#PDF mineral commodities summary for #nickel #materials says it averaged US$15/kg on the London Metals Exchange last year
on 02026-05-17#PDF explaining the “best available techniques” (“BAT”, some #EU term of art) for heap-leach #mining, by Caner Zanbak, November 02012. Apparently by that point they were using heap leaching not just for #gold but also for #copper and #nickel. It explains the heap clogging problem: “In addition to lixiviant consumption, pre-precipitation products of some of these gangue minerals (gypsum, jarosite, silica) have potential negative effects on leach permeability by plugging up of the pores in the heaps.” Explains that basically only cyanide and sulfuric acid leaching is currently used, despite thiosulfate and thiourea experiments. “Heap Leaching: is a technique where run-of-mine or crushed (generally >5 mm) and/or agglomerated ores are stacked over an engineered impermable pad.”
on 02025-09-11#mining #nickel, #manganese, and #cobalt from #olivine (as well as iron and magnesium, of course) at Aspiring Minerals
on 02025-07-27WSJ news article, “China Harnesses a Technology That Vexed the West, Unlocking a Treasure Chest”: “#China’s success has reshaped the industry. It has infused significant new supply into the market and accelerated a crash in the prices of nickel and cobalt, knocking out Western competitors. The share of the global nickel supply refined within China or by Chinese companies abroad has risen from 34% in 2015 to 58% this year, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. / Meanwhile nickel and #cobalt mines in Australia, France-controlled New Caledonia, Brazil and the U.S. have closed or are being shut, unable to compete with the surge in low-cost Chinese minerals. Australian mining company BHP said in July that it would suspend its West Australian nickel operations, expecting a continuing flood of cheap #nickel.”
on 02024-09-09nickel hyperaccumulator plants like Alyssum murale and Phyllantus balgoyii and, in Indonesia and Malaysia, Sarcotheca celebica and Knema matanensis (and 400+ other species) can be used for #nickel #mining, even in soils that are 0.1% nickel rather than the traditional 1% limit for economically recoverable resources. #materials
on 02020-11-18