- Write by:
-
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 - 12:37:08
-
693 Visit
-
Print
Mining News Pro - BHP, the world’s largest mining company, has signed an agreement with researchers at the University of Leicester, the University of Western Australia and Macquarie University to identify new areas for the discovery of metals critical to the electric vehicle revolution.
In detail, the two-year project is titled “Craton Margin Exploration Targeting 4D” and it aims to locate new nickel deposits.
Nickel is a major component in the lithium-ion battery cathodes used in the manufacture of EVs. But production is highly concentrated in Asia, with Indonesia responsible for some 33% of the global supply of the metal, followed by the Philippines with 12% and Russia with 11%. When it comes to processing, China takes the lion’s share as the country refines about 35% of the nickel produced globally.
Given this state of affairs, finding untapped sources of battery metals elsewhere and innovative and environmentally friendlier ways to process them has become an important quest for countries and companies taking steps towards a greener future.
With this in mind, the teams at Leicester and UWA have already been examining the processes involved in the sources and transport mechanisms of metals through the lithosphere in magmatic systems.
This ongoing work will now be coupled with novel advances in experimental petrology and tectonic modelling to highlight ‘sweet spots’ of crust that have undergone a series of favourable processes through geological time.
The underlying research is expected to challenge scientists’ current understanding of the nickel mineral system, potentially opening up new exploration search space for nickel across the globe.
“We are delighted to have agreed to this partnership with BHP. It is particularly exciting to have the opportunity to apply some of our recent and ongoing research on nickel-copper-platinum group metal deposits directly to exploration targeting,” lead researcher David Holwell said in a media statement. “We have a truly international and diverse team with complementary expertise.”
Short Link:
https://www.miningnews.ir/En/News/619499
South African diversified miner Sibanye Stillwater is discussing with lenders to temporarily lift limits on borrowings, ...
The Philippines said on Friday it aimed to add three more processing plants in the effort to develop a downstream ...
Canada’s mining industry is pushing for an carveout to the federal government’s proposed increase to capital gains ...
Australia will spend A$566 million ($373 million) over the coming decade to map out resource deposits with a focus on ...
Indonesia’s nickel reserves are sufficient for expanded processing operations, an investment ministry official said on ...
The secretary-general of the International Seabed Authority is set to run for a third term leading the United ...
BHP has put South Africa and its mining sector on the spot. The $140 billion Australian group’s ambitious swoop on rival ...
First Quantum Minerals is looking forward to talks with the new administration in Panama and to work together to find a ...
Albemarle, the world’s largest producer of lithium for electric vehicle batteries, on Wednesday missed first quarter ...
No comments have been posted yet ...