Lifting the 'Resource Curse'
Marina Litvinsky
Four new countries have joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global effort to set concrete standards for the transparent management of revenues from the oil, gas and mining sectors.
Albania, Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Zambia joined the list of 26 candidate countries now implementing the EITI process, the EITI board announced Monday in Washington.
"The EITI gives governments and citizens a sorely-needed blueprint for legitimate dialogue about the management of natural resources," said Karin Lissakers, director of the non-profit Revenue Watch Institute.
"Without a healthy conversation between civil society and policymakers, the countries richest in oil and mineral wealth remain the most vulnerable to all forms of economic, political, and social exploitation and unrest," she said.
The EITI board held a series of meetings with diverse stakeholders in Washington last week, hosted by the bank. The bank has been a supporter of EITI since it was put forward in 2002.
"I am encouraged that more countries from Africa and other regions of the world are joining the EITI process and recognising the benefits of greater transparency in the extractive industries sector," said Somit Varma, World Bank director for oil, gas, and mining.
"It is, however, only when countries take full ownership of this voluntary initiative that it can succeed. The World Bank is committed to supporting governments in this effort," he said.
It was also announced that three new countries would become donors to support EITI implementation through the bank.
Ten donor countries and the European Commission currently provide funding to the World Bank-administered EITI Multi-donor Trust Fund (MDTF), which provides technical assistance for implementation - Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Britain and the European Commission.
Finland just joined as a donor country, and the U.S. and Switzerland will be joining the donor group soon.
An important theme at the series of meetings was planning for EITI validation, the oversight mechanism for country implementation. Twenty-one of the EITI candidate countries are facing a deadline in March 2010 to complete EITI validation.
Through EITI, countries bring together companies, civil society and government representatives to monitor and account for payments being made to governments by extractives companies operating in their country.
Countries that have met all of the reporting and operational indicators set out under the EITI guidelines and completed a rigorous validation process are then considered to be EITI compliant, establishing that a country's revenue reporting standards in its extractive sector have achieved a greater level of transparency.
In February, oil-rich Azerbaijan was named the first EITI compliant country.
"It is impressive to see all the efforts in EITI implementing countries to prepare for validation and meet the EITI standard. The international community recognises such efforts and supports these governments and their stakeholders in their implementation of the EITI," said Dr Peter Eigen, EITI board chairman.
According to the bank, 3.5 billion people live in countries rich in oil, gas and minerals.
For some time now Africa's natural resource abundance has caused it to suffer from what many call the "resource curse". The exportation of these resources has contributed to widespread poverty, corruption, conflict and environmental degradation across the country.
In 2000, the situation in Africa was brought to light when the U.N. General Assembly recognised that "conflict diamonds" are a crucial factor in prolonging brutal wars in parts of Africa. In Angola and Sierra Leone, conflict diamonds fund the purchase of arms and other illegal activities by rebel groups.
Likewise, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), armed groups profit from the sale of the "conflict minerals" tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold, which are used in electronics around the world, by forcibly controlling the mines and exacting bribes, or taxes, from transporters, local and international buyers, and border controls.
Members of the EITI see it as a way for their countries to attract much-needed foreign investment, which has dwindled in the recent economic downturn.
"Mining companies are indispensable partners in development," said Ernest Bai Koroma, president of Sierra Leone, at a recent groundbreaking ceremony of the African Minerals Company, Ltd.
"The partnership between them and the government works best in an atmosphere of trust and integrity," he said. "That is why my government took the decision to increase transparency in the exploitation of our mineral resources through our membership of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the recent review of mineral rights."
However, some caution that if citizens are to truly benefit from their countries' resources, all participants in their extraction and sale must agree to full disclosure and accountability.
"Joining the EITI is a first step, and one that sends a strong signal of government's commitment to transparency," said Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili, Africa regional vice president of the bank, in an editorial for The Independent.
"Going further, if citizens are to reap the benefits from mining revenues, transparency is needed throughout the entire resource stream, from how contracts are awarded and monitored, to how taxes and royalties are collected, to how investment choices are made and executed," she said.
Earlier this month, in an effort to stem the flow of money from mineral mines fueling the DRC's brutal civil war, the U.S. Senate announced new bipartisan legislation that would force U.S. companies to track and disclose the country of origin of minerals used in common electronic products.
The Congo Conflict Minerals Act that would require U.S. companies selling products using tin, tantalum or tungsten, to disclose the country of origin of the materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The legislation would also require the State Department to closely monitor the financing of armed groups in mineral-rich areas of eastern Congo.
www.ManagingExpectations.com
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
China to cap output of mineral resources in 2009
May 11, 2009 (China Knowledge) - China's Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) announced in an online statement published on Wednesday that it would put a ceiling on the output of mineral resources such as tungsten, antimony and rare earth metals this year for the protection and reasonable use of these minerals amid the weak demand.
The nation's output of tungsten ore concentrate (that is, ore with tungsten trioxide content above 65%) will be restricted to 68,555 tons in 2009, while that of antimony ore will be limited to 90,180 tons this year, according to the statement.
The ministry it will also impose a ceiling of 82,320 tons on rare earth ore.
China, the largest antimony producer in the world, boasts 40.5% of the world's proven tungsten reserves and 52 million tons of proven rare earth reserves, which represents approximately 58% of the world's total.
The MLR said that it would cease accepting license applications for the mining of these resources until Jun. 30, 2010.
