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FT: Graphene sees growing investor opportunities - Lomiko Metals LMR.v
Lomiko Metals has made its way up to the FT article on graphene: company has a lot of potential, but capital will be needed for the next step. With all that interest to the graphite and graphene now, to raise announced 500,000 should not be a problem and we are looking forward to this confirmation. Now talk is very cheap in the junior mining market and only solid backers can make the future for any company.
Strong strategic partner with deep pockets can make all the difference here.
BNN: Lomiko’s Game-Changing Graphite Deal LMR.v
“Lomiko Metals was on fire last week and we have the Volume Buy signal now - will the company be able finally to defy the gravitation of “the dead junior market” remains to be seen, but the Company has the goods now and it is building the buzz around its very interesting Graphene opportunity. Few latest presentations by Lomiko Metals CEO Paul Gill will help you to dig into this story. BNN will put this company under the spot light and we like to see in the latest News Release that company is looking for the Strategic Investor for its vertically integrated Graphite and Graphene business model.”
Lomiko Metals gains after test results confirm 100% carbon purity at graphite property LMR.v
“Now Lomiko Metals has the goods to deliver for its Graphite and Graphene Investors. Strategic Investor with the deep pocket to develop the property will be ideally the next step to reposition this company to the different valuation league. Results from the property speak for themselves this time and market takes notice.”
FT:
Graphene sees growing investor opportunities
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Lomiko Signs a Transformational Graphite Deal with Graphene Labs LMR.v
We have another article on Graphite, Graphene and Lomiko Metals to share today. We are pleased to find that our own conclusions are supported by the industry experts’ observations.
Lomiko Metals - New Graphene Play LMR.v
“Lomiko has gained some very important industry media traction with its latest move securing the strategic alliance with Graphene Laboratories. Market has responded to the deal very positively and has sold off lately in line with all junior miners Capitulation stage, as we believe it here. Company now is very well positioned to explore the vertical integration of its Graphite project into the very promising Entry into the Graphene market potentially. The only thing missing is the strong Chinese or Japanese company as a strategic partner for Lomiko Metals with the deep pockets to develop the Quatre Milles and now Lomiko Metals has a very interesting proposition for such potential strategic partner.”
ResourceWire.com:
RISK VERSUS REWARDLOMIKO SIGNS A TRANSFORMATIONAL GRAPHITE DEAL WITH GRAPHENE LABS
Kevin Michael GraceFebruary 28, 2013
Graphene: A wonder material that shouldn’t exist.
Just one year ago, graphite was the new black gold. The market couldn’t get enough of it, and hardly a week went by without the announcement of a new graphite company or an old company repurposed to meet what was going to be a critical shortage of supply. Investors bought on the rumour, and one year later, they’ve sold on the news. Paul Gill, President/CEO of Lomiko Metals Inc T.LMR, puts it bluntly, “So many of the small graphite companies are walking dead because there is never going to be a customer for them.”
He explains, “You have Syrah Resources in Australia, which has just put out a huge graphite resource. You have Energizer T.EGZ in Madagascar and Timcal operating in Quebec and Northern GraphiteV.NGC in Ontario. Demand is rising organically at 20% annually, but the amount of supply in the pipeline has blossomed incredibly.”
click for full size
Lomiko got into the graphite game last year. It bought the Quatre Milles Project, 3,780 hectares located 175 kilometres northwest of Montreal. Drilling there hassuggested a potential graphite deposit of 50 million to 100 million tonnes. Gill could have stood in line for project funding with all the other graphite contenders, but it wasn’t an appealing prospect.
And so Lomiko has decided to change its game. Its future will be based not on the provision of raw materials per se but rather on the creation of enduser products, specifically graphene, a carbon allotrope of—all hyperbole aside—almost unlimited potential. To that end, it announced February 12 an agreement with Graphene Laboratories Inc of New York.
Lomiko will provide natural high-quality flake graphite from Quatre Milles to Graphene, which will attempt to develop the means to convert it to graphene at a much lower cost, which would enable widespread commercial usage. The agreement states that Lomiko may provide equity financings exclusively to Graphene for two years, if it meets the criteria of at least US$500,000 within eight months, US$1 million within 12 months and US$2 million within 18 months. Should Lomiko not meet these conditions, it will lose exclusivity but retain the right to provide equity on a non-exclusive basis.
In other words, Lomiko has hitched its wagon to Graphene Lab’s star. They have the expertise, Gill says, but they need “to capitalize and grow their business. They haven’t released revenue numbers because they’re a private company, but they do have revenue and many customers.”
Gill doesn’t deny that Lomiko, a company with only $150,000 in cash, faces a daunting challenge: a $4-million challenge, in fact. “We estimate a $2-million pricetag to take Quatre Milles to resource estimate, PEA and completion of metallurgy,” he reports. “The $2-million commitment to Graphene Labs is in addition to that.”
How does Lomiko intend to raise the money? Gill replies, “We’ve already been talking to institutions and investment bankers. We have 3,000 shareholders, but what we don’t have is a group that will take it right to the institutions and bring in the $5-million to $10-million financings we’ll need in the future.”
The challenge is great, but the potential rewards are greater still. For as the Daily Mail reported 18 months ago, “Some researchers claim [graphene is] the most important substance to be created since the first synthetic plastic more than 100 years ago…. It is tougher than diamond but stretches like rubber. It is virtually invisible, conducts electricity and heat better than any copper wire and weighs next to nothing.” Graphene has been touted as a superefficient replacement for silicon in integrated circuits and as the catalyst for the creation of computer screens that can be rolled up like paper.
So what is graphene, exactly? Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who won the 2010 Nobel Prize for their work on it, describe graphene as a “material that should not exist,” a “monolayer of carbon atoms tightly packed into a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice and…a basic building block for graphitic materials of all other dimensionalities.”
Some researchers claim [graphene is] the most important substance to be created since the first synthetic plastic more than 100 years ago. It is tougher than diamond but stretches like rubber. It is virtually invisible, conducts electricity and heat better than any copper wire and weighs next to nothing—Daily Mail
Graphene’s atomic simplicity gives it its strength and makes it the most multipurpose material yet discovered. Geim and Novoselov (both knighted last year) first created graphene in 2004. By the end of 2012, CambridgeIP reported 7,351 graphene patents and patent applications worldwide. The top 10 patent holders include IBM, Samsung, SanDisk and Xerox. Last month, the European Commission, which calls graphene “the wonder material of the 21st century,” announced a grant of one billion Euros to the “Graphene Initiative.”
Elena Polyakova, founder and President/CEO of Graphene Labs, has a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Southern California and first started working with graphene in 2005. “It is actually not one thing,” she says. “Let’s call it an umbrella term.” She explains that there are currently two ways to produce it from graphite: “One route is using chemical separation, and in this case we’ve adapted material called graphene oxide, which is good for some applications. Another route is just to split graphite into so-called graphite nanoplatelets. This material is literally graphite but split into very thin sheets.”
She stresses that, in contrast to competitors, Graphene “is an active company. We have laboratory space and employees and are already producing graphene for sale. Our main customers are in the research and development space.”
Polyakova believes that graphene’s first common commercial use with be in composite materials: “Most likely polymers mixed with graphene where graphene is acting as a filler enhancing the polymer’s properties.” (Such as this announcement from Australia of a compound more bulletproof than Kevlar.)
Why did Graphene decide to ally with Lomiko? Polyakova replies, “When we produce graphene materials, the quality of our samples strongly depends on the quality of the graphite, and so we will incorporate high-quality graphite from Lomiko into our current production.” This, she says, is Graphene’s “short-term plan.” Its “long-term plan” is to “drive down the costs of production.” For example, “Right now, the cost of graphene oxide is about $170 per gram, and for commercial applications, we have to drop it by a factor of 10. I think it’s easily doable, as soon as we scale up production.”
New York-based research analyst Chris Berry agrees that price is crucial. “Most of the graphene that’s actually produced today is made from synthetic graphite, and that’s part of the reason why it’s so expensive,” he says. “The question is how do you scale up graphene production to the point where it’s a commercially viable enterprise where you can invest and make money doing it.”
Berry argues that a good analogy would be with the lithium-ion battery. “The electric-vehicle revolution hasn’t taken hold because the cars are just too expensive. They are too expensive because the battery is so expensive. If there is a breakthrough in battery chemistry which lowers the cost, then all of a sudden the electric car becomes affordable to an entire demographic that has been priced out of the market. My opinion is that graphene is in a similar situation now.”
