BORON AND BORATES NEWS
Borates Today publishes news, insights, guides, and latest special reports about boron, borates, and borax for investors, researchers, and readers interested in Decarbonization; Advanced Energy, Food Security and Micronutrients.
NEWS
Video – How to Draw a Lewis Dot Structure for any Atom?
A Lewis dot structure is the visual representation of an atom’s valence electrons that are shown by dots. It gives insight into an atom's properties, but how is this drawn?
Country Profile of Boron USA
Boron USA: The production of boron USA and boron extracted products in the USA is a strategic activity. Borates extraction as high-end minerals contributes to the advanced technology of industries such as aerospace and defence. They are also important to secure food supply in domestic agriculture, and contribute to decarbonisation efforts. The USA is a net importer of borates given Eti Maden’s control of supply and declining production by Rio Tinto but new sources – the Fort Cady project by ABR – will address this imbalance
Podcast – Boron 101
Today, we're going to talk about boron 101 - its chemical properties, where it's found and the mining processes to extract boron from the ground, applications, market size, and demand for boron. Boron 101.
Nuclear Waste Is Revolutionizing The Glass Industry
Nuclear waste can now be vitrified into durable borosilicate glass for long-term secure storage which is an ingenious breakthrough in hazardous management.
Gender Inequality In The Face of Food Insecurity
Gender inequality contributes significantly to food insecurity. Boron is an essential micronutrient that aids in the improvement of food security and, there are implications for gender equality by increasing agricultural production efficiencies.
White Howlite: The Healing Gemstone
White Howlite is a remarkable gemstone, from stylish jewelry pieces to the soothing properties it holds, this captivating borate mineral has certainly made an indelible mark.
Marine Life Thrives With Boron
Boron is a remarkable chemical element that plays an essential part in maintaining the delicate balance of marine life.
NEWS
Podcast – Boron Rocket Fuel
In today's podcast, we're going to look at research into how boron can be used as rocket fuel. Boron has a high intrinsic energy density. It's inexpensive, plentiful, and stable, making it a good choice for solid rocket fuels and an additive for jet fuels to increase energy output.
Battery Storage is The Top Climate Tech Investment
Battery storage is set to be the most in-demand climate technology investment, and this is even more promising as boron can be used in developing lithium batteries.
Boron Supply Constraints USA Benefit ABR
Boron supply constraints in the North American market will benefit the Fort Cady Integrated Boron Facility in Southern California, fully-owned by the American Pacific Borates Limited (ASX:ABR), the company slated for a NASDAQ listing in Q1 CY 2022, said.
Podcast – Boron Human Health
Boron Human Health: For optimal human health and fitness, boron Is an important mineral. This nutrient has pleiotropic effects, which can have multiple beneficial effects on the body, including inflammation reduction and antioxidant protection.
Boron Mining: Sources and Major Producers
Boron, a naturally occurring element in the earth's crust, is extracted from several locations globally, including Turkey, China, and the United States.
Boron’s Importance in Maintaining the Health of Coral Reefs
Boron is an essential element in our daily lives and crucial for a successful reef tank. It is necessary to ensure the health of corals and invertebrates.
Boron and Borates Provide Stability for Food Security
Studies show that down-regulation of boron transporters can be readily understood as a natural adaptive mechanism for plants to optimize growth and function at different geographical locations with varying natural boron concentrations.
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GUIDE TO BORON
APPLICATIONS
Boron in Fireworks
Fireworks and pyrotechnics are used frequently in festivals and celebrations, as well as in military operations and military training. Barium is the chemical that gives off a green light in fireworks, but it is toxic. This can be resolved by substituting barium nitrate with Boron carbide. Boron carbide ticks all the boxes in pyrotechnics with its long burn times and high luminous intensity. There are a few concerns in terms of toxicity and environmental data to adopting it. Moreover, Boron carbide is cheaper than barium nitrate and is in plentiful supply.
Boron in Quantum Computing
Boron in quantum computing is one of the most exciting areas in science today. Currently, silicon-based qubits provide the processing power for these hugely powerful machines. However, Hexagonal Boron Nitride, hBN, is a promising material for quantum technologies. hBN benefits include lower error rates, an increase in the number of qubits per chip, increased stability, better conductivity, and reduced energy loss. They are also more cost-effective.
CHEMISTRY
Borosilicate: An Important Class Of Minerals
Borosilicate is an important class of minerals where tourmaline, axinite, werdingite, boralsilite, dumortierite, holtite, howlite, and grandidierite are its members.
Video – How To Make Silly Putty With Borax?
Silly Putty is an iconic toy designed to bring joy and relaxation, made from a borax solution that allows for stretching, bouncing, and creating.
RESEARCH
Boron Magnets Prize for Inventor
Boron Magnets Prize: Dr. Masato Sagawa, President of NDFEB Corporation in Kyoto, Japan, has been awarded the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering for innovative work on Boron magnets. He invented the neodymium-iron-borate magnet, which is at the heart of green energy and carbon reduction efforts, powering wind turbines and other renewable systems.
Boron in Electrochemistry
Boron in Electrochemistry: Boron-doped diamond has been utilized as an electrode for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 - the conversion of CO2 to more reduced chemical species using electrical energy. It is one method for capturing and utilizing carbon. Boron-doped diamond enables hydrogen evolution to compete with CO2 reduction and suppress it. However, high overpotentials are still a problem that needs solving.