The ministry said it would strictly enforce the new restrictions, and that those who go against the rules will be penalized.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Metallica lifts stake in Queensland Ores, improves funding proposal
8th May 2009
The company said on Friday that it planned to waive the minimum acceptance conditions, which would have seen Metallica acquire a minimum of 90% of Queensland Ores shares on issue and would have prohibited other shareholders to hold more than 10% interest in Queensland Ores, if it received acceptances during the offer period which took its relevant interest to at least 40% of all shares.
This new offer was down from the 50,1% minimum acceptance conditions proposed during April of this year. Read more...
Thursday, May 7, 2009
China puts ceiling on 2009 output of tungsten, antimony, rare earth
BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- China said Thursday it would impose a ceiling on the output of mineral resources like tungsten, antimony and rare earth in 2009 amid shrinking demand.
The move is aimed to protect China's reserves of these minerals, the Ministry of Land and Resources said in an online statement.
The country's tungsten ore concentrate output is limited to 68,555 tonnes this year; rare earth ore to 82,320 tonnes, and antimony ore to 90,180 tonnes, said the ministry.
These quotas on output were based on decreasing demand across the world as a result of the ongoing global financial crisis, said the ministry.
The ministry said it would also not take any license applications before June 30, 2010 for exploring the three resources.
China holds 40.5 percent of the world's proven tungsten reserves, and is the world's biggest antimony producer. The nation has a proven rare earth reserve of 52 million tonnes, or about 58 percent of the world's total.
The country started to cap the annual output of tungsten in 2002 and that of rare earth in 2006. It is the first time such restrictions have been placed on antimony.
The ceiling on tungsten ore concentrates (with tungsten trioxide content above 65 percent) last year was 66,850 tonnes, and that on rare earth ore at 87,620 tonnes.
The ministry said such caps are intended to stabilize global demand and supply of these products and ensure their sustainable use.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
American prosecutors have indicted a Chinese citizen for shipping tungsten, used for making rocket components, to Iran.
May 2, 2009: American prosecutors have indicted a Chinese citizen for running a missile component related smuggling operation. The defendant shipped critical metals, like tungsten, used for making rocket components, to Iran. The defendant mislabeled scrap metal as stuff that was legal to sell to Iran. The U.S. is uncovering more of these Iranian smuggling operations, partly because more pressure is being brought on banks to report suspected cases of illegal arms (and weapons components) trading. The Chinese firms used American banks to create false company accounts, in order to hide the metal shipments from UN and U.S. officials enforcing the embargo.
Ever since the U.S. embargo was imposed in 1979 (after Iran broke diplomatic protocol by seizing the American embassy), Iran has sought, with some success, to offer big money to smugglers who can beat the embargo and get needed industrial and military equipment. This is a risky business, and American and European prisons are full of Iranians, and other nationals, who tried, and often failed, to procure forbidden goods. The smuggling operations are currently under more scrutiny, and attack, because of Iran's growing nuclear weapons program. But the Iranians simply offer more money, and more smugglers step up to keep the goodies coming.
www.ManagingExpectations.comFriday, May 1, 2009
China Has Made An Inroad Into Australia That, If Successful, Will Give It Overwhelming Control of The World's Supply Of Rare Earth Elements For A Long Time To Come.
China today produces at least 95% of the world's supply of rare earth elements from its domestic mines primarily in Inner Mongolia.China today produces at least 95% of the world's supply of rare earth elements from its domestic mines primarily in Inner Mongolia. At the beginning of 2008 two very large Australian REE mines were well on the way to coming into production. Either one of them would eventually have been the largest single-point mine for REEs in the world. One of the Australian companies was also beginning construction of a REE refinery in Malaysia, which would have been the largest in the world outside of China. Control of the shares of both of the Australian companies is now coming into hands of state owned aggressive Chinese mining and trading entities. It has been predicted that Chinese domestic demand for REEs will exceed its domestic production in the next 2-4 years. That is precisely how long it will take for the two Australian mines and the Malaysian refinery to be brought into production. Three significant REE mining possibilities, only, now remain out of Chinese control.
[...] Today's announcement that Lynas will receive funding and Chinese bank guarantees for A$515 million enabled through a purchase of 51% of its shares by CNMC, China Nonferrous Mining Company, a state owned entity that already owns shares in other non-Chinese producers of strategic and critical metals, such as Canada's North American Tungsten, is a dramatic reinforcement of China's strategy to insure that its domestic supplies of REEs are not interrupted by its domestic demand exceeding its domestic production.
Foolish Western financiers and industrialists who ignore the significance of these moves are under the illusion that the object of the Chinese state-owned entities in purchasing non Chinese sources of natural resources is to make money in the free market. In fact the object of these moves is, as i said above, to insure against supply interruption. If and only if there are surpluses of the metals produced will Chinese shareholders vote to sell them into the open market.[...] Read more...
[...] Today's announcement that Lynas will receive funding and Chinese bank guarantees for A$515 million enabled through a purchase of 51% of its shares by CNMC, China Nonferrous Mining Company, a state owned entity that already owns shares in other non-Chinese producers of strategic and critical metals, such as Canada's North American Tungsten, is a dramatic reinforcement of China's strategy to insure that its domestic supplies of REEs are not interrupted by its domestic demand exceeding its domestic production.
