Johnson Matthey releases new catalyst technology publication

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Johnson Matthey has announced that the latest version of its catalyst technology publication is now available.

The new Catalysis and Chiral Technologies (CCT) offering includes an expanded chemistry section in the areas of palladium-catalysed cross coupling, asymmetric hydrogenation and catalytic deprotection.

In addition, readers will be provided with the most up-to-date literary references and extensive product listings, including a new chiral homogenous catalyst section.

According to the leading platinum refiner, the beneficial reference section contains key factors for any company looking to optimise its catalytic processes.

"If you are looking for the latest catalyst technology for asymmetric synthesis, coupling chemistry, or heterogeneous reactions, our global team of experts has the experience to help you choose the best catalyst system for your reaction," said the firm.

"The CCT business unit within Johnson Matthey operates R&D labs and commercial scale manufacturing around the world that are focused on developing new catalyst technologies designed to help you succeed."

Two years ago, Johnson Matthey acquired Argillon, a business specialising in catalysts, for €214 million (£178.6 million).

Source:

Johnson Matthey

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Exploration Roundup July 2010

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Wallbridge Mining resumes drilling on Parkin PGE-copper-nickel with $1.3M commitment from Impala Platinum (23/06/10)

Wallbridge Mining Company has received a $1.3 million funding boost from partner Impala Platinum for its exploration work at the Parkin Offset Dyke properties.

The new programme at the site in Sudbury will incorporate 4,900m of drilling and borehole geophysics and will build on the company's recent pgm discovery at the Milnet Mine property.

"We appreciate the strong support provided by Impala as we begin to delineate the full extent of this new discovery," said Wallbridge President and Chief Executive Alar Soever.

"Offset Dyke hosted deposits, particularly those with significant platinum, palladium and gold, as appears to be the case on our Parkin property, are a very attractive, high-value exploration target."

Franconia Minerals Extends Birch Lake Copper-Nickel-PGM Deposit With Drill Hole Intersecting 130 Feet of 1.34% Copper Equivalent (23/06/10)

Franconia Minerals Corporation has presented drilling results for two holes on the eastern margin of the Birch Lake deposit in northern Minnesota.

BL10-6, at a down hole interval of 129.8ft, was found to contain 0.183g/t platinum, 0.417g/t palladium and 0.108g/t gold, with a copper equivalent of 1.34 per cent.

In addition, BL10-6, at a down hole interval of 50.6ft, offered 0.309g/t platinum, 0.470g/t palladium and 0.257g/t gold, with a copper equivalent of 1.16 per cent.

"These results continue to extend the mineralised zone and indicate potential for the discovery of additional resources to the east of the known resource," said Brian Gavin, President and Chief Executive of Franconia.

"We are optimistic that this drill programme will provide us with sufficient indicated resources for mine planning purposes and, importantly, also demonstrates that our drilling has not yet reached the margins of the mineralised zone."

TWP Projects/Anglo Platinum/Royal Bafokeng Holdings: Shaft project starts at Styldrift (25/06/10)

TWP Projects is hoping to achieve steady-state production of 230,000 tonnes per month as a result of a new deep-level shaft at the Styldrift Merensky Phase 1 project.

The company is embarking on the programme at the Bafokeng Rasimone mine after joining forces with Anglo Platinum, the world's largest producer of the precious metal, and Royal Bafokeng Holdings.

TWP is also supporting Anglo at its Thembelani 2 shaft project, which is located in Rustenburg, North West province.

The facility should be able to access deeper Merensky reef reserves by 2015, with an expected production rate of 120,000 oz of pgms per year.

Australia: Traka Resources reports Anglo American to drill at Musgrave JV Project (02/07/10)

Traka Resources confirmed recently that Anglo American has commenced a drilling programme at the Musgrave joint venture project in Western Australia.

The main focus of the activities is the Navigator Prospect, an 8km-long copper, nickel and pgm auger geochemical anomaly within the mafic and ultramafic rocks at the Giles Complex.

