North American Tungsten: The Western world's largest alternative to Chinese tungsten supply

North American Tungsten: The Western world's largest alternative to Chinese tungsten supply

Resource Intelligence: After months of inactivity you restarted production at your CanTung mine last year because prices have recovered. What factors have contributed to the recovery?

Stephen Leahy: The real issue is prices. During the fall and winter of 2009, tungsten prices were below $200 per MTU and recently they have recovered dramatically to a current high of $360 per MTU. The recovery in prices is due to several reasons: consumers' inventory is running low and while there was a dramatic increase in recycling over the last few years in reaction to China's decision to limit exports, the recycling has essentially reached its limit. When that happened, there was virtually no new supply. Tungsten is a strategic metal that has no substitute in a lot of its uses so because of low supply and increasing demand, prices are up dramatically.

RI: Is the CanTung mine now operating at
full capacity?

SL: Just about. We used that 12-month period of inactivity to introduce new technology, some new mining/milling methods and a significant upgrade to our equipment.

RI: How much do you produce per annum?

SL: We haven't announced our forward projections but the last full year we were in production we produced approximately 320,000 MTUs.

RI: When do you think you will reach full production capacity?

SL: On an annualized rate, hopefully by the second quarter of this year.

RI: North American Tungsten is the Western world's largest producer of tungsten concentrate. How much of the global demand do you supply?

SL: We supply 4 to 5%.

RI: Does the market readily absorb the supply?

SL: Absolutely. Today there is no question we could sell our production probably two times over. We are effectively sold out for two years under market-based off-take agreements.

RI: What are your markets?

SL: They are metal bulletin posted prices on reported trades so there is no post system
like copper.

RI: At what price does the company make a profit and therefore continue to produce?

SL: We haven't announced that but certainly I can tell you that we feel good over $225 per MTU.

RI: Other strategic metals have seen big jumps in prices such as rare earths, molybdenum and uranium. Tungsten is now $345 per MTU. How much higher are analysts telling you it could go?

SL: I'm hearing $400 and one of the reasons it is sustainable is that there are not a lot of substitutes for tungsten and it usually accounts for a small percentage of the overall price of a
product. The other thing is supply.

RI: What opportunities do you see in the tungsten market and how is your company positioned to benefit from tungsten's position as a strategic metal?

SL: Western companies who used to rely a lot on China for tungsten material will now start searching the West aggressively for alternative sources of supply because China, which controls 85% of the market, is now starting to make the finished products of tungsten. We are currently producing a significant portion of the world supply at CanTung. We also have the largest high-grade tungsten deposit in the world, called MacTung, located in the Yukon. It is past the feasibility stage and is now in the permitting process.

RI: Do investors realize how important tungsten is to industry and the military?

SL: Absolutely not. I think tungsten is not on the radar screen. But I think it is being helped by people's awareness of rare earths and the dominance of China.

RI: Which everyday products have tungsten?

SL: Fifty-five percent of the consumption of tungsten is for industrial cutting tools as a carbide. Lighting accounts for about 2% of the market and the rest is spread out among electronic consumer products such as cell phones. It is also used in railways, turbines, jet engines and aerospace applications.
RI: China holds a great deal of power when it comes to the supply of strategic metals. What's your take on this?

SL: The worst part about it is that countries in the industrialized world have come to rely on China as a raw materials supplier and we over here in the West have virtually done no exploration for tungsten and rare earths until very recently. By the time you start doing exploration, find something, and then actually get it into production it could be 15 years. We've been lulled into a false sense of security that China will always continue to supply our needs in these areas but that's not the case anymore.
MacTung site in the Yukon

RI: Could you give us the latest update on your MacTung project?

SL: MacTung has a bankable feasibility study and is now in the permitting stage. We expect permitting to take another year, if not less, and then construction, which will take two years.

RI: Could you give us some numbers for investors to be able to evaluate this project?

SL: The MacTung project is forecast to run at 2,000 MTUs per day from an underground operation. The capital expenditure to build the mine, plus contingency, is approximately $400 million. Based on tungsten prices of $300 per MTU, we have a 23% rate of return and a net present value of $276 million.

RI: How does MacTung compare with CanTung in terms of size?

SL: It is two times the size in terms of production. It also has a 30-year mine life. There is nothing in the world like it, including in China.

RI: If I were an investor give me three reasons I should keep North American Tungsten on my radar.

SL: Number one reason is tungsten itself. It's a strategic metal that no other metal comes even close to in terms of hardness or melting point. It has many uses and as we move into a more high-tech world it will have even more uses. The second reason is the fact that we operate the Western world's largest operating mine called CanTung, which accounts for 4 to 5% of the world production; that is a big number for a little company. Third is the MacTung deposit, which is the largest known high-grade tungsten skarn deposit in the world.