Berry also agrees with Gill’s description of graphite juniors being “dead men walking.” He reports, “Just a little over a year ago I was actively monitoring about six publicly traded graphite exploration companies. By December 2012, I was tracking about 80. That doesn’t include some of the private companies, of which there are about 10. I see the number of graphite exploration players heading down closer to six in the coming months, and that’s because the market doesn’t need 80. It might need a couple outside China in the next few years. The frontrunner, if you will, is Northern Graphite V.NGC(and, full disclosure, we own shares in the company). Their CAPEX is going to be only about $110 million to $120 million.”
He concludes, “A strategic relationship, alliance or offtake is a must-have in graphite. Whether or not you do it with an automaker or Graphene Labs, it doesn’t really matter. Once you have it, that’s a huge plus.”
Stephen Riddle, CEO of Asbury Carbons, a commercial graphite producer for 119 years, characterizes the graphite boom as old wine in new bottles. “We experienced the same thing in the 1980s,” he says. “Back then it was due to the refractory industry starting to consume flake graphite. Many of the graphite deposits in Canada have been around for longer than I’ve been alive, and they’ve been through three or four different names. Take this deposit now called Northern Graphite V.NGC. Five years ago, its Bissett Creek Deposit was called Industrial Minerals; 25 years ago, it was called Princeton Resources; and 40 years ago, it was called something else.”
The deal with Graphene Labs sets us apart from our competitors because there is an enduser involved. We’re going to have a customer for the next two years, and we’re going to be able to participate financially in the upside of graphene. And we’re no longer competing with industrial graphite plays. We saw the facts of graphite supply and demand, and they told us we had to change—Paul Gill
Riddle, who has been something of a mentor to Gill, argues that the explosive growth in graphite companies was based on fundamental misconceptions about graphite itself. “The total graphite industry worldwide is about $13 billion to $13.5 billion, but about a billion of this has nothing to do with graphite powder or granular materials. Even though it is graphite, it’s not graphite related to what Lomiko or any of these mining companies are involved in, which is natural flake. Somebody writes an article, and says, look at the new Boeing jet, it has 80% graphite carbon fibres in it. But there is no natural-flake graphite used in making carbon fibres.”
Riddle has a much higher opinion of the viability of a company like Zenyatta Ventures Ltd V.ZEN, which is engaged in purifying natural graphite to a grade that could replace synthetic graphite. Even there, however, there will be hurdles. He asks, “When will the battery companies be ready to make the switch? Why do they prefer to use synthetic graphite at a higher cost? Is it because they trust the controls of the synthetic graphite? Is it because right now the anode part of the battery isn’t their major cost area?”
Investment analyst John Kaiser is as skeptical as Riddle with regard to the growth prospects for natural-flake graphite juniors. As for graphene and vertical integration, “Graphene is a potential future use for graphite, but it’s a bit of a stretch to link graphene innovation to some graphite deposit somewhere in North America or elsewhere in the world. Graphene is a big company space with very intensive R&D required. What are the juniors going to contribute to that equation?”
This is not a question Gill has pondered lightly. “We have to raise money,” he declares. “If we don’t capitalize Lomiko and Graphene Labs, we’re not going to go anywhere.” To Gill, it all comes down to a simple matter of risk versus reward. “We want to be at the high end of this space. That’s where the highest margin is. The deal with Graphene Labs sets us apart from our competitors because there is an enduser. We’re going to have a customer for the next two years, and we’re going to be able to participate financially in the upside of graphene. And we’re no longer competing with industrial graphite plays. We saw the facts of graphite supply and demand, and they told us we had to change.”
At press time, Lomiko had 66.9 million shares trading at $0.055 for a market cap of $3.7 million.”
Please, do not forget, that we own stocks we are writing about and have position in these companies. We are not providing any investment advice on this blog and there is no solicitation to buy or sell any particular company.
Lomiko Metals - New Graphene Play LMR.v
Lomiko has gained some very important industry media traction with its latest move securing the strategic alliance with Graphene Laboratories. Market has responded to the deal very positively and has sold off lately in line with all junior miners Capitulation stage, as we believe it here. Company now is very well positioned to explore the vertical integration of its Graphite project into the very promising Entry into the Graphene market potentially. The only thing missing is the strong Chinese or Japanese company as a strategic partner for Lomiko Metals with the deep pockets to develop the Quatre Milles and now Lomiko Metals has a very interesting proposition for such potential strategic partner.
Lomiko Metals represents now not only the Quatre Mills property with “open pit mining potential”, but a smooth access to the fast developing Western Graphene market via its alliance with Graphene Labs.
As you can see from the article below, Paul Gill from Lomiko Metals is on par with Graphite Development industry “heavy hitters” like Focus Graphite. Focus Graphite with its market cap of 67 million dollars represent the completely different universe compare to Lomiko Metals market cap of 3.3 million. Access to the capital will be crucial for Lomiko now. What we like here is that Paul Gill is acting very fast and in line with even much stronger players in the sector. He has the promising Graphite property and Graphene market Entry now packaged together - his available choices for capital has expanded dramatically and he can be lucky not only depend only on the state of the junior mining exploration market which is pronounced dead by many.
We like the chart above from Jordan Roy-Byme and his “Time To Buy Precious Metals Now.
We like the chart above from Jordan Roy-Byme and his “Time To Buy Precious Metals Now.
We are looking for a turn-around in Gold and Junior Miners in Gold, Copper, Lithium and Graphite here. They are all priced now for the “End of the World” again as in 2008. With QE not going away any time soon we think that the real messages are coming from China, who are securing the Strategic Supply of materials for the New Economy in the 21st century. They are controlling REE market already,Breaking the Oligopoly in Lithium production, close to controlling Lithium Materials space and Graphene applications will be next.
Should our junior mining market turn-around materialise with all other considerations above, Lomiko will represent a very leveraged play in the New Materials market place with applications stretching from Electric Cars with Lithium Batteries to Wind and Solar Power and to mobile devices with flexible displays.
Next things we will be monitoring for catalyst in this particular play are access to the capital and our awaited turn-around in juniors. Call the company, make your own DD and talk to Paul Gill to make your own opinion, as usual. Interviews below will be the good start.
Industrial Minerals:
Lomiko Signs Strategic Alliance Agreement With Wold-Renowed Graphene Laboratories Inc. To Build Vertically Integrated Graphene Business Opportunities LMR.v
”Interesting…now the Mr Market reaction will be next… And it was very impressive: Lomiko Metals was up 45.5% on the very respectable volume of 2.7 million shares. Now the follow through on this Volume Buy signal will be very important.
Lomiko is cutting to the chase and moving forward with REE and other special markets approach - you can build this business only if you are integrated into the Demand side of it.”
Lomiko’s 11 High Grade, Near Surface Flake Graphite Drill Hole Results Indicate Open Pit Mining Potential at Quatre Milles LMR.v
“We like small companies in the Big Trends. It is the very risky proposition, but potential reward can justify it. We have our Big Trend - Energy Transition and Strategic Commodities to make it happen: Lithium and Graphite. We are investing here in the companies who can make it happen.”Please, do not forget, that we own stocks we are writing about and have position in these companies. We are not providing any investment advice on this blog and there is no solicitation to buy or sell any particular company.
Lomiko’s 11 High Grade, Near Surface Flake Graphite Drill Hole Results Indicate Open Pit Mining Potential at Quatre Milles LMR.v
We like small companies in the Big Trends. It is the very risky proposition, but potential reward can justify it. We have our Big Trend - Energy Transition and Strategic Commodities to make it happen: Lithium and Graphite. We are investing here in the companies who can make it happen.
These companies are breaking the status quo and established markets. A lot of things can go wrong, even if the quality of the assets is outstanding.
The miracle can happen after the hard work and it is done by people, who are passionate about what they are doing. If you ask us why we have chosen Lomiko Metals in Graphite space: our answer will be very short - CEO Paul Gill. And it was easy for us: we did it a long time ago with the Lithium story in place first - it has never play out and here was the most important test of Paul Gill as a Leader - what will be his action? He has defied the Gravity and Curse of 99% Juniors - he has Not Rolled Back Lomiko and White Washed old shareholders, he has found the new story. He has educated himself about the new market and now he is educating us - his shareholders. This is the way to go and a lot of things can go wrong, just Never Lose the Trust - miracle can always happen after the hard work is done. Paul has made his home run with copper before and he will make his another one. We think that Lomiko has all chances for success now.