According to Traka, two other targets outside Navigator will also be explored - a combined electromagnetic, copper, nickel and pgm prospect, plus a bedrock electromagnetic target under regolith cover.

Australia: Falcon Minerals confirms nickel, copper, platinum zone at Olympia Prospect (05/07/10)

Falcon Minerals has revealed that eight drill holes at its Olympia Prospect in Western Australia returned high nickel, copper and platinum-palladium (PGE) values.

The holes, which were located on five lines, reportedly suggest continuous polymetallic, massive and matrix sulphide mineralisation over a strike length of at least 300m.

Richard Diermajer, Managing Director of the Perth-based firm, announced that further drilling will take place to test the down-plunge of the mineralised horizon.

"Massive-to-heavily disseminated nickel-copper-PGE sulphides are associated with at least two ultramafic bodies which have intruded a basalt-volcaniclastic pile at, or near, the ancient sea floor position," read a statement from the company.

Russia: Amur Minerals applies for 2-year explorationrights extension at Kun-Manie (07/07/10)

Meanwhile, in Russia, Amur Minerals Corporation has applied for a two-year extension to its exploration rights at the Kun-Manie facility in the far east of the country.

"The grant of the extension is anticipated to be completed before the end of this year and our shareholders will be updated as additional information becomes available," said Chief Executive Robin Young.

According to the Russian State Committee on Reserves, Kun-Manie has a compliant resource of 341,000 tonnes of nickel and 95,500 tonnes of copper.

The estimate for the three deposits at the site also includes 189,400 oz of platinum, 213,800 oz of palladium and 3,900 tonnes of cobalt.

India: MOU for platinum exploration in Tamil Nadu signed (01/07/10)

Two companies have joined forces to explore the commercial viability of mining pgms in the Tamil Nadu region of India, it has been confirmed.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Tamil Nadu Minerals have signed a memorandum of understanding for the project, thaindian.com reports.

Work will focus on the Mettupalayalam and Namakkal areas of the state, where GSI has identified the presence of platinum during studies over the past three years.

Brazil: Colossus Minerals Commences Drilling for the Extensions of Serra Pelada (13/07/10)

And finally, Colossus Minerals announced last week that it has now started drilling at the extensions of the Serra Pelada project in Para State, Brazil.

The programme, which relates to the recently-expanded land package located to the south-west of Mining Permit 850.425/1990, will commence at Central Mineral Mineralised Zone.

Testing will initially target the down-plunge projection of high-grade gold-platinum-palladium mineralisation in the region, before moving on to look for further extensions.

"We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to further enhance the potential of Serra Pelada," commented Vic Wall, Vice-President of Exploration at Colossus, on the prospect of the 5,000km drilling programme.

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US awaits new precious metals basket ETF

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A new precious metals exchange-traded fund (ETF) should be arriving in the US market in the near future, it has been confirmed.

ETF Securities currently has four ETFs in the country but is keen to increase its presence by introducing 18 commodities-based ETFs and a white metals basket ETF.

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the latter product will be backed by holdings of silver, palladium and platinum.

"The demand for commodities will last as people seek a safe haven that isn't in the form of paper," commented Will Rhind, Strategic Director at ETF Securities, in an interview with Investment News.

Mr Rhind also noted that palladium and platinum, which are used in catalytic converters in cars, will prove to be a popular and worthy investment as auto sales continue to recover around the world.

Earlier this year, ETF Securities listed the first-ever American ETFs to be physically backed by the two metals on the New York Stock Exchange.

Sources:

London calling: UK's ETF Securities plans big commodities push in U.S. (06/07/10)

New White Metals ETF - Coming Soon (02/06/10)

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Platinum today: News/Miscellaneous

Johnson Matthey releases new catalyst technology publication

Exploration Roundup July 2010

US awaits new precious metals basket ETF