RI: Over the past several years there have been cutbacks/shutdowns in your production. What changed and why is the outlook so bright now?

SL: Certainly the supply and demand curve has significantly changed meaning that in terms of higher prices they are here to stay. We have always struggled with pricing because we are a higher-cost producer than a Chinese mine. China has now changed its attitude towards its own mines so that their costs are rising way faster than ours. That will keep prices high and we will be the beneficiary of those prices. When prices go below our cost of production that's when we have a tough time.

RI: If China keeps tungsten for its own production, is that good for you?

SL: Yes. The supply from China will continue to shrink as it has for the past seven or eight years. They make their own products now and they use their own products way more and if they have excess then they might sell it to us. I think the likelihood of that is remote. The other thing is that they found themselves in a very dominant position of a strategic commodity, allowing them to significantly impact the price.

RI: Where do you see North American Tungsten in three to five years?

SL: I see North American Tungsten as the largest tungsten company in the West that is a great alternative to Chinese supply and I see a lot of people very anxious to become involved in off-take and financially in North American Tungsten.

RI: Will you be focusing your energies and resources on these two mines for now?

SL: For now that is enough for us. Our goals are to significantly improve recovery rates at CanTung, which is why we are changing the mill and some of the ways we run our circuitry, and to advance the MacTung project.

RI: Is there anything else you think investors should know?

SL: People might be aware that global demand for tungsten has been increasing by 5 to 6%, but what they really should know is that domestic demand in China alone has been rising at a very rapid rate of more than 15% per annum. The second thing is that there is a huge push to replace lead with tungsten composites in numerous consumer applications because tungsten is non-toxic and very heavy. Tungsten is the only product that configures to this particular type of composite so demand could skyrocket.

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Titanium Necklace - The Next Hot Trend

Titanium Necklace - The Next Hot Trend

Titanium is an extremely strong and lightweight material which makes it perfect for a number of different applications. Not only has it been used by NASA because of its unique properties, it is also possible to make some very nice jewelry from it. One type of jewelry that can be made from it but is not necessarily as popular as others is a titanium necklace. Not only can these necklaces be very durable and stylish looking, pendants that are made from titanium can be quite ornate.
With some of the newer technology that is available for shaping and working with titanium has made it much easier to create jewelry from this interesting alloy. As a matter of fact, titanium engagement and wedding rings are some of the fastest growing types of jewelry that are on the market. A titanium necklace is also going to give you the same strength as one of these rings and much like any jewelry that is made from titanium, you are not going to have issues with it getting out of shape and it is relatively scratch resistant.
A lot of the lower end necklaces that are available present a problem that many people are unable to deal with. There are many people that are allergic to a variety of different metals, particularly if they are coated. Whenever this metal begins to come off or even if it is just against the skin for too long, an allergic reaction will happen. I've had this problem for quite some time from everything from my necklaces to my belt buckles. A titanium necklace is going to help you to get around this issue. As a matter of fact, titanium is also used for a number of different medical applications because it is not rejected by the body easily and it tends to be biocompatible.

Whenever you are choosing your titanium necklace, you're going to have several different options to choose from. Although it is certainly possible for you to go with strict titanium, it is also possible to get a black titanium necklace as well. If you decide to go with a black titanium necklace, however, you should make sure that it is made from actual black titanium and not simply coated with a black material. This may cause allergy issues and the finish may eventually flake off of the necklace.

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Why to buy a Skagen titanium watch

Why to buy a Skagen titanium watch

Why to buy a Skagen titanium watch? Skagen is a Denmark based company which produces some beautiful and extraordinary wrist watches. They make the best wrist watches for the both the sexes. You must have been wondering to buy the best and one and only watch that are made for you can indulge with this company. You can find the best wrist bands with the company. Time means a lot in your life. So, having the best watch makes you more punctual with time and dates. It has become a part of our lives.
The only difference between the Skagen titanium watches and other company watches are creativities and machinery. These watches are most popular in America and Europe and also in the rest of the world. When you are thinking about purchasing a watch, what is the first thing that you consider in a watch? The first thing to find in a watch is that is it water proof? You can wear these watches in spite of any season. You do not have to worry about this facility with Skagen. These watches are completely water proof.

This company was found in the 1978. Since then, they are ruling the watch industry. You can completely distinguish between Skagen men's titanium watches and Skagen women's titanium watches. You can find these wrist watches many different colors. Skagen men's titanium watch can be found in various colors. You can find in black, steel and brown. You can also find them with different types of wrist bands. The special ones are like steel bands and leather bands. Even the dial of the watch can be obtained in various colors.