Foolish Western financiers and industrialists who ignore the significance of these moves are under the illusion that the object of the Chinese state-owned entities in purchasing non Chinese sources of natural resources is to make money in the free market. In fact the object of these moves is, as i said above, to insure against supply interruption. If and only if there are surpluses of the metals produced will Chinese shareholders vote to sell them into the open market.[...] Read more...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Hazelwood X-ray feed sorting trials a success
Hazelwood says it has successfully used X-ray sorting on a wider range of feed sizes on low grade feed from the Big Hill Tungsten Deposit.
According to Hazelwood, the successful trial of X-ray sorting means the low grade material can be upgraded into mill feed. As a result, a wider range of materials from Big Hill could be bulk mined and processed.
Hazelwood says the latest X-ray sorting tests were conducted on representative samples of crushed, low grade drill core. The results confirmed that feed sizes up to 60mm can undergo significant upgrading.
X-ray and optical sorting are pre-concentration techniques which have been successfully applied at operating tungsten mines.
X-ray sorting reduces the required size of the milling and beneficiation circuit, reduces grinding costs, lowers the demand for water, and results in smaller wet tailings storage facilities.
www.ManagingExpectations.com
According to Hazelwood, the successful trial of X-ray sorting means the low grade material can be upgraded into mill feed. As a result, a wider range of materials from Big Hill could be bulk mined and processed.
Hazelwood says the latest X-ray sorting tests were conducted on representative samples of crushed, low grade drill core. The results confirmed that feed sizes up to 60mm can undergo significant upgrading.
X-ray and optical sorting are pre-concentration techniques which have been successfully applied at operating tungsten mines.
X-ray sorting reduces the required size of the milling and beneficiation circuit, reduces grinding costs, lowers the demand for water, and results in smaller wet tailings storage facilities.
www.ManagingExpectations.com
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tungsten Rings are a Breakthrough in Jewelry Technology
Brea, CA (PRWEB) April 27, 2009 -- TungstenWorld.com, the leading manufacturer and retailer of online tungsten jewelry, today announced they will launch a series of high resolution videos to demonstrate the durability of their tungsten rings. The new videos will feature different methods to damage and abuse jewelry and illustrate the strength and integrity of tungsten. The new videos will give customers a detailed perspective on what type of damage different precious metals can withstand without having to damage their existing jewelry.
New Video Demonstrates the Durability of Tungsten
The videos feature a variety of tests performed on an array of different precious metals. The precious metals include white gold wedding bands, titanium rings, and tungsten carbide rings. To illustrate the strength and integrity of tungsten, the new videos will feature different methods of damaging the jewelry. The experiments will include the file and scratch resistance test as well as high impact from a hammer trial to prove the superior strength of tungsten carbide. Read more...
Monday, April 27, 2009
"Tungsten producer Queensland Ores" - largest shareholder accepts Metallica offer
Brisbane-based Metallica Minerals Ltd is one step closer to acquiring molybdenum and tungsten miner Queensland Ores Ltd (QOL), after the target's largest shareholder, Talbot Group Holdings Pty Ltd, accepted Metallica's offer.
Submitted by - MangingExpectations.com
Ken Talbot's investment company Talbot Group has accepted the offer of one share for every 22 QOL shares, which is a 25 per cent premium to Outback Metals' rival bid of one share for every four QOL shares, valuing the target at $3.86 million.
Metallica now holds a 10.36 per cent stake in QOL, and will offer $1 million in cash funding to QOL, as well as waiving minimum acceptance conditions, once acceptance reaches 50.1 per cent.
Staff ReporterSubmitted by - MangingExpectations.com
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Hazelwood claims biggest tungsten resource
Hazelwood Resources is claiming its Big Hill tungsten deposit in the Pilbara is the largest measured source of the metal in Australia.
Increasing its forecasts, Hazelwood said the deposit held a total mineral resource of 8.97 million tonnes, representing 1.6 million metric tonne units of tungsten at cut-off grade, or 2.5 million metric tonne units at a lower grade.
The forecasts are a jump from earlier estimates, which put the total resource at five million mtu and and 800,000 mtu of cut-off grade tungsten.
"We are absolutely delighted with the resource," Hazelwood executive chairman Mark McAuliffe said in a statement.
"This certainly makes us the largest measured resource of tungsten in Australia," he said, although larger sources were indicated in other areas.
He said the company was completing a preliminary feasibility study, which should be finalised by October this year.
First production likely in the second half of 2010 or early 2011, Mr McAuliffe said.
The Big Hill deposit has 70 per cent of its resource within 100 metres of the surface, the company said.
Hazelwood shares closed up two cents, or 13.33 per cent, at 17 cents.
AAP
Geodex Increases Tungsten Land Position
April 21, 2009
News Release Video Presentation
Christopher R. Anderson - V.P. Business Development presents and explains the News Release from April 21, 2009.
Christopher R. Anderson - V.P. Business Development presents and explains the News Release from April 21, 2009.
Please click on the picture to listen to the presentation.
Geodex Minerals Ltd. (the “Company”) reports that it has entered into an option agreement to acquire a 90% interest in the Flume Ridge property, located in Charlotte County, New Brunswick. The property is comprised of 63 claim units optioned from Southfield Resources Ltd. and Campfire Resources Ltd. (collectively the “Optionors”).