We like his energy, passion and persuasion. He does not look back or at somebody calling him “noisy” on the social media. We trust that it is because he believes in his company, in his ideas and would like to share it. His own belief is strong enough to Buy Constantly Lomiko - for us it is the first smell test.
He is ready to communicate, to tell his story and we like what we hear now. In his latest interview below he is talking about the strategic partner - as we take it. He has everything else now - very interesting asset, followers and very promising macro trend. The only thing left in order to give the multiple on his company valuation is the Partner from the Graphite industry, which can provide market expertise, capital and allow to build the Lomiko Team.
This will be the story to watch in 2013. Stock is climbing the Wall of Worry now with other beaten down juniors, our increased at 0.04CAD position is flashing Green and we will be stepping in on the pullbacks.
We Trust you Paul, please use it wisely.
SKYPE INTERVIEW: LOMIKO METALS – FLAKE GRAPHITE, NEAR SURFACE, OPEN PIT MINING POTENTIAL
Lomiko Metals: MAJOR Graphite Discovery at Quatre Milles LMR.v
“After we have discussed the Electric Bimmers and while we are still holding our breath watching every Tesla Model S passing by, it is time to check out ourStrategic Commodities. We are talking a lot about Lithium these days and today is time for Graphite.
This letter below is no secret the promotional one, but is it too good to be true and too much for a market cap of under 3 million bucks? We will find out in the nearest future. We are stepping in and rely on Paul Gill’s promise:
“@Sufiy The AGM was October 19 - No rollback - check the sedar files. Liquidity is our advantage and our friend. Early #Investors will win”
Can we Trust him? History will tell. We like The Story, The Sector and the future as we see it. Whether this one is the right boat to wait for the FED to Save The World (Actually Banks) Again - we will see in the next few months. CEO is constantly buying - it is Quite An Unusual treat for Investors. You can check the history of Lomiko Metals development on our Blog and, please, note that the interview above was done before the latest results from the drilling campaign were released.”
Fundamental Research Corp. Highlights the Strong Prospects of Lomiko Metals Inc. (LMR.V)
As of 11:59pm ET January 9th, 2013Filing
DateTransaction
DateInsider NameOwnership
TypeSecuritiesNature of transaction# or value acquired or disposed ofPriceNov 22/12Nov 21/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market10,000$0.035Nov 22/12Nov 21/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market100,000$0.035Nov 22/12Nov 21/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market2,000$0.035Nov 22/12Nov 16/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market6,000$0.045Nov 22/12Nov 16/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market4,000$0.040Nov 22/12Nov 16/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market21,000$0.040Nov 22/12Nov 16/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market12,000$0.040Nov 22/12Nov 16/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market15,000$0.040Nov 22/12Nov 16/12Gill, Amrit Paul SinghDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market86,000$0.040Oct 30/12Oct 25/12Gusko, BrianDirect OwnershipCommon Shares10 - Acquisition in the public market10,000$0.040
Lomiko’s 11 High Grade, Near Surface Flake Graphite Drill Hole Results Indicate Open Pit Mining Potential at Quatre Milles
2013-01-09T12:58:24+00:00
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA—(Marketwire - Jan. 9, 2013) -LOMIKO METALS INC. (TSX VENTURE:LMR)(PINKSHEETS:LMRMF) (ISIN# CA54163Q1028) (WKN A0Q9W7) (the “Company”) summarizes 2012 as the year of “The Graphite Revolution” as investors became aware of this industrial metal. Investors scrambled to invest in companies as the companies themselves participate in a staking and acquisition boom in early 2012 in Southern Quebec and Ontario.
China, which produces about 90 per cent of the world’s graphite, is seeing production and export growth leveling, and export taxes and a licensing system have been instituted in order to regulate and control supply. Europe and the USA have both indicated graphite is of economic importance and has a supply risk (Critical Raw Materials for the EU, July 2010).
“There is currently extensive research being conducted for graphite and graphene related innovations and inventions. Over 400 patents have been filed for graphite and graphene related products in the past 5 years,” stated A. Paul Gill, CEO.
Given the high possibility of future limited supply of sought-after flakegraphite and growing demand, Lomiko has acquired the Quatre Milles Project and completed 23 drill holes, all of which intersected mineralization. An NI 43-101 Resource has not been filed for the property nor has a Pre-Economic Assessment (PEA). The full extent of mineralization remains to be tested under Phase II of the exploration program along strike and at depth.
The Quatre Milles Property East is road accessible via Highway No.1 and a gravel road and is located approximately 175 km northwest of Montreal and 17 km due north of the village of Sainte-Veronique, Quebec. The property consists of 28 contiguous claims totaling approximately 1,600 hectares. Lomiko recently optioned the Quatre Milles West Property, a 2180 Ha Property with similar geology. Combined, the Quatre Milles Property Package is 3,780 Ha.
- QM 12-04 5.00 m to 75.00 m 70.00 meters of 2.17 Cg%
including 12.50 meters of 4.58 Cg%
- QM 12-03 3.50 m to 54.62 m 51.12 meters of 1.48 Cg%
- QM 12-06 40.00 m to 71.50 m 31.50 meters of 1.94 Cg%
- QM 12-10 4.50 m to 47.42 m 42.92meters of 2.47 Cg%
including 5.46 meters of 8.02 Cg%
- QM 12-16 31.48 m to 51.00 19.52meters of 6.23 Cg%
- QM 12-17 5.20 m to 37.73 m 32.53 meters of 2.89 Cg%
- QM 12-19 2.00 m to 43.30 m 41.30 meters of 2.73 Cg%
- QM 12-20 4.30 m to 44.75 m 40.45 meters of 2.83 Cg%
including 3.45 meters of 10.01 Cg%
- QM 12-21 1.35 m to 39.50 m 38.15 meters of 3.43 Cg%
including 4.77 meters of 10.80 Cg%
- QM 12-22 11.20m to 51.00 m 39.80 meters of 3.71 Cg%
including 9.90 meters of 8.81 Cg%
- QM 12-23 6.90 m to 50.10 m 43.20 meters of 3.71 Cg%
- Drill hole intervals reported herein are not true widths but reported along core.
- Drill hole intervals are weight-averaged based on the sample width.
- No internal cut-off grades were used in the reported intervals.
The drill hole map and a full set of drill results released October 22 and November 13, 2012 are available at:
2013 Goals
- Raise the profile of the Company with Institutions
- Improve US Exposure through new listing
- Complete Metallurgical studies on the graphite at Quatre Milles East.
- Perform preliminary exploration at Quatre Milles West.
Jean-Sebastien Lavallée (OGQ #773), geologist, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.
For more information, review the website at www.lomiko.com.
On Behalf of the Board
A. Paul Gill, Chief Executive Officer
We seek safe harbor.
Please, do not forget, that we own stocks we are writing about and have position in these companies. We are not providing any investment advice on this blog and there is no solicitation to buy or sell any particular company
International Lithium Corp. Blackstairs Lithium Project in Ireland - Option Agreement With Ganfeng Lithium Approved ILC.v, TNR.v
Stockwatch:
Ganfeng Lithium based in Xinyu, Jiangxi Province, China, is a professional producer of lithium products which has developed a comprehensive product chain, including lithium metal and alloys, inorganic and organic lithium chemicals, supplies a wide range of lithium products for primary and secondary lithium battery market, pharmaceutical and new material industries. Ganfeng Lithium’s principal market is in China with international exports to Europe, Japan, the USA and India. Ganfeng Lithium was founded in the 2000 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in August 2010, notably as the first publicly listed lithium company in China and has experienced rapid continuous growth over the last 11 years.
Powered By Lithium: Track Tested: 2012 Tesla Model S — Edmunds.com Video
C.S. We all love so very different Things, but we all know - when we see something Special. What could be so Common among so Different people like Angus Young, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk? - It is The Passion, the Love and Drive to what they are doing. It can burn you out, but you will never live just to pass another day.
Now let’s take some Lithium and Shake Up the Old Boyz, who would like to keep us all on the Oil Needle.”
Lets Bring Some Voltage here with AC/DC
International Lithium Year End Summary - President’s Update ILC.v, TNR.v
“International Lithium has demonstrated very impressive exploration success this year, our team is extremely pleased with the advance of our projects to date, resultantly I would like to provide a more comprehensive update to our shareholders” - Kirill Klip, President of ILC.
