Longi Green Energy, a very large solar photovoltaic (PV) company, said this week it is developing the capacity to manufacture its products using base metals such as copper. The move is a response to the price of silver which rose by more than 130% in 2025, according to Time Weekly. Longi expects to begin mass production with base metals in the second quarter of this year. Oil is gradually ceding its position as the world’s most important energy resource, Chinese energy observers have noted. In its place are arriving critical minerals needed for manufacturing clean tech. PV modules typically use silver-based…
Author: TJ Markle
Rare earth developer Critical Metals’ (Nasdaq: CRML) stock surged on Wednesday as it approved the construction of a multi-use storage and pilot facility in Qaqortoq, Greenland, to support its Tanbreez project. In a statement, the company said the works will be executed under a full turnkey contract that covers everything from engineering, permitting and logistics to its construction and commissioning. The facility will be engineered for Arctic climate conditions and be ready for use no later than May 2026, it said. Alongside the construction approval, Critical Metals said it also completed the purchase of a residential property in the area,…
Rare earth elements (REEs) are the backbone of modern technology, from EV motors and wind turbines to smartphones and precision-guided systems. This map, via Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti, breaks down where the world’s known rare earth reserves are located in 2025, highlighting how concentrated they are across a handful of countries. The distribution is highly uneven. China alone holds nearly half of the global total, followed by Brazil’s sizable deposits. By contrast, many advanced economies have limited reserves. A Heavily Concentrated Reserve Base China leads with 44.0 million metric tons, about 48% of the world total of 91.9 million metric tons. Brazil is…
The material might just revolutionize modern manufacturing. In recently published research, scientists have revealed a special alloy that could change the game with its combination of temperature tolerance, resistance to wear, and previously unheard of fracture toughness. How do you make one alloy that has it all? The secret is a feature called a kink band, where the material naturally forms a certain way as it is heated and treated. As the saying goes, sometimes our flaws can lead to our greatest strengths. Turns out that’s also true for exotic alloys. Many metals are soft in their pure form—or, at least, softer…
In the world of artificial intelligence and image processing, a significant breakthrough has emerged that focuses on enhancing low-illumination images in coal mining environments. This realm often suffers from challenging visibility conditions, where conventional imaging techniques might fall short of providing the clarity needed for safety and operational efficiency. Researchers have now introduced a novel multi-scale adaptive enhancement algorithm that promises to transform the way low-illumination coal mine images are processed and analyzed. The study conducted by Mu, Wang, Li, and their colleagues outlines a method that not only addresses the unique challenges of coal mine imagery but also demonstrates…
These feathery gas detectors became beloved pets in the dark depths The canary in a coal mine is more than a metaphor—for nearly a century, this bright yellow songbird saved lives around the world by alerting miners of deadly harms deep underground. There, hazardous gases including methane, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide can form, the latter of which can kill people within two hours, even at low levels. Canaries are particularly sensitive to carbon monoxide, and they show hints of distress before humans do, swaying and fainting as they fall ill. That’s because they’re so tiny and have a super…
CIVICUS discusses environmental accountability in Zambia with Christian-Geraud Neema, Africa editor at the China Global South Project, an independent journalism initiative that covers and follows China’s activities in global south countries. A group of 176 Zambian farmers has filed a US$80 billion lawsuit against a Chinese state-owned mining company over a major toxic spill. In February, the collapse of a dam that was supposed to control mining waste released 50 million litres of toxic wastewater into the Kafue River system, killing fish, destroying crops and contaminating water sources for thousands of people. The compensation demand highlights broader questions about mining…
Sudan produced 70 tons of gold in 2025, exceeding its annual production target, the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company [SMRC] has reported. In a statement published on Facebook on Monday, the state-owned company said gold output reached 113% of the planned target for the year, marking “the highest production level in the past five years.” The company also reported that total public revenues reached 1.087 trillion Sudanese pounds [about $426 million] in 2025, representing 132% of the annual target. The figures were presented during a meeting of the company’s board of directors, chaired by Minister of Minerals Nour El-Daem Taha, who…
Planning for the climate-driven decline of skiing, Aspen would do well to mark the rise in silver prices and reinstate the old mining town’s industrial past. Silver mining could become a retro economic engine, a fitting alternative to dependence on skiing. While Aspen was celebrated almost a century ago for shifting from silver to snow, now the reverse may occur. As the price of silver climbs, so does the promise of a mining economy. Ski patrollers and instructors can repurpose themselves, extracting ore from the dark, dank tunnels, as can property managers and Realtors, none of whom will have incomes…
Sometime it feels like the year just flies by. But so much has happened, so let’s recap for you. JANUARY: President Trump took the oath of office for a second time. That first month, he signed an executive order about unleashing American energy. This is focused on mining and mineral exploration. FEBRUARY: Trump announced Nippon won’t buy U.S. Steel, but instead will invest heavily. Also, he share there would be a 25% tariff on steel. But it won’t go into effect until March. MARCH: Major news for the industry. Cleveland-Cliffs announced layoffs for Minorca and Hibtac due to a backlog…