In the name of increased nickel demand, primarily for electric vehicles, Indonesia’s Marine Protected Areas enter the crosshairs of industry. As the global economy and all its good conscience makes strides in shifting toward renewable energy, so too does it put increased demand on natural resources. Industry and ecotourism have a funny way of working both hand in hand and in opposition in a game of give and take. A most recent case in point is Indonesia’s Raja Ampat region. Having rapidly recovered from less-than-environmentally-friendly fishing practices (dynamite, open floodgates to the international commercial fishing fleet), mining (more dynamite), and…
Author: TJ Markle
Venezuela’s effort to attract foreign investors to develop its gold, iron and bauxite seams has enthusiastic backing from the Trump administration but faces big challenges, including armed groups with deep interests in the chaotic, largely illegal prospecting industry that has developed over the past 20 years, according to nine miners, residents and community activists who spoke to Reuters. The sources in the sprawling southeastern state of Bolivar said they were skeptical international companies will be able to meaningfully invest without major improvements to security in the state, where local criminals operate alongside Colombian rebels and state security forces have been accused…
Namibia Critical Metals (TSX-V:NMI, OTCQB:NMREF) said on Monday it has appointed seasoned hydrometallurgist Niels Verbaan as vice president, metallurgy, as the Canadian junior miner pushes to advance its Lofdal Heavy Rare Earth Project in Namibia toward a definitive feasibility study. Verbaan, a professional engineer with more than 25 years of experience in mineral processing, joins from SGS Lakefield, the world’s leading metallurgical testing and certification firm, where he served as senior director of technical services for hydrometallurgy. In his new role, Verbaan will oversee metallurgical test work, flowsheet development, pilot programs, and process optimization at Lofdal, with a particular focus on…
Batteries with anodes made of lithium metal promise electric vehicles (EVs) that go twice as far between charges as cars powered by today’s batteries, which rely on graphite anodes. But lithium-metal anodes have been held back because, over the course of charge cycles, they sprout tiny spikes called dendrites that can pierce an insulating film and cause dangerous short circuits. Researchers have now found a way to keep those pesky dendrites from forming: soaking lithium foils for 20 min in a 1% water etching solution (Watt 2026, DOI: 10.1007/s44503-026-00006-0). Just like a warm bath soothes and settles, this chemical bath stabilizes the lithium-metal…
A new approach reveals unexpected ways oxygen can bind to rare metals. Iron plays a central role in how the body uses oxygen. In hemoglobin, it binds dioxygen, a pair of oxygen atoms, allowing blood to carry oxygen to tissues. But this is only part of the story. Iron-oxo compounds, which contain iron bonded to oxygen in a highly reactive form, also drive critical chemistry in the liver, where enzymes rely on them to break down medications and toxins. Rice University chemist Raúl Hernández Sánchez set out to explore whether oxygen could react with other metals, particularly those in the lowest…
Analysts note that Asia is most vulnerable to volatility in base metals due to a lack of buffers. SCARCITY in industrial metals, particularly in Asia, due to supply bottlenecks caused by the war in the Middle East is stoking fears of slowing demand in the region amid surging energy prices. Hopes of a de-escalation are fading after the failed US-Iran negotiations over the weekend, followed by US President Donald Trump’s vow to block the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global energy flows. The alternating hopes and despair are reflected in the price of copper, which shed as much…
Zambia is expanding development of its rich deposits of critical minerals, which are needed for the global shift to renewables. But poisoning from past mining and a huge toxic spill at a mine site are raising fears that new wealth will come at a high cost for people and the environment. David Mwape has spent 24 years working as a teacher in Kabwe, in central Zambia, where his students grow up in one of the planet’s most polluted cities, exposed to a neurotoxin that can permanently damage their mental development and physical health. On the playground, children in bright red…
The community of Capirona faces an unprecedented water crisis due to illegal mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon. This situation represents one of the largest cases of water pollution in indigenous territories. Illegal gold extraction has turned vital rivers into toxic sources, compromising the health, economy, and survival of the local community. In response, the inhabitants of Capirona must seek new sources of water, often beyond their reach, which does not meet their basic needs. This health crisis also affects traditional economic activities such as agriculture and fishing, vital for their livelihood. A kichwa indigenous community is left without access to…
A federal court decision on March 31 could see land surrounding Chaco Canyon National Historic Park losing its public land protection, leaving more than 300,000 acres vulnerable to oil and gas drilling. Chaco Canyon is located in the San Juan Basin, 150 miles northwest of Albuquerque. The surrounding desert landscape of Chaco Canyon contains rich archaeological resources and Pueblo and other Tribal nation’s cultural sites, which are still utilized today. Structures in the Chacoan landscape date back approximately 850 to 1250 years, to when the area was home to a social and religious center for the Chacoan people. In 2023,…
However, the mining process also generates a byproduct called phosphogypsum. Florida currently holds an immense amount of this byproduct, with estimates of around one billion tons reported. Recent legislative efforts such as Florida’s HB 1191 in 2023, are exploring innovative disposal and reuse methods for phosphogypsum, including its potential application in road construction. This focus on new solutions is inspired by past incidents, such as 2021’s Piney Point wastewater facility leak in the Tampa Bay area, which highlighted the risks associated with inadequate management. Why Florida? Florida’s suitability for phosphate mining is rooted in its ancient geological past. Millions of years ago, Florida was largely submerged under shallow marine environments. These ancient underwater conditions created vast phosphate deposits, making the state an ideal location for…