The Company can earn its 90% interest by paying the Optionors a total of $30,000 and 150,000 Geodex shares over a three year option period. The Optioners are carried on their 10% retained interest in the Property to the start of commercial production. Minimum work commitments by Geodex are $20,000 in year one and $100,000 by the end of year three. The Optioners will retain a 2.0% Net Smelter Royalty of which Geodex will have the right to purchase up to 1% at any time, for the sum of $500,000 per 0.5%.
The Flume Ridge property lies immediately northwest of the Company’s Mount Pleasant West project and near the formerly-producing Mount Pleasant tungsten-molybdenum mine, owned by Adex Mining Inc. Flume Ridge claims cover an area of tungsten anomalies in soil and stream sediment samples found by government surveys. The anomalies are found in the vicinity of several isolated aeromagnetic anomalies which may reflect buried intrusions. This part of the province has not previously been systematically explored for tungsten deposits.
Widely-spaced soil samples collected by the Optioners show tungsten values ranging up to 33 ppm over a length of about 500m. Multiple float boulders of calc-silicate sedimentary rocks found within the soil anomaly contain scheelite in quartz veins and have returned tungsten assays up to 0.86% WO3.
Geodex believes there is good potential for intrusion and skarn-hosted tungsten deposits at Flume Ridge and is planning a program of prospecting and soil geochemistry to identify drill targets on the property.
Neil Humphreys, M.Sc., P. Geo. is the in-house QP for the project in relation to N.I. 43-101
resources. Read more...
Monday, April 20, 2009
Novellus' CoolFill CVD Process Advances Tungsten Fill for Sub-32nm High Aspect Ratio Structures
Figure 1: Cross sectional TEM images comparing 32 nm, 18:1 aspect ratio contacts processed using Standard and CoolFill CVD. (PRNewsFoto/Novellus Systems, Inc.)SAN JOSE, CA UNITED STATES
Vital, Aragon team up on tungsten prospect
15th April 2009
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Tungsten explorer Vital Metals will team up with ASX-listed Aragon Resources to take advantage of opportunities in tungsten mining in North Queensland, the companies said on Wednesday.
The association would facilitate a medium- to long-term restructuring of activities, specifically to allow the Watershed scheelite project, in Queensland, to reach its full potential in the global tungsten market.
Aragon Resources would now become Vital’s major shareholder through a two part funding process, and would provide its cash requirements of up to $936 250 for the medium term.
Aragon Resources will subscribe for placement of 17,45-million shares in Vital, representing a 15% interest in the current issued capital, at 2,5 c a share, to raise $436 250.
The company would also subscribe to a convertible not for $500 000. The convertible not is unsecured, has a term of three years, and was not convertible within the first 12 months. The note also carried a coupon rate of 6% payable quarterly in arrears.
Vital stated that the note was convertible at the higher of 4 c a share, or 80% of the volume weighted average price for the month prior to conversion.
With Aragon Resources now holding a substantial share in the company Vital will appoint at least one director, nominated by Aragon Resources, to its board.
Aragon believed that the Watershed project held the potential to be developed as a long-term and significant producer of scheelite concentrate. Read more...
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Tungsten explorer Vital Metals will team up with ASX-listed Aragon Resources to take advantage of opportunities in tungsten mining in North Queensland, the companies said on Wednesday.
The association would facilitate a medium- to long-term restructuring of activities, specifically to allow the Watershed scheelite project, in Queensland, to reach its full potential in the global tungsten market.
Aragon Resources would now become Vital’s major shareholder through a two part funding process, and would provide its cash requirements of up to $936 250 for the medium term.
Aragon Resources will subscribe for placement of 17,45-million shares in Vital, representing a 15% interest in the current issued capital, at 2,5 c a share, to raise $436 250.
The company would also subscribe to a convertible not for $500 000. The convertible not is unsecured, has a term of three years, and was not convertible within the first 12 months. The note also carried a coupon rate of 6% payable quarterly in arrears.
Vital stated that the note was convertible at the higher of 4 c a share, or 80% of the volume weighted average price for the month prior to conversion.
With Aragon Resources now holding a substantial share in the company Vital will appoint at least one director, nominated by Aragon Resources, to its board.
Aragon believed that the Watershed project held the potential to be developed as a long-term and significant producer of scheelite concentrate. Read more...
Friday, April 17, 2009
What does Nicole Richie have to say about Tungsten ?
Nicole Richie has come a long ways since her hard-pAArtying days!
The reformed bad girl and reality TV alum is now a mother (of soon-to-be two), a budding entrepreneur and an aspiring Angelina Jolie
.
Richie just made the very powerful video (above), which you should check out.
And, click here for more information on her website about the crisis she's talking about!
or
Denis Gartman Live on BNN - Good reason to invest in Tungsten
Market Call : April 16, 2009 ... Play Add To My Lineup; April 1, 2009 Play. Play Add To My Lineup. [04-16-09 12:30PM]
BNN speaks with Dennis Gartman, editor and publisher, The Gartman Letter. ...
watch.bnn.ca/market-call/april-2009/market-call-april-16-2009/ - 52k
BNN speaks with Dennis Gartman, editor and publisher, The Gartman Letter. ...