Lithium Miners To Watch In Upcoming Years
December closed out with a surge of momentum for the Lithium Miners where investors are looking forward to investing in these companies.
Ultimate Guide to Boron Markets
Learn more about well-researched forecasts for the various global boron markets.
BENEFITS
Immune System Supplements For Healthy Lifestyle
Immune system supplements are substances that improve the body's defense against disease. They can be in the form of vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other natural products.
Podcast – Baking Soda and Borax. What’s the Difference?
In today's podcast, we're going to look at the differences and similarities between borax and baking soda.
MINING BORON & BORATES
MINING
The Economics of Boron Production
The primary source of both boron and borate is the mining of minerals that contain it. Borax, for example, was originally mined from a dry lake in Turkey before being found to be more profitable at other locations such as Alaska where deposits can be located within...
Balancing Habitat versus Critical Mineral Mining
Balancing Habitat versus Critical Mineral Mining: Lithium and boron are two examples of crucial minerals essential in reducing our planet's carbon footprint for industries such as defense, automotive, construction, aviation, and aerospace. It is challenging to preserve the natural environment when starting new mines to extract these resources. How do companies such as Rio Tinto, American Pacific Borates (currently rebranding to 5E Advanced Materials), and Ioneer manage this dilemma and obtain the permits necessary in their respective locations?
Critical Mineral Boron in the Mojave Desert
Critical mineral boron is used in various applications, from agriculture to nuclear power. It's also one of the few minerals we don't have enough. As with other strategic minerals, obtaining a license for production is hard given the environmental impact on the land.
Boron Oil Extraction
Apart from being more environmentally friendly than competing metal cross-linkers used in oil and gas stimulation, borates’ unique properties and behavior make them an ideal option for multiple oilfield applications including retarder in concrete, lubricant, alkaline buffer to reduce water hardness, lost circulation treatments, and profile control, alkaline surfactant, hydrogen sulfide scavenger (an oxidizer of hydrogen sulfide gas), pulsed neutron well logging and hydraulic fracturing fluids.
INVEST IN BORON
ABR Increased Head-Grade
American Pacific Borates New Mine Plan with Increased Head-Grade. ABR's CEO, Henri Tausch, comments that yet another milestone that will allow them to be US-listed. And, perhaps most importantly, the mining firm also has three additional benefits connected with the S-K1300 conversion process.
Demand Surges for Boron from Battery Producers
The clean energy shift is happening, and it’s more than just an environmental movement. As more people turn to renewable sources of power, the demand for battery minerals is increasing exponentially worldwide. Boron, lithium, and graphite are essential minerals seeing increased share prices because of this trend.
Boron Supply Constraints USA Benefit ABR
Boron supply constraints in the North American market will benefit the Fort Cady Integrated Boron Facility in Southern California, fully-owned by the American Pacific Borates Limited (ASX:ABR), the company slated for a NASDAQ listing in Q1 CY 2022, said.
Bluescape Invests $60 million in 5E Advanced Materials (FEAM)
Bluescape Energy Partners recently announced its definitive agreement with 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: FEAM), an exploration stage boron and lithium company, for a $60 million private placement of senior secured notes convertible into common stock of the company
PLANET BORON
DECARBONIZATION
Boron – The Building Block of Urbanization
Boron is a metal useful to modern societies for over 100 years. It is most commonly available as borax in household cleaning products. Or, as the boric acid in eye drops and mouthwashes. However, it has many other uses in urbanization. It is present in construction...
DECARBONIZATION: Oil and Gas Sector Focus
It is no secret that the world needs decarbonization. For our planet to remain habitable, we need to lower the number of greenhouse gases in the air. Decarbonizing a material refers to lowering the amount or the intensity of carbon in it or by lowering the amount...
ADVANCED ENERGY
USA Critical Minerals Boron
Critical minerals are vital to the future of technology and national security. Governments worldwide are beginning to realize this and have increased budgets to show how serious they are about acquiring access. However, specific challenges arise in securing...
Podcast – Lithium Battery Prices Set to Soar
Lithium battery prices have been steadily increasing since 2022 taking both manufacturers and consumers by surprise. This shift marks a significant rise and is a trend set to continue over the next few years.
FOOD SECURITY
Boron in Foods
The micronutrient boron is essential for our health. Boron in foods is found in various foods like apples, avocados, nuts, peanuts, coffee, etc., it helps to maintain healthy bones, regulates hormones, and improves cognitive function.
Boron and Daily Diet
Boron is an essential mineral in our daily diet. Boron can be found in foods such as fruits and vegetables. If you are showing signs of Boron deficiency such as brittle fingernails. hair loss, muscle weakness, joint pain, supplements may be required. Boron is typically taken as borax, boric acid, or as a boron citrate supplement for those looking to include Boron in a regular diet.
MICRONUTRIENTS
How Boron Helps Your Garden Thrive
Micronutrients play an important role in plants' life and growth. Mineral deficiencies can lead to serious problems with the plants such as stunted growth and rougher leaves. It can also result in interveinal chlorosis of leaves, purpling of leaf margins and...
Micronutrients – Government Aid, and Boron
Governments have taken many initiatives to ensure the availability of micronutrients in our diet and products. Boron is a micronutrient found primarily in the soil and essential nutrient for plant growth and agriculture. Biofortification requires Boron.