Imerys declares kaolin terminal open
17 November 2008
French minerals group describes construction of the €100m. Eurohub “its duty” following paper coating grade production shift to Brazil
China’s new IM export taxes
14 November 2008
China imposes new export duties on brown fused alumina & talc, while raising VAT on bauxite, mullite, kaolin, and fluorspar
PotashCorp strike deal agreed
14 November 2008
Striking workers at Canadian potash producer end 99 day strike at three mines, bringing 2.7m. tpa production back on stream
Channel/Polaris bid for Li brines
13 November 2008
Channel Resources and Polaris Capital in Letter of Intent for Alberta, Canada, lithium brines buy
Glass cartel’s record fine
13 November 2008
EC hits Saint-Gobain, Pilkington, Asahi Glass, and Soliver with $1,700m. fine for price fixing
KaMin latest to cut kaolin
11 November 2008
Georgia based kaolin company cuts production & workforce amid poor market demand
Uralkali potash survival concern
11 November 2008
Russia’s second largest potash producer could face $600m. bill as 2006 flooding claim is reopened
Imerys reaffirms French mica
10 November 2008
French group maintains mica reserves for “many years to come” at its Brittany operation; nearby development is “no constraint”
Admiralty sells Rincon Lithium
07 November 2008
Debt forces Australian mining company to sell its Argentine lithium brine assets to Charge Resources for A$36m.
EC mineral supply concern
06 November 2008
European Commission seeks rare earth & lithium supply security by recommending more dialogue & challenging restrictive export practices
Rio Madagascar ilmenite by year’s end?
05 November 2008
Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium confident of 750,000 tpa Malagasy ilmenite production before 2009
Imerys hit by economic downturn
05 November 2008
A 15% decrease in 2008 net income is expected, owing to struggling North American & European markets
SA bans ANSAC soda ash
04 November 2008
ANSAC agrees to stops soda ash export to South Africa and pays $1m. fine, ending nine year case; domestic prices expected to rise as a result
Trimex to begin 200,000 tpa ilmenite
04 November 2008
Indian minerals group given approval for 200,000 tpa ilmenite mining in Andrah Pradesh
Black Pearl finalises Quebec Lithium
02 November 2008
Lithium development company secures “largest known lithium spodumene pegmatite deposit” in Canada
Olympia's Indonesian zircon activity
01 November 2008
Production increases, plant amendments and port upgrades prepares Olympia Resources’ Indonesian zircon plant for 2009
Vale cuts kaolin production
31 October 2008
“New global economic outlook” forces Brazilian kaolin producer to cut production by 30%
Uralkali reduces potash output
31 October 2008
Russian producer cuts production by 500,000 tonnes, but proceeds with 1.5m. capacity expansion for 2011
Sierra Bauxita halts all activity
29 October 2008
All Sierra Bauxita’s activity in Dominican Republic is stopped after it clashes with government over stockpile confiscation
Marifil secures Argentine limestone
29 October 2008
Canadian miner acquires 100% of 100m. tonne cement-grade limestone deposit in Argentina
Lake Natron soda ash still on
28 October 2008
Tata Chemicals seeks government approval to restart $500m. soda ash project
Oil recovery delays Ti Corp zircon
28 October 2008
Zircon production on hold as Titanium Corp focuses first on bitumen recovery from oil sand tailings
Namibia phosphate rock j-v
27 October 2008
Phosco j-v eyes 6m. tpa phosphate rock mined from sea bed sediments