watch.bnn.ca/market-call/april-2009/market-call-april-16-2009/ - 52k
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tungsten Carbide Cobalt Nanoparticles Harmful to Health
| (Nanowerk News) Nanoparticles of tungsten carbide and tungsten carbide cobalt can enter cultured mammalian cells. These are the findings of a study conducted by researchers from the University of Dresden, the Leipzig-based Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems in Dresden. | |
| The results further show that pure tungsten carbide nanoparticles do not have cytotoxic effects. Only when the nanoparticles are mixed with a toxic substance, metallic cobalt in this case, are cytotoxic effects observed. The in vitro study, which was published in the renowned journal Environmental Health Perspectives, examined the effect of tungsten carbide and tungsten carbide cobalt nanoparticles with an aggregate size of 150 nanometres on cell lines of human lung, skin and intestinal cells and of primary cultures of rat brain cells. | |
 | |
| Electron-microscopical photograph of a neuroglial cell of the central nervous system with inclusions of tungsten carbide (12.500fold magnification). (Photo: Armin Springer/ Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials, Technical University of Dresden) | |
| Tungsten carbide is used primarily in the heavy metal industry for the manufacture of tools. The addition of cobalt increases its toughness and strength. During the manufacture process workers may be exposured. But until now, no scientific findings on the effects of nano-sized particles of the material have been available. Before nano-grained materials are used on a large scale, the risks to humans and the environment need to be investigated and taken into account. | |
| The chemical and physical studies confirmed that both tungsten carbide and tungsten carbide cobalt particles are stabilised by albumin or serum in nutrient solutions. Adding albumin to the nutrient solutions makes it possible to carry out research in conditions that are very close to those found in exposed organisms. Using electron microscope methods it was possible to detect uptake of the particles by the cells under investigation. | |
| Subsequent biological tests showed that tungsten carbide nanoparticles alone are not acutely toxic, whereas combinations of these particles with cobalt did have toxic effects at high particle concentrations. The toxicity of the WC-Co mixture was higher than that of similar concentrations of cobalt ions. It is not yet entirely clear why the combination of tungsten carbide and cobalt is more toxic. It is possible that nanoparticles act as a Trojan horse, i.e. they increase the cell's uptake of toxic cobalt ions. Further research is needed to clarify the effect of particle size and combination effects in order to draw conclusions about possible consequences for health risk assessments. | |
| These and other findings were discussed on 18 and 19 March 2009 at a symposium at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research in Leipzig on `Nanotechnology and Toxicity in the Environment and Health´ by around 80 scientists and representatives of government bodies and industry. | |
| The symposium also marked the end of the INOS research project. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has provided funding for three large consortia (NanoCare, INOS and TRACER) totalling EUR 7.6 million. These are the first projects in Germany to have investigated health aspects of synthetic nanoparticles on a large scale. INOS focused on developing methods for assessing the risk potential of engineered nanoparticles with the help of in vitro methods. The research concentrated on ceramic and metallic particles such as diamond, tungsten carbide, titanium dioxide, titanium nitride, cobalt, platinum, ceramic metal compounds, carbon nanotubes and carbon black. | |
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www.ManagingExpectations.com
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Titanium Rings and Tungsten Rings
titanium jewelry and tungsten rings are look great new, and usually are less expensive. It is very common for people to mistakenly believe that the two metals are either the same thing or equal. Titanium is a strong metal but not resilient like tungsten carbide. Over time titanium rings will scratch and lose their polish thus needing to be refinished. Tungsten alone (not tungsten carbide) is also much like titanium. Without the carbide it does not gain its extreme hardness and durability. Only when tungsten is combined with a carbon alloy is it transformed into tungsten carbide, the strongest of all metals. Tungsten carbide is also a heavier metal than titanium which is very lightweight, making it more durable and better looking.
Tungsten Carbide vs. Gold & Platinum
Traditionally gold or platinum were the only choices that people would consider when buying a wedding band, or any ring that symbolized something important. Tungsten carbide has become a worthy substitute to these precious metals due to it's brilliant forever lasting mirror like polish and resilient finish. Gold and platinum rings are also very brilliant but fade quickly and scratch very easy, over time gold and platinum can also begin to warp causing the ring to become "untrue" (not round). This nasty little side effect often is the culprit behind people not being able to remove their wedding bands and needing to have them cut off. Tungsten carbide rings can be easily removed in an emergency by a skilled professional just as easy if not easier than gold rings.
How to size your tungsten ring
Since tungsten carbide rings are thicker and are comfort fit, we recommend that when trying to decide your size, that you use the standard narrow gauge finger sizers, regardless of the width of the ring. This is to account for the comfort fit shape of the inside of the rings. Please keep in mind that fingers swell and shrink depending on the time of day and temperature. To be absolutely sure of your size we recommend you make your decisions with that in mind. On average many people find that when they are happier with a ring that is a half size smaller then what they are sized for. This is to accommodate the comfort fit of our rings.
What do tungsten rings look like?
Sometimes people will ask "What do your rings look like?" The most popular tungsten ring styles have a mirror polish. The rings are polished to a brilliant mirror finish that will last forever. They are slightly darker then platinum but are close enough in color to be often confused. Some cheaper rings are dark or grainy (not recommended). If you are confused about the look of a particular ring, simply email the vendor and ask them to send more detailed images or better descriptions.
welcome to tungstenjewellry.com view our favorite collection of tungsten carbide rings
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Quality tungsten carbide tipped saw blades are holding up well
Working hard to develop export markets
UNDAUNTED by recession, Chris Walker us aiming to boost exports from eight to 25 per cent of turnover.
"We have been working extremely hard to develop export markets," says Chris.
"We are working with UK Trade and Investment, through its Passport to Export scheme and are targeting the Middle East and Europe.
