BORON MINING

Sourcing, extraction and mining of Boron is a complicated affair requiring huge investment for this criticial mineral. Learn how the industry players are shaping the future of boron supplies 

Boron Lithium Extraction 1024x576
MINING

Exciting Lithium by-product at ABR US Boron Facility

Giving impetus to its drive to be a substantial player in the advanced energy eco-system of the region and beyond, American Pacific Borates Limited (ASX:ABR) (ABR or the Company) is exploring partner options for a potential by-product lithium production from its Fort Cady Integrated Boron Facility in Southern California.

ABR Production 3x
INVEST IN BORON, MINING

ABR Boron Production 3x

According to a press release from ABR on November 16th, 2021, the company has announced 'ABR production triples' with a near tripling of production capability for the critical mineral boron at its Fort Cady operations in Southern California. Boron is becoming recognized as an essential mineral for use in multiple applications in decarbonization, advanced energy - batteries- and food security- as a micronutrient.

ABR Boron Production Triples
MINING

SEC Resources Estimate American Pacific Borates (ABR)

American Pacific Borates Limited (ABR) submits SEC Resources Estimate bring US listing for this company one step closer. The filing indicates an improved resource and additional potential for further improved scale with borate and lithium reserves. Given strong validated indications of borate reserves at the Fort Cady facility.

Rio Tinto Mine Suspended
Company Profiles, MINING

Rio Tinto Mine Serbia Lithium Boron Licences Revoked

Rio Tinto Mine. The Serbian government has finally revoked Rio Tinto's licenses for lithium exploration in Serbia in the latter part of January 2022. The government gave in to the protesters who have been opposed to the Anglo-Australian mining company's project on environmental grounds. Last year, the company committed to the project as global miners push for metals necessary to transition to green energy. This includes lithium which is used in the production of electric vehicle batteries. The project was already suspended in December 2021 due to environmental deterioration and forced displacement concerns.

Boron and EV Batteries
Batteries and Capacitors, Company Profiles, RESEARCH

Company Profile of Li-S Energy Limited – Boron Battery

Li-S Energy Limited, established in 2019, is an Australian company, a joint venture between Li-S Energy's founding shareholders, PPK Group, BNNT Technology, and Deakin University. Its purpose is to develop a new battery technology that incorporates Boron Nitride Nanotubes, which are more efficient, lower cost, and greener than current batteries for markets including automotive, defense and aviation.

Podcast - Billion Dollar Boron
INVEST IN BORON, MINING

Billion Dollar Boron

Billion dollar boron. In 2021, borates sales hit billions of dollars. Why? The demand for boron is increasing rapidly in strategic sectors such as aerospace and defense, zero-carbon, and advanced energy solutions, which depend on boron-based technologies to reduce emissions. Recent forecasts predict that boron demand will increase by 30% by the end of the decade.

decarbonization rio tinto - boron
DECARBONIZATION, MINING

Rio Tinto Decarbonization

Rio Tinto announced a $7.5 billion plan to reduce carbon emissions to 50% by 2030 in October 2021. Rio Tinto stated that it aimed to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2020 as steel and iron ore producers push for compliance with international climate commitments. Rio pushed forward its 2020 target for a 15% reduction of emissions from 2018, five years earlier than it had previously planned.

Boron boric acid
INDUSTRY SECTORS, MINING

Boric Acid Companies

The boric acid market is fragmented with the presence of numerous players. These vendors compete based on R&D, quality, price, innovations, marketing strategies, market expansion, investments, and distribution networks. Some vendors have high investment capabilities, and they constantly focus on increasing their production capacities. Although the increase in demand from developing countries will offer immense growth opportunities, the threat of substitutes will challenge the growth of the market participants.

Borates in Bolivia
MINING

Country Profile of Bolivia

Bolivia is one of the largest producers of borates globally after Turkey, the USA, Chile, and Argentina. Extraction and production of ulexite is the main activity centered around the south of the country, with both public and private companies involved. Exports are mostly sodium borates and boric acid, with Brazil and China among the largest buyers.