Skagen women's titanium watch has the same qualities like men's watches. These are also available in numerous colors with different types of wrist bands. Pink, red and blue are fancy colors available for women. The best qualities of Skagen titanium watches are that it is very strong. The durability and long lasting feature sweeps away every one's attention. These are not at all heavy. These are made up like thin. The machinery does not affect the weight of the watches. These are strong due to metal is more times stronger than aluminum. These are not just luxury watches.

It gives a total new image and look to your hand. If you are not interested with the inside material, then this is more like your type of watch. These watches are beautiful and look ravishing on any one. You can make a purchase online. You can also read the customer reviews and ratings. These range from sixty dollars to two seventy five dollars. It is way affordable than any other branded watch. Thus, this is why to buy a Skagen titanium watch.

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Titanium Alloy - Reinventing The Wheel

Titanium Alloy - Reinventing The Wheel

Consumers are intimately familiar with certain metals. Silver and gold jewellery. Steel automobiles. Aluminium cans. On the other hand, if you ask them about titanium alloy, they'd likely be unable to describe how it affects their lives.
Titanium, the fourth most abundant metal on earth, is about as strong as steel, and twice as strong as aluminium. It's forty-five percent lighter than steel, yet only sixty percent heavier than aluminium. It is capable of withstanding high temperatures, is non-reactive to the human body, and resists corrosion.

If it weren't for prohibitive costs related to processing this abundant element, I am sure it would be completely recognisable to everyone. Titanium has proved resistant to mass production. Magnetic black sand, discovered in 1791, introduced titanium to the world. The first pure sample of the metal took place in 1910. The first commercially suitable process for isolating titanium from other minerals it bonds with was not developed until 1937. The Kroll method, as it was known, remains the most common method of extracting pure titanium at the dawn of the 21st century. The first mining operation for titanium started a decade after Kroll's method was patented.

The difficulty with extracting pure titanium has ironically resulted in it being a space-age material used for high-tech applications. After the ore is mined, it undergoes a multi-step process to remove impurities. Once pure titanium is isolated, it is alloyed in huge furnaces. Aluminium and vanadium are often used, but other elements may be introduced too, depending on its anticipated use. (The American Society for Testing and Metals – ASTM – has forty distinct grade classifications of titanium alloys.)
With the exception of a brief period when the United States military was the primary developer of titanium alloy applications, approximately eighty percent of all titanium use takes place within the aerospace industry, where strong, lightweight, heat resistant material is critical in successfully sending a plane into the sky or shooting a satellite into orbit. The remaining twenty percent of titanium production has occurred in the medical field for biological implants due to its compatibility with the human body, in marine applications such as boat propellers, where exposure to seawater would quickly cause other metals to corrode, and a tiny fraction used in consumer products (jewellery, paper whitening, and white paint pigment, for instance.)

These percentages may see major shifts soon. Until recently, furnaces used to process titanium have been too small to provide sufficient quantities of titanium and titanium dioxide to allow it to be used in many applications for which it is well suited. The Kroll method produces toxic pollutants that are expensive to treat.

Recent developments are expanding titanium alloys' potential uses. Titanium hydride does not have the heat resistance necessary for aerospace applications but retains other favourable titanium traits for about one-eighth of the cost of producing titanium dioxide by the Kroll method. Non-melt titanium condensation methods are expected to enable large scale use for military armour and automobiles. Today, titanium and its alloys are used in sunscreens and high-end sporting equipment. As supply stabilises and the cost of acquiring titanium alloy continues to decrease, it is likely to be a component of choice for many more consumer applications.

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Tungsten Carbide –Reliable Material for Industrial Machine and Tools

Tungsten Carbide –Reliable Material for Industrial Machine and Tools

Tungsten carbide is derived from a combination of tungsten and carbon atoms. It is a durable material that is used to make industrial machinery, abrasives and in tools. These days it is also used in making jewelry.
Benefits of Tungsten Carbide Products

The most important advantage of using this material in various applications is that it is very strong. In fact, it is popular in a wide range of industry sectors, as it is approximately three times stiffer than steel, and is much denser than steel or titanium. Though the material is more expensive than steel, yet it is justified because in the long run you can reduce extra cost in your finished products as well as in running downtime. Moreover, the carbide products resistant to wear and tear and can also withstand heavy load.

Application Areas

The most popular use of tungsten carbide is in making wear parts. These wear resistant parts can bear heavy loading, are can resists corrosive environments. Among the various industries that use wear parts are the automobile sector, textile, and in making razor blades. Also, these are used in measuring insert manufacture, in cigarette manufacture, steel tubes & pipe manufacture and in seal-rings. Tungsten Carbide products are also used in mining covers for coal drilling, stone drilling & oil drilling as well. You can get D.S. Inserts, Coalaugur Tips, & Button Bits of all styles, sizes and grades. Then there are carbide cutting tools like slitting saws, non standard inserts, end mills and reamers. However, before getting any of these products make sure that you get them in microfine grade carbide or as per ISO specification.
Secondary Uses of Carbide

These include using Tungsten carbide to make metal forming tools that are used for such work as wire drawing etc. This material is used in these kinds of applications as they demand critical combination of properties like compressive strength, wear resistance, surface finish, hardness, impact resistance etc. This material in its powder form filler for diamond tool industry, Carbide tips, and electrical contacts. Apart from that, most of the companies can today offer unground carbide blanks and finished carbide components for various Tungsten carbide products like carbide balls. Moreover, you can choose varied grades of carbide depending on your area of application.