"The quality of the product – and the fact that we are able to put the 'Made in Sheffield' logo on it – gives us an export advantage over Germany, France and Sweden. We are very proud to be able to use the Made in Sheffield Mark," he adds.
Chris Walker says some niche products have been hit by the recession, but quality tungsten carbide tipped saw blades are holding up well.
Demand for circular saw blanks, which are coated with diamond and used to cut pipes for oil wells, has quietened down as has demand for tungsten carbide tipped tines, used for scarifying grass. Read more...
"We are working with UK Trade and Investment, through its Passport to Export scheme and are targeting the Middle East and Europe.
"The quality of the product – and the fact that we are able to put the 'Made in Sheffield' logo on it – gives us an export advantage over Germany, France and Sweden. We are very proud to be able to use the Made in Sheffield Mark," he adds.
Chris Walker says some niche products have been hit by the recession, but quality tungsten carbide tipped saw blades are holding up well.
Demand for circular saw blanks, which are coated with diamond and used to cut pipes for oil wells, has quietened down as has demand for tungsten carbide tipped tines, used for scarifying grass. Read more...
China's Hunan Nonferrous to boost metals reserves
SHANGHAI, April 14 (Reuters) - China's top zinc producer, Hunan Nonferrous Metals Corp Ltd (2626.HK), plans to spend 1.2 billion yuan ($176 million) to build up metal reserves as prices slump, the official regional paper Hunan Daily reported.
Chinese government agencies and smelters are building up metals stockpiles to support the loss-making industry. The purchases reduce supply in domestic markets and help buoy prices.
Hunan Nonferrous plans to ask banks for a loan to buy lead, zinc, tungsten, antimony and indium from its smelters, and will sell down the stockpiles when their prices recover, the newspaper said in a report carried on the website of the official Xinhua news agency.
The report did not give the breakdown of the size of the metal purchases. Company officials were not available to comment.
The money to be spent on metals is equivalent to more than 90,000 tonnes of zinc and lead, or 600 tonnes of indium, according to Reuters cauculation based on the spot prices in Shanghai on Tuesday.
Hunan province's treasury will offer interest subsidies to help the company buy the metal, the newspaper quoted Mei Kebao, vice secretary of Hunan's party committee, as saying.
Hunan Nonferrous Metals Corp controls China's largest zinc producer, Zhuzhou Smelter Group Ltd (600961.SS). ($1=6.829 Yuan) (Reporting by Alfred Cang and Jacqueline Wong; Editing by Nick Macfie). Read more...
Monday, April 13, 2009
NORTH AMERICAN TUNGSTEN CORPORATION LTD. FILES THE FEASIBILITY STUDY TECHNICAL REPORT ON THE MACTUNG PROPERTY-YUKON, CANADA ON SEDAR
North American Tungsten Corp. Ltd.'s National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report on the Mactung property, Yukon, Canada, prepared for the company by Wardrop, a Tetra Tech company, dated April 3, 2009, has been filed for public access on SEDAR (see news in Stockwatch dated Feb 23, 2009).
Highlights:
- Mactung economics are positive with a 23.5-per-cent iInternal rate of return and a pretax net present value discounted at 8 per cent of $277-million; - The technical report is based on an initial 2,000 tonnes per day underground mine with an 11-year life of mine (LOM); - There is potential to expand the initial LOM with exploitation of the open pit resource; - Mactung is forecast to produce an average of 749,000 metric tonne units (MTUs) of WO3 over the first five years of operation; - The average operating cost for the first five years of operation is estimated to be CDN$104/MTU; - The estimated capital cost is $356.5 million plus a CDN$45.6 million contingency; - Capital payback is expected to be in 2.9 years.
The Mactung Project is forecast to run at 2,000 tonnes per day from an underground operation using conventional long hole plus cut and fill mining methods. An underground primary crusher and conveyor will supply ore to the surface facility where the ore will be processed into both a premium gravity concentrate (67% WO3) and a flotation concentrate (55% WO3). Recovery of WO3 is expected to average 81.7% and the mine will average 749,000 MTU's of WO3 in concentrates during the first five years of operation.
Key parameters that form the basis of the economic evaluation of the Mactung Project are as follows:
Underground Life of Mine Production: 8.1 million tonnes of 1.09% WO3
Annual Throughput: 730,000 tpa
Recovery first 5 years: 81.7%
Average annual production first 5 years: 749,000 MTU's
Operating cash cost first 5 years: CDN$104/MTU
Capex including contingency: CDN$ 402.1 million
APT pricing: US$300/MTU of WO3
Exchange Rate $US/$CDN: 0.88 The pre-tax net present value of the project based on an 11.0 year mine life and the base case parameters as previously indicated are as follows:
Discount Rate Pre-Tax Net Present Value
8% CDN$276.8 million
6% CDN$346.4 million
The pre-tax internal rate of return for the project is 23.5%. Payback of invested capital is anticipated to occur in 2.9 years after commencement of production. Read more...
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Stephen Leahy, Chairman & CEO of North American Tungsten talks to Proactiveinvestors
So Steve, thank you very much for joining us for this interview.
You're very welcome Harry.
With China producing 85% of the world's tungsten, why should investors be interested in North American Tungsten?
Well I think there are several reasons, but the main one is actually in your question, and that is the fact that China does produce 85% of the world's tungsten and tungsten is a strategic resource. Tungsten is unique amongst metals; it has attributes such as the highest melting point in any metal by far, it is certainly the hardest metal and in fact in hardness it is second only to diamond. The third of course is its density factor and being non-toxic. Its density factor is almost twice that of lead.