Boron Minerals
Chemistry, MINING

Boron Minerals

Boron minerals are found in the Earth's crust; its various forms come from different geological structures, such as pegmatite and metamorphic rocks. The most common boron minerals include Tincal, Tincalconite, Colemanite, Kernite, Ulexite, Pandermite, Boracite, Hydroboracite, Inderite, Ascharite, Datolite, Sassolite, Meyerhofferite, Inyoite, and Probertite.

Boron markets
ADVANCED ENERGY, MINING, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron Markets Ultimate Guide Part 2

Today, we'll continue our look at a number of markets where boron and borax compounds are used, including the Boron Trifluoride Market, Potassium Fluoborate Market, the Tin Fluoborate Market, the Permanent Magnets Market, the Super Abrasives Market, the Cubic Boron Nitride Market, the Hexagonal Boron Nitride Market, the Lithium BIS Borate Market, and the Cubic Boron Nitrates Market.

Boron 101
MINING

The Boron Production Process

Boron is a naturally occurring chemical element. It is mostly found in the arid regions of California and Turkey. Pure boron is extracted and converted into various agricultural and industrial products through diverse and complex processes.

ABR Boron Production Triples
INDUSTRY SECTORS, MINING

ABR Announces Exciting NASDAQ Listing

ABR, the Californian, US-based Boron mining company has announced its intention to list on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 2022 with a name change to 5E Advanced Materials, Inc. The NASDAQ listed entity will also support and maintain a secondary listing on the Australian Stock exchange (ASX).

Boron in Eyewear
Company Profiles, MINING

Country Profile Boron Turkey

Country Profile - Boron Turkey: Evidence of borates mining has been found dating back to Roman times in Turkey. Turkey is the world’s largest producer with 73% of the world's total boron reserves. The largest tincal deposit is the Kirka deposit at Eskisehir. Bigadic (colemanite & ulexite), Emet(colemanite), Kestelek (colemanite, probertite & ulexite), Kirka (tincal) are the main borate-producing regions of Turkey.

Ulexite
MINING

Ulexite: The Wonder Mineral

Ulexite, a boron mineral found in the American southwest, is recognized for its intense, pearly white color. This stone first garnered attention in 1840 and is named after the German chemist George Ludwig Ulex, who first explained its chemical composition.

Lithium stocks boron
INVEST IN BORON, MINING

3 Lithium Stocks to Watch

Mining for Lithium is not an easy job. To be cost-effective requires stringent procedures and regulations in place and also needs to have a decent turn-around time and stand up to the promise of being a long-term supply source for clients. We look at three Lithium companies that have not only shown profits through an otherwise tumultuous time but also served their clients' present needs with a roadmap for the future.

apple
MINING, PODCASTS

Podcast – Boron and U.S. Rare Earths

Podcast - Today, we're going to take a look at boron and US rare earths and the stockpiling policy. The US is boosting the stockpile of its rare earth materials, such as cobalt and lithium. But why is this? The answer is partly to reduce dependence on China and partly to have a strategic policy towards rare earth sourcing and distribution.

Country Profile Russia
Chemistry, Company Profiles, MINING

Country Profile of Russia

Country Profile of Russia: Russia is the fourth-largest supplier of borates to global markets, which present about 12% of the global total, with boric acid as the main export. The current Russia, Ukraine conflict is not having a noticeable impact on supply and production in the short term for borates supply. Still, Putin is considering sanctions on a wide range of minerals and finished products for export.

Boron-ESG-Quarry
DECARBONIZATION, MINING

Boron, ESG and the Mining Industry

The ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) framework is growing in significance for mining companies, including those involved in boron extraction. ESG is a set of practices that mines have to comply with to ensure their future sustainability. It will become an integral part of every mining operation worldwide shortly. ESG compliance is difficult for some mines because it requires them to alter their production methods or management style. However, it is not only possible but necessary.

Orocobre Lithium
Company Profiles, MINING

Company Profile of Orocobre Lithium

Sinead Kaufman takes up the responsibilities to improve Rio Tinto Minerals' performance by taking it to another level. She handles a diverse range of commodities belonging to the mining giant. Her team is working at ground level pushing $3.2 billion into the metal Lithium.

Boric Acid Companies

Boric Acid Companies

The boric acid market is fragmented with the presence of numerous players. These vendors compete based on R&D, quality, price, innovations, marketing strategies, market expansion, investments, and distribution networks. Some vendors have high investment capabilities, and they constantly focus on increasing their production capacities. Although the increase in demand from developing countries will offer immense growth opportunities, the threat of substitutes will challenge the growth of the market participants.