MILESTONES:
• Extensive 78 meter Mineralized Pegmatite with Extensive Lithium and Tantalum Zonation at Mavis Lake - Fairservice Lithium and Rare Metals Project, Ontario, Canada
• High-Grade Lithium Boulder Field Discovery Significantly Extends Moylisha - Blackstairs Project, Ireland
• Discovered Extensive Sand Layers Hosting Lithium - Boron and Highest Potash Grades in an Argentine Salar, - Mariana Brine Project, Argentina
• Strengthened Strategic Partnership with Ganfeng Lithium”
International Lithium Corp. Options Blackstairs Project and Arranges Loan with Strategic Partner, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. ILC.v
Stockwatch:
2012-11-13 16:42 ET - Property Agreement
The TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing a property option agreement between International Lithium Corp. and GFL International Co. Ltd., dated Sept. 14, 2012, whereby the company has granted to GFL an option to acquire between 51-per-cent and a 100-per-cent interest in the Blackstairs property, Ireland.
To earn a 51-per-cent interest in the property, GFL must incur $300,000 in expenditures within 18 months of the effective date, and pay the company $25,000 on the effective date and an additional $475,000 within one year from the effective date.
To earn an additional 24-per-cent interest in the property, GFL must incur $10-million in expenditures on the property or produce a positive feasibility study on the property no later than 10 years from the effective date.
The company has also granted GFL an additional option to buy 100-per-cent interest in the property, which shall be valid for six months after the effective date in consideration of GFL paying the company $2-million and granting the company a 2-per-cent net smelter returns royalty on the property. In order to exercise the additional option, GFL must pay 20 per cent of the additional option payment, being $400,000 no later than six months from the effective date and the remaining 80 per cent of the additional option payment, being $1.6-million, on the day the company’s 100-per-cent interest in the property has been transferred to GFL or a nominee of GFL.
The transaction is non-arm’s-length.
Further details can be found in the company’s news release, Oct. 2, 2012.”
International Lithium Corp. Blackstairs Project Option Agreement Approved
Vancouver B.C. November 14, 2012: International Lithium Corp. (“ILC” or the “Company”) (ILC: TSX-V) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated October 2, 2012, the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing the formal option agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with GFL International Co. Ltd (“GFL”), an investment company wholly owned by Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. (“Ganfeng Lithium”), to earn up to a 100% interest in ILC’s Blackstairs project (the “Blackstairs Project”) in Ireland.
Ganfeng Lithium based in Xinyu, Jiangxi Province, China, is a professional producer of lithium products which has developed a comprehensive product chain, including lithium metal and alloys, inorganic and organic lithium chemicals, supplies a wide range of lithium products for primary and secondary lithium battery market, pharmaceutical and new material industries. Ganfeng Lithium’s principal market is in China with international exports to Europe, Japan, the USA and India. Ganfeng Lithium was founded in the 2000 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in August 2010, notably as the first publicly listed lithium company in China and has experienced rapid continuous growth over the last 11 years.
The Blackstairs Project, comprised of eight mineral exploration licences totalling 292 square kilometres, is located 80 kilometres south of Dublin straddling the Counties of Carlow and Wicklow in Leinster, south-east Ireland. The Blackstairs Project encompasses an extensive NE-SW oriented 50 kilometre long rare metals pegmatite belt situated within the East Carlow Deformation Zone along the eastern side of the Leinster Granite. Approximately 19 significant lithium pegmatite occurrences have been discovered within the Blackstairs Project to date primarily as boulder trails with five buried pegmatites known through past trenching and drilling.
Due to the prevalent overburden cover and scarcity of outcrop, prospecting for lithium pegmatite boulders was the most successful exploration method utilised to identify priority target areas. The Aclare House occurrence, situated in the center of the Blackstairs Project was initially discovered through this exploration approach.
A pre-National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Minera Projectsl(“NI 43-101”) historical resource of 570,000 tonnes grading 1.5% Li2O was reported at Aclare House. (A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources, the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources and the historical estimate should not be relied upon.)
Other drilling highlights include 1.85% Li2O over 5.3 metres at Stranakelly and 1.66% Li2O over 9.4 metres at Moylisha.
The observed lithium bearing pegmatites and extensive boulder occurrences within the Blackstairs Project represent a highly prospective and underexplored region. In addition, the recent discovery of a high concentration of pegmatite boulders reporting grades exceeding 4% Li2O at Moylisha only serve to highlight the exploration potential of the Blackstairs Project.
John Harrop, P.Geo, is the Company’s Qualified Person on the Blackstairs Project as required under NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information contained in this press release.
About International Lithium Corp.
International Lithium Corp. is an exploration company with a focused portfolio of projects. A strong management team with personal ownership in the company compliments robust financial support from key stakeholders. A leading China based lithium product manufacturer, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., is a strategic partner and keystone investor in ILC. The Company currently has several active rare metals projects, including lithium-potash brines in Argentina, and hard-rock pegmatites in Canada and Ireland.
International Lithium Corp. is an exploration company with a focused portfolio of projects. A strong management team with personal ownership in the company compliments robust financial support from key stakeholders. A leading China based lithium product manufacturer, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., is a strategic partner and keystone investor in ILC. The Company currently has several active rare metals projects, including lithium-potash brines in Argentina, and hard-rock pegmatites in Canada and Ireland.
The Company’s primary focus is the Mariana lithium-potash brine project. Mariana is located in the renowned South American ‘Lithium Belt’ centred on the junction of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile that is host to the vast majority of global lithium resources, reserves and production. Mariana consists of a salar or ‘salt lake’ covering 160 square kilometres. The project strategically encompasses the entire mineral rich basin. The Mariana lithium-potash brine project ranks as one of the more prospective salars in the region.
Complementing the Company’s lithium brine projects are rare metals pegmatite properties in Canada and Ireland. Despite the excellent accessibility of these hard-rock rare metals projects, there is limited past exploration and geochemical sampling for rare metals. There is a clear potential for exploration success and added value here as the Company strives to source rare metals to help meet the increasing demand through the growth in global technologies that utilize the rare metals suite of elements.
ILC’s mandate is to increase shareholder value through aggressive advancement of its core projects and to source joint venture partners to expand the scope and diversify risk of its exploration effort.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Kirill Klip
President, International Lithium Corp.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements in this press release other than purely historical information, historical estimates should not be relied upon, including statements relating to the Company’s future plans and objectives or expected results, are forward-looking statements. News release contains certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business, including risks inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
Please, do not forget, that we own stocks we are writing about and have position in these companies. We are not providing any investment advice on this blog and there is no solicitation to buy or sell any particular company
Lomiko Intersects 12.50 Meters Grading 4.58% Graphite at Quatre Milles and Encounters Large Disseminated Graphite Zones LMR.v
C.S. Nobody cares, Nobody is Buying - It Is The Best Time To Buy Junior Miners, but Only Ones that will Survive. Who will survive? It is time to dust off and Rub Your Own Crystal Ball and check what companies Insiders Are Buying - it can give you Some Indication where to spend more of your time.
Call the company, listen to the story - if you Do Not Bother - send half of you money to Charity and keep the rest - you will be much better off. The Only Advise You Can Get From This Blog is on the right side of the page; and if you have spent less time making DD on the company you are going to Buy, than when last time you were buying your Flat TV - run away from the Buy Button.
Talking about the flat TV and approaching Xmas Sales - It Is still an Enigma for us, that even after so many years, even for us here - it is still Always So Sweet To Chase the running up Stock, than to wait for the sign Sale. We do not like to offend any ladies reading us (usually they are much better long term investors), but some can say that you need to have some particular parts of you body in order To Act when it is necessary and Word seems to be Falling Apart again.
Why do we Never rush to buy almost anything else rising in price, but stocks?! You can find a lot of Books on this one - yes you have to Read some Books - not just Internet Flash Instant Free information - it is Instant and Free. Take the advice you get with the same value you have paid for it. This Blog will qualify for the same quality - it is our Travel Book. In order to write Yours - you have to travel by Yourself.
Make Always you own DD, listen to the couple of Good Things and then make your move … to the next page - we will continue to Share Our Own Stream of Consciousness.
Lomiko Metals: The Lithium Ion Battery – A Potential Growth Driver for Natural Graphite LMR.v
“We had already few of our junior mining rockets launched this Fall: Bitteroot Resources, Max Resources and TNR Gold were in the headlines lately. Lomiko Metals and International Lithium are still waiting to catch the right wave to surf.