And so for those three strategic attributes, tungsten is a very important metal for the industrialized world. When you have one country, ie China, controlling 85% of a market and then you look at, "why North American Tungsten?" Well, we produce 4% of the world's tungsten, and that's just from our current mine. More importantly we have the Mactung deposit, which arguably is approximately 10% of the world's resource including China. So you've got a strategic resource, you have only one producer in North America and only one out of four outside of China in the world and we happen to own a considerable amount of the world's resource and are currently in production. Read more...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
New Uses of Tungsten
Compact, Integrated X-Ray SourceThe compact and cost-effective source’s internal x-ray tube is powered at up to 100 kV at 100 W and features power factor-corrected universal input and an analog or RS-232 interface. The sealed unit can be mounted in any physical orientation. It has a stationary, tungsten anode x-ray tube and provides a fan-shaped x-ray beam geometry. Read more...
Sumig Robotic Welding Torches. Made in Brazil and developed especially for our tough local conditions.
WELDING Automation says it will demonstrate safe tungsten electrode grinding at its National Manufacturing Week 2009 stand, using Neutrix and Ultima-TIG tungsten grinders.Welding Automation will also have working displays of its solutions using a Motoman 6S robot, equipped with tough Sumig robotic welding torches and shock sensor mount. Read more...
Idea Tech a4OS
Add Idea Tech a4OS hybrids (3-5) for a bona fide max-game-improvement design. The magnesium crown (77 percent lighter than stainless steel) pushes more weight to the sole. The club�s low CG (4 percent lower than Tech OS) should improve launch. A geometric "Boxer" shape plus two tungsten sole weights (totaling 16 grams) fortify head stability (MOI is 15 percent higher than Tech OS). The draw-bias head has a maraging steel face to augment ball speed on off-center hits. Read more...
USGS Announces 2009 Mineral Research Grants
Released: 4/8/2009 9:00:00 AM
Grant Projects Help Ensure a Sustainable Supply of Minerals for the Nation
Researchers will study a range of minerals essential to our economy and national security through grants awarded by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Grant recipients will study uranium, rare earth elements, copper, tungsten and lithium. Funding was provided through the USGS Mineral Resources External Research Program. The principal investigators and a brief description of each 2009 grant recipient are provided below.
[...]
Tungsten and Lithium in the Environment
Michael McKibben of the University of California, Riverside will study how tungsten and lithium are released into the environment when ore minerals are dissolved by water. This type of information for many potentially toxic elements is lacking in the scientific literature, making the development of predictive models for geoenvironmental studies (studies of the interaction of natural occurring chemical elements with the environment) very difficult. This research is expected to provide critical data needed to construct models used in geoenvironmental assessments of a number of mineral deposit types that contain tungsten- and lithium-bearing minerals.
The USGS Mineral Resources External Research Program invited research proposals that will help ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for the Nation's future; understand the relationship between minerals, the environment, and public health; provide information to make informed land use decisions; and deliver mineral information critical to national security. Proposals were accepted from academia, state agencies, industry, or other private sector organizations and scientists. Read more...
Adex hits $2.5B worth of resources
Metals Firm taking 'wait-and-see approach' due to low metal prices, tight markets
A Toronto junior miner believes it has $2.5 billion worth of resources in its two zones in southern New Brunswick.
Adex Mining Inc. (TSX.V:ADE) has released the results of a mineral resource estimate of the north zone of Mount Pleasant, 80 kilometres south of Fredericton. The report showed 10.88 million tonnes of tin-indium-zinc based on sample analysis and geologic projections and another 7.6 million tonnes of the resources from projections alone.
Based on "back of envelope calculations," the company said the partially sample-based resources estimates could be worth about $900 million and the projected resources could be worth $600 million.
"The results from our drill program, a 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate, has not only significantly increased the size of the resource but it also has upgraded the quality of the resource," Adex president and chief executive Kabir Ahmed said. A 1997 report had estimated 3.65 million tonnes of resources in the north zone.
"Because of the dramatic increase in the size of the resource we have most likely increased the economic viability of this project," Ahmed said.
But Adex is holding back on development given the current low metal prices and tight credit markets.
"We are sort of taking a wait-and-see approach," Ahmed said. "The moment we see a revival of metal prices and a relaxing of the capital markets we would then proceed to feasibility, because feasibility would cost anywhere between three and five million dollars."
He said a 20 to 30 per cent increase on the current prices would be enough incentive to move ahead.
Tin is currently trading just under $11 per kilogram on the London Metal Exchange but last spring was at a high of $26 per kilogram. Indium is currently trading at around $300 per kilogram but was at about $700 per kilogram last spring.
When Adex came up with the $1.5 billion estimation it was based on a $12 per kilogram tin price and a $500 per kilogram indium price, which the company believed to be conservative given the prices were $17 and $675, respectively, at the time.
Though current prices are below Adex's estimates University of New Brunswick economic geology professor David Lentz said the company had the right approach considering "metal prices are still fluctuating much more than they ever have before." Read more...
Monday, March 30, 2009
Boeing is Using Tungsten for the new Hypersonic Vehicle: X-51A Programme
The intense heat generated by hypersonic speeds creates thermal management requirements even outside the engine structure.
