Industrial Minerals

Industrial, Specialities

• Bentonite standard revised 11 March 2010

  Moisture content limit revised for bentonite USP specification in Food Chemical Codex Read More

• China’s natural resources plan 11 March 2010

  Lifton: Chinese rail plan is a way of valuing world’s natural resources in RMB Read More

• Prices unmoved by REE quotas 11 March 2010

  Rare earth prices remain stable despite release of first 2010 export quotas Read More

• Australia antimony moves forward 08 March 2010

  Anchor positive on long term antimony prices as it starts 2010 Wild Cattle Creek drilling Read More

• Lynas awards $32m. contract 05 March 2010

  Australian rare earths miner employs Abesque to build Mount Weld plant Read More

• Price Briefing: Week 9 04 March 2010

  TiO2 and bromide raised while perlite firms and IM launches lithium hydroxide price Read More

• Albemarle raises bromine prices 02 March 2010

  US group hikes bromine and hydrobromic acid on higher demand and new uses Read More

• Perlite Canada boosts sales 02 March 2010

  Processing plant acquisition boosts sales but net loss reported for fiscal 2009 Read More

• Price Briefing: Week 8 25 February 2010

  Quiet markets: Chinese zircon could firm as rare earths, chromite and others stall Read More

• Price Briefing: March 2010 March 2010

  Major pricing developments and analysis. This month: rare earths, rare earths, soda ash, titanium dioxide, calcine alumina, graphite Read More

• SUPPLY SITUATION REPORT: Graphite March 2010

  Read More

• Rhodia silicas unit profits rise 24 February 2010

  Silcea division more than doubles Q4 profits as prices and volumes recover Read More

• Eramet manganese in 2009 loss 22 February 2010

  Division reports full year €27m. loss but steel recovery drives stronger second half Read More

• Arafura raises rare earth funds 19 February 2010

  Australian developer’s share placement could raise $35m. to advance Nolan project Read More

• Price Briefing: Week 7 18 February 2010

  Markets quiet around Chinese New Year; antimony trioxide slipping while SiC firms Read More

• Trioxide trials and tribulations 18 February 2010

  Chinese dominance reigns supreme in antimony trioxide as export prices spike in January. However, the market has started to turn since Twinkling Star restarted its disaster-struck mine. Read More

• US minerals slump in 2009 17 February 2010

  Total value drops 20% to $57.1bn as USA increases reliance on imports Read More

• Rockwood improves Q4 earnings 17 February 2010

  Lithium and TiO2 group reports stronger quarter based on cost cutting programmes Read More

• Kirrin buys rare earth prospect 17 February 2010

  Canadian explorer inks deal to acquire Grevet rare earth deposit in Quebec Read More

• Imerys profits take a hit 15 February 2010

  French mineral producer's Q4 profits fall 13% as end markets remain depressed Read More

• China rare earth reserve approved 12 February 2010

  Baotou Rare Earth receives approval and funding from Inner Mongolia for stockpile Read More

• Martin Marietta in Q4 loss 12 February 2010

  US group post weak fourth quarter but magnesia business hits record earnings Read More

• Price Briefing: Week 6 11 February 2010

  Rare earth/graphite prices still strong; recovery underway for potash and soda ash Read More

• Rare earth pricing resurges 11 February 2010

  Prices for certain elements back at 2008 levels on supply shortage, rising demand Read More

• Russian flame retardant market 11 February 2010

  The steady growth of 11-13% in Russian flame retardants supports Nikochem/Rusnano’s nano magnesium hydroxide project Read More

• Chinese antimony prices turn 09 February 2010

  Prices drop while Franklin Mining & Planet Resources announce Bolivian j-v Read More

• Russia magnesium hydroxide plan 05 February 2010

  Nikochem to develop nano magnesium hydroxide with Rusnano for flame retardants Read More

• Rio borates lockout continues 04 February 2010

  Management and union remain in standoff at Boron as backup workforce is brought in Read More

• Mineral prices picking up 04 February 2010

  Editor’s Comment: Prices recovering for potash and ilmenite; rare earths on the rise Read More

• Rio still open to talc offers 03 February 2010

  Mining group clarifies news report; would still consider divesting talc business Read More

• Lynas to restart construction 01 February 2010

  Australian rare earths group to restart work at suspended Mount Weld/Gebeng projects Read More

• Greenland rare earth progress 01 February 2010

  Greenland Minerals and Energy eyes 2015 start up for $2,310m. rare earth project Read More

• Orbite eyes 2011 alumina output 27 January 2010

  Canadian group plans alumina-from-aluminous-clays production for Q3/Q4 2011 Read More

• US Antimony eyes Q1 start-up 25 January 2010

  Mexican operation expected to start up in late Q1 as group receives final permits Read More

• Rush on rare earths February 2010

  New RE deposits acquired in North America and Kyrgystan as prices in China rise sharply owing to shortage Read More

• Grande-Vallée aluminous clays February 2010

  Montreal-based Exploration Orbite VSPA. Inc. is working towards producing alumina at its Grande-Vallée property, an aluminous clay deposit located in the Gaspe region, Quebec, Canada. The project will come as good news for alumina industry players looking for alternatives to bauxite Read More

• Mineral prices rising 21 January 2010

  Editor’s Comment: Sulphur prices double while antimony and graphite rise Read More

• Fluorspar market recovering 21 January 2010

  Prices rise in Q1 as China curbs production; expected to cut 2010 export quotas Read More

• Toyota funds Argentina lithium 20 January 2010

  Japanese trading house provides funds for Orocobre’s Salar de Olaroz brine project Read More

• China rare earth prices rising 19 January 2010

  Rare earth prices surge in Q1 despite China increasing annual export quotas Read More

• Cabot expands China fumed silica 19 January 2010

  Cabot and Bluestar joint venture to expand Jiangxi plant to 20,000 tpa Read More

• Mixed week for mineral prices 14 January 2010

  Editor’s Comment: Barytes and some rare earths on the rise while zircon slips Read More

• Rio Q4 mineral output drops 14 January 2010

  Minsands, borates production falls as talc production rises in Rio Tinto results Read More

• Canada RE deposits acquired 11 January 2010

  Several groups make progress in developing rare earths deposits in North America Read More

• UK salt demand doubles 08 January 2010

  Imports loom as 1m. tonnes de-icing salt used within five weeks in extreme weather Read More

• Weather causes cat litter surge 07 January 2010

  Bentonite cat litter sees 55% spike in sales owing to use as a de-icing salt replacement Read More

• Kyrgystan rare earth development 07 January 2010

  Stans Energy looks to develop former Soviet Union rare earth source at Aktyuz Read More

• Salt shortage threatens Europe 06 January 2010

  Europe’s salt mines battle worst snow in 20 years; K+S says demand “overwhelming” Read More

• Non-met mining boost in Peru 04 January 2010

  Peru’s ministry of mines reports increasing industrial minerals production Read More

• Victory frac sand results 14 December 2009

  Canadian group plans to build 1.14m. tpa Manitoba frac sand plant by 2013 Read More