Commodity Power Plays: The rising stakes in scandium, gallium, germanium and tellurium
When people talk about the metals driving tomorrow’s technologies, copper, lithium, and nickel usually dominate the headlines. But behind the scenes, a quartet of lesser-known elements—scandium, gallium, germanium, tellurium—may quietly be gearing up for their day in the sun. These are strategic, niche materials—often by-products—and their futures will hinge on supply chain constraints, geopolitical decisions, […]
Critical Metals Corp to Supply Rare Earths to US Facility
The global race for critical minerals reached a new milestone this week, as Critical Metals Corp (CRML.O) signed a rare earth supply agreement with a United States government-funded facility, Ucore Rare Metal’s (UCU.V). This arrangement underscores the shifting dynamics in commodity markets as nations scramble to secure resources essential for economic competitiveness, defense capabilities, and the transition […]
Merz and Carney Strengthen Cooperation on Critical Minerals
Global industries are undergoing a transformation, driven by the race to decarbonize, digitize, and secure the building blocks of modern technologies. At the center of this shift are critical minerals—essential raw materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements—that underpin everything from electric vehicle batteries to renewable energy technologies and semiconductor production. Against this […]
So How Much Money are Antimony Smelters Really Making?
With critical minerals becoming increasingly strategic, antimony has emerged as a key input in flame retardants, energy storage, semiconductors, and specialty alloys. But despite its rising relevance, the economics of producing antimony remain complicated—tightly bound to ore grade, process choice, and shifting global market dynamics. This article outlines the dominant smelting methods and attempts to […]
Tungsten Market Outlook 2025–2030: Navigating a Shifting Global Landscape
The tungsten market has entered a pivotal phase, shaped by geopolitical maneuvering, resurging industrial demand, and tightening supply dynamics. Once overshadowed by more prominent critical minerals like lithium and rare earths, tungsten (“wolframite”) is now firmly in the spotlight — not only as a key industrial material but also as a strategic military metal. Price […]
Antimony: From Niche Metal to Global Frenzy
The Antimony frenzy is by now well documented, but the drama continues to unfold in real time. Prices have soared to unprecedented highs — currently trading between $57,000 and $60,000 per tonne, depending on the specific material. This meteoric rise, from just $5,500/MT a few years ago, has left traders, manufacturers, and policymakers scrambling to […]
Not all Antimony is equal: Understanding grades, specifications, and market trends
Introduction Not long ago, antimony was a niche metal known only to geologists, metallurgists, and a handful of traders. At the beginning of 2019, it still traded at a modest $5,500 per metric tonne, with zero excitement in the market. Investors showed little interest, and new projects struggled to secure funding. Then, in 2019, prices […]
The future of urban mining: Extracting rare earths and critical metals from e-waste
In our increasingly digital world, the mountains of discarded electronics are not just a waste problem—they’re a treasure trove of opportunity. As we stand at the cusp of a new era in resource management, the recycling of e-waste for rare earth elements (REEs) and critical metals is emerging as a pivotal industry, one that promises […]
Antimony market in turmoil: China’s export ban creates global price divide
The global antimony market has been thrown into chaos following China’s decision to impose an export ban. This move that has created a stark pricing divide between domestic and international markets. The ripple effects of Beijing’s policy are reshaping supply chains, forcing traditional sellers to seek new buyers, and disrupting smelter operations worldwide. China’s ban […]
AI and Alphamin: The importance of tin, then and now
Alphamin Resources’ Bisie tin complex in the DRC will become critical in a decarbonized future world traversed by electric vehicles (EVs), powered by green energy, and inhabited by a robotic workforce plugged into advanced technologies like 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).