minerals

Space exploration isn’t just about finding life on other planets or discovering the next Earth. We’re also looking to better understand how the universe formed. And we’re trying to mine space for previously unseen minerals that might fix problems back home. But you don’t always have to leave the planet to find new minerals. Sometimes they come to you via meteorites. That’s exactly what happened with the El Alo meteorite that fell near the town of El Ali in the Hiiraan region of Somalia. A 70-gram slice from the…

A slice of the El Ali meteorite, now housed in the University of Alberta’s Meteorite Collection, contains two minerals never before seen on Earth. Credit: University of AlbertaNew minerals discovered in massive meteorite may reveal clues to asteroid formation.At least two new minerals that have never before been seen on Earth have been discovered by a team of researchers in a 33,000-pound (15,000-kg) meteorite found in Somalia in 2020. This giant meteorite is the ninth largest ever found.“Whenever you find a new mineral,…

Scientists have discovered at least two new minerals inside one of the largest meteorites ever found. The iron-based minerals have never been spotted in nature, and could hint at unknown geological processes and new material uses.The two new minerals were discovered in a meteorite found in El Ali, Somalia. This huge rock weighs as much as 17 tons, placing it in the top 10 largest meteorites on Earth. While it was only found by scientists in 2020, locals have stories of what they call “Nightfall” going back generations.A…

Nigeria has begun the process of refining gold, gemstones and other mineral resources in the six geo-political regions of Nigeria. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, said this when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja. According to him, adding value to the country’s mineral resources will go a long way in creating jobs and wealth for Nigerians. He said six plants were being set up in the various regions to process mineral resources deposited in those…

A truck carries lithium carbonate at a lithium mine in the Atacama Desert, Chile. (Photo by Cristobal Olivares/Bloomberg via Getty Images) South Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution (LGES) has signed a multi-year agreement last week with US-based Compass Minerals to source lithium carbonate for use in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. LGES has several EV battery plants under…

Bosch, a leading global auto parts and tech supplier is working with another technology giant, IBM, on a “strategic quantum computing” partnership. Through the arrangement, Bosch will join the IBM Quantum Network as experts from both teams investigate alternatives for critical minerals used to power electric vehicles. One of the most significant factors holding back the electric vehicle rollout is the limited supply of critical earth minerals used in EV batteries and motors like lithium, cobalt,…

South Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution Ltd (LGES) said it had signed a preliminary agreement with Australian mining firm Syrah Resources to supply a key mineral used in lithium ion batteries. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the supply of 2,000 tons of natural graphite anode material per year from 2025 with provision to gradually increase supply over the…

NASA and the US Geological Survey plan to deploy aircraft to spot critical minerals buried across the southwest US. They’ll take to the skies to map the minerals, which are crucial to the Biden administration’s plans to build up American clean energy industries. GEMx is the name of the joint research effort, which will launch with $16 million in funding made possible through the bipartisan infrastructure law, which passed last year. Over the next five years, NASA’s ER-2 and Gulfstream V aircraft will fly over parts of…

Compass Mineral International, a leading supplier of essential minerals like salt and sulfate of potash (used in plant fertilizer), has been pivoting to focus on the “new gold” rush, lithium. The minerals company, which has deals to supply lithium for EV leaders like Ford and LG Energy, is doubling down by using a new extraction technology to obtain the mineral with minimal impact on the environment. As the largest salt producer in North America and the UK, Compass Minerals plays a vital role in several…

After standing by for the better part of the year and watching other automakers aggressively convert their fleets to electric, Honda seems to be having an epiphany. Honda is forming a new partnership with materials trading company, Hanwa, to source critical EV battery materials. The Japanese automaker’s new deal comes just a week after announcing it will invest $4.4 billion with LG Energy to build batteries in the US for Honda and Acura EV models. Honda expects to start construction for the new battery facility…