All fundamentals for Graphite are here. New Graphite Superconductivity Claims At The Room Temperature could bring the new twist to the story, but the Catalyst for the company will come with the drill results and confirmation of the historical data. According to the CEO of Lomiko Metals Paul Gill - who is buying his own shares constantly - results should be expected in the next couple of weeks now.”
Bigger flakes, higher prices — Paul Gill talks about Lomiko’s Quebec graphite projects LMR.v
Visible large flake graphite was identified in multiple drill holes from this campaign.
Lomiko Metals Presentation.
Lomiko Metals Presentation.
Lomiko Completes Drilling at Quatre Milles East Flake Graphite Property an Quebec LMR.v
Lomiko Intercepts Large Flake Graphite During Drilling at Quatre Milles East Property in Quebec LMR.v
“Now it is really getting interesting with Lomiko Metals Graphite drilling results anticipation: ”visible identification of large flake graphite in multiple holes at the Quatre Milles Flake Graphite Property in Quebec.”
Video: Lomiko Metals: Graphite - The Long Term Bull Market Player LMR.v
“With all fireworks happening in Junior mining sector now Lomiko is waiting on the sidelines, but the ongoing drilling program can change it all in heartbeat. CEO Paul Gill is constantly buying Lomiko Metals shares and it looks like he is putting his name solidly on the company success - we like it, this is the way to build the business.
Time is to study him, his story and his company - Lomiko Metals. QE3.0 will push all assets higher, but after first excitement with Gold and Oil going Up structural problems of Energy Transition will bring Lithium and Graphite to the traders’ screens again. Paul’s motto is “Buy low, build high” - we like it! The results will show how high can can build it.”
VisualCapitalist:
The Lithium Ion Battery – A Potential Growth Driver for Natural Graphite
Lomiko Intersects 12.50 Meters Grading 4.58% Graphite at Quatre Milles and Encounters Large Disseminated Graphite Zones
OCTOBER 22, 2012
TSX-V: LMR
Vancouver BC - LOMIKO METALS INC. (TSX-V:LMR, OTC:LMRMF, FSE:DH8B) (the “Company”) is pleased to report results for the first 6 drill holes completed at the Quatre Milles East Flake Graphite Property in Quebec.
The Company is very encouraged by these first results that confirm wider zones than expected from current drilling than historical results with mineralization starting near surface.
“With 17 drill holes to report, we have already had unexpected intercepts outside the high grade graphitic beds discovered by Graphicor. This bodes well for the concept of a near-surface, open pit scenario.”, stated A. Paul Gill, CEO, Lomiko Metals Inc.
Highlights
-QM 12-04 5.00 m to 75.00 m — 70.00 meters of 2.17 Cg%
including 12.50 meters of 4.58 Cg%
-QM 12-03 3.50 m to 54.62 m - 51.12 meters of 1.48 Cg%
-QM 12-06 40.00 m to 71.50 m 31.50 meters of 1.94 Cg%
Also, these wider zones contain some areas with higher grade graphite. Please see the table below for detail results.
---------------------------------------------------------------- |- -- -- -- -- |Mineralization |- | |--------------------------------------------------------------| |Drill |Easting|Northing|Azimuth|Dip|From |To |Length|Cg % | |Hole # |(UTM) |(UTM) |(°) |(°)|(m) |(m) |along | | | | | | | | | |the | | | | | | | | | |core | | |--------------------------------------------------------------| |QM-12-01|496666 |5168535 |140 |-80|41.88|44.13|2.25 |1.35 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |66.40|69.40|3.00 |2.23 | |--------------------------------------------------------------| |QM-12-02|496628 |5168430 |140 |-80|14.00|20.00|6.00 |2.19 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |15.50|18.50|3.00 |2.85 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |23.00|30.50|7.50 |1.50 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |52.60|58.00|5.40 |1.44 | |--------------------------------------------------------------| |QM-12-03|496532 |5168403 |140 |-80|3.50 |54.62|51.12 | | |* | | | | | | | |1.48*| | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |3.50 |14.90|11.40 |1.34 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |22.10|36.40|14.30 |1.51 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |39.12|54.62|15.50 |2.39 | |--------------------------------------------------------------| |QM-12-04|496511 |5168143 |140 |-80|5.00 |75.00|70.00 |2.17 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |10.40|27.40|17.00 |3.78 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |31.90|47.55|15.65 |2.01 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |53.90|75.00|21.10 |2.19 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |10.40|75.00|64.60 |2.28 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |13.40|25.90|12.50 |4.58 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |31.90|47.55|15.65 |2.01 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |53.90|75.00|21.10 |2.19 | |--------------------------------------------------------------| |QM-12-05|496861 |5168485 |340 |-80|3.65 |10.15|6.50 |2.19 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |57.00|60.17|3.17 |2.49 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | | | | | |63.00|66.00|3.00 |1.54 | |--------------------------------------------------------------| |QM-12-06|496929 |5168569 |320 |-80|40.00|71.50|31.50 |1.94 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |40.00|56.50|16.50 |2.67 | | |-----------------------------------------------------| | |INCLUDES: |40.00|67.00|27.00 |2.11 | ----------------------------------------------------------------
* There was no sampling done from 15.9m to 21.10m and from 37.4m to 38.12m. Composite value was calculated with 0 value for these intervals
-Drill hole intervals reported herein are not true widths but reported along core.
-Drill hole intervals are weight-averaged based on the sample width.
-No internal cut-off grades were used in the reported intervals.
Acme Metallurgical Limited of British Columbia conducted analysis
-Whole coarse sample dried and crushed to 2 mm and homogenized.
-100 grams aliquot (sub-sample) split out and pulverized.
-5 grams of the pulverized pulp was then leached with dilute hydrochloric acid
-Leach residue is roasted at 450 degrees Celsius and 1200 degrees Celsius.
-Weights were measured between double ignitions.
Quality Control and Assurance Procedure
-Duplicate and internal standard samples were taken every tenth sample
-If any duplicate or standard results exceeded95% confidence limit, the entire ten sample batch was repeated.
The previous drilling by Graphicor at Quatre Milles East indicated a near-surface, road-accessible target which was intersected by multiple drill holes during historic, non-NI 43-101 compliant drilling. The available information has been complied into a NI 43-101 report which will be the template for describing a resource if the drilling program is successful. It is available at:
Graphite Facts
-Natural graphite comes in several forms: flake, vein, amorphous and lump.
-Southwestern Quebec is host to some of the most favourable geological terrain for graphite exploration in Canada and is known to host graphite resources, including the nearby Lac Des Iles Mine operated by Timcal.
-Graphite has many important new applications such as lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and nuclear and solar power that have the potential to create significant incremental demand growth.
-There is roughly 20-30 times more graphite by weight needed to produce a lithium-ion battery than there is lithium.
-Of the 1.2 million tonnes of graphite produced annually, approximately 40 per cent is of the most desirable flake type.
High-growth, high-value graphite applications require large-flake and high-purity graphite which is the prime exploration and development target at the Quatre Milles East Property.
Lomiko’s Quatre Milles East Graphite Property
The Quatre Milles East Property is road accessible and is located approximately 175 km northwest of Montreal and 17 km due north of the village of Sainte-Veronique, Quebec. The property consists of 28 contiguous claims totaling approximately 1,600 hectares.
The property was originally staked and explored by Graphicor in the summer of 1989 based on the results of a regional helicopter-borne EM survey. The underlying geology consists of intercalated biotite gneiss, biotite feldspar gneiss, marble, quartzite and calc-silicate lithologies of the Central Metasedimentary Belt of the Grenville Province.
Historical Highlights
Graphicor completed reconnaissance mapping and prospecting as well as ground geophysics and a 26 hole diamond drill program totaling 1,625 metres. The work identified several conductive trends in the central portion of the property and at least three, relatively flat lying graphitic beds. Three surface samples were collected and analyzed returning results of 14.16% Cgf, 18.06% Cgf and 20.35% Cgf. 23 of the initial 26 drill holes intersected graphite concentrations with graphite concentration in range of 4.69% in hole Q90-1 to a highlight of 8.07% Cgf over 28.60 metres in hole Q90-7. The highest individual assay was reported in hole Q90-10 reporting 15.48% Cgf over 0.50 metres. A table of results from the 43-101 indicates:
The Company cautions that it has not had the chance to verify the quality and accuracy of the historic sampling and drilling results reported in this news release which predate the introduction of NI 43-101 and cautions readers not to rely upon them. The historic figures were generated from sources believed to be reliable, however, they have not been confirmed. Although the sampling and drilling results are relevant, they have not been verified.