Also called Cemented Carbide, this material is today in huge demand among both small and large machining companies. This material has brought about a paradigm shift in the way mechanical tools are made. Tungsten carbide is known for offering wide range of combination of hardness & toughness especially in wear parts and is highly resistant to corrosion.

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Titanium Necklace - The Next Hot Trend

Titanium Necklace - The Next Hot Trend

Titanium is an extremely strong and lightweight material which makes it perfect for a number of different applications. Not only has it been used by NASA because of its unique properties, it is also possible to make some very nice jewelry from it. One type of jewelry that can be made from it but is not necessarily as popular as others is a titanium necklace. Not only can these necklaces be very durable and stylish looking, pendants that are made from titanium can be quite ornate.
With some of the newer technology that is available for shaping and working with titanium has made it much easier to create jewelry from this interesting alloy. As a matter of fact, titanium engagement and wedding rings are some of the fastest growing types of jewelry that are on the market. A titanium necklace is also going to give you the same strength as one of these rings and much like any jewelry that is made from titanium, you are not going to have issues with it getting out of shape and it is relatively scratch resistant.
A lot of the lower end necklaces that are available present a problem that many people are unable to deal with. There are many people that are allergic to a variety of different metals, particularly if they are coated. Whenever this metal begins to come off or even if it is just against the skin for too long, an allergic reaction will happen. I've had this problem for quite some time from everything from my necklaces to my belt buckles. A titanium necklace is going to help you to get around this issue. As a matter of fact, titanium is also used for a number of different medical applications because it is not rejected by the body easily and it tends to be biocompatible.

Whenever you are choosing your titanium necklace, you're going to have several different options to choose from. Although it is certainly possible for you to go with strict titanium, it is also possible to get a black titanium necklace as well. If you decide to go with a black titanium necklace, however, you should make sure that it is made from actual black titanium and not simply coated with a black material. This may cause allergy issues and the finish may eventually flake off of the necklace.

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High Density Forging Technology From Duro Diamond Cutting Blades and Discs

High Density Forging Technology From Duro Diamond Cutting Blades and Discs

In this new DURO HDF process, instead of the diamond segments being sintered slowly in a tunnel furnace after being cold pressed, the segments are simultaneously heated to very high temperatures and pressed (stamped) to form a complete diamond segment within seconds.

The advantages of this manufacturing process come from the fact that each segment has incredibly high density and almost no porosity (gaps in the bond system filled with oxygen). This high density quality delivers advantages in terms of the end products' durability, speed of cut and reduced Hand Arm Vibration in use. As a result of the new metal powders which can be employed; it also allows new bond systems to be developed, which weren't previously conceivable. For example, whilst the use of titanium coated diamond grits are nothing new to the diamond tool industry, the use of titanium powders in the bond system alongside is, and the benefits gained from this can increase diamond grit retention by up to 30%, giving huge performance advantages.

One of the largest benefits however is the significant reduction in porosity being transferred to the weld area during the laser welding process, where the segment and steel body are joined.
In recent independent X-Ray analysis, it was found to completely remove porosity from the weld area, which has been an age old industry wide issue. Resulting weld strengths were almost 60% higher than before, with the steel core actually bending in side load tests before any weld failure
This kind of weld strength could eliminate the potential of a segment
breaking away from the steel core in use altogether and therefore improve operator safety significantly, as diamond segments parting from the steel core at speeds of over 220mph (the rotational speed of a typical high speed hand held saw) have a huge velocity and have caused serious injury or even fatalities in extreme cases.

The DURO HDF manufacturing process also allows the indentation of text into the side of one or more of the segments, which can be used for product identification and, as one large contractor recently identified, as a wear indicator to prevent the use of the blade beyond its intended life expectancy. All the new DURO HDF diamond cutting blades now carry the DURO logo in one of the diamond blade segments.

The true potential of this new technology, which DURO has helped develop over a 6 year period in Germany is still being discovered but the first products are now on the market and are available in several different specifications to cover a broad range of applications, including new dual purpose DPA/C diamond blades for concrete / asphalt for the utility sector. New specifications are Duro Ultra DUA/C, DUSCM, DUU/C & DUA and, in Duro Plus DPA/C, DPU/C & DPA.

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