentarily during a period of relative price stability, IM looks at some graphite developments and projects that have not hit the headlines
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26 November 2012
IM’s Kasia Patel speaks to Lomiko Metals Inc. CEO, Paul Gill, about the company’s Quatre Milles project and the need for caution when entering the graphite race.
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26 November 2012
The final quarter of 2012 has been a busy few months in the graphite industry. IM’s Laura Syrett takes a wide-angle view of some of the most notable developments in the sector in the run-up to the year end.
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26 November 2012
Increased regulation and cost pressures mean that more than ever companies are looking to see which products better suit them. Siobhan Lismore looks at the industrial minerals used in wastewater treatment, with particular emphasis on magnesium hydroxide and lime, and speaks to key figures about how the market is progressing
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26 November 2012
November was a month which saw both the long-awaited outcome of the US Presidential election, and also - significantly - a change in leadership in China.
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26 November 2012
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21 November 2012
The wrong choice of proppant for hydraulic fracturing wells can hamper production, wasting time and money for oilfield drillers. But what is the right choice and how should the choice be made?
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21 November 2012
Struggling Europe and Latin America plus high costs eroding profits, says IFGL
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09 November 2012
Imerys, Goonvean, RHI, refractory bauxite, fused magnesia, all change in China and US
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08 November 2012
Magnesia market “stable” for next six months with upward movement from Q2
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08 November 2012
US presidential elections – but what will happen with China?
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06 November 2012
Refractories maker says Premier Periclase acquisition pushes up raw materials