Between the very old and the very new

• Autores: Siobhan Lismore-Scott
• Localización: Industrial Minerals, ISSN 0019-8544, Nº. 558, 2014 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Marzo)
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • In this month's magazine we look at three minerals which have seen an increase in exploration activity over the last few years. Potash, rare earths and graphite have encountered renewed interest from the markets as junior developers scrabble to exploit a resource in materials which will support industries as varied as agriculture, defence and nanotechnologies.

    So demand for rare earths magnets in consumer applications is not as strong as might be the case in a buoyant global economy. Equally, glass and steel structures are not being built as readily because the money pots are empty [Eth] but, if we believe the steel analysts, construction is returning. This means there will soon be a need for polishing powders, as well as other associated rare earths.

    PotashCorp, Mosaic and Uralkali have had a tumultuous year. Kasia Patel, senior reporter, discusses this in great detail (pp 25-29), focusing on how transparency disputes have drawn the world's attention to the pricing structure in these markets. Often opaque and operated through gentlemen's agreements, there have been renewed calls for more transparency in this market when it comes to pricing.