Boron at Fukushima

Boron at Fukushima

Boron at Fukushima: In 2011 a severe nuclear meltdown occurred in Fukushima at the atomic reactor on the coast. Authorities resorted to spreading a boron compound on the site to halt the spread of radiation. How did boron help mitigate radiation and meltdown at the time? How does it also act as an inhibitor in the nuclear rods themselves?

Boron Minerals

Boron Minerals

Boron minerals are found in the Earth's crust; its various forms come from different geological structures, such as pegmatite and metamorphic rocks. The most common boron minerals include Tincal, Tincalconite, Colemanite, Kernite, Ulexite, Pandermite, Boracite, Hydroboracite, Inderite, Ascharite, Datolite, Sassolite, Meyerhofferite, Inyoite, and Probertite.

Billion Dollar Boron

Billion Dollar Boron

Billion dollar boron. In 2021, borates sales hit billions of dollars. Why? The demand for boron is increasing rapidly in strategic sectors such as aerospace and defense, zero-carbon, and advanced energy solutions, which depend on boron-based technologies to reduce emissions. Recent forecasts predict that boron demand will increase by 30% by the end of the decade.

Country Profile of Argentina

Country Profile of Argentina

Argentina is the fifth-largest producer of natural borates. Deposits of borate can be found throughout Argentina, including in the provinces of Neuquén (Gran Chaco), Rio Negro, San Juan, and Mendoza (Cordoba). The first boric acid in Argentina was produced in 1894 at the La Plata mine when sodium tetraborate ore was extracted for the first time. The country became a major producer in 1900.

Country Profile of Boron USA

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

Country Profile Boron Turkey

Country Profile Boron Turkey

Country Profile - Boron Turkey: Evidence of borates mining has been found dating back to Roman times in Turkey. Turkey is the world’s largest producer with 73% of the world's total boron reserves. The largest tincal deposit is the Kirka deposit at Eskisehir. Bigadic (colemanite & ulexite), Emet(colemanite), Kestelek (colemanite, probertite & ulexite), Kirka (tincal) are the main borate-producing regions of Turkey.

Country Profile of China

Country Profile of China

Country Profile of China Borates - China is a net importer of borates with few natural resources. However, it still dominates in exporting finished products to global markets as the third-largest exporter. China holds only 3% of global borate reserves. China's most crucial boron minerals are tincal, borosilicate, and ascharite. Liaoning and Qinghai are the main areas with minable borate resources.

Boron 3D Metal Printing

Boron 3D Metal Printing

AML3D and Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) announces a series of collaborative feasibility projects exploring Boron 3D Metal Printing using Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) in Wire Additive Manufacturing. The new composite could revolutionize Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM) by enjoying far-reaching commercial industry implications for applications in 3D metal printing globally.

Podcast – Boron Demand in Military Conflict

Podcast – Boron Demand in Military Conflict

Podcast - Boron demand in military conflict. The tragic scenes unfolding on our screens daily of the conflict in Ukraine are a powerful reminder of the need for protective materials to minimise injury and fatalities among the military personnel and civilians. Military hardware requires strong, light, malleable, durable and anti-corrosive materials. Boron is a key material used in bulletproof vests, bulletproof armour, in helicopter skins and on aircraft as well as an anti-corrosive in weaponry.

Boron in Construction

Boron in Construction

Boron is a key element in industrial construction - the construction of businesses with manufacturing plants, power plants, refineries. It is a strengthening additive in concrete, steel, and aluminum alloys for structural support. It also helps prevent corrosion by shielding against corrosive agents like saltwater or chlorine. Boron also plays a vital role in steel production by acting as a fluxing agent during the smelting process.

Boron Oil Extraction

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.

Rio Tinto – Jadar Valley Lithium Project Suspended

Rio Tinto – Jadar Valley Lithium Project Suspended

Rio Tinto has found itself in the news again after its lithium project in Jadar, Serbia, was suspended after protests by the local community in Serbia. The backlash does not bode well for mining companies looking to open mines in response to a growing demand for minerals such as lithium that are fuelling advanced energy growth in multiple business sectors, including automotive, defence, aerospace.