The X-51A is wrapped in special, spray-on treatments derived from the Space Shuttle called Boeing lightweight ablative coatings, which can withstand surface heat up to 1,260°C.
The coatings allowed the programme to use conventional alloys, rather than special composite materials, in the structure. For example, a nearly 31kg aluminium frame forms the majority of the engine structure, despite a material melting point of only about 150°C. The nose is formed from a 68kg tungsten block, rather than more exotic and risky composite materials. [...] Read more...
Deposit of tungsten ore found in Anhui
2009-03-30 15:17
A large deposit of tungsten ore with a proved reserve of 96,200 tonnes has been verified in east China's Anhui Province, local geologists said Thursday. The finding in Qimen County is an important one for the country as only 144,000 tonnes of tungsten ore have been found between 2001 and 2007, said Hao Changrong, head of No. 332 Geology Team that prospects ore in the south of Anhui Province.
China's tungsten reserve are mainly in the provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi and Henan, which jointly account for 61.37 percent of the total national reserve.
The deposit in Qimen indicates that more ore could be found in the southern parts of Anhui, Jiangxi's neighbour, Hao said.
China, along with Russia, Canada and the United States, is a major tungsten producer in the world. It holds 40.5 percent of the world's proved reserves.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tungsten: A Replacing for Toxic Lead
Home-made lead sinkers pose health risk
Home-made lead sinkers pose health risk
BIA Victoria has added its voice to a new campaign by the Victorian Department of Human Services to warn anglers of the dangers of lead poisoning from home-made lead sinkers.
Two Melbourne families were treated recently for lead poisoning after making lead sinkers at home, and DHS senior medical adviser Dr Marion Carey said she was alarmed at the number of lead poisoning cases related to manufacturing sinkers.
"People are obviously unaware of the dangers of bringing lead into their homes," she said.
"Lead poisoning can have serious effects – brain damage, infertility, high blood pressure, memory loss and learning difficulties in children. Symptoms include headaches, muscle and abdominal pain, weakness and concentration problems."
BIA general Manager Robert Coco said the best way to reduce the risk was to stop using lead altogether.
"These days there are many sinkers made of less toxic compounds including tin, bismuth and tungsten, so using lead sinkers is putting you and your family at unnecessary risk," he said.
For people still using lead, essential precautions include:
• Never work with lead inside the home, and always shower and change clothes and shoes before going inside after working with lead.
• Never work with lead near children or pregnant women.
• Never use a grinder or sander on lead materials as the lead dust can float into your home on your clothes.
• Always wear a respirator when working with lead, and thoroughly clean your work area after you have finished.
• Never use a grinder or sander on lead materials as the lead dust can float into your home on your clothes.
• Always wear a respirator when working with lead, and thoroughly clean your work area after you have finished.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A Thank You Note from the Talking Tungsten Organizing Committee
The Organizing Committee would like to thank you for attending the Talking Tungsten Forum during the PDAC 2009. Your support and attendance made it a success.
Talking Tungsten attracted over 100 attendees, including representatives from investment houses, other tungsten companies, and private investors as well as attracted media attention. We wish to thank the industry experts, Chris Thompson (Haywood Securities) for presenting his detailed industry report on the supply/demand fundamentals of Tungsten, and David Coffin (Hard Rock Analyst Editor) for his knowledgeable market overview and positive forecast for a bullish tungsten market. And last but not least thank you to Nicole Adshead-Bell, VP Investment Banking, Haywood Securities Vancouver, for moderating the event.
The Organizing Commitee would like to thank our sponsors and media partners. We would also like to thank the following companies for helping consolidate the Tungsten Space: North American Tungsten, Geodex Minerals, Playfair Mining, Adex Mining, Golden Predator, Prospector Consolidated Resources, Sultan Minerals and Heemskirk Consolidated; without your support the event would not have been able to go ahead.
To view the entire presentation as well as the video recording of the Talking Tungsten Forum, please visit www.TalkingTungsten.com.
The Organizing Commitee hopes to be able to host a follow up Talking Tungsten Forum in conjunction with the International Tungsten Industry Association Annual general Meeting that is scheduled to be held in Vancouver this September. Please check the website regularly www.TalkingTungsten.com for updated information.
We invite the attendees to share with us their experience and thoughts on the conference. Kindly email your comments to info@talkingtungsten.com.
Yours Sincerely,
The Talking Tungsten Organising Committee
Liana Shahinian
Toni Davies (nee Williamson)
Christopher Anderson
Large deposit of tungsten ore found in east China
www.chinaview.cn
HEFEI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A large deposit of tungsten ore with a proved reserve of 96,200 tonnes has been verified in east China's Anhui Province, local geologists said Thursday.
HEFEI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A large deposit of tungsten ore with a proved reserve of 96,200 tonnes has been verified in east China's Anhui Province, local geologists said Thursday.
The finding in Qimen County is an important one for the country as only 144,000 tonnes of tungsten ore have been found between 2001 and 2007, said Hao Changrong, head of No. 332 Geology Team that prospects ore in the south of Anhui Province.
China's tungsten reserve are mainly in the provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi and Henan, which jointly account for 61.37 percent of the total national reserve.
The deposit in Qimen indicates that more ore could be found in the southern parts of Anhui, Jiangxi's neighbour, Hao said.
China, along with Russia, Canada and the United States, is a major tungsten producer in the world. It holds 40.5 percent of the world's proved reserves.
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