Graphite Market
-The price for flake graphite is $ 2000-$3000 per tonne depending on flake size and grade.
-Graphite prices have been increasing in recent months and over the last couple of years prices for large flake, high purity graphite (+80 mesh, 94-97%C) have more than doubled.
-Graphite prices have almost tripled since 2005 due to the ongoing industrialization of China, India and other emerging economies and resultant strong demand from traditional steel and automotive markets.
-Demand for graphite is expected to rise as electric vehicles and lithium battery technology are adopted, nuclear reactors are built in China, and if fuel cells and graphene patents become products.
-China, which produces about 70 per cent of the world’s graphite, is seeing production and export growth leveling, and export taxes and a licensing system have been instituted.
-Europe and the USA have both indicated graphite is of economic importance and has a supply risk (Critical Raw Materials for the EU, July 2010).
Jean-Sebastien Lavallee (OGQ #773), geologist, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.
A. Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or email: info@lomiko.com
On Behalf of the Board
“A. Paul Gill”
Chief Executive Officer
We seek safe harbor. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Please, do not forget, that we own stocks we are writing about and have position in these companies. We are not providing any investment advise on this blog and there is no solicitation to buy or sell any particular company
Lomiko Metals: The Lithium Ion Battery – A Potential Growth Driver for Natural Graphite LMR.v
We had already few of our junior mining rockets launched this Fall:Bitteroot Resources, Max Resources and TNR Gold were in the headlines lately. Lomiko Metals and International Lithium are still waiting to catch the right wave to surf.
All fundamentals for Graphite are here. New Graphite Superconductivity Claims At The Room Temperature could bring the new twist to the story, but the Catalyst for the company will come with the drill results and confirmation of the historical data. According to the CEO of Lomiko Metals Paul Gill - who is buying his own shares constantly - results should be expected in the next couple of weeks now.
Bigger flakes, higher prices — Paul Gill talks about Lomiko’s Quebec graphite projects LMR.v
Visible large flake graphite was identified in multiple drill holes from this campaign.
Lomiko Metals Presentation.
Lomiko Metals Presentation.
Lomiko Completes Drilling at Quatre Milles East Flake Graphite Property an Quebec LMR.v
Lomiko Intercepts Large Flake Graphite During Drilling at Quatre Milles East Property in Quebec LMR.v
“Now it is really getting interesting with Lomiko Metals Graphite drilling results anticipation: ”visible identification of large flake graphite in multiple holes at the Quatre Milles Flake Graphite Property in Quebec.”
Video: Lomiko Metals: Graphite - The Long Term Bull Market Player LMR.v
“With all fireworks happening in Junior mining sector now Lomiko is waiting on the sidelines, but the ongoing drilling program can change it all in heartbeat. CEO Paul Gill is constantly buying Lomiko Metals shares and it looks like he is putting his name solidly on the company success - we like it, this is the way to build the business.
Time is to study him, his story and his company - Lomiko Metals. QE3.0 will push all assets higher, but after first excitement with Gold and Oil going Up structural problems of Energy Transition will bring Lithium and Graphite to the traders’ screens again. Paul’s motto is “Buy low, build high” - we like it! The results will show how high can can build it.”
VisualCapitalist:
The Lithium Ion Battery – A Potential Growth Driver for Natural Graphite
The Lithium Ion Battery – A Potential Growth Driver for Graphite
Lithium-ion batteries are already in our mobile devices and power tools, but tomorrow lithium-ion batteries will power the future of green technology. Lithium-ion batteries have the best energy density of all commercial batteries and have dropped in cost by about 50% since 2008 to produce.
Li-ions have three main parts: anode, cathode, and electrolyte. White cathodes vary in composition, in virtually all commercial lithium ion batteries, graphite is used as an anode. In fact, up to 15 times more graphite is used than lithium to make each battery.
Electric vehicles, smart grids, and consumer electronics all will likely use lithium-ions in future production, meaning a big potential growth opportunity for natural graphite.
Please, do not forget, that we own stocks we are writing about and have position in these companies. We are not providing any investment advise on this blog and there is no solicitation to buy or sell any particular company
CNET: Digging for rare earths: The mines where iPhones are born
(Credit: Mark Hobbs/CNET )
Jay Greene from CNET has published a great article about the REE, what they are used for and the state of the Rare Earth industry addressing very important environmental concerns. Modern technology and, particularly, Mobile and New Energy Applications like Wind, Solar and Electric Cars can not be produced without REE. Safe way of production means that the prices will go up and Security of Supply of These Strategic Commodities will be driving investment demand here.
Super Magnets: All About Rare Earth Metals
“After very fast initial Boom and Bust stage of this generational Bull market Rare Earths are coming back on the radar screens now. China will be an importer of REE from 2014 and has just announced the stockpiling of REE with the budget close to 1 billion dollars.”
CNET:
Digging for rare earths: The mines where iPhones are born
How are these unusual minerals extracted from the ground and why is that process an environmental risk? CNET’s Jay Greeneexplains.
The rare-earth mineral mine in Mountain Pass, Calif., run by Molycorp.
(Credit: Jay Greene/CNET )MOUNTAIN PASS, Calif. — About 60 miles southwest of Las Vegas, in a mine some 500 feet deep, the beginnings of an iPhone come to life.
But the sleek, shiny iPhone is far, far removed from the rocks pulled out of this giant hole, which looks like a deep crater on the moon. A very deep crater. The ground is covered with rust-colored boulders, rocks, and pebbles. The walls etched with striations in varying shades of black, are notched, every 75 feet or so, creating steps that only a giant could use to climb out of the pit.
The base of the mine is several football fields wide. Massive yellow excavators pull huge clumps of dirt from the earth, depositing them into equally giant haulers. And on this baking hot July day, when the temperatures approach 100 degrees, a geyser of water is shooting from a truck, in a never-ending bid to tamp down the dust.
From rocks to recycling: The life of an iPhone
Yesterday: We looked at the human toll of creating iPhones, and the activists pushing to improve working conditions.
Inside the rocks from this mine are rare-earth minerals, crucial ingredients for iPhones, as well as wind turbines, hybrid cars, and night-vision goggles. Minerals such as neodymium are used in magnets that make speakers vibrate to create sound. Europium is a phosphor that creates a bright red on an iPhone screen. Cerium gets put into a solvent that workers use to polish devices as they move along the assembly line.
“Your iPhone doesn’t work without rare earths in there, ” said Mark Smith, chief executive of Molycorp.
What’s unique about Molycorp is that it’s trying to harvest rare-earth minerals in an environmentally friendly way, or at least as environmentally friendly a way as a mine can manage. The company has come up with a proprietary method that it believes is the answer to the toxic mess that’s defined much of the world’s rare-earth mining. And if Molycorp executives are correct, they may be modernizing rare-earth mining in a way that could force Chinese competitors to improve the way they operate.
“We started working at trying to do things differently,” Smith said during a tour of the mine.
That’s important, because in China, which produces more than 90 percent of the world’s supply of rare-earth minerals, environmental laws have historically been scant and enforcement lax. The center of rare-earth mining there is Baotou, a city in Inner Mongolia with 2.3 million residents that’s become something of a poster child for mining’s ecological wreckage.
By some accounts, the smog in Baotou can be dense, the air acrid. But the biggest hazard is an artificial “tailings” lake west of the city, where refineries that process the rare-earth minerals dump their waste. A Daily Mail reporter, who sneaked past guards and climbed sand dunes to reach the rim of the lake, described it as “an apocalyptic sight.”
“The lake instantly assaults your senses. Stand on the black crust for just seconds and your eyes water and a powerful, acrid stench fills your lungs,” the article read.
A separate report in The New York Times noted that the lake wasn’t lined properly when it was built decades ago. As a result, radioactive waste has seeped into the ground. Farmers have complained that their plants can’t grow in the region and that their animals have become sick. Villagers near the lake complain of teeth failing out and hair turning prematurely white.
Chinese state media reported that a 2006 study by local authorities showed levels of radioactive thorium in soil near the lake were 36 times higher than other areas of Baotou. Thorium is typically found in the same ore as rare-earth minerals and separated out during processing. Exposure to high levels of thorium can cause lung and pancreatic cancer.
A satellite image of the rare-earth mineral tailings lake in Baotou, China.
(Credit: GeoEye Satellite Imagery )Molycorp’s Smith believes his company can rewrite the way vital rare-earth minerals are mined and processed. Molycorp machines are now pulling some 2,800 tons of fresh ore from the ground in Mountain Pass per day, four days a week. Those rocks are hauled to a massive crushing facility, a warren of tubes and conveyer belts that ultimately lead to a silo where the ore gets pounded into pieces about three-eighths of inch wide.
Those pebbles then move via conveyer belt to a mill, a long rectangular building, high on a plain overlooking the Mountain Pass site. There, they get mixed with water and dumped into a giant cylinder with large steel balls. The mixture turns into a slurry that moves to a so-called hot floatation facility.
Molycorp adds chemicals to the mix that, when heated, cling to the rare-earth minerals and rise with the bubbles that float to the top. The company then skims off the rare-earth concentrate.
The remainder, about 92 percent of the entire mix, has no commercial value. In Baotou, that mix, which includes slightly radioactive thorium and uranium and other toxic chemicals, goes into the tailings lake. Because it’s still liquid, the waste can leach into groundwater, creating environmental hazards. Molycorp’s proprietary process presses the water out of the tailings in order to reuse it. What’s left is a paste, to which Molycorp adds cement and then lays out in a lined disposal site.
“One thing you won’t see at Mountain Pass is a pond of radioactive waste,” Molycorp’s Smith said. “No tailings pond, no worries about contaminated groundwater.”
(The story continues below. Click on the image to download the infographic.)
(Credit: Mark Hobbs/CNET )The rare-earth concentrate heads to a separations facility, where acids are added to pull apart the different rare-earth minerals. Eventually, the separate elements are dried, and the powder versions of neodymium, europium, and the rest are bagged up and sold to customers, some of them Apple’s partners that make the speakers, the screen, and the vibration unit that comprise an iPhone.
“We are well indoctrinated into that iPhone,” Smith said. “We’re an important and indispensable part of that iPhone.”
You get the sense walking around Mountain Pass with Smith, even in his oh-so-out-of-place business suit and tie, that there’s no place he’d rather be. Square-jawed and sporting a crew cut, Smith says he could talk about rare-earth minerals all day. He mentions dinners with his wife, when he points to all the different objects in the restaurant that wouldn’t exist without rare-earth minerals (which makes me think Mrs. Smith is an awfully tolerant woman).
Molycorp Chief Executive Mark Smith
(Credit: Jay Greene/CNET )Smith, a lawyer with a degree in agricultural engineering from Colorado State University, wants to rewrite the global rare-earth mining playbook. He believes Molycorp, which invested $895 million to modernize the mining operations here, could seize as much as a third of the global market for rare-earth minerals when the revamped Mountain Pass facility becomes fully operational next year.
Can Molycorp compete with its Chinese rivals? Jack Lifton, founding principal at the mining research firm Technology Metals Research, notes that China has developed “a technically sophisticated rare-earth processing industry and a strong academic community in the rare-earth chemistry and processing fields.” While the Chinese don’t elaborate on their costs, Lifton is dismissive about any claims that Molycorp can significantly undermine rivals’ costs.
The Chinese government has also increased efforts to reduce the ecological damage of rare-earth mining. It’s instituted quotas and restricted exports of the minerals in recent years, in part because the government has ramped up environmental oversight, though many suspect the move was also intended to drive up prices.
“There are a lot of things that the rare-earth industry should not be proud of over there,” Molycorp’s Smith said about the environmental mess in China. “But I’ll give China credit. They are stepping up their environmental regulation.” The Chinese government recently released a report detailing some of those environmental efforts, including new laws focused on water pollution and treatment and plans to enforce them.
There’s little doubt the environmental cost of creating an iPhone, as well as those wind turbines, hybrid engines, and the bevy of other technical wonders that use rare-earth minerals, has been immense.
But regulatory pressure, coupled perhaps with the market forces of the new Molycorp mine, could be the start of a cleaner rare-earth mining industry.”
Bigger flakes, higher prices — Paul Gill talks about Lomiko’s Quebec graphite projects LMR.v
Visible large flake graphite was identified in multiple drill holes from this campaign.
Lomiko Metals Presentation.
Lomiko Metals Presentation.
Lomiko Completes Drilling at Quatre Milles East Flake Graphite Property an Quebec LMR.v
Lomiko Intercepts Large Flake Graphite During Drilling at Quatre Milles East Property in Quebec LMR.v
“Now it is really getting interesting with Lomiko Metals Graphite drilling results anticipation: ”visible identification of large flake graphite in multiple holes at the Quatre Milles Flake Graphite Property in Quebec.”
Video: Lomiko Metals: Graphite - The Long Term Bull Market Player LMR.v
“With all fireworks happening in Junior mining sector now Lomiko is waiting on the sidelines, but the ongoing drilling program can change it all in heartbeat. CEO Paul Gill is constantly buying Lomiko Metals shares and it looks like he is putting his name solidly on the company success - we like it, this is the way to build the business.
Time is to study him, his story and his company - Lomiko Metals. QE3.0 will push all assets higher, but after first excitement with Gold and Oil going Up structural problems of Energy Transition will bring Lithium and Graphite to the traders’ screens again. Paul’s motto is “Buy low, build high” - we like it! The results will show how high can can build it.”
Financial Post:
Bigger flakes, higher prices — Paul Gill talks about Lomiko’s Quebec graphite projects
By Kevin Michael Grace
“We feel that we’re among the top six or seven graphite companies that will be able to add value through exploration”—Paul Gill
Lomiko Metals Inc (V.LMR) announced September 20 that has completed its summer drill program on its Quatre Milles East Flake Graphite Property in Quebec. Twenty-three holes totaling 1,600 metres were drilled, and the presence of large-flake graphite was identified in multiple holes.
“We feel that we’re among the top six or seven graphite companies that will be able to add value through exploration”—Paul Gill
Lomiko Metals Inc (V.LMR) announced September 20 that has completed its summer drill program on its Quatre Milles East Flake Graphite Property in Quebec. Twenty-three holes totaling 1,600 metres were drilled, and the presence of large-flake graphite was identified in multiple holes.
The drilling replicated previous exploration on the property by Graphicor Resources Inc in 1992. Although Lomiko holds the data derived from these historic drill results, the drillcores are not available to compile a NI 43-101 resource estimate.
Quatre Milles East consists of 1,600 hectares located 175 kilometres northwest of Montreal. In May, Lomiko optioned the Quatre Milles West Property, 2,180 hectares adjacent to Quatre Milles East. In addition to these graphite properties, Lomiko owns the Vines Lake gold property in the Liard Mining District of northwest British Columbia and the Salar de Aguas Caliente Lithium Brine Property in Chile.
Lomiko President/CEO Paul Gill spoke to Kevin Michael Grace September 18.
RW: What pleases you most about your drill campaign?
PG: We were able to drill into an area which has previously been drilled and has grades and intercepts similar to a proven mine in the area [Timcal Canada’s Lac-des-Îles Mine]. The intercepts are near surface and amenable to an open pit, and the location is amenable to a mining operation.
RW: When will your drill results be released?
PG: We anticipate results in the middle of October.
RW: What’s your next step after that?
PG: We need to finance Phase 2 and confirm that it’s the correct step to take because it’s contingent upon results. Phase 2 will be another 50 holes. These will bring definition to the target area and probably come up with a resource. Usually, juniors have a discovery phase. We didn’t have to go through that. Next is the resource stage, and I think that’s when the next value jump happens. Well, there is going to be one now when people recognize that we will be confirming some of the historic results on Quatre Milles.
RW: You said in May that you were looking toward developing a resource estimate by December.
PG: We’d like to stay on that course. But we’d have to get funding and do another round of drilling in November for that to happen. If there will be a significant move in the market, we could have warrants exercised or we would put financing together. We would then have approximately a $1 million to $1.5 million.
RW: How much cash do you have now?
PG: About $550,000.
RW: What is your current burn rate?
PG: There is $307,000 that’s going towards the Quatre Milles Phase 1 and another $100,000 for Vines Lake. Those are all-in expenses. Our only other expenditures are administrative, and that’s about $20,000 a month.
RW: What’s the significance of finding large-flake graphite at Quatre Milles?
PG: Something that’s been confirmed with Northern Graphite (V.NGC) is that the flake size is more desirable if it’s larger simply because you can make different elements with it. Electric-vehicle manufacturers are looking for a spherical-granular structure for the graphite they use in their batteries. The greater the size of the flake, the higher the price.
The next biggest issue is recovery. The type of host rock that’s here, part of the reason we took it is because the metallurgist, Michel Robert, actually staked this land. The type of marble in this area allows for the graphite flakes to pop out easily, and the recovery rate is quite high, so your strip ratio goes down.
RW: Assuming you have the resource, how would you compare the difficulty and expense of bringing a graphite project to production compared to a gold, silver or copper mine?
PG: There is an issue around the expertise in this field. You have to have specific expertise mining this particular product. For gold, silver or copper projects, it’s a very straightforward situation, and there are many geologists and mining engineers familiar with the situation. What’s key to graphite is you need a mining engineer and metallurgist and a geologist and chemist that will be on site and can advice how to make the project the best possible project. And in regards to actually introducing the project to the financiers that’s another challenge because the end users of the product are relying on and have relationships with about a maximum of 20 different companies that market different variations of graphite. We’ve had contact with several different groups among those 20. So we’re encouraged by that, and we’re in the right location with the right product.
RW: About six months ago, there was a tremendous amount of excitement about graphite stocks. Prices increased tremendously, and then was a big falloff. Why did this happen?
PG: I think the falloff followed the price of graphite itself. The price of graphite peaked in the spring of 2012 and so did graphite stocks. Every market has to correct. You’ve seen graphite move up from $500 a tonne to $2,000 per tonne, and it’s settling in now at this level. I think the next big increase will be when the applications and products now being patented get to the development stage.
It’s actually a healthy correction and a fortuitous one for those of us that already received financing because we’re way ahead of the game. There are many projects that were announced but didn’t receive financing and couldn’t proceed. We feel that we’re among the top six or seven graphite companies that will be able to add value through exploration
Read more articles like this at resourceswire.com
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Lithium M&A: Who Will Be Next? Battery demand fuels Rockwood’s Talison Lithium buy
As we have mentioned before, in this mega trend of Energy Transition driven by Peak Oil multiplied by Inflation - it is very important to cut all the noise fueled by Oil lobby and look what people with money and vision are really doing and not only what they are talking about. China, Japan and Korea are all over the place making investments in Lithium developers for the last few years. There are only few credible companies left now for this consolidation stage and with every next deal the strategic nature of crucial supply of Lithium to fuel the Green Mobility revolution will be more and more apparent. By that time, when general public will be chasing everything with the word Lithium again - it will be the right moment to Sell.
Now, when lithium developers are only trying to get their heads up from the Sell Off dust - it is time to study the story and pick up your own collection of lithium juniors. As usual, it will be very important to separate pump and dump from the real players. NRs about OTC traded “Lithium Companies” which are issued almost every day just to hit the search engines with the right key words will be the very good indications about what NOT to touch even with the very long pole.
What to look for? It is the same old values - Projects, Management and Partners to develop the next Lithium Targets. Capital is very scarce now for the juniors and who is backing the companies will be the most crucial at this stage.
Just a few years ago, when we started to write about the Next Big Thing we had three major producers on our radar screen: SQM, FMC and Rockwood Holding. All of them are diversified chemical companies with majority of revenue coming from Potash and other fertilisers and speciality chemicals and some lithium. They were all quite a stretched proxy to play the Lithium game. Then Talison joined our party - as the most advanced pure lithium play with its hard rock lithium production in Australia. Juniors enjoyed the first crazy run in 2009 - 2010 with major industry players taking positions in the most promising projects.
We are writing here only about what we are following and do not have the intention to cover the comprehensive history of the lithium sector with all its investment opportunities.
Canada Lithium and Western Lithium were on our radar screens for a while - Canada Lithium has attracted interest of Japanese Mitsui, but management issues in that company at that time and Western Lithium’s untested production from clay as source of Lithium moved our attention to Brines in Latin America and, particularly, Argentina.
We were not alone in our interest - Orocobre has secured investment from Japanese Toyota Tsusho; Talison has bought Salares Lithium to get Lithium Brine exposure; Lithium Americas had investors from Japan - Mitsubishi and Magna from Canada; Lithium One had investment from Korean Kores and later J/V with Galaxy Resources from Australia; Pan American Lithium has attracted POSCO from Korea, Rodinia Lithium sold a stake to Chinese Shan Shan and then International Lithium was launched by TNR Gold with Ganfeng Lithium from China as Strategic investor.
Now, after all major producers have increased Lithium prices lately, this acquisition of Talison by Rockwood Holding opens the doors to further consolidation among our junior lithium developers. From our personal collection Lithium One was taken out by Galaxy Resources this spring already.
We are looking at the smaller players which could be subject to the M&A activity - we have a total disconnect between the asset value and the market valuation of these companies now. The risk is that they will never get enough capital to develop their project - the reward is the price multiple on those who can make it.
Out of our favorite: International Lithium, Rodinia Lithium, Lithium One and Orocobre - Lithium One is taken out by the Galaxy already. Orocobre could become the consolidator in this junior development space and International Lithium and Rodinia Lithium could become the forgotten darlings for M&A dreams. Rodinia Lithium is more advanced with resource estimation, small stake from Shan Shan and recent creative financing of its Potash side of story. International Lithium enjoys increased stake of its strategic partner - Ganfeng Lithium, has found the highest in Argentina Potash grade on its Mariana Lithium-Potash Brine and announced financing and J/V LOI on its Ireland Lithium project. Talison buyout brings new angle on Lithium hard rock mining and can create the new opportunities for International Lithium with its projects in Ireland and Canada.
International Lithium Corp. Options Blackstairs Project Further Strengthening Ties With Chinese Lithium Producer Jiangxi Ganfeng ILC.v, TNR.v
Consolidation Potential for Lithium Juniors GXY.ax, LI.v, ILC.v, ORE.ax, RM.v
Lithium M&A: Galaxy/Lithium One merger completed
Reuters:
Battery demand fuels Rockwood’s Talison Lithium buy
By Maneesha Tiwari and Bhaswati Mukhopadhyay
(Reuters) - Chemicals producer Rockwood Holdings Inc (ROC.N) agreed to buy Talison Lithium Ltd TLH.TO for C$724 million ($729 million) to expand in Asia and boost its output of lithium used in batteries for electric cars and cellphones.
Demand for lithium batteries has risen in recent years as they are more efficient and help cut carbon emissions. The rising popularity of smartphones, which need longer-running batteries, has also helped.
Talison supplied about 80 percent of lithium demand in China, the world’s biggest autos market, the company said in January.
“The rationale for everything we do in lithium is to be ready for expected growth in electric vehicles that run on lithium batteries. There is also power tools like power drills and pharmaceuticals,” Timothy McKenna, a spokesman for Rockwood, told Reuters.
Rockwood, whose peers include Kronos Worldwide Inc KRO.N, Sensient Technologies Corp SXT.N, WR Grace and Co (GRA.N) and Valhi Inc VHI.N, has said it expects battery-grade lithium products to show double-digit sales growth this year.
Lithium business accounted for 14 percent of Rockwood’s June quarter sales of $905.6 million. Perth, Australia-based Talison’s sale of lithium concentrate rose 8 percent to 365,545 metric tons (402,944 tons) in the fiscal year ended June 30.
Rockwood will control 55 percent of global lithium supply once the deal closes, David Davidson, an analyst at Paradigm Capital wrote in a note to clients. Talison had a 32 percent share of the global supply market, he said.
Princeton, New Jersey-based Rockwood said on Thursday it will pay C$6.50 per Talison share, a 53 percent premium to the stock’s Wednesday close on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
“The premium reflects the quality of Talison, a pure-play lithium concentrate producer with a strategic asset and customer base, that either met or exceeded our own modeled expectations on essentially every metric quarter on quarter,” Davidson said.
Talison shares rose 52 percent to an 18-month high of C$6.47. Rockwood fell about a percent to $47.09 in noon trade on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.
Rockwood plans to finance the acquisition — its biggest deal till date — using cash on hand and new debt financing.
Lazard advised Rockwood while Talison was advised by Macquarie Capital in Australia and Canada.
(Editing by Joyjeet Das and Sriraj Kalluvila)”
Please, do not forget, that we own stocks we are writing about and have position in these companies. We are not providing any investment advise on this blog and there is no solicitation to buy or